WASHINGTON, DC--(Marketwire - May 6, 2010) - The Online News Association, the world's largest membership organization of digital journalists, will conduct its third Parachute Training initiative, a full day of free, intensive, hands-on multimedia training, on Saturday, June 5, in Birmingham, Ala., supported by a grant from the Gannett Foundation.
The expert sessions are tailored specifically to the needs of independent, community, non-profit, displaced and employed journalists, bloggers and students in the Alabama area, with help from the Birmingham Association of Black Journalists.
ONA's Parachute Training initiative is made possible by a $50,000 seed grant from the Gannett Foundation that enables ONA to use its considerable resources to update the skills of digital journalists nationwide and fill journalism voids in areas hard hit by media organization closures and job losses.
Registration for the sessions is free; a $10 fee covers lunch. The event will be held from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, Hill Alumni Auditorium, 1400 University Boulevard.
The program will be offered in two tracks and feature trainers who are leaders in their field. Session topics include:
Free Tools to Kick Your Site Up a Notch, led by Danny Sanchez, Digital Platform Manager, Tribune Interactive, Hartford, Conn.
Flip to iMovie, an introduction to shooting video and posting it on the Web, led by Josh Hatch, Director of Interactive, USA TODAY.
Emerging Business Models, led by Tom Davidson, Vice President of Business Development, GrowthSpur.
Harnessing the Power of Social Media, led by Robert Hernandez, University of Southern California, Annenberg.
What You Need to Know about Internet Law, led by Jonathan Hart, Attorney, Dow Lohnes, PLLC, and General Counsel, ONA (via Skype).
Jumping from Print to Multimedia Journalism, led by Peter Prengaman, AP Multimedia Operations, South Region.
Complete details and session descriptions are available at Journalists.org.
The Online News Association is the world's largest association of online journalists. ONA's mission is to inspire innovation and excellence among journalists to better serve the public. The membership includes news writers, producers, designers, editors, bloggers, technologists, photographers and others who produce news for the Internet or other digital delivery systems, as well as academic members and others interested in the development of online journalism. ONA also hosts the annual Online News Association annual conference and administers the Online Journalism Awards.
The Gannett Foundation is a corporate foundation sponsored by Gannett Co., Inc. whose mission is to invest in the future of the communities in which Gannett does business, and in the future of our industry. It supports projects that take a creative approach to fundamental issues such as education and neighborhood improvement, economic development, youth development, community problem-solving, assistance to disadvantaged people, environmental conservation and cultural enrichment.
Contact Information:
For more information, contact:
Jane McDonnell
Executive Director
Online News Association