Join the Society of Professional Journalists Region 2 at Elon University in North Carolina March 30-31 for the spring regional conference.
The conference, hosted by Elon University, will include professionals from all journalism fields, experts from academia, panels for professional attendees and an ethics challenge. Students will be able to submit resumes, portfolios, newspapers and reels for critiques from expert judges. And the Mark of Excellence awards will be announced while attendees enjoy some North Carolina barbecue (or vegetarian options).
Here is an overview of the tentative conference schedule:
March 30 — 6-8 p.m. Reception (light appetizers included)
March 31 — 8:30-9:15 a.m. Registration and breakfast; 9:30-10:45 a.m. Welcome and opening panel on religion and politics; 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Break-out sessions; 12:15–2 p.m. Lunch keynote presentation and Mark of Excellence Awards ceremony; 2:15-3:15 p.m. Break-out sessions; and 3:30-4:30 p.m. Ethics challenge with various panelists.
Topics for the first round of break-out sessions are “Local News,” with Madison Taylor, Burlington Times-News; “Convergence in the Print World,” with Ashley Barnas, Delaware News-Journal; and “Arrests, Obstacles and Limitations: What Can Journalists Do About These Roadblocks?” with panelists from the Charlotte SPJ Pro chapter.
The afternoon sessions will include a photojournalism panel discussion with Randy Piland, who has been a photojournalist for nearly 30 years, and other speakers; panel on “Life After Journalism”; “Editorial Writing” with Betsy O’Donovan, The Herald-Sun; and “New Media Discussion” with Paul Jones of the UNC-Chapel Hill.
The deadline to register is March 29: $40 for students; $75 for pros – plus a small fee to register. Go to http://spjreg2.eventbrite.com. SPJ Region 2 Director Brian Eckert is looking into a group train rate.
In a Feb. 22 email message to chapter presidents in the region, Eckert said, “The Region 2 office is negotiating with Amtrak for either a chartered rail car or group fares on the Carolinian train, which departs Washington’s Union Station on Friday, March 30, at 10:55 a.m. (arrives Burlington, N.C., 6:01 p.m.) and returns from Burlington on Sunday, April 1, at 9:01 a.m. (arrives Washington 4:37 p.m.).
“Conference goers would be able to board anywhere along the route, including Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Richmond and beyond. The current standard roundtrip fare from D.C. is only $100, only $70 from Richmond, and we hope to receive an even lower group fare. If you are interested in joining a group traveling by train, please email me as soon as possible (beckert@richmond.edu).”
To help conference attendees save on travel costs, Eckert also is coordinating carpooling and hotel room-sharing. If you want to travel by car with fellow members from your area and split the costs, or if you’d like to share a hotel room, please email him with your name, gender and, if applicable, your departure city.
“And since March is SPJ Membership Month, nonmembers are welcome and encouraged to attend at the SPJ member rate. Bring a colleague!” added Eckert.
Elon University School of Communications is located at 129 N. Williamson Ave. Parking is available in the church parking lot at the intersection of Williamson and College Avenues.