Category Archives: Local events

SPJ chapter to hold Ethics Poker night

poker chips

The Alabama Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will play host for Ethics Poker next week.

Guests will learn to play Texas Hold ’Em for fun, using special decks that highlight the society’s Code of Ethics. Discussion topics include the code and how to improve it to meet the challenges of contemporary journalism.

Ethics Poker takes place at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at the Desert Island Supply Co., 5500 First Ave. N., Woodlawn district in Birmingham [map]. Organizers expect the event to run 2 hours.

The free event will include refreshments, but advance registration is required.

For more information or to register, email Chris Roberts at croberts@ua.edu.

Photo: Adrian Sampson (CC)

MAYOR BELL TO SPEAK ON TECHNOLOGY IN BIRMINGHAM AT ALABAMA SOCIAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION MIXER JULY 13


  • Wednesday, July 13
  • 5-8 p.m.
  • Old Car Heaven, 115 35th St. S., Avondale
  • Cash bar
  • Free!
  • RSVP: alsocme.com
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Birmingham mayor William Bell will address the state of technology in the city at the Alabama Social Media Association’s first ever Tech Tweetup. The July 13 event, which is free and open to the public, will also feature networking and a light dinner.


“ALsocme is proud to partner with the City of Birmingham, among others,” says Kristen R. Heptinstall, ALscome executive director. “And we’re thrilled Mayor Bell will be sharing the latest developments on Birmingham’s advances as a digital leader.”

The Tech Tweetup will be held July 13 at Old Car Heaven, 115 35th St. S., Avondale. Networking will be held from 5 to 6 p.m., with the mayor’s address from 6 to 6:30, followed by more networking until 8 p.m.

It is sponsored by My Green Birmingham (mygreenbirmingham.com), the city’s only green living site. A light dinner will be provided by catering sponsor Ted’s Restaurant (tedsbirmingham.com), a family-owned Greek meat-and-three restaurant and caterer on Southside. Cash bar will be available.

The Tweetup will also feature representatives from ALsocme’s 17 partner organizations.

Tickets are free, but attendees must register by visiting alsocme.com.

The Alabama Social Media Association (ALsocme), is an independent, grassroots nonprofit group, open to anyone who wishes to share ideas or advance their knowledge of social media and how it is used by businesses, organizations, and consumers. Its mission is education: empowering people with social media tools and knowledge to help them meet professional and personal goals.

For more information, visit alsocme.com or email alsocme@gmail.com.

ALsocme executive director Kristen R. Heptinstall is available for interviews to discuss Birmingham’s role as a leader in technology. To arrange an interview or to set up event coverage, please contact Erin Street at e.shawstreet@gmail.com or (205) 249-0750.



See Jane Write Presents: See Jane Tweet!

  • Date: Thursday, April 28th
  • Time: 6 PM to 8 PM
  • Location: Matthew’s Bar & Grill, 2208 Morris Ave. (directions)
  • Cost: Free
  • RSVP Required by April 26th to javacia@georgiamae.com

On Thursday, April 28,  See Jane Write will present its second event: See Jane Tweet!

See Jane Tweet is a seminar designed to help women writers discover ways to use Twitter and other social media tools  to promote their work, connect with other writers, and get published. Event speakers Erin Shaw Street and Kristen Record Heptinstall will also teach participants more about digital branding.

Erin Shaw Street (@erinshawstreet) is Associate Editor at Southern Living Magazine and board member of the Alabama Social Media Association (ALSOCME). She also has a thing for gold shoes. You can find her writing at www.erinstreet.com.

Kristen Record Heptinstall (@kristenheptin) is Senior Producer for Social Media and Community at al.com, executive director of the Alabama Social Media Association (ALSOCME), and a Walt Disney World fanatic. She blogs at southernwebgirl.blogspot.com.

See Jane Tweet will be held Thursday, April 28 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Matthew’s Bar & Grill. This event is free but you must RSVP by Tuesday, April 26 to attend. To be added to the participant list simply email See Jane Write organizer Javacia Harris Bowser atjavacia@georgiamae.com.

See Jane Write is a networking group for female bloggers, journalists, and creative writers in the Birmingham area. Birmingham native Javacia Harris Bowser started See Jane Write in hopes of creating an organization that would enrich, support and promote female literary artists in the Magic City through workshops, seminars, and social events.

See Jane Write presents See Jane Tweet
at Matthew’s Bar & Grill, 2208 Morris Ave.
Thursday, April 28 at 6 p.m.

6-6:30 p.m. — Networking (Time to grab some grub from the bar and mingle with other local female writers)
6:30 – 7:30 p.m. — Presentation (Erin and Kristen talk Twitter, digital branding and much more)
7:30 – 8 p.m. — Q&A session


Birmingham Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) Host 2011 College Workshop

You are invited to attend

The Birmingham Association of Black Journalists (BABJ)

2011 College Workshop

*This event has been canceled.  If rescheduled, updated informaton will be posted. 

  • Date: CANCELED
  • Time: 11 AM to 1 PM
  • Location: Heritage Hall at UAB [map]

This workshop will give college students an opportunity to hear from decision makers in media organizations—managing editors, and news managers with the ability to hire and fire.

Take this opportunity to learn exactly what skills are needed to work in the 21st century newsroom.  BABJ hopes to assist students in maximizing their potential for success in obtaining internships and entry level jobs.

Facts about the Birmingham Association of Black Journalist

The Birmingham Association of Black Journalists (BABJ) was founded in 1983 by a group of media professionals who wanted to encourage the employment and retention of journalists of color in the Birmingham area. 
 
The organization has grown from a dozen journalists who could fit around a table at the Birmingham Press Club to an organization of more than 50 members including print, broadcast news, public relations and marketing professionals.  We are affiliated with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ).
 
BABJ continues to promote the employment and retention of media professionals while seeking to provide opportunities for professional growth and development.  We also offer scholarships and guidance to students considering careers in the media.

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Food Blog South Conference on January 22nd

FoodBlog South Logo

New York Times food writer Kim Severson, culinary literary agent Lisa Ekus-Saffer to speak at New Southern food blogging conference

■FoodBlog South Conference
■January 22, 2011 @ 8 AM
■Woodrow Hall, 55401 1st Ave N [map]
■Individual Registration Cost – $135 [Register]  MOB members can save $20 by entering the discount code FBSMOB.

Food Blog South, a regional conference for Southern food bloggers, is set for January 22, 2011 in Birmingham, Ala.  Award-winning New York Times food writer Kim Severson, author of Spoon Fed: How Eight Cooks Saved My Life will talk about food writing; and culinary literary agent Lisa Ekus-Saffer of the Lisa Ekus Group will talk about how bloggers can become cookbook authors.

The day’s sessions also include:
• Food photography and styling taught by Southern Living senior photographer Jennifer Davick and Southern Living food stylist and test kitchen professional Marian Cooper-Cairns.
• Marketing your blog with Christy Jordan, blogger at Southern Plate (averaging 13 million page views a month) and author of Southern Plate: Classic Comfort Food That Makes Everyone Feel Like Family (currently #2 on Amazon.com’s Southern Cooking, Food & Wine category)
• Making the most of social media with two-time Shorty Award winner John-Bryan Hopkins, “The Foodimentary Guy
• Recipe development with Virginia Willis, author of Bon Appétit, Y’all! and former Kitchen Director for Martha Stewart Living Television, and Alison Lewis, cookbook author and recipe developer for clients like Southern Living, Cooking Light, and Better Homes & Gardens
• A panel on writing and blogging about Southern seafood after the Deepwater Horizon explosion
• “Hungry for More: How Blogging Keeps Customers Coming Back for More,” a session on building food businesses with blogging, by Wade Kwon of Birmingham Blogging Academy.

The conference will be held at Woodrow Hall in the historic Woodlawn district of Birmingham. Discounted hotel rates are available at The Hotel Highland located in Five Points South, near a number of great restaurants including Frank Stitt’s Highlands Bar & Grill and Chris Hastings’ Hot & Hot Fish Club.

Sponsorships, which include workshop registration and display space, are available at several levels. “We’re especially interested in getting some up-and-coming food businesses as sponsors—the start-ups that are still in kitchen incubators that are doing great things that no one knows about,” Chavis said. “We’d like to connect bloggers with these new, great finds.” Sponsors will be able to attend the workshop, including a special session on blogging for small food businesses and restaurants.

Additional details and registration information is at foodblogsouth.com.

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Alabama Media Professionals workshop on Oct. 14

Alabama Media ProfessionalsWhere’s the Money Now?

  • Alabama Media Professionals Fall Workshop
  • 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 14
  • Southeastern Conference, First Floor Meeting Room, 2201 Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N., downtown [map]
  • Cost: $35, $25 for members, $15 for students. Includes lunch and deck parking.  Make checks payable to Alabama Media Professionals and mail to Madelyn Bonnett, 2078 Crenshaw Road, Columbiana, AL 35051.
  • For more information, call Marti Slay, 655-1414.

Challenged by client cutbacks and layoffs, writers and other communications professionals are seeking new income sources. Where do you turn when the world seems to turn on you? What do you need to learn? Where are the new markets for your talents? Get the answers from AMP’s panel of professionals who have taken bold steps and will give you first-hand information. You’ll leave with ideas you can turn into cash by venturing into new media, learning new skills, and showing your clients how to compete in today’s fast-changing environment.

  • Dr. Wilson Lowrey, Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of Alabama.
  • Jennifer Walker Journey, Professional Blogger
  • John Phillips, Nighthawk Publications

Workshop Scholarships: Alabama Media Professionals will offer a limited number of workshop scholarships to individuals who have lost jobs or major income from client budget cuts. These scholarships are funded by donations from members and event sponsors. For details, e-mail Ann Halpern at halperns@charter.net.

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Multimedia training on Saturday at UAB

What: Parachute Training Initiative,  intensive hands-on multimedia training

Who: Online News Association and Birmingham Association of Black Journalists

When: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Hill Alumni Auditorium, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 1400 University Blvd. [map]. The large student parking lot next to the auditorium will be open and free.

Cost: $10, which includes lunch. Register online. For more information and to register, visit the site or e-mail training@journalists.org.

Sessions: Tailored specifically to the needs of independent, community, nonprofit, displaced and employed journalists, bloggers and students in Alabama. Session titles include …

  • Free Tools to Kick Your Site Up a Notch
  • Flip to iMovie
  • Emerging Business Models
  • Harnessing the Power of Social Media
  • What You Need to Know about Internet Law
  • Jumping from Print to Multimedia Journalism

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Panel discussion on journalism ethics Tuesday

Sent to us by our friend and MOBster, Dennis Pillion …

Journalism Ethics: A Panel Discussion

Ever wondered how far a journalist will go to get a story? How do news organizations decide what to cover? Should journalists live by rules of how to treat their sources and the public?

The Alabama Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is holding a panel discussion on journalism ethics.

Executive editor Hunter George of The Birmingham News and SPJ chapter president Dennis Pillion will make brief opening statements.

Archibald, Ott, Pollone, Roberts

  • When: 6:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesday
  • Where: The Birmingham News, 2201 Fourth Ave. N., downtown [map]
  • Panel: John Archibald, columnist, The Birmingham News; Tanya Ott, news director, WBHM (90.3 FM); Chris Pollone, reporter, NBC 13
  • Moderator: Chris Roberts, assistant journalism professor, University of Alabama, and author of a forthcoming book on journalism ethics
  • Cost: Free

For more information, e-mail Dennis Pillion at dpillion[at]al.com.

SPJ regional conference in Orlando, March 19-20

The Society of Professional Journalists’ regional conference will take place in Orlando later this month.

  • What: Society of Professional Journalists Region 3 Conference
  • When: March 19-20
  • Where: University of Central Florida, Orlando
  • Cost: $75, $65 for SPJ members. To register, visit the online form.

Workshops on the schedule include …

  • “The Future of Journalism (and Your Future in It)”
  • “How to Make Money Blogging”
  • “Freelancing: Strategies for Paying the Bills”

For more information, visit the conference site.

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Read more stories on the Society of Professional Journalists.

Red Cross new media presentation at IPSA on March 4

“Blog it and they will come … From Face to Face to Facebook”

Osborne will show how the American Red Cross has to change with the times, trends and population. Osborne will review what they are doing locally, nationally and internationally to solicit support and update media outlets including the role of “new media.”

Osborne was formerly an award-winning reporter and videographer at ABC 33/40 and one of the founding members of the news team. He has worked 19 years in radio and television in Tennessee, Kentucky, Illinois and Alabama. Osborne was the first black on-air personality at WCRK-AM in his hometown of Morristown, Tenn.

In 2007, Osborne launched a new career with the American Red Cross as the organization’s Public Affairs Officer for the Birmingham Area Chapter. Recently he was promoted to the senior management position of Chief Branding Officer. In that role, he is responsible for, among many other things, internal/external communications, community outreach, media relations, website/social media content and serves as the agency’s representative with Project SHARE which helps elderly and disabled citizens with utility bills.

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Media of Birmingham: “Commercial to feature former ABC 33/40 reporter Chris Osborne”

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