This year’s MPA Conference Committee has been hard at work to present a program of interesting and engaging sessions. Here’s a taste of what you can expect:

Covering courts in Maine. Veteran legal affairs reporters Scott Dolan of the Portland Press Herald, Judy Harrison of the Bangor Daily News, and Chris Williams of the Lewiston Sun Journal will share their experiences and insights on reporting on the justice system during this panel discussion. What happens when a judge orders journalists not to report on testimony given in open court? Or when attorneys whisper questions to prospective jurors during jury selection so journalists can’t hear? Just what are the restrictions on cameras and electronic devices in courtrooms? Is access getting better or worse? Learn the answers to these and other questions you may have pertaining to this vital and dynamic beat.

Don’t take “No” for an answer. Lewiston Sun Journal Managing Editor Judy Meyer will lead a session on how to use the full force of Maine’s Freedom of Access Act. Have you ever asked for access to public information and been denied? It happens too often, and if you don’t think you’re getting a straight answer, speak up. Learn how to pry public records loose and how to challenge government officials who refuse to release records. Judy will review public records laws, where to find records, how to ask for them and what to do when you’re told “no.” She knows this subject inside and out. Judy serves as vice-president of the Maine Freedom of Information Coalition and is a member of the Right-To-Know Advisory Committee to the Legislature.

Innovation and Disruption in the Media Industry. Well-known digital media and marketing consultant Shannon Kinney will discuss the latest trends in the changes rocking our newsrooms and advertising departments. A sample: “In order to transform a local media company, bold changes are necessary. We must change our culture or suffer the consequences. Mobile requires resources and a strategy NOW. Our content strategies must change and evolve. And we must invest in data and analytics or be left behind.” In this dynamic session you’ll learn key takeaways from Shannon’s visits to companies including BuzzFeed, Mashable, Hearst Corp., McClatchy, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Tout, Yelp, and many more. What trends matter to local media companies? Where can changes offer the most results? Find out.

Tessie Dubois, who has served as publisher / editor of the St. John Valley Times since January 2010, will step down mid- to late fall. To join this award-winning newspaper as its next publisher / editor, please send resume to maine@wallsnewspapers.com

Jeffrey D. Clark, 65
BATH – Jeffrey D. Clark – The advantage of knowing when you’re going to die is that you get to write your own obituary. For a journalist, that’s the gold standard.
I, Jeffrey Davies Clark, was born on Feb. 8, 1950, in Belfast, to Leroy H. “Pete” Clark, of Belfast, and Edith Mae “Di” Clark, née Davies, formerly of Liverpool, England. I was the oldest of six children. After a childhood on the family farm in Swanville and a side trip to Colorado, we moved to Belfast in 1962, where I graduated from Belfast Area High School in 1968.
After three years at the University of Maine at Orono, the realization dawned that I was about to graduate with an English degree, possibly the most useless piece of paper in academia. Taking a semester off to think things over seemed a good idea to me, but not to my draft board, so in May of 1972 I enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. I was stationed at Offutt AFB outside Omaha, Neb., where I literally found the rest of my life. I became a reporter and then editor for the Air Pulse, the weekly newspaper serving the Offutt community. And in a cornfield in Cass County I found the woman I would very happily spend the rest of my life with, Patricia Morris. She has been my rock and my light and my love.
Pat and I were married on June 21, 1975, in Plattsmouth, Neb. In 1979, we returned to Maine, where I continued as a reporter and editor, first on Sam Pennington’s Waldoboro Weekly, then at Peter Cox’s Maine Times, and finally on Down East magazine, where Dale Kuhnert gave me the job of a lifetime chronicling the people and places of this astonishing state. In 1983, Pat and I welcomed our daughter, Jocelyn “Josie,” and in 1986, our second daughter, Erin, arrived. Two more wonderful daughters simply do not exist in this world, and I apologize to both of them for leaving too early.
For five years, I served on the board of Maine Rivers, an organization devoted to protecting Maine’s freshwater rivers and streams.
I passed away on Aug. 4, 2015, from complications related to esophageal cancer. Visiting Hours will be on Friday, Aug. 7, from 4-6 p.m. at Desmond Funeral Home, 638 High St., Bath, and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, Aug. 8, at 9 a.m., at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Bath, with interment following.
Survivors, besides Patricia and Josie of Bath and Erin and her husband, Steve Zaremba, and their daughter, Emma Lillie, expected to join us Oct. 1, of Salem, N.H.; include my five amazing siblings and their families: Kym Sanderson (Bill) of Belfast, and son Brian; Joyce Clark Sarnacki of Hampden, and daughters Jillian and Aislinn; Kris Clark (Kathy) of Brewer, and daughters Allyson and Bekah; Keith Clark (Nancy) of Belfast, and children Adam, Megan and Sara; and Kerry Clark Jordan (Bruce) of Veazie, and children Eve and Eben; and our honorary sister, Carole Hall of New Haven, Vt., and her children, as well as our honorary daughters, Ashley Pesek (Nick) of Sedgwick, and her family and Christina Pickett (Ed), and her children.
I also leave behind my lifelong and much-valued friends, J. Andrew and Irene McMahan of Sidney; and many cousins in the United States and England. A special thanks to the doctors and nurses at New England Cancer Specialists in Brunswick, including Dr. David Benton and Nurse Practitioner Theresa Sirois, as well as Dr. Sean McCloy at Integrative Health Services of Maine in Portland.
It’s been a trip, folks. Thank you to all the family and friends and complete strangers who have made this life so interesting. Now, on to the next one! Until the circle is unbroken.
– 30 –

In lieu of flowers, please
consider a donation to
Maine Rivers
P.O. Box 782
Yarmouth, Maine 04096
or
Brunswick Area Respite Care
41 Greenwood Road
Brunswick, Maine 04011
in memory of my late
mother-in-law, Lillie – See more at: http://obituaries.pressherald.com/obituaries/mainetoday-pressherald/obituary.aspx?n=jeffrey-d-clark&pid=175445030&#sthash.wKtpgihO.dpuf

The Times Record, located in the college town of Brunswick in beautiful Mid Coast Maine, is seeking a talented, community-minded reporter to join our news team. Professional experience and familiarity with AP style is preferable, but we are willing to work with the right person. Candidates should be self-starters, work well under a daily deadline, and be up for the challenge of covering features, schools, local government and business/economic development. The right candidate will quickly forge a trust between themselves and the community, and demonstrate a passion for community journalism. Please send a cover letter, resume, and three clips to jswinconeck@timesrecord.com. No phone calls please. We plan to fill this position quickly! The Times Record is an equal opportunity

Portland Press Herald (PPH) and Maine Sunday Telegram (MST) staff are hosting a fundraiser party in the former Press Herald building to help defray medical costs for PPH/MST columnist Bill Nemitz as he undergoes cancer treatment. Enjoy live music (Steve Greenlee’s band, ‘Sons of Quint’), hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar. Bid on auction items including Red Sox tickets (with parking included) and a weekend at Sugarloaf.

The event will be held Wednesday, May 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m, at the Press Hotel in Portland, across from Portland City Hall

Tickets: $35 per person (if purchased prior to May 1); $40 per person after May 1 (available at the event). To purchase tickets in advance, send a check made out to Bill Nemitz Fund, c/o Ken Jones, Portland Press Herald, One City Center, Portland, ME 04101.

The Sun Journal seeks an experienced visual journalist.
In addition to advanced technical skills,  you must have a passion for photography, multimedia, reporting and writing. Your portfolio must demonstrate your skills, experience and interests.
The Sun Journal is transitioning to digital engagement with our readers. You must show that you have embraced and excelled in social media platforms. We require a visual journalist who recognizes the pulse of the communities we cover and demonstrates an ability to cultivate sources. You must be flexible and able to respond to breaking news, prioritize, and be self motivating.
High school sports and functions are a staple of our daily coverage, as well as local government, arts, culture, business and the unique individuals who reside in our area.
The successful candidate will join two other veteran journalists.
The small staff works as a cohesive unit that feeds off each other’s energy, motivation, and passion.
Please send a link to your website or blog, resume and cover letter to email below, or mail a non-returnable portfolio to the address below.

Sun Journal
c/o Russ Dillingham
104 Park Street
Lewiston, ME 04240
rdillingham@sunjournal.com

PORTLAND, Maine (April 9, 2015) — The Maine Public Relations Council (MPRC) has announced it will be broadcasting its next professional development live between two locations in Maine.

On April 17, attendees will be able to learn everything about communicating under fire, from developing an emergency communications plan to handling the media and coordinating crisis responses.

Speakers include Chet Lunner, Homeland Security consultant, former editor, one of the original designers of the TSA and leading communication expert; as well as, Marnie MacLean, award-winning reporter, tornado chaser and New England news junky. The presentation will take place at the Husson University in Westbrook and be broadcasted real-time to the New England School of Communication in Bangor, with the ability to ask the speakers questions.

What: Crisis Communication: Staying Cool When Things Heat Up
Where: Husson University, 3 County Road, Westbrook
New England School of Communications, 1 College Circle, Bangor
When: April 17, 2015
Time: Networking and breakfast from 8am to 8:30am, program from 8:30am to 10am
Cost: MPRC Members: $20, Non-members: $35, Students: $10.
Networking and breakfast will be provided at both locations.

“Being able to provide sessions to public relations practitioners across the state has always been a priority for our organization,” said Kelly Barden, MPRC President. “We hope to be able to broadcast future sessions in Bangor, Portland and throughout the state.”

Professional development sessions and workshops are held on the third Friday of each month. For more information on this event and to register, visit www.meprcouncil.org.

About the Maine Public Relations Council
Now in its 39th year, with over 250 members statewide Maine Public Relations Council is a professional association of Maine public relations practitioners. MPRC is dedicated to the professional development of its members and a greater awareness of the role of public relations in the world today. It is a member of the Universal Accreditation Board. More information is available at www.meprcouncil.org.