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Washington Press Club Foundation Aspiring Journalist Program

Aspiring Journalists      

Fall 2021 series of programming presented by the
Washington Press Club Foundation

The Washington Press Club Foundation is pleased to host a series of webinars connecting aspiring journalists to Washington, DC reporters, editors and bureau chiefs. These programs are specifically designed for journalism students to gain practical insights into the changing culture and practices of media organizations as preparation for your future job search.

RSVP to programs@wpcf.org for your Zoom link

October 22, 2021   1 pm EST (10 am PST)
PUBLIC INTEREST OR NEWS BIAS: Why do Some Stories Dominate and Others Fade Away? 

Recently the story of a young, White woman missing from a camping trip with her boyfriend dominated news cycles.  Why? Does audience interest drive this attention or is the need to cover click-bait type stories coming from within the newsrooms?  Does lack of diversity in the newsroom play into these decisions?  Are newsrooms responding properly to the need for diverse voices to ensure fair and accurate reporting?  Of equal importance, are diverse sources, which add viewpoints that may not be traditionally covered in the mainstream media, included to balance these stories?  In our first webinar of the series our panel of experts will share how they navigate the fascination for these national obsessions with equal and fair news coverage  Also learn how to improve your skills by developing diverse sources in your reporting.

Moderated by Shawna Thomas, Executive Editor, CBS Mornings University of Southern California

On the panel: 
Kristen Go, Executive Editor, News and Initiatives, USA Today  University of Nevada-Reno
Astead Herndon, National Political Reporter, The New York Times Marquette University
Joshua Jamerson, National Politics Reporter, The Wall Street Journal  Ohio University
Catherine McKenzie, Executive Producer GMA3 & ABC News Live  St. Olaf College
Keith Woods, Chief Diversity Officer, NPR  Dillard University

Upcoming Webinars: 

November 5, 2021    1 pm EST (10 am PST)
POLICY AND POLITICAL REPORTING: Add Policy Expertise to Your Resume to Better Your Job Prospects

Understanding and interpreting policy decisions for an audience is useful for any reporter covering politics or national news. A background in policy or a specific beat will not only help your resume stand out from others but can also lead to some unexpected and successful career paths. Join us as our panel of seasoned journalists share how they used their knowledge of leading policy issues to land an entry level job or build a successful career as a policy expert and published author.  Learn how you can begin, through college course selection, personal study, or on the job experience, to grow your knowledge of policy and enhance your resume.

November 19, 2021    1 pm EST (10 am PST)
SOCIAL MEDIA:  From Reporting Tool to Managing Your Brand

Twitter and other social media platforms are mandatory for most working journalists.  How can these be used to broaden and improve your reporting? Where are the boundaries?  These boundaries shift depending on the policy set by individual newsrooms, how are these policies made and are they shifting over time?  As a new reporter how do you protect future job opportunities from your tweets of today?  Can you call out authority while protecting your online impartiality and future job prospects?  Can you tweak controversy without becoming a story yourself?  Join our panel of journalists who have found themselves working through all of these difficult questions.

To join one or all of these free Webinars, via Zoom, please RSVP to programs@wpcf.org to receive your link to participate.  Each programs lasts one hour and will include a Q & A session.  

Posted: October 14, 2021
Category: Careers, Student News