Call for Proposals - Fall Round

Proposal Deadline:

Sunday, December 1, 2013 (12:00 midnight EDT)

 

As the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) heads to Boston, one of America’s top destinations for travel, we extend proposal invitations for sessions and presenters for the 2014 Annual Convention and Career Fair, July 30-August 3, 2014.

The Program Committee is soliciting requests for proposals for workshops, along with potential workshop speakers. We are looking for innovative, educational, and "out of the box” proposals. NABJ has a rich history of educating, training, and advocating on behalf of black journalists worldwide. All presenters must have demonstrated expertise in their subject areas and come prepared to teach and challenge convention attendees. All proposed sessions should be dynamic, compelling, and teach current and future journalists new and relevant skills to push them toward their professional goals.

Proposals must fall under the tracks below:

Engage - Young Journalists and New Professionals: You've decided you want to be in this business. You've had your first internship or trying to get one. So, what do you do while you hone your skills and wait for that first full-time gig? Find a mentor, learn to maximize your skill-set and get advice about early career challenges. Or if you've landed that first job and you're trying to find your footing and secure that next great gig, this track is for you.

Immerse - Mid-career Movement and Culture Immersion: Looking for the skills to take your career to the next level? This track is for journalists with a few years in the business, but who need that extra lift to go the distance. Have you had just enough work experience to know you need some new skills to change directions? Do you need to learn how to manage up - or manage down? Need advice on salary negotiation, contracts, or making a move? This track will also help navigate the common pitfalls of office politics and direct your next steps. Learn how to stay sane and advance your career - all at the same time.

Specialize - Learning the Beat: In today's fast-paced newsroom, beat reporting moves fast. Journalists must cover everything from politics to energy to business. This track is designed to break down reporting
beats. Whether you want to be a better photojournalist, you live for sports, you want to hone your business acumen or explore politics in this election year, these sessions will dig deep into beat reporting and specialties. NABJ Task Forces are strongly encouraged to submit proposals for this track.

Inform - Communications and Media Professionals: The work of a communications practitioner often transcends the boundaries of a traditional newsroom or even traditional techniques and tactics. This
track is designed to inform attendees in various communication disciplines about industry shifts and trends. From academia to government to private industry to entrepreneurship, sessions will cover
innovative and creative programming. Proposal ideas should offer sessions related to transferable skills, brand journalism, corporate newsrooms, trends in content management, or crisis control in the digital space.

Learn - Technical and Fundamental Skills: This track is a crash course in the basics. Whether it's sharpening your writing skills, becoming a multimedia player, learning how to be a one-man band, self-branding, data visualization, or learning the ins and outs of social media and blogging, you will get hands-on, practical experience and walk away with he skills you need to up your game. Interactive proposals are strongly encouraged.

Know - Hot Topics: Did you hear about this … or did you know about that? We take on the pressing subjects affecting our journalism and communications industry and the African American community today. Whether it is breaking news or hot topics – we want you to be in the know. We'll talk about, debate, examine and discuss it all.

Proposals will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

• Is the topic innovative and relevant?

• Is the session well organized and designed to meet the needs of this particular audience?

• Are the session objectives and "takeaways” for participants clearly explained in the proposal?

Selection Process:

Submit your proposal by Sunday, December 1, 2013. You will receive an automatic confirmation of your submission. Keep this confirmation in your files. A team of volunteers and staff will review each submission.

Please NOTE:

• Presentations cannot be sales pitches. If you are an agent representing a client or someone promoting your business, please ensure your session does not appear as selling or promoting any particular cause, person, or service.

• Each person is limited to submitting two session proposals. Please create your proposal in Word and then copy and paste the information into the appropriate sections online. The online form does not have spell check so editing your information in advance and then copying and pasting will ensure greater accuracy.

Workshop Coordinator Expectations:

1. Please note that we will not allow any workshop coordinator to be involved in more than two sessions. Please consider this when submitting your proposal idea and put your best idea forward.

2. You must agree to coordinate all arrangements, communication, and audio/visual requirements with your proposed speakers including all deadlines sent to you by the NABJ staff and Program Chair.

3. Upon acceptance, more information and criteria will be provided.

4. Please note that we reserve the right to adjust any session including changing the session abstract and adding or removing speakers. 


Registration and Travel Information:

To keep registration rates low for members, NABJ does not pay for travel, hotel or meals for convention speakers and presenters. In many cases, the institutions or organizations of the speakers support the mission of NABJ by covering those costs.

All workshop coordinators and speakers should register for the full Convention at the regular attendee rate and are responsible for all travel costs. Speakers receive a one-day complimentary registration to the conference on the day of their presentation only.

For specific questions, please contact NABJ Manager Jannice Hodge at jhodge@nabj.org.

Presenter Only Form

This option is for individuals who do not wish to propose a workshop session, but want to be considered as a possible panelist. The NABJ Program Committee will review each presenter submitted. Due to the anticipated volume of presenters, NABJ will only contact presenters that fit in line with our final programming.

Click HERE to submit your Presenter Only form.

For more information contact:
Jannice Hodge
Program Manager
(301) 405-0717
jhodge@nabj.org