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AAN Kicks Off 2012 Convention in Detroit

DETROIT – Are you ready for some conference?! The 2012 Association of Alternative Newsmedia kicks off today in Detroit and whether you’re an AAN conference virgin or have been around the block a few times, here are some tips for day one.

  • Motivate! We prepare for every convention with this video. We recommend you do the same, and play it in the background while you get ready each morning.




  • Walk off that hangover! Join Jeanette Pierce, Director of Community Relations for D:hive, in a walking tour of your new surroundings in Detroit. Meet up in the lobby at 9:50 am today.


  • Make it official! Come down and pick up your convention name badge and feel the thrill of becoming a legitimate AAN Conference attendee. Until then, you’re just an imposter. Registration begins at 11am and lasts until 6:30pm today.

  • Learn something! The road to self-improvement begins here. But where to begin?

    If you’re a writer, learn how to find great stories in your local economy with the Business Writing Workshop at 1pm. Marilyn Geewax of NPR and Josh Harkinson of Mother Jones will lead the workshop presented by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism.

    Sales types will want to head to the Multimedia Sales Strategy and Practice at 1pm where you’ll hear about trends in the tablet and mobile ecosystem, and learn why media salespeople must become marketing subject experts.

    Designers, it’s critique time. The one-on-one design critiques hosted by the Society for News Design goes from 1pm to 4pm.

    Tech? You know it. NPR’s Sondra Russell breaks down web traffic during a session on Sexy Analytics; Kelly Ferguson of the Arkansas Times will conduct a social media workshop with a look at current trends and best practices; Phillip Beswick of The Media Audit will discuss Digital Benchmarks; the Cygnus Consulting Group will explain how to improve Newspaper Production with Digital Imaging (cancelled, sorry!); and Anton Gelman of Cont3nt.com will discuss the findings of his comprehensive survey of every AAN website in a roundtable on the State of AAN Technology 2012.

    Also on the agenda are an Adult Ads Roundtable, How to Speak and Think Geek, and How to Make Money with Video.



  • Be less awkward! Is it your first time? We’ll be gentle. Join the AAN board and staff for a cherry-popping happy hour from 5pm to 6:30pm. Born again virgin? Come on down.


  • Welcome Party! Join us in Campus Martius Park for a welcome reception put together by our hosts at Metro Times. You’ll receive two drink tickets so you can get started on tomorrow’s hangover.


  • Overshare! And while you’re doing it all, don’t forget that the official conference hastag is #AAN2012.


    • Handy links: Full list of conference sessions, special events, and speaker bios.

    Welcome to Detroit,

    AAN

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