Tuesday, Sept. 24

Trotman, who’s been called the “Beyonce of Books,” spent the past 15 years publishing works by and about multicultural voices and social justice. In 2020 she started Hachette’s Legacy Lit imprint to focus on works by writers of color. Recent Legacy Lit titles include “Undiplomatic,” by former White House social secretary Deesha Dyer, and “Madness,” a New York Times Editor’s Pick by Antonia Hylton.

When Trotman spoke to the New York Times for this February 2024 article about the ongoing lack of diversity in publishing, she was one of only two Black publishers at Hachette. “It has been harder for brown folks in publishing to find mentors at the executive level,” she told the Times.

Trotman co-authored the Queens of Resistance book series released in 2020 celebrating four of Congress’ “most beloved boss ladies” – Nancy Pelosi, Maxine Waters, Elizabeth Warren, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Wednesday, Sept. 25

You may have heard a collective cheer from long-time freelancers this spring when media entrepreneur Peter Shankman launched a free source-finding tool for journalists reminiscent of his original media matchmaking service, Help a Reporter Out (HARO).

Much like HARO, the new site, called Source of Sources (SOS), helps journalists find sources and helps companies, nonprofits, and other sources get publicity. SOS fills the hole left when Cision, the global PR company, retired HARO earlier in 2024. Shankman started HARO in 2008 and sold it in 2010 to a company that Cision merged with in 2014.

Read this LinkedIn post by Shankman explaining why he launched the new service, which he initially called “Help Every Reporter Out” before changing the name to SOS.

Shankman is no stranger to ASJA. He spoke at the organization’s annual conference in New York in 2010.

Thursday, Sept. 26

David W. Brown is the ultimate multi-hyphenate. In addition to teaching at Temple University, Brown advises the school’s Black Public Relations Society student chapter, and is a frequent columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer and other local newspapers. He also serves as a part-time pastor.

According to Brown, writers must maintain their integrity in a media industry roiled by AI and other changes. In his keynote, Brown expects to touch on that as well as on the value of storytelling, the importance of ethics and the human touch in the era of AI, and the future of content.

Brown previously was general manager of 900 AM WURD, Pennsylvania’s only black-owned talk radio station. The Obama administration named him a “Champion of Change” for his work in faith, private, and public communities. Among his many accolades, Brown is a past Pennsylvania Communication Association Speaker of the Year, and was inducted into the Philadelphia Public Relations Association’s PR Hall of Fame. His 2010 book, ”Freedom Drawn from Within: A History of the Delaware Annual Conference,”  examines the historic role that African Americans played in the formation of the modern United Methodist Church.

The journalism industry and profession have changed dramatically in recent years, for freelance writers and staff writers alike. As layoffs at newsrooms and publications across the country have increased, many former staffers have made the leap to working for themselves. The journalism track offers tips and techniques for transitioning to freelance and relevant topics, such as the emergence of advocacy journalism.

From blog posts to white papers, the content marketing track primes you for more clients and assignments. Whether you’re an experienced content writer or just breaking into this lucrative field, you’ll get up-to-the-minute insights from accomplished and knowledgeable writers, clients, and agencies. We’ll explore topics such as Google’s SEO updates and how to get into content strategy. 

Writing and publishing a nonfiction book is a big undertaking — whether it’s your first, your fifth, or your 25th. Books track sessions offer insights on the craft, planning, marketing, and business of books, so you can deliver your best work and build an audience eager to read what you write. Sessions will cover the secrets to landing an agent and how to be your own book publicist.