2012 SPJ Black Hole Award: Nominations Open
The Society of Professional Journalists launched the Black Hole Award to highlight the most heinous violations of the public's right to know.
By exposing such abuses, SPJ’s Freedom of Information Committee seeks to educate the public about their rights and call attention to those who would interfere with openness and transparency.
Nominations are now open for the 2012 Black Hole Award. If you know of someone whom you feel is deserving of this "honor," click here to tell us about it.
2011 Recap: Utah the darkest pit in the United States
The SPJ Black Hole Award for 2011 goes to the Utah Legislature and Gov. Gary Herbert for plunging their state into an abyss of secrecy through the most regressive piece of freedom of information legislation in recent history. Click here to read more about last year's winner and the five runners-up.
SPJ Ethics Committee Position Papers
This collection of position papers, produced by the Society of Professional Journalists’ Ethics Committee, is intended to clarify SPJ’s position on specific ethical themes that frequently arise in journalism, and also to provide better guidance for journalists, academics, students and the public when consulting the SPJ Code of Ethics.
The following papers are available for immediate reference, with more — on using anonymous sources, plagiarism, undercover reporting, dealing with victims of tragedy, handling diversity coverage, privacy and news media accountability — to release over the coming months:
Newly available: Checkbook Journalism
Money can corrupt almost anything it touches, and that certainly includes the news. The practice of paying for information, known as checkbook journalism, threatens to corrupt journalism. Continue reading Checkbook Journalism
Also Available:
— Using the SPJ Code
— Political Involvement
Excellence in Journalism 2012 Scholarships and Fellowships: Apply by June 13
Terry Harper Memorial Scholarships: Terry Harper passed away in 2009 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. In honor of Terry’s efforts to improve SPJ and the entire journalism community, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation set up a memorial fund following his death. With a generous outpouring of support, the Society can now proudly provide up to five scholarships to SPJ members to attend its annual convention. Applications due June 13, 2012.
Diversity Leadership Fellows Program: As we face the many challenges of an evolving industry, strengthening SPJ’s diversity efforts is more important than ever. The goal of the Diversity Leadership Fellows program, ultimately, is to increase the diversity participation of SPJ members within national committees and on the national board of directors. As part of the program, we bring fellowship recipients to the convention to begin a year-long immersion and education program. Applications due June 13, 2012.
Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award: From the generosity of the Lewis family, the award is given each year to a student SPJ member who has demonstrated outstanding service to the First Amendment through the field of journalism. The award assists a student with his/her attendance to SPJ's annual convention. Applications due June 13, 2012.
2012 SPJ Spring Conferences
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 topics ranging from improving writing to leveraging technology in today’s new media climate. Enhance yourself and your journalism career by attending a Spring Conference in your area. Get available details — including dates, locations and contacts — for all 12 regions by clicking here.
March 23, 2012:
— Region 1: Stony Brook, N.Y.
— Region 3: Gainesville, Fla.
— Region 4: Lansing, Mich.
— Region 8: Fort Worth, Texas
March 30:
— Region 2: Elon, N.C.
— Region 6: Bloomington, Minn.
— Region 7: Ames, Iowa
— Region 10: Tacoma, Wash.
— Region 11: Universal City, Calif.
— Region 12: Lafayette, La.
April 13:
— Region 5: Indianapolis, Ind.
— Region 9: Denver, Colo.
The Journalist's Toolbox: Election 2012 Resources
Covering the 2012 Republican presidential primaries? The Journalist's Toolbox, edited by Mike Reilley, has updated links for you.
This free site from the Society of Professional Journalists contains thousands of links helpful for reporters, editors, educators or anyone else doing research. Edited by former Los Angeles Times reporter and DePaul instructor Mike Reilley, the site is organized by beats and industry topics such as Public Records, Crime, Legal Issues, Science, Environment, Journalism Jobs, Sports and more. The Toolbox is updated twice weekly and several times a day during prominent global breaking news events.
