Join us for our October Luncheon in Blacksburg as panelists from local media discuss how media is changing and what that means for public relations. Read more about the panelists below:
Brent Bonfleur, WDBJ-7: Brent BonFleur is the news director at Your Hometown Station WDBJ7 where he oversees a newsroom that produces nearly 60 hours of local content each week. Before coming to Roanoke, Brent was news director at WDBJ7's sister station in Clarksburg, West Virginia, and began his career at the ABC News affiliate in Lincoln, Nebraska. Brent, his wife, and their five dogs have called the Roanoke Valley home for the last two years.
Gene Marrano, WFIR News Talk Radio: Gene Marrano is a radio, print, and (former) cable TV journalist in the Roanoke Valley, with a background in commercial and public radio spanning more than 25 years, and previously served as editor for three weekly newspapers in the area. He anchors newscasts. prepares news stories and produces feature segments. Now on his second tour with WFIR News Talk Radio, Gene has earned awards for local news coverage, including multiple selections from Associated Press of the Virginias, the Virginia Association of Broadcasters and the Virginia School Boards Association’s “Media Honor Roll.”
Jeff Schwaner, Cardinal News: Jeff joined Cardinal News as executive editor in September of 2024. Before that he was the storytelling coach and editor with Gannett’s Virginia papers for more than nine years. Jeff and the reporters he’s coached have won dozens of first place awards from the Virginia Press Association for in-depth and investigative reporting, data reporting and feature writing.
Jeff won the 2017 Freedom of Information Award from the Virginia Coalition for Open Government for an investigative story about Virginia pharmacies. The 2022 Gannett project Perilous Course, in which he coached 18 reporters, was honored by the Society of Environmental Journalists.
Jeff grew up in Rhode Island. He graduated from Cornell University. After traveling up and down the East Coast, he and his wife, Mary, settled in Virginia, where they’ve raised their children and lived for the last 20 years.
Michaela Scott, Virginia Tech Collegiate Times: Michaela Scott is a senior at Virginia Tech majoring in Multimedia Journalism with a minor in Professional Sales. As Editor-in-Chief of the Collegiate Times and a former intern with ABC7's Good Morning Washington show, GovCIO Media & Research, and Boulevard Media, she has led digital content strategies that adapt to today’s evolving media landscape. She recently accepted a post-graduation role with Cvent, where she will bridge storytelling and strategy in the world of tech sales.
Ticket info is below! Register today and bring a friend!
Also check out other Workshops in Blacksburg, Nonprofit events in Blacksburg.
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