AWSM Convention a success!
The 2010 AWSM Convention is finally in the books, and what a weekend it was.
More than 100 attendees in all joined us in Los Angeles, taking in everything from bowling at Lucky Strike Lounge to a Dodgers victory over the Pirates.
Do you have pictures, video or a story to share from the convention? Please send you content to Nicole Vargas or post it on the AWSM Convention page on Facebook. It will not only be featured on this site, but on the new AWSM web presence that will debut Sept. 1. The deadline for content is Friday, May 7.
Update: Advance registration is closed!
Advance registration for the AWSM Convention closed Friday, April 23 at noon PT. That included all registrations for members, non-members and students, as well as guests interested in attending off-site events (Opening Night, Pioneer Lunch, GRAMMY Museum, Dodgers game).
On-site registration will be available starting Thursday, April 29 at 2 p.m. However, the rate will increase to $175 for students, $225 for members and $275 for nonmembers, and may exclude off-site events already sold out.
Individuals attending the AWSM Career Fair on Saturday can continue to register by email to VP/Conventions Nicole Vargas (convention2010@awsmonline.org). The cost of the career fair is $10.
Opening night with Janet Evans
Lunch with Ann Meyers Drysdale
Women’s basketball pioneer Ann Meyers Drysdale will speak at Saturday’s lunch at the Westin. Meyers, a Hall of Famer and award-winning broadcaster, is general manager of the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury.Complete convention schedule now available
The schedule for the AWSM Convention is now available online.
This year’s event, which kicks off on Thursday, April 29, at the Westin Bonaventure, is packed with inspiring speakers, informative panels and great opportunities to learn, grow and network.
Among the highlights is an opening-night event at the Lucky Strike Lounge, the AWSM Career Fair and a trip to Dodger Stadium for a baseball game.
To view the complete schedule, click here or view the “Schedule” page by clicking on the tab above.
Convention hotel special rate extended
The special rate for the AWSM convention hotel has been extended to April 16. So, even if you haven’t had time to register yet for the convention — be sure to book your hotel at the fabulous rate of $109 at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles.
The Bonaventure is a short walk from LA Live, which includes the Staples Center, NOKIA Theatre, GRAMMY Museum, ESPN’s new production center and numerous restaurants and nightclubs. It’s also close to Dodger Stadium and Pasadena.
To register, click here.
Update: Special rate is now closed.
Career Fair resources available
The AWSM Career Fair is set for Saturday, May 1 at the Westin Bonaventure in Los Angeles. The event begins at 2:30 p.m.
Among the employers scheduled to attend are ESPN, Yahoo! Sports, MLB.com, FoxSports.com, New York Times, Associated Press, Salt Lake Tribune, Los Angeles Daily News, Orange County Register, North County Times and Sports Media Exchange.
Come dressed to impress and bring copies of your résumé. The cost is $10 (parking not included). To register, click here.
We have also created a complete resource guide for men and women who plan to attend. To view the guide, click here. It is also accessible by clicking on the Career Fair menu tab.
Perez wins movie quote grand prize!
Sherry Perez of Lyons Publics Relations was drawn as the grand prize winner of the AWSM Classic Movie Quote Contest.
Perez wins a free convention registration, valued at $175. Congratulations to Perez and all the finalists!
Have you reserved your spot? This year’s convention has something for everyone. To register, click here.
Finalists set for free registration drawing!
Each week, AWSM members have tried their hand at guessing a classic movie quote. And each week, a new winner was drawn.
The six members below have already won a $50 discount on their AWSM Convention Registration. One lucky finalist will have their name drawn one final time for a free convention registration, valued at $175. The winner will be announced on April 1.
The finalists are:
Sherry Perez of Lyons Publics Relations
Yvonne Jones of CBSSports.com
Leba Hertz of the San Francisco Chronicle
Joey Chandler of the Chillicothe (Ohio) Gazette
Dana Wakiji of The Detroit News
The New York Times’ Patty LaDuca
Perez last winner in movie drawing
The last name has been drawn!
Sherry Perez of Lyons Publics Relations was drawn as the winner of the AWSM Classic Movie Quote Contest, winning a $50 discount on her AWSM Convention Registration.
Perez joins our esteemed list of weekly winners, whose names will be entered into an April 1 drawing for a free convention registration, valued at $175.
Stay tuned for the big announcement!
Jones winner of movie drawing
Yvonne Jones of CBSSports.com channeled her inner Molly Ringwald and her name was drawn as the winner of last week’s AWSM Classic Movie Quote Contest.
Jones’ name was selected as the winner of a $50 discount on her AWSM Convention Registration. Her name will also be entered into an April 1 drawing for a free convention registration, valued at $175.
Only one more drawing remains. The deadline is March 19.
Hertz wins this week’s drawing!
Leba Hertz of the San Francisco Chronicle guessed “Bull Durham” in last week’s AWSM Classic Movie Quote Contest and it paid off. Hertz’s name was drawn as the winner of a $50 discount on her AWSM Convention Registration. Her name will also be entered into an April 1 drawing for a free convention registration, valued at $175. Congratulations!
Will your name be the next one drawn? Enter this week’s drawing now!
Panel: Inside an ESPN report
Saturday’s breakfast will feature an in-depth look at an ESPN broadcast report with reporter Shelley Smith and producer Shari Greenberg, both based in Los Angeles.
We’ll view the piece, and Smith and Greenberg will walk us through the background and compilation of their report. We’ll also meet the subject of their report – Jake Olson, a young Southern Cal fan who lost his sight to cancer. Olson became an inspirational figure for the Trojans’ football team this season and will join our panel with his family.
Additionally, we have a variety of panels planned for the LA meeting. Topics include:
- Multimedia storytelling & planning
- Competing with non-traditional media
- Establishing a web presence: How to market yourself online
- Making the transition: Opportunities beyond newspapers
- Social media & journalism: Breaking barriers or crossing the line
The career fair is also set for Saturday afternoon – with a panel geared to college students and those just entering the business held immediately before.
Registration for the convention is open now. Click here for more details.
Spend an Extra Day in L.A.!
AWSM is offering convention-goers three optional activities on Sunday, May 2. If you are interested in any of these activities, email Lydia Craver (lydia.craver@gmail.com) no later than March 31.
Disneyland
AWSM has a limited number of complimentary tickets to Disneyland for Sunday. These are good for AWSM members only, and your media ID will be needed to pick the tickets up on site.
For those wishing to bring family members or friends, we have discounted tickets: $64 for adults and $59 for children. Advance payment is required.
Transportation will be on your own. For those without a car – rail options are available from nearby Union Station. Discounts are also available, although tickets must be purchased three or more days in advance.
Getty Museum
Spend the afternoon at the Getty Museum – one of the most visited museums in the U.S.
The collection includes European paintings, drawings, sculpture, illuminated manuscripts, decorative arts and European and American photographs. During the convention, the Getty also will feature Urban Panoramas: Opie, Liao, Kim as well as A Record of Emotion: Photographs of Frederick H. Evans. The Getty encompasses five exhibition pavilions, and includes a restaurant and museum shops.
We’ll depart the hotel at 10:30 a.m. and return mid-afternoon.
Cost: Will not exceed $20 per person (to cover transportation and parking). Minimum number of participants required.
Santa Monica
Head to Third Street Promenade!
We’ll depart the hotel at 10:30 a.m. and return late afternoon. Spend the day at the beach or stroll Third Street Promenade – 30 city blocks of retail shopping, entertainment and dining. The promenade is located within blocks of the beach, Palisades Park and Santa Monica Pier (pictured above).
Cost: Will not exceed $20 per person (to cover transportation and parking). Minimum number of participants required.
Video bootcamp debuts!
What: A video training session for the all-platform journalist
When: 3-6 pm // Thursday, April 29
Where: The Westin Bonaventure
Details: Following an introductory session with a general video overview, we will offer four mini-sessions. Participants select three of the four to attend.
Sessions:
1. Perfecting the standup: How to make your on-camera appearance shine
2. Shooting video: What happens when you become the camera operator
3. Writing for video: Tips on scripts and teases
4. Editing tips: Basic & advanced techniques to help you edit, assign and coordinate video
Registration: MUST SIGN UP BY MARCH 15. Classes will only be held with a minimum number of participants registered. To register, click here.
Note: Bootcamp is free to individuals who register for the 2010 AWSM Convention. Registration for the bootcamp only is $25 and payable on site. To register for the convention, click here. Questions? Contact Nicole Vargas.
Dodgers event set for convention finale!
We’re excited to announce our Saturday night plans include a trip to Dodger Stadium during the upcoming LA convention!
Los Angeles Dodgers VP and assistant GM Kim Ng will speak to our group before dinner on Dodger Stadium’s loge terrace. After, we’ll head to our seats for the LA-Pittsburgh game!
Ng, a New Jersey native, was the first woman to interview for a major-league GM position when she did so with the Dodgers in 2005. She has since been a finalist for the Mariners’ GM job. Baseball America listed Ng as one of “10 to Watch” during its 25th anniversary issue saluting the most influential people in the game. Before joining the Dodgers, she served as VP and assistant GM for the Yankees.
Special thanks to Dodgers VP/communications Josh Rawitch for help in making this event possible!
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Registration for the convention & hotel are open for our meeting in Los Angeles (April 29-May 1 / optional activities May 2). Don’t delay on booking your hotel room! Our super-low rate of $109 at the Westin Bonaventure is only guaranteed through early April!
Chandler this week’s movie buff
Joey Chandler of the Chillicothe (Ohio) Gazette had her name drawn as the winner of the AWSM Classic Movie Quote Contest this week. Joey wins a $50 discount on her AWSM Convention Registration. Her name will also be entered into an April 1 drawing for a free convention registration, valued at $175. Congratulations!
Three winners down, plenty more to go. Will your name be the next one drawn? Enter this week’s drawing now!
Wakiji a winner this week
Da
na Wakiji of The Detroit News in this week’s winner of the AWSM Classic Movie Quote Contest. Dana wins a $50 discount on her AWSM Convention Registration. Her name will also be entered into an April 1 drawing for a free convention registration, valued at $175. Congratulations!
Two winners have already been announced. Will you name be the next one drawn? Enter this week’s drawing now!
Yahoo! Sports backs AWSM again
Yahoo! Sports has joined our list of Los Angeles convention sponsors. Yahoo! Sports was previously a sponsor for Miami in 2008, and joins a list that includes ESPN, MLB Advanced Media and the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks. To learn more about the 2010 sponsors, or learn more about sponsoring the convention, click here. We’re happy to have them back!
Registration now open!
Registration is now open online for the AWSM Convention in Los Angeles, April 29-May 1. Register for the convention by clicking here. Registration starts at $175 for members, and rates for students, single days and guests are available. (Note: registration costs rise significantly on-site!)
You can also make your room reservation at the Westin Bonaventure online by clicking here. Rates start at $109 and are guaranteed through April 1.
There’s still time to join the convention planning team. Southern California residency is not required! Contact Nicole Vargas or Lydia Craver.
Stay tuned for the latest news and information by subscribing to the AWSM Convention Blog. You can also access the blog from the AWSM Web site or awsmconvention.wordpress.com. The latest AWSM updates are also on Twitter and the official convention pages on Facebook.
And the winner is…
The New York Times’ Patty LaDuca is the first weekly winner of the AWSM Classic Movie Quote Drawing. Patti wins a $50 discount on her AWSM Convention Registration. Her name will also be entered into an April 1 drawing for a free convention registration, valued at $175. Congratulations Patty!
If your name wasn’t drawn last week, don’t fret. Enter this week’s contest now!
Win a $50 convention registration discount!
Try your hand at the weekly AWSM Classic Movie Quote Drawing!
In honor of our upcoming trip to Los Angeles, AWSM members have the opportunity to guess the movie associated with a classic quote. Each week, those who guess correctly will be entered into a drawing. The winner gets a $50 discount on registration for the 2010 AWSM Convention in Los Angeles. On April 1, one lucky weekly winner will get a free registration, valued at $175!
Each week’s contest runs through Fridays at 8 p.m. PT. Weekly winners will be announced Sundays at 8 p.m. PT on the 2010 AWSM Convention Blog. A new contest will begin Sundays at 8 p.m. PT. To enter, click on the movie clapper found on the front page of the 2010 AWSM Convention Blog.
Only AWSM members are eligible to win, and only one entry per week is permitted. If you are not a current member, click here to join AWSM. If you have any questions, email Nicole Vargas or Lydia Craver. Have fun, and see you in LA!
2010 AWSM internship class introduced
The competition level for the Association of Women in Sports Media internship program increased once again this year. Qualified and motivated applicants from across the country made it a difficult task for employers to pick their winners.
We are excited today to announce our 2010 internship class. The 2010 class will be introduced at the AWSM Convention in Los Angeles, April 29-May 1. Read more…
ESPN among list of convention supporters
We’re thrilled to announce ESPN as our platinum sponsor for the 2010 convention in Los Angeles. ESPN has been a longtime supporter of AWSM, from supporting the annual convention to hosting interns eager to break into the business.
Major League Baseball Advanced Media will also return as a convention sponsor for the third consecutive year. And with the convention being hosted only a short walk from the Staples Center, the WNBA’s Los Angeles Sparks are lending their support as well as a first-time sponsor. Read more…
Cart to be honored as 2010 Pioneer
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Julie Cart of the Los Angeles Times will be honored as the 2010 Mary Garber Pioneer Award winner during the convention. We’ll honor Julie at lunch on Friday, April 30, at Fleming’s restaurant at the new LA Live complex in downtown Los Angeles. Everyone in attendance will receive a special gift from Fleming’s! For more on the venue, click here.
LA: Here We Come!
Mark your calendars for Thursday, April 29-Saturday, May 1 – we’re returning to Southern California for our annual convention!
The Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles will be the host hotel for our meeting. Movie lovers might recognize the property, which has been featured in such films as Rain Man, True Lies, In The Line Of Fire, Nick of Time and Forget Paris. Read more…
