RTDNA Confab To Focus On Practical Issues

Tomorrow’s opening of the RTDNA Excellence in Journalism conference being held in Nashville, Tenn., marks a change in focus for the annual event, which is geared toward addressing the “practical needs of journalists.”

“It’s a ‘much of a what can I learn today and put to work tomorrow’ kind of a conference,” says RTDNA Executive Director Mike Cavender. “We’ve really placed an emphasis far less on theory and more on practical application.”

In turn, the conference, which runs Thursday through Saturday and is co-sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalist, will offer sessions addressing the problems that occurred between reporter and police in Ferguson, Mo.; techniques broadcasters (or print journalists now delivering video) can use to sound better on-air; how newsroom managers can better keep staff motivated and competitive across platforms; and technical skills to boost data-driven journalism and “Web stuff” such as coding and JavaScript.

Cavender, who expects about 1,000-plus attendees, says those kinds of sessions are being offered in response to what attendees say they want, “which goes along with the need for people to be multi-skilled.”

“It’s not enough to be a broadcaster. It’s not enough to be a print journalist or a digital journalist. You’ve got to be able to translate to all the other platforms,” he says.

The conference also will honor standouts in the business. Dick Ebersol, the former NBC Sports chairman, will receive RTDNA’s Paul White Award, marking his success in programming including Saturday Night Live, the World Series, and the Summer and Winter Olympics. CBS Radio News VP Harvey Nagler will receive the group’s John F. Hogan Award for the network’s award-winning success under his watch.