Gannett @ NABJ

Your one place to stay connected with all things Gannett at NABJ!

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STEPHEN HENDERSON NAMED NABJ JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR

Stephen is a reporter for the Detroit Free-Press and a Pulitzer Prize winner.  

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11 Alive's Devin Fehely awarded "Best Feature" and "Best Investigative Report" at NABJ Salute to Excellence Gala.

Devin is a Multimedia Journalist at WXIA in Atlanta, GA.  Devin's story "John Lewis: The March" won for Best Feature, and "Failed to Death" won for Best Investigative Report.  

Devin was also honored with the Gannett Award for Outstanding Achievement in Watchdog Journalism earlier in the conference.

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PHOTO:  The late Hugh Grannum's wife accepting the NABJ legacy award in his honor.

Grannum was a photographer for the Detroit Free Press for 37 years.

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3 QUESTIONS WITH VIRGIL SMITH, VP OF TALENT ACQUISITION & DIVERSITY

Why is it so important for Gannett to be at conferences like NABJ?

Virgil:  “We are looking for journalists with skillsets that will help support and propel our strategic plan around news.  Specifically journalists who have video, editing, and social media skills on multiple platforms.  We have a strong commitment to diversity.  We’re here looking to find the best talent we can.  NABJ provides a venue for us to target African Americans, and we will also be targeting Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian Americans, and LGBT journalists in upcoming conferences.   Part of our diversity strategy is to recruit and identify diverse talent which will help our effort to attract a diverse audience across America.

How has NABJ grown over the years?

Virgil:  “The workshops, training, and development are excellent.  NABJ understands the need of the industry and the importance of partnering and collaborating.  Speaking with attendees, it’s been a great vibe and people are enjoying themselves.  More importantly, NABJ understands the changing needs of the marketplace.  It’s giving members an opportunity to grow, enjoy themselves, and have intimate conversations with various media leaders.”

  Why is it so important for Gannett to have such a strong presence at NABJ?

Virgil:  “We want to give our employees an opportunity to share, and in sharing you also learn.  We have plenty of people participating in workshops and recruiting.  We brought the top news directors from across the country to see the talent pool here.  While we want to be competitive and find top talent, we also want our employees to enjoy themselves and recognize that their company values them.  It’s one thing to recruit great talent, but our most important goal is to retain the best talent.”

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PHOTOS: DANESE KENON (INDY STAR) HOSTS INTERACTIVE DSLR VIDEO CONSTRUCTION WORKSHOP.

Participants brought their own cameras and went out in groups to create short videos.  They then brought the back to edit and then critique in a group setting.

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BEHIND THE SCENES: Last day of recruiting at the career fair.

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Have you gotten a chance to explore this beautiful city yet? Perfect place for #NABJ14

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PHOTO:HISTORY IN OUR MIDST. AMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG SPEAKING ABOUT MY BROTHER’S KEEPER INITIATIVE

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We're social! We're live with the hashtag #gannettnabj on Twitter

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Travel swag at the Gannett booth

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SESSION RECAP: WHAT NOBODY TELLS YOU ABOUT LANDING AN ON-AIR JOB IN SPORTS TV

Tips for your first sports reel:

-A link is better than a DVD

-Think Movie Trailer: Your best material in the first 10 & 30 seconds

-Shorter is better.  2:30 is enough

-Customize the reel to the position

-Get out from behind the desk: Live shots differentiate you

The Interview:

-Research the company, it's style and people

-Look for connections between you and your interviewers

-Dress for the job

-Ask about culture, management, growth, and their philosophies

-NEVER ask about compensation, benefits, and work hours until they bring it up

-Prepare for multiple rounds of interviews with a diverse range of department leaders (this usually includes an on-air audition)

Know the Different Aspects of the Business:

-Local Broadcasters

-Digital Reporters

-Regional Sports Networks

-Conference Networks

-National Networks

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PHOTO: Executives, talent, and agents give insider tips on contract negotiation.

Key takeaways:

—Know your worth! Always know the value you bring to the site —If you’re at a union shop, be sure to contact the union rep to know what the minimum standards are before negotiating —Don’t take it personal. It is a business deal, don’t allow emotions to cloud your decision —Many things in your contract are negotiable that you may not even realize like vacation time, conventions, job development, etc. —Don’t be afraid to ask for what you really want- you may just get it —You have the most leverage when you enter a new agreement because you are setting the bar —Never make a hasty decision. Always tell them you will look over the contract and will get back to them. That allows you time to ensure it’s a decision that you’re comfortable with

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SESSION RECAP: GHOSTWRITING- ESTABLISHING A LITERARY CAREER AS A NO. 2

USA Today reporter Charisse Jones sat on a panel discussing ghost-writing. It is a lucrative field- but sometimes very complicated.

Tips for your first ghost-writing project:

-Spend time with the person you’re working with. Capture their voice and listen like never before so that the book truly reflects their story and not yours.

-Trust is everything! Cultivate and maintain a strong bond so that you trust each other and are not afraid to share those important details.

-It is not automatic. Finding a persons inner voice sometimes feels mystical. It will just happen at a point in the narrative where you realize you are writing for them.

Panelists— Charisse Jones (USA Today), Audrey Edwards, Misty Copeland, and Ed Lewis.

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PHOTO: WLTX Morning Anchor Lionel Moise with guests at the Gannett reception

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PHOTOS: Indianapolis Star's Danese Kenon sharing knowledge with other journalists in intimate #NABJBRANDING session.

Danese is a Multimedia Photojournalist for the Baltimore Sun and NABJ's Visual Taskforce Chair.

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SESSION RECAP: EXPLORING THE WORLD OF TRAVEL WRITING

USA Today’s Charisse Jones sat on a panel about travel journalism.

"Switching to travel reporting was the best decision I ever made," said Jones— who was concerned about moving from general assignment stories to travel.

Key takeaway: having a niche can only help you in the competitive field of journalism. It gives you a speciality that you can dig deep into and set you apart from others.

The panel also discussed the lack of diversity in the travel sector and ways that it can be covered in local markets.

Panelist— Charisse Jones (USA Today), Jenea Robinson (Visit Philadelphia), Heather Davis Greenwood (globetrottingmama.com), Kimberly Wilson (freelance travel writer)