The Asian American Journalists Association of Seattle has organized the Media Access Workshop on Saturday, March 15 to connect community members, organizers, and leaders with people in the news industry. The workshop is free and takes place at The Seattle Times. Registration is required. Light lunch will be included.
Attendees will have a chance to meet media professionals and gain insight into the current news business. Panels will discuss how news media is run today, who covers the issues you want to talk about, and how to effectively communicate your pitch to journalists. Attendees are encouraged to stay the entire afternoon and attend all three workshops with local journalists from various broadcast, print, and radio media.
Attendees will also have the opportunity to speed-network with various journalists during the 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. time slots. These 8-minute are booked in advance and are first come first serve. A link for the 8-minute speed-networking meetings will be sent upon registration.
The event is organized by AAJA Seattle, sponsored by the Kellogg Foundation, and hosted by The Seattle Times.
To register, click here
Workshop Sessions
1) Straight talk how to get in the morning paper/evening news
When you pitch a story to a news organization, do you know whom you’re contacting? If you got a call for a quote today, would you be camera-ready? Learn about how a newsroom works, and why knowing which reporter to contact could be your best bet in getting your story told.
Panel:
Essex Porter, reporter, KIRO TV
Christine Clarridge, reporter, The Seattle Times
Lisa Pemberton, reporter/columnist, The Olympian
Moderator:
Chris Casquejo, reporter CCTV
2) Crafting your press release, making your pitch
Let’s look at the anatomy of a press release, what works and what doesn’t work, and learn how to write a clear message that will resonate. And learn how to avoid unconscious bias when pitching your stories to various media, and how to identify it when you’re being interviewed.
Panel:
Imelda Dulcich, independent public relations and social media specialist, Executive Director Newcastle Chamber of Commerce
Gabrielle Kazuko Namura, media relations manager, Seattle Opera
Owen Lei, communications director, Asian Counseling and Referral Service, adjunct faculty Seattle University
Moderator:
Kevin Henry, cultural diversity/media relations, the City of Bellevue
3) Op-ed writing tutorial
As a person involved with a nonprofit, you may be called upon to write an editorial, or you may find that writing your story as an opinion piece may be the most effective way to get your story told. What are some helpful tips for writing a good guest op-ed?
Panel:
Sharon Chan, opinion editor, Seattle Times
Travis Quezon, editor-in-chief, International Examiner
Maria Lamarca Anderson, communications director Youth Eastside Services
Moderator:
Sonya Green, host Music + Ideas, KBCS-FM.
What: AAJA Seattle and Kellogg Foundation Media Access Workshop, hosted by The Seattle Times
When: 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. March 15
Where: 1000 Denny Way, Seattle, WA 98109
Contact: [email protected] or 206-552-9041
Includes: Light lunch
