Presenting sponsor: The Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology and Marketing Communications Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology.

DAY ONE — Monday, Feb. 24

 

Darcy Lewis, ASJA President

Darcy Lewis, ASJA President, writes about health, medicine, and the business of healthcare from Chicago. A former National Cancer Reporting Fellow, she writes for journalism outlets including Medscape, MedPage Today, U.S. News & World Report, Scientific American, AARP, and Cancer Today. She also writes  for leading health systems and nonprofits and has received various writing awards, including the ASJA Best Trade Article Award.

Versha Sharma, Editor-in-Chief, Teen Vogue

Versha Sharma is the editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue. She previously worked as the managing editor and a senior correspondent for Now This.

 

 

 

$ix Keys to Successful Freelancing in 2025

Speakers:

Panelists representing journalism, books, and content writing will each give their perspective on the landscape ahead in 2025 and offer practical tips for success.

Shia Levitt — Shia Levitt is a longtime freelance journalist who has reported for NPR, Marketplace and other outlets from the US, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. In 2022, she was a News Editor at KALW and mentor for their Audio Academy Fellows program. Levitt directs and designed the collaborative journalism project News Ambassadors, which enlists college journalism students to help local newsrooms fill gaps in coverage of underreported communities with rigorously reported stories that uplift solutions and common ground. As part of the project, News Ambassadors pairs student journalism classes with local newsrooms, and trains them on specific tools including Solutions Journalism and/or depolarization reporting strategies.  Levitt is an accredited trainer of Solutions Journalism and of Complicating the Narratives.

Anna Sproul-Latimer — Anna Sproul-Latimer, a literary agent, is founding partner and president of Neon Literary. Over the course of her many years in book publishing, she has sold multiple New York Times bestsellers, major book-to-film deals, and foreign translations in more than 50 languages. She represents all types of adult nonfiction–from memoir and history to pop culture, science, and parenting–as well as select literary and upmarket fiction. Prior to founding Neon, Anna spent nearly 15 years as a literary agent, foreign rights director, and developmental editor at DC’s Ross Yoon Agency, which has since folded into WME.

Chandra Turner — Chandra Turner is the founder of The Talent Fairy, a boutique recruiting agency that connects companies with editorial leaders to elevate their storytelling and content products. She works with large corporations, startups, and nonprofits across a variety of industries including media, tech, fashion, VC, home decor, and health. When she’s not seeking out new talent, Chandra works as a career coach, helping editors and other content creators find new jobs they love, or thrive in the ones they’ve got. She is a vocal advocate for editors and writers; she believes that their skills are infinitely valuable — inside and outside of traditional media. Chandra is also the founder of the award-winning career site Ed2010.com. She has helped countless media professionals find their dream jobs in content creation — so much so that she was nicknamed the industry’s “fairy godmother.” In her two decades in media, Chandra created award-winning consumer magazines, managed print and digital content teams, and executed content strategy for dozens of Fortune 500 companies.  

Allison Kyle Leopold (moderator) — Allison Kyle Leopold teaches journalism at FIT, coordinates the Journalism Minor, and serves as Faculty Advisor for Blush, the college’s award-winning student-run magazine. Prior to joining FIT, Leopold had a long career as a writer and editor at Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Seventeen, was editor-in-chief of Flair, an arts and travel columnist, and editor of many special interest publications. She has written more than a thousand magazine articles and authored, co-authored or ghosted over a dozen books on subjects ranging from beauty to ballet to 19 th century culture, cookery and decorative arts. A nationally-known expert on Victorian material culture, she serves on several boards and is completing an artist’s biography.

Emily Paulsen (moderator) — Emily Paulsen, immediate past president of ASJA, is a writer and editor based in the DC area. She focuses on health and healthcare topics for online and print publications, healthcare organizations, government agencies, and non-profit associations. She is the co-author of three books and a former magazine editor, a 4-time International MarCom award winner, and the 2024 recipient of the Freelance Excellence award from Women In Content Marketing Awards.

 

Stephanie Chang, Vice President of Content, Global Editor, The Trust, WSJ Barron’s Group

Stephanie Chang (LinkedIn) directs content strategy and operations for The Trust, the creative studio that produces Custom Content From WSJ. Her team includes a talented and fun group of executive editors, managing and copy editors, creative directors, video and audio producers, and designers. Prior to working for The Wall Street Journal | Barron’s Group, Stephanie served as content strategy director at JWT, where she directed content campaigns for a number of brands including Qualcomm, KPMG and Amplify. During her days as an award-winning journalist, Stephanie was the editor of PC Magazine, driving editorial strategy and operations for the print and digital magazines. She also served as founding editor and SVP of Access, a 10-million circulation, weekly tech and lifestyle print and digital magazine. She began her career in daily newspapers, as a general assignment reporter, copy editor and deputy city editor in suburban New York.

 

DAY TWO — Tuesday, Feb. 25

 

 

Emil Wilbekin, Journalist, Fashion Institute of Technology Assistant Professor and founder of Native Son

Years working in magazine journalism – including stints as editor in chief at Vibe and editor at large at Essence – helped Wilbekin hone his skills managing editorial strategy, content, calendars, and teams.

 

Books Pitch Slam with Literary Agents

Ready to take your shot at the bestseller list? Come to the microphone and pitch your book idea to a panel of leading literary agents who will respond in real-time. Or just sit in the audience to watch and learn how agents think. There’s one rule: All pitches must be no longer than 1 minute

Speakers:

Randy Dotinga (moderator) — Randy Dotinga, former president of ASJA and current board member of the Association of Health Care Journalists, has been a full-time freelance journalist for more than 25 years. He writes about medicine/health, history, politics, books, and more.

 

Mark Owen Gottlieb — Mark Owen Gottlieb is a Senior Vice President and top-ranked literary agent at Trident Media Group, where he has facilitated countless deals with Big Five publishers, securing major book deals for bestselling and award-winning authors across genres.

Anna Sproul-Latimer — Anna Sproul-Latimer, a literary agent, is founding partner and president of Neon Literary. Over the course of her many years in book publishing, she has sold multiple New York Times bestsellers, major book-to-film deals, and foreign translations in more than 50 languages. She represents all types of adult nonfiction–from memoir and history to pop culture, science, and parenting–as well as select literary and upmarket fiction. Prior to founding Neon, Anna spent nearly 15 years as a literary agent, foreign rights director, and developmental editor at DC’s Ross Yoon Agency, which has since folded into WME.

Rita Rosenkranz — Rita Rosenkranz is a literary agent whose list includes all major categories of adult non-fiction, including health, history, parenting, music, how-to, popular science, business, biography, popular reference, cooking, spirituality, sports and general interest titles. She works with major publishing houses, as well as regional publishers that handle niche markets. She looks for projects that present familiar subjects freshly or lesser-known subjects presented commercially. www.ritarosenkranzliteraryagency.com.

Does Your Letter of Introduction (LOI) Hit the Mark?

Content managers typically assign work rather than solicit cold pitches, so content writers need a good letter of introduction (LOI) to get their attention. Does yours get results? Could it be stronger? During this session, you’ll learn tips on what makes a good LOI and have the opportunity to present your LOI to get live feedback from hiring agents.

Speakers:

Cathie Ericson (moderator) — Cathie Ericson is a freelance content writer who creates articles, white papers and other B2B content for brands large and small. Her expertise spans retail, education, finance, HR and real estate. She also takes on occasional journalism assignments and frequently works with large media brands on sponsored content.

Cam Brown — Cam Brown’s first content marketing agency was founded in 1996 within Ziff Davis Media. He ran that until the launch of KingFish in 2001. Both shops rely on partnerships with editorial subject matter experts (SMEs) who are assigned specific clients and who stay for the duration of the engagement. KingFish believes that our clients receive the most benefit from the combination of both our agency’s business and marketing strategy, as well as the expertise delivered by the inclusion of SMEs.

Megan Gilbert — Megan Gilbert is Vice President and Executive Editorial Director of the award-winning Fortune Brand Studio, a division of Fortune Media. She drives the editorial direction, strategy, program management, and production of branded content, co-leading the creative studio team in digital, audio, video, social, and print storytelling for high-profile clients such as Salesforce, PayPal, Zurich Insurance, AWS, Accenture, and more. Her varied and lengthy career in branded content includes positions at Gawker/Gizmodo, Fusion/Univision, The Washington Post, Slate, and VICE. Megan holds a B.A. from Boston University and an M.F.A. in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Sarah Lawrence College. She teaches a graduate-level course in Branded Content at New York University’s School of Professional Studies and speaks each year at the university’s Summer Publishing Institute. She was an integral member of the small but mighty creative and production team behind The Ecopreneurs (2024 Paid Campaign of the Year, Global Content Awards; 2023 Project of the Year, Content Marketing Awards). She was named to the 2024 class of Ragan’s ranking of Top Women in Marketing, won Content Marketer of the Year in 2022 (Women in Content Marketing Awards), and was included on the 100 Most Significant Women in Native Advertising list in 2018. She is a judge for the Webby Awards, Signal Awards, Anthem Awards, Telly Awards, AIVA/W3 Awards, WICMA Awards, and Native Advertising Awards and is a proud member of the Brand Storytelling community at Sundance.

Denise Schipani — Denise Schipani is editorial director of Onward Publishing, a custom publisher of print and online publications based on Long Island. A longtime editor and writer, she also writes the Doing My Breast: Adventures in Cancer blog for Everyday Health.com, and is the author of Mean Moms Rule: Why Doing the Hard Stuff Now Creates Good Kids Later (Sourcebooks). She lives in Huntington, New York with her husband and two mostly grown sons.

Creating a Podcast 101

Are you considering starting your own podcast or taking your current podcast to the next level, such as extending your brand or monetizing your podcast into a source of income? Learn about the nuts and bolts of podcasting from current podcasters, including platforms, best practices and equipment; where to start; and what makes for an attractive podcast guest.

Speakers:

Ashley Cisneros Mejia — Ashley Cisneros Mejia is a writer, strategist, and mom of three. In addition to working in journalism and content marketing, she founded two digital marketing agencies. Ashley hosts the Talk Freelance To Me Podcast, a show that focuses on the business side of running a freelance enterprise, centering women freelancers. She is currently writing a book on solopreneurship as a means to counter the wage gap in the U.S., offering women—especially women of color—an alternative path to the traditional corporate world. Listen to the show at: www.talkfreelancetome.com

Holly Rizzuto Palker — Holly Rizzuto Palker is an editor for Literary Mama, the online journal where she has interviewed notable authors. She is a board member for ASJA, The American Society of Journalists and Authors, a co-host of Literary Mama’s podcast This Mama is Lit!, and a former editor at Your Teen Magazine. Her writing appears in The New York Daily News, The Independent, Parents Magazine, and more. She is working on a book. Follow her on Substack and social media: @hollyrizzutopal or at www.hollyrizzutopalker.com

Jennifer Fink — Jennifer L.W. Fink is the author of Building Boys: Raising Great Guys in World That Misunderstands Males and co-host of ON BOYS parenting podcast. Her writing has been published by the New York Times, Scholastic, Parents, The Washington Post, FOX News, U. S. News and World Report and Parade. Jennifer is an advisory board member of The Boys Initiative and a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and the Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ). Find her on Substack and Instagram: Jennifer L.W. Fink.

Estelle Erasmus — Estelle Erasmus: an award-winning journalist, is the author of WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED (named a “Best Book for Writers” by Poets & Writers Magazine), a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest, and host of the podcast, Freelance Writing Direct. She is an adjunct instructor for NYU’s School of Professional Studies/Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, has written for over 150 publications, including The New York Times, Next Avenue, WIRED, The Independent,The Washington Post, and AARP: The Magazine, and was the editor-in-chief of five national publications. Find out more at estelleserasmus.com and follow her on Substack and social media: @EstelleSErasmus.

Brianna Avenia-Tapper — Brianna Avenia-Tapper is a writer, editor, and mother of two. She interviews authors about the struggles and triumphs of writing and publishing on the podcast Writing Stories, (writingstories.org). Her essays, interviews, and book reviews have been published in Tahoma Literary Review, Hobart, Pigeon Pages, Literary Mama, The Rumpus, Riverteeth blog, Barrelhouse, and elsewhere.  She is currently at work on a novel about motherhood, magic, and control. Find out more at briannaaveniatapper.com

Secrets of a Bestselling Amazon Book Page

There’s more to selling books on Amazon than just getting listed. Join a top book marketer for the inside scoop on turning your Amazon book page into a sales machine. Learn how to harness the power of book descriptions, relevancy scores, Amazon ads, taglines, keywords, Author Central, and video.

Speakers:

Penny Sansevieri — Penny C. Sansevieri, founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an adjunct professor who teaches self-publishing at NYU. She is the author of 23 books, including the newly released The Amazon Author Formula plus From Book to Bestseller, 5 Minute Book Marketing for Authors, and How to Revise and Re-Release Your Book.

 

How to Leverage Your Experience and Skills to Create Passive Income

Are you thinking about diversifying your income in this ever-changing marketplace? Before you decide to join the local bookstore staff, think about how you can turn what you know already into revenue streams that don’t require client writing assignments. In this interactive workshop that incorporates real-world examples, you’ll learn how to leverage your writing skills and life experiences to create so-called “passive income” that goes beyond books to include courses, coaching, printable resources, membership groups, and lucrative corporate sponsorships so you rely less on freelance writing.

Speakers:

Sandra Beckwith — During the past few years, nearly half of Sandra Beckwith’s income has come from selling digital tools she and others create. She is a long-time ASJA member and former board member who works as a freelance writer, book marketing coach, and blogger.

Stephanie Chandler — Stephanie Chandler is the author of several books including The Nonfiction Book Marketing and Launch Plan and The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan. She is CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association, a vibrant community for writers, and the Nonfiction Writers Conference, an annual event conducted entirely online since 2010. A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in Entrepreneur, BusinessWeek, The Writer, Writer’s Digest, and Wired magazine.

Pitch Slam: Journalism Editors

Got a great story idea you want to sell to a top outlet? Editors from top journalism outlets are here to respond to short, one-minute pitches read out loud by the writer. This is your chance to get real-time feedback and maybe even make a sale in post-conference follow-up correspondence with editors. Even if you aren’t bold enough to share a pitch, expect to learn what makes a saleable story–and why. Note that pitches should be sent by February 10, 2025, to kristinehansenwriter@gmail.com, so they can be shared with editors in advance.

Speakers:

George Mannes — George Mannes is an executive editor at AARP The Magazine and AARP Bulletin, where he focuses on personal finance. He previously worked at Money magazine and at TheStreet.com.

Nicole Pasulka — Nicole Pasulka is the senior features editor at Cosmopolitan. Her writing has been published at New York magazine, Harper’s Magazine, Mother Jones, VICE, and The Believer, anthologized in the Best American series, and featured on NPR’s All Things Considered. Her first book, How You Get Famous: Ten Years of Drag Madness in Brooklyn, was published by Simon and Schuster in 2022.

Rachel Epstein — Rachel Epstein is the deputy editor at Men’s Health, where she oversees the content across MensHealth.com, edits long-form features and service packages, and helps shape the brand’s digital editorial strategy. Prior to joining the brand, she held roles at Marie Claire, where she wrote and edited culture, politics, and lifestyle stories, as well as Coveteur, where she oversaw the site’s daily editorial operations. She lives in New York City.

Jennifer Billock (moderator) — Jennifer Billock is a journalist, author, and professional cheese fortune teller. She’s been writing about travel, food, and history for nearly 20 years, including a best-selling overview of the scientific and metaphysical properties of gemstones, books on history and astrology, and articles for The New York Times, Smithsonian, The Atlantic, Good Housekeeping, Travel + Leisure, National Geographic, Wired, and more.

 

 

Client Connections appointments

ASJA Professional Members who signed up for Client Connections meet one-on-one with editors and agents for their scheduled 9-minute meetings.

Writing With Style: Breaking into Beauty & Fashion Writing

The beauty and fashion industries are among the top-earning in the U.S., with roughly $200 billion in combined expected revenue in 2024. While the field is dominated by a handful of big names, there are also hundreds of smaller companies in need of good writers for everything from blog posts to website copy to newsletters and more. Learn more about the industry and get some tips on breaking in from experienced fashion and beauty writers.

Speakers:

Katie Weisman (moderator) — Katie Weisman is a veteran fashion, luxury goods and lifestyle writer who covers the business, consumer-facing, and fun sides of these industries. She started her career as a reporter/fact-checker at Forbes Magazine and then spent eight years at WWD/W Magazine in Paris where she mastered daily news journalism and magazine feature writing. After two years at Givenchy Couture as international director of PR, Katie returned to writing as a freelancer. Her work has appeared in glossies including international editions of Vogue, Vogue Japan, Town & Country Travel, Condé Nast Traveler. She wrote extensively for Suzy Menkes’ at the International Herald Tribune (NY Times) and her articles have been published in the Washington Post and The Boston Globe, as well as WWD and Business of Fashion trade publications, among other media. Katie is active in content as a ghostwriter for executives and for creating PR/sales collateral. She loves writing about how things are made, still has a problem with commas, and is an avid fan of the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

Margaret Fisher — Margaret Fisher is a seasoned content strategist, editor, and copywriter with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling and branding. A graduate of FIT’s Cosmetics and Fragrance Marketing program, she further honed her expertise in beauty and fashion while working at publications like Parents and Family Circle. Transitioning to agency life, Margaret has led impactful content projects for top beauty brands, including Kiehl’s, CraVe, and L’Oréal Paris, while also crafting copy for global giants like Salesforce, Google, and HBO.

Dale Arden Chong — Dale Arden Chong is the Senior Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com, where she edits and reports on the latest trends, labels, and designers in the fashion. With a passion for great sartorial stories and getting dressed (as well as a knack for nerding out over the details), she has a robust knowledge of high-quality design, construction, and materials based on testing hundreds of products over her eight-plus years in the industry, writing stories for Glamour, Who What Wear, Entertainment Tonight, and others. Outside of the style world, her hobbies include cooking, playing tennis, ceramics, and watching BTS dance videos on YouTube, among other things.

Brie Schwartz —  Brie Schwartz is the director of commerce for Glamour and Teen Vogue where she oversees the shopping content. Previously, as Oprah Daily’s deputy editor, she helped lead the launch of the site. She’s also worked in branded content across Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, and Marie Claire. Over her past 15 years in digital media, she’s written about everything from beauty, to style, travel, wellness, and relationships. Her work has appeared in Esquire, Elle, Conde Nast Traveller, and Women’s Health, to name a few. Brie holds a Masters in Journalism from Boston University, and a BA in English and Film from Trinity College. When she’s not helping readers source the perfect present or comfiest ballet flat, you can find her watching cheesy Christmas movies (no matter the season).

Telling Stories with Pictures

Creators can tell stories through a variety of media– words, pictures, video– and there are advantages to each. In this session, two FIT professors and working journalists share how pictures and words can work together to bring power to journalism and storytelling.

Speakers:

Elena Romero is Assistant Chair and Assistant Professor in the Marketing Communications department of the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology at the Fashion Institute of Technology (SUNY). Romero is also an award-winning TV Correspondent and Producer for LATiNAS on CUNY TV. A three-time Emmy nominated journalist for over 30 years, Romero currently tells the stories of nuestra mujeres on a wide range of topics including health & wellness, parenting, entertainment, fashion, food and Hollywood. Her work has appeared in Honey, Savoy, Vibe, Latina, Urban Latino, Sportswear International, USA Today and the New York Post. Her hip hop fashion expertise is highlighted in the CNN documentary Fresh Dressed and current Netflix documentary The Remix: Hip Hop x Fashion. Romero was also the co-curator of Fresh Fly Fabulous: 50 Years of Hip Hop Style at the Museum at FIT and co-edited the accompanying book by the same title, released by Rizzoli in February, 2023.

Larry Tung is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and media educator in New York City. He is currently an assistant professor in the Marketing Communications Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Prior to FIT, he held full-time appointments at Hofstra University in Long Island, York College/CUNY in Queens, and Kean University in New Jersey. A native of Taiwan, he holds an M.F.A. in TV Production from Brooklyn College and an M.S. in journalism from Columbia University. He received several fellowships, including Vanderbilt University Media Fellowship, and the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Faculty Fellowship. Tung’s films focus on social justice and human rights issues, and have screened in more than 70 film festivals around the world.

 

How to Land a Big Book Deal: The Scoop from Publishing Insiders, Part I

While it’s been difficult to break into the publishing market lately, thousands of debut authors sell work in all categories each year. What do they know that you don’t? Find out as five top literary agents and book editors reveal the inside secrets of the book business.

Speakers:

Susan Shapiro (moderator) — Susan Shapiro has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Wired, Elle, New York, Oprah and New Yorker magazines online. She’s the bestselling author/coauthor of 18 books including Unhooked, The Forgiveness Tour, American Shield and her popular writing guides The Byline Bible and The Book Bible. She’s an award-winning writing professor at NYU, The New School and Columbia University, now teaching writing and publishing courses online. Her students have published 700+ books in the last decade, with advances between $1,000 and $500,000. Follow her on Instagram at @profsue123.

Ryan Harbage — Ryan Harbage, a literary agent, started his career as an editor at Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House. He founded the Fischer-Harbage Agency in 2007 where has worked with #1 bestselling authors Jen Doll, J. Ryan Stradal, Janet Mock, Gina Frangello, Sunny Hostin, Alicia Mendez and Taylor Plimpton. He’s taught at the New School and Pratt and lives with his wife and children in Brooklyn.

Amina Iro — Amina Iro is Associate Editor of Legacy Lit, an imprint of Hachette Book Groups, where she acquires, edits, and publishes fiction and non-fiction books centered on social justice and uplifting stories from marginalized communities. Her authors include Devin Allen,  Juanita Tolliver,  Ntozake Shange and Langston Hughes. A writer and performance poet, Amina was a 2023 Fellow for the Watering Hole and the Hurston Wright Foundation. She’s performed at venues in the US, England, Nigeria, and South Africa. She started her publishing career at HarperCollins’s Amistad imprint,  where she worked with author and actress Cicely Tyson.

Zack Knoll — Zack Knoll is a Senior Editor at Abrams, where he publishes narrative nonfiction, fiction and illustrated books. Prior to joining Abrams in 2021, he was an Associate Editor at  Simon & Schuster imprint. Zack’s titles have been New York Times and national bestsellers,  IndieNext and New York Times 100 Notable Books selections and were nominated for Center for the Fiction First Novel Prize, the PEN/Hemingway Debut Novel Award, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the LAMBDA Literary Award, the Aspen Words Literary Prize, and the Brooklyn Public Library Award. He grew up in Chicago, graduated from Oberlin College, and now lives in Brooklyn.

Anjali Singh — Anjali Singh founded her literary agency in 2024. Previously, she worked at Ayesha Pande Literary, Vintage Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Simon + Schuster, and as Editorial Director of Other Press. She’s best known for having championed Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis after stumbling across it on a visit to Paris. She helped launch the careers of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Samantha Hunt, Saleem Haddad and Nawaaz Ahmed. Drawn to the thrill of discovering new writers, she focuses on narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, memoir, and graphic books by authors of all ages.

Samantha Wekstein — Samantha Wekstein is a senior agent at Thompson Literary Agency. She began her career in 2013 at Writers House and joined TLA in 2019 where she has represented nonfiction (memoirs and self-help) as well as all categories of fiction and children’s literature.  She is particularly drawn to feminist stories, high concept hooks, and commercial voices.

 

Working with PR

How do you facilitate a good and productive relationship with public relations persons? We’ll work on stopping the email spam, having a great press visit or experience, how publicists can save you time by connecting you directly with sources, and tips in asking for what you need, particularly when on deadline.

Speakers:

Jessica Farthing — Jessica Farthing is an award-winning freelance journalist with work in BBC Travel, Fodor’s, Eating Well, Southern Living and many more publications. She was ASJA’s first associate member, working with the help of mentors to reach full status in the next enrollment period. Through the years, ASJA has remained a resource for her career and she was awarded the 2022 Annual Writing Award in Travel. She’s at work these days on her first book, an equestrian travel substack and a rewarding list of freelancing assignments. You can find Jessica riding her horses or enjoying the coast in her hometown of Savannah, Georgia. With three grown kids and a wonderful husband, life is never dull.

Mesfin Fekadu — Mesfin Fekadu is an award-winning journalist who joined The Hollywood Reporter as senior music editor in 2022, overseeing music content for the brand’s website and magazine as well as booking cover stores and working on tentpole events like THR’s annual Women In Entertainment gala. He began his career at The Associated Press, where he spent 13 years and rose from video producer and entertainment writer to music editor and senior journalist. He has interviewed celebrities such as Beyoncé, The Rolling Stones, Lady Gaga, Aretha Franklin, Oprah Winfrey, Adele, Taylor Swift, Regina King, Rihanna, Dave Chappelle, Madonna, and Bruce Springsteen; covered 13 Grammy Awards; seven Super Bowls; and both inaugurations of former U.S. President Barack Obama. Fekadu is on the board of the Society for Features Journalism and was named online journalist of the year at the 2024 National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Awards, presented by the Los Angeles Press Club. He earned a 2024 Daytime Emmy nomination for moderating and producing the Songwriter Roundtable for SundanceTV’s Off Script with The Hollywood Reporter. Fekadu also worked for Netflix, where he handled written communication campaigns for original films, series and documentaries.

Taryn Scher — Taryn Scher, “The Sparkle Boss,” started TK PR in 2008, and has spent the past 16 years building the award-winning public relations firm specializing in the travel and hospitality industries. TK PR is a boutique lifestyle PR firm that represents clients in the travel, hospitality, and consumer industries. TK PR places emphasis on national media coverage on behalf of its clients. With offices in South Carolina and Kentucky, TK PR strives to bring “New York Results” to its clients, with a touch of Southern charm. Since 2008, TK PR has been making brands sparkle. Under her leadership, TK PR has been awarded 7 Adrian Awards from HSMAI — the largest and most prestigious global travel marketing competition which honors excellence in hospitality, travel, tourism, and media, and the Award of Excellence in Media Relations from the South Carolina Public Relations Society of America.

How to Land a Big Book Deal: The Scoop from Publishing Insiders, Part II

This two-part session continues! Feel free to drop in and hear an expert panel of literary agents and editors reveal inside secrets of the book business.

Speakers:

Susan Shapiro (moderator) — Susan Shapiro has written for the New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Wired, Elle, New York, Oprah and New Yorker magazines online. She’s the bestselling author/coauthor of 18 books including Unhooked, The Forgiveness Tour, American Shield and her popular writing guides The Byline Bible and The Book Bible. She’s an award-winning writing professor at NYU, The New School and Columbia University, now teaching writing and publishing courses online. Her students have published 700+ books in the last decade, with advances between $1,000 and $500,000. Follow her on Instagram at @profsue123.

Ryan Harbage — Ryan Harbage, a literary agent, started his career as an editor at Simon & Schuster and Penguin Random House. He founded the Fischer-Harbage Agency in 2007 where has worked with #1 bestselling authors Jen Doll, J. Ryan Stradal, Janet Mock, Gina Frangello, Sunny Hostin, Alicia Mendez and Taylor Plimpton. He’s taught at the New School and Pratt and lives with his wife and children in Brooklyn.

Amina Iro — Amina Iro is Associate Editor of Legacy Lit, an imprint of Hachette Book Groups, where she acquires, edits, and publishes fiction and non-fiction books centered on social justice and uplifting stories from marginalized communities. Her authors include Devin Allen,  Juanita Tolliver,  Ntozake Shange and Langston Hughes. A writer and performance poet, Amina was a 2023 Fellow for the Watering Hole and the Hurston Wright Foundation. She’s performed at venues in the US, England, Nigeria, and South Africa. She started her publishing career at HarperCollins’s Amistad imprint,  where she worked with author and actress Cicely Tyson.

Zack Knoll — Zack Knoll is a Senior Editor at Abrams, where he publishes narrative nonfiction, fiction and illustrated books. Prior to joining Abrams in 2021, he was an Associate Editor at  Simon & Schuster imprint. Zack’s titles have been New York Times and national bestsellers,  IndieNext and New York Times 100 Notable Books selections and were nominated for Center for the Fiction First Novel Prize, the PEN/Hemingway Debut Novel Award, the Scotiabank Giller Prize, the LAMBDA Literary Award, the Aspen Words Literary Prize, and the Brooklyn Public Library Award. He grew up in Chicago, graduated from Oberlin College, and now lives in Brooklyn.

Anjali Singh — Anjali Singh founded her literary agency in 2024. Previously, she worked at Ayesha Pande Literary, Vintage Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Simon + Schuster, and as Editorial Director of Other Press. She’s best known for having championed Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis after stumbling across it on a visit to Paris. She helped launch the careers of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Samantha Hunt, Saleem Haddad and Nawaaz Ahmed. Drawn to the thrill of discovering new writers, she focuses on narrative nonfiction, literary fiction, memoir, and graphic books by authors of all ages.

Samantha Wekstein — Samantha Wekstein is a senior agent at Thompson Literary Agency. She began her career in 2013 at Writers House and joined TLA in 2019 where she has represented nonfiction (memoirs and self-help) as well as all categories of fiction and children’s literature.  She is particularly drawn to feminist stories, high concept hooks, and commercial voices.

 

Making Writing Come Alive

Learn secrets of storytelling from an editor of The New York Times‘ “The Great Read” and a Pulitzer-winning feature writer who worked together for more than a decade. They’ll discuss how to find, shape, report, write and edit unforgettable stories from a variety of perspectives and for myriad platforms.

Speakers:

Lane DeGregory — Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lane DeGregory is a listener, a writer, a teacher. She loves true stories, intimate details and big ideas. She interviews strangers and writes about real people, some famous, but mostly folks struggling in the shadows. In 30 years, she has shared more than 3,000 stories in newspapers and magazines. A feature writer at the Tampa Bay Times since 2000, Lane also is the author of the nonfiction book “The Girl in the Window” and Other True Tales, a craft guide centered around 24 of her unforgettable stories, including the story that won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing. Lane teaches at the Poynter Institute and journalism conferences around the world, and she shares narrative nonfiction writing tips on her podcast, WriteLane.

Mike Wilson — Mike Wilson is the deputy editor of The New York Times feature “The Great Read,” which highlights narrative stories. Mike started his career at the Miami Herald, where he worked for 12 years as a writer and editor, ending with a stint on the writing staff of the Sunday magazine, Tropic. He then joined the St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times), where he was a writer, editor and, finally, managing editor. His enterprise writing staff at that paper won a Pulitzer for feature writing and was a finalist for four others. In 2013, he moved to ESPN in New York to become the founding managing editor of Nate Silver’s data journalism website, FiveThirtyEight. From 2015 to 2021, he was editor of The Dallas Morning News, where he transformed a traditional print newsroom into a digital-first news organization. Under his leadership, The News was a Pulitzer Prize finalist three times and won two national Edward R. Murrow Awards for feature writing. He is the author of “Right on the Edge of Crazy” (1993), about American ski racers competing in the 1992 Olympics, and “The Difference Between God and Larry Ellison” (1997), about Oracle Corporation’s billionaire founder.

Laura T. Coffey (moderator) — Laura T. Coffey is a veteran editor and feature writer with more than 30 years of journalism experience. She is president of the Society for Features Journalism and author of the bestselling nonfiction book “My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts.” Laura spent 14 years working as a senior writer, editor and producer for NBC’s TODAY show and its website, TODAY.com. She’s also worked as a reporter and editor at daily newspapers across the country, including the Tampa Bay Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer and the San Diego Union-Tribune, and as managing editor of The Prague Post in the Czech Republic. Her freelance work has appeared in The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, PBS NewsHour Online, Best Friends magazine and many other publications.

 

 

DAY THREE — Wednesday, Feb. 26

 

 

Bringing Historical Stories and Figures to Life

Stories about people from history help remind us that we’re alive, while lessons learned from their lives can inform our own. We can learn valuable insights from everything from obituary writing (which goes back as far as ancient Rome when the first obits were published in papyrus newspapers) to telling the stories of ordinary, yet extraordinary, people, to writing about powerful people throughout history. In this session we’ll talk about the ingredients of a powerful historical story – from interviews to research to writing. We’ll also explore other avenues for writing about historical figures, like the Washington Post’s Retropolis section, and talk to content writers who offer obituary writing as a service.

Speakers:

Deborah Blumberg — Deborah Lynn Blumberg is a Washington D.C.-area-based freelance writer specializing in health and wellness and business and finance. She has written for publications and clients including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, The New York Times T Brand Studio, JPMorgan Chase, and the American Heart Association. Previously, she was a reporter for Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal. She is the ASJA Washington D.C. chapter president, and she’s working on her first book. (deborahlynnblumberg.com; @dlblumberg)

Kristen Hare — When Kristen Hare graduated from journalism school, she joined the Peace Corps in Guyana, South America, hoping to have adventures of her own before spending her career telling other people’s stories. Both the adventures and the storytelling have never stopped. Today, Kristen is the director of craft and local news at the Poynter Institute, a nonprofit school for journalists in St. Petersburg, Florida. Before joining the teaching team, Kristen spent eight years covering the local news industry, five years as a projects reporter in St. Louis and five years as a Sunday features writer in St. Joseph, Missouri. More recently, Kristen spent five years writing obituaries about regular people for the Tampa Bay Times. She’s also the author of four books full of Florida adventures, including 100 Things To Do In Tampa Bay Before You Die and Hotels, Motels and Inns of Florida: Historic and Beloved Places to Stay in the Sunshine State. Kristen is the mom of two clever teenagers, the wife of a devoted golfer and, when not adventuring, a very happy homebody.

Elaine Louie — Elaine Louie is a journalist and author who, at 81, has returned to writing for The New York Times, crafting advance obituaries and contributing to the Overlooked series. On this new chapter, she says, “It’s fun. It’s age-appropriate.” A staff member of The New York Times from 1990 to 2014, Louie covered food, fashion, and design, contributing extensively to the Home, Food, and Styles sections while serving as assistant to the editor of the Home section. She is also the author of more than a dozen books, including cookbooks. She’s received a James Beard Award for a 16-part series exploring ethnic food neighborhoods in New York City’s five boroughs and a Women’s Sports Foundation journalism award for her piece on her then-12-year-old daughter, Anna Sussman, a passionate basketball player. That story, published in The Times, chronicled Anna’s experience at the first girls’ basketball sleepaway camp sponsored by the New York Knicks during a transformative era for women’s basketball.

Missy Sullivan — Missy Sullivan, special projects editor at HISTORY.com, is an award-winning journalist with a long track record of marrying fresh ideas with rigorous reporting, lively storytelling and SEO intel. She has spent her career writing and editing at global media and entertainment brands including Forbes, The Wall Street Journal and A+E Networks. At HISTORY, she creates content—long-form, short-form, interactive and more—that focuses on making history lively, accessible and relevant, with an emphasis on expanding the diversity of stories and voices.

Ask the Expert: Tableside Chats with Top Publishing Gurus

ASJA’s first-ever Ask the Expert session gives you the opportunity to pose questions to publishing gurus or just sit and listen as they provide tips and guidance. The experts — a book marketing specialist, a literary attorney, a research librarian, and a book doctor — will each sit at tables and await your queries. This is an informal session, so free to roam around the room and drop in on any conversation! 

Speakers:

Barbara Gray — Barbara Gray is an associate professor and chief librarian at Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, where she runs the research instruction program. She is the former director of news research at The New York Times and an expert in investigative research.

Amy Klein — Amy Klein is the author of the book, The Trying Game: Get Through Fertility Treatment and Get Pregnant Without Losing Your Mind , which is based on her successful New York Times “Fertility Diary” column. She writes about health, fitness, parenting and science for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Business Insider, CNN, Yahoo and others. She also works as a book doctor for various authors, helping them with their ideation, proposals and non-fiction projects.

Penny Sansevieri — Penny C. Sansevieri, founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. She is an adjunct professor who teaches self-publishing at NYU. She is the author of 23 books, including the newly released The Amazon Author Formula plus From Book to Bestseller, 5 Minute Book Marketing for Authors, and How to Revise and Re-Release Your Book.

Joe Perry — Joe Perry is a literary lawyer at the Law Offices of Joseph J. Perry. He counsels authors, publishers, agents and editors about contracts and other legal issues in book publishing.

 

 

All You Need to Know About Writing Case Studies

Ever heard another writer say they write case studies, but weren’t sure what that is? Learn everything you need to know about case studies: what they are, how to write one, finding case study clients, what to charge and more.

Speakers:

Rachel C. Murphy (moderator) — Rachel C. Murphy is a content writer and editor from Kansas City, Mo. She specializes in creating accessible, engaging content for B2B healthcare and finance clients, working with brands and platforms including Verywell Health, Prudential, Investopedia, CallRail, symplr, LLC Attorney, and more. With a background in journalism, she enjoys bringing case studies, blogs and videos to life using narrative techniques and in-depth interviews.

Ka Bannan — K.J. Bannan is a veteran journalist, editor, and writer. Her work with B2B magazines has included writing and editing hundreds of case studies for publications such as Fortune, Crain’s BtoB, Crain’s New York, Adweek, and more.

Jodi Helmer — Jodi Helmer writes about healthcare, pharma and medtech. Through direct client relationships and agencies, she has produced case studies, white papers, articles, blog posts and infographics for Pfizer, Bayer, Ada Health, GE Healthcare, Forbes, Cigna, Mastercard, AARP, American Heart Association, Medscape and others. She she’s not writing, Jodi is the co-founder of Naughty Donkey Farm Sanctuary, a nonprofit animal rescue based in North Carolina.

The Fearless Researcher: 5 Strategies to Tame the Powers of the Internet

Whether you’re writing an article in a day or a book proposal in your spare time, you need to find information. Join the former director of news research at the New York Times for a friendly, in-depth discussion about the best ways to tame the Internet from smarter searching techniques to valuable online databases and archives.

Speakers:

Barbara Gray — Barbara Gray is an associate professor and chief librarian at Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, where she runs the research instruction program. She is the former director of news research at The New York Times and an expert in investigative research.

 

 

Is Copywriting For You?

— While it makes sense that content clients would prefer a “one-stop service,” there are significant differences between content writing and copywriting, and the latter isn’t necessarily a good fit for every writer. Hear from copywriting experts on the differences between copywriting and content writing to help you decide if you want to add copywriting to your list of services. Our panelists will also offer tips on how to break into the market.

Speakers:

Neil Brownlee — Blue chip clients ask it. So do marketing gurus. Same thing from entrepreneurs, start-up experts, venture capitalists, investment bankers, and anyone looking to build, maintain, and promote a business. “Who the heck is the Write Guy?” As a copywriter and Creative Director I work directly with clients and marketing professionals to develop and execute branding, DR, retail, and integrated marketing approaches in multiple media channels. I am a Multi-Channel copywriter. I oversee creative progress, project execution, and creative staff cohesiveness.

Emily Dalamangas — Emily is a New York-based writer providing copy and content writing, sales enablement, and copy editing services. She is the founder of On the Map Marketing LLC, where she collaborates with brands, agencies, and publishers writing about B2B technology and advertising/marketing/sales. Emily spent 20 years in marketing for leading media companies, supporting the advertising sales teams at Reuters, Condé Nast, Hearst, and Crain Communications.

Christina Hernandez Sherwood (moderator) — Christina Hernandez Sherwood is an ASJA member and freelance writer with 15+ years of experience. A former newspaper reporter, Christina now specializes in journalistic storytelling for health care and science brands and institutions, including universities, medical centers, and pharma companies. Her Penn Medicine magazine cover story on maternal health won ASJA’s 2024 award for Best B2C Blog or Article. Christina is also co-chair of ASJA’s Membership Engagement Committee. Learn more at www.christinahernandezsherwood.com.

Hard Lessons Learned From Writing Our Debut Books That Made Us Better Journalists

For writers with a journalism background, taking on a book-length project might seem daunting but the end result is a new set of skills that help run an efficient freelance-writing business. Learn from published authors who are also journalists about how completing a book taught them hard lessons but ultimately made them better journalists.

Speakers:

Kristine Hansen (moderator) — Based in Milwaukee, Kristine Hansen is the author of three books about Wisconsin, including her latest: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Wisconsin: How America’s Most Famous Architect Found Inspiration in His Home State. She contributes food, design and travel coverage to outlets that include TravelandLeisure.com, Fodors.com and ArchitecturalDigest.com.

 

Estelle Erasmus — Estelle Erasmus: an award-winning journalist, is the author of WRITING THAT GETS NOTICED (named a “Best Book for Writers” by Poets & Writers Magazine), a Contributing Editor for Writer’s Digest, and host of the podcast, Freelance Writing Direct. She is an adjunct instructor for NYU’s School of Professional Studies/Center for Publishing and Applied Liberal Arts, has written for over 150 publications, including The New York Times, Next Avenue, WIRED, The Independent,The Washington Post, and AARP: The Magazine, and was the editor-in-chief of five national publications. Find out more at estelleserasmus.com and follow her on Substack and social media: @EstelleSErasmus.

Megy Karydes — Megy Karydes is a Chicago-based writer and author of 50 Ways to More Calm, Less Stress: Scientifically Proven Ways to Reduce Your Anxiety and Boost Your Mental Health Using Your Five Senses. She writes about health, wellness, home, travel and more, and her byline has appeared in outlets such as the New York Times, AARP, Architectural Digest, Eating Well and others. She’s currently helping clients ghostwrite their books and is always looking for ways to amplify others’ voices through words.

Evan Moore — Evan F. Moore is a South Side Chicago-based writer. He’s the co-author of the critically-acclaimed book, “Game Misconduct: Hockey’s Toxic Culture and How to Fix It.” His writing, which has garnered several awards, was featured in the 2019 edition of The Best American Sports Writing book series. Evan is an adjunct community journalism professor at DePaul University.

Danger Zone: What You Must Know Before You Sign a Publishing Contract

Whether you’re contracting with a publisher or an agent (or both!) this panel will share what you need to know before signing on the dotted line. Time permitting, we’ll delve into other legal issues too, including liability, adaptation for other purposes, and fair use.

Speakers:

Debbie Abrams Kaplan (moderator) — Deborah Abrams Kaplan is a long-time ASJA member who reads contracts carefully and advises other writers to do the same. She writes frequently about health/medical topics, supply chain and business issues.

 

Marisa Corvisiero — Marisa Corvisiero is the founder and CEO of the Corvisiero Literary Agency, an attorney, and a Senior Literary Agent. During the few years prior to starting her own agency, Marisa worked with another well known New York City Literary Agency, where she learned invaluable lessons and made a name for herself in the industry. She is also a Literary Consultant, Speaker, Author and continues to practice law in New York City with specialties in Publishing, Corporate, and Trust & Estates.

Marcia Layton Turner — Marcia Layton Turner is a bestselling business book ghostwriter with more than 80 books to her name. She and her clients have published through traditional, hybrid, and independent presses. Marcia also founded and runs the Association of Ghostwriters, the only professional organization established for ghostwriters.

 

Joe Perry — Joe Perry is a literary lawyer at the Law Offices of Joseph J. Perry. He counsels authors, publishers, agents and editors about contracts and other legal issues in book publishing.

 

 

From Campus to Cover: Writing Alumni Gold

Writing for alumni magazines involves telling the stories of accomplished, often fascinating graduates, plus compelling trend stories and features. More often than not, stories are written in a journalistic style. But the magazines serve as a marketing tool – helping schools to attract alumni donations – and they can pay well. In this session we’ll talk to editors from several alumni publications about their editorial goals, how they work with freelancers, and how to get the attention of an alumni magazine editor. We’ll also delve into the future of alumni publications, as some schools have moved fully to digital, while others still mail out a print magazine because alumni prefer it.

Speakers:

Deborah Blumberg (moderator) — Deborah Lynn Blumberg is a Washington D.C.-area-based freelance writer specializing in health and wellness and business and finance. She has written for publications and clients including The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, MarketWatch, The New York Times T Brand Studio, JPMorgan Chase, and the American Heart Association. Previously, she was a reporter for Dow Jones/The Wall Street Journal. She is the ASJA Washington D.C. chapter president, and she’s working on her first book. (deborahlynnblumberg.com; @dlblumberg)

Nicole Anderson — Nicole Anderson is a writer and editor based in New York City. She is currently the editor-in-chief of Barnard College’s alumnae magazine. Previously, she was the executive editor at Modern Magazine, covering design, architecture, and decorative arts. She’s also held positions at The Architect’s Newspaper, The Magazine Antiques, and Architectural Record’s GreenSource. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times, Metropolis, Architectural Digest, among other publications. She received her B.A. in American Civilization at Brown University, and a masters from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. A born and raised New Yorker, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband, toddler son, and energetic Australian shepherd mutt.

Elizabeth Randolph — Elizabeth Randolph is Editor-in-Chief of VQ, the Vassar College magazine. She also serves as Associate Vice President of Editorial and Publications, a role in which she manages news stories for the website and a team of graphic designers that produces more than 400 print and electronic products per year. This is her 16th year at Vassar. She previously served as Senior Communications Manager at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where she edited Prattfolio magazine for six years. She earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia’s Grady School of Journalism and later obtained a master’s degree at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. When she’s not developing stories and overseeing print projects, she enjoys hearing live music and singing at local open mics. She lives in Poughkeepsie, NY.

Jonathan Vatner — Jonathan Vatner is the managing editor of Hue, the magazine of the Fashion Institute of Technology. A journalist since 2002, he has been an editor of O at Home and Meetings & Conventions and has written for The New York Times; O, The Oprah Magazine; and many other publications. His novels are The Bridesmaids Union (St. Martin’s Press, 2022) and Carnegie Hill (Thomas Dunne Books, 2019), and he teaches fiction writing at New York University and the Hudson Valley Writers Center.

True Crime Reporting

Whether it’s long-form narrative or a Netflix series, the public is continually fascinated with true-crime reporting, a beat that’s just at home in a national outlet as it is a hyper-local publication. Whether you’re working on a single story or want to make this a reporting specialty, learn what you need to excel in true-crime reporting, including cultivating sources, researching records and working with law enforcement.

Speakers:

Michelle Rafter (moderator) — Michelle Rafter is an award-winning business ghostwriter, editor, and editorial project manager. She’s ghosted two books on leadership and management and contributed to four others, and regularly helps top executives distill their knowledge and experience into practical insights. Rafter manages ASJA publications, is on the 2025 conference planning team, ran the 2023 virtual conference, and represents ASJA on the steering committee for the annual Andy Awards for excellence in ghostwriting collaboration.

T.J. English — Thomas Joseph “T.J.” English is a veteran journalist and author who has published ten non-fiction books. Most of his books are on subjects related to crime and criminal justice, though his journalism has covered many other topics as well. Four of his books have been New York Times best-sellers, and four have been nominated for Edgar Awards in the category of Best Fact Crime.

 

Conference wrap-up