Five Cool Journalism Meetups in NYC
Meetup.com connects people with groups in their communities that share similar interests, objectives, and projects. Like a souped-up and ultra-social version of a Facebook group, a “meetup” allows local groups to organize meetings and activities. With 11.1 million members, 105,000 groups, and 340,000 meetups a month, the possibilities for networking, professional development, and friendship are immense. From pick-up soccer games and salsa dancing to startup incubators, meetups combine work and play. They’re a great way to, well, meet people in your chosen industry and expand your business horizons. In New York City, one of the world’s news media and technology hubs, there are a plethora of exciting journalism meetups. Here are five that you might find promising:
1. ONA NYC: ONA stands for Online News Association. This meetup brings together “writers, editors, photographers, producers, and all with an interest in the production of news for digital presentation. Recent events include a presentation on online video news, on media and civic engagement, and on the work of women journalists in war zones.
2. #CMmeetup: “The Community Managers Meetup” is custom built for social media professionals: the strategists and journalists who launch new online communities. Their meetups include presentations and smaller breakouts. For example, tonight the group is hosting “visual storytelling via social media.”
3. NYC Tech Startup Journalism and Media: Relatively new by meetup standards—it was founded July 5th—this group is dedicated to the journalists who write about the New York City startup scene. As Silicon Alley grows into Silicon Island, devoted media coverage to New York City startups will continue to increase. Keep an eye on this group over the next couple of months.
4. Code Meet Print NY: The print-to-digital transition has flummoxed many major media outlets, but this meetup hopes to smooth the divide. Code Meet Print focuses on the collision and combination of text and technology. Whether you’re a creative writer or a web developer, this meetup has something for you.
5. Freelance Writers Meetup: Freelancing is hard, precarious, and isolating work. So it’s only natural that a meetup would surface committed to easing the difficulties of a freelance career. Their tagline: “empowering freelancers to make a difference and make a living.” Case-in-point, an upcoming event Tuesday, August 7th, “Free Beer and Good Times,” which follows their July 24th event, “What are You Worth? A Discussion on Freelance Rates.”
If you’re a journalist, a techie, or a startup CEO, these media meetups are a productive and enjoyable means to a more powerful career.
