Each week, MediaShift posts an ongoing list of upcoming events in the digital media and journalism world. These will be a mix of MediaShift-produced events and other events. If we’re missing any major events, or you’d like to pay to promote your event in the “featured event” spot of our weekly post, please contact Mark Glaser at mark [at] mediashift [dot] org. Any non-MediaShift events in the “featured event” slot are paid placements. Also, be sure to sign up for our events email newsletter to get notifications about future MediaShift events.
DECEMBER 2015
Covering the Refugee Crisis: Is the Media Getting it Right?
Dec. 2, 2015, 7pm UTC
Hörsaal 1, Department of Communication, University of Vienna, Währinger Straße 29, 1090, Vienna
The “refugee crisis” is forcing Europe to come face to face with its strength to uphold human rights and European values of protecting the vulnerable, and with its political will, to confront hate speech and racist attacks. The media play an important role in shaping public opinion, providing information and making diverse voices heard. They also have an important role to play in supporting society to deal with rapid social change by generating and fostering public debate, while upholding democratic values. But, do they fulfil their role and if so, how do they achieve that? Given the turn in the public debate from compassion to suspicion, it is important to keep an open and honest debate about one of the most pressing humanitarian crises of our times. Join us for this Round Table, as we seek to find answers, offer examples of positive change and put together the mosaic of truth.
More information and registration here.
Tow Tea: Network Analysis for Investigative Journalism
Dec. 3, 2015, 4-5:30 ET
Pulitzer Hall, Columbia Journalism School, New York, NY
The Tow Center for Digital Journalism is pleased to host a Tow Tea with Sheila Coronel, Academic Dean of Columbia Journalism School, regarding Network Analysis for Investigative Journalism. Dean Coronel will be joined by a number of other speakers, to be confirmed.
Register here.
Transparency Series: Networks Seminar with Gilad Lotan
Dec. 4, 2015, 5-6:30pm ET
Brown Institute, Columbia Journalism School, New York, NY
Join us in the Brown Institute for a Friday night discussion with Gilad Lotan, Chief Data Scientist at Betaworks, about networks and their impact on media and communication.
Information here.
Virtual Reality Lab NY: Demo Splash
Dec. 4, 2015, 6-8pm ET
Samsung Studio SoHo, 130 Prince Street, New York, NY
In partnership with Samsung Global Innovation Center, NYC Media Lab and NYVR, LoNyLa/TimeWave has launched Virtual Reality Lab NY, which combines VR development sessions, a public demo and NYC Media Lab’s autumn conference on VR. The goal: to provide media creators and technologists with an opportunity to create VR/AR/MR prototypes, explore complex formats using immersive technology, and collaborate with like-minded members of the VR community. Free and open to the public.
Information and registration here.
The Transparency Series: Networks (Workshop)
Dec. 5, 2015, all day ET
Pulitzer Hall, The Brown Institute, Columbia Journalism School
This workshop will focus on the creative and critical use of complex networks through relationship mapping and visual analysis in order to expand the individual’s thinking about the network as a medium. Starting from hand drawn simple graph diagrams, participants gradually build complex network models. Emphasis will be on network mapping / modeling, relational thinking, centrality and clustering analysis and information design. The Transparency Series is a unique set of seminars and hands-on workshops that bring new technology and design ideas to the Columbia Journalism community. Our goal is simple: help students learn new ways to find and tell stories, new ways to inform and entertain. Each topic will commence with a Friday evening panel discussion and will follow with a Saturday hands-on workshop centered around building. Contact: Michael Krisch, 212-854-9756.
More information here.
New York Press Club Foundation Holiday Party
Dec. 7, 2015, 6:30-9:30pm ET
Marriott Hotel, Times Square, New York, NY
Get your spin on at this year’s New York Press Club Foundation Holiday Party. We’ll convene high atop the Marriott Hotel in Times Square, in the revolving restaurant. Join colleagues and friends for a festive evening and brighten the holidays for a disadvantaged New York City youngster by bringing with you an unwrapped gift.
RSVP for members, student members and non-members here.
Online Security Install Party: Protect Yourself and Your Sources
Dec. 9, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm ET
CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, New York, NY
You can take basic steps to protect your communications from digital vandalism, crime and surveillance. This two-hour workshop is meant to be a practical intervention, not an abstract discussion. You install PGP encryption for your email, an Off-the-Record (OTR) app for your chats, and the Signal or TextSecure app for text. Cybersecurity expert Mike Tigas will be your guide. Tickets are $25.
Register here.
We Have the Technology: How Biohackers, Foodies, Physicians and Scientists Are Transforming Human Perception
Dec. 10, 2015, 7-8:30pm PT
Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, Berkeley, CA
From the bionic eye to the robotic hand, from the science of perfume to the language of cooking, the study of perception is about to get weird. Come hear how Berkeley Journalism School alum and instructor Kara Platoni spent a year crashing labs, military bases, biohackers’ basements and probably your sofa in her quest to find the cutting edge of sensory science.
More information here.
Snapchat for News
Dec. 16, 2015, 6:30-8:30pm ET
CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, New York, NY
With more than 100 million active users, 77% of U.S. college students and 4 billion video views per day, Snapchat is too big to ignore and media organizations are paying attention. Fifteen media brands, including Mashable, now produce content exclusively for Snapchat’s Discover feature and reaching millions of millennials. Join us for a two-hour evening workshop with Mashable’s Stacy Martinet to explore this game-changing mobile app. Stacy will explain the app’s features, including disappearing messages, My Story montages and Discover. She will also present ways to use the app for news gathering and telling complex and engaging stories in a world of emojis and vertical videos. This workshop is meant for journalists, communicators and anyone interested in new communication technologies. Bring your smart phone and get ready to download the app and try it out! Tickets are $25.
Register here.
Open Studio Night
Dec. 17, 2015, 6-8pm ET
NYU Journalism, 20 Cooper Square, New York, NY, 7th floor
Every year at the fall term draws to a close NYU’s Studio 20 program puts on Open Studio night, in which the program’s graduating students present their final projects in innovation, which they have spent six months working on. This year’s group includes projects on:
* field testing 360-degree video as a viable tool for journalism
* launching a sub-brand at a successful niche site
* developing a foothold in messaging platforms like What’s App
* finding new ways to measure the “impact” of a non-profit newsroom
* introducing user testing to a newsroom where it had not been normal practice
Josh Benton, director of Nieman Lab, will also review the year in journalism innovation and prepare a slide show that presents the highlights: the companies, the products, the tools, the people, and the ideas that pushed journalism forward this year.
More information and RSVP here.
JANUARY 2016 AND BEYOND
Consumer Electronics Show 2016
Jan. 6-9, 2016
Las Vegas, NV
CES is the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies. Held in Las Vegas every year, it has served as the proving ground for innovators and breakthrough technologies for more than 40 years — the global stage where next-generation innovations are introduced to the marketplace.
Register here.
Super Researcher: Find People, Dig Deeper and Get Your Facts Right
Jan. 7, 14, 21, 28, 2016, 6:30-8pm ET
CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, New York, NY
Find even the most elusive sources. Dig up hard-to-find information. Avoid embarrassing mistakes in your news stories. In this series of four short workshops, CUNY J-School Chief Librarian Barbara Gray, the former director of news research at the New York Times, will guide you through the most accessible techniques for investigating people and verifying the facts, including Facebook, Google+, Geofencing, Geolocation, mostly free and low-cost databases, WikiLeaks and many more. Each workshop meets at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m. at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism.
Thursday, January 7: Finding People Fast (Even If They Don’t Want to Be Found)
Thursday, January 14: Newsgathering With Social Media
Thursday, January 21: Bulletproofing Your Reporting
Thursday, January 28: Super-Searching Google and Beyond
Attend an individual workshop for $48 or purchase the whole series for $149.
Register here.
Smart Photos with Smart Phones
Jan. 9, 2016, 9am-2pm ET
CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, New York, NY
Smart phones have opened up new photographic possibilities for both professional journalists and citizen storytellers. Images produced with today’s smart phones now have sufficient quality to be published on all media platforms from digital to print. In fact, many news organizations now require reporters to take their own smart phone photos of breaking news events. This five-hour, Saturday morning course will help you enhance your work or hobby with better smart phone pictures. This will be a valuable and insightful experience whether you’re an amateur or a more advanced level of photographer. Bring your iPhone or similar Android device. We also advise you to bring your own laptop as well. Photojournalist Jennifer S. Altman has taught this popular class many times, to journalism students and others. This five-hour workshop costs $149 per student.
Register here.
SF Periscope Summit
Jan. 14, 2016, 7pm PT – Jan. 17, 2015, 3pm PT
San Francisco, CA
Scopers from all over the world will once again fly in to celebrate and share knowledge about community, social and live streaming. Speakers and audiences will be streaming to hundreds of thousands of people each day showcasing your space.
More information and registration here.
Audience-Driven Leadership: How to Build Product Focused Newsrooms and Manage Change
Jan. 14, 2016, 10am – 5:30pm ET
CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, New York, NY
Learn what it takes to lead an audience-focused newsroom and build competitive news products from The Washington Post’s Cory Haik, NYC Now editor Michael Owen, CUNY’s Jeff Jarvis and others at this exciting, one-day event in NYC, co-sponsored by American Society of News Editors (ASNE) and the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism. You’ll get a hands on introduction toDesign Thinking and practical advice on how to use analytics strategically. We’ll discuss the keys to establishing a product culture while producing great journalism — then brainstorm your next great news product. The cost is $249, $140 for ASNE members. Lunch and a networking reception are included.
Register here.
South by Southwest 2016
Mar. 11-20, 2016
Austin, TX
The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conferences & Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW® is the premier destination for discovery. Year after year, the event is a launching pad for new creative content. New media presentations, music showcases and film screenings provide buzz-generating exposure for creators and compelling entertainment for audiences. Conference panel discussions present a forum for learning, business activity thrives at the Trade Shows and global networking opportunities abound. Intellectual and creative intermingling among industry leaders continues to spark new ideas and carve the path for the future of each ever-evolving field, long after the events’ conclusion.
Register here.
BinderCon LA
Mar. 19-20, 2016
UCLA and Online, Everywhere
BinderCon is a professional development conference designed to empower women and gender non-conforming writers with the tools, connections and strategies they need to advance their careers. More than a conference, Binders is a community of writers working to increase the diversity of voices in the media and literary arts through conferences, workshops and other career-building events.
Register here.
International Symposium of Online Journalism
Apr. 15-16, 2016
University of Texas at Austin, TX
Since 1999, editors, producers, executives, and academics from around the country (and lately from around the world) have gathered in Austin every year (except 2000) to discuss the evolution of this new genre of journalism. The Symposium has been a small, but very intense conference that serves as a barometer for the state of Online Journalism.
Call for papers now underway; more information here.
For a roundup of must-go journalism conferences, see Contently’s list here.
Sonia Paul is a freelance journalist reporting in India and the U.S., and is the editorial assistant at MediaShift. Her work has appeared in a broad range of media, including the Al Jazeera Media Network, Caravan, Foreign Policy, Guardian, Mashable, New York Times, PRI’s The World, Roads & Kingdoms and VICE News. She previously produced the grant-funded podcast series Shizuoka Speaks, based in Japan. She is on Twitter and Instagram @sonipaul.