CONTACT: Tory Olson, 515-271-1834. tory.olson@drake.edu
With lay-offs prevalent throughout the communications industry, Drake University is offering media professionals the opportunity to explore reinvention strategies for their careers. Communications professionals are invited to a panel discussion on Saturday, Feb. 14, on the Drake campus.
Hosted by Drake’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, “Reinvention Strategies for Media Professionals” will begin with a networking coffee at 9 a.m. outside room 106 of Meredith Hall, 2805 University Ave. The panel discussion will follow from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is free and open to the public.
The panelists represent a variety of disciplines and will share their stories of career reinvention and offer tips for others seeking new job opportunities. The panelists are:
- Polly Carver-Kimm, public information officer for the Iowa Department of Public Health, and former news director of the Des Moines Radio Group and co-host of the KIOA “Maxwell and Polly” morning show.
- Claire Celsi, public relations account supervisor for The Integer Group and an expert in social and new media.
- Louis Laurent, longtime Des Moines advertising professional and owner and president of ZLR Ignition marketing and advertising agency.
- Patricia Prijatel, director of the E.T. Meredith Center for Magazine Studies, who writes, edits and blogs on health care issues.
“The Drake journalism school is responding to the economic upheaval in the local media community,” said Kathleen Richardson, director of the school. “We are eager to give back to area professionals, because alumni and others have always been so generous to us and our students.”
The panel discussion is the first in the series of classes and other events this spring aimed not only at graduating seniors who will soon be job-hunting, but also at professionals who want to update their skills.
The series will continue on Saturday, Feb. 28, with a hands-on “Journalist’s Guide to New Media” workshop, which will focus on how to use the latest online tools, get the most out of social media and how to create a blog.
The workshop will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Meredith Hall. Registration is $50 and includes a coffee reception and lunch. Seats are limited.
For more information, contact Patricia Prijatel at patricia.prijatel@drake.edu. The workshop is sponsored by the E.T. Meredith Center for Magazine Studies at the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication.