Twin Cities Media Alliance
Be the media! Classes, training and community journalism
August Update: new classes, Media Skills Fellowships
We’re having a great summer here at the Daily Planet. Summer is usually a slow time of year for readership, but the Daily Planet’s readership is at an all-time high: over 300,000 pageviews last month, and over 150,000 unique visitors. That’s an increase of over 100% for pageviews, and over 80% for visitors, over July of 2012.
We have been working hard to make the Daily Planet website more user-friendly, and our stories more engaging. If you have suggestions for new features or stories that you would like to see in the Daily Planet, please send them to me (jeremy@tcmediaalliance.org), or directly to our editors. Scroll down to see our editors reports and a list of upcoming classes and workshops.
Media Skills Fellowships:
We are currently accepting applications for our fall Media Skills Fellowship program:
Who: Ten people, diverse in race, gender, age, ethnicity and life experience, who want to learn and share skills to use on behalf of their community.
What: Sharing and learning a variety of media skills, including basic reporting, use of social media and basic photo and video skills
Why: To use these skills for better communication in/about/on behalf of your community. Examples: building and maintaining a website for your church, reporting on your youth farm in TC Daily Planet, creating a video to tell parents about autism or hearing difficulties, setting up Facebook accounts for families in your building, etc.
When: Ten sessions, 6:00-8:30 p.m. (light dinner included), on Wednesday in September-November.
We will work as a small community that models and practices good storytelling and communication skills, with fellows contributing their insights and skills. Lolla Mohammed Nur and Mary Turck will facilitate the sessions, sharing resources and information and teaching specific media skills. Participants will receive a stipend, with half of the stipend paid after the fifth session, and half paid upon completion.
Required skills and qualifications include a strong connection to a community or communities in the Twin Cities, and participation in community groups/organizations; a commitment to use media skills on behalf of your community, and the ability to speak, read and write in English.
If you are interested, please contact Mary Turck at editor@tcdailyplanet.net to request an application. Deadline for applications is August 15.
And please remember: your support of the Twin Cities Media Alliance makes all of this work possible. You can become a member or extend your membership by making adonation of $10 or more at our secure online donation page, or sending a check (in any amount) to TCMA, 2600 E. Franklin #2, Minneapolis MN 55406.
Thanks,
Jeremy Iggers, executive director
Staff reports:
Arts Editor Jay Gabler reports:August will be a busy month, with our Fringe coverage ramping up; be sure to follow our Fringe Bloggers page for the latest incisive news and reviews from Matthew A. Everett (former cover star of Southwest Journal for being one of Minnesota’s most avid Fringe-goers), Morgan Halaska, Wendy Gennaula, Kate Hoff, Phillip Andrew Bennett Low, Rachel Reiva, our new teen bloggers, and me! Another project I’ve been working on is our new Get Started guide: a handy one-stop guide for anyone and everyone who wants to use the Twin Cities Daily Planet as a tool for community connection. Check it out; you might be surprised at how many options and features we have! Contact jay at jay@tcdailyplanet.net.
Editor Mary Turck reports:
August may be a slow news month, but there’s no down time at the Daily Planet! Now is the time to apply for the fall round of Media Skills Fellowships (application deadline=August 15!). Please tell anyone who is a likely candidate to email editor@tcdailyplanet.net
Community Engagement Editor Lolla Mohammed Nur reports:
In July, my work focused on two major projects: the Seward community Storytelling Project, and my story on domestic violence in Minnesota’s East African community for San Francisco-based media organization, New America Media, for which I was a 2013 NAM women’s immigrant fellow. My story will be published on both NAM and TCDP in late August. July also generated great community participation about race and systemic racism, amidst the trial of Trayvon Martin’s killer, George Zimmerman. Lastly, check out my new column, At the Intersection, a semi-regular column on the intersections of race, pop culture, gender, faith, and communities of color. (Lolla@tcdailyplanet.net).
Community Asset Mapping / Neighborhood Engagement Specialist Maggie Pearson reports:
After a month of planning throughout July, we’re coming up on a slew of neighborhood photo walks. Last week, I tagged along on the Preserve Minneapolis tour of Milwaukee Ave, a historically significant street with no-car access that ends at Franklin Ave. This Wednesday, we’ll be touring the St. Anthony Park neighborhood around the Light Rail Station, and August10th we’ll be photographing gardens for Community Garden Day. Want to plan a walk in your neighborhood, or participate in an existing event? Email maggie@tcdailyplanet.net
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Program manager for Training and Engagement Bruce Johansen reports: July was a hot month for trainings. Through a generous grant from the Bush Foundation we provided nearly 20 area nonprofit partners with a variety of workshops and coaching sessions, all designed to address their pressing media and communications needs. Topics included framing the issue, telling your story to make a difference, media strategies for nonprofits and neighborhood organizations, video production, and website redesign. To see photos and learn more about our community engagement initiatives, “like” our new TCMA Facebook page. In August we’re excited to be offering a new class, Finding What Fits: Best Social Media Platforms for Your Business or Organization. That’s in addition to our monthly social media clinic, newsroom cafes, and other classes. As co-organizers of the monthly NPTech Social Club – NetSquared TC Happy Hour, we invite anyone interested in technology, non-profits and social impact to join us on Wed., Aug. 14, for a fun evening of idea-sharing and casual networking at Honey, 205 E. Hennepin Ave. Nonprofit website redesign will be our topic. (Bruce@tcdailyplanet.net).
Classes:
Create a Website for Your Business at Oakdale Library | Fri, 08/02/2013 – 10:30am – 12:30pm
1010 Heron Ave N., Oakdale, MN
Learn how to develop a free or inexpensive website for your small business, community organization or blog using WordPress or another user-friendly platform.
Newsroom Café at Dunn Brothers on East Lake | Mon, 08/05/2013 – 4:00pm
If you are interested in reporting for the Daily Planet, or want help with a story-in-progress, stop in at the Newsroom Café.
Promote Your Business with Facebook at Bayport Public Library | Mon, 08/05/2013 – 6:00pm -8:00pm
582 N 4th St, Bayport, MN
You know that social media is a great way to market your business and share information about your brand, but where do you start? How do you find time to fit it all in?
Composition & Light, Part 2: The Critique | Tue, 08/06/2013 – 8:00pm – 10:00pm
2600 Franklin Avenue E., Minneapolis, MN
(at the Daily Planet office in back of the Wells Fargo building – enter through back door of bank).
The second session of freelance photographer Tom Baker’s two-part class.
Newsroom Cafe with Jay Gabler | Fri, 08/09/2013 – 10:00am – 11:00am
Wilde Roast Cafe, 65 Southeast Main Street, Minneapolis, MN
Do you have a story or a question? Drop in and talk about the Daily Planet, our news coverage, and how you can contribute.
Create a Website for Your Business at Mississippi Library | Wed, 08/14/2013- 5:45pm -7:45pm
410 Mississippi St NE, Fridley, MN
Learn how to develop a free or inexpensive website for your small business, community organization or blog using WordPress or another user-friendly platform.
Create a Website for Your Business at Wentworth Library | Tue, 08/20/2013- 6:00pm -8:00pm
199 E Wentworth Ave., Saint Paul, MN
Learn how to develop a free or inexpensive website for your small business, community organization or blog using WordPress or another user-friendly platform.
Finding What Fits: Best Social Media Platforms for Your Business or Organization | Tue, 08/20/2013 – 6:30pm – 8:30pm
2600 Franklin Avenue E., Minneapolis, MN
(in the Daily Planet office in the Wells Fargo building – enter through back door of bank)
Social media tools allow you to connect with your customers, community, and members, but when you run a small business or organization, time is valuable – where do you start?
Newsroom Café at Kopplin’s Coffee – August | Thu, 08/22/2013 – 7:00pm
2038 Marshall Ave, St Paul , MN
If you are interested in reporting for the Daily Planet, or want help with a story-in-progress, stop in at the Newsroom Café.
Newsroom Cafe with Jay Gabler | Wed, 08/28/2013 – 11:00am – 12:00pm
53 Cleveland Ave. S., St. Paul, MN
Do you have a story or a question? Drop in and talk about the Daily Planet, our news coverage, and how you can contribute.
August Social Media Clinic with Jay Gabler | Thu, 08/29/2013 – 4:00pm – 6:00pm
2600 Franklin Avenue E., Minneapolis, MN
(in the Daily Planet office in the Wells Fargo building – enter through back door of bank)
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Upcoming Classes
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