Networking Nation: Insights from the #ASJA2019 Conference
The annual conference of the American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA) was held in downtown New York City earlier this month, with the theme of 'Collaboration Nation.' One of the opening keynotes was delivered by Adam Pawlus, executive director of NLGJA, the Association of LGBTQ Journalists.
Pawlus emphasized the importance of being conscious of how journalists cover LGBTQ people and using their chosen pronouns. He also pointed out that reporters still sometimes misgender transpeople or mislabel bisexual people, using an example of an old headline about the Stonewall uprising to demonstrate improvements that can be made.
Panelists at the representation panel stressed the importance of asking people how they identify rather than making assumptions. Accurate and respectful word choice was a topic discussed during the panel. Wendy Helfenbaum, a freelance journalist, suggested targeting associate editors rather than editors-in-chief when seeking freelance projects.
In a presentation on brand voice, Jennifer Goforth Gregory discussed the impact of punctuation and point of view on the formality of writing. Shorter sentences in second person with parenthesis or em dashes tend to feel more casual, while longer sentences in third person can feel more formal and business-like.
Richard Eisenberg, managing editor of NextAvenue, emphasized the importance of searching widely for sources in freelance journalism. He also pointed out that editors appreciate it when writers follow up on their submissions.
Wendy Helfenbaum encouraged writers to plant the seeds for future work by sending letters of introduction to publications that win journalism awards. She also emphasized the importance of tenacity in finding freelance projects, as it can take time to find the right assignment for a writer's expertise.
The importance of selecting reliable sources was emphasized during the conference. Evaluating sources critically and avoiding conflicts of interest were journalistic principles stressed during the conference.
Unfortunately, there are no search results providing information about the persons who gave lectures at the ASJA conference in New York City last month. However, the conference was undoubtedly a valuable opportunity for journalists to learn and grow in their craft.
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