Register now for Sept. 21 Southwest Broadcast Newsroom Workshop – fees increase Sept. 10

posted on 8.30.2013

Stations should sign up now for TAB’s Southwest Broadcast Newsroom Workshop on Saturday, Sept. 21 in Dallas on the SMU campus.

Sign up now while the early registration fee of $55 person member station rate is in effect!  

Registration fees increase next week on Sept. 10.

The all-day Saturday workshop is sponsored in part by the SMU Division of Journalism, the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters, the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences-Lone Star Chapter, SKY Helicopters and Vislink Broadcast.

Nearly 40 presenters – from network news veterans to some of Texas’ best news professionals – provide a variety of workshop sessions all day. 

Here’s a sample of what’s available that Saturday:

Storytelling:  Network veterans Les Rose (CBS) and Byron Pitts (ABC) share their insights on building a story piece by piece – who to interview, what to ask, what visuals to get (and how) and structuring the piece so it becomes a memorable story that attracts and retains the audience.

News Promotions:  Greg Derkowski from nationally-known 602 Communications presents two sessions on improving newscast teases and promoting individual stories.

Social Media and Newsgathering:  Scripps’ Chip Mahaney shows on-air (and off-air) staff how to use Facebook to promote the station brand, themselves and the stories they’re covering that day.  

Other sessions feature DFW reporters explaining how they use social media to generate stories, promote upcoming stories and disseminate the news of the day.

Investigative Techniques:  Texas investigative reporters and producers share their techniques for generating stories and adding context to breaking news.

Covering Breaking News:  Using the West fertilizer plant explosion as an example, staff from several DFW stations explain the why and how of their initial breaking story coverage as well as which follow-up stories were chosen and why.  

Beat Reporting:  How to use beat reporting techniques and tips for enterprise reporting and to get those stories the competition doesn’t have.

Newsroom Operations:  A special session by Houston and Dallas assignments desk veterans on managing newsroom resources, tracking ongoing stories and developing new ones. 

FOI:  How to use the Texas Public Information Act and federal Freedom of Information Act to generate stories.

Newsroom Law:  Texas attorneys specializing in media law cover the basics of Texas libel law, reporter privilege, trespass, privacy, drones, etc. 

Another session covers legal issues unique to gathering news online or disseminating news on a station’s website.

Ongoing Coverage:  Network and local news managers discuss best practices for covering the ongoing story.

The Classroom Critique Session:  How often does one of your staff get a chance to have their story critiqued by CBS’ Les Rose?  

Bring your story samples on Sept. 21. 

We’ll pick five stories to review in this special session.

Technology:  A look at technology and newsrooms – where we’ve been, where we are and where technology is taking us.

Videography Techniques:  DFW chief photographers and newsroom managers offer their experience and suggestions for improving videography technique. 

Whether you’re a one-man band or a lens slinging, veteran news photog, bring story samples and get schooled (in a good way)!  

In another session, CBS’ Les Rose lays out his tricks of the trade for getting network quality results when you have a lot of time…and when you don’t.

Check out the schedule, hotel information and registration information here.   

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