CAPITAL CONNECTIONS A Real Political Party 24th National Conference of the Canadian Association of Journalists April 12-14, 2002 Chateau Laurier, Ottawa Just steps from Parliament Hill and the vibrant Byward Market Check for updates at www.caj.ca It's been an incredible year for journalists. Media convergence has transformed our work environments, and a single day in September instantly changed the world that we report on. Capital Connections, the CAJ’s 2002 national conference, is the place to be to talk it out with other journalists, share your stories, gain new skills, and perhaps some new understanding about what's happening to the world around us. Meet other working journalists, outspoken critics, skill providers, sources and maybe a couple of bosses. And where better to hold this year's conference than the nation's capital, at the venerable Chateau Laurier, just a stone's throw away from Parliament Hill. You'll get a chance to meet and learn from the policy makers, the spin-doctors and the people who cover them. But there's much, much more. You'll learn a wide range of investigative techniques and experiences; the frustrations and challenges of specific beats; the changing context of the news; ownership issues. Capital Connections 2002 is organized by journalists for journalists. If you're a reporter or editor, this is a great opportunity to enhance skills and techniques that can bring new readers, listeners or viewers. And when it's over, your whole newsroom will benefit from your fresh views and contacts. Featuring New! • Two full days of workshops on computer-assisted reporting (CAR). Find out how you can use that computer on your desk for so much more than just writing stories. Find out how some simple skills can help you write better stories everyday-and break the big stories that win awards. Check our website (www.caj.ca) for details. • Friday morning tours of Parliament Hill and a chance to see Question Period in action Skill sharpening sessions More than 12 skills-based specialty workshops Contacts & ideas for your newsroom Controversial opinions and high-profile panelists Friday night laughs In a lively interactive lecture and discussion, Toronto Star movie critic Geoff Pevere surveys over 70 years of cinematic images of journalism. Then music, with the jazz group of Citizen columnist Charles Gordon. Speakers and Moderators Sandra Abma, CBC Radio David Akin, CTV News Arnold Amber, Newspaper Guild Jim Armour, Hawk Communications Marsha Barber, Ryerson Maude Barlow, Council of Canadians Mike Blanchfield, Ottawa Citizen Keith Boag, CBC TV Rick Boychuk, Canadian Geographic Sharon Burnside, Toronto Star Richard Cléroux Sheila Coles, CBC Radio Robert Cribb, Toronto Star Rosaleen Dickson, West Carleton Review Bill Doskoch, Bell Globemedia Interactive Dan Dugas, Broadcast News Theresa Ebden, Bloomberg Frema WEngell Anthony Feinstein, U of T Doug Fischer, Ottawa Citizen Robert Frank Mark Frutkin, Amazon.com Charles Gordon, Ottawa Citizen Wayne Grady, Explore Magazine James Hale, Down Beat Rosa Harris-Adler, Ottawa City Magazine Bob Harvey, Ottawa Citizen Raymond Heard, Global TV Lisa Hebert, CBC Radio Steven Heckbert, EDS Dean Jobb, Halifax Herald Sheema Khan, Council on American-Islamic Relations Stephen Kimber, University of King’s College Warren Kinsella, McMillan Binch Kirk LaPointe, CTV News Gordon Legge, Centre for Faith and the Media Donna Leon, writer, producer Lynn McAuley, Ottawa Citizen Andrew McIntosh, National Post Bob McKeown, NBC News Catherine McKercher, Carleton University David McKie, CBC Radio Barry McLoughlin Susan Murray, CBC Radio Janice Neil, Carleton University Juliet O’Neill, Southam News Karen Pauls, CBC Radio Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star Tim Powers, Summa Strategies Canada Inc. Merilyn Read, MTC Palagummi Sainath John Scully, JPTV Training Levon Sevunts, Montreal Gazette Alan Stanbridge, U of T Sylvia Stead, Globe and Mail James Travers, Toronto Star Fred Vallance-Jones, Hamilton Spectator Julie Van Dusen, CBC TV Steve Wadhams, CBC Radio Antonia Zerbisias, Toronto Star Skill-sharpening Workshops Friday, April 12, Chateau Laurier • Access to information Back-to-back workshops for those who want to use ATI or FOI laws as investigative tools. • Art of the Chase: Behind every great talk segment there’s a great “chase.” So where do you find the best guests? How do you pull together research in a hurry? What intros and questions work best? Led by Marsha Barber. • Community newspapers: Rosaleen Dickson looks at their role as a major Canadian institution and the challenges facing the people who work in this field. • Directing field shoots: What your crew wishes you knew. What does it take to make your visuals and natural sound tell the story for you? A show-and-tell workshop, led by John Scully. • Editing: Sharpen your blue pencils! Sharon Burnside is back by popular demand for another half-day workshop. • Succeeding at freelancing: Rosa Harris-Adler will teach the basics-running a business, query letters, recycling stories-as well as how to stand out above the pack. • The new environment writing. People say they care about the environment but do they want to read about it? Canadian Geographic editor Rick Boychuk and Wayne Grady discuss ways to rekindle the interest of jaded readers and cynical editors. • When the camera and mic are turned on YOU: Learn how to shine in front of a camera or mic whether you’re being interviewed on your latest scoop or weighing in on a panel discussion. With Janice Neil. • Journalists and the law: Recent cases and hypothetical scenarios will be used to explore the legal limits on reportage, with an emphasis on how to get the story without being sued or threatened. With Dean Jobb. • Peeling the Onion: Whether it’s holding a politician accountable, conversing with an athlete who’s just won a gold medal, or talking to a woman who’s just had sextuplets, there is potential for revealing truth in every interview. With Sheila Coles. • Independent production: How to turn your ideas into television programs. This hands-on workshop gives participants a chance to find out what it takes to get their television program ideas to air. With Donna Leon. • Storytelling secrets. With Steve Wadhams • Online storytelling 101: If Flash makes you think of a camera, you need this workshop about technologies and techniques. With Bill Doskoch. Other Friday Highlights... • Friday noon, the CAR demonstration room opens at the Chateau Laurier. Drop by to chat about CAR and find out how you can use it to drive your career. • Daytime tour of Parliament Hill and a chance to catch Question Period • Restaurant Roulette is a no-hassle way to join up with colleagues from home or to meet new friends and explore one of Ottawa’s trendy bistros or ethnic eateries. • Kick-off Party. Print the Legend: A Critical History of Journalism in the Movies with Geoff Pevere, then music by the jazz group of Citizen columnist and author Charles Gordon Hotel Accommodation - $150/night Deadline for bookings at reduced rate: March 23 Rooms at the Chateau Laurier are available at a special conference rate of $ 150.00 per night. Let the hotel know you’re part of the CAJ National Conference in order to get delegate rates. Call 1-800-441-1414 or (613) 241-1414. Views & Opinions Saturday and Sunday, April 13-14 • Arts reporting Three notable arts journalists discuss the issues they face every day, such as: critic vs. reviewer, conflict of interest, and the shrinking “news hole”. • Converging media: A better use of scarce resources or another way to squeeze out profits at the expense of overworked reporters and editors? • Expression or suppression: Are the Aspers exercising their rights as press barons or is there a more sinister plan afoot? • Covering the front lines: How does it feel to survive an ambush in which fellow journalists are killed? Is competition the same when you’re far from home base? • Expecting the unexpected: Is your newsroom ready? Find out how to marshall resources and implement an action plan so you cover the big breaking stories while still meeting daily demands. • The relevance of religion: Since September 11th, is reporting on religion and spirituality gaining new respect? • Foreign reporting: How to avoid the predictable story of doom and gloom. What you need to know before heading overseas on an assignment. • Globalization: Are the media missing the story? Have battles at the barricades distracted us from reporting on the underlying issues that will affect people’s lives? • Arts reporting Three notable arts journalists discuss the issues they face every day, such as: critic vs. reviewer, conflict of interest, and the shrinking “news hole”. • Converging media: A better use of scarce resources leading to better journalism, or another way to squeeze out greater profits at the expense of overworked reporters and editors? • Expression or suppression: Are the Aspers exercising their rights as press barons or is there a more sinister plan afoot? • Covering the front lines: How does it feel to survive an ambush in which fellow journalists are killed? Is competition the same when you’re far from home base? • Crisis-ready newsrooms When the unexpected happens, will your newsroom be ready? Find out how to marshall your resources and implement your action plan so you cover the big breaking stories while still meeting daily demands. • The relevance of religion: More and more Canadians say they are interested in spirituality and faith issues. Since September 11th, is reporting on religion and spirituality gaining new respect in the media? • Foreign reporting: How to avoid the predictable story of doom and gloom. What you need to know before heading overseas on an assignment. • Globalization: Are the media missing the story? Have battles at the barricades distracted us from reporting on the underlying issues that will affect people’s lives? • How spin doctors operate: We can tell you (off-the-record) that gurus of gyration and sultans of spin Warren Kinsella, Jim Armour and Tim Powers will participate. • Journalism in developing democracies: Marsha Barber discusses the phases journalists go through when nations change from totalitarian regimes to democracies. • Life after journalism: Looking for a change from the daily grind of a deadline-driven lifestyle? What are some career alternatives, and how do you make a successful transition to one of them? • Follow the money: Find out how to get to the bottom of where political leaders are getting their money and whether they are in financial conflicts of interest. • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and journalists. Journalists who witness violence, tragedy and human misery often just move on to the next story. But sometimes the psychological impact can take its toll on you and your family. • Business Reporting: Avoiding a Canadian Enron-style disaster: Should Canada force corporations to disclose more? With moderator Theresa Ebden of Bloomberg News. Other Saturday and Sunday Highlights... • Journalism Educators’ breakfast Saturday • Optional Saturday lunch, with a special speaker • Annual CAJ awards banquet with emcee Dan Dugas • On Sunday there’s brunch and a screening of “Scrummed”, with public relations specialist Barry McLoughlin and national correspondents on a panel moderated by producer Richard Cléroux. REGISTRATION FORM CIRCLE YOUR FEE(S) Before March 23 After March 23 CAR WORKSHOP April11 $ 20 $ 20 CONFERENCE - Fri. April 12 TO Sun. April 14 CAJ members (journalists)* 160 185 CAJ members* (income under $30,000) 105 140 CAJ associate members* (non-journalists) 310 360 Student members (no meals) 45 60 Non-members* 510 510 * includes Friday reception, Saturday Awards Banquet and Sunday brunch, but not Saturday lunch FRIDAY ONLY* Members 85 110 Associate members 160 210 Non-members 360 360 * includes Friday night reception SATURDAY ONLY* Members 85 110 Associate members 160 210 Non-members 360 360 * includes Saturday Awards Banquet, but not Saturday Lunch SUNDAY ONLY* Members 60 85 Associate members 110 160 Non-members 310 310 * includes Sunday brunch MEMBERSHIP: The Canadian Association of Journalists To qualify for the members’ conference rates, you must be a member in good standing of the CAJ. You can add the fee on to your conference registration total. Annual membership - journalists 75 Associate members - non-journalists 150 Journalists at less than $30,000 salary 40 Married co-habiting members (per person) 60 Students 30 Airline Tickets Book your flight call 1-888-647-7754, ext. 302. Mention your travel is for the CAJ conference. SIGN UP FOR YOUR MEALS To ensure the right number of meals is ordered, please indicate which meals you will attend. Apart from the Saturday lunch, the cost of these meals is included in your conference registration fee. If you are a student, please note your registration package does not include any meals. I will attend EXTRA ticket(s) (please check) wanted for guests o Friday reception, Parliament Hill ....... @ $ 20 o Saturday lunch ($35-not included ....... @ $ 40 in registration cost) o Awards banquet, Saturday ....... @ $ 63 o Sunday brunch ....... @ $ 25 o Please serve me the vegetarian menu option Dietary alert: TALLY YOUR CHARGES Item Cost CAR workshop, Thursday $ Conference Registration fee $ Saturday Lunch ($35/delegate) $ EXTRA tickets (for non-delegate guests) Friday reception ($ 20 ea) $ Saturday lunch ($40/non-delegate) $ Saturday banquet ($63 ea) $ Sunday brunch ($25 ea) $ SUBTOTAL $ Add GST 7% $ New & lapsed members Add CAJ membership fee (no GST) $ GRAND TOTAL - Payable to Canadian Association of Journalists $ ALL DELEGATES must completely fill in this section Name: Address: City: Prov: Postal Code: Tel.-home: Tel.-work Fax: E-mail: Employer/ School: Work Address: SELECT METHOD OF PAYMENT o Enclosed is my cheque payable to the Canadian Association of Journalists o Charge my Visa o Charge my Mastercard Card # Exp. date Signature HAVE YOU COMPLETED ALL SECTIONS OF THE FORM? SEND COMPLETED APPLICATION FORM TO: (Keep a copy of this form for your records) Canadian Association of Journalists
Algonquin College
1385 Woodroffe Avenue, B224
Ottawa, ON K2G 1V8OR fax to (613) 521-3904. iFOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: John Dickins, Executive Director Phone - (613) 526-8061 E-mail - caj@igs.net WATCH FOR UPDATES AT www.caj.ca