What if this is not the last career move you’ll ever make? It’s not all that easy to be optimistic about today’s Bureau of Labor  announcement that 200 metropolitan areas have reported over-the-year increases in non-farm payroll employment as of December 2010, with only 156 reporting decreases. Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale have shown an increase in +28,800 jobs.

Job searching in a world of blogs and social networks has been a topic I get asked about a lot, considering the fact that resumes are not exactly passe. Or are they?

So this networking event, hosted by the Southwest Job Network (SJN) on how prepare for long-term career management, is very relevant.

• The Speaker: Jason Alba, author of  “I’m on LinkedIn – Now What?”
• When:  Wednesday 9th February, 2011
• Where: Gateway Community College. 108 N. 40 Street, Phoenix, AZ 85034
• Cost: Free.  SJN exists on donations; the suggested amount is $5 (tax deductible)
• Registration and more details: at this link

Phoenix Startup Digest is here to solve that very problem, dubbing itself the “insider’s guide to the startup world.”

Curated by Francine Hardaway, the Phoenix Startup Digest is a curated email detailing new companies, events and the people behind them. For those who don’t hang out in the tech circles, it’s a fantastic resource to keep up to date with what’s going on, and an even better opportunity to pitch stories and gain new clients.

The sign up process allows you to choose different US cities, international cities, universities, and tech verticals to receive information about, so if you’re interested in China, Berkeley and Phoenix, personalizing your newsletter is a few clicks away.

What makes Startup Digest different from most newsletters of its type is the cultivation aspect, as area leaders and experts are in charge of each bit of info that goes out. Blanket releases submitted by form won’t make it onto a list like this, as local rep Francine makes sure of that.

Jobs by location are also an option, so PR pros looking to be information sources for their clients can help keep up to date with just about any openings around the US.

Oh, and it’s free.

The Watch Tree is also looking for great community columnists to offer a variety of perspectives on the community–political, environmental, economic, etc. If you represent someone who would be a fit, please email the information to the publisher, Elizabeth Smith.

TheWatchTree.com is an “online newspaper as social network” providing Coverage of the Community, for the Community and from the Community of Scottsdale at the hyperlocal level.

An application must be submitted for consideration. Applications can be obtained by visiting the Ad 2 Phoenix website or by submitting a request to ad2phoenix@yahoo.com. Applications are due by August 31, 2009.

For more information contact Candie Guay, Ad 2 Public Service Chair, at cjguay@gmail.com.

Votes can be cast at Experience AZ’s Web site, where you can also find a list of this year’s winners.

Name: David Mills

1. What are your main daily duties?
Shoot, edit, write stories for web content and airing on live morning show.

2. What kinds of visual stories are you looking for?
Mostly evergreen stories that aren’t dated. Fun events or activities, new stores, restaurants, unique and interesting shops and hobbies.

3. What’s the best way to approach you with a pitch?
By email. I can make contact and schedule intervies and shoots.

4. What recommendations do you have for PR professionals if they secure a shoot?
Call me, and we can put it on my schedule.

5. What’s the strangest/weirdest pitch situation you ever had on a shoot?
Hopefully, it’s something I get from you guys! I like weird!

Trade Talk - Mike Sunnucks, msunnucks@bizjournals.com or 602-308-6507.

2.0 Minutes With… – Kat Bryant, katbryant@bizjournals.com or 602-308-6509.
2.0 Minutes With… is about the strategies and the way an entrepreneur does business. This person should have been in business for several years and be able to talk about what has worked for their business. This is a Q&A format and will be done mostly via email. The paper will need a color photo of the person from the waist up at 300 dpi.

Startup- Lynn Ducey, lducey@bizjournals.com or 602-308-6517.
Startup is about a fairly new entrepreneurial business and how it was started. They need a color photo of the person or item being featured at 300 dpi.

Lessons Learned - Angela Gonzales, agonzales@bizjournals.com or 602-308-6521.
Quotes from business people about lessons learned in the business. Need a color headshot at 300 dpi.

Close-Up - Lisa Poulin, lpoulin@bizjournals.com or 602-308-6522.
Close-Up is mostly about an entrepreneur that has been in business for several years and a little about how the business began. This is a small article and will be done with a phone interview. The paper will need a color photo of the person from the waist up at 300 dpi.

If you have any questions about these sections contact Lisa Poulin.

Name:     Michelle Glicksman     
Title:       Editor-in-Chief   
Outlet:    Scottsdale Health
Phone:    480.353.6729
Email:     michelle@richmanmediagroup.com
 
1. What are your main daily duties?
Developing all content, overseeing/writing it, concepting and directing photo shoots, editing, marketing/sponsorships, etc.

2. What kinds of stories are you looking for?
Fitness, nutrition, wellness, athletes, relationships, stress-busters, news about Scottsdale. Things with a Scottsdale or Paradise Valley slant get first priority.

3. What’s the best way to approach you with a pitch?
Email, please!

4. What recommendations do you have for PR professionals?
If you have something that truly fits and you don’t hear back, keep checking. Sometimes I’ll get a couple hundred emails a day and something just got lost in the shuffle!

5. What’s the strangest/weirdest pitch you’ve ever received?
Hmmm..thankfully I really haven’t had any of these!