SPOC will be held May 13, 14, and 15, 2009. Although speakers are still being confirmed and the line-up is not final, publishing experts Dan Poynter, Shel Horowitz, Brian Jud and Sandra Beckwith have agreed to speak on these topics:
* Dan Poynter will explain his system of "simultaneous publishing," in which authors research their subject matter and draft a marketing plan at the same time. Authors determine who their readers are, what buyers want to read, and where to find them.
* Shel Horowitz will offer an overview of the most important social media sites for self-publishers: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Yahoo Groups. Attendees will find out about social media culture, promoting books, and building a fan base.
* Sandra Beckwith will present "How to Build Book Buzz" which teaches conference participants how to snag priceless media attention for their books, whether the books have been in stores for one week or 101 weeks.
* Brian Jud will focus on selling to non-bookstore markets. Attendees will learn creative ways to find and contact buyers in airport stores, supermarkets, discount stores, book clubs, catalogs, corporations, associations, schools and government agencies.
Logical Expressions President Susan Daffron says, "Because a lot of struggling self-publishers are strapped for money in this economy, we've made this conference as accessible as possible. Anyone can attend the presentations live for free."
Attendees can register online at http://www.SelfPublishersOnlineConference.com. A free Basic attendance pass gives participants access to the teleseminars and exhibit hall. Standard and Premium passes offer access to the seminar recordings and a wide range of bonus materials.
Monday, April 27, 2009
April 28 2009 - Society of Professional Journalists Sets Public Meeting on Media Ethics
Do you want to voice criticisms or questions about the ethics of the news media? The Society of Professional Journalists, the nation's largest journalism group by membership, will give you a chance to do just that -- and near home, too.
Vent your views and learn about the ethics of journalists at a Town Hall meeting for the public and journalists at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown Cleveland, 1111 Lakeside Ave.
A panel of journalists from broadcast, online and print media will respond to questions about media ethics or lapses from the public. They will also shed light on how journalists weigh ethical concerns in the minute-by-minute rush to produce the news.
Sponsors of the event are the Society of Professional Journalists and the Cleveland Chapter of SPJ. The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of SPJ is providing funding for the program. The program is one of 12 Town Hall sessions SPJ is producing as part of an effort by its national ethics committee to create greater dialogue between the media and the public and broaden the public's understanding of journalism ethics.
The program is free. RSVP by 5 p.m. April 24 to ensure adequate seating. To register, contact Tom Moore, SPJ Cleveland secretary-treasurer, at 440-454-3282 or tmoore56@msn.com.
Moderating the program will be Tom Merriman, an attorney, broadcast investigative journalist and an ethics fellow at The Poynter Institute, a news media training and research center.
Panelists include Ted Diadiun, reader representative, The Plain Dealer; Rita Andolsen, news director, WKYC-TV3; Steve FitzGerald, online journalist, founder of LakewoodBuzz.com and content manager for the ChannelFuse online forum network, and M.L. Schultze, news director for WKSU, 89.7 FM. An additional panelist is invited.
SPJ Cleveland's website is http://www.spj.org/cleveland/.
Vent your views and learn about the ethics of journalists at a Town Hall meeting for the public and journalists at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Doubletree Hotel Downtown Cleveland, 1111 Lakeside Ave.
A panel of journalists from broadcast, online and print media will respond to questions about media ethics or lapses from the public. They will also shed light on how journalists weigh ethical concerns in the minute-by-minute rush to produce the news.
Sponsors of the event are the Society of Professional Journalists and the Cleveland Chapter of SPJ. The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of SPJ is providing funding for the program. The program is one of 12 Town Hall sessions SPJ is producing as part of an effort by its national ethics committee to create greater dialogue between the media and the public and broaden the public's understanding of journalism ethics.
The program is free. RSVP by 5 p.m. April 24 to ensure adequate seating. To register, contact Tom Moore, SPJ Cleveland secretary-treasurer, at 440-454-3282 or tmoore56@msn.com.
Moderating the program will be Tom Merriman, an attorney, broadcast investigative journalist and an ethics fellow at The Poynter Institute, a news media training and research center.
Panelists include Ted Diadiun, reader representative, The Plain Dealer; Rita Andolsen, news director, WKYC-TV3; Steve FitzGerald, online journalist, founder of LakewoodBuzz.com and content manager for the ChannelFuse online forum network, and M.L. Schultze, news director for WKSU, 89.7 FM. An additional panelist is invited.
SPJ Cleveland's website is http://www.spj.org/cleveland/.
April 30 2009 - SUNY Plattsburgh to Host Schools of the Future Conference
This year's Schools of the Future Conference at SUNY Plattsburgh aims to educate teachers and parents about the importance of effective writing instruction and how change can be made to the schools of the future.
This two-part education forum will be led by Linda Christensen, an activist and international expert on teaching the writing process. Both sessions will be held on April 30 in the Warren Ballrooms of Angell College Center.
The first part, "Their Stories: Bringing Students' Lives into the Classroom Through Writing," will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. It is an interactive writing workshop, free and open to area teachers and college instructors. Christensen will engage participants in writing activities that invite students to bring their lives into the classroom. She will also discuss how teachers can use such strategies to meet curriculum standards.
The second discussion, "Integrating Home, Community and School: Parents, Teachers, Students and the Community Working Together to Bring Change to Schools of the Future," will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Open to the community, this interactive event will engage parents, schools and community members in conversations about how, together, they can create the schools they desire for children.
Christensen is the director of the Oregon Writing Project, now part of the National Writing Project, located in the Graduate School of Education at Lewis & Clark College.
For more information, contact Jean Mockry at 518-564-5137 or mockryj@plattsburgh.edu.
This two-part education forum will be led by Linda Christensen, an activist and international expert on teaching the writing process. Both sessions will be held on April 30 in the Warren Ballrooms of Angell College Center.
The first part, "Their Stories: Bringing Students' Lives into the Classroom Through Writing," will take place from 1 to 3 p.m. It is an interactive writing workshop, free and open to area teachers and college instructors. Christensen will engage participants in writing activities that invite students to bring their lives into the classroom. She will also discuss how teachers can use such strategies to meet curriculum standards.
The second discussion, "Integrating Home, Community and School: Parents, Teachers, Students and the Community Working Together to Bring Change to Schools of the Future," will be held from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Open to the community, this interactive event will engage parents, schools and community members in conversations about how, together, they can create the schools they desire for children.
Christensen is the director of the Oregon Writing Project, now part of the National Writing Project, located in the Graduate School of Education at Lewis & Clark College.
For more information, contact Jean Mockry at 518-564-5137 or mockryj@plattsburgh.edu.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
NewComm Forum 2009 to be Held April 27-29, 2009 in San Francisco, Calif.
The 5th Annual New Communications Forum (http://www.newcommforum.com) will be held April 27-29, 2009 at the Marriott Hotel in San Francisco, Calif. NewComm Forum is the leading conference that brings together thought leaders and decision makers to discuss the impact of social media and new communications on PR, marketing, advertising, media, journalism, and business. NewComm Forum '09 will feature presentations by the Fellows of the Society for New Communications Research (SNCR - http://sncr.org) and Keynote Conversations from a wide variety of luminaries.
In addition to a wide variety of keynote presentations, NewComm Forum 2009 will feature nearly 30 sessions, panel discussions, and roundtables focusing on blogger and influencer relations, online community management and development, collaboration and co-creation strategies, organizational transformation, social media program management, online reputation management, social media metrics and measurement, social interaction design, crowdsourcing, global trends in mobile media and new media & journalism models. Participants will discuss how social media, new communications and Web 2.0 is affecting business models and economic behavior, how social media can enhance innovation, and learn best practices for successfully implementing and managing social media.
In addition to a wide variety of keynote presentations, NewComm Forum 2009 will feature nearly 30 sessions, panel discussions, and roundtables focusing on blogger and influencer relations, online community management and development, collaboration and co-creation strategies, organizational transformation, social media program management, online reputation management, social media metrics and measurement, social interaction design, crowdsourcing, global trends in mobile media and new media & journalism models. Participants will discuss how social media, new communications and Web 2.0 is affecting business models and economic behavior, how social media can enhance innovation, and learn best practices for successfully implementing and managing social media.
May 13 2009 - Self-Publishers Online Conference
Because of travel and lodging costs, many aspiring self-publishers are not able to attend big publishing shows in New York City or Los Angeles. SPOC 2009 is a virtual conference which means attendees can attend from the comfort of their own home. Connecting entrepreneurial authors with self-publishing resources, the Self-Publishers Online Conference will be held on May 13, 14, 15, 2009.
Aspiring authors and self-publishers can attend SPOC when they have time in their schedule. At their convenience, they can wander the virtual exhibit hall, take part in informative teleseminars, and discover helpful information about writing and publishing books.
Logical Expressions President Susan Daffron says, "The Self-Publishers Online Conference is the next best thing to being at a live conference, except without the sore feet and aching back from lugging around brochures and other conference materials all day. Our line-up of speakers is phenomenal. Almost every author of every self-publishing book I own will be at SPOC, plus other amazing experts that have successfully self-published books and developed a platform around them."
SPOC 2009 will feature a total of 15 expert speakers over the three-day event. The experts will discuss a wide range of book publishing and promotion topics. Although speakers are still being confirmed and the line-up is not final, publishing experts Dan Poynter, Shel Horowitz, Brian Jud and Sandra Beckwith have agreed to speak.
Website: http://www.SelfPublishersOnlineConference.com
Aspiring authors and self-publishers can attend SPOC when they have time in their schedule. At their convenience, they can wander the virtual exhibit hall, take part in informative teleseminars, and discover helpful information about writing and publishing books.
Logical Expressions President Susan Daffron says, "The Self-Publishers Online Conference is the next best thing to being at a live conference, except without the sore feet and aching back from lugging around brochures and other conference materials all day. Our line-up of speakers is phenomenal. Almost every author of every self-publishing book I own will be at SPOC, plus other amazing experts that have successfully self-published books and developed a platform around them."
SPOC 2009 will feature a total of 15 expert speakers over the three-day event. The experts will discuss a wide range of book publishing and promotion topics. Although speakers are still being confirmed and the line-up is not final, publishing experts Dan Poynter, Shel Horowitz, Brian Jud and Sandra Beckwith have agreed to speak.
Website: http://www.SelfPublishersOnlineConference.com
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Sept 10-13 2009 - 2009 NC Literary Festival to send 'Authors on the Road'
The 2009 North Carolina Literary Festival, set for Sept. 10-13 at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, may be coming to a city near you.
The festival has added an Authors on the Road component, in which six North Carolina writers will read from their work and answer questions in six cities in August and September. The authors and free public gatherings will be as follows:
Aug. 22, 3 p.m., Daniel Wallace, New Hanover County Public Library, Wilmington
Aug. 25, 7 p.m., Allan Gurganus, Sheppard Memorial Library, Greenville
Sept. 1, 7 p.m., Joan Medlicott, Patrick Beaver Memorial Library, Hickory
Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m., P.T. Deutermann, Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center, Fayetteville
Sept. 8, 7 p.m., Randall Kenan, Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem
Date and author to be announced, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville
"This new program helps include the rest of the state in the celebration," said festival director Amy Baldwin. "The six program locations were identified with guidance from the State Library of North Carolina, and the host libraries helped choose their authors, who also will participate in the main festival on campus."
Authors on the Road is presented in part by Our State Magazine. The State Library of North Carolina – an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources – is helping support the festival and Authors on the Road with federal Library Services and Technology Act funds from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.
"I'm delighted that the North Carolina Literary Festival is sending authors out on the road to meet with readers and fans across the state," said Frannie Ashburn, director of the State Library of North Carolina's Center for the Book.
"Bringing writers and readers together in public libraries is an excellent way to take the festival far beyond the boundaries of the 2009 host site and to engage public audiences in the celebration of our state's outstanding literary heritage," she said. "This is a guaranteed good time for everyone involved."
Amy Wood, marketing director of Our State, said the magazine has celebrated stories of people and places across North Carolina for more than 76 years.
"Our sponsorship of the Authors on the Road portion of the festival is a natural partnership for us," she said. "We are proud of our association and look forward to assisting in taking the love of literature to people all over the state."
The free public festival, Sept. 10-13 at UNC, is funded entirely by gifts and grants. It is organized and sponsored by the libraries of UNC and N.C. State and Duke universities, with additional support from N.C. Central University. Held every other year, the location rotates among the Chapel Hill, State and Duke campuses.
More than 125 authors will participate in the festival, which will include readings, discussions, exhibits, performances, book signings, lectures and book sales. More authors for the event, to include locally and nationally known writers of all genres of books, will be named throughout the summer.
More than 100 volunteers will be needed for the festival. Those interested in helping may register at www.NCLiteraryFestival.org.
The festival has added an Authors on the Road component, in which six North Carolina writers will read from their work and answer questions in six cities in August and September. The authors and free public gatherings will be as follows:
Aug. 22, 3 p.m., Daniel Wallace, New Hanover County Public Library, Wilmington
Aug. 25, 7 p.m., Allan Gurganus, Sheppard Memorial Library, Greenville
Sept. 1, 7 p.m., Joan Medlicott, Patrick Beaver Memorial Library, Hickory
Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m., P.T. Deutermann, Cumberland County Public Library and Information Center, Fayetteville
Sept. 8, 7 p.m., Randall Kenan, Forsyth County Public Library, Winston-Salem
Date and author to be announced, Pack Memorial Library, Asheville
"This new program helps include the rest of the state in the celebration," said festival director Amy Baldwin. "The six program locations were identified with guidance from the State Library of North Carolina, and the host libraries helped choose their authors, who also will participate in the main festival on campus."
Authors on the Road is presented in part by Our State Magazine. The State Library of North Carolina – an agency of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources – is helping support the festival and Authors on the Road with federal Library Services and Technology Act funds from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services.
"I'm delighted that the North Carolina Literary Festival is sending authors out on the road to meet with readers and fans across the state," said Frannie Ashburn, director of the State Library of North Carolina's Center for the Book.
"Bringing writers and readers together in public libraries is an excellent way to take the festival far beyond the boundaries of the 2009 host site and to engage public audiences in the celebration of our state's outstanding literary heritage," she said. "This is a guaranteed good time for everyone involved."
Amy Wood, marketing director of Our State, said the magazine has celebrated stories of people and places across North Carolina for more than 76 years.
"Our sponsorship of the Authors on the Road portion of the festival is a natural partnership for us," she said. "We are proud of our association and look forward to assisting in taking the love of literature to people all over the state."
The free public festival, Sept. 10-13 at UNC, is funded entirely by gifts and grants. It is organized and sponsored by the libraries of UNC and N.C. State and Duke universities, with additional support from N.C. Central University. Held every other year, the location rotates among the Chapel Hill, State and Duke campuses.
More than 125 authors will participate in the festival, which will include readings, discussions, exhibits, performances, book signings, lectures and book sales. More authors for the event, to include locally and nationally known writers of all genres of books, will be named throughout the summer.
More than 100 volunteers will be needed for the festival. Those interested in helping may register at www.NCLiteraryFestival.org.
June 8-26 2009 - UMKC's Mark Twain Creative Writing Workshop Celebrates 30th Year
The University of Missouri-Kansas City's (UMKC) Mark Twain Creative Writing Workshop celebrates its 30th year this summer. The three-week course runs from June 8 through 26, and provides intensive instruction in writing poetry, fiction, and nonfiction; keeping a journal; scriptwriting for television and movies; teaching creative writing; and submitting and placing work. Robert Stewart, assistant research professor of English and editor of New Letters magazine and Michael Pritchett, associate professor of English and director of Creative Writing will lead classes from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday in Room 104 of Cockefair Hall, 5121 Rockhill Rd., Kansas City, Mo.
Beginning writers and those more established can attend for college credit or for non-credit. UMKC cross-lists the workshop as a three-hour credit course (regular tuition), or for non-credit ($424.49 in 2008; 2009 fees may change slightly). Financial aid is available to credit-seeking students. To enroll, contact UMKC Registration and Records at (816) 235-1125. For more information, contact the UMKC Department of English at (816) 235-1305.
Students will attend regular lectures and individual conferences, write original work, give and receive criticism and submit a portfolio at the end of the session. Guest speakers will include professional fiction writers, poets, screenwriters, essayists, and journalists – both from UMKC's Department of English and from outside the university. Fiction writers Laura Moriarty, Clancy Martin, and Christie Hodgen; screenwriter Mitch Brian; poets Hadara Bar-Nadav and Michelle Boisseau; publishers Jack Fuller and Greg Michalson; and New Letters on the Air host and producer Angela Elam all presented lectures in 2008.
Website: http://www.newletters.org/writingConferences.asp
Beginning writers and those more established can attend for college credit or for non-credit. UMKC cross-lists the workshop as a three-hour credit course (regular tuition), or for non-credit ($424.49 in 2008; 2009 fees may change slightly). Financial aid is available to credit-seeking students. To enroll, contact UMKC Registration and Records at (816) 235-1125. For more information, contact the UMKC Department of English at (816) 235-1305.
Students will attend regular lectures and individual conferences, write original work, give and receive criticism and submit a portfolio at the end of the session. Guest speakers will include professional fiction writers, poets, screenwriters, essayists, and journalists – both from UMKC's Department of English and from outside the university. Fiction writers Laura Moriarty, Clancy Martin, and Christie Hodgen; screenwriter Mitch Brian; poets Hadara Bar-Nadav and Michelle Boisseau; publishers Jack Fuller and Greg Michalson; and New Letters on the Air host and producer Angela Elam all presented lectures in 2008.
Website: http://www.newletters.org/writingConferences.asp
Saturday, April 11, 2009
April 13 2009 - Free 'Power Connecting with Social Media' Teleseminar
Entrepreneurs, small business owners, professionals, authors, and speakers will learn how to use Social Media and Social Networking to maximize their business, platforms, and expertise, as well as how to profit from the contacts they make at the free kick-off teleseminar for Dr. Fern Kazlow's Power Connecting with Social Media Workshop on April 13, 2009.
Renowned New York psychotherapist and business consultant, Dr. Fern Kazlow, is offering the free one night teleseminar because "social media is the new business requirement." Dr. Kazlow is emphatic when she says "not having a presence on Social Media or doing it incorrectly is like rolling out a red carpet for your competition."
With expertise usually reserved for her individual clients who include high-level executives, successful entrepreneurs, and marketing experts, Dr. Kazlow is taking the workshop to the public. "I see far too many entrepreneurs and professionals wasting hours every day on social media sites - and I say wasting because they're not getting results," she says and warns, "Just having a presence on one site or all of them isn't good enough. The key to using Social Media to maximize and monetize your business is in how you connect."
Among the many points that Dr. Kazlow will touch on in the free teleseminar are:
How to build your branding into your sites and communications to amplify yourself, your business, products and expertise.
How to identify which media and networking sites will work for your business.
Why designing a strategy will not only save time but money.
How to find that crucial point of connection at each and every juncture to make Social Media not only work for your business but catapult it to where you want to be.
Interested parties wishing to attend the free teleseminar on April 13, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EST, or to receive the link to the recorded teleseminar should register at www.drfernkazlow.com.
Renowned New York psychotherapist and business consultant, Dr. Fern Kazlow, is offering the free one night teleseminar because "social media is the new business requirement." Dr. Kazlow is emphatic when she says "not having a presence on Social Media or doing it incorrectly is like rolling out a red carpet for your competition."
With expertise usually reserved for her individual clients who include high-level executives, successful entrepreneurs, and marketing experts, Dr. Kazlow is taking the workshop to the public. "I see far too many entrepreneurs and professionals wasting hours every day on social media sites - and I say wasting because they're not getting results," she says and warns, "Just having a presence on one site or all of them isn't good enough. The key to using Social Media to maximize and monetize your business is in how you connect."
Among the many points that Dr. Kazlow will touch on in the free teleseminar are:
How to build your branding into your sites and communications to amplify yourself, your business, products and expertise.
How to identify which media and networking sites will work for your business.
Why designing a strategy will not only save time but money.
How to find that crucial point of connection at each and every juncture to make Social Media not only work for your business but catapult it to where you want to be.
Interested parties wishing to attend the free teleseminar on April 13, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. EST, or to receive the link to the recorded teleseminar should register at www.drfernkazlow.com.
April 23 2009 - How to Write Corporate Communications Copy That Moves Editors
PR and marketing professionals who want to learn inside tips for writing more powerful press releases and helping their company score more front-page coverage will discover proven techniques at a new audio conference from Bulldog Reporter's PR University: "Killer Writing That Sells Like Hell: How to Produce Corporate Communications Copy That Moves Editors and Customers to Action." Attendees will come away with practical insights about news sense and compelling story telling -- plus easy techniques to help "think like a journalist" and dramatically boost hit rates.
This exclusive, dial-in PR University audio conference takes place on Thursday, April 23rd, at 1PM EDT (noon CDT, 11AM MDT; 10AM PDT). The panel of top writing masters will share tips on how to supercharge copy for clients and companies to drive superior results:
-- Don Bates, Academic Director, Graduate School of Political Management, George Washington University; Fellow, PRSA
-- Paul Furiga, ABC, President, WordWrite Communications, LLC
-- Sarah Skerik, Vice President, Distribution Services, PR Newswire
This 90-minute interactive call will give public relations professionals practical tips on what they must know before they touch a keypad -- and how to outline and map content in advance for best results. It will also address the new do's, don'ts and nevers of writing a press release in digital world, including common writing mistakes to avoid -- and the fundamentals of good, crisp writing. Here are some of the immediately applicable techniques attendees will cover in this audio conference:
-- Why press releases fail: Common writing mistakes to avoid when planning and writing releases -- and how to make sure yours rise to the top of the pile -- Easy writing exercises and regimens designed to streamline the writing process and strengthen release, proposal, speech or even pitch copy at the same time -- The "Write" Stuff: Anatomies of stellar press releases and email pitches . . . plus the magic elements you must make part of every document you craft -- New Web 2.0 Writing Rules: How (and why) online copy writing differs from traditional PR writing, corporate releases and even media pitches -- Key ideas, starting points and practical guidelines for making copy search friendly without alienating readers -- Why Word Choice Matters: Credibility-building language and the jargon and fuzzy language that saps the power from your copy
Attendance at Bulldog Reporter's PR University audio conference costs $299 per telephone site. Participants in the 90-minute call will be able to pose specific questions for the panelists at several junctures during the discussion. Attendees of PR University conferences receive one credit toward PRSA accreditation maintenance. Registration also includes an up-to-the-minute conference manual and a full transcript. For more information on taking part in the event, go to our conference home page or phone toll free: 1-800-959-1059.
This exclusive, dial-in PR University audio conference takes place on Thursday, April 23rd, at 1PM EDT (noon CDT, 11AM MDT; 10AM PDT). The panel of top writing masters will share tips on how to supercharge copy for clients and companies to drive superior results:
-- Don Bates, Academic Director, Graduate School of Political Management, George Washington University; Fellow, PRSA
-- Paul Furiga, ABC, President, WordWrite Communications, LLC
-- Sarah Skerik, Vice President, Distribution Services, PR Newswire
This 90-minute interactive call will give public relations professionals practical tips on what they must know before they touch a keypad -- and how to outline and map content in advance for best results. It will also address the new do's, don'ts and nevers of writing a press release in digital world, including common writing mistakes to avoid -- and the fundamentals of good, crisp writing. Here are some of the immediately applicable techniques attendees will cover in this audio conference:
-- Why press releases fail: Common writing mistakes to avoid when planning and writing releases -- and how to make sure yours rise to the top of the pile -- Easy writing exercises and regimens designed to streamline the writing process and strengthen release, proposal, speech or even pitch copy at the same time -- The "Write" Stuff: Anatomies of stellar press releases and email pitches . . . plus the magic elements you must make part of every document you craft -- New Web 2.0 Writing Rules: How (and why) online copy writing differs from traditional PR writing, corporate releases and even media pitches -- Key ideas, starting points and practical guidelines for making copy search friendly without alienating readers -- Why Word Choice Matters: Credibility-building language and the jargon and fuzzy language that saps the power from your copy
Attendance at Bulldog Reporter's PR University audio conference costs $299 per telephone site. Participants in the 90-minute call will be able to pose specific questions for the panelists at several junctures during the discussion. Attendees of PR University conferences receive one credit toward PRSA accreditation maintenance. Registration also includes an up-to-the-minute conference manual and a full transcript. For more information on taking part in the event, go to our conference home page or phone toll free: 1-800-959-1059.
April 20-24 2009 - NYS Writers Institute Hosts Alex Gibney Documentary Film Festival
Alex Gibney, Oscar-winning documentary film director, will speak about his work following a screening of his 2008 film, "Gonzo: The Life and Works of Hunter S. Thompson" (2008) on Friday, April 24, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. [NOTE EARLY START TIME] in Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue, on the University at Albany's downtown campus. Earlier that same day at 4:15 p.m., Gibney will offer an informal seminar on documentary filmmaking in Science Library 340 on the uptown campus. Prior to Gibney's appearance, the Writers Institute will also screen two of his critically-acclaimed films: "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" (2005), on Wednesday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. in Page Hall on the downtown campus; and "Taxi to the Dark Side" (2007), on Thursday, April 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the same location. The events are free and open to the public.
In addition to the films that will be shown (see schedule below), Gibney also directed "The Trials of Henry Kissinger" (2002), and is currently at work on "Freakonomics" (2009), based on the bestseller by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Gibney served as executive producer for the Iraqi war documentary "No End in Sight" (2007), an Academy Award contender.
The event schedule is as follows:
April 22 (Wednesday):
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM screening, 7:30 p.m., Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue, UAlbany downtown campus (United States, 2005, 110 minutes, color) Directed and co-written by Alex Gibney, Narrated by Peter Coyote
Based on the book by "Fortune" reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, this Oscar-nominated film presents the rapid rise and fall of the fraudulent energy trading company that became America's seventh largest corporation.
April 23 (Thursday):
TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE screening, 7:30 p.m., Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue, UAlbany downtown campus (United States, 2007, 106 minutes, color) Directed, written, and narrated by Alex Gibney
A stunning exposé of American torture practices during the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the film follows the plight of Dilawar, a young Afghani cab driver who is tortured and killed after being wrongly identified as a terror operative. The film received the Academy Award for Best Documentary, and a Writers Guild of America award for Best Documentary Screenplay.
April 24 (Friday):
Seminar on documentary filmmaking with Alex Gibney - 4:15 p.m., Science Library 340, UAlbany uptown campus
GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON screening - 7:00 p.m. [NOTE EARLY START TIME], Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue, UAlbany downtown campus(United States, 2008, 120 minutes, color) Directed and written by Alex Gibney, Narrated by Johnny Depp
Gibney provides a wildly entertaining, warts-and-all portrait of the hard-drinking, substance-abusing, larger-than-life Kentucky journalist who invented a whole new genre of American letters. The film was a finalist for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.NOTE: Alex Gibney will answer questions and offer commentary immediately following the screening of GONZO.
For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.
In addition to the films that will be shown (see schedule below), Gibney also directed "The Trials of Henry Kissinger" (2002), and is currently at work on "Freakonomics" (2009), based on the bestseller by Steven Levitt and Stephen Dubner. Gibney served as executive producer for the Iraqi war documentary "No End in Sight" (2007), an Academy Award contender.
The event schedule is as follows:
April 22 (Wednesday):
ENRON: THE SMARTEST GUYS IN THE ROOM screening, 7:30 p.m., Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue, UAlbany downtown campus (United States, 2005, 110 minutes, color) Directed and co-written by Alex Gibney, Narrated by Peter Coyote
Based on the book by "Fortune" reporters Bethany McLean and Peter Elkind, this Oscar-nominated film presents the rapid rise and fall of the fraudulent energy trading company that became America's seventh largest corporation.
April 23 (Thursday):
TAXI TO THE DARK SIDE screening, 7:30 p.m., Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue, UAlbany downtown campus (United States, 2007, 106 minutes, color) Directed, written, and narrated by Alex Gibney
A stunning exposé of American torture practices during the recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the film follows the plight of Dilawar, a young Afghani cab driver who is tortured and killed after being wrongly identified as a terror operative. The film received the Academy Award for Best Documentary, and a Writers Guild of America award for Best Documentary Screenplay.
April 24 (Friday):
Seminar on documentary filmmaking with Alex Gibney - 4:15 p.m., Science Library 340, UAlbany uptown campus
GONZO: THE LIFE AND WORK OF DR. HUNTER S. THOMPSON screening - 7:00 p.m. [NOTE EARLY START TIME], Page Hall, 135 Western Avenue, UAlbany downtown campus(United States, 2008, 120 minutes, color) Directed and written by Alex Gibney, Narrated by Johnny Depp
Gibney provides a wildly entertaining, warts-and-all portrait of the hard-drinking, substance-abusing, larger-than-life Kentucky journalist who invented a whole new genre of American letters. The film was a finalist for the Grand Jury Prize at Sundance.NOTE: Alex Gibney will answer questions and offer commentary immediately following the screening of GONZO.
For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
April 25-26 2009 - The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
One of Southern California's coolest cultural weekend events, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, is set to take place on Saturday, April 25th and Sunday, April 26th. This free-to-the-public celebration of everything reading inspires will bring together an eclectic mix of story-tellers, popular musicians, celebrities, chef demonstrations and book-lovers of all ages on the UCLA's Westwood campus.
In its 14th year the Festival promises to deliver an expanded line-up of programming for the over 140,000 expected attendees. Highlighting everything from hot-topics in social media to an exploration of L.A.'s rich Hispanic heritage, the weekend will also feature over 100 speaker panels and six outdoor stages presenting Gustavo Arellano, David Baldacci, Bob Barker, T.C. Boyle, Mary Higgins Clark, Giada DeLaurentiis, Steve Lopez, Alonzo Mourning, Brooke Shields, Tori Spelling, Henry Winkler and many more. (For a full list of attractions, visit: http://latimesfestivalofbooks.com).
"The Los Angeles Times is proud to host the Festival of Books in celebration of great literature, great writers and great readers," said Times Publisher Eddy Hartenstein. "Add in music, food and fun for the kids and you can see why this extraordinary weekend will once again bring the city together."
Some specific highlights of the exciting weekend include:
The Hoy Cultural Neighborhood
Debuting this year is The Hoy Cultural Neighborhood which will feature LAUSD's "Cielo Nuevo" mariachi band, a Hispanic Icon Contest for kids and lively discussions about bilingual literacy.
--
The Comix Strip
The Comix Strip returns for a second year to give fans of comic books, graphic novels and manga access to exhibitors and retailers, alongside special appearances by industry legends Mark Waid and Kevin J. Anderson.
--
Target Children's Stage
For children, families and the young at heart, the Target Children's Stage will feature an array of fun distractions, book readings by Brooke Shields; Henry Winkler; Alonzo Mourning; Eric Carle (author and illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar); Yeardley Smith (voice of Lisa Simpson); and performances from Yo Gabba Gabba!, Playhouse Disney's "Choo-Choo Soul" and many more.
The Festival weekend will commence with the prestigious 29th annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes (http://www.latimes.com/extras/bookprizes/) awards ceremony on Friday, April 24th. The Book Prizes were established in 1980 by the late Art Seidenbaum, a Times Book Editor from 1978 to 1985, and will be hosted by Times Book Editor David Ulin (www.latimes.com/books).
General event information can be found at http://latimesfestivalofbooks.com or by calling 1-800-LA TIMES, ext. 7BOOK. Admission is free, but tickets are required to attend author/panel discussions and lectures. Because seating at these events is limited, tickets will be made available for a $.75 per ticket fee at Ticketmaster.com and through select Ticketmaster locations in Southern California beginning at Noon, April 19th until capacity has been reached.
In its 14th year the Festival promises to deliver an expanded line-up of programming for the over 140,000 expected attendees. Highlighting everything from hot-topics in social media to an exploration of L.A.'s rich Hispanic heritage, the weekend will also feature over 100 speaker panels and six outdoor stages presenting Gustavo Arellano, David Baldacci, Bob Barker, T.C. Boyle, Mary Higgins Clark, Giada DeLaurentiis, Steve Lopez, Alonzo Mourning, Brooke Shields, Tori Spelling, Henry Winkler and many more. (For a full list of attractions, visit: http://latimesfestivalofbooks.com).
"The Los Angeles Times is proud to host the Festival of Books in celebration of great literature, great writers and great readers," said Times Publisher Eddy Hartenstein. "Add in music, food and fun for the kids and you can see why this extraordinary weekend will once again bring the city together."
Some specific highlights of the exciting weekend include:
The Hoy Cultural Neighborhood
Debuting this year is The Hoy Cultural Neighborhood which will feature LAUSD's "Cielo Nuevo" mariachi band, a Hispanic Icon Contest for kids and lively discussions about bilingual literacy.
--
The Comix Strip
The Comix Strip returns for a second year to give fans of comic books, graphic novels and manga access to exhibitors and retailers, alongside special appearances by industry legends Mark Waid and Kevin J. Anderson.
--
Target Children's Stage
For children, families and the young at heart, the Target Children's Stage will feature an array of fun distractions, book readings by Brooke Shields; Henry Winkler; Alonzo Mourning; Eric Carle (author and illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar); Yeardley Smith (voice of Lisa Simpson); and performances from Yo Gabba Gabba!, Playhouse Disney's "Choo-Choo Soul" and many more.
The Festival weekend will commence with the prestigious 29th annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes (http://www.latimes.com/extras/bookprizes/) awards ceremony on Friday, April 24th. The Book Prizes were established in 1980 by the late Art Seidenbaum, a Times Book Editor from 1978 to 1985, and will be hosted by Times Book Editor David Ulin (www.latimes.com/books).
General event information can be found at http://latimesfestivalofbooks.com or by calling 1-800-LA TIMES, ext. 7BOOK. Admission is free, but tickets are required to attend author/panel discussions and lectures. Because seating at these events is limited, tickets will be made available for a $.75 per ticket fee at Ticketmaster.com and through select Ticketmaster locations in Southern California beginning at Noon, April 19th until capacity has been reached.
May 1 2009 - SUNY Plattsburgh Hosts Inaugural North Country Literature Festival
SUNY Plattsburgh will celebrate literature, writing and literary scholarship as it hosts the inaugural North Country Literature Festival on Friday, May 1 from 3 to 8 p.m.
The only event of its kind in the region, this festival is intended to benefit the SUNY Plattsburgh student population, as well as the local community. The NCLF will consist of panel discussions, guest authors, keynote readings and student writing contests.
According to NCFL organizer and Asssistant Professor Matt Bondurant, the festival will become an annual happening at the college, and this year's events will be just a start.
"In this, our first year of the festival, we are beginning with a modest slate of events, with the highlight being our keynote reading by authors Heather O'Neill and Jane Springer - both young writers with award-winning, internationally prominent first books," said Bondurant.
For more information, contact Bondurant at matt.bondurant@plattsburgh.edu or 571-332-4606.
The event is sponsored by the SUNY Plattsburgh Department of English, the Center for the Study of Canada and College Auxiliary Services.
Schedule of Events for NCLF, May 1:
3-4 p.m. Panel Discussion, "Graduate School for Literature, ELA and Creative Writing: Where Do I Begin?" SUNY Plattsburgh faculty and recent graduate school grads discuss their experiences and field questions from the audience on all aspects of graduate school, including reference letters, applications, funding, coursework, student teaching and the job market. Commons Room, Champlain Valley Hall. Free and open to the public.
4:30-6 p.m. Festival Keynote Reading: Novelist Heather O'Neill, author of "Lullabies for Little Criminals" and poet Jane Springer, author of "Dear Blackbird," read from their works. Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall. Free and open to the public.
The NCLF Student Writing Fiction and Poetry Award will also be announced at the reading. Winners will be selected by our keynote readers from a pool of student applicants. The top three will receive a copy of the reader's books. The winner will receive an additional prize.
6-8 p.m. NCLF Reception at the President's House. A reception for SUNY Plattsburgh faculty, staff and invited guests will follow the reading.
Website: http://www.plattsburgh.edu/
The only event of its kind in the region, this festival is intended to benefit the SUNY Plattsburgh student population, as well as the local community. The NCLF will consist of panel discussions, guest authors, keynote readings and student writing contests.
According to NCFL organizer and Asssistant Professor Matt Bondurant, the festival will become an annual happening at the college, and this year's events will be just a start.
"In this, our first year of the festival, we are beginning with a modest slate of events, with the highlight being our keynote reading by authors Heather O'Neill and Jane Springer - both young writers with award-winning, internationally prominent first books," said Bondurant.
For more information, contact Bondurant at matt.bondurant@plattsburgh.edu or 571-332-4606.
The event is sponsored by the SUNY Plattsburgh Department of English, the Center for the Study of Canada and College Auxiliary Services.
Schedule of Events for NCLF, May 1:
3-4 p.m. Panel Discussion, "Graduate School for Literature, ELA and Creative Writing: Where Do I Begin?" SUNY Plattsburgh faculty and recent graduate school grads discuss their experiences and field questions from the audience on all aspects of graduate school, including reference letters, applications, funding, coursework, student teaching and the job market. Commons Room, Champlain Valley Hall. Free and open to the public.
4:30-6 p.m. Festival Keynote Reading: Novelist Heather O'Neill, author of "Lullabies for Little Criminals" and poet Jane Springer, author of "Dear Blackbird," read from their works. Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall. Free and open to the public.
The NCLF Student Writing Fiction and Poetry Award will also be announced at the reading. Winners will be selected by our keynote readers from a pool of student applicants. The top three will receive a copy of the reader's books. The winner will receive an additional prize.
6-8 p.m. NCLF Reception at the President's House. A reception for SUNY Plattsburgh faculty, staff and invited guests will follow the reading.
Website: http://www.plattsburgh.edu/
April 15 2009 - Playwright A. R. Gurney to Discuss His Work
A. R. Gurney, major American playwright known for comic work that examines the manners and mores of the upper middle class, will deliver the 13th Annual Burian Lecture on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at 8:00 p.m. in the Recital Hall, Performing Arts Center, on the University at Albany's uptown campus. Earlier that same day at 4:15 p.m. the playwright will offer an informal seminar in the same location. The events, which are free and open to the public, are cosponsored by the New York State Writers Institute and UAlbany's Department of Theatre, and funded by the Jarka and Grayce Burian Endowment.
A. R. Gurney, who has been writing for the American stage since the 1950s, is one of the few major playwrights whose past and new work continues to be performed widely. Author of more than 40 plays, the Buffalo, New York native is best-known for trenchant and comic work that examines the manners and mores of the upper middle-class. Frank Rich of the "New York Times" said Gurney has "claimed John Cheever's territory for the stage." Gurney's skill at depicting the decline of the American gentry also invites frequent and favorable comparison with Chekhov.
As he approaches his 80th year, Gurney continues to capture critical attention and admiration with new work for the stage. Ben Brantley of the "New York Times" recently wrote, "...Aside from ... Horton Foote, no eminent American playwright of the last few decades rivals the staying power and productivity of Mr. Gurney."
Gurney has often paid tribute to his home city of Buffalo- from his very first published play, "Love in Buffalo" (1958), to more recent works such as "Crazy Mary" (2007), about a middle-aged manic depressive woman locked up in a pricey mental health facility, and "Buffalo Gal," the story of an aging half-forgotten starlet who returns to the beleaguered upstate city of her youth to pursue her love of theatre.
Classic works by Gurney include "Screen Play" (2005), "Mrs. Farnsworth" (2004), "O Jerusalem" (2003), "Ancestral Voices" (2000), the Pulitzer-nominated "Love Letters" (1990), "The Cocktail Hour" (1988), "The Perfect Party" (1986), "The Dining Room" (1982), "The Golden Age" (1981), "The Middle Ages" (1977), and "Children" (1974).
Gurney's newest play, "A Light Lunch" (2008), is a political satire about life under the presidency of George W. Bush.
For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.
A. R. Gurney, who has been writing for the American stage since the 1950s, is one of the few major playwrights whose past and new work continues to be performed widely. Author of more than 40 plays, the Buffalo, New York native is best-known for trenchant and comic work that examines the manners and mores of the upper middle-class. Frank Rich of the "New York Times" said Gurney has "claimed John Cheever's territory for the stage." Gurney's skill at depicting the decline of the American gentry also invites frequent and favorable comparison with Chekhov.
As he approaches his 80th year, Gurney continues to capture critical attention and admiration with new work for the stage. Ben Brantley of the "New York Times" recently wrote, "...Aside from ... Horton Foote, no eminent American playwright of the last few decades rivals the staying power and productivity of Mr. Gurney."
Gurney has often paid tribute to his home city of Buffalo- from his very first published play, "Love in Buffalo" (1958), to more recent works such as "Crazy Mary" (2007), about a middle-aged manic depressive woman locked up in a pricey mental health facility, and "Buffalo Gal," the story of an aging half-forgotten starlet who returns to the beleaguered upstate city of her youth to pursue her love of theatre.
Classic works by Gurney include "Screen Play" (2005), "Mrs. Farnsworth" (2004), "O Jerusalem" (2003), "Ancestral Voices" (2000), the Pulitzer-nominated "Love Letters" (1990), "The Cocktail Hour" (1988), "The Perfect Party" (1986), "The Dining Room" (1982), "The Golden Age" (1981), "The Middle Ages" (1977), and "Children" (1974).
Gurney's newest play, "A Light Lunch" (2008), is a political satire about life under the presidency of George W. Bush.
For additional information, contact the Writers Institute at 518-442-5620 or online at http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Application Writing Workshops for Teachers
SUNY Cortland's Seven Valleys Writing Project (SVWP) is seeking applications for its 2009 Summer Institute, a professional development seminar for kindergarten through 12th grade teachers from across the region in all fields of study.
Applications are due Monday, April 20. Two application-writing workshops will be held on Wednesday, April 8, to provide information about the application process. The first is 3:30-5 p.m. in the Ahern Room of the Broome County Public Library, 185 Court Street, Binghamton, N.Y. The second is from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. upstairs at Main Street SUNY Cortland, an extension facility the College operates at 9 Main St. in downtown Cortland.
The College's Summer Institute will take place from July 6-31 at Main Street SUNY Cortland. The SVWP provides participants with all books and materials including loaned computers. Each educator in the program receives six graduate credit hours through SUNY Cortland at no cost.
The SVWP's Summer Institute supports teachers' learning and writing as they develop research projects, personal writing projects and small-group leadership skills, said David Franke, associate professor of English and professional writing at SUNY Cortland. Franke is co-director of the SVWP with Brian G. Fay, a teacher at the Onondaga-Cayuga-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
"Writing is thinking, a process of exploring, evaluating and understanding," Franke said. "When used well, writing can deepen a student's relationship to the subject, the world and other texts like no other activity. This is true in all subjects and at all levels, even kindergarten."
Franke and Fay both teach the Summer Institute, which accepts 15 competitively selected and outstanding kindergarten through high school educators to attend. The teachers will hone their written expression and improve research education-related subjects. Subsequently, they will share their knowledge with colleagues and students back in their home districts.
In 2008, SUNY Cortland was approved for the long-term, renewable federal Department of Education funding to start this local branch of the National Writing Project as a means of helping outstanding teachers across Central New York improve their practice through writing and research. SUNY Cortland was chosen because of the reputation of its faculty and its role as one of the largest teacher-education programs in the country. The project, which has as its centerpiece the month-long Summer Institute, now serves the 79 school districts in more than seven counties throughout the region, including Cortland, Madison, Chenango, Broome, Tioga, Tompkins, Cayuga and Onondaga Counties. Applicants are required to have at least two years of teaching experience. Under-represented groups in teaching, including male elementary school teachers and ethnic minorities, will be encouraged to apply.
The Summer Institute participants will have an opportunity to develop individually as writers and to learn from SUNY Cortland faculty who are on the cutting edge of professional writing, new media technology, classroom teaching and learning techniques.
"The experience of Summer Institute is transformative," said Wendy Brown, a teacher at Lansing (N.Y.) Middle School. "Any writer or educator would flourish in this environment because it is both intellectual and nurturing together."
"The Institute was a fantastic way to meet and collaborate with other professionals in a respectful, fun and enlightening environment," said Anne Marie Heymann, an educator at Tully (N.Y.) Elementary School. "The course provided insight into more effective ways to teach writing, as well as ways to improve my personal writing, and I can't wait to take what I've learned and put it into practice in my classroom."
"This writing seminar has been the best thing I've done for my teaching career," said OCM-BOCES teacher Derek Villnave.
"The whole thrust is to support teachers so they can speak and teach from a position of personal knowledge, experience and passion," said Todd Howell, an Ithaca (N.Y.) City Schools educator.
Web site: http://www.cortland.edu/svwp
Applications are due Monday, April 20. Two application-writing workshops will be held on Wednesday, April 8, to provide information about the application process. The first is 3:30-5 p.m. in the Ahern Room of the Broome County Public Library, 185 Court Street, Binghamton, N.Y. The second is from 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. upstairs at Main Street SUNY Cortland, an extension facility the College operates at 9 Main St. in downtown Cortland.
The College's Summer Institute will take place from July 6-31 at Main Street SUNY Cortland. The SVWP provides participants with all books and materials including loaned computers. Each educator in the program receives six graduate credit hours through SUNY Cortland at no cost.
The SVWP's Summer Institute supports teachers' learning and writing as they develop research projects, personal writing projects and small-group leadership skills, said David Franke, associate professor of English and professional writing at SUNY Cortland. Franke is co-director of the SVWP with Brian G. Fay, a teacher at the Onondaga-Cayuga-Madison Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).
"Writing is thinking, a process of exploring, evaluating and understanding," Franke said. "When used well, writing can deepen a student's relationship to the subject, the world and other texts like no other activity. This is true in all subjects and at all levels, even kindergarten."
Franke and Fay both teach the Summer Institute, which accepts 15 competitively selected and outstanding kindergarten through high school educators to attend. The teachers will hone their written expression and improve research education-related subjects. Subsequently, they will share their knowledge with colleagues and students back in their home districts.
In 2008, SUNY Cortland was approved for the long-term, renewable federal Department of Education funding to start this local branch of the National Writing Project as a means of helping outstanding teachers across Central New York improve their practice through writing and research. SUNY Cortland was chosen because of the reputation of its faculty and its role as one of the largest teacher-education programs in the country. The project, which has as its centerpiece the month-long Summer Institute, now serves the 79 school districts in more than seven counties throughout the region, including Cortland, Madison, Chenango, Broome, Tioga, Tompkins, Cayuga and Onondaga Counties. Applicants are required to have at least two years of teaching experience. Under-represented groups in teaching, including male elementary school teachers and ethnic minorities, will be encouraged to apply.
The Summer Institute participants will have an opportunity to develop individually as writers and to learn from SUNY Cortland faculty who are on the cutting edge of professional writing, new media technology, classroom teaching and learning techniques.
"The experience of Summer Institute is transformative," said Wendy Brown, a teacher at Lansing (N.Y.) Middle School. "Any writer or educator would flourish in this environment because it is both intellectual and nurturing together."
"The Institute was a fantastic way to meet and collaborate with other professionals in a respectful, fun and enlightening environment," said Anne Marie Heymann, an educator at Tully (N.Y.) Elementary School. "The course provided insight into more effective ways to teach writing, as well as ways to improve my personal writing, and I can't wait to take what I've learned and put it into practice in my classroom."
"This writing seminar has been the best thing I've done for my teaching career," said OCM-BOCES teacher Derek Villnave.
"The whole thrust is to support teachers so they can speak and teach from a position of personal knowledge, experience and passion," said Todd Howell, an Ithaca (N.Y.) City Schools educator.
Web site: http://www.cortland.edu/svwp
Library Asks, "Tell Us Your Story"
Everyone has a story, and the library is listening. During National Library Week, April 13 - 18, Solano County Library is launching a project called Tell Us Your Story, in which the personal stories of Solano residents are shared in words, photographs and video on the library's website, www.solanolibrary.com
"Stories ignite our imaginations, and there's no place like the library to learn more about the things that make us spark," said Cara Swartz, deputy director for public services at Solano County Library. In 2008 the library was one of 18 California libraries to receive a Digital Storytelling Station grant. Along with $10,000 the library received video and audio recording equipment to implement a local digital story station.
Four stories kick off the project during National Library Week. Steve Jackson, a photographer who attended the Obama inauguration, uses photographs to tell his story of how it felt to participate in the making of history. A long time Rio Vista resident, Rudy Esperson, tells a surprising story of courtship on the beach of Ryer Island. Ilse Wurzbach's story is about a passion for California sun and cuisine, but also about the nostalgia evoked by the smell of freshly mown grass, a fragrance that reminds her of her hometown in Germany. The fourth story, in a nod to National Library Week, was crafted by library staff as a training exercise and tells the story of the library from the inside out. "Stories about our past and our communities help us figure out how we fit into the world we currently live in. The personal stories of people in our community help to bring us together and we find out that we share common ground," explains Swartz.
Free programs at Library branches will also explore the telling and recording of personal stories. Five authors will be appearing at Solano County Library branches between April 8 and June 3. Other programs for adults include a scrapbooking workshop, genealogy program, and a program featuring the art and stories of local artists. Children can attend an "I'm An Author" workshop or enjoy professional storyteller events. Teens tell their stories at poetry slam and open mic performances. A full list of events is available at www.solanolibrary.com
"Stories ignite our imaginations, and there's no place like the library to learn more about the things that make us spark," said Cara Swartz, deputy director for public services at Solano County Library. In 2008 the library was one of 18 California libraries to receive a Digital Storytelling Station grant. Along with $10,000 the library received video and audio recording equipment to implement a local digital story station.
Four stories kick off the project during National Library Week. Steve Jackson, a photographer who attended the Obama inauguration, uses photographs to tell his story of how it felt to participate in the making of history. A long time Rio Vista resident, Rudy Esperson, tells a surprising story of courtship on the beach of Ryer Island. Ilse Wurzbach's story is about a passion for California sun and cuisine, but also about the nostalgia evoked by the smell of freshly mown grass, a fragrance that reminds her of her hometown in Germany. The fourth story, in a nod to National Library Week, was crafted by library staff as a training exercise and tells the story of the library from the inside out. "Stories about our past and our communities help us figure out how we fit into the world we currently live in. The personal stories of people in our community help to bring us together and we find out that we share common ground," explains Swartz.
Free programs at Library branches will also explore the telling and recording of personal stories. Five authors will be appearing at Solano County Library branches between April 8 and June 3. Other programs for adults include a scrapbooking workshop, genealogy program, and a program featuring the art and stories of local artists. Children can attend an "I'm An Author" workshop or enjoy professional storyteller events. Teens tell their stories at poetry slam and open mic performances. A full list of events is available at www.solanolibrary.com
April 22 2009 - One-Day Writing Seminar with Communications Expert Ann Wylie - Detroit
Learn the tricks and techniques that will help you write copy that engages and persuades when the Detroit Chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/Detroit) hosts "Writing that Sells," a one-day writing seminar with internationally renowned communications expert Ann Wylie, on April 22, 2009.
This lively and informative one-day seminar is packed with tips and techniques that will teach you how to:
Think Like A Reader.
What's the secret to writing copy that gets read? Understanding how the reader decides what to read - and what to toss
Make Your Copy More Creative.
Steal techniques from fiction writers to make your nonfiction writing more dramatic and compelling
Cut Through the Clutter.
Master a seven-step system for making every piece you write easier to read and understand
Rev Up Readership.
Draw people into your copy, make your copy more accessible - even reach "readers" who won't read
About the Presenter:
Ann Wylie, president of Wylie Communications, is an internationally renowned communications expert who has authored more than a dozen learning tools that help people improve their communication skills. Her work has earned 40 communication awards, including a WIC Clarion and two IABC Gold Quills -- the Pulitzer Prizes of business communications. She has been designated an "IABC Recommended Speaker" for her top ratings at IABC International Conferences.
Networking dinner program plus the full day Wylie Writing Workshop - April 21-22, 2009
$195 - IABC Member
$225 - Non-Member
Wylie Workshop Only - April 22, 2009
$145 - IABC Member
$170 - Non-Member
Rates listed are in U.S. dollars.
Location:
The University of Michigan - Dearborn
Fairlane Center, North Building
19000 Hubbard Drive
Dearborn, MI 48126
For more information and to register visit www.iabcdetroit.com or contact Nancy Skidmore at 248.546.5490.
This lively and informative one-day seminar is packed with tips and techniques that will teach you how to:
Think Like A Reader.
What's the secret to writing copy that gets read? Understanding how the reader decides what to read - and what to toss
Make Your Copy More Creative.
Steal techniques from fiction writers to make your nonfiction writing more dramatic and compelling
Cut Through the Clutter.
Master a seven-step system for making every piece you write easier to read and understand
Rev Up Readership.
Draw people into your copy, make your copy more accessible - even reach "readers" who won't read
About the Presenter:
Ann Wylie, president of Wylie Communications, is an internationally renowned communications expert who has authored more than a dozen learning tools that help people improve their communication skills. Her work has earned 40 communication awards, including a WIC Clarion and two IABC Gold Quills -- the Pulitzer Prizes of business communications. She has been designated an "IABC Recommended Speaker" for her top ratings at IABC International Conferences.
Networking dinner program plus the full day Wylie Writing Workshop - April 21-22, 2009
$195 - IABC Member
$225 - Non-Member
Wylie Workshop Only - April 22, 2009
$145 - IABC Member
$170 - Non-Member
Rates listed are in U.S. dollars.
Location:
The University of Michigan - Dearborn
Fairlane Center, North Building
19000 Hubbard Drive
Dearborn, MI 48126
For more information and to register visit www.iabcdetroit.com or contact Nancy Skidmore at 248.546.5490.
April 25 2009 - The Future of the News: Journalism in a Post-Print World
Today the field of journalism is under siege.
In a Time's essay (Feb. 5, 2009), former managing editor Walter Isaacson wrote "the crisis in journalism has reached meltdown proportions."
And, yet, Inside Higher Education recently reported that applications to Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism have risen by about 40 percent since last year.
Where are we going to end up?
On Saturday, April 25, at 8 p.m. in Griffin Hall, room 3, on the Williams College campus, a distinguished group of journalists will consider the future of news and the institution of journalism.
The forum and a newly announced fellowship honor the memory of Jeffrey O. Jones (Williams '66), who as editor of the college's student newspaper displayed the journalistic flair that would distinguish his career in numerous media-related fields.
Forum on the Future of American Journalism
Williams College
April 25, 2009
8 p.m.
Website: www.williams.edu
In a Time's essay (Feb. 5, 2009), former managing editor Walter Isaacson wrote "the crisis in journalism has reached meltdown proportions."
And, yet, Inside Higher Education recently reported that applications to Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism have risen by about 40 percent since last year.
Where are we going to end up?
On Saturday, April 25, at 8 p.m. in Griffin Hall, room 3, on the Williams College campus, a distinguished group of journalists will consider the future of news and the institution of journalism.
The forum and a newly announced fellowship honor the memory of Jeffrey O. Jones (Williams '66), who as editor of the college's student newspaper displayed the journalistic flair that would distinguish his career in numerous media-related fields.
Forum on the Future of American Journalism
Williams College
April 25, 2009
8 p.m.
Website: www.williams.edu
Friday, April 3, 2009
April 15 2009 - An Evening with Author Steven Rinella
Colorado State University's Writers on the Plains will host an evening with author Steven Rinella as he discusses and reads from his newest book "American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon" on April 15. Part adventure story, part history lesson, Rinella blends tales of the hunt with historical facts about America's most defining animal and in doing so also tells the story of our country.
Rinella's talk will be held from 7 - 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 in the Green and Gold Room of the Hilton Fort Collins, 425 W. Prospect Road. His book is as much about who we are as Americans as it is about the actual animal. The event is free and open to the campus community and public. No registration or tickets are required.
The presentation will also include photos from the book. A question-and-answer session and book signing will follow the talk.
Rinella is also the author of "The Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine." He's a correspondent for Outside magazine, where he's been a frequent contributor since 2000. His writing has appeared in many other publications including the New York Times, The New Yorker, Salon.com, Men's Journal, Field and Stream, The Week, American Heritage, Bowhunter, Flyfisherman and Nerve.com. A native of Twin Lake, Mich., he currently splits his time between New York City and Alaska.
Writers on the Plains is an author program hosted by Colorado State University Libraries and sponsored by the Lilla B. Morgan Memorial Fund, Friends of Colorado State University Libraries and Hilton Fort Collins. For more information, visit: www.lib.colostate.edu/wotp.
Rinella's talk will be held from 7 - 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15 in the Green and Gold Room of the Hilton Fort Collins, 425 W. Prospect Road. His book is as much about who we are as Americans as it is about the actual animal. The event is free and open to the campus community and public. No registration or tickets are required.
The presentation will also include photos from the book. A question-and-answer session and book signing will follow the talk.
Rinella is also the author of "The Scavenger's Guide to Haute Cuisine." He's a correspondent for Outside magazine, where he's been a frequent contributor since 2000. His writing has appeared in many other publications including the New York Times, The New Yorker, Salon.com, Men's Journal, Field and Stream, The Week, American Heritage, Bowhunter, Flyfisherman and Nerve.com. A native of Twin Lake, Mich., he currently splits his time between New York City and Alaska.
Writers on the Plains is an author program hosted by Colorado State University Libraries and sponsored by the Lilla B. Morgan Memorial Fund, Friends of Colorado State University Libraries and Hilton Fort Collins. For more information, visit: www.lib.colostate.edu/wotp.
May 16 2009 - Greensboro StoryFest
NC Storyfest Inc. and Downtown Greensboro Incorporated has announced the 2009 date for the 5th annual Greensboro StoryFest will be Saturday, May 16, hosted in Downtown Greensboro.
Greensboro StoryFest 2009, presented by NC StoryFest, Inc., will convene one of the states largest storytelling festivals including interactive morning workshops, storytelling and even a chance for amateurs to tell a story of their own. Two main stages: Festival Park and the Cultural Arts Center’s Music Hall in Greensboro’s thriving center city will provide the setting for the expected crowd of more than 1000 festival goers at this free event for all ages. Attendees will hear award-winning storytellers share their craft and love of one of the oldest-known and most powerful learning traditions-storytelling. StoryFest 2009 will feature a line-up of six multicultural storytellers led by headliner, Donald Davis (nationally-known storyteller and Parents’ Choice and Publishers Weekly awards winner), and five North Carolina resident storytellers: Priscilla Best; Marvin Cole; Ron Jones; Charlotte Ross; and Yaeko Katsuki who offer humor, musical performances and personal and cultural experiences that have captivated audiences of all ages nation-wide. The festival will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at the outdoor stage in Festival Park and will culminate with an encore performance by Donald Davis beginning at 4:45 p.m. (ending at 6p.m). Festival goers are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets and enjoy this free, all-day storytelling experience with family and friends.
Also, returning by popular demand, Greensboro StoryFest will offer the chance for amateur storytellers to share an original short story or tale to an audience at no cost at the youth and senior Swapping Ground. A youth Swapping Ground will be held from 2:15-3:15pm on the Cultural Arts Center patio open to children of elementary to secondary school ages and a senior Swapping Ground will end the afternoon from 3:30-4:30pm in the Cultural Arts Center. Swapping Ground registration is from 11:30am-12:45pm during the StoryFest Pre-show event at Festival Park. Participation is free.
The festival will be preceded by four fee-based, storytelling workshops presented by headliner Donald Davis and folklorist Charlotte Ross at 9:45 a.m. and two additional workshops beginning at 11:15 a.m. led by Mark Twain impressionist, Marvin Cole, and African-American storyteller, Priscilla Best. Workshop participants will learn how to select and prepare stories from personal experiences and how to present them to an audience. Workshops are $15 each and will take place in the Greensboro Central Library. Pre-registration is required at www.ncstoryfest.org.
Greensboro StoryFest 2009, presented by NC StoryFest, Inc., will convene one of the states largest storytelling festivals including interactive morning workshops, storytelling and even a chance for amateurs to tell a story of their own. Two main stages: Festival Park and the Cultural Arts Center’s Music Hall in Greensboro’s thriving center city will provide the setting for the expected crowd of more than 1000 festival goers at this free event for all ages. Attendees will hear award-winning storytellers share their craft and love of one of the oldest-known and most powerful learning traditions-storytelling. StoryFest 2009 will feature a line-up of six multicultural storytellers led by headliner, Donald Davis (nationally-known storyteller and Parents’ Choice and Publishers Weekly awards winner), and five North Carolina resident storytellers: Priscilla Best; Marvin Cole; Ron Jones; Charlotte Ross; and Yaeko Katsuki who offer humor, musical performances and personal and cultural experiences that have captivated audiences of all ages nation-wide. The festival will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday morning at the outdoor stage in Festival Park and will culminate with an encore performance by Donald Davis beginning at 4:45 p.m. (ending at 6p.m). Festival goers are encouraged to bring folding chairs or blankets and enjoy this free, all-day storytelling experience with family and friends.
Also, returning by popular demand, Greensboro StoryFest will offer the chance for amateur storytellers to share an original short story or tale to an audience at no cost at the youth and senior Swapping Ground. A youth Swapping Ground will be held from 2:15-3:15pm on the Cultural Arts Center patio open to children of elementary to secondary school ages and a senior Swapping Ground will end the afternoon from 3:30-4:30pm in the Cultural Arts Center. Swapping Ground registration is from 11:30am-12:45pm during the StoryFest Pre-show event at Festival Park. Participation is free.
The festival will be preceded by four fee-based, storytelling workshops presented by headliner Donald Davis and folklorist Charlotte Ross at 9:45 a.m. and two additional workshops beginning at 11:15 a.m. led by Mark Twain impressionist, Marvin Cole, and African-American storyteller, Priscilla Best. Workshop participants will learn how to select and prepare stories from personal experiences and how to present them to an audience. Workshops are $15 each and will take place in the Greensboro Central Library. Pre-registration is required at www.ncstoryfest.org.
June 12-13 2009 - Mixed Roots Film and Literary Festival 2009 Unveils Schedule
The Mixed Roots Film & Literary Festival will take place at the Japanese American National Museum, 369 East 1st Street, June 12-13, 2009, in downtown Los Angeles.
In the Obama age, this free public event celebrates storytelling of the Mixed experience and multiracial and multicultural families including families of transracial adoption and interracial and cultural relationships.
The Festival, a fiscally sponsored project of the New York Foundation for the Arts, a non-profit organization, brings together film and book lovers, innovative and emerging artists, and multiracial families and individuals for two days of workshops, readings, film screenings and live performance including music, comedy and spoken word.
Today, 7 percent of all marriages are interracial, according to the Census. More than 6.8 million individuals identify as Mixed.
The Festival highlights include:
The Festival hosts the largest West Coast Loving Day party, a nationwide celebration of the Supreme Court decision which affirmed the right of people of different races to marry, on Friday, June 12, 2009 at 6:30pm. DJs spin decades of dance floor classics.
Writer and producer Angela Nissel (Mixed, Scrubs) will receive the Festival's award for inspirational storytelling of the Mixed experience during the Saturday night Loving Prize Presentation, June 13, 2009 at 6pm, which features musician Jason Luckett, actor Chris Williams, and comedian Maija DiGiorgio.
The Melting Pot Moms, a multiracial family support group, will host a Family Event on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 10:30am-12:30pm, for kids ages 3-11.
Hollywood actors and writers discuss Mixed in Hollywood in a special panel on Saturday, June 13, 2009 12:50pm-1:50pm.
Among the dozen films that the Festival will screen is the award-winning In the Name of the Son (dir. Harun Mehmedinovic), which was an Official Selection of the Festival de Cannes and winner of the AFI Directing Award. Making her directing debut is the popular You Tube vlogger Tiffany Jones of the Mulatto Diaries.
The Festival includes author readings by Bellwether Prize winning novelist Gayle Brandeis (The Book of Dead Birds, Self-Storage) and poet Neil Aitken (Winner of the Philip Levine Prize, The Lost Country of Sight, Anhinga Press), among others.
All the events are free and open to the public. The complete schedule can be found on-line at www.mxroots.org. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. On-line registration is now open at www.mxroots.org.
In the Obama age, this free public event celebrates storytelling of the Mixed experience and multiracial and multicultural families including families of transracial adoption and interracial and cultural relationships.
The Festival, a fiscally sponsored project of the New York Foundation for the Arts, a non-profit organization, brings together film and book lovers, innovative and emerging artists, and multiracial families and individuals for two days of workshops, readings, film screenings and live performance including music, comedy and spoken word.
Today, 7 percent of all marriages are interracial, according to the Census. More than 6.8 million individuals identify as Mixed.
The Festival highlights include:
The Festival hosts the largest West Coast Loving Day party, a nationwide celebration of the Supreme Court decision which affirmed the right of people of different races to marry, on Friday, June 12, 2009 at 6:30pm. DJs spin decades of dance floor classics.
Writer and producer Angela Nissel (Mixed, Scrubs) will receive the Festival's award for inspirational storytelling of the Mixed experience during the Saturday night Loving Prize Presentation, June 13, 2009 at 6pm, which features musician Jason Luckett, actor Chris Williams, and comedian Maija DiGiorgio.
The Melting Pot Moms, a multiracial family support group, will host a Family Event on Saturday, June 13, 2009 at 10:30am-12:30pm, for kids ages 3-11.
Hollywood actors and writers discuss Mixed in Hollywood in a special panel on Saturday, June 13, 2009 12:50pm-1:50pm.
Among the dozen films that the Festival will screen is the award-winning In the Name of the Son (dir. Harun Mehmedinovic), which was an Official Selection of the Festival de Cannes and winner of the AFI Directing Award. Making her directing debut is the popular You Tube vlogger Tiffany Jones of the Mulatto Diaries.
The Festival includes author readings by Bellwether Prize winning novelist Gayle Brandeis (The Book of Dead Birds, Self-Storage) and poet Neil Aitken (Winner of the Philip Levine Prize, The Lost Country of Sight, Anhinga Press), among others.
All the events are free and open to the public. The complete schedule can be found on-line at www.mxroots.org. Pre-registration is strongly encouraged. On-line registration is now open at www.mxroots.org.
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