Session 1 | 10:30am-11:45am

Educational Sessions 1

Better Reporting/Better Writing
St. Petersburg 1

Presented by James Davis, Freelance Reporter for The Florida Catholic
Catholic journalists face dilemmas with every deadline. On the one hand, they convey eternal truths and time-honored doctrines. On the other, they need to keep the message fresh, new, readable. Unlike the Mass, news articles carry no obligation. Beyond basic writing tools like spelling and grammar, we’ll look at the value of condensing, paraphrasing long quotes, telling anecdotes, adding details to make your text vivid and hold reader interest. Finally, we’ll deal with difficult situations. How to respond when a church official — or even a lay leader — says “But don’t put that in” or “I’d like to see a copy before it runs”?

Catholic Radio: Just What Does it Mean To Be Catholic
Grand Central/Edge

Presented by Fr. Hoffman
Attendees learn about the fundamental issues that pertain to the call to holiness and evangelization through the Mass Media – the Great Commission. Drawing on 40-years of pastoral experience, the past 27 as a Priest, Fr Hoffman gives attendees a perspective on the following topics: • key principles for remaining authentically Catholic • surrendering the will • the Evangelical Counsels and their impact on evangelization • the Capital Sins and the three sources of sanctifying grace • saintly intercessors • lighting a candle • measuring success • understanding growth competition, and conflict • the Magisterium and the internet • proper Board structure and related party transactions • accountability • to the truth and transparency

Social Media for Effective Communication
St. Petersburg 3

Prospecting to Drive New Sales
Williams

Presented by Jon Miosky, VoiceBox Media
In this session we will focus on your inherent ability to scope prospects. It is within you. That is why you are successful. We’ll talk about your routines and where you expend your energy during peak selling hours. Prospects are relationships that are like seeds in the ground. You don’t know exactly where they are until you water the field, daily. Then your potential customers begin to sprout up. Once you begin to see them sprout, you may begin caring for them; nurturing them to grow into beautiful, luscious plants that bear wonderful fruit. Join us for this awesome session and hear more than one great metaphor just like that one! Plus we’ll have some fun and get to know each other. You’ll come away knowing that selling is a game you can win every single day.

Bringing Photos and Words to Life through Design
Demens

Presented by Todd Habiger, The Leaven
This session will discuss how to get your stories noticed through design. Todd Habiger, production manager of The Leaven, will offer tips and tricks on how to design eye-catching pages through the creative use of photos, typography, pullouts and more.

To PR Firm or Not
St. Petersburg 2

 Presented by Mary Rose Agosta, Archdiocese of Miami & Jonathon Stern, Burson Cohn & Wolfe
As Bill Withers sang in “Lean on Me”, “just call on me, brother (or sister), when you need a helping hand”, the question for many Communications Directors is To PR Firm or Not! This workshop will revolve around the journalistic “W’s” and “How”, and one “I”. When and If should you hire a PR firm? ? What is the need – crisis vs. non-crisis?? What is the firm’s role? How do you pay for it?