I started Thursday at the ”The Future of Journalism: Going Mobile’’ sponsored by Yahoo.  I learned about apps vs. websites vs. mobile; flipboard; tagwhat; layr.com. But most of all I learned that I am way behind when it comes to knowledge on the newest technology.

I now have the encyclopedia-size “The Yahoo! Style Guide” and lots of research to do when I get home to TRY and bring myself up to speed.  At one point one of the presenters asked “How many of you have Iphones or SmartPhones?’’ Half the people in the audience raised their hands.  “How many of you are glazed over and a bit lost?” I raised my hand when he asked the latter. I wasn’t the only person,  thank  goodness. There were about five of us in an audience of about 20.

My second seminar was “Watchdog Journalism: As Media Evolves, How Can We Protect Journalism’s Core Values?” I listened to a great presentation on Watchdog Journalism. I learned that newspapers had to make sure they had “feet on the street’’ to get the stories.  And, that those stories drive web traffic, sell papers, create buzz and reinforce value to the readers. 

 But I am still left wondering :  How can core values be protected and advanced? How does watchdog  journalism survive in the new era, and what are the ethical challenges ahead?

After a good lunch in Greektown , at the Pegasus,  I attended “Multi-Platform II: Turn Good Reporting Into Great Multi-Platform Stories.”  We were shown several ways that stories were presented to subscribers, including Internet and Video Broadcasting.

The presentation was lively and animated and the presenter (shout out to Victoria Lim!) even did a mock press conference and we discussed ways to take that story to different platforms.

Why learn and do different platforms? Job security,  of course. Possibility of a promotion,  maybe. Most of all, it makes us more marketable as a journalist. Points  well taken Victoria!

The most interesting workshop of the day, for me, was “What’s Next for Journalists After the Newsroom?”  There were handouts with detailed information on each panelist. There was a list of  “How to Make a Living as a Freelance Journalist.’’  (Yes, you may have to take a second job as a receptionist or a bartender to help pay the bills.)

There also was a handout of possible “Alternative Careers for Journalists.’’  The well-attended (I counted 42 people at one point) and well-organized  seminar reinforced for me that it is not just what you know, but who you know.  (One panelist’s connections definitely helped her get in the door.)

Most importantly, you definitely will have to be brave and take chances and be ready to adapt to a different lifestyle (not necessarily a bad thing!).

After a long day of seminars, and dinner with old friends from Detroit, I headed to the casino to have a little fun only to discover that the festivities had just shut down! BUMMER! 

— Carol Reynolds-Srot