Author Archives: Media of Birmingham

Next career: public relations

Birmingham journalists are facing tough times in the industry. Some are already out of work, while others are working harder than ever while facing budget and job cuts.

One option: public relations.

Washington blogger Lori Russo shares her ideas in a post called “Helping Reporters Out … In a Different Way” on her All Thoughts Considered blog. Russo worked previously as an assignment editor and sports producer at a Baltimore TV station. Now, she serves as vice president of Stanton Communications, a PR firm.

She lists attributes that journalists possess that would make them good PR practitioners:

  • Blinding Flash of the Obvious – You Know the Media
  • You Know the Anatomy of an Interview
  • You Know How to Sell an Idea

And she writes:

For journalists (or soon-to-be former journalists) looking to launch new careers, the field of public relations is a logical place to begin. Having made the transition from television to PR 10 years ago, I can confirm that there is a great deal of cross-over between the two industries and that a journalist’s skills translate very nicely into PR. We’re all storytellers – we just happen to be on different sides of the curtain.

If you’ve made the jump from journalism to public relations, let us know how it’s gone for you.

Video from Recycle This Event!

Thanks to everyone who came out for our April event at the Barking Kudu.

Be sure to check out the video, and if you’re in it, let us know! (Or tag yourself in the Facebook version, if we can ever get it to upload.)

SPJ Town Hall in Montgomery

Society of Professional Journalist - Town Hall meeting

The Society of Professional Journalists wants to restore the public’s faith in the press by equipping the public with tools to evaluate all forms of journalism and we want to increase the dialogue between the public and the press. SPJ feels that the more the public understands how and why journalists do their jobs, the more likely they are to understand the valuable role the press plays in democracy.

Montgomery is one of 12 U.S. cities holding this event.

  • Date: Tuesday, April 28
  • Time: 6-8 p.m.
  • Place: Huntingdon College, Recital Hall, Smith Music Building, 1500 E. Fairview Ave., Montgomery.
    Google map | campus map (PDF)
  • Cost: free
  • Moderator: Kevin Smith, President-Elect, SPJ; assistant professor of journalism, Fairmont State University
  • Program contact: Jenn Rowell, president, SPJ-Alabama, rowell83[at]gmail.com
  • Town Hall event site

Note: Wade Kwon will be on the panel and welcomes any Birmingham MOB members to tag along. We’ll leave at 4 p.m. and return around 11 p.m. Contact him for ride details.

Also, please note that SPJ is offering a six-month dues waiver for current members laid off from their full-time positions. Fill out this waiver (PDF) to apply.

April event: Recycle This Event!

Update: See video from this event.

Barking Kudu

  • April mixer: Recycle This Event!
  • Tuesday, April 21 (Earth Day Eve)
  • 5:30 to 7 p.m.
  • Barking Kudu, 2929 7th Ave. S., Lakeview [map]
  • Free (drinks: pay your own way)

It’s Earth Day Eve. Carols, presents, cards, stockings, but let us not forget the true meaning of Earth Day with these simple rules:

  1. Please reuse all banter and small talk.
  2. Save your beer bottles for funky vases.
  3. Keep the hot air to a minimum.

It’s the Media of Birmingham April networking mixer at the Barking Kudu in Lakeview. Enjoy Happy Hour prices and specials, whatever they may be.

Join the MOB any time between 5:30 and 7 p.m.

Anyone in media, advertising, PR and Web should stop by — please tell your colleagues, friends and enemies to join us. Complete details are available on the EventBrite invitation.

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

P.S. Please join our free mailing list for all the updates straight to your In box.

March event: All the Way to Hoover

Wine'd Down

  • March mixer: All the Way to Hoover
  • Tuesday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day)
  • 5:30 to 7 p.m.
  • Wine’d Down, Patton Creek, 180 Main St., Suite 212, Hoover [map]
  • Free (drinks: pay your own way)

Come all the way to Hoover to Wine’d Down in Patton Creek for our networking mixer. Wine, beer, martinis, Scotch — all available.

Join the MOB on Tuesday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day), any time between 5:30 and 7 p.m.

Anyone in media, advertising, PR and Web should stop by — please tell your colleagues, friends and enemies to join us. Complete details are available on the Evite.

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

P.S. Please join our free mailing list for all the updates straight to your In box.

AIGA: Using Social Media in Business Networking

AIGA Shop Talk

  • Using Social Media in Business Networking
  • 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tuesday, March 3
  • Cantina, 2901 Second Ave. S.  [map]
  • Free (lunch: pay your own way)

Panelists:

  • Jeremy Flint, Senior Web Designer at Kinetic Communications
  • Whitney Sides, social media/interactive endeavors at CBS 42
  • David Griner, social media strategist at Luckie & Company

Moderator:

  • Scott Fisk, associate professor of graphic design at Samford University

For more information, visit the event Web page.

Fox 6 lays off 10 employees

A third Birmingham TV station has cut jobs. Fox 6 (WBRC) cut 10 jobs Friday, as first mentioned by veteran former TV reporter Ike Pigott and later by the Birmingham Business Journal.

In January, NBC 13 and ABC 33/40 cut 25 jobs total.

Business Journal reporter and MOB member Jimmy Debutts wrote:

Fox 6

Fox6 WBRC cut 10 jobs, including on-air personality Chris Montana, on Friday.

Fox6 General Manager Lou Kirchen confirmed the station trimmed its staff in response to economic pressures. Kirchen would not comment on individual positions cut but a source familiar with the layoffs said Montana was among those affected.

Kirchen said the layoffs will not affect the station’s mission.

“Our news coverage will continue intact,” Kirchen said. “It was very difficult. We feel bad for the staffers and families affected by this.”

Local TV, owner of Fox 6 since July, has swapped stations with new owner Montgomery-based Raycom Media, with the transaction to be completed in the first half ot this year.

February event: Lunch for Success, Making Plan B

Urban Standard

  • February lunch: Making Plan B
  • Tuesday, Feb. 17
  • 11:30 a.m. – noon: networking
  • noon – 1 p.m.: lunch + discussion
  • Urban Standard, 2320 2nd Ave N., downtown [map]
  • Free (lunch: pay your own way)

Worried about the economy? Trying to survive a layoff? Looking for ideas on what to do next, or just some friendly support?

Join the MOB at Urban Standard at for our first ever lunch event, Tuesday, Feb. 17. We’ll discuss the job market, planning ahead, freelancing, networking and other strategies.

If you’d like to lead a discussion at your table, just contact us.

Anyone in media, advertising, PR and Web should stop by — please tell your colleagues, friends and enemies to join us. Complete details are available on the Evite.

Questions? Contact us or leave a comment.

P.S. Please join our free mailing list for all the updates straight to your In box.

[photo by Elaine Faith]

ABC 33/40, NBC 13 cut jobs

Two Birmingham stations cut 25 jobs in the past two weeks.

NBC 13

On Thursday, NBC 13 laid off 10 people:

Ten people in the news, sales and marketing departments were laid off this morning and their positions eliminated at NBC 13.

“As a result of the continued business recession, WVTM has been affected by lower advertising spending,” Vice President and General Manager Gene Kirkconnell said of the layoffs.

“Parting with valued employees is difficult,” he said. “I don’t anticipate anything else to come.”

ABC 33/40

And less than week before that, ABC 33/40 laid off 15 people (nearly 13 percent of its total staff):

Birmingham’s ABC 33/40 laid off 15 full-time and part-time employees Friday afternoon, including sports reporter Melissa Lee and meteorologist Brian Peters, a station official confirmed.

The cuts affected all areas of the station – including producers, engineers, photographers and sales representatives – but Lee and Peters were the only on-air personnel let go. The station employed 120 people before the layoffs.

“It’s a very difficult time,” ABC 33/40’s vice president and general manager, Mike Murphy, said Friday. “We regret that it had to take place.”

Photos from The Day the Mirth Stood Still

We closed out 2008 at Bottletree in December. Thanks to our volunteers Jeff Keeton for shooting the event, and Erin Shaw Street and Zachary Moore for hospitality.

Be sure to check out all the great photos, and if you’re in them, let us know! (Or tag yourself in the Facebook album.)

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