State Conventions

New Omaha World-Herald Executive Editor Headlines Spring 2017 Conference

Melissa Matczak

“Striking the Balance” was the theme for the Nebraska Press Women’s spring conference April 29 in North Platte. We’ll be talking about work-life balance and about balancing the “post it now” demands of social media with the need to produce well-written, error-free copy. Our speakers will be Melissa Matczak and Gerri Berendzen.

Matczak, the first female executive editor of The Omaha World-Herald, talked about how she has balanced her career with raising a family of three daughters. She also led a session on online news, including social media. Matczak joined the World-Herald in 1997 as a reporter and became an assignment editor in 2001. She served as features editor, assistant managing editor and managing editor before being named executive editor in January 2017.

Berendzen led a session on the need to produce well-written, error-free copy.

Gerri Berendzen

Berendzen is the editorial adviser for the University Daily Kansan and teaches at the KU School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She is a national board member of the American Copy Editors Society. Her background includes working at newspapers for 32 years, as a visiting news editor at the Columbia Missourian and a visiting assistant professor of copy editing at the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Special thanks to our conference sponsors:  Mid-Plains Community College and BH Media Group.

Fall Conference Features Outdoor Workshops

The celebration for Nebraska Press Women’s 70th anniversary continued during the Oct. 8, 2016, fall convention.

The “Down on the Farm” event featured jeans and boots, outdoor workshops focusing on polishing the sense of place in your writing and photography, and lunch built around beef brisket and chicken from a smoker next door to the restaurant in a converted barn.

The conference was held at Burchell’s White Hill Farm northwest of Minden.

Judy Nelson, Jill Claflin and Glennis Nagel enjoy the view at Burchell’s White Hill Farmhouse Inn, site of NPW’s fall convention.

The day also included a general membership meeting and announcement of the 2016 NPW Communicator of Achievement award winner.

Professional development workshops included:

• Researching and writing biographies panel with Jan Thompson of Overton, Carol Lomicky of Kearney and Todd VonKampen of North Platte.
• A Sense of Place writing workshop – Judy Nelson of Lincoln.
• Outdoor workshops on writing and photography with Judy Nelson (writing) and Lori Potter (photography).

Former Chicago Tribune Managing Editor Headlines 2016 Spring Conference

Former Chicago Tribune managing editor Jane Hirt was the keynote speaker at the NPW’s spring convention on April 23, 2016, in Lincoln. A 25-year veteran of the news media industry, Hirt embodies the NPW’s 70^th anniversary convention theme of “Embracing the Future, Respecting the Past.”

The UNL journalism graduate was called a “charismatic leader who could make change happen” by Gerry Kern, the Chicago Tribune editor who recognized her abilities and tapped her for managing editor/vice president of the Tribune in 2008, a position she held until Nov. 24, 2014, when she stepped down to pursue personal interests.

The NPW spring convention also featured:
• a workshop on using social media for reporting, for community involvement and for promotion,  presented by Michelle Carr Hassler, assistant professor of practice at the UNL College of Journalism & Mass Communications (CoJMC)
• an update on the current state of journalism education by UNL CoJMC’s dean, Dr. Maria Marron
• a preview of CoJMC Professor Joe Starita’s book (due out in November) on Nebraska’s Susan LaFlesche Picotte, the first Native American female physician
• induction of the 2016 honorees into the Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame, and a tour of the hall
• announcement of the state communications contest winners.

Many Thanks to our Sponsors: UNL College of Journalism and Mass Communications, Nebraska Press Association, Nebraska Broadcasters Association, Nebraska Lottery, Firespring, BH Media (Omaha World-Herald), Lincoln Journal-Star, and Nebraska Farm Bureau.

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