Observer Seeks Freelance Science Writers

The Charlotte Observer is looking for freelance science writers. This is what it posted on its Facebook page today:

Are you a freelance science writer or know somebody who is? The Observer is looking for NC-based freelancers interested in writing science stories for the paper. Particularly looking for people with a background in journalism; who have existing contacts at NC universities and colleges and who have strong clips. For details, email sgunn@charlotteobserver.com.

Opportunities for Freelance Movie Critics

Hollywood has found an inventive use for all those unemployed movie critics out there: focus groups.

The online research company OTX and public relations group mPRm have joined forces to create Critical Focus Exchange, a service in which critics and film reporters offer their expertise to producers and studios looking for feedback on niche and arthouse movies.


The service uses the statistics-based methodology that Hollywood has relied on for more than two decades to test movies, trailers and posters in order to predict consumer choices.

Now the idea is to provide independent producers and niche moviemakers with a similar research tool. It will also provide a small income for a number of out of work, or freelance, critics. (They’ll get $100 per screening.)

Mark Pogachefsky, a veteran indie film publicist, came up with the concept a year ago, when many critics he knew were being laid off. “I thought, ‘How can we take advantage of all that expertise and create a business around it?” he said.

Above is an excerpt of an article from TheWrap. Click here to read the full article.

Free Event Focuses on Social Media

One of the nation's experts on social media is speaking at a free event on Monday, December 7, 7 p.m. at Queens University of Charlotte.

Joshua Benton, director of the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University, will give insights into the state of social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and what direction it's going.

His appearance is sponsored by the School of Communication at Queens University and The Charlotte Observer. He'll speak at Sykes Auditorium on the Queens campus.

Attendees are asked to pre-register at www2.queens.edu/socialmedia.

Sports Journalism Institute Deadline Approaching

The 2010 Sports Journalism Institute is a nine-week training and internship program for college students interested in sports journalism careers. The Institute is designed to attract talented students to print journalism through opportunities in sports reporting and editing and enhance racial and gender diversity in sports departments of newspapers nationwide. The deadline to apply is December 7, 2009, and the program will run from May 28 through August 6, 2010.

Pictured above is the Sports Journalism Institute class of 2009.

The Sports Journalism Institute, which works with the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ), the Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ), is funded by the Tribune Foundation, Hearst Newspapers/Houston Chronicle, Associated Press Sports Editors, and the New York Daily News. The classroom training portion will be hosted by the Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida, and will run May 29- June 5; paid eight-week internships at newspapers around the country will follow.

To apply, go to www.sportsjournalisminstitute.org and click on the "Application" link at the top of the page.

Photos from 'The Me In Media'

The Charlotte Area Association of Black Journalists partnered with GoodWorks Media Group to present this free networking event for professionals working (or recently employed) in media and college students majoring in journalism or communications. Attendees discussed job opportunities, recent changes in the industry, and the importance of joining a professional organization like CAABJ, while enjoying food prepared by Dilworth Neighborhood Grille, which is where the event was held. The event was sponsored by Nielsen, which had representatives on hand to talk about the launch of its Local People Meter (LPM) service in the Charlotte market.

See photos from the event in the slideshow below, photographed by Jonathan Strayhorn.