SPJ.org Weekend Edition

Read the latest SPJ Leads: Paid internships with SPJ

Catch up with the latest SPJ Blog Entries:
– You asked for it! A new way to let Society of Professional Journalists membership work for your newsroom
– Utah city makes ‘confidential’ settlement in Taser death suit
– In social media, patience is spelled with five W’s
– What the #?$?*& is with all the cursing?
– Make a resolution to do better on social media

Keep up with the latest SPJ News:
– SPJ joins amicus brief opposing Va. FOIA residency restrictions
– ‘Studio SPJ’ to feature ‘Reportero’ director Bernardo Ruiz, among others, in first shows of 2013
– SPJ Partners with WestPoint Financial Group to Offer Insurance Benefit Programs to Members
– ‘Studio SPJ' to tackle the news generation gap
– SPJ joins amicus brief supporting court independence

Mark your calendar for some upcoming events and deadlines:
– Thu, Jan 24, 2013: Postmark Deadline: Pulliam/Kilgore Freedom of Information Internships [Internships] [Students]
– Thu, Jan 24, 2013: Mark of Excellence Awards Submission Deadline [SPJ Awards]
– Wed, Feb 06, 2013: SPJ Chapter Grants Application February Deadline [Grants] [Leaders]

The Mark of Excellence Awards honors the best in collegiate journalism. Judged at the regional and national level, the annual competition offers categories in newspapers, magazines, photography, radio, television and online journalism.

For more information and to find out how you can submit your work for consideration, follow this link. Nominations are due by January 24, so don't wait until it's too late!

— General information, rules and eligibility
— Categories
— Enter online

Winners and finalists galleries: 2011 | 2010

Attention newsroom managers and employees: SPJ is happy to announce the newest membership option — Newsroom Memberships!

A Newsroom Membership is the best way to show a commitment to producing high-quality, ethical journalism. It shows you support the missions of SPJ and gives your staff the opportunity to become part of the nation's largest and most broad-based journalism association.

Whether you're a student media group, a community paper or a digital newsroom, a Newsroom Membership gives you access to SPJ's amazing training, networking and resources. And for chapters, this membership option can be a great tool for recruiting journalists at local news organizations!

SPJ offers three levels of Newsroom Memberships — Bronze, Silver and Gold — and you can learn more about what each package has to offer by visiting the Newsroom Membership information on SPJ's website.

The Society of Professional Journalists’ Rainbow Sourcebook makes it easy to broaden sourcing beyond the narrow demographic band usually found in the news. Search this database by common news topics to find qualified experts contributed by fellow journalists.

To search, check one or more of the topic boxes, then click ‘search.’ You also can search by other criteria, such as languages spoken, listed below. The sources here are national experts recommended by other journalists. You can also use them to work back to local sources.

Follow this link to get started.

Rainbow Diversity Sourcebook mobile app
Want one-tap access to the Sourcebook from your mobile device? Tap here to visit Sourcebook web app and add it to your home screen for when you need it.

SPJ’s Spring Conferences are day-long professional development meetings bringing area journalists, students and journalism educators together in one place to hear from industry experts on a wealth of topics. Get available details — including dates, locations and contacts — for all 12 regions by clicking here, or use the links below to go straight to your region's conference's website (if available):

March 15, 2013: Region 3: Atlanta, Ga. | @MediAtlanta

April 5, 2013:
— Region 4: Dayton, Ohio
— Region 12: Oxford, Miss.

April 12, 2013:
— Region 1: New Brunswick, N.J. | @spjr1c
— Region 6: Bloomington, Minn. | @mwjournconf
— Region 9: Santa Fe, N.M.
— Region 11: Las Vegas, Nev.

April 19, 2013: Region 2: Norfolk, Va.

April 26, 2013: Regions 5 and 7: St. Louis, Mo.

May 3, 2013: Region 8: San Antonio, Tex.

Mark of Excellence Awards: The Mark of Excellence Awards honors the best in collegiate journalism. Judged at the regional and national level, the annual competition offers categories in newspapers, magazines, photography, radio, television and online journalism. Nominations due January 24, 2013 at midnight EST.

Sigma Delta Chi Awards: The Sigma Delta Chi Awards are among the premiere prizes in the profession and recognize achievement in all forms of journalism: print, television, radio, graphics, magazines, research, newsletters and online. Nominations due February 7, 2013 at midnight EST.

New America Award: SPJ's New America Award honors public service journalism that explores and exposes an issue of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities in the United States. Postmark deadline February 7, 2013.

National High School Essay Contest: SPJ wants to increase high school students’ knowledge and understanding of the importance of the Free Media to our lives. The top three national winners receive scholarship awards. Postmark deadline March 7, 2013.

Numerous other SPJ awards are accepting nominations at this time as well. Click here to see a complete list.

Miss a live episode? Want to see what's next? Find a complete collection of archived episodes and listings for any scheduled future episodes by following this link, or jump right into a recent episode using the listing below.

– Studio SPJ with Fiona Deans Halloran - Jan 05,2013
– Studio SPJ with Bernardo Ruiz - Jan 04,2013
– Studio SPJ with Jennifer Livingston - Jan 03,2013
– Studio SPJ with Paula Poindexter - Dec 07,2012
– Studio SPJ: Journalism, Fair Use and Copyright Law - Nov 10,2012

Stay Tuned: Scenes from Studio SPJ
Studio SPJ is a series of half-hour Internet radio programs devoted to journalists talking on topics of interest to other journalists. Guests will include authors and newsmakers. This companion blog will serve as your guide, and we will also use this space to celebrate and promote the best and most creative programs SPJ chapters are offering their members. Latest entries:

– Studio SPJ: Talking with SDX Winner Craig LeMoult
– Talking with SDX winners
– A conversation with Thomas Peele
– More ethics training needed
– The Ethics of Freelancing

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

By purchasing SPJ's merchandise through our store, you're not only getting a great product, you're also supporting the Society's missions. So browse our many products and logos, and stay tuned because we'll be updating the shop frequently.

Questions? Concerns? Let us know! Email Tara Puckey or call us at 317-927-8000, Ext. 215.

With the conclusion of another election cycle, we were reminded in 2012 of the important role journalism plays in our society. But we must also reflect on the need to continue investing in this public service.

In 2012, the Sigma Delta Chi (SDX) Foundation used tax-deductible donations from supporters and journalists like you to invest in SPJ programs and members across the country. These investments included: — Direct grants to SPJ chapters for professional training at the grassroots level
— Open-records workshops through our Access Across America tour
— A national diversity-outreach program to broaden our coalition
— Cutting-edge workplace training, including mobile newsgathering
— Awards programs that recognize and fosters excellence in journalism
— Ongoing support for the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) and the National Freedom of Information Coalition (NFOIC)

These investments are possible thanks to contributions by people who believe in high quality journalism. People like you. Make an online donation now to the SDX Foundation.

If you have questions, feel free to contact SDX Foundation President Robert Leger or Associate Executive Director Chris Vachon.

The Society of Professional Journalists has partnered with WestPoint Financial Group to provide benefits programs to SPJ members. This partnership gives members the opportunity to enroll in individual life, health, disability, long-term care, personal liability, property liability and errors & omissions insurance programs. The disability and long-term care products, offered through MassMutual, carry a 10 percent lifetime premium discount to SPJ members.

SPJ members now have “one-stop shopping” for all of their insurance and financial planning needs. While this benefits program, called SPJ Solutions, will be most attractive to SPJ’s freelance journalists, all SPJ members are eligible for the program, easing some of the uncertainty during job transitions like downsizing and lay-offs.

Find out more — including how to enroll — here.

Not an SPJ member yet? Join today!
— Join online or download/request an application
— How SPJ works for you
— Discounted services for members
— Membership fees
— Membership expired? Renew in minutes today.

And then there were three! The National Association of Hispanic Journalists is joining up with the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association for Excellence in Journalism 2013. Get the details of the partnership here.

Excellence in Journalism 2013 will take place August 24-26 in Anaheim, Calif. Get the early details about hotel and transportation by following this link.

EIJ13: Call for program proposals and conference ideas
Want to play a role in the planning of Excellence in Journalism 2013? We're ready for you.

— EIJ 13 Call for Programs
— EIJ 13 Call for Conference Ideas

Building a better Society. Check out SPJ's Headquarters Staff Blog. Latest entries:

– Nov. 6: A journalism case study
– Messy SCOTUS coverage is damaging for media
– Social Media Weekend: A worthwhile venture – and hashtag
– The Working Press reporting interns: Life in the staff lane
– HOORAY FOR US! SPJ reached 9,000 Twitter ‘followers’! (Why we or you shouldn’t care)
– Musician turned nonprofiteer delivers the SPJ dish
– Why journalists (and everyone) should click the link before they tweet
– Discuss the proposed “One Member, One Vote” amendment
– Discuss the proposed bylaws amendments
– It’s a Small World After All: A special Journalism Ethics Week project