My platform

I’m running for re-election as Vice President of Broadcast. Here is what I would like to accomplish in that role over a second term.

When I moved from my first news job to my current job it was like leaving an abusive relationship. We actually get paid overtime!
So let’s give reporters the help they need to have better jobs: labor organizing training and get our members in classes so they can learn from successful organizers about what it takes and how they can unionize their newsrooms to help everyone working there. Stronger newsrooms help everyone, as the other offices will then have to compete to attract reporters by offering better benefits and pay.

The biggest obstacle for journalism students who want to intern for places like the L.A. Times, NPR, or ABC News is paying rent in expensive cities. Those same internships are crucial in landing better jobs. Let’s bridge that gap, giving students from smaller, regular cities the chance to get national-level internships by providing summer scholarships that will help them pay rent. This safety net will allow NAHJ student members to take risks and make valuable connections they otherwise would not be able to afford, and help them get better paying jobs out of college.

Remember the Google Doc that had people’s salaries? I want to do that, but bigger.
One of the biggest tools available to starting reporters is knowing what a station pays before they interview. I have helped KVIA colleagues get better pay just by telling them beforehand what other reporters at the station made (anonymized information). They were then able to know when they were being lowballed with an offer and negotiated higher salaries. Let’s make this an organized survey, and make it searchable, so people can see exactly how much they can expect to be paid in different newsrooms and negotiate better salaries from the start.

The NAHJ needs to build a sense of unity and camaraderie that does not rely on in-person meetings. I believe the best way to do this is an online forum. I want to re-establish the now-archived Facebook group, set up a Twitter Community, or use another platform, along with a group of trained moderators and a strong code of conduct to give members the chance to speak with each other about anything and everything, bringing our members closer together.

Not everyone can afford to go to the NAHJ convention. You need to devote a week of PTO, pay for the flight, the hotel, and the food while you’re in another city. Even a digital pass to a hybrid convention requires that you take time off during the day to watch.
The solution: Develop an on-demand digital plan, where all talks are recorded for pass holders to be able to catch up on panels and seminars outside of work hours.
This would give people access to the same sessions as those who attend in person.

We have a large number of members, especially students, who could benefit from it. I think we should set up recurring regional mini-conferences to give students a chance to be recruited by newsrooms who want more direct connections not available at the big annual conference. Planned properly these would make it cheaper for everyone to attend, both members and recruiters.

Archive tape brings a new dimension to audio reports, and as more radio shows restructure to be delivered as podcasts this vital but rare skill grows even more important every day. Let’s get podcast producers who are already known for their archive tape skills and have them explain the laws around archival audio, how to find it, and how to use it without getting your newsroom in legal trouble, bringing your podcasts to life.

I want to pursue funding so we can pay for NAHJ members to get drone certified. The training itself is simple and free, we can provide that as a study guide for members. After they study we should pay the $175 test fee for people to become licensed drone pilots. This would allow people to add a valuable qualification to their resume and bring new skills to their newsroom.

The best way to have the NAHJ help members is to have members directing it.
Let’s encourage our NAHJ members to become leaders in the organization. People have good ideas, good projects that could help others. Let’s show everyone that it doesn’t take years of involvement to be a good candidate. We will hold classes and seminars on how to become an NAHJ leader and how to run for office to encourage a variety of people to run for the national board.

Four advisory committees for broadcasters: Radio/Podcasts, Local TV, Photographers/Videographers, and Behind the Scenes.
But these committees won’t just rely on Zoom meetings every two weeks to keep abreast of the issues facing our members. Instead, these advisory committees will be group chats with 4-5 members plus myself as Broadcast Vice President sharing things everyone goes through as it happens. This would get more members involved in the running of the organization without being limited to a time drain of endless meetings.
Getting our members involved and hearing straight from people working in the field every day is the best way for the NAHJ to know how our members need help.

These are the changes I would like to implement as Vice President of Broadcast. If they sound good you should vote for me in the July 23 election.

If you have any feedback please let me know.