ASBPE Boston Blog

2009 Northeastern Region Azbee Award Winners

2009-07-22T23:06:00.000-05:00

Northeastern region Azbee winners were announced last night. See who won (60K Word doc).

Get Video News Training - Cheap

2009-07-21T21:01:00.007-05:00

If you want to expand your multimedia skills, consider signing up for the Aug. 12 evening workshop Creating a News Package at Somerville Community Access Television (SCAT). You don't have to be a Somerville resident — or even a Massachusetts resident — to take the class. It's reasonably priced at $45 ($25 for SCAT members). It’s taught by Bill Barrell, a TV news veteran (he was a news editor at Boston's WHDH Channel 7). The workshop will cover writing and production.

Other relevant classes coming up at SCAT:

Basic Editing using Final Cut Express. Starts Aug. 4. Meets for four sessions, from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.; $40 members ($20 for SCAT members)
Basic Portable Equipment. Meets Saturday, Aug. 8, starting at 10:00 a.m.; cost is $40 ($20 for SCAT members)
Introduction to Photoshop. Starts Sept. 9. Meets for three sessions, starting at 7:00 p.m.; cost is $100 ($50 for SCAT members)

If Somerville isn’t convenient for you, try contacting your local cable access station to see what training it might offer.

July 22, 2009, 5:02 p.m.: Here’s an article on getting access to video equipment through your local cable access station. It also talks a little bit about getting training through your local station. It’s aimed at filmmakers, is relevant to others, too.

Northeastern Region Azbee Awards Banquet: June 22 in New York

2009-06-19T10:07:00.003-05:00

ASBPE's 2009 Northeastern Region Awards of Excellence will be presented on Wednesday, July 22. You'll get a chance to see the winning entries, cheer on your colleagues, and hear the story behind the story about two award-winning articles (speakers to be announced).

Meeting Details

When: Wednesday, July 22nd, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Where:

Trattoria Dopo Teatro
125 West 44th Street (off 6th Avenue)
New York, NY 10036
info@dopoteatro.com
(212) 869-2849
Map/directions

How to attend: To reserve your place, send payment (credit card or check payable to ASBPE) by July 14 with a completed reservation form (72K Word doc) to the contact listed on the form.

If paid by July 14: $59.00 for ASBPE members; $69.00 for nonmembers. Groups of 5 or more receive a $5 discount per person.
If paid after July 14: $69.00 for ASBPE members and journalism students (w/ current ID); $79.00 for nonmembers.

Get the Stories Behind the Stories: Hear History of Pulitzer Journalism Winners June 9

2009-06-03T14:44:00.010-05:00

"[Pulitzer's Gold] is a must read for those who want an inside look at journalism at its best. There is no higher calling among American newspapers than public service journalism, and Roy Harris delves into it with flair and expertise. He tells us why and how extraordinary stories were done."

— Gene Roberts co-author of The Race Beat

"At a time when the business model of the American newspaper lies broken, this book tells us, by vivid examples, why newspapers are essential to our national well-being. It is a sobering yet inspiring message."

— John S. Carroll former Los Angeles Times editor and Pulitzer Prize board member from 1993 to 2002

On June 9, ASBPE past president Roy Harris will be at Porter Square Books in Cambridge, Mass., to talk about the art and craft of journalism and the Pulitzer-winning news organizations detailed in his book Pulitzer's Gold.

From the book's jacket copy:

No journalism awards are awaited with as much anticipation as the Pulitzers. And among those Pulitzers, none is more revered than the Joseph Pulitzer Gold Medal.
Pulitzer's Gold is the first book to trace the ninety-year history of the coveted Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Exploring this service-journalism legacy, Roy Harris recalls dozens of "stories behind the stories," often allowing the journalists involved to share their own accounts. Included are a vivid description of the Boston Globe's uncovering of sexual misconduct by Catholic priests; an analysis of how the New York Times helped the community cope with the 9/11 attacks; and tales of the brilliant coverage of Hurricane Katrina by two wounded papers, the Times-Picayune in New Orleans and the Sun Herald in Gulfport, Miss.
Readers will recognize some of the stories, like the New York Times's Pentagon Papers exclusive and the Watergate scandal that Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein dug up for the Washington Post. But Harris takes his Gold Medal saga through two World Wars, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights struggle, and the Vietnam era before bringing public-service journalism into today's age of environmental and corporate exposes. Among the hidden treasures that come alive: how the Boston Post exposed the original Roaring Twenties Ponzi schemer — dapper, silver-tongued Charles Ponzi himself — and how northern California's tiny, remote Point Reyes Light, thirty years ago, discovered that the Synanon antidrug program had become a dangerous armed cult. (As the Light investigated, one Synanon critic was attacked by arattlesnake that had been stuffed into his mailbox by group operatives, taking the story, and the Light's fame, national.)

Through these and other Gold Medal accounts, newspaper teamwork gets its due as a driving factor in great journalism, and Harris acknowledges reporters and editors who may have received little personal attention when their papers received the awards. He also examines the evolution of the judging process since the first Pulitzers in 1917, addressing controversies arising over the public-service selections.

At a time when newspaper journalism is severely challenged, story after story illustrates how public-service reporting has been a point of pride for the American press, whether by small-town papers or metropolitan dailies. Pulitzer's Gold offers a new way of looking at journalism history and practice and a new lens through which to view America's own story.

Roy was most recently senior editor of the Economist Group's CFO magazine. He served from 1971 to 1994 as a reporter with the Wall Street Journal, including six years as deputy chief of its fourteen-member Los Angeles bureau. Early in his career he reported at the Los Angeles Times and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He now lives in Hingham, Massachusetts.

Time: Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 7:00 p.m.

Location:

Porter Square Books
Porter Square Shopping Center
25 White Street
Cambridge, MA 02140
(617) 491-2220
map/directions
Purchase a copy of Pulitzer's Gold from Porter Square Books.

Sign Up for May 29 Webinar: Managing Social Media

2009-05-11T15:54:00.004-05:00

Find out how to take advantage of social networks — and make best use of your time — at ASBPE's May 29 webinar, Managing Social Media.

Participating in social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter is becoming a must for B2B publications, but managing your publication's presence on all of them can take up a lot of time. At this webinar, you'll learn:

What the metrics are for figuring out where to concentrate your efforts.
Whose province social networking is. Is it a function of marketing, editorial, or both?
How you can best complement, not cannibalize or duplicate, the efforts on your main site.
How to make sure any information you present is perceived as helpful, and not purely self-promotional.
Ways to automate your participation – and when not to automate.
What free or low-cost tools are out there to help you disseminate video, podcasts, discussion, slide shows, etc.

Panelists will be:

Erin Erickson, ASBPE Chicago board member and senior web editor at Putman Media in Itasca, Ill. She created UBrandMedia.com, a how-to website that aims to teach nontechnical people how to create, use and manage social media. In addition to consulting with small businesses on social media strategy, Erin has created several social networks of her own.

You can connect with Erin on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Lorna Li, an online marketer with expertise in social media, search engine marketing, and online reputation management. She is the founder of Search Marketing Salon, a growing LinkedIn network of over 5,000 search engine marketers. Lorna is currently part of the SEO Team at Salesforce.com. Her blog is Green Marketing 2.0.

Connect with Lorna on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn, or subscribe to her FriendFeed.

Webinar Details

Date: Friday, May 29

Time: 1:00–2:00 p.m. Eastern time

Where: Your computer. You will need a dial-in number, URL and access codes to participate.

Charge: This webinar is $10.00 for all ASBPE members and $35.00 for nonmembers.

How to register: To reserve your place, you must complete two steps:

1) submit payment; and
2) visit the web page where you will actually register.

Fill out our registration form (76K Word doc), submitting payment (credit card or check payable to ASBPE) to the contact listed on the form. Upon receipt of payment, you will receive an e-mail with the online registration link. A second e-mail will follow identifying the dial-in number, URL and access codes needed to join the webinar.

More on the State of B2B: Are Advertisers Our Competitors?

2009-04-30T08:03:00.004-05:00

At a recent ASBPE Cleveland panel, B2B media industry veteran Joe Pulizzi suggested attendees should think of their customers as competitors. He said that customers are already creating content that competes with trade magazines, and more of them will do so in the future. From a recap of the discussion:

“Fifty percent of the advertising dollars they’re pulling back on are going into creating their own content,” Pulizzi said. “Right now 30 percent of customers’ marketing budgets are going to their own content and 70 percent is spent on paid placement. Over the next decade, that will flip.”

The full recap of the panel discussion is on the ASBPE National Blog.

Other Views on the State of B2B

2009-04-22T15:45:00.004-05:00

Last month we recapped some opinions about where our industry is going. This month, three B2B executives gave their views at an ASBPE Kansas City chapter panel. Two were pessimistic about the dearth of print advertising; the third saw opportunity in the present and “lots of fun ahead!”

Read more about the execs’ outlook for B2B media.

B2B Panelists on the Economy: “Cautiously –Very Cautiously – Optimistic”

2009-03-02T16:29:00.007-05:00

Even after the ups and downs of the last few months, at least one of the industry and B2B media figures who spoke at ASBPE Boston’s State of the Industry panel in January still holds out hope for an economic turnaround this year.

“Now that the new government has taken control, there seems to be a sense of new beginning,” said panelist and Managing Automation reader Dr. Steven Vidakovic in a recent email. Vidakovic is associate research fellow in technology and knowledge integration at Pfizer Inc. Back in January, he described himself as “… cautiously – very cautiously – optimistic that in the next six to12 months we’ll start coming out of this.” Now, he says, “I am still cautiously optimistic that we are soon to be on the mend. The trick will be to keep the businesses afloat for the next 12 months. If you survive that, you will probably prosper in 2011 [and] onwards.”

Financial Crisis = Opportunity for B2B Media

Tim Reason, editorial director of CFO.com, believes this is a period of opportunity for B2B journalists. In January, he said: “The mainstream media has done an abysmal job of reporting on this crisis. There's a tremendous opportunity for us to do really, really good work.”

Recently, he reiterated this sentiment via email. “‘The worst financial crisis of our time’ remains, for us, the greatest journalism opportunity of our time,” he wrote, “particularly for service journalism, as we seek to help companies understand how their peers are coping.” During January’s panel, Reason observed that page views on career-related stories had soared. “ [That] reinforces to my mind that in difficult times people seek information. … There is no room for fluff or topics that are driven by an advertising need.”

Operating Priorities: Employees and Customers

During the January panel, Gary Beach, publisher emeritis of CIO magazine, said there were two main operating priorities for B2B publications. “Number 1: Have happy employees,” he said. They'll be more productive and creative. “Number 2: Listen to your customers.”

He said CIO expected to make most of its profit from online and events. Profit margins are greater for online banner ad campaigns, even though print ads might gross more, he explained. He said page yields were down 10 to 15 percent.

Encouraging Signs

Representing the advertiser perspective at the January discussion, Mark A. Davidson, VP of global marketing at software vendor Wonderware, said, “We’re cautious, but not pessimistic – and not totally optimistic.” He pointed out that there is continued investment in necessities like food and beverage. And, he said, “There’s a little bit of resurgence of sourcing goods closer to home because of oil price volatility –and high transportation costs.” That resurgence could bring more business back inside U.S. borders.

How Advertisers Are Reacting to the Downturn

Isabelle Kane, media director of PJA Advertising & Marketing, provided the ad-agency view at the panel discussion. “Even though budgets have been cut in some cases of 25 to 35 percent, there's a feeling that the advertising won't look like it's cut because it's cheaper, and there's less noise in the market,” she said. “Clients are concerned about the number of magazines going out of business, but kind of glad because then they can focus their marketing in one publication.”

She said PJA was advising clients to stick to the fundamentals. “I can have the most killer, amazing thing going on in YouTube, but that doesn't matter if I don't also have something in the Wall Street Journal or Time.” Kane advised asking clients what you can give them as a value add so they will come back with their whole budget next year.

Changing the Online Product Mix

During the panel, Reason noted that CFO was paring down product offerings. “We killed video. We were spending 40K a year on it, but it wasn't getting sold,” he said. “Also, readers are coming [to CFO.com] for the quick-hit story,” not to watch video. CFO.com does have the capability to start offering video again very quickly if needed, he said.

Panel moderator Dave Brousell asked the marketers on the panel whether they were seeking to be in control of online initiatives.

Davidson’s reply: “It's a partnership. We’re interested in those media that work with us and really understand the different marketing techniques and how they will serve us.” He said he’s also looking for publishers who know how to measure results – whether it's lead generation or demand generation.

The Holy Grail for Advertisers: Qualified Leads

But mere measurement isn’t enough. Both Tim Reason and Gary Beach pointed out that online, advertisers are now looking more for the quality of the lead than for a high click-through number. “We’re moving off focus on lead- and demand-generation. [Advertiser’s] sales people are getting frustrated chasing down supposedly qualified leads that aren't qualified,” said Beach.

The Outlook for Events

When it comes to events, both readers and marketers are likely to be more selective. Kane said during the panel that her clients would look for “ Totally integrated, customized events” with measurable goals in which “everyone knows what's coming out of it before the contract is signed.” Vidakovic said he’d be more selective about the events he attends, leaning more toward webcasts. He commented that a typical reader probably can only justify attending one conference per year.

Other topics discussed by the panel included:

why being a good feature writer alone might not be enough to help your publication to survive;
what the implications of the downturn are for web site design;
how to engender advertiser loyalty; why magazines might have more success with advertisers if they decrease the frequency of publication; and
CIO’s approach to getting advertisers to loosen the purse strings.

Countdown to State of the Industry Panel

2008-12-23T08:00:00.011-05:00

While you're waiting for our Jan. 6 State of the Industry panel, get your prognostication fix from this summary of ASBPE New York's recent event, Taking the Pulse of B2B Media in 2009. One prediction from that panel discussion: Tony Silber of Red 7 Media (which publishes Folio:) said debt will make it difficult for large publishers with roots in print to invest in the web. He predicted bankruptcies among such companies will begin in the next month or so.

And here are some 2009 predictions from various media-industry compiled by Folio: magazine.

This interview with NewspaperDeathWatch's Paul Gillin from Michelle Rafter's WordCount blog is also pretty interesting. Gillin mentions that many community newspapers owned by large companies are being shut down -- but are being replaced by web sites started by individuals.

Also see the latest WordCount weekly digital media biz recap for info on the current status of the print-v.-web struggle in the magazine world (believe it or not, print is winning this round), how to be a good marketer, and how Twitter can grow a freelance business. You can also see a video of "The Morbid Major Magazine Song," a musical recitation of publications that have recently gone bust.

1/6/09 update: Watch for Paul Conley's predictions for B2B media in the January/February edition of the ASBPE newsletter.

2/19/09: Members can download a PDF of the January/February 2009 newsletter (276KB). (Nonmembers: View the newsletter archives.)

Call for Nominations: ASBPE Journalism That Matters Award

2008-12-22T15:44:00.003-05:00

ASBPE has introduced a new honor to its Azbee Awards program: the Journalism That Matters Award.

This award was inspired by the reporting featured in the ASBPE book Journalism That Matters: How Business to Business Editors Change the Industries They Cover (Marion Street Press, 2006), which showcases changes in government policy or industry practices that resulted from articles written by B2B, association, and trade journalists. The award will recognize similar work in our field.

If you or a colleague produced journalism that matters in 2008, consider entering. All forms of media — print, online, video, and audio — are eligible. The entry deadline is March 2, 2009.* The winner will be recognized at the 2009 National Azbee Awards of Excellence banquet in Washington, D.C., on July 16.

Download an entry form for the Journalism That Matters award (456K PDF).

Learn more about the Journalism That Matters Award.

* Note: This is later than the deadline for regular print Azbee Awards entries, which are due Jan. 30.

Speakers for Jan. 6 State of the Industry Panel Announced

2008-12-16T12:37:00.007-05:00

Panelists for our Jan. 6 meeting at the Wellesley Public Library will include:

Dr. Steven Vidakovic, associate research fellow in technology and knowledge integration at Pfizer (Managing Automation reader)
Isabelle Kane, media director, PJA Advertising & Marketing, which has been BtoB magazine's top small agency of the year for three years running.
Mark. A. Davidson, VP of global marketing, at Wonderware, an Invensys unit
Tim Reason, editorial director, CFO.com
Gary Beach, publisher emeritus, CIO magazine

They'll discuss their outlook on what the coming months hold for B2B publications at a FREE event at the Wellesley Public Library on Jan. 6, 2009. Chapter officer David Brousell, editor-in-chief for Managing Automation, will moderate the panel. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

Time: Social hour, 6:00-7:00 p.m.; program begins at 7:00 p.m.

Location:

Wellesley Free Public Library – Wakelin Conference Room
530 Washington Street
Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482
phone 781-235-1610
Transportation:
The Wellesley Library is a few minutes from the Turnpike/I-95 interchange and easily accessible from the Wellesley Square stop on the MBTA Framingham-Worcester commuter rail line. The stop is approximately two blocks to the west of the library.
Driving directions.

Parking information:
There is a parking lot in back of the library. There is also an underground parking garage exclusively for library users. If you park in the garage, you may access the library by elevator or a staircase that brings you into a lobby area.

Join Us for FREE State of the Industry Panel Jan. 6

2008-12-08T08:00:00.010-05:00

Are you ready for 2009?

The year ahead presents unprecedented challenges – and opportunities – for B2B publishing.

Join the ASBPE Boston Chapter for our annual State of the Industry panel discussion with representatives from B2B sales and editorial as well as a media buyer and a reader.

Because budgets are tight, we decided to change the format of this annual event so that you can attend for free. Instead of preceding the panel discussion with a formal banquet, we'll start off with a social hour. Complimentary refreshments and sandwiches will be served.

David Brousell, editor-in-chief for Managing Automation magazine, will moderate the panel.

~~Speakers will be announced shortly, so check back at this site.~~

Update, Dec. 16, 2008: Panelists for our Jan. 6 meeting at the Wellesley Public Library will include:

Dr. Steven Vidakovic, associate research fellow in technology and knowledge integration at Pfizer (Managing Automation reader)
Isabelle Kane, media director, PJA Advertising & Marketing, which has been BtoB magazine's top small agency of the year for three years running.
Mark. A. Davidson, VP of global marketing, at Wonderware, an Invensys unit
Tim Reason, editorial director, CFO.com
Gary Beach, publisher emeritus, CIO magazine

Date: Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2009

Time: Social hour, 6:00-7:00 p.m.; program begins at 7:00 p.m.

Location:

Wellesley Free Public Library – Wakelin Conference Room
530 Washington Street
Wellesley, Massachusetts 02482
phone 781-235-1610

Transportation:
The Wellesley Library is a few minutes from the Turnpike/I-95 interchange and easily accessible from the Wellesley Square stop on the MBTA Framingham-Worcester commuter rail line. The stop is approximately two blocks to the west of the library.
Driving directions.

Parking information:
There is a parking lot in back of the library. There is also an underground parking garage exclusively for library users. If you park in the garage, you may access the library by elevator or a staircase that brings you into a lobby area.

Questions? Want to attend? This event is open to both members and nonmembers. However, please RSVP if you plan to attend the social hour from 6:00-7:00 by emailing Alan Earls at alan.earls@comcast.net. You may reach him by phone at (508) 528-6930.

Postscript: For some ideas on what B2B publications can do now to weather the recession, don't miss Tonie Auer's recent blog post on the ASBPE National Blog.

For help on a personal level, take a look at this slide show from BusinessWeek.com, 20 Tips for Career Survival: Preventive and Preemptive.

Media Chowder's 'Drink for the Tots' Holiday Party

2008-12-05T08:30:00.001-05:00

From ASBPE Boston Board member Matt Kelly, via Facebook:

Yep, it's that time of year: the Media Chowder Annual Christmas Party. We will meet, imbibe, discuss the crappy state of the industry and poke fun at the Herald as usual. All are welcome; Santa attire is strongly encouraged.

When: Wednesday, Dec. 17, 7 p.m.
Where: Sidney's Grille, Cambridge, as usual.

Anyone bringing gifts for needy children will win a free drink, and then can stroll to the Salvation Army office across the street and drop it off for said needy children.

All are welcome! Shooting for a new turnout record of at least 20 folks this time, so please bring friends, writers, PR folk, and other hangers-on.

Details:

Sidney's Grille at the Meridien Hotel
20 Sidney St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 494-0011

cash bar
on street and garage parking available

See area map.
Get driving directions from Google Maps.

Directions via public transportation: short walk from Central Square T stop on Red line. (Exit T stop and walk down Mass Ave. about 10 minutes towards Boston. Sidney Street is on the right side of Mass Ave., just past the fire station, behind the Asgard bar)

Cast Your Vote: Which Twitterers Should B2B Editors Follow?

2008-12-04T13:23:00.003-05:00

Tell us who B2B editors and journalists should be following on Twitter. To vote, simply log onto Twitter and send a direct message or an @reply to ASBPE. Remember to include the person's Twitter handle. The top 10 will be posted on the ASBPE National Blog.

Check Twitter for Highlights of New Media Webinar

2008-11-17T18:05:00.004-05:00

If you missed our Guide to Creating the Next New-Media Resource webinar today, you might want to check out ASBPE's Twitter page for a few highlights from the presentation, plus some related links.

Update, 12/4/08: See a recap of some of the key points from the webinar on the ASBPE National Blog.

Nov. 17 Webinar: A B2B Journalist's Guide to Creating the Next New-Media Resource

2008-11-06T15:49:00.003-05:00


On Nov. 17, Harry McCracken and Joe Pulizzi will give advice on launching a successful new-media venture. Read posts by and about McCracken and Pulizzi on the ASBPE National Blog.

The advent of the Internet has made it easier and less costly than ever for writers and editors to connect with a niche audience. It also has dramatically increased the value of their skills, enabling smart writers and editors to reach millions of people, as well as make money doing so, without the backing of a large media company.

During a Webinar brought to you by ASBPE, you'll learn from Harry McCracken, the former editor-in-chief of PC World who has since founded the personal technology blog Technologizer, and Joe Pulizzi, founder and chief content officer of the search community site Junta42, how to:

develop an effective marketing strategy to promote your content;
identify, and participate in, online conversations that can help draw audiences to your work;
use social networking Web sites to reach out to online communities who are likely to value your expertise;
leverage the power of "free";
and build successful permission-based marketing initiatives.

If you aim to learn how you can create a compelling B2B editorial brand on your own, then we invite you to set aside time for our webinar.

Webinar Details

Date: Monday, Nov. 17
Time: 1:00 p.m. Eastern time
Duration: 60 minutes
To register: Click here.
Cost: This Webinar is $10.00 for all ASBPE members and $35.00 for nonmembers.

About the Moderator

JOE FLEISCHER has more than 12 years of experience as a writer and editor covering a wide range of topics related to customer care. He is a sought-after speaker and moderator at leading customer care events. He has developed and moderated numerous conference sessions, workshops and Webcasts, with the aim of helping companies to improve their communication with customers.

With Brendan Read, Mr. Fleischer is the coauthor of the book The Complete Guide to Customer Support.

About the Presenters

HARRY MCCRACKEN is the founder and editor of Technologizer, a Web site and community about personal technology that reaches 400,000 unique visitors a month. Prior to launching Technologizer in July 2008, he served as editor-in-chief of PC World, the world's largest computing magazine, and its Web site, from 2003 to 2008. McCracken earned American Business Media's Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity in 2008. He was named to Folio: magazine's Folio:40 list of media movers and shakers in 2008, and was one of min Magazine's 21 Most Intriguing People in 2008. McCracken's PC World editorials won American Business Media's Jesse H. Neal award in 2008.He has appeared as a technology expert on ABC, the BBC, CBS, NBC, the History Channel, and many other TV and radio outlets, and has written for Family Circle, Popular Science, Slate, USA Today and other publications.

JOE PULIZZI, a thought leader, speaker, writer and evangelist for content marketing and custom publishing, is founder and chief content officer for Junta42, a content marketing and custom publishing on-line resource, helping businesses of all sizes learn how to create valuable, relevant and compelling content. Voted American Business Media's "Custom Media Innovator of the Year," Joe is also president of Z Squared Media LLC, a content marketing consulting firm for marketers and publishers. In addition, Joe is coauthor of the book Get Content. Get Customers, which helps teach businesses why and how to create their own compelling content to drive their businesses.

Update, 12/4/08: See a recap of some of the key points from the webinar on the ASBPE National Blog.

Media Chowder Happy Hour Nov. 13

2008-11-04T10:49:00.002-05:00

The Media Chowder Society, the social group for journalists that we told you about earlier, will be getting together again on Thursday, Nov. 13. The invitation says:

The Media Chowder Society, a happy hour organization for local journalists, writers, and media types, will be meeting again. No agenda, no nonsense.

Please feel free to invite friends and colleagues.

Day/Date: Thursday Nov. 13
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Sidney's Grill at the Meridien Hotel
20 Sidney St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 494-0011

Details:
cash bar
on street and garage parking available
Directions: short walk from Central Square T stop on
Red line. (Exit T stop and walk down Mass Ave. about
10 minutes towards Boston. Sidney Street is on the
right side of Mass Ave., just past the fire station,
behind the Asgard bar)

Brought to you by the Medill Club of New England

See area map.
Get driving directions from Google Maps.

No need to RSVP -- just show up. Hope to see you there!

"Media Chowder: The best damned excuse for Boston-area journalists to go out drinking, period..."

2008-10-10T09:53:00.006-05:00

That's the slogan of a new journalists' group that's hosting a happy hour on Oct. 16. Wanting more frequent opportunities to network than Media Bistro has been providing, a group of Boston journalists took matters into their own hands and started Media Chowder. ASBPE Boston board member Matt Kelly is a charter member, and he sent me this info about the October event:

The Media Chowder Society, a happy hour organization for local journalists, writers, and media types, will be meeting again. No agenda, no nonsense.

Please feel free to invite friends and colleagues.

Day/Date: Thursday October 16
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Sidney's Grill at the Meridien Hotel
20 Sidney St
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 494-0011

Details:
cash bar
on street and garage parking available
Directions: short walk from Central Square T stop on Red line. (Exit T stop and walk down Mass Ave. about 10 minutes towards Boston. Sidney Street is on the right side of Mass Ave., just past the fire station, behind the Asgard bar).

See area map.
Get driving directions from Google Maps.

No need to RSVP for this one -- just show up. Matt tells me "Media Chowder parties have been known to last until 11 or so," so even if you can't make it early on, it's still worth stopping by.

To keep apprised of Media Chowder events, join their Yahoo group.

All-Media Party in Boston Oct. 21

2008-10-09T15:43:00.004-05:00

If you need a networking fix between now and December, when ASBPE's State of the Industry banquet takes place, you might want to attend Media Bistro's All-Media Party at Bella Luna in Jamaica Plain. It's an informal evening mixer featuring a cash bar and hors d'oeuvres. All guests must RSVP and be approved -- space is limited, and the event is or full-time media professionals only, either staff or freelance (no college interns/students). I plan to attend. Hope to see you there!

State of the Industry Banquet: How Will the Wall Street Meltdown Affect B2B Media?

2008-09-30T15:20:00.007-05:00

Update, Oct. 28, 2008: We've decided to hold the banquet in January 2009. A new date will be announced once it has been confirmed.
-------------------------------------
The time for our annual State of the Industry banquet is approaching. As usual, it will be an dinner event held in December. A panel will talk about on the impact of the Wall Street meltdown on b2b print, web, and conference products. Planned speakers will include top managers from area b2b publishing companies, a media buyer or two and a reader.

Because December is a busy time of year, we'd like to get your input on the date to hold the banquet. (Keep in mind that it will be an after-work event.) Please give us your input by taking the poll below. (Poll closes Oct. 18 at midnight Eastern time.)

Which week would be best for the chapter's annual State of the Industry dinner? ( polls)

If there's a particular day of the week that works best for you, please let us know that:

Which evening works best for you to attend ASBPE Boston's State of the Industry Banquet? ( surveys)

Have You Checked Out the ASBPE National Blog Yet?

2008-07-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

ASBPE's National Blog is updated every Monday and Thursday with posts by ASBPE chapter and national board members — and occasional guest bloggers from B2B media companies, consultancies, and the like. Of course you'll find association news there, but most of the commentary deals with issues such as web site do's and don'ts, the financial state of our industry, making yourself marketable in the media world, and reassessing the way you do business. There are also posts to help out with day-to-day work, such as improving your writing and finding good web resources.

If you use an RSS reader, subscribe to the national blog's RSS feed. If not, sign up to get new national blog posts automatically emailed to you. Those of you with Twitter accounts also have the option to keep up with the blog (and other ASBPE news) via ASBPE's new Twitter page.

Twitter isn't the only social networking site where you can find ASBPE.

There's now an ASBPE group on the networking site LinkedIn where you can see the profiles of other B2B media types — and see who's in their networks, too.
There's also an ASBPE Facebook group where you can share links, start discussions, and network with B2B editors.
And we've started a group on the book-review site GoodReads, where you can get recommendations from other B2B editors on the best books for learning about journalism, the web, the business world, and other job-related topics.

Now's as good a time as any to mention that from now on, I'll be using this blog more for strictly local stuff and posting about topics of general interest to all B2B editors over on the national blog. Head over and take a look.

Northeast Region Azbee Award Winners Announced

2008-07-10T16:10:00.009-05:00

A full list of the winners, which awards they won, and how they placed is now online.

See who won in the Northeast Region.

National winners will be announced July 24 in Kansas City as part of the ASBPE National Editorial Conference.

In the meantime, you can see who the national finalists are.

Northeastern Azbee Finalists Announced

2008-07-07T08:00:00.003-05:00

The names of the publications that are finalists in the Northeast Regional competition of the Azbee Awards of Excellence have been published at www.asbpe.org. Categories and names of the winning articles, editors, and designers will not be revealed until after the Boston-area awards banquet on Wednesday, July 16. If you plan to attend the banquet, you must RSVP by Thursday, July 10. Contact Alan Earls at (508) 528-6930 or alan[dot]earls[at]comcast[dot]net.

Before the awards are given out, we'll hear from author and magazine consultant John "Jack" Brady on The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Magazine Editors. Brady has a long career in the magazine industry: He's been editor-in-chief of Writer’s Digest and Boston magazines and founding editor of The Artist’s Magazine and M: The Magazine for Montessori Families. He and his consulting partner Greg Paul have overseen the redesign of hundreds of publications and assisted with the launch of numerous new magazines at their publishing consultancy Brady & Paul Communications. Brady always has something valuable and useful to say, so you won't want to miss his talk and the chance to speak with him in person.

ASBPE Boston/Northeast Region Awards Banquet

Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Time:

6:00 p.m. social hour/cocktails
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. dinner, followed by speaker and awards

Location:

Papa Razzi
16 Washington Street
Wellesley, MA
parking info

Cost:

• If paid by June 16: $55.00 for ASBPE members; $60.00 for nonmembers. Tables of 8: $400.

• If paid after June 16: $60.00 for ASBPE members; $65.00 for nonmembers. Tables of 8: $425

How to attend: To reserve your place, send payment (credit card or check payable to ASBPE) by July 10 to ASBPE Chapter President Alan Earls:

Alan Earls
222 Pond Street
Franklin, MA 02038

Questions? Call Alan at (508) 528-6930 or email him at alan[dot]earls[at]comcast[dot]net)

Note: As in years past, the New York chapter will be holding a separate banquet for editors in the New York City area. That banquet takes place July 9.

Update, July 9, 2008: The Boston banquet has been canceled. There will be only one Northeastern Region banquet this year, in New York.

Reed DivestmentWatch Blog Shut Down

2008-06-16T15:16:00.004-05:00

For those who didn't here (or see the Folio: blog post from Friday): A site about the Reed sale was shut down. Here are the details from Folio:.

June 26 Webinar: The Disruptive Power of Green

2008-06-11T15:59:00.003-05:00

Chances are your readers are rethinking how they do business to minimize their industry’s environmental impact. Companies have become more aware of environmental issues — especially climate change — and that's impacting editorial coverage and priorities, including the allocation of staff resources.

You'll get some good ideas about how to cover these issues by attending ASBPE's next webinar, The Disruptive Power of Green. Among the topics covered:

how other B2B reporters are creatively seeking out stories on the environment, sometimes producing reforms that make business more environmentally friendly.
how to help your audience navigate new environmental laws.
how to help them respond to demand from consumers and business partners for green initiatives.

The discussion will be led by ChemicalWeek’s Robert Westervelt and Ward’s David Zoia, both of whom are breaking new ground in this area.

Webinar Details

Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008

Time: 2:00-3:00 p.m. Eastern time

Where: Your computer. You will need a dial-in number and access code to participate. You will receive the dial-in number and access code in a subsequent e-mail message after you register for this Webinar.

How to register: You can register online for this Webinar at eventcallregistration.com/reg?cid=2927t11. Shortly after you register, you will receive a confirmation of your registration by e-mail that will include the dial-in number and access code.

Charge: $15.00 for all ASBPE members; $35.00 for nonmembers.