Conventions

Register Today and Save!

February 28th, 2012 by Onica   |   No Comments

Registration for UNITY ’12 is currently underway, with just 18 days left to save $75 – $100 in registration fees, hurry and register now.  In addition to saving money, registering early will give you early access to the Attendee service center where you will be able to do the following:

  • Update your registration information including adding guests, purchasing additional banquet and other event tickets, etc.
  • Be among the first to sign-up for sessions that require pre-registration, this includes sponsored breakfast and lunch session.
  • Begin networking with recruiters and scheduling appointments to meet in the Media Showcase & Career Expo.
  • Begin building your own convention itinerary including sessions you wish to attend, special events, and networking sessions in the Meetup Lounges.

Here are some upcoming deadlines to pay special attention:

Apply for Student Projects at UNITY ’12

February 1st, 2012 by Onica   |   No Comments

Every four years, UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. holds a joint national convention of the four national journalism associations which represent its alliance associations. This year, the UNITY 2012 Convention (UNITY ’12), will be a joint gathering of the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association (NLGJA), and the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA), including all media professionals and supporters of diversity in news media. The convention is expected to draw thousands of journalists, newsroom professionals, media executives and many who care about diversity in the news.

Students from across the nation will participate in week-long projects at the UNITY ’12 Convention in Las Vegas, August 1-4 at The Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center. Dozens of aspiring journalists will work side by side with professionals and mentors to produce solid and innovative journalism across media platforms in a “convergence” newsroom.

Student members of the Asian American Journalists Association can apply here.

Student members of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists can apply here.

Student members of the National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association can apply here.

Student members of the Native American Journalists Association can apply here.

An inside look at Unity Programming

November 16th, 2011 by Onica   |   No Comments
Blog posted by Robert Hernandez

While it sooner than you think, the deadline to propose a UNITY 12 workshop is this Friday, November 18. All proposals are welcomed, but to help solicit strong submissions co-program chairs Paul Cheung and Robert Hernandez interviewed themselves to create a collaborative Q&A blog post.

Q: How is this Unity programming different from previous years?
RH: Well, for me, we’ve reached a point in journalism that feels like we’ve risen from the ashes and are hungry to push journalism forward. I think the programming needs to reflect that by being progressive and diverse in every respect.

What it will be: Our sessions will include a lot of hands-on skills training; some crowdsourced best practices; some controversial panels that make us uncomfortable; some discussions that lead to practical take aways.

What it won’t be: Routine discussions about the lack of diversity. Routine PowerPoint slideshows where the presenter talks and the audience only listens. Complaining and harping that the “good ol’ days” are behind us.

This is an exciting time for journalism and this conference will not only reflect that, but prepare you for it. I will admit, Paul and I were disappointed with the past programming. That’s why we signed up. UNITY 2012 is for me and all the like-minded journalists that want to advance journalism in this exciting digital age – together.

Q: Talk about your experiences running AAJA’s and NAHJ’s conferences. What do you hope to bring over to the UNITY 12 convention?
PC: It’s important to be think demos and not memos. Instead of speakers telling us how great their project are, we want them to show us HOW it was done. At the AAJA conventions, we look for experts from within and outside of our industry. In UNITY 12, you can expert us to raise the bar in presenters.

RH: For the last six years or so I’ve been running the New Media track for the NAHJ conference… if you’ve attended, you’ve seen how we’ve doubled hands-on sessions and really have pushed to prepare our attendees with some great skills – from intro to advanced. I’m proud to be on the Online News Association board, where I know they were “inspired” by my NAHJ workshops and brought those types of sessions to its conference. I organized and was proud of the pre-conference workshops offered at ONA11. Paul and I will bring these types of workshops front and center to the conference. That said, we want thought-provoking sessions as well, not just skills and tech… but these thought-provoking topics need to be framed and presented in a more engaging way. And, because we are UNITY, we want every panel to reflect diversity as much as possible. Side note: There will be the Geek Out session.

Q: What advice do you give someone who wants to submit a panel/workshop/session for UNITY 12?
PC:

  • Be specific on a problem or a question you want the workshop to answer and not to be too general.
  • More speakers does not equal better panels.
  • Keep the tracks we have in mind.

RH: I agree with Paul. Also, like the modern news consumer, no one wants to be dictated to so make sure you factor in true engagement with the audience. Don’t re-hash old debates, but bring the topic and discussion forward. Offer practical take aways. Be passionate about the topic. Remember, this may be the only training a journalist gets in a year… make your session well worth it!

Q: Can you elaborate on the tracks (Current News/Hot topics, Multimedia, New Media, Platforms, Professional developments and Personal developments)? For example What’s the difference between new media and multimedia?

RH: Well, let’s try to answer the second half of the question first. We look at Multimedia as cross-platform storytelling. Something every journalist — regardless of whether they mainly work on print, broadcast, pixels, etc — needs to be able to do.

  • Examples: Photography for non-photographer, Producing an Audio Slideshow or How to shoot video with your pocket camera

New Media, for me, is about technology and how it advances our journalism. Its applying the latest technology to our daily jobs.

  • Examples: Real-Time Reporting through Social Media, how to use free webtools to do datavisualizations, the latest hardware and software or apps that help you simplify your life.

PC: Platforms, for me, is about development and topics that is specific to the platform.
Examples: How to you transport your skills from print to broadcast, the art of one person anchor / TV producer

The other tracks I feel are somewhat self-explanatory. While these are somewhat ‘traditional’ tracks to help organize our conference, we expect and will be looking forward to those progressive sessions that truly advance the discussions and lessons.

  • For professional developments: A session on how to write a business proposal or the reality of start-up business
  • For personal developments: A Rachel Ray like demo on how to eat healthy on deadline or financial planning
  • For current news: Ten innovative ways of reporting 2012 US Elections or the London Olympics.

Q: This a lot of work for just the two of you? Who is helping you organize and shape this conference?
We are not alone in this. The programming committee is comprised of a diverse group of journalists from AAJA, NAHJ, NAJA and NLGJA.

  • AAJA: Ted Kim and Victoria Lim
  • NAHJ: Elizabeth Aguilera and Hiram Enriquez
  • NAJA: Tom Arviso and Rhonda LeValdo
  • NLGJA: Sarah Blazucki and Barbara Dozetos

If you have specific questions, concerns suggestions… please join us for a Google+ Hangout Wednesday, Nov. 16 at 3:30PM PT / 6:30PM ET. Go here: http://bit.ly/unity12-hangout

To submit your proposal go to: http://bit.ly/unity12-proposals // The deadline for submissions is Friday, November 18, 2011

 

Take Action: Register for UNITY 2012 Convention!

October 18th, 2011 by Onica   |   1 Comment

Mandalay Bay Convention Center

Register early to take advantage of early-bird rates and a payment plan option.

UNITY Quadrennial Conventions are like no other gathering – they are the largest gatherings of journalists of color with media professionals and those who care about diversity in news media.  The 5th Quadrennial UNITY Convention – UNITY 2012 – promises just that plus more!

In addition to focusing on racial and ethnic diversity in news media, the convention will serve as a platform for the organization’s commitment to diversity and inclusion by also expanding to address issues around sexual orientation in the media.

The convention will feature professional development workshops, plenary sessions and an industry Media Showcase & Career Expo – including recruiting and exhibiting booths – as well as a variety of networking events.

The member alliances of UNITY: Journalists of Color, Inc. – the Asian American Journalists Association, National Association of Hispanic Journalists, National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association and Native American Journalists Association – will gather at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino inLas Vegason August 1-4 to participate in plenary sessions, professional development sessions, networking events, multicultural celebrations and more.  UNITY ’12 will offer an opportunity to network with industry leaders, journalists, media professionals and bloggers, as well as media justice activists; the convention is open to all who are interested in advancing diversity and inclusion in news media.

Starting NOW, using only your e-mail address (which must be the same as the one used for your association membership), individuals who register at www.unityconvention.org will receive an early-bird rate of $325 for members, $150 for student members, $500 for non-members, $250 for student non-members and $200 for partner/spouse/guest.  Registrants will also have the opportunity to secure hotel rooms and receive access to the attendee service center.

In addition, a payment plan option breaks down the early-bird registration rate into three payments: The first deposit is due at time of registration, a second payment is due on November 30th, and a final payment will be charged on March 15th.  This option is only available during this early-bird period.

Early-bird registration rates will expire on March 16, 2012; Register TODAY!

UNITY ’12 Coming Soon . . .

June 28th, 2011 by Onica   |   2 Comments

In 400 days, the UNITY ’12 Convention kicks off at The Mandalay Bay Resort & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nev., to be held from Aug. 1-4 next year!

The momentum and energy at the recent National Association of Hispanic Journalists’ 29th Annual National Convention at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resorts in Orlando, Fla., gave us a preview of what to expect at UNITY ’12.

NAHJ’s convention brought together nearly 800 attendees, who spent four days participating in skill-building training sessions, networking and interviewing with recruiters in the Job Fair Expo. They celebrated journalism and honored Mexican journalists, whose bravery in trying to simply do journalism was felt by all; it reminded everyone of the ties that bind us together in the important plight to tell the stories of our communities. Then there was the “See You in Las Vegas” closing event, where the energy and momentum for UNITY ’12 pierced through past the lighted, blinking, glitzy Vegas pins many attendees’ wore on their chests. The reunion, at UNITY ’12, could not come any sooner in 400, 399, 398 . . . days!

As the countdown continues, we look forward to the next two pre-UNITY alliance conventions that will take place over the next few weeks. The Native American Journalists Association will host its convention from July 14-17 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., followed by the Asian American Journalists Association, Aug. 10-13, in Detroit, Mich.

In the meantime, you don’t have to wait until Aug. 1, 2012, to connect with your UNITY family. Join the UNITY 2012 Convention: Las Vegas group on Facebook and stay tuned to new developments, make connections with old and new friends, get social and extend your UNITY ’12 experience beyond the four days in Las Vegas.

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