Past Classes

Click here to view handouts, videos and chats from previous classes.

January 2011

The Freedom of Information Act: This three-week course covered many aspects of the Freedom of Information Act, including: Who Owns Public Records; Cops & Courts; School Systems; Local & State Governments; and Federal FOI. The class was taught by Andy Thibault, author of Law & Justice in Everyday Life, and hearing officer and commissioner for the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission from 1995-96. View handouts and videos of the sessions here.

Storytelling with Owen Canfield: Register Citizen columnist, author and former Hartford Courant Sports Editor and columnist Owen Canfield talks about how to make feature writing and news reports more personal and engaging by connecting with and telling the stories of the people we interview.

The First Amendment: It’s a lot of rights rolled into one powerful paragraph: Speech, religion, assembly, petition and the press. All of these rights are an important part of a free society and are what distinguishes America from many other countries. But with these freedoms comes responsibility and conflict. This seminar examined these rights and the conflicts from before the first American newspaper hit the streets in the 1690s, to today’s news media, Internet and other forms of expression.

Taught by New Haven Register State Editor Helen Bennett Harvey.

February 2011

Social Media for Business…Yes!:Get ready to learn how to start, manage and maintain a social media program for your place of business in this interactive information-packed class. Highlights:

• Getting started with Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, LinkedIn, WordPress and Flickr
• Creating a Social Media policy with employees – how to monitor and control your staff
• Learn how to increase brand awareness for little to no cost with social media
• Learn how to market and increase sales using social media

Taught by Founders Insurance Group Director of Marketing and Personal Lines Sales Cindy Donaldson.

Video Production 101: Video production has never been more important in today’s world of multi-media publishing. Embedded video allows your audience to participate in a fuller experience. Video production 101 will review basic techniques beyond the shooting stage of your video, which includes cinematography, audio, lighting and shot size. Techniques you will learn include “panning,” “tilting,” and “zooming.” You will also learn subject framing, hand-held movement, and planning for post-production. A video is only as good as your shooting method, learn some time-tested techniques, then get out there are shoot away! Taught by Register Citizen Reporter Ryan Casey.

March 2011

Twitter: Learn the basics of Twitter and how to spread your message globally in seconds.  Connect with friends, prospects, clients and VIP’s grow your network with the click of a button.  Learn the lingo from Tweets to DM’s and more! Taught by Founders Insurance Group Director of Marketing and Personal Lines Sales Cindy Donaldson. Thursday, March 10, 6 to 8 p.m.

Linkedin: Learn how to use LinkedIn for job searches, potential employee research, networking, growing your sales pipeline or advertising your business.  Ideal for anyone who is a soon to be college graduate, is job searching, has an HR position, is in sales or  is a business owner. Taught by Founders Insurance Group Director of Marketing and Personal Lines Sales Cindy Donaldson. Tuesday, March 29, 6 to 8 p.m.

What Can Google Do?: This class will focus on what can be done with various free Google software, such as Google Docs (similar to the Microsoft Office Suite), Google Maps (map-building and directions), and Picasa (photo sharing and editing). The classes will be taught virtually by Journal Register Company staff. Friday, March 25, 3 p.m. with Chris Stanley; Monday, March 28, 6 p.m. with Andy Stettler.

April 2011

Genealogy Research Methods and Techniques: Richard Pope will follow up his March Genealogy Resources class with a discussion on the basics of genealogy and ancestry research methods and techniques. Tuesday, April 5, 7 to 9 p.m.

Twitter: Learn the basics of Twitter and how to spread your message globally in seconds.  Connect with friends, prospects, clients and VIP’s grow your network with the click of a button.  Learn the lingo from Tweets to DM’s and more! Taught by Founders Insurance Group Director of Marketing and Personal Lines Sales Cindy Donaldson. Wednesday, April 6, 6 to 8 p.m.

Video Production 101: Video production has never been more important in today’s world of multi-media publishing. Embedded video allows your audience to participate in a fuller experience. Video production 101 will review basic techniques beyond the shooting stage of your video, which includes cinematography, audio, lighting and shot size. Techniques you will learn include “panning,” “tilting,” and “zooming.” You will also learn subject framing, hand-held movement, and planning for post-production. A video is only as good as your shooting method, learn some time-tested techniques, then get out there are shoot away! Taught by Register Citizen Reporter Ryan Casey. Tuesday, April 12, 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Photography 101: This class will include basic camera operation (for both point-and-shoot cameras and digital SLR’s), holding the camera for best stability, framing for impact, positioning of the photographer, natural lighting and more. The class will be an open format so attendees will be free to ask questions at any point during the discussion. Taught by Register Citizen Editor Rick Thomason. Thursday, April 14, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

May 2011

How to Write for the Newspaper – This class will teach participants how to write items for publication in a newspaper, such as press releases and letters to the editor. The class will be taught by Register Citizen Managing Editor Emily Olson. May 4, 2-3pm.