Journos who want to learn something about all this wacky new media stuff are encouraged to attend the Brave New Media World conference this weekend in Portland, put on by SPJ. Our correspondent Nick Budnick says:
Attendees will harvest career tips, learn "New Media" skills and computer-aided reporting as well as hone their writing, interviewing and investigative techniques. On top of that, they will be equipped with tools to cover business and decipher the dark side of "sustainability." ...
The event features numerous crackerjack speakers, including nationally-known journalists like Rebecca Clarren of Salon, top-notch editors like writing guru Jack Hart of The Oregonian, other experts, and, in an encore performance, top gumshoe Les Zaitz of The Oregonian, who received rave reviews for last fall's Eugene training. There will also be a rare Pacific Northwest appearance by reporting guru Don Ray, who travels the world teaching journalists and cops the art of finding out stuff. From personal experience, Don's lessons are entertaining, interactive and memorable. With useful concepts designed to change the way you think, his teachings should pay off immediately.
What on earth is the "dark side of sustainability"?
And what is Nick Dudnick's relationship to the conference. His comments quoted above read like a junior high assembly press release, more likely to send me screaming for the door rather than hankering to attend.