Social Media and Branding Expert Sasha Strauss to Speak at SPJ/LA's 35th Annual Distinguished Journalists Awards Dinner

 Annual SPJ LA's Dinner Awards Event features
Social Media and Branding Guru

Sasha Strauss, a social media and branding expert, will be the keynote speaker at the 35th annual awards banquet on April 7, presented by the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He will be speaking on the profound impact social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, are having on the news business today.

Strauss, managing director at Innovation Protocol, a brand strategy consulting firm, has presented forums throughout East Asia, Europe and North America. He has been interviewed by National Public Radio, KNX/CBS Radio and The Wall Street Journal about branding everything from presidential candidates to innovate start-ups and Fortune 500s. Strauss is also an adjunct professor at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication, where he teaches graduate brand strategy.

Five local journalists will be honored at the event, which will be held at the Omni Hotel in Los Angeles. The Distinguished Journalist honorees are Ralph Vartabedian, national correspondent at the Los Angeles Times; Dennis Anderson, editor, Antelope Valley Press; Conan Nolan, political reporter for NBC4 Los Angeles and host of “News Conference,” and Larry Mantle, host of “Larry Mantle’s AirTalk” on 89.3 KPCC, Southern California Public Radio. Robert Scheer, columnist and editor-in-chief of the current events website, Truthdig.com, is the recipient of the chapter’s Distinguished Work in New Media Award.

Tickets are $80 for members, $90 for non-members; tables of 10 are $800. To make a reservation, contact Roberta Wax at (818) 718-8184 or spjbanquet@gmail.com. The reservation deadline is April 1.

Denise Dador, health specialist at ABC7 Eyewitness News, will be the master of ceremonies at the event.

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to promoting high standards of ethical behavior and encouraging the free practice of journalism. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

Proceeds from the dinner and silent auction help fund L.A. Chapter activities, including scholarships.

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