Kalish Workshop is near

For 20 years, The Kalish has developed a reputation for being unique, intense, stimulating and fun.

Michael P. King, a photojournalist at the Green Bay Press-Gazette and NPPA board member, said, “I came to Kalish because I thought it was important to invest in myself at a time when the industry wasn’t investing so much in me. I always knew leadership was within me.  Kalish helped bring that out. I think the curriculum here is unique,” King said. “So many workshops focus on the tools, the cameras, the editing – this is more about how to use your brain and how to use your communications skills to effect change. It was about forging relationships and really working on the communication skills and conversation.  I’ve never been to a seminar or workshop or any type of educational opportunity where I felt that I’ve had this much one-on-one time with the faculty. It’s not all work and no play. You need to celebrate your successes and I think the faculty has really emphasized that. To put in 120, 130, 140 percent in the classroom, at work, and then go out and enjoy life. It has a reputation for changing people … Shaping their character and their leadership skills.”

“When we did the story-boarding exercise it just opened a whole new realm of possibilities for me,” said Jennifer Simonson, picture editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune. “You come into this room with 30 other people and they all have different backgrounds, different experiences … Our in-class conversations were one of the high points for me – to hear how other people handled problems in their newsroom that I had as well. This week has been tremendously inspirational.”

The Kalish attracts a faculty of Emmy and Pulitzer Prize winning visual editors including Brian Storm, Geri Migielicz, Sue Morrow, Kenny Irby, Mark Edelson and other industry experts.  The Kalish curriculum is designed to be relevant across the broad spectrum of visual editing. Team based exercises, created from real-life situations, make up the bulk of the curriculum. The team’s work is presented to the entire group, critiqued by the faculty then defended by the team. Group discussions follow. Acquiring the skills to make informed decisions and articulate them to staff, peers and supervisors, are emphasized throughout the workshop.