Former Chicago Tribune vice president and managing editor Jane Hirt will give the keynote address at the Nebraska Press Women's 70th Anniversary conference Saturday, April 23, on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus.
"The 21st Century Journalist: Adapt or Quit" is the subject of Hirt's 10 a.m. presentation. A Nebraska native, and 1982 UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications (CoJMC) graduate, Hirt is perhaps best known as the co-founder of RedEye, a Tribune experiment to create a successful commuter news and entertainment publication for young, socially-minded busy adults who weren't reading daily newspapers. She is a 25-year veteran of the news media industry.
Hirt follows CoJMC Dean Maria Marron, who opens the conference at 9 a.m. with a talk titled the "State of Journalism Education Today." A native of Ireland, Marron has worked as a journalist and a public relations professional. She came to the U.S. as a Rotary International Fellow, earned a master's degree from Ohio State University and the Ph.D. from Ohio University. She was the department chair at Central Michigan before accepting the UNL position in 2014.
The conference sessions, which begin with registration and a continental breakfast at 8:30 a.m., will take place in Room 109 of Andersen Hall, 16th and Q Streets. Conference parking is available in the adjacent lot, courtesy of the UNL CoJMC. The conference is open to both NPW members and non-members.
Both the Hall of Fame Luncheon and the evening Awards Banquet will take place in the Regency Suites on the second floor of the City Campus Nebraska Union.
Gov. Pete Ricketts will kick off the 11:30 a.m. luncheon which will recognize two Nebraskans, who will be inducted into the Marian Andersen Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame. Also recognized will be first place winners of the NPW High School Communications Contest, as well as recipients of two NPW scholarships--the Marianne Beel Scholarship, for a graduating high school senior, and the NPW Memorial Scholarship, for a college student. Jane Hirt will also speak briefly to scholarship and award winners.
A tour of the Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame, located on the second floor of Andersen Hall, as well as of the CoJMC facilities will open the afternoon conference activities. After the tour, participants will enjoy refreshments and a brief look at NPW history during the Happy 70th Anniversary NPW festivities.
At 2:15 p.m., the focus will turn to using social media for reporting, community involvement and promotion. The 90-minute session will be led by Michelle Carr Hassler, a national award-winning assistant professor of practice who teaches courses on social media, multimedia reporting and online journalism. Hassler was a reporter and editor at newspapers in Colorado, Arizona and Nebraska before joining the UNL CoJMC faculty.
The NPW Membership Meeting at 4 p.m. will conclude afternoon activities.
Saturday evening at the 5:30 p.m. Awards Banquet, nationally acclaimed author Joe Starita will present a preview of his latest book, "A Warrior of the People," the story of "the indomitable courage" of Nebraska's Susan LaFlesche Picotte, the first Native American physician. Starita, an engaging speaker, also wrote "I am a Man: Chief Standing Bear's Journey for Justice" and "The Dull Knifes of Pine Ridge--A Lakota Odyssey." A Nebraska native, Starita was an investigative reporter for the Miami Herald before joining the UNL CoJMC faculty where he teaches reporting and ethics classes.
Also attending the conference to help NPW celebrate its 70th anniversary will be National Federation of Press Women (NFPW) President Marsha Hoffman and NFPW Communications Contest Director Julie Hoffman, both of Council Bluffs, Iowa.
NPW is offering multiple attendance options for the conference. The cost to attend the entire conference is $55, which includes all sessions, continental breakfast, lunch, 70th anniversary festivities and dinner. For those who want to attend only the morning sessions and lunch, the cost is $30. For those attending only the afternoon activities and the evening banquet, the cost is $30. Individuals may also choose a meal-only option for $25. The costs are the same for members and non-members.
Reservations may be made by going to nebraskapresswomen.org state conventions. The reservation deadline is Friday, April 8.
In addition to the UNL CoJMC, conference sponsors include: the Nebraska Press Association, Nebraska Broadcasters Association, Firespring, Nebraska Lottery, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation, BH Media (Omaha World-Herald) and the Lincoln Journal Star.
Chartered on March 22, 1946, the Nebraska Press Women organization supports First Amendment freedom of the press and is affiliated with the National Federation of Press Women. Membership is open to women and men in the communications field.