AWC Des Moines

Free Drake seminar 2/14 presents ideas on retooling communications careers

With lay-offs prevalent throughout the communications industry, Drake University is offering media professionals the opportunity to explore reinvention strategies for their careers. Communications professionals are invited to a panel discussion on Saturday, Feb. 14, on the Drake campus.

Hosted by Drake's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, "Reinvention Strategies for Media Professionals" will begin with a networking coffee at 9 a.m. outside room 106 of Meredith Hall, 2805 University Ave. The panel discussion will follow from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is free and open to the public.

The panelists represent a variety of disciplines and will share their stories of career reinvention and offer tips for other seeking new job opportunities. The panelists are

    * Polly Carver-Kimm, public information officer for the Iowa Department of Public Health, and former news director of the Des Moines Radio Group and co-host of the KIOA "Maxwell and Polly" morning show.
    * Claire Celsi, public relations account supervisor for The Integer Group and an expert in social and new media.
    * Louis Laurent, longtime Des Moines advertising professional and owner and president of ZLR Ignition marketing and advertising agency.
    * Patricia Prijatel, director of the E.T. Meredith Center for Magazine Studies, who writes, edits and blogs on health care issues.

"The Drake journalism school is responding to the economic upheaval in the local media community," said Kathleen Richardson, director of the school. "We are eager to give back to area professionals, because alumni and others have always been so generous to us and our students."

The panel discussion is the first in the series of classes and other events this spring aimed not only at graduating seniors who will soon be job-hunting, but also at professionals who want to update their skills.

The series will continue on Saturday, Feb. 28, with a hands-on "Journalist's Guide to New Media" workshop, which will focus on how to use the latest online tools, get the most out of social media and how to create a blog.

The workshop will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Meredith Hall. Registration is $50 and includes a coffee reception and lunch. Seats are limited.

For more information, contact Patricia Prijatel at patricia.prijatel@drake.edu. The workshop is sponsored by the E.T. Meredith Center for Magazine Studies at the Drake School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Communications Job Openings (Aug 25 08)

12 communications jobs are now available:

August Home Publishing
Associate Food & Health Editor

GeoLearning
Proposal Writer

Iowa State University
Communication Studies Lecturer, Psychology Dept.

Iowa State University
Communications Specialist II, Economics Dept.

Iowa State University
Communications Specialist II/III, College of Human Sciences Administration

Kum & Go
Corporate Communications Specialist

Meredith
Creative Marketing Manager

Meredith
Content Specialist, Successful Farming

Meredith
Midwest Living Managing Editor

Meredith
Midwest Living Senior Travel Editor

Principal Financial Group
Senior Technical Writer-Manuals

Wells Fargo
Marketing Consultant 1

Compiled by Brenda Friedrich

Meredith creates new retail division, lays off 20

Of interest to Des Moines area communicators, a clipping, pulled from The Des Moines Register:

"Des Moines media company Meredith Corp. said today it will lay off 20 employees as the result of a restructuring of its special interest and books divisions.

Meredith, which publishes Better Homes and Gardens, Ladies' Home Journal and Family Circle magazines, is creating a new division called Meredith Retail that will combine its special interest magazines and media, books and newsstand businesses, said Art Slusark, company spokesman.

In all 35 positions will be eliminated as a result of the restructuring, he said."

Read the full article here.

Join Us January 16!

Join the Des Moines Alliance of The Association for Women in Communications on January 16 when we'll hear Brenda McGuire, Executive Director of McGuire & Associates, speak on Safari to (Cross-Cultural) Success.

Brenda McGuire is a cross-cultural communication specialist whose academic studies, research and work have taken her to over 60 countries on six continents. Over the past fifteen years, she has experienced diverse cultures firsthand from living and working in Asia, Australia and Europe.

She holds a Master of Arts (MA) degree in International Communication from Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree with Distinction in Psychology and International Relations from Iowa State University

DATE: Wednesday, January 16

LOCATION: West Bank, 1601 22nd Street, West Des Moines - David L. Miller Room

TIME: 11:30 a.m. - Registration / Networking | 12:00 noon - PresentationCOST: $20 for members | $25 for nonmembers | Late Registration/at the door $30 | Students $15

MENU SELECTION: Sandwich on ciabatta bread paired with assorted cheese and will include fruit cup, side and dessert. Please let us know if you would prefer a vegetarian meal.

RSVP to: Joyce at jperkins@peodsm.org or (515) 255-3153 by noon Monday, January 14.

Cancellation policy: If you need to cancel, please let us know by noon Monday, January 14, to avoid being charged for the meal. Call Joyce at 255-3153. 

New Job Postings - Jan 4, 2008

Over 7 new communications job listings have been posted on the Des Moines Alliance site. Check them out (see summarized details below) or quickly link to area employers here.

Communications Specialist #208700, Principal Financial Group
Communications Strategist t #208576, Principal Financial Group
Marketing Specialist #208754, Principal Financial Group
Currently, there are numerous communications positions open at Meredith.
Staff Writer, Meredith
Web Designer - Marketing GeoLearning
Marketing & Proposal Anaylst/Writer, GeoLearning   

Holiday Party Pictures Posted

Check out the pictures from the 2007 year end event here. And remember that you can always refer back to past programming by selecting past events from the Events Calendar page.