Submit your work in the Sigma Delta Chi Awards by Feb. 14! These awards recognize the best in professional journalism in categories covering print/online, audio, television and more.
The contest is open to any work published or broadcast by a U.S. or international media outlet. Freelance work is also eligible. Entries must have been published or broadcast during 2021.
For the first time this year, we are excited to announce the addition of Spanish-language awards in seven categories. There are also new categories in environmental/climate reporting, cultural criticism, arts/fashion journalism, travel journalism and food/restaurant journalism.
Plus, SPJ members receive 40% off the cost of entries.
SPJ/LA to explore the give-and-take between journalists and PIOs
Government agencies bring on public information officers to make sure critical information reaches the public. But for those PIOs, can the obligation to serve their agency run counter to their responsibility to the public?
SPJ/LA will explore those and other issues on Thursday during the virtual panel “Just Doing My Job: Protecting the Agency vs. Serving the Public.”
The panel, which begins at 7 p.m.(PT), will feature journalists and public affairs experts from across the region.
The event will be moderated by Ben Davis, journalism professor at Cal State, Northridge. Appearing with him are:
- Lisa Derderian, Public Information Officer, City of Pasadena
- Susan Hirasuna, Anchor/Reporter, FOX 11
- Claudia Peschiutta, Daily News Editor, KPCC-FM
- Kerri Webb, Director of Public Information and Government Relations, El Camino College
For more information, contact Nathan Solis at njsolis@gmail.com.
To RSVP for the event, please click here by 4:00pm (PT) on Thursday, March 3.
Register HERE for this online session.
America’s public schools are coming under unusually strong attention from the general public — scrutiny communities typically rely on journalists to provide.
The issues are as disparate as masking mandates and COVID-19 testing; decisions around the spending of federal pandemic relief funds; the pros and cons of virtual vs. in-person learning; gun threats; and a rising trend of lawmakers and parents’ demanding that schoolchildren not be taught certain subjects such as human sexuality and the history of racism.
Journalists face multiple barriers, many government- or district-imposed, to covering these complex topics. Practices like filtering all interviews through public information officers seriously impairs journalists’ ability to cover these weighty subjects, while prohibiting teachers, school staff and other key education officials from sharing their stories. Add in policies that limit access to key education-related data-sets, and answering the public’s questions in a timely, thoughtful, and detailed manner becomes exceedingly difficult.
In honor of Sunshine Week, expert panelists will explore the impact of these government restrictions on press coverage of public schools and how to work around them. Produced by the Society of Professional Journalists and the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the discussion will offer strategies and tools to overcome these barriers.
Panelists include:
– Eva-Marie Ayala, Education Lab editor for The Dallas Morning News
– Frank LoMonte, professor at the University of Florida and counsel at CNN
– Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, AFL-CIO
– Moderator: Delece Smith-Barrow, education editor at POLITICO
Grab your favorite drink and join the SPJ International Community for a happy hour. This will be a great time to put faces with names and to talk about the future of the International Community and its programs.
Co-chair Elle Toussi has been working on a special program that will benefit our members. This program will be available only for SPJ members. International Community members will have the first opportunity to use it.
To sign up for this Happy Hour, click HERE.
Join the Houston SPJ chapter and the Amnesty International-Bay Area (Houston) for a panel discussion on violence against journalists. They will speak about violence against journalists committed at home and abroad, the extent of the action, and what we can do about it.
Monday, June 6 at 6:15PM (CT)
Panelists include
- Elle Toussi, Co-Chair of SPJ’s International Community
- Katherine Jacobsen of the Committee to Protect Journalists
- Lisa Konczal, Amnesty International-USA.
Register HERE.
Tickets
The Summit itself is free to attend and largely virtual.
The Hollywood Creative Lab is virtual and free to attend.
Tickets are needed to watch whistlebower-related films, which are shown daily
TICKET AVAILABLE: Click HERE
Overall website
Partial Schedule
Monday July 25
9:00 Plenary: Frank Serpico, former New York City detective
10:00 Continued systemic discrimination at U.S. Department of Agriculture
11:00 Congressional year of truth for whistleblower legislation (Government Accountability Project)
12:00 The perils of public information officers (Society of Professional Journalists – DC Chapter)
1:00 Global guardianship abuse
Tuesday July 26
9:00 Government whistleblowing, scientific integrity and the environment (PEER — Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility)
10:00 The EEOC needs Rehabilitation
11:00 Working with the Office of Special Council (Government Accountability Project)
12:00 Guilty of journalism: The political case against Julian Assange (Project Censored)
1:00 Righting the wrongs of a ‘shadow government’ (Justice Integrity Project)
Wednesday July 27
9:00 Hollywood Pitch Lab (Day 1)
10:00 Screenplay contest announcement
Thursday July 28
9:00 Hollywood Pitch Lab (Day 2)
10:00 Breakout sessions
Friday July 29 – being held on Capitol Hill
9:00 Closing Plenary
10:00 Hollywood creative lab pitch contest (online)
10:00 Martha Mitchell in memoriam
11:00 Detailing the whistleblower story on film (African American Women in Cinema)
12:00 Working more effectively with Congress (Government Accountability Project)
Learn more about the candidates for national SPJ offices.
Region 1 Coordinator Chris Vaccaro is hosting a forum with national candidates on Thursday, October 20, at 8 pm ET.
Chat will be open and there will be time for questions.
Registration information HERE.
The Society of Professional Journalists, Associated Collegiate Press and College Media Association bring you MediaFest22
Grand Hyatt Washington in Washington, D.C., Oct. 27-30
MediaFest22 is a unique and inspiring journalism convention experience, bringing together professional journalists, student journalists and college media advisers from every area of journalism, from across the country, to our nation’s capital. Attendees will hear from renowned speakers; benefit from hands-on workshops, general sessions and concurrent breakout sessions; enjoy networking opportunities; soak up everything the exhibit hall has to offer; celebrate during awards presentations, banquets and receptions; unwind during tours of the city and historical sites – and so much more!
Learn about journalism and media trends, new digital tools, emerging technologies and career opportunities. But that’s just the beginning. You’ll also get to delve into topics like tools for investigative journalism and newsroom diversity, as well as covering hot button issues like immigration and healthcare. MediaFest22 will provide a place to network, gain career feedback and explore new opportunities.
MediaFest22 brings together SPJ, the most broad-based professional journalism organization in the country, with ACP and CMA, who have partnered for more than 60 years to host one of the most inspiring student and professional media events.
No matter where you are in your career – an undergrad student journalist, a mid-career journalist or a retiree, MediaFest22 will create the environment for one-on-one connections, inspirational messages from keynote speakers and tools and strategies to take back to your newsroom or classroom.
Keep checking back for more details as events and sessions are added and follow #MediaFest22 on social media for all the latest information. We can’t wait to see you in D.C. this October!
The national SPJ is looking to host a terrific convention in Las Vegas, Sept. 28-30, 2023.
Interesting keynotes, networking, special events and breakout sessions will fill our time together.
That’s where you come in. We’re looking for presenters who can design and deliver engaging and interesting educational breakout sessions lasting 60, 90 or 120 minutes.
Do you know of colleagues who would be fantastic session leaders? Do you know topic and industry experts? Encourage them to submit a proposal.
Please contribute original content, compelling topics, and interesting teaching activities/tools. We want and need cultural, professional, regional, generational (and other) diversity in session leaders, presenters and panelists with topic expertise.
Interactive program design is important, and sessions should be well-planned with a strong content flow in mind. This will help you plan your session as well as give our selection committee a sense of your session goals. A panel could work, but the bar for acceptance of those will be much higher.
Fill out the SPJ Convention Call for Programs 2023 Online Form before the March 10, 2023 deadline
Previously, Mr. Baquet had been National editor of The New York Times since July 1995, after having served as deputy Metro editor since May 1995. Mr. Baquet joined The Times in April 1990 as a Metro reporter.
While at the Chicago Tribune, Mr. Baquet served as associate Metro editor for investigations and was chief investigative reporter, covering corruption in politics and the garbage-hauling industry.