HALIFAX, April 8 /CNW/ - The Atlantic Journalism Awards (AJAs), in conjunction with CNW Group, has announced a series of professional development workshops for journalists and others to be held during the day on Saturday, May 8, 2010 as part of the AJAs annual celebration of journalistic excellence. The workshops will be held at the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Hotel. Details of registration for the workshops can be found at http://www.newswire.ca/en/extras/custom/aja-2010/ or go to www.AJAs.ca and click on WORKSHOPS.

The 9 am morning workshops include; How to Use Critical Thinking to Tell Meaningful Stories, presented by Sandra Porteous, Manager Content Training for CBC News.

The second 9 am workshop is a panel discussion on Social Media -The Art of Engagement, featuring Savior Joseph, Director of Digital Marketing of Colour, Giles Crouch, Managing Director of MediaBadger, and Managing Director of Communications Nova Scotia, Rick Alexander.

The 11 am session, Defending Against Libel and Contempt, is presented by Dean Jobb, Associate Professor of University of King's College.

The second 11 am session, Advanced Online Research -Top Ten Tools is presented by Fred Valance-Jones, Assistant Professor of Journalism at the University of King's College.

Tickets for the Atlantic Journalism Awards show and gala dinner are available online at www.AJAs.ca, click on TICKETS or by calling (902) 425-2727. For daily updates, follow the AJAs on Twitter and join its Facebook group. Tweeting about the workshops? Use hashtag #AJAs.