A Thorny Question
Dear Gardener *
Our chapter faces a thorny question. A local press club is hosting events very similar to the ones we staged earlier this year for our spring regional conference.
One of our members is encouraging us to combine our efforts into the club’s in exchange for second-billing as a co-sponsor.
Granted, it won’t cost us any money, but we won’t make any either. Is it worth our effort? Should we consider this club as a partner or a competitor?
Puzzled in Poughkeepsie.
Dear Puzzled,
Press Clubs are worthwhile institutions. They tend to be a bit more social than some SPJ chapters, but that’s not a bad thing. They also tend to have more of a mix of public relations folks and other non-journalists.
But that said, you should treat them more as friend than foe, especially when it comes to programming. Some press clubs have great track records when it comes to staging events that are of interest to journalists.
Showing the SPJ flag at anyplace where journalists gather is a good thing. And if partnering with another organization can help build a crowd for a chapter event, well that’s all the better.
For that matter, there are probably other groups in your community that you might consider teaming up with when it comes to programming.
Groups representing minority journalists, photographers, illustrators and web designers are all good partners when you are trying to do outreach.
So team up and remember this: every time you do an event together, you’ve assembled a roomful of potential new SPJ members. Use that opportunity. Cross-pollination is good for the garden.
* Note: the letter writer is fictitious, but the scenario is taken from real life situations.
Garden tip of the week:
Does your city have an annual film festival? If so, contact the organizers and ask about the possibility of sponsoring a screening.
Here in Denver, Colorado SPJ has been a co-sponsor of many journalism themed films and documentaries during the Denver International Film Festival.
In exchange for purchasing a block of 10-20 tickets, our members get to go to a film together and usually we get a chance to put in a plug for SPJ
SPJ by the Numbers
Membership this week: 9,303
Membership one month ago: 9,333
Membership one year ago: 8,832