Next Friday, the Rio Grande Chapter and the Santa Fe New Mexican are sponsoring “Building Bridges: A conference on covering local communities in the media.”
When: Friday, July 6, 8-5
Where: Rotunda at UNM Science and Technology Park, Abq. (801 University Blvd, SE, Park North, 1st Floor-East)
The conference is open to the public and free to everyone, SPJ members and nonmembers alike. Arellano’s talk is free for members, $10 for nonmembers.
Here’s the agenda, to whet your appetite:
8am-8:30—Registration, continental breakfast
8:30-8:35am: Welcome
8:35-9:15 am: Introductions
9:15-10:15am: Richard Montenegro Brown, Imperial Valley News editor. “How The Imperial Valley News covers a border town.”
10:15-10:25am: Break
10:25-noon: Meet your community. What issues are facing the community that media need to know about?
Panel: Cindy Nava, New Mexico DIA and UNM student; Francisco Ronquillo, parental involvement in the Albuquerque Public Schools; Betty Miller, New Mexico Literacy Coalition, teaching basic English to New Mexico residents whose home countries range from Africa, Asia and Mexico.
*Time for Q&A
12-1:15pm: LUNCH
1:15-2:15pm: Using social media to get better stories and find sources: Henry Lopez, owner and founder of Lopez Web Works.
2:15-3pm: What does a reporter need to do to familiarize himself with the community he covers? Russell Contreras, Associated Press reporter in Albuquerque and NAHJ financial officer/VP for print.
3:00pm: Break/Conclusion and remarks
3:30-5pm: Gustavo Arellano lecture/ Q&A –$10 per person