Freedom of the Prez

Programming Note: We've Moved!

bokeefe — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 20:00:00 GMT

The SPJ Blogs Network has moved to the Wordpress platform, making it easier than ever to join the convesation. No new registration is necessary. You can find the new home of the Freedom of the Prez blog by following this link. RSS subscribers, update your readers by pointing it to this URL. Other Links — Visit the new SPJ Blogs Network — RSS (All National Blogs) — RSS (All Regional Blogs)...(read more)

REMEMBERING WALTER CRONKITE

KevinSmith — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 22:45:00 GMT

It didn’t take me all of two and a half hours sitting at Walter Cronkite’s memorial service Wednesday to learn that my career is somewhat muted by the fact I never met the journalistic icon. I, like so many of my generation, were drawn to journalism by the likes of Cronkite, John Chancellor, David Brinkley and Chet Huntley. When I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be an astronaut and walk the moon like Cmdr. Buzz Aldrin, who, by the way, was on hand to eulogize Mr. Cronkite, I wanted to be...(read more)

A call to membership

KevinSmith — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 17:23:00 GMT

As those of you who attended the convention last week will recall, I talked about a plan to turn our membership numbers around. While adding 1,000 people to our roll seems daunting in these most difficult of times, it will not be if many of us make an effort to reach out to journalists in this coming year and convince them to join our organization. I referred to it as my 10 percent plan. If one in every 10 members did this, we'd be back to numbers of almost two years ago. Maybe we...(read more)

SPJ tries to help laid off journalists stay involved

DaveAeikens — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:33:00 GMT

The SPJ board on Saturday decided to offer a helping hand to existing members who have lost their jobs. The organization will extend memberships for six months for certain people. To find out if you are eligbile, you must apply using this form. This is a very difficult time for all journalists especially those who have been put out of work as the business struggles financially. This policy, which is good for one year, is intended to allow people in a difficult spot to continue their memberships...(read more)

Weekend in Philly

DaveAeikens — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 03:26:00 GMT

The Region 1 spring conference is my next stop. I leave for Philadelphia Thursday morning. The conference at Temple University starts Friday and ends Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing the leaders from Region 1 again. This conference and the Region 10 conference in Montana wraps up what has been a successful spring conference season. ...(read more)

SPJ board adds transitional membership, picks convention site

DaveAeikens — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 04:08:00 GMT

Here is a recap of Saturday's SPJ board meeting: Here is a short recap of the SPJ board action from Saturday, April 18. Please feel free to share this at what spring conferences remain and with your chapters leaders and members. Budget: The board approved a budget that spends about $1.6 million and projects a $30,000 surplus at the end of the year. We have added categories to the Mark of Excellence Awards in hopes of adding entries. Quill magazine will be printed six times instead of nine,...(read more)

Onto the next 100 years

DaveAeikens — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Friday was a great day for SPJ. About 100 people from across the country gathered at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. to celebrate the 100th anniversary of SPJ. We had some great events. From Richard Tofel's discussion of his book on Barney Kilgore to the panel on the state of the news business to the inspiration and entertaining speech Jane Pauley delivered, it was a great day. Here are my remarks before Friday night's dinner: I’m sure if our 10 founders could be here today, they would be...(read more)

Watching the Centennial

DaveAeikens — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 01:04:00 GMT

Almost 100 people have registered to attend Friday's 100th anniversary event at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. Those who cannot be there can watch the Webcast live. The first program for the Webcast starts at 3 p.m. EST. You can catch the events here. Here is the schedule for the Centennial celebebration: 3-4:30 p.m. - panel discussion 4:45-5:30 p.m. - anniversary ceremony 5:45-6:05 p.m. - opening remarks from President Dave Aeikens at dinner 7:30-8:30 p.m. - Jane Pauley keynote...(read more)

Board meeting April 18

DaveAeikens — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:40:00 GMT

The 23-member SPJ board of directors, which makes policy decisions for the organization, is schedule to meet Saturday, April 18 in Greencastle, Ind. One of the things I have tried to do as president is make the board and executive board issues as accessible to the members as possible. You can see the agenda and the supporting documents here. It has gone out to board members, committee members and past leaders. It will be distributed in Leads Thursday. Please take the time to look it at and if...(read more)

Our birthday is coming

DaveAeikens — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:32:00 GMT

After much anticipation, SPJ's 100th anniversary and the celebration that will recognize it out just days a way. I look forward to seeing many of you in Greencastle, Ind. Friday for what will be a terrific day. We will be joined by Russ Pulliam, whose grandfather was one of the 10 DePauw University students who started SPJ in 1909. We will also do a roll call of past presidents who are in attendance Friday. We will have a panel discussion on journalism. We will remember our roots with a modified...(read more)

Free Roxanna Saberi

DaveAeikens — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 16:21:00 GMT

We have been doing our best to remind Iran that journalism is not espionage. The situation of Roxana Saberi is getting ridiculous. First the freelance journalist is put in an Iranian prison and now she is charged with espionage. Her parents are rightfully upset. SPJ takes a keen interest in all cases in which journalists are in prisoned and sadly it is happening even in this country. That's why we are working to pass a Shield law. Many journalism organizations are outraged by this and are...(read more)

Visiting Region 11

DaveAeikens — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:46:00 GMT

I'm back from the Region 11 spring conference in Phoenix at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University's downtown campus. The conference, hosted by the Valley of the Sun Pro Chapter, was excellent and the set up at the university was terrific. I got to visit with two former Minnesotan's. Tim McGuire, the former editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Blake Morrison, who is a University of Minnesota graduate and former St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter. McGuire is...(read more)

Remembering Don Bolles

DaveAeikens — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 23:33:00 GMT

The Clarendon Hotel in Phoenix was one of the featured hotels for the Region 11 spring conference. It also happens to be where Don Bolles, the former Arizona Republic investigative reporter, was killed by a bomb placed under his car. The hotel has a bust of Bolles near the near the elevator. The hallway that leads to the lobby bathrooms and workout rooms have large framed photos of the scene not long after in happened. Bolles death sparked outraged among journalists across the country who descended...(read more)

SPJ in the Hill blog

DaveAeikens — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 23:04:00 GMT

I got the chance to blog on The Hill newspaper's blog today. Someone from the paper called and asked if we could make a few comments about the Shield law. We will never pass up the chance to talk about our top legislative priority. Here it is. ...(read more)

Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act

DaveAeikens — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 05:20:00 GMT

The Congressman who one of the leaders with the Shield bill has another bill of great interest to journalists. U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff have authored the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act. The bill would: highlight and promote the work and accomplishments of journalists and media organizations that promote freedom of opinion and expression worldwide; draw attention to the conditions in countries in which journalists are killed, imprisoned, kidnapped, threatened,...(read more)