The Virginia Pro Chapter of Society of Professional Journalists is hosting the Region 2 Conference in Norfolk, Va., from Friday, April 19, through Saturday, April 20.
The conference will take place at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott. Early-bird ticket prices start at $50 for student members and $70 for pro-chapter members and can be bought through Everbrite, http://2013spjregion2.eventbrite.com/#
Norfolk is about a four-hour drive from the District, located on the Elizabeth River, near the southern most point of the Chesapeake Bay. Norfolk International Airport is about seven and a half miles northeast of the Marriott. The Amtrak station is about a mile from the hotel.
Friday guests can expect to start the night with free hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar to get settled into the city at Trilogy Bistro — http://www.trilogynorfolk.com/ — located about a block away from the hotel.
The conference moves into full gear Saturday morning with social media and data journalism panel with local Virginia journalists.
Another feature of the Saturday agenda is the Mark of Excellence Award Luncheon, where student journalists will be honored for the work they entered. Regional first-place winners will be in the running for the national competition, with winners of that contest announced later in the spring.
The Region 2 conference keynote speaker has yet to be determined for the luncheon, according to the website.
Other events and breakout sessions include “How I nabbed my first job” presented by SPJ Generation J; “Covering College: Watchdogs on Campus” with guests from the Student Press Law Center and The Cavalier Daily student newspaper; and “The Military after Afghanistan” led by The Virginian-Pilot’s military editor, Kate Wiltrout. 
Workshops later in the afternoon will focus on YouTube video editing, better understanding of WordPress and a census data workshop led by a member of the U.S. Census. More workshops will be announced, according to the Virginia Pro Chapter’s website.
A silent auction will also take place with proceeds going to the SDX Educational Foundation fund, the tax-exempt organization that helps support educational programs within SPJ.
For more information, contact the conference co-chairs Pat Kane and Robyn Sidersky at 804-986-6804 or at virginiaprospj@gmail.com.