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RSVP NOW!!!

SPJ West Coast Multicultural Writer-Editor Conference
July 9 and 10, 2004
Oakland Asian Cultural Center, 388 Ninth St., Ste. 290, Oakland

Are you a high-quality writer who knows your way around America's increasingly multicultural population? Forge relationships with assigning editors and give your career a boost at our second annual West Coast Multicultural Writer-Editor Conference in the San Francisco Bay Area July 9 and 10, 2004.

Keynote speaker for the event is Angelo Figueroa, editor-at-large for Time Inc. magazines.

Not a job fair, not a beauty contest, the Multicultural Writer-Editor Conference is the place for experienced professional writers to talk business with top editors from a variety of participating national magazines. For this event, we are drawing together many of the best West Coast writers of color and other journalists who are experts in multicultural reporting. Magazine participants include Wired, Sierra, Modern Maturity, National Geographic, Mother Jones, Reader's Digest and others.

Writers who qualify for a “match” will meet one-on-one with editors in 20-minute interviews on July 10 to find out magazine needs, pitch ideas, and get immediate feedback. Matches also include a 20-minute session with a freelancing coach and a three-hour workshop on pitching and follow-up on Friday, July 9. (Sorry, the matches are now closed.)

All writers are invited to participate in a day-long series of career-building workshops July 10 on topics such as writing a winning query, negotiating a great contract and rate, turning a hot story into a book proposal, and understanding the magazine market. We close with a keynote speaker and a networking reception where writers can meet more editors, trade tips with each other, and develop lasting relationships that could earn you money.

The all-day conference and evening keynote speaker reception are open to all interested journalists for a fee of $65. SPJ members pay just $50.

Writers of color (or other journalists with a track record in multicultural reporting) who have national magazine clips or strong regional clips may apply for the one-on-ones. To be considered, submit your resume and clips with the application. We will pre-screen and match writers to editors and publications, saving both editors and writers time. For a day of meetings with editors pre-matched to your interests and skills, the fee is just $150 – far less than you’ll make on your very first assignment from your new contacts!