Back to Basics

There was an opportunity this past weekend to get back to basics.  It was the annual Iowa Broadcast News Association Convention.  It provides a chance to get reacquainted with fellow journalists from across the state, attend relevant seminars, see some of the work that is being done in other newsrooms around the state during the annual awards banquet.  This year the accolades were handed out over a period of 73 minutes.

While I was unable to attend most of the seminars because of an agenda on the home front that needed to be tended to, in retrospect I wish I could have done so.  The benefits of annual conferences such as the one put on by IBNA affords journalists several opportunities.  See what was happening at #ibna2015.  It provides a learning environment of course for those who are just beginning or looking to begin a career and it gives the seasoned journalist an opportunity to sharpen skills.  There is also the camaraderie factor that comes into play whether someone has been plying their trade for decades, like me, or establishing relationships that can last a lot longer than a sixty second newscast.

So something needs to be said no matter what profession you are in and there are actually three points that need to be heard so we all can become better people. 1

1.  If your occupation has professional development groups then by all means become a member. 

2.  Make it a point to attend a quarterly, semi annual or annual conference.  The networking potential is off the charts and you just might learn something.  (both of those happened when during the brief time I was at this past weekend's conference)

3.  Have some fun.  It will do you some good.

After 35 years in the profession it was good to get back to the basics.  I'm looking forward to the 2016 Iowa Broadcast New Association Annual Convention in Waterloo next spring