June 10 is a date to save; look for our reader survey

This article was originally published in The Notebook. In August 2020, The Notebook became Chalkbeat Philadelphia.

This year the Notebook is celebrating 20 years of publishing. The organization will mark this milestone with the annual Turning the Page for Change event on Tuesday, June 10, from 4:30 to 7 p.m., at the University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St.

Save the date. Attendees will enjoy student journalism awards, exciting prizes, student musicians, fantastic food, and conversation with some of the city’s most knowledgeable people in public education. This year’s event will also include a look back at highlights of the past 20 years.

Admission is $75. The Notebook is currently seeking individuals to join its Host Committee; hosts donate $300 or more and receive two admissions to the event. Organizations and businesses are invited to sponsor the event. Sponsorships start at $600. If you would like to become a host or sponsor – or volunteer to help plan the celebration, contact Tim Cravens, development director.

Building membership

Last year, the Notebook reached its highest membership tally to date, with 563 dues-paying members. We are counting on increasing that number in 2014.

Have you renewed your membership? The nonprofit needs to grow its member ranks to sustain its work. Members also shape the products and services the Notebook offers. Become a member today for $40.

You can also support the Notebook through house parties. The Notebook began holding parties at the homes of supporters in 2012 to increase its membership, build connections among readers, and introduce the organization to new readers. Since then, there have been six house parties, raising more than $21,000 and bringing in many new friends and supporters.

If you are interested in co-hosting a house party or want to attend one, contact Tim Cravens.

Sharpening our skills

The Notebook is gearing up to increase the use of multimedia in its coverage. Staff and freelancer writers recently participated in a two-day course on basic field production at Philadelphia Community Access Media (PhillyCAM), Philadelphia’s public access television studio, just downstairs from the Notebook. Staff learned video camera use and sound and lighting techniques to help produce online news packages.

This is a part of the Notebook’s efforts to revamp its publishing and implement new digital strategies for reaching parents and other core audiences. The Notebook has a two-year grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation to build its audience by producing more multimedia content, expand its use of social media, and make its content more accessible via mobile devices.

Readership survey

To support and guide the work to revamp its publishing, the organization is working with researcher Eva Gold at Pathway Strategies and media consultants Coats2Coats to conduct a readership evaluation to gain insight about the changing media habits of its audience, the features readers find most useful, and what directions the nonprofit should grow in the future.

A survey will be coming soon. We ask for your participation.