Society for Technical Communication

Workshop: Communication Perspectives

The STC-LA Workshop: Communication Perspectives, held Feb 9 at the Holiday Inn Select in Baton Rouge, LA, was our first major learning event for 2007. Four speakers from the Louisiana and Texas areas volunteered their time to address our members with topics ranging from getting along to getting published. We'd like to issue a huge thank you to all of our speakers, to the members who attended the workshop, and to everyone who helped make the event a reality.

If you missed this workshop, don't worry. We hope to offer similar events in the future.

The Day in Photos

Tom Guarisco, editor of 225 Magazine, takes the stage. Tom told us how 225 got its start, how the cornerstones of its business model were laid out, and how the staff decides what makes the cut--the content, the style, the photos, the marketing. Along the way he provided tips for aspiring journalists hoping to enter the field.

 

Conference attendees observe as presenters deliver their content. The atmosphere of the event was professional, but intimate, with questions and conversation generated back and forth between the speakers and the attendees. Attendees were encouraged to network with each other, and had many chances to interact with the speakers throughout the day.

 

Kristin Grant, an experienced freelancer who has been published in numerous magazines, presents "How to Become a Freelance Writer." Kristin's challenge to the crowd was simple: pick a topic, find an angle, and get yourself published. Reflecting on her years of success as a freelance magazine writer, Kristin explained how to jump start and stay successful in the highly lucrative freelancing business.

 

Deborah Normand, instructor of English at Louisiana State University, presents "Ethics in Communication," an examination of maintaining ethical relationships with the community. Deborah told us about the sometimes rocky relationships that can develop beteween a university and its community, and how some instructors have made it their goal to turn those relationships around.

 

Conference attendee Steve Brunet of Baton Rouge, LA, takes notes during the sessions. Each session lasted about an hour and fifteen minutes, allowing enough time for both lecture and question and answer sessions.