By Brandon Moseley
Alabama Political Reporter
The Alabama Media Professionals will be hosting the National Federation of Press Women’s Annual Conference in Birmingham on September 7, 8 and 9, 2017.
AMP President Mary Wimberley said in a statement, “It’s time! The National Federation of Press Women’s Annual Conference comes to Birmingham September 7-9. A team of Alabama Media Professionals members has worked toward this event since about 2014, beginning with Elaine Hobson Miller’s vision for AMP to be a host affiliate.”
President Wimberley said, “This year’s event is extra special. Not only is it the first time for the conference to be in Alabama, but it also celebrates NFPW’s 80th anniversary as an organization of individuals pursuing careers across the communications spectrum. More than 100 men and women representing NFPW affiliates from throughout the United States have pre-registered for a full schedule of insightful speakers, informative workshops and many fellowship opportunities.”
While female journalists contributed to the journalism field from almost the start of this country, often they were relegated to society pages and home economics sections. Well into the 20th century, women journalists were forbidden from joining traditional press associations no matter how accomplished they were. The National Federation of Press Women was formed as an opportunity for press women to network and improve professionally. State affiliates were created across the country.
Eventually, traditional press associations began accepting female journalists as members. Similarly, groups like the Alabama Press Women’s Association began to accept male members.
Today, most Americans get their news digitally from television, radio or the internet, even if that internet article may have appeared somewhere in print format.
While old-fashioned print journalism jobs have greatly decreased across both Alabama and the nation, the internet means that demand for content has never been greater. The AMP accepts internet journalists as full members, while the less open-to-change Alabama Press Association does not. Many writers today, perhaps more than ever before, make their living doing freelance work for existing traditional media outlets or increasingly for corporations and other businesses that must have engaging online content, including both websites and an active social media presence. Where a previous generation of business owners simply bought advertising space in newspapers or magazines, today’s business owners increasingly need to engage with online communities of followers to promote their products. Freelance writers, web designers and even broadcast professionals are being increasingly hired by businesses to provide this insatiable demand for internet content.
The AMP meets monthly throughout the year, usually at the Homewood Library on the second Thursday of the month.
You can learn more about the AMP at their website:
www.almediaprofessionals.org.
