FSNE Note
A series of regular updates that appear in upcoming Bulletins about Florida Society of Newspaper Editor activities.
Jan. 14, 2008
Multimedia Workshop III, other news
FSNE, partnering with FPA and SNPA, is having its third workshop on multimedia tools Feb. 23 in Tallahassee. The Saturday training session at Florida A&M University’s Division of Journalism is designed for frontline reporters, editors, artists and photographers at daily and weekly papers and their Web sites. Our host is Professor Dorothy Bland, director of the division.
Courses will cover writing for the web, audio reporting and editing, blogging, video for reporters, video for photographers, narrated slide shows, headlines for the web, photoshop for copy editors, story planning for the web and managing digital change. Our confirmed faculty includes Doug Engle of the Star-Banner, Vidisha Priyanka of TBO.com, Bob Stover of Florida Today, Marty Merzer of The Miami Herald, Suzanne Levinson, site manager for Miami Herald Interactive and Joann Mracek and Scott Horner of the Sun-Sentinel.
The first two workshops in Gainesville and Miami drew more than 100 journalists each and were critical successes. A fourth workshop is planned for the University of South Florida in Tampa in May.
We hope to attract staff from FPA-member weekly newsrooms, FSNE member papers and SNPA members in Florida who work within a one -to-three hour drive of the training sites. We will also offer the workshop to nearby Georgia and Alabama newspapers. The Saturday workshops begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m. so participants can make it a one-day trip. Cost will be $25 per participant to cover meals and refreshments. The presenting professionals are donating their time.
FSNE and FPA members say foremost among their challenges is the digital revolution and its demands on their staffs. The multimedia workshops address the new skills required for digital competence.
Workshop slots will be limited due to the technology required for several of the sessions. Participation will be first-come, first-served with no limit on the number from any newsroom
Thelma Givens of the FPA staff will provide administrative support for the workshops. Signup information will be posted on the FPA web site area entitled Calendar of Events no later than Jan. 21. The web site is www.flpress.com. Thelma can be reached at tgivens@flpress.com for administrative questions. I can be contacted at gthelen@cas.usf.edu or
SCIENCE AND JOURNALISM SEMINAR; Also mark your calendars for an interesting two-day seminar at the Poynter Institute Feb. 5-6 that will bring scientists and journalists together to discuss global climate change and sea-level rise in Florida and how the two groups can communicate better with each other and the public. USF-St.Petersburg is the university sponsor.
NBC chief science correspondent Robert Bazell begins the conference on Tuesday evening. Wednesday's activities include a series of "conversations" as scientists and journalists discuss the challenges of communicating science to the public, especially on the impacts of sea-level rise on Florida's fresh water supply, regional ecology, public health, and social and economic welfare. Non-governmental travel support is available for reporters and scientists. Further information can be found at http://www.scienceandthemedia.org . The USF contact is Mark Walters,MJW@spadmin.usf.edu .
NEWS-PRESS WINS ATTORNEY FEES; For any who missed the news, check out this story about how the federal government has agreed to pay $105,000 in attorney fees for The News-Press after the newspaper successfully sued the Department of Homeland Security for the release of public records.
OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMISSION; The Governor’s Commission on Open Government holds its third set of public hearings Feb.12 and 13 in Sarasota. FSNE encourages editors and publishers to show their support for strengthening the Sunshine laws by attending the meeting and testifying. To register online for speaking time during the public hearings or commission meetings, please register here.
For more information, contact the Office of Open Government by phone at (850) 921-6099 or via e-mail at cristopengov@eog.myflorida.com. You can also visit the commission’s Web site here.