The Washington D.C. chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists invites you to attend “The Last Word” on Nov. 19. The program will feature a trio of the top obituary writers who tell the stories of the rich and the famous, the poor and forgotten, and the unusual and the unique who have passed on.
The chapter program will be held Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., at The Washington Post, 1150 Fifteenth St. N.W.
Our speakers will include:
— Adam Bernstein, The Washington Post
— Adam Clymer, The New York Times
— Larry Arnold, Bloomberg News
The ultimate in the journalistic 5Ws, obits can combine a bit of humor along with compelling writing, an eye for detail, a sense of perspective and a chance to honor someone’s passing. Obituaries are not an afterthought at the back of the paper, but a record of people and their achievements, or misdeeds or mistakes.
The evening will include a door prize: a bottle of champagne, so the winner can toast the memories of those who have gone before us. Reservations required to provide an accurate count for light refreshments. Admission is $6 for SPJ members and $8 for non-members. Students with a college ID are free. BUT all attendees MUST RSVP since we need your names on the list for security desk at The Washington Post..
For reservations, please go to EventBrite listing for this program — http://bit.ly/1qpdWyt
Questions? Please contact chapter Vice President Kathy Burns: burnskathy@earthlink.net; 703-824-1799.
AND COMING UP:
— Holiday Party in December (watch for announcements on location, date and time)
— January program on publishing: “Amazon Versus the Others.”
— February program on VOA: “Telling the U.S. Story Overseas”
— March program: National Freedom of Information Forum at the National Press Club
— March 27-28—Region 2 Conference, hosted by the University of Maryland’s SPJ Chapter
For details/updates on all upcoming activities, check the chapter’s website at www.spj.org.