August 9, 2020
Dear #AAJAFam

Welcome to #AAJA20! We hope you're settled in and ready for the week ahead. 

Your first conference digest includes:

  • Tip of the Day: How to Get Noticed by a Recruiter
  • Are You Ready for #AAJA20?
  • Bingo Card
  • Virtual Welcome Bag
  • Sunday Programming Highlights
  • #AAJA20 Week Ahead
  • Live #AAJA20 Daily Feedback Form
Tip of the Day: How to Get Noticed by a Recruiter
 
#AAJA20 has over 50 recruiting companies and company divisions at this year’s event. Want to get noticed or express your interest? A few tips to help you out:
 
  • Stop by the booth during the Live Tradeshow Booth hours on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 1–2:30pm. Then you can talk to a live person and hopefully have a real conversation about your future dream job! (Some recruiters will be live from 10:30am–2pm on Saturday as well.)

  • Want to express interest ahead of time? Unavailable at those times? You show up and there's a long queue? No problem -- go to the company’s booth in the exhibit hall and hit the Request Info button, which will send a message to recruiters that you want to talk to them. You and the recruiters have access to the event site for a year after the event is over, so even if you can’t get in touch with someone during the week of convention, someone may be following up with you afterwards!
 
  • Fill out your profile, especially the resume and skills section. Recruiters can search for you by skills and may be proactively outreaching to you if your profile and resume matches their needs.
Are You Ready for #AAJA20?

Go through our onboarding checklist to make sure you set up your profile, learn how to interact with others on the platform for a winning online impression, and build your agenda.

(For more tips and tricks on maximizing your experience, check out our Tip Sheet & Video Walkthrough.)

Also, do you have Zoom on your device? Our platform is Zoom-integrated and several of our sessions will be on Zoom as well as our platform. Download and install it ahead of time to make things easier and more enjoyable for you.

Play #AAJA20 Bingo throughout the week to make the most of the festival experience. Enter your completed Bingo card for a chance to win AAJA swag.

Review the Code of Conduct, which outlines our expectations for attendees' behavior at #AAJA20 as well as the consequences of unacceptable behavior.
Virtual Welcome Bag
Please enjoy these exclusive offers, freebies, and discounts from friends of AAJA during the festival. Find the Virtual Welcome Bag on your #AAJA20 menu bar.
Sunday at #AAJA20
all times listed in ET
First Time at #AAJA20? Mingle with fellow first-timers on Sunday at 3:30pm at Welcome to AAJA20 Orientation.

J-Camp or VOICES Alum? Come hang out with fellow alumni at 4pm.

For Young Journalists

Get Trained Up! (11am-2pm)

Come to Opening Night with Dr. Sanjay Gupta in conversation with Niala Boodhoo
The Week Ahead

Request an Invitation to #AAJA20 Executive Leadership Program (ELP) Salons
#AAJA20 ELP Salons are designed for professionals with 15+ years of experience and/or graduates of ELP. These small group coaching sessions and intimate conversations with industry news leaders will accelerate your drive to succeed. Please fill out this Google form to request an invitation. Spots are limited.

So You’re a Student in a Pandemic - What Do You Want to Talk About?
Calling all students and recent grads! Join Beena, Millie & Sisi at the "So You're a Student in a Pandemic" — Monday, Aug. 10, from 4-5pm. Fill out this quick Google Form to let them know your questions, share what you hope to get out of our time together, and anything else you'd like to share.

Women Do News Wiki Edit-a-thon
Join us Monday for a wide-ranging conversation in which panelists will discuss some of the unexpected ways women and people of color are excluded from this important platform, and from history. Then, we’ll kick off AAJA’s first ever Wikipedia edit-a-thon, hosted by Women Do News. Women are underrepresented in Wikipedia, and women journalists are no exception. Nominate a woman journalist for entry on Wikipedia and join fellow conference attendees Tuesday through Friday (2:30-4:30pm) to help edit or write entries, or just to hang out.
A Thousand Cuts Movie Premiere, Screening, and Talkback

We're proud to present A Thousand Cuts, the story of Maria Ressa's struggle for press freedom in the Philippines at #AAJA20. You'll be sent the link to the documentary via the #AAJA20 platform on Sunday, August 9 at 6pm, and you'll have a 72-hour window to watch it.

Then, on Wednesday, August 12, at 8pm, join Maria Ressa and filmmaker Ramona Diaz in conversation with Benjamin Pimentel to learn about the parallels between the Philippines and the United States, the importance of being a global citizen, and the role of social media and Silicon Valley in democracy.
#AAJA20 Collaborative Playlist
We're starting an #AAJA20 playlist to cultivate the collective mood of fest! Add your favs here.

Check out the Hallway Fellow attendees are already chatting in the Hallway on the #AAJA20 convention platform! Introduce yourself, join a conversation, or share an opinion.
Please help us ensure the best possible festival experience by letting us know your thoughts in real-time here.

We'll be back with your Sunday recap & Monday highlights shortly. In the meantime, enjoy the fest.