With the rapidly changing landscape of local journalism, how an PR professionals better serve the media? From pitching stories to building relationships, members of the media in Fort Wayne and Northeast Indiana share their perspective on the day-to-day details of the job and how PR professionals can better serve members of the media. Corporate Director Community Engagement at Parkview Health and former meteorologist Curtis Smith will moderate the panel of top Northeast Indiana journalist from various media outlets.

Panelists

Kara Hackett, Managing Editor at InputFortWayne.com

Kara is a Fort Wayne native, passionate about her hometown and its ongoing revival. She graduated from Taylor University with a degree in Professional Writing and did journalism internships in New York City and Indianapolis before moving back to northeast Indiana.

Dirk Rowley, Anchor at WANE-TV

Longtime Fort Wayne broadcaster Dirk Rowley joined WANE 15 as evening anchor in August of 2018. Prior to joining WANE 15, Dirk hosted and produced a daily half hour TV talk show, which featured leaders of government, business, and non-profit groups. During those four years, Dirk interviewed nearly 1% of the population of northeast Indiana.

Karen Francisco, Editorial Page Editor at the Journal Gazette

Karen Francisco has been editorial page editor of The Journal Gazette since 2013. She worked as a reporter and editor at The Muncie Evening Press and The Star Press before joining The Journal Gazette as an editorial writer in 2000. She has received honors from numerous journalism organizations, including the Hoosier State Press Association, which has honored the Journal Gazette as Indiana’s Best Editorial Page in four of the past six years. Karen is a graduate of Leadership Fort Wayne and has served as a volunteer with The Literacy Alliance, Study Connection and Junior Achievement.

Moderator

Curtis Smith, Corporate Director Community Engagement at Parkview Health and former Chief Meteorologist at 21Alive

To thousands of viewers in the Fort Wayne area, Curtis Smith became a household name as the Chief Meteorologist at 21Alive, a position he held from October 1995 to April 2016. Many were surprised when he decided to leave his post at the news station and join the Parkview Health family as Director of Community Outreach in May 2016. While he reflects fondly on his time at the station, he does admit the decision to leave the weather behind was an exciting one with a healthy list of personal and professional benefits for the public figure.

Details

Wednesday, January 15, 2020
11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Parkview Field Suite Level Lounge
1301 Ewing Street
Fort Wayne, IN 46802

$15 for members / $20 for non-members

Parking: TinCaps Sliver parking lot is free and located at the corner of Brackenridge and Ewing St. Please enter the main ballpark gates and walk the concourse along the 3^rd base line.

Register today!