AMP presents workshop at Allied Media Conference in Detroit

(CHICAGO 06/28/2011) – The American Muslims for Palestine presented a media training workshop for the second consecutive year at the annual Allied Media Conference in Detroit. On June 26, AMP Media Director Kristin Szremski, explained how activists can use the newly emerging tools of community journalism to forward the Palestinian narrative. From posting comments online to creating their own “news outlets” by blogging or taking advantage of sites such as CNN iReports, Ms. Szremski offered tips and suggestions for how best to get the attention of the mainstream media.

With community journalism members of the public create their own news stories and videos instead of relying upon the traditional media to cover their events. Many news outlets rely on these new public-use sites for story ideas and to find sources.

“AMP has had success getting our stories broadcast on CNN by utilizing its community journalism site called iReport as well has having local stories published by the Chicago Tribune online,” Ms. Szremski said. “Today’s newsrooms have been decimated by disruptive technologies such as the Internet and the iPad. There are fewer reporters out there to cover our issues so we have to take advantage of the newly emerging community journalism opportunities. That’s what I was trying to convey during the Allied Media Conference workshop.”

In addition to the workshop, which Ms. Szremski conducted along with a staff member of the Institute of Middle East Understanding, AMP offered its educational materials at its exhibitor booth throughout the weekend.