CARR Training Kicks Off BlogNashville Weekend

UPDATE 5/5/05: The big day is upon us as the first event of BlogNashville, CARR Training, will begin this morning at 9 AM at the Freedom Forum. For those driving to the Freedom Forum, parking is on the TOP deck of the parking garage directly across the street from the Freedom Forum/ First Amendment Center offices. Access is via the ramp from the adjacent uncovered surface lot (if you are standing on the road facing the deck, the ramp is from the parking lot to your right; ground floor parking under the deck is for employees only)

The MBA is excited to offer the first-ever journalism training program tailored specifically for bloggers. [more]

Please note this registration is IN ADDITION to BlogNashville registration. CARR participants who wish to attend other BlogNashville events must ALSO REGISTER for BlogNashville.

Under the auspices of the MBA, the two organizations will sponsor training for 15 bloggers to attend a two-day CARR training "boot camp" at the Freedom Forum's First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. CARR stands for "Computer-Aided Research and Reporting" and is designed to give journalists, and now "citizen journalists", tools to cut through the PR cant and spin to get to the real underlying news on public policy issues, using publicly available databases and statistical research techniques the academic world has used for decades.

Registration is now open for Thursday May 5 and Friday May 6. Please complete the enrollment form (check the box for "May 5-6 Media Bloggers Association Only")

This two-day investigative journalism "boot camp" is offered in partnership with The Heritage Foundation's Center for Media and Public Policy and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. The agenda is here. The training is provided at no cost and includes materials, lunch both days and access to computer equipment.

Registration is open to all bloggers but priority will be given to MBA members and member applicants. If you would like to join the MBA please visit our web site.

UPDATE on 4/8 - 3 spots have been taken, 12 left.

UPDATE on 4/12 - 3 more spots have been taken, 9 left.

UPDATE on 4/14 - 6 more spots have been taken, 3 left. At this point all MBA members have had a chance to sign up so we are now actively encouraging non-members to sign up to fill the final few slots.

UPDATE on 4/25: CARR training will take place in the Freedom Forum's Diversity Institute "newsroom" which has desks with online Dell PCs, participants will be provided with all materials needed.

UPDATE on 5/1 - 14 slots taken, one left.

UPDATE on 5/2 - Sessions begin at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday and Friday and participants are asked to please be on time. For lunch or snack breaks, we will use the student lounge across the hall. The Freedom Forum will be filling the fridge with sodas, and providing coffee and water. We will bring lunch from off site (there is a Subway sandwich shop a couple blocks away so we will probably just order from there).

MBA CARR Boot Camp

Location: Freedom Forum's Diversity Institute Newsroom
John Seigenthaler Center at Vanderbilt University
1207 18th Avenue South
Nashville, TN
615-727-1600