Women, Action & the Media 2007

New this year — register now to join us for our Friday Intensive Pre-Conference! Only $65 for Conference attendees, $85 for Pre-Conference only.

12:00 - 1:00 PM


Networking & Mentoring Lunch

Kick off WAM!2007 with an informal lunch (included in the Pre-Conference fee) at which you’ll be seated with fellow WAM!mers who share your interests and expertise.

1:00 - 3:30 PM (choose one)

Briefings Session 1: Women & Class, Sexual Violence
New this year, Briefing Sessions are a chance for journalists to hear from national and international experts about the latest trends, information and thinking on select issues which have a specific impact on women. Presenters TBA

Starting and Running a Feminist Publication (with Rita Henley Jensen & Elaine Lafferty)
Rita Henley Jensen, editor in chief of Women’s eNews, and Elaine Lafferty, former editor of Ms., totally agree on one thing: Wonderful ideas need solid business plans. Come hear two leaders tell their war stories and successful strategies as well as basic guidelines for drawing up your own plan.

How to Write and Sell a Book Proposal Without Selling Out (with Valerie Boyd)
In this interactive workshop, Valerie Boyd (Wrapped in Rainbows: The Life of Zora Neale Hurston) will give participants practical tools for developing nonfiction book proposals, including exercises for honing ideas, suggestions for staying true to the essence of your idea, and compassionate instruction and guidance on keeping the faith.

4:00 - 5:30 PM (choose one)

Briefings Session 2: Women & War, Gender & Prison
New this year, Briefing Sessions are a chance for journalists to hear from national and international experts about the latest trends, information and thinking on select issues which have a specific impact on women. Presenters TBA

Training for Citizen Journalists (with Renee Ferguson)
Investigative reporter and former CBS Network Correspondent Renee Ferguson de-mystifies investigative work and shares the social science and data analysis skills you need to look at government spending, waste, fraud, health care disparities, or whatever else you care about, in order to do the real work of the watch dog that our nation needs. Why complain about the news media when you can be the news media yourself?

Momentum: Igniting Social Change in the Connected Age (with Allison Fine)
You’re eager to harness social media to spark social change. But how? And with whom? Author Allison Fine, Senior Fellow at Demos, used to hold funder lists close to the chest and keep media lists under virtual lock and key. No more. She’s open source to the max, as are the 100 Connected Women mixing it up online with her at ConnecTips. Committed to interactivity, she’s ready to engage a roomful of participants to develop a blueprint for social action. Come prepared to plan something you can use on Monday.

Your Best Pitch (with Liza Featherstone)
Are you a freelance writer trying to break out? Ever wonder if your queries are the best they could be? Here’s your chance to meet one-on-one for 20 minutes with accomplished journalist and author Liza Featherstone, who will give you honest feedback and help you refine your story pitches so you can land the assignments you want.