
Speaker discussed issues and opportunities in online learning
Michael Throop, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications at Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas, and 40-year veteran of the broadcast industry, was the guest speaker at Alabama Media Professionals' July 9 meeting. Throop discussed “The ‘swiss cheese’ landscape in online learning: issues and opportunities.”
He addressed members' questions and these topics: If there are a myriad of issues in what might be “the best,” what are the pitfalls that face lesser

AMP June Meeting - Keeping Communities Informed During COVID-19
Alabama Media Professionals’ June 11 meeting featured a panel discussion by communicators who are keeping communities informed regarding COVID-19. Panelists Chris Osborne, public relations manager at the Jefferson County Department of Health, Melanie Posey, public information officer for the City of Hoover, and Ron Ingram, communications director for the Alabama High School Athletic Association, offered an in depth look into messages surrounding the disease that has so greatl

How to (maybe) save local news in America
Citing 2019 reports by PEN America and the Brookings Institution, Tom Arenberg, who researches news writing and web metrics as an instructor at the University of Alabama, painted a desolate-yet-hopeful picture of local journalism when he spoke to Alabama Media Professionals at the group’s monthly meeting Feb. 13. As readers and advertisers moved online, ad revenue went to Google and Facebook, not local news publishers, Arenberg said. Between 2004 and 2018, 20 percent of Ameri

AMP Holiday Party
We gathered for a fun evening to celebrate the holidays at Greystone Golf and Country Club. The attentive staff made us feel special, but Gina Vitolo-Stevens’ decorations added that extra festive pizzazz that made the table sparkle. We had a great time! #pastevents #HolidayParty #PastEvents

Author and professor discusses black lives in America
At AMP’s November meeting, speaker Dr. Trudier Harris, university distinguished research professor, English, at the University of Alabama, presented a compelling and detailed talk on black lives in the United States. Harris has taught and lectured on African-American literature and folklore in the United States and around the world. Formerly the J. Carlyle Sitterson distinguished professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, she has written and edit


AMP Fall Workshop Recap
The 2019 Fall Workshop was an informative series of sessions by very knowledgeable presenters. The only expressed problem was deciding which sessions you would attend. The generous sponsorship of Sawyer Solutions and Alabama Power, along with the partnership of Birmingham Business Resource Center in helping us host it at Innovation Depot. Sincere gratitude goes to our members – including president Donna Francavilla, Dick Coffee and Bill Ledbetter -- who helped make this event