WIIT
Professional Development Event: Getting Published
On January 19, the WIIT Professional Development speaker series
held the panel discussion "Getting Published". This panel addressed
effective ways to get published or to become one of the "experts"
quoted in the media. Recognizing that WIIT members include professionals at
varying stages of their career, the panelists discussed how the timing, impetus
and effectiveness of different activities related to getting published might
be affected by the stage of one's career.
Dr. Evelyn Farkas, a professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services committee, began the discussion. She explained the steps that she took to get her dissertation published into a book, which originally sold in the academic press and eventually sold through outlets, such as Amason.com. Dr. Farkas also highlighted her strategy for writing op-ed pieces as well as the challenges of "pitching" them. Her op-eds were eventually published in major newspapers, such as the Washington Post.
Mr. Harold Opinsky, an executive vice president of the public affairs firm Powell Tate|Weber Shandwick, shared some thoughts on effective ways to get one's name in the media. In addition to publications, he also touched upon how to become an "expert" on a certain issue in order to garner press.
Ms. Camelia Mazard
described how co-authoring white papers, journal articles, or blogs can increase
visibility and recognition. She also talked about some common pitfalls to
avoid.
Audience members represented the spectrum of trade professionals, and several
had published various pieces and shared their experiences. The participants
discussed whether it was easier to publish in smaller, regional papers rather
than major newspapers and how to strategically select those outlets. Other
questions related to the different types of publishing houses and the best
ways to approach a potential co-author to propose an idea for a piece to be
published.