University of Minnesota Athletics
Media Relations Staffs Gather at MinneSIDA Event
7/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Athletics
Athletics media relations professionals from throughout the state of Minnesota gathered at the University of Minnesota campus on Thurs., July 16 for a full day of professional development and networking.
The inaugural “MinneSIDA” event included nearly 50 sports information staffers representing 22 of the state’s 29 four-year colleges and universities. Conference directors from all three of Minnesota's small-college conferences, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and Upper Midwest Athletic Conference also attended. The group ranged from directors, assistant directors, graduate assistants and student assistants. The event was the first of its kind among media relations professionals in Minnesota.
They assembled for a full day of presentations and discussions in the club room at Mariucci Arena before closing with a tour of TCF Bank Stadium. The event was coordinated by the University of Minnesota Athletic Communications staff.
Included in the presentations were discussions about the changes in media guides, websites, archives and student staffing. Dennis Brackin from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune and Carry Clancy from WCCO television gave presentations about the current state of their professions and answered questions about how schools can increase their media presence in the Twin Cities. Dan Wolter, Justin Ware and Elizabeth Giorgi from the University of Minnesota News Service staff also led a discussion about their successful use of social and “new” media.
The event provided sports information staffs with new ideas for their individual offices as well as a day of networking with colleagues from across all NCAA divisions throughout Minnesota.
