All posts by MiaLobel

Musings

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Launches New Local Journalism Initiative

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Lots of hiring is promised at the stations that received this funding. Seems like a step in the right direction for revitalizing local media.

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http://cpb.org/pressroom/release.php?prn=814

For Immediate Release March 25, 2010

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Launches New Local Journalism Initiative

Regional Collaborations to Counter Decline of Local Journalism

Digital Public Media Platform to Support Innovation

Washington, DC — The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) today announced funding for a major journalism initiative that will increase original local reporting capacity in seven regions around the country, and a planning project to develop an open information architecture to harness the collective power of the public media network.

CPB is funding the creation of seven Local Journalism Centers (LJCs), combining CPB and participating stations’ resources for a ground-breaking new approach to newsgathering and its distribution. The Centers will form teams of multimedia journalists, who will focus on issues of particular relevance to each region; their in-depth reports will be presented regionally and nationally via digital platforms, community engagement programs and radio and television broadcasts.

The LJC initiative builds on CPB’s long-standing commitment to journalism and its ongoing funding of public media news and public affairs content and initiatives, including Project Argo, a pilot effort funded jointly with the Knight Foundation to enable a dozen NPR and PBS stations to expand their reporting and increase their expertise on topics of local relevance.

“The Local Journalism Centers will enhance public media’s ability to meet the information needs of local communities at a time when access to high quality, original reporting is declining,” Patricia Harrison, the CEO and President of CPB said. “Public media has long provided independent and in-depth coverage of local issues and public policy. The need for that coverage is even greater today, and we have a responsibility to ensure that journalism can continue to thrive and serve the needs of our democracy.

“These radio and television stations are locally owned and operated and work in partnership with other community-based organizations,” Ms. Harrison explained. “Working together with stations across a region, along with emerging new digital journalism organizations, they can make a significant contribution to news gathering and distribution, which is critical to the information health of these communities.”

“In a time when newspapers and other media organizations are cutting back or disappearing altogether, public media is strengthening its commitment to journalism,” said PBS President and CEO Paula A. Kerger. “We’re putting our innovative spirit and strong local and national infrastructure to work for the American people in new ways – filling gaps in news coverage and using new platforms to ensure everyone has access to the most trusted source for in-depth reporting, analysis and investigative journalism. PBS is proud to collaborate with CPB, NPR, our member stations and emerging digital journalism organizations across the country to transform community engagement and information.”

In addition, CPB also announced funding for the Public Media Platform, a project administered by NPR, in partnership with PBS, APM, PRI and PRX. This coalition of public media leaders will develop a prototype for a flexible common platform to support public media innovation and collaboration. The ultimate goal is to collect, distribute, present and monetize digital media content efficiently, allowing producers and stations to devote their resources to reporting, content production and community engagement.

Vivian Schiller, President and CEO of NPR, said, “These two initiatives represent the twin paths that public media must travel – expanded original news reporting, and state of the art tools and technology to get that content into the hands of more people. CPB’s investments in these two innovative programs ultimately serve those goals, and the interests of the American people.”

Awards/Fellowships

IRP Fellowship deadline April 1

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International Reporting Project fellowship deadline approaching. Details below. -mia * ++++++++++++++++++++++++++*

Applications for IRP Fellowship in international reporting due by *April 1*

In the fall of 2010 the International Reporting Project (IRP) will offer up to 10 IRP Fellowships to U.S. journalists to carry out a project reporting from any country in the world outside the United States.

As part of its 2010 program, the IRP will offer one “IRP/Stanley Foundation Fellowship” that will be part of the overall Fellowships program. This award will be made to a U.S. journalist of any level of experience – including senior journalists – whose proposed international reporting project will focus on the challenge of securing loose nuclear material.

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to shed light on an “under-reported” topic and region of the world.

*Click the below link for more information on the Fellowships:*

http://internationalreportingproject.org/stories/detail/1508/

*Online application form is available at:*

http://internationalreportingproject.org/fellowship_apply.php

Musings

Attention all freelancers seeking HEALTH CARE

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Important message from the Freelancer’s Guild. This is BIG! -mia

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ATTENTION ALL FREELANCERS SEEKING HEALTH CARE

In the upcoming months, the Guild’s Freelancer unit will be negotiating a contract with a major health care provider that will offer rates far lower than what you could get on the open market as an individual.

It is vital that before we sit down to negotiate, we obtain the largest possible membership through your sign-ups because that membership size in turn will affect the amount of the annual rate unit that members pay.

So now is the time for any of you who are freelancing and facing the prospect of no benefits, expensive benefits or loss of benefits to join the unit so we have the largest possible group and thereby win the least costly and best possible health care plan for you.

Maybe you have health coverage for a few more months — if you were laid off by The Chronicle — or maybe you still are covered by your parents’ policy if you are a journalism student who is about to graduate. But if that coverage is due to end anytime soon, you are exactly the people who should be joining the freelance unit now so we can get a great health policy for you.

Along with the upcoming health plan, here are some of the benefits provided by the freelance unit for the fee of $144 a year:

College scholarships of $3,000 each for the 2010-2011 school year for members and their family members. Winners, selected in a lottery drawing, also will receive second-year scholarships of the same amount contingent upon satisfactory academic accomplishment. Part-time scholarships are also available. $500 for families that open a new 529 college savings plan. Juried press pass eligibility.

Free Lynda.com membership for two weeks — long enough to learn some new programs or skills.

Membership in the Bay Media Federal Credit Union, which features low- cost loans, high-yield savings, and safe, secured deposits, competitive rates on IRA/Health Savings Accounts and (HSA)/Education Savings Accounts.

Union Plus, which offers mortgage assistance, discounts on legal counsel, tax services, car rentals, prescription drugs, electronics, and more, a low-cost credit card — and a 10 percent discount on AT&T service — great for those who use iPhones!

Free admission to monthly seminars on topics of value to freelancers, from filing taxes to pitching a non-fiction book to driving up traffic to your Web-based work.

You will become part of a group that advocates for better conditions for freelancers, promotes high standards in an age where journalism quality is deteriorating and allows members help one another deal with the hurdles of self-employment.

Please consider joining today. Log onto guildfreelancers.org and click on “Join Us.” Questions? Call Rebecca at 510-472-3024.

In solidarity, Rebecca Rosen Lum, Unit Chair Susan Sward, member, Guild Freelancers

Events, Freelance Cafe West

If Not the Chronicle, Then What? SF Commonwealth Club event TONIGHT 3/24, 6pm

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Hey folks. Another media event for your perusal. This one is TONIGHT! Details below. – Mia

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https://tickets.commonwealthclub.org/auto_choose_ga.asp?area=1&shcode=1716

*If Not the Chronicle, Then What?*

*Location:* SF Club Office *Time:* 6 p.m. check-in, *6:30 p.m. program*, 7:30 p.m. networking reception *Cost:* $12 members, $20 non-members, $7 students (with valid ID)

*Jeff Hunt*, Editor, Muni Diaries *Brock Keeling*, Editor, SFist.com *Michael Maness*, VP of Innovation and Design, Gannett Co. Inc.; Director, The Bold Italic *Robin Sloan*, Media Partnerships, Twitter – Moderator

*New Faces of SF Media*

Sites like SFist.com and the Muni Diaries are doing more than just keeping San Franciscans in the know about the latest bar openings or bus brawls. They represent the shift to a new media model based on the interest and participation of the many; gatekeepers no longer decide what the masses want to see or hear, or who gets to give it to them. With heavy-hitting new media companies like Twitter, Yelp, Digg, Wikipedia and Flickr headquartered in the city, it’s no wonder that San Francisco is widely regarded as the home of new media. Get an insider’s perspective from the new leaders of media in SF.

Where do you go for your daily local news jolt? Whose writing is so fresh, witty, hilarious or gutsy that you savor each piece like it’s the last of the cake? After the panel, we are hosting up-and-coming media personalities of San Francisco, invitation provided by you. Tell us who just HAS to be there, then vote for who should be crowned king or queen of SF new media. Come to the party to meet, mingle and gush your fandom in person! Vote for your Fav by March 18th: Email mkim@commonwealthclub.org, or tweet your pick with #inforumsf. To check out the current nominees, go to Links below.

Cecilia Vega(Bio) *KGO-7 *

Brock Keeling http://sfist.com/staff.php *SFist *

Melissa Griffin http://sweetmelissa.typepad.com/ (Blog) *Blogger/SF Examiner*

Jaimal Yogis http://www.jaimalyogis.com/ (Bio) *San Francisco Magazine*

Markos Moulitsas Zתniga http://www.dailykos.com/ *DailyKos*

Michael Bauer http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/mbauer/bios *SF Chronicle*

*MissionMission http://missionmission.wordpress.com/*

Mark Frauenfedler http://boingboing.net/markf.html *Boing Boing*

Lea Troeh http://theweekintro.blogspot.com/ (Blog) *The Week Intro*

Mac McClelland http://motherjones.com/authors/mac-mcclelland (Bio) *Mother Jones*

Andy Wright(Articles) *SF Weekly*

Vanessa Carr http://missionlocal.org/ *Mission Local*

Tana Ganeva http://www.alternet.org/authors/9078/ (Blog) *AlterNet.org*

*Laughing Squid http://laughingsquid.com/*

*Curbed SF http://sf.curbed.com/*

*Eater SF http://sf.eater.com/*

Dyanna Pure and JT Paradox http://www.thesfstyle.com/ *The SF Style*

Alexia Tsotsis *SF Weekly*

Joe Eskenazi http://www.sfweekly.com/content/result/author:613068 *SF Weekly*

Lois Beckett *SF Weekly*

Broke-ass Stuart http://brokeassstuart.com/about/ *brokeassstuart.com*

Jeff Hunt http://www.munidiaries.com/about-md/ *munidiaries.com*

Did we forget anyone? Email in with your choice! http://thechefspalate.com/

Awards/Fellowships

Four $20,000 Prizes for Excellence in Reporting – Nominations Open for National Academies Communication Awards

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Big money available for excellent reporting in science, engineering, and medicine. Nomination deadline 4/14. -mia

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[image: http://www.nakfi.org/images/newsletter/header.jpg]

The National Academies Keck *Futures Initiative *has started accepting nominations for the 2010 National Academies Communication Awards for excellence in reporting and communicating science, engineering, and/or medicine to the public during 2009. The National Academies Communication Awards are one component of the National Academies Keck *Futures Initiative, *a far-reaching initiative designed to realize the untapped potential of interdisciplinary research. A $20,000 prize will be awarded in each of the following categories:

– Book – Magazine/Newspaper – Online – Film/Radio/TV

*ELIGIBILITY*

To be considered for a 2010 National Academies Communication Award, the work should:

– be accessible and appeal to a broad, public audience; – demonstrate clarity, creativity, originality, and accuracy; – address issues and/or advances in science, engineering, and/or medicine; – cover topics that have an impact on society; and – have been published, broadcast, or released in 2009, in the United States and in English.

*NOMINATION FORM*

Nominations must be submitted on the online nomination form at www.keckfutures.org; copies of the nominated work must be submitted as described for each category. Self nominations are permitted; there is no nomination fee. Please submit a nomination to the category that most closely describes the work(s) being nominated.

*BOOK*

Books published in the U.S. in 2009 will be considered. Please submit two copies of the book. The publisher and year of publication must be printed on the book. Advance publication dates must be verified by the publisher.

*MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPER*

Works in this category must be published in the U.S. in 2009, and may comprise a single article, or up to as many as four articles that are unrelated or that constitute a formal series. Please submit three original copies of each article clearly showing the byline and the name and date of the publication *and* a signed copyright release that authorizes the National Academies Keck *Futures Initiative* to reproduce the article for review purposes. If you are not able to provide copyright release, please send an additional 20 copies of the article(s), or a PDF file of the article(s).

*FILM/RADIO/TV*

Submissions may include a single story or movie; a series; or as many as six brief, unrelated stories that aired on a U.S. station or were released in theaters or on DVD in 2009. Please submit three CDs or DVDs labeled with the nominee’s name(s), the titles of stories included on the DVD or CD, and the original airdate (with the name of the U.S. station and the program on which the stories aired) or release date. These must be submitted in protective cases *and *include a signed copyright release that authorizes the National Academies Keck *Futures Initiative* to reproduce the CD or DVD for review purposes. Submission of copies of the program transcript are also encouraged. If you are not able to provide copyright release, then please submit an additional 20 copies of the CD or DVD.

*ONLINE*

Works created specifically for the Web, which were posted in English online in 2009, will be considered. Entries may include as many as six online articles, hypertext documents, podcasts, commentaries, etc., or any combination thereof. Preference will be given to nominations that make the best use of the medium, including multi-media presentations that incorporate a combination of videos, blog entries, interactive features, and/or other capabilities unique to this communication vehicle. Include links to the unique URLs for each work(s) that will be active through October 1, 2010.

*This Year’s Selection Committee*

Visit www.keckfutures.org/awards for a complete listing of this year’s Selection Committee.

Nominations must be completed online no later than April 14, 2010. All supporting materials must be postmarked by April 14. Please click here http://www.keckfutures.org/awards/nominate.htmlfor more information about the nominations process.

If you have questions please email commawards@nas.edu

Events, Freelance Cafe West

SF Public Press Print-Raising Party, 4/3 6pm, SF

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*SF Public Press event coming up – details below. -mia *

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*Start the presses! — SF Public Press is going to print.*

Come to a print-raising party at Tonic on Saturday, April 3, and join the leading grassroots campaign to advance local, ad-free, public-interest journalism in San Francisco.

All tips collected during the event will help SF Public Press produce, print and distribute a pilot newspaper this spring. We hope you’ll contribute!

We’ll offer chances to win one-year Public Press memberships and free copies of McSweeney’s award-winning San Francisco Panorama!

*WHAT: SF Public Press Print-raising Party WHEN: Saturday, April 3, 6-9 p.m. WHERE: Tonic, 2360 Polk St. (at Union) in San Francisco* RSVP at eventbriteto help us plan accordingly.

Events, Freelance Cafe East

Town Hall Forum on Local News TOMORROW – 3/25 5:30pm, BOWLING at 8pm

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Hey folks. Free SPJ event tomorrow, 3/25 at 5:30pm, bowling to follow at 8pm. Details below. NOTE the time change for bowling.-Mia Town Hall Forum: “Your Views on Local News”

Community members will have a chance to discuss their views about the local news with a dozen leading figures in journalism, education, business and politics at a town hall meeting produced by the Society of Professional Journalists on Thursday, March 25.

*When:* 5:30-7:30 p.m.

*Where: *Koret Auditorium of the main San Francisco Public Library in Civic Center.

*How much:* Admission is free.

We’ll discuss how the current crisis in the news industry creates opportunities for the public to help shape new kinds of journalism that contribute to a vibrant democracy. The conversation will explore strategies and business models for ensuring robust and reliable news coverage in a changing economic, technological and social environment.

Participants will include:

– *Craig Aaron*, senior program director, FreePress

– *Mark Adkins*, president, the San Francisco Chronicle

– *David Callaway*, editor in chief, MarketWatch.com

– *Sandy Close*, executive director, New America Media

– *Paul Connolly*, senior vice president, the TCC Group, manager of the Challenge Fund for Journalism

– *Ron Dellums*, Oakland mayor and former congressman

– *Glenn Frankel*, Pulitzer Prize-winning Stanford professor and former Washington Post London Bureau chief

*- Lisa Frazier*, publisher, Bay Area News Project

– *Dr. Dina Ibrahim*, assistant professor for Broadcast and Electronic Communications, San Francisco State

– *Pat Kenealy*, managing director, IDG Ventures SF

– *Barry Parr*, media analyst and entrepreneurial publisher, Coastsider.com; and

– *Venise Wagner*, Journalism Department chair, San Francisco State

– ***Sandip Roy* and *Hana Baba* of public radio station KALW-FM will moderate. The program will be recorded and broadcast by SFGTV, San Francisco’s government channel.

http://www.spjnorcal.org/blog/2010/03/20/your-views-on-local-news%E2%80%9D-8212-a-town-hall-forum/#more-269

Audio/Radio, Awards/Fellowships

Gates now open for AIR

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Two week-long digital audio training workshops in NYC. You do not have to be an AIR member to apply. Travel stipend available for out of town AIR members. Details below. -Mia

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Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. [image: Association of Independents in Radio] Stir the sound of your imagination. *Apply for AIR’s Sounds Elemental producer intensives. * We’re looking for 10 producers to step into the void as AIR, in conjunction with Harvestworks Digital Media Arts Center in New York City, once again offers two week-long intensives for mid to advanced level audio producers. You do not have to be a member of AIR to apply. This opportunity may be especially appealing to those working primarily in traditional narrative and documentary formats eager to experiment with unconventional approaches to assembling sound and telling story.

This program, entering its 4th year, boasts a diverse and exciting roster of alumni working across a broad range of disciplines, from ATC and Marketplace reporters to musicians and sound artists.

We will accept 10 students through a competitive application process for each class: Sounds Elemental: Earth, to be held June 21-25, 2010, and Sounds Elemental: Sky, to be held November 15-19, 2010 at Harvestworks in New York City. The cost is $650. AIR members living outside of New York City who are accepted are eligible for a small stipend to help underwrite the cost of the intensive and travel to NYC.

We will accept applications for both sessions now.

*>> THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING FOR THE JUNE SESSION, SOUNDS ELEMENTAL: EARTH IS MONDAY, MAY 3. <<*

Producers benefit from intensely individualized attention from renowned sound artists-teachers, NYC-based composer and performer Michael Schumacher, Harvestworks’ Hans Tammen, and AIR member Brenda Hutchinson who teaches and performs extensively around the U.S. and overseas.

*Visit our website to learn more and apply* *.*

If you have questions, don’t hesitate to be in touch.

Best, erin

*Links:* AIR: www.airmedia.org Harvestworks: www.harvestworks.org To apply: www.airmedia.org/PageInfo.php?CatID=5&PageID=562

+++AIR is everywhere.+++ Erin Mishkin Membership Director Association of Independents in Radio

erin@airmedia.org www.airmedia.org

Events, Freelance Cafe West

Let’s Bowl! Thursday, March 25, 7pm

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Instead of Happy Hour this Thursday, Freelance Cafe will be bowling instead. We’ll have our normal Happy Hour in early April in honor of a visit from our founder, Mia Lobel.  Keep your eye out for details soon.

As for Bowling Thursday, feel free to stop by and bowl with us or just socialize.  We’ll have a Freelance Cafe sign set up at the lane we get.  (or wherever we are waiting if we don’t get a lane right away).

Thursday, March 25, 2010 7:00pm – 9:00pm Yerba Buena Bowling Center 750 Folsom Street, San Francisco

The cost is $6/person/game or $35/lane/hour  so we’ll just do whatever is cheapest depending on how many bowlers we get.

See you there! -Rori 415-730-7380

Awards/Fellowships

SEJ’s Annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment

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Deadline approaching for the Society of Environmental Journalists Annual Awards. Details below. -mia

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April 1 is the last day to enter SEJ’s Annual Awards for Reporting on the Environment – that’s less than two weeks away.

Entering is easier this year because you can do it online ( http://www.sej.org/initiatives/awards-fellowships/sej-annual-awards-reporting-environment).

The contest honors outstanding environmental coverage in 10 categories, each winning a $1,000 prize, and a student prize ($250 plus up to $750 travel/lodging for the first-place winner of the student prize).

Eligibility, rules, FAQs – everything you need to know to enter the contest is at: http://www.sej.org/initiatives/awards/2010-sej-awards-reporting-environment.

When you’re ready to enter, click the “How to Enter” link. You’ll find the online forms listed as links following the instructions. Just click on the category you want to enter.

Winners will be honored at SEJ’s 20th Annual Conference, October 13, 2010, at the University of Montana, Missoula.

Strengthening the quality, reach and viability of journalism across all media to advance public understanding of environmental issues

Chris Rigel Director of Programs and Operations Society of Environmental Journalists P.O. Box 2492 Jenkintown, PA 19046 T: (215) 884-8177 F: (215) 884-8175 www.sej.org

Follow SEJ on Twitter: www.twitter.com/sejorg http://www.airmedia.org