Pennsylvania AP Broadcasters Association

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The annual Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association news awards contest recognizes Associated Press member radio and television stations and their personnel performing a public service through distinguished reporting.

The 2011 PAPBA convention will be held on April 9, 2011 in Grantville, Pennsylvania. Congratulations to all winners!

Winners of the 2010 PAPBA contest click here!

Pennsylvania Associated Press Broadcasters Association

Convention Program & Agenda

April 9, 2011

Holiday Inn Harrisburg/Hershey, Grantville, Pa.

Professional Sessions

8:00 am-9:00 am (Students Welcome)
Registration & Continental Breakfast

9:00 am-10:15 am (Students Welcome)

Backpack Journalism Reality Check

With a proliferation of newsrooms trying new staffing models, the panel will discuss what’s worked, what hasn’t and the effect “backpack” journalists is having on broadcast news content.

Moderator:

Marea Mannion, Penn State College of Communications

Panelists:

Doug Legore, NPPA award winning video-journalist and educator

Dr. Mary Bock, Kutztown University

Curt Chandler, Penn State College of Communications

10:30am-11:45am (Students Welcome)

When Free Speech is Ugly

They are from a small church. They say horrible things in outrageous places.  And the Supreme Court says they have every right to do it. Our panel will discuss the recent Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Westboro Baptist Church and the effect that ruling has on free speech in general. They will also debate the ethics of covering groups that use inflammatory tactics to get press coverage.

Moderator:

Bill Rehkopf, Morning News Anchor, KDKARadio

Panelists:

Sean Summers, Esq. Argued against   Westboro Baptist in US Supreme Court

Jere Gish, Anchor/Reporter, WGAL-TV

Dr. Kirsten Johnson, Elizabethtown College

12:00 pm-1:30 pm

Lunch

Associated Press Update

News about the state reports initiative.

Speakers:

Sally Hale, Pennsylvania AP Chief of Bureau

Orla Reese, AP Regional Broadcast Editor

Matt Moore, Pennsylvania AP News Editor

1:45 pm-3:00 pm

Social Media Strategies

Your organization has lots of fans on Facebook and tweets like there’s no tomorrow, but what are you getting out of it?  Along with the best practices, the panel will discuss ways to measure your success and the return on your investment in social media.

Moderator:

Andrew Pulskamp, Digital Executive Producer, WGAL-TV

Panelists:

Cara O’Donnell, Vice-President, Tierney Communications

Dr. Kirsten Johnson, Elizabethtown College

John Baldwin, Creative Services Director, WGAL-TV

3:15 pm-4:45 pm

Pennsylvania Tip Sheets

What are the big stories we’ll be reporting in the year ahead?  Our panel will discuss three topics you’ll likely cover and offer specific stories you can do in your hometown.

The planned topics are: (1) gas drilling in the Marcellus shale, (2) results of the 2010 U.S. Census, and (3) the school funding crisis facing many districts.

Moderator:

Matt Belanger, Government Reporter,  WGAL-TV

Panelists:

Marcellus Shale

       Kent Moore, Duquesne University

School Funding Crisis

       Dr. Marianne Bartley, Superintendent,

           Lebanon School District

U.S. Census Data Release

       Jenaye Flamer, U.S. Census Bureau

6:00 pm-7:00 pm

Cocktail Hour

7:00 pm-10:00 pm

Awards Banquet

Presentation of the PAPBA awards for excellence in 2010.

2010 Roy Morgan lifetime achievement award:

Dick Hoxworth, WGAL-TV

Dinner Speaker:

Haidar Al-Mhrabi.

Former anchor for Iraq TV now living in Pennsylvania as a humanitarian refugee because of threats to his life while working as a journalist.  Haidar will share his compelling story of personal sacrifice for a free press and some perspective on the current wave of change in the Middle-East.

Student Sessions

12:00 pm-1:45 pm

Resume and Demo Critiques

Students are invited to sign  up at the registration table for 15-minute one-on-one critique sessions with professional members of the PAPBA.

1:45 pm-3:00 pm

Story Tellers Will Find Jobs

How do you get your first job in television?  Learn to tell stories – and you’ll work.

The seminar will offer six specific tips to make you a better story teller – immediately.

Presenter:

Dan O’Donnell, News Director, WGAL-TV

3:15 pm-4:45 pm

Demo Reels That Work

So what should be on my demo reel?  Should I have a Web site or send a CD or DVD? 

The panel will look at demos that worked and offer tips on putting a demo together that will help you get attention and a job.

Moderator:

To Be Announced

Panelists:

To Be Announced

5:00 pm-6:15 pm

Resume and Demo Critiques

Students are invited to sign  up at the registration table for 15-minute critique sessions with professional members of the PAPBA.