2024 Spring Conference Recap: Lessons from our speakers
The 2024 VPC Spring Conference was held on Saturday, April 20, at the Library of Virginia in downtown Richmond. In addition to recognizing the winners in the annual VPC communications contest, we honored this year’s Newsmaker of the Year, Sandra G. Treadway, who recently retired after an impressive career as the Librarian of Virginia.
More than 30 attendees gathered to hear our speakers discuss the power of effective communications. Here’s a brief a recap of their talks.
“I’m on my way…”
Corinne Geller, public relations director for the Virginia State Police for the past 23 years and former broadcast journalist, shared her vast experiences and lessons in crisis communications in the field.
From the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting to the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Geller stressed that it’s important to trust your gut when handling these situations under pressure. It’s imperative to check and double check all the details before announcing information publicly.
She noted the critical nature of delivering delicate news in a timely and respectful manner, as the audience’s perception is their reality. She also advised to share shortcomings in your work, offering lessons to others facing similar situations.
– Cora L. Perkins
Truth telling
A trailblazer in the news industry, Bonnie Newman Davis, retiring managing editor of the Richmond Free Press, chronicled her journey to capture inspirational stories of 24 Black journalists – from Charlotta Bass to Barbara Ciara – in a new book, “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960.”
Following the Kerner Commission Report in 1967, newspapers and news outlets began to employ more Black editors and writers to offer insight on African American life and perspectives.
Common threads among the women profiled, Davis said, showed a love for the written word, passion, empathy and a desire to shed light on injustice.
– Tracy E. Perkins
2024 Newsmaker
VPC honored Sandra G. Treadway, who retired this year after an impressive 45-year career working at the Library of Virginia, as the 2024 Newsmaker of the Year.
“Recognition from this group means so much to me,” she told members, likening the tributes of her work in library archives to journalists crafting stories of Virginians. “You’re committed to the facts, researching everything before you put it out there. You understand that information shouldn’t be hoarded but shared.”
As Librarian of Virginia since 2007, Treadway oversaw the most comprehensive collection of materials on Virginia’s 400 years of government, history and culture. She lauded the collaborative work of the Dictionary of Virginia Biography project, advancement in digitization of library records and collections, the Making History volunteer transcription program and providing public access to stories of diverse audiences such as in Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative.
– Tracy E. Perkins
