Table of Contents:
Media Matters: Register | What You’ll Learn | Meet the Media | FAQs
Peritus currently offers two signature events each year: Session Rewind, a breakdown of the latest legislative session and its real-world impact, and Media Matters, an interactive workshop focused on strengthening your media skills and confidence.
To learn more about each event, including details and how to attend, simply click on the event name in the table of contents above.
Media Matters
Media Matters is an interactive, hands-on workshop designed to sharpen your on-camera presence, strengthen your media relationships and build your confidence when working with journalists. Through expert-led sessions, real-time practice and candid conversations with a panel of seasoned reporters, you’ll gain proven strategies for managing interviews, crafting compelling pitches and amplifying your media coverage. Whether you’re new to media relations or ready to refine your approach, you’ll walk away with practical takeaways you can immediately put into action.
Friday, October 16, 2026 | 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. | Innovation Depot
1500 First Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203
From headlines on newsprint to updates on a smartphone screen, media has evolved dramatically over the years. However, its power and impact to shape stories, influence opinions and connect people remains as strong as ever. No matter your career path, understanding how to work effectively and build authentic relationships with the media is an essential skill for every communicator.
Published By Peritus
What You’ll Gain
Participate in on-camera media training in a small group setting with tailored feedback
Network with communications peers and local journalists to build meaningful connections
Learn media relations best practices from one of Birmingham’s premier freelance writers
Experience an unfiltered media lunch panel with seasoned journalists, sharing insider insights on shrinking newsrooms, AI in storytelling and what it takes to break through today’s media noise
Take home a full set of workshop materials to reference and teach back to your team
Meet the Media
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Christiana Roussel is a Birmingham-based podcaster, editor and award-winning food + travel + lifestyle writer. Her writing work has appeared nationally in Garden & Gun, Covey Rise, Good Grit, Shooting Sportsman, The Local Palate, Veranda, Flower Magazine as well as the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Birmingham Home & Garden and several other regional publications. She serves as editor of THOM Magazine (Thomasville, GA) and is the host of “AFIELD with Christiana Roussel” produced by SoulGrown Alabama.
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Birmingham native Russell Jones is a University of Alabama broadcasting graduate and weekday reporter for Good Day Alabama, as well as an anchor for WBRC’s weekend morning newscasts. Before joining WBRC, he worked as a morning reporter and fill-in anchor at KOCO 5 News in Oklahoma City, following his start in television at WMBB in Panama City, Florida, where he served as a reporter, weekend anchor and producer. Russell enjoys telling stories that connect with viewers and loves all sports, especially college football. He met his wife while performing Shakespeare in Homewood Park, and they have a son who is now in college.
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Javacia Harris Bowser is the executive editor of The Birmingham Times and the founder of See Jane Write, a website and community for women who write. She’s the author of the award-winning essay collection Find Your Way Back: How to Write Your Way Through Anything and is a recipient of the 2022 Alabama State Council on the Arts Fellowship. She has written for several media outlets, including ELLE magazine, Good Housekeeping, Good Grit, and Shondaland.com.
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Trisha Powell Crain has spent more than two decades reporting on education in Alabama, covering policy, funding, legislation and student outcomes. She produces in-depth stories for Alabama Daily News and Alabama Public Television, making complex education issues accessible and engaging while sparking conversations around equity, access and accountability. A Hoover native, Crain holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and enjoys gardening, walking her dogs and finding creative ways to visualize data.
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Pat Byington is a founding member of Bham Now and has helped grow the outlet into a trusted source for news and community storytelling over the past decade. His background also includes a 35-year career dedicated to environmental protection and conservation efforts across Alabama.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We offer competitive pricing with discounted early bird and nonprofit/government/education rates:
Ticket Type Audience Price_______
Nonprofit Rate: Nonprofit, Gov, Education $175
General Admission: Corporate $250
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Access to all sessions and breakout groups
Breakfast, coffee and lunch with a media panel and mixer
Networking opportunities with peers and journalists
On-camera training session with tailored feedback and access to your practice clips
A full set of workshop materials to take home, reference and teach back to your team
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This workshop is designed for early-to-mid-career communications professionals seeking to elevate their media skills, but it’s also valuable for business leaders, nonprofit executives and anyone who serves as a spokesperson or works closely with the media.
Session Rewind
Session Rewind is a lively, in-person panel discussion unpacking the Alabama Legislative Session with experts from across sectors and across the state. This event is designed to be engaging and accessible for attendees of all backgrounds.
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