Entrepreneurial Journalism

and the Future of News

How charting your own course can boost your media career -- no matter who you work for  

2.25.12

9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. @ SMU / Journalism Complex /

Umphrey Lee Center (Breakfast served at 8:30)

A New Media WORKSHOP by Press Club of Dallas hosted by SMU Division of Journalism

8:30 a.m. Welcome and registration. Hot breakfast, coffee and OJ. 

9:00 a.m. Opening Session: You Don’t Have to Quit Your Day Job (but it's time to start thinking like an entrepreneur)

• Mike Orren (@mikeorren): Founder and former president, Pegasus News. Perhaps Dallas' premier example of a journalist entrepreneur, Mike will talk about why an entrepreneurial spirit can transform your work.
• Carmen Cano (@carmencan): Digital Managing Editor, Dallas Morning News. A veteran of digital transformation at CBS, Seattle Times, and Hearst Digital Newspapers, Carmen is responsible for finding new products and new audiences for the newspaper’s journalism. 
• Scott Bell (@sbell021): Assistant Online Sports Editor, Dallas Morning News. Scott, a 2008 graduate of the University of Michigan, played a key role in helping lead one of the most dynamic digital journalism initiatives in Texas, as recently featured in Columbia Journalism Review. How did he and his editors convince the News's publisher to back the nation's first journalism app designed to give fans of high school football real-time, live action coverage on their mobile devices?

10:30 a.m. Session Two: How to start something new.

• Simon Mak, Ph.D.: Associate Director, SMU's Caruth Institute for Entrepreneurship. Dr. Mak teaches courses on business planning, entrepreneurial strategy and corporate entrepreneurship at SMU's Cox School of Business, and was the vice president of sales and marketing for a startup business newsletter and magazine targeting western business people traveling to Hong Kong and China.
• Mark Lowry (@Mark_Lowry): Mark, a former Star-Telegram reporter and arts writer, is co-founder and editor of Theaterjones.com, where he is also chief theater critic. In addition to running that business, he maintains a freelance writing career, wtih publications in the Star-Telegram, Dallas Voice, and 360 West. 
• Shawn Williams (@shawnpwilliams): Shawn is founder of Dallas South News, a nonprofit news organization he launched in 2009 as a successor to his original blog, DallasSouthBlog.com. He is a frequent writer and speaker on issues of race, politics and the media -- and is a true Dallas entrepreneur. Shawn is also a member of the national advisory board for the Poynter Institute.

11:40 a.m. Session Three: How Social Media Creates Entrepreneurial Opportunities for PR Professionals.

• Callie Works-Leary (@Cal_Works_Leary): Callie, a former publicist for Fleishman-Hillard, got her MBA from SMU's Cox School of Business ('08) and founded CityCraft, a modern fabric boutique and sewing lounge in Dallas. Inc. Magazine selected her as one of its Top 30 Entrepreneurs Under 30. 
• Cameron Gawley (@cgawley):  Cameron, CEO of Buzzshift Digital Strategy Agency in Dallas, has founded three marketing and technology startups since he was 16. In addition to working with Fortune 500 clients, he directs digital strategy for the National Breast Cancer Fondation and is a vice president for the Social Media Club of Dallas.
• Sarah Bray (@sarahamandabray): A 2011 graduate of SMU's Division of Journalism, Sarah now works as a blogger and social media coordinator for Neiman Marcus. As an undergraduate, Sarah co-founded the campus lifestyle blog SMU Style and was part of a five-student team that traveled to New Orleans to cover the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, winning an SPJ award for Online News Reporting. 

DETAILS:

How much: $20 for Press Club of Dallas members, full-time students with ID, and 2011 graduates. (Recent grads, contact Jake Batsell to confirm eligibility.) $40 fee for all others. Tickets must be bought in advance through this eventbrite site. Note: All previous prices are for advanced-purchased tickets through the event brite site. Same-day registration at event will be available if seats are available. Same-day tickets may be bought on-site with a credit card and will be $50 each. 

Pre-registration deadline: 11:59 p.m Feb. 24, 2012 

Follow news about the event on Twitter with the hashtag #PressClubSMU

Questions: Press Cub board member Michael Lindenberger (@lindenberger) or SMU assistant professor Jake Batsell (@jbatsell) will be delighted to help if we can.