Friday, April 17
7-9 p.m.
Opening reception
Manship School of Mass Communication | Louisiana State University
Check in and pick up your conference swag, while you check out some Cajun cuisine. More details to come.
6:30 p.m. (Optional)
Louisiana State University Tigers vs. University of Arkansas Razorbacks (Baseball)
Alex Box Stadium | Louisiana State University
Tickets are NOT included in conference registration fees, but can be purchased online.
Saturday, April 18
8:30 a.m.
Registration and Continental Breakfast
First Floor Foyer | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
If you didn’t make it to the opening reception, be sure to check in and pick up your conference swag, while you grab a bite to eat, and, of course, caffeinate.
9 a.m.
Facebook training for Journalists
Heidelberg Prefunction and Ballroom | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
This workshop covers Facebook tools for journalists that can help create and share incredible works of journalism, as well as engage the public in the stories about their communities. Topics to include Facebook Live, Groups, Video, Insights and Safety features. Leading the training is J. Kyle Foster, who has more than 20 years of journalism experience at newspapers, as a freelancer and 16 years at Bloomberg News. Kentucky born, she bleeds blue and currently lives in Southwest Florida.
A Season of Politics
Governor Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Description to come.
10 a.m.
Nonprofit News Groups
Governor Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Description to come.
Requesting Public Records
Capitol Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Description to come.
Finding Your Niche
Victory Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
From lifestyle, bridal and business to sports, big rigs and more, niche publishing offers a diverse range of products. This panel of top niche professionals will offer their experience and tips for finding yours. Panelists include, Melanie Warner Spencer, who is the editor of five niche publications at Renaissance Publishing LLC., New Orleans Bride Magazine, New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles Magazine and Acadiana Weddings and managing editor of its magazines Louisiana Life and Acadiana Profile; A trucker’s daughter, Wendy Miller recently left a position as special sections manager at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette to become the managing editor of The Trucker and TheTrucker.com; and Staci Miller, creative services director at the Democrat-Gazette. She is responsible for creative services and content creation for the newspaper and it’s niche products, including digital exclusives, special sections and Arkansas Life magazine.
11 a.m.
STRIKING OUT THE SPLITTER: How the Advocate put together the Pulitzer Prize winning series that helped change Louisiana’s split-jury law
Capitol Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
A look at the enterprising reporting on the racial impacts of Louisiana’s non-unanimous verdicts in criminal cases that won the Advocate its first Pulitzer Prize and got the attention of voters who amended the state constitution to require solid verdicts.
Covering Sports is More Than a Game
Governor Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Description to come.
Noon
(Luncheon)
SPJ Mark of Excellence and Louisiana-Mississippi AP College Awards
Heidelberg Prefunction and Ballroom | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
The SPJ and Louisiana-Mississippi AP will hold a joint college awards luncheon honoring the best in college journalism in the region.
2-4 p.m.
One-on-One Critiques for Students
Governor Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Students can meet one-on-one with news executives, editors and other professionals to discuss their work. Participants must sign up when registering for the conference. The one-on-one sessions are scheduled in 20-minute increments. Students participating in the one-on-one sessions should bring laptops to show their work or copies of print stories.
SPJ Region 12 Leadership Meeting
Capitol Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Chapter presidents/executive boards or those interested in taking on a leadership role will meet with SPJ’s Region 12 Coordinator Jennifer Ellis. Plus, pick up FREE swag for your chapter.
Louisiana-Mississippi APBME Board Meeting
Victory Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Description to come.
5:30 p.m.
Louisiana-Mississippi APBME Awards Reception
sponsored by the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication
Heidelberg Prefunction Room | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Description to come.
6:30 p.m.
Louisiana-Mississippi APBME Awards Banquet,
sponsored by the LSU Manship School of Mass Communication
Heidelberg Ballroom | Hilton Baton Rouge Capitol Center
Description to come.
7 p.m. (Optional)
Louisiana State University Tigers vs. University of Arkansas Razorbacks (Baseball)
Alex Box Stadium | Louisiana State University
Tickets are NOT included in conference registration fees, but can be purchased online.
Sunday, April 19
2 p.m. (Optional)
Louisiana State University Tigers vs. University of Arkansas Razorbacks
Alex Box Stadium | Louisiana State University
Tickets are NOT included in conference registration fees, but can be purchased online.
Society of Professional Journalists Region 12 Conference 