May 22, 2021, 01:00 PM Mountain Time 3:00 Eastern Time
Via Zoom, registration information below.
Columnists add color to the black and white of newspaper facts. Through an exercise in free speech and open discussion, columnists hold opinions but refuse to be swallowed by a partisan divide. They straddle the fence, providing a sharper focus and analysis on real issues.
Three columnists will discuss how they came to write a column, how they feel they interact with their readers through their work, and what value columnists bring to journalism.
Columnists include:
Joline Gutierrez Krueger is the last remaining original UpFront columnist for the Albuquerque Journal, New Mexico’s largest and only statewide newspaper. She joined the staff in 2008 after the closing of The Albuquerque Tribune, where she had worked for 20 years. She is the winner of numerous journalism and writing awards from such prestigious entities as the American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors, Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism, Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, Top of the Rockies, Best of Scripps, New Mexico Associated Press Managing Editors, New Mexico Press Association, New Mexico Press Women and Albuquerque the Magazine.
Bonnie Jean Feldkamp is an award-winning freelance writer and syndicated columnist with Creators Syndicate. She is the Media Director for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, a member of the Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial Board, and a board member for the Cincinnati Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She lives with her family in Northern Kentucky. Find her on social media @WriterBonnie or at WriterBonnie.com.
Algernon D’Ammassa is a reporter and columnist with the Las Cruces Sun-News in New Mexico. Lacking any background in journalism, he submitted volunteer opinion pieces to his local newspaper for several years before being offered a weekly deadline (with pay) and, later, a job as a reporter. Now appearing on Sundays, his “Desert Sage” column tackles a wide range of topics across politics, arts and humanities.
Moderated by: Cassie McClure, columnist for “My So-Called Millennial Life” which is nationally syndicated through Creators.
When: May 22, 2021, 01:00 PM Mountain Time (US and Canada)
As part of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists Virtual Conference April 16 and 17 Bonnie Jean Feldkamp and Dr. Adam Earnheardt will talk about backing your opinion with facts.
Facts inform your opinions so why not cite sources in your columns and essays? Expert advice, studies, research and new trends cited in columns/blogs make them much more marketable. Find out how to work with universities to provide experts and data, cite them in your work and bolster your credibility. Quoting expert resources is a mutual win-win. Most columns – health, parenting, lifestyle, religion, environmental, how-to, even nostalgia and humor – can benefit the writer with a possible pay boost.
I had the absolute honor of interviewing David Maraniss the two-time Pulitzer Prize Winner and award-winning biographer about his writing process.
You can watch the 30-second end clip before you commit to watching the whole hour-long video (posted at the end of this blog).
David shared his writing experiences for writing his most recent book, A Good American Family: The Red Scare and My Father (2019). For this book he researched his own father with a biographer’s eye. David’s father Elliott Maraniss was a WWII veteran who had commanded an all-Black company in the Pacific. He was spied on by the FBI, named as a Communist by an informant, called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1952, fired from his newspaper job, and blacklisted for five years. Yet his father never lost faith in America and emerged on the other side with his family and optimism intact.
In our conversation, David gives great writing and research advice when dealing with personal and painful memories, especially when it focuses on family. Watch the full hour interview at the link below:
For upcoming interviews and workshops visit my Events Page.
If you like this interview you may also like my interview with John Avlon and Mary C. Curtis on the Art of the Interview:
Presented in partnership between The National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the Greater Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists.
More writers are turning to freelance work in this gig economy making the art of the pitch so important. In this workshop, award-winning freelancer and NSNC Communications Director Bonnie Jean Feldkamp will show you how to research a publication for publication and how to craft the perfect pitch that lands you the assignment.
Bonnie will share real pitches that worked and point attendees to publications that pay well for freelance opinion articles.
Bonnie Jean Feldkamp is an award-winning freelance writer and columnist. She is the Communications Director for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, member of the Cincinnati Enquirer Editorial Board, and a board member for the Cincinnati Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. She lives with her family in Northern Kentucky. Find her on social media @WriterBonnie or at WriterBonnie.com.
Join Bonnie Jean Feldkamp as she talks to Biographer David Maraniss for the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Discover valuable insights into the search for truth, especially as it applies to personal stories. David Maraniss, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, best-selling author, and Washington Post associate editor will share his writing experiences. His book, A Good American Family: The Red Scare and My Father (2019) is about his father, Elliott Maraniss, a WWII veteran who had commanded an all-Black company in the Pacific. He was spied on by the FBI, named as a Communist by an informant, called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1952, fired from his newspaper job, and blacklisted for five years. Yet his father never lost faith in America and emerged on the other side with his family and optimism intact.
How does one navigate writing about personal and painful memories, especially when it focuses on family? Get your questions answered. Mr. Maraniss won the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting, and has authored books about President Barack Obama, the 1960 Summer Olympics, Vince Lombardi, The Vietnam War, Newt Gingrich, President Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Roberto Clemente and more.
Grateful to talk to David LëGere of Woodhall Press about writing, inspiration, and process as well as the upcoming book to which I’ve contributed – Fast Funny Women edited by Gina Barreca. I hope you’ll take 20 minutes and watch the interview.
I’ve written more about my contribution to this book here. Learn more about me here.
