MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,203 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Sun Mar 23, 2003, 10:14pm Subject: Call for Help - Wanna be a CoffeeGeek Reporter at SCAA?
As I look over my schedule at the SCAA show, I realise how screwed I am :). There's just too much to cover, too many events I want to write about for the website.
CoffeeGeek is attending the show as "press". Jeanette and I have press passes that give us almost unlimited access to the show and training and seminars (though we must do a courtesy permission request with the training seminar presenters). I'm also a volunteer, seminar giver, committee member, etc. at the show.
After going over my schedule for the umpteenth time, I've realised that I simply don't have enough time or heads, arms, or brains to cover what I want to cover for the event.
So I'm putting the call out:
I'm looking for one, possibly two people to be "CoffeeGeek Reporters" for the event. Here's what it would entail. First the good stuff:
- you get a press pass to the event, and that means (no charge) access to almost anything (with qualifications, see below).
- you get the fame (notice I didn't say fortune) of publishing articles on the site (grin).
What would make you qualified for this?
You must be attending the show all three (or four days): Saturday to Monday (or Friday to Monday).
You must have the ability to take good and quick notes. Prior reporting experience would be a perk (you have to be savvy to get names, relevant info, plus quotes and thoughts on the fly)
You own a good quality digital camera and have some photographic skill. This isn't a complete must - we'll have four cameras at the event (Nikon F80 SLR, Canon C-5050 digital, Nikon CPX 2500 digital, Canon GL2 Documentary miniDV cam), and may be able to lend you one, but if you have your own, all the better.
I'm looking to publish reports "real time" as in same day or overnight - you would file your story with me along with photos during the day (which means you either have access to a computer, or you bring one, and can transfer files via internet or via memory card - I have several readers). This shouldn't be too big a deal - you may be able to use my computers (yeah, we're bringing two) and there is possibly computers on site or at your hotel.
You're willing to cover events that are of most interest to our readers, including Barista competitions, interviews with some folks on the floor, roasting, retail, consumer seminars, etc.
Each filed story can be around 500 to 1500 words, and I'll be handing out the assignments for writing.
There's, uhm no pay for this (sorry! Can't afford it!) except maybe I can swing you some extra goodies from the show, plus your free access to stuff that others pay a couple of hundred dollars for.
One VERY CRUCIAL NOTE: if you're in the show on a CoffeeGeek Press Pass, you're representing this website and to a lesser extent, me personally, and the relationships I've developed in the industry. You would have to resist the urge to play "fan boy" (grin, that's Barry Jarrett's term), and also understand that if you go into seminars and the like, you're covering the event, NOT participating. You would have to be as inconspicous as possible. You (or me) would also have to do the formality of obtaining permission for attending some of the more intensive training sessions and seminars, but I hopefully can handle that.
If you are interested in this, please email me at mark@coffeegeek.com by April 2, 2003.
I'll be writing up my impressions and taking pictures, and you're welcome to anything I do. But I really don't want to be committed to covering specific events on a deadline, since I'll be there primarily to amuse myself. Sorry.
Posted Wed Mar 26, 2003, 2:30pm Subject: Re: Call for Help - Wanna be a CoffeeGeek Reporter at SCAA?
I'd love to offer but have work commitments in Charlotte North Carolina on Friday the 24th. Would even considering changing my return ticket to come into Boston that night but that gets me in hot water with the GF, who just happens to live in Charlotte. She'll be less than tickled if I disappear rather than staying for the weekend.
If such an opportunity comes up again I could easily make arrangements to serve as an unpaid CoffeeGeek reporter and would (obviously) pay my own way and expenses but longer advance notice is the key factor. My business appointments often get scheduled 6 - 8 weeks in advance.
MarkPrince Moderator Joined: 19 Dec 2001 Posts: 5,203 Location: Vancouver Expertise: Professional
Espresso: Frankenstein'ed LM Linea Grinder: Anfim Super Caimano Vac Pot: 1922 Silex Drip: Krups Moka Brew Roaster: Hottop
Posted Thu Mar 27, 2003, 8:42pm Subject: Re: Call for Help - Wanna be a CoffeeGeek Reporter at SCAA?
Okay, I haven't had any interest via email so far in this job... so I'll revise things a bit:
First, everything at the top of this thread applies, with two major changes:
You don't have to be at the show the entire time, but I do want two people: one who will be there Friday / Saturday to Sunday (so two or three days), and another person who will be there Sunday and Monday.
The assignment detail will be light - one story a day - but I may ask you to attend a few specific events and write a synopsis/report on those, and take photos.
Please folks, I need help, and I have to get the Press Registration in soon with your name (s).
Our SCAA coverage is scheduled to be at least seven articles during the show (a SCAA "day" report for each day of the show from me; Jeanette will be writing one or two articles, and my reporter helpers will write one story a day, for three days). Then I'll be doing some "thoughts of the show" reports in the following week, and a full report of the Barista Championships.
My goal is to provide true reportage and insight from this show, and I need your help to do it.
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