Upcoming Events for Bloggers and Journalists in July 2021

Welcome to Blogger Events, a monthly column of what’s happening in the blog world. If you have an event you’d like featured, reach out to the Beyond Bylines team via Twitter at @BeyondBylines.

The second half of the year is getting off to a busy start. Whether you’re looking to boost your skills in AP Style, podcasting, food writing, or wanting to get a start in freelancing, July offers a number of events for members of the media.

Check them out and make sure to bookmark our upcoming events.

Anytime: How Any Journalist Can Earn Trust

This is a tuition-free, self-directed course from Poynter. Participants will “learn what news audiences don’t understand about how journalism works and look for opportunities to demonstrate credibility by explaining news processes, coverage goals and journalism ethics.”

June 29: AP Stylebook Webinar

This 90-minute webinar will be led by Paula Froke, editor of the AP Stylebook. She’ll cover the major changes (and the reasons behind them) to the Stylebook over the last year. Topics will include the pandemic, economy, and race-related coverage.

June 30: Best Practices for COVID-Safe Workplaces

As more employees head back to the office, safety and security are key. This event will be hosted by the National Press Club and will feature speakers from The Washington Post and Bloomberg. Attendees will hear new polling data about employers’ and employees’ attitudes around returning to the office. The panelists will talk about how their organizations (or organizations they cover) are approaching back-to-the-office issues.

July 1-17: Summit for Reporters and Editors

Learn to improve your writing, interviewing, and more at this popular summit. Throughout July, attendees of Poynter’s annual summit will get more than 20 hours of live instruction. The award-winning instructors will “lead conversations exploring diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as self-care and mental health, in the newsroom.” (Applications closed on June 1.)

July 2-4: True Crime Podcast Festival

This event will feature live episodes and panels from a variety of popular true crime podcasts. Attendees might also discover new shows they never knew they needed. Virtual and in-person tickets are available. The festival will take place in Kansas City, Missouri.

July 5-23: How to Edit Your Own Writing

This training from Poynter will take place twice a week for three weeks during July. It will be led by former New York Times copy chief Merrill Perlman. In addition to learning how to find errors, attendees will also learn to edit for clarity, organization, and understanding.

July 12-17: NAHJ 2021

The annual conference from the National Association for Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) will be a virtual experience for journalists, technologists, and communicators. It is “the leading experience for journalists and media professionals with the common goal of establishing #MoreLatinosInNews.” Tracks include training for community engagement, investigative reporting, rising to leadership, and more.

July 17-18: Podthon

This year marks the third annual Podthon, an inclusive conference to highlight speakers of color in the industry. The virtual event welcomes podcasters from around the world to share strategies, tips, and advice. More than 30 sessions are available to help attendees boost their skills in community building, monetization, hiring, creating standout guest experiences, and more.

July 27: International Food Blogger Conference | Productivity

This is the last virtual IFBC event before the in-person conference in El Paso in September. The Productivity summit will feature several sessions, including “3 Sure-Fire Ways to Find the Best Freelancer Out There,” “How to Set Up Your Online Cooking Classes for Success (and Without the Stress)” and “Boost Your Productivity with Biohacking.” An all-access pass is $25, but you can attend the full virtual summit for free if you sign up for “The Future of Food Blogger Conferences & IFBC El Paso Update” session.

July 30: Babypalooza Baby Expo

This virtual event is focused on everything baby. If you’re in the baby blogging industry, sign up to hear from top baby brands and see the latest product demos.

Plan Ahead…

Aug. 3-6: Podcast Movement

The Podcast Movement conference brings together podcasters and industry professionals “to learn, grow professionally, and most importantly evolve and improve the podcast community.” You have the option of heading to Nashville for the in-person event or attending virtually. Podcast Movement will include sessions, workshops, panels, and networking events, in addition to an expo where attendees can check out the latest podcasting equipment and services.

Aug. 5-7: Wine Media Conference

The 13th annual Wine Media Conference will take place in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Organizers say that attendees “are not only passionate about wine – they are energized by communicating to their audiences about wine, wineries, and the people that make up the wine industry. This communication via blogs, industry magazines, social media, apps, and industry websites produces an ever-growing spiral of viral conversations.”

Sept. 2-4: SPJ 2021 Journalism Conference

Registration is open for the annual Society of Professional Journalists conference. Whether you attend virtually or in person in New Orleans, there will be plenty of workshops, panels, and networking opportunities. Some of the breakout sessions on the tentative schedule include:

• Freelancing 101: Establishing Yourself as a Freelance Journalist
• Prioritizing Your Mental Health: Invest in Your Own Mental Health
• Trauma Exposure to Local Broadcast Journalists
• Empowering all Students in College Newsrooms

Rocky Parker is the manager of Audience Relations at PR Newswire. She works with journalists, bloggers, and content creators to create their targeted newsfeeds from PR Newswire for Journalists. Rocky has also counseled on content writing best practices. Check out her previous posts for Beyond Bylines. When she’s not working, Rocky typically can be found cooking, binge-watching a new show, or playing with her puppy, Hudson.