Getting ready for the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte

[Andria]

Hi folks,
The Charlotte chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists plans
a seminar on a Saturday in late July to help people prepare for the
DNC in Charlotte on Sept. 3.

If you know of journalists who are planning to come to Charlotte,
especially people new to political reporting or conventions, could you
pass along information about our seminar? Here's the official letter
from our chapter president, Frank Barrows:

"This summer, virtually everyone in Carolinas' journalism is getting
ready for the Democratic National Convention, and I'm writing to offer
you an opportunity to enhance your preparation.

"Ready, Set, Go: Preparing To Cover DNC 2012" is a July 28 seminar
intended to offer area journalists a day's worth of expertise about
national political conventions and how to report about them. The idea
emerged when the Greater Charlotte Chapter of the Society of
Professional Journalists realized that most reporters -- print,
digital, broadcast -- coming to the convention from the Carolinas have
never been to one before.

We've assembled a lineup of speakers and presenters with vast
experience in convention coverage. They include Rob Christensen of the
News & Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina's senior political
reporter; Charles Bierbauer, dean of the University of South
Carolina's College of Mass Communications, who worked nine conventions
during his time at CNN; John Ensslin, national SPJ president, who
covered the Democratic Convention in Denver in 2008 for the Rocky
Mountain News; and WCNC's Carrie Hofmann, a producer at a Denver
television station during the convention.

Other sessions will focus on the evolution of political conventions
(with UNC Charlotte's Dr. Dan Grano) and how to avoid arrest if you're
reporting on a protest demonstration (with North Carolina ACLU legal
director Chris Brook). There's also a walking tour of uptown
Charlotte's convention sites (with Susan Stabley, who has followed the
city's preparations for the Charlotte Business Journal).

Registration, which includes lunch, is $15 for dues-paying SPJ members
and students, $25 for others. This event, in partnership with UNC
Charlotte's Department of Communications Studies, is funded by a grant
from the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of SPJ.

For more details, see www.charlottespj.wordpress.com. Registration:
http://coverdnc-eac2.eventbrite.com/. If you have questions, please e-
mail me at fcba...@aol.com or phone me at 704-576-3485.

We think this is a great opportunity for journalists to ensure they're
providing their audiences with top-notch coverage of one of the major
events in the history of the Carolinas.

We hope to see you July 28."