Athens, Ga. – Social media has changed the way news is disseminated and gathered. The University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication’s annual Digital News Bluejeans Workshop on March 23 will help media professionals address those changes.
The workshop, which is designed to be a casual conversation on the serious issues confronting news gathering and reporting, will take place in the journalism building from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A discount on registration is being offered through March 18 due to support from CNN. Registration is $35 until March 18, $50 afterwards and at the door. Lunch is included in the registration fee.
“We call it ‘Bluejeans’ because we get down and dirty, concentrating on what will help journalists understand contemporary issues and improve their skills,” said David Hazinski, workshop program director and associate professor of telecommunications at the Grady College. “We want them to go back to work able to tell better stories.”
This year’s Bluejeans Workshop will open with a panel discussion focusing on the reliability of social media in news gathering. Panelists will include four experienced media professionals:
• Mike Cavender, executive director of the Radio Television Digital News Association and former vice president of news at several large market CBS affiliates, including Atlanta;
• Lila King, senior director for social news at CNN Worldwide;
• Wayne Freedman, Emmy-winning veteran anchor at KGO-TV, San Francisco; and
• John Hendon, award-winning assistant chief photographer at WYFF-TV4, Greenville.
After the opening panel discussion, three skills workshop sessions will be led by industry leaders. Hendon, who has won more than 300 regional and national awards in his 23-year career, will focus on video journalism. Freedman, a 51-time Emmy winner, will lead a session on reporting and anchoring. Abba Shapiro, an award-winning Premiere Pro non-linear video and film-editing trainer, will lead a session on editing.
The final session of the day will consist of a wrap-up and critique session where participants will have the opportunity to have their work reviewed by the instructors.
The Bluejeans Workshop is designed for any age group or news experience level. For additional information, contact Diane Murray for at murrayd@uga.edu, 706/542-5038, and registration is offered online at www.grady.uga.edu/bluejeans.
UGA Grady College
Established in 1915, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers undergraduate majors in advertising, public relations, journalism, digital and broadcast journalism and mass media arts. The college offers two graduate degrees and is home to the New Media Institute and the Peabody Awards, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious prizes for excellence in electronic media. For more information, see http://www.grady.uga.edu or follow the Grady College on Facebook and @UGAGrady on Twitter.
