Register today for 136th annual convention
3/10/22 (Thu)
This year's annual convention is packed with sessions to invigorate your newspapers, from connecting with young journalists to transition planning to a insight into a new study on newspaper financial models conducted by Teri Finneman and a host of researchers.
Bring your cameras to Bismarck this year, as the photography session led by the Bismarck Tribune's Mike McCleary will feature some interactive action, with session attendees snapping shots around convention and McCleary sharing some tips and tricks for how to grab the best angles and lighting. Attendees will also have the chance to glean insight into how to approach editorial writing with Cecile Wehrman of The Journal in Crosby, where they'll polish up their skills tackling tough subjects and freshen up on hooking readers with great leads.
"Growing Together and Cultivating the Future" is this year's theme at the 136th annual NDNA Convention, scheduled for May 5-7 in Bismarck. Leading off on Thursday will be a debate at 7 p.m., then on Friday morning, attendees will learn more about how the North Dakota Historical Society's State Archivists catalog newspapers, and have the ability to create entirely searchable digital databases. Tom Simon will recount how state BCI officials confiscated his cellphone, then returned it after recognizing they had followed an unlawful process. NorDak Publishing's Kelsey Majeske, along with Julie Bergman from Bergman Group, will lead a session on transition planning, offering advice for those thinking about buying or selling newspapers down the road. And, over Friday lunch, Teri Finneman of the University of Kansas will share an update on her research project examining the future of newspaper financial models.
It's been several years since NDNA members have gathered in-person to celebrate Better Newspaper Contest award winners, and Friday's program includes slots for celebrating the best of the best together once again. On Friday afternoon, James Wolner from the Dakota Spotlight podcast will share the story of how he created the series that examines Midwest cold cases, how he digs through investigative records and interviews, and translates it for eager podcast listeners.
Friday afternoon will also feature McCleary's interactive photography session and a sales panel with Paul Erdelt of the Steele Ozone and Tara Klostreich of the Wahpeton Daily News. Friday night will include the annual banquet, past presidents' social, and the introduction of the new NDNA president.
On Saturday morning, attendees will wrap up the convention with a sports panel and a roundtable featuring North Dakota journalism professors Karen Bauer, Malcolm Jason, Ross Collins and Amy Hollar, along with journalism students themselves, who will help jump start a conversation about how NDNA members can better connect with journalism students. In this session, attendees will discuss creating those relationships early on so that North Dakota students interested in journalism can gain valuable experiences with local newspapers and chart a future to a journalism career in North Dakota.
After a long haitus from in-person NDNA gatherings and less-than-exciting Zoom get-togethers, the 136th annual NDNA Convention will be an opportunity to connect with colleagues, share insights and experiences, and learn from one another. Registration is now open at ndna.com/convention/, so be sure to register today.
For further information, contact the
NDNA Executive Director,
866-685-8889 or director@ndna.com