Programming Note: We've Moved!

The SPJ Blogs Network has moved to the Wordpress platform, making it easier than ever to join the convesation. No registration of any kind is necessary. You can find the new home of the Region 4 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)
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SPJ Region 4 Mark of Excellence winners

SPJ Region 4 honored winners of the 2008 regional level of the Mark of Excellence contest in Columbus, Ohio, on April 4 as part of its regional spring conference.

First-place winners in the regional round of the contest compete in a national round of judging against winners in SPJ's other 11 regions.

Students who did not attend the Columbus conference will have their certificates mailed to them.

Duplicate certificates can be ordered from SPJ's national headquarters for $2.18 each, plus shipping. Contact awards coordinator Lauren Rochester at lrochester@spj.org to order duplicates.

If you've found a typo on your certificate and did not return it to regional director Jeremy Steele at the conference, please contact him at jsteele@spj.org immediately.

SPJ's Region 4 includes Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania.

Winners in the 2008 Region 4 Mark of Excellence contest are:

Breaking News Reporting

Place: 1

Emilie Schneider

Ohio University

The Post

“Using God as a point of conversation, Ohio University polic lieutenant talks down unidentified man threatening to kill himself in Baker Center”

 

Breaking News Reporting

Place: 2

Staff

Michigan State University

The State News

“Cedar Fest a Mess”

 

Breaking News Reporting

Place: 3

Megan Rozsa & Caitlyn Wachovec

Kent State University

Daily Kent Stater

“September 11 memorial coverage”

 

General News Reporting

Place: 1

Tyrel Linkhorn

Kent State University

Daily Kent Stater

“I didn't know you, but I loved you”

 

General News Reporting

Place: 2

Staff, Daily Kent Stater

Kent State University

Daily Kent Stater

“Five years later:  life after…”

 

General News Reporting

Place: 3

Staff, The Globe

Point Park University

The Globe

“Sexual offenders near campus”

 

In-Depth Reporting

Place: 1

Tricia Fulks

West Virginia University

The Daily Athenaeum

“eMBA-gate”

 

In-Depth Reporting

Place: 2

Heidi Fenton

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Faculty contract series”

 

In-Depth Reporting

Place: 3

Masudur Rahman

Oakland University

The Oakland Post

“Equality in home quarters”

 

Feature Writing

Place: 1

Brian McLean

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Coping with bipolar disorder”

 

Feature Writing

Place: 2

Heidi Fenton

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“A perceptive pair”

 

Feature Writing

Place: 3

Tony Dobies

West Virginia University

The Daily Athenaeum

“Title IX series”

 

Sports Writing

Place: 1

Cash Kruth

Michigan State University

The State News

“De-ter-minded”

 

Sports Writing

Place: 2

Katie Carrera

Ohio University

The Post

“Gambling scandal with…”

 

Sports Writing

Place: 3

Matt O'Donnell

Ohio University

The Post

“Solich after 4 seasons”

 

Editorial Writing

Place: 1

Brian McLean

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Editorial Collection”

 

Editorial Writing

Place: 2

Jess Eagle & Brian Tierney

Duquesne University

The Duquesne Duke

“Staff Editorials”

 

Editorial Writing

Place: 3

The BG News Staff

Bowling Green State University

The BG News

“Editorial Collection”

 

Editorial Cartooning

Place: 1

Erin Felton

Marshall University

The Parthenon

“Think Oustide the Sidewalk”

 

Editorial Cartooning

Place: 2

Christopher Sharron

Kent State University

Daily Kent Stater

“Cartoons from Kent, Part II”

 

Editorial Cartooning

Place: 3

Chris Tamlyn

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Central Square 1”

 

General Column Writing

Place: 1

Matt Sowards

Marshall University

The Parthenon

“Editorial Collection”

 

General Column Writing

Place: 2

Ashley Herzog

Ohio University

The Post

“Column Collection”

 

General Column Writing

Place: 3

Lori Weber

Bowling Green State University

The BG News

“Column Collection”

 

Sports Column  Writing

Place: 1

Robert Thomas Bragg

Marshall University

The Parthenon

“sports columns”

 

Sports Column Writing

Place: 2

Tony Dobies

West Virginia University

The Daily Athenaeum

“sports columns”

 

Sports Column Writing

Place: 3

Brett Hiltbrand

Otterbein College

Tan and Cardinal

“sports columns”

 

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (Published at least 4 times per week)

Place: 1

Staff, The State News

Michigan State University

The State News

“The State News”

 

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (Published at least 4 times per week)

Place: 2

Staff, Daily Kent Stater

Kent State University

Daily Kent Stater

“Daily Kent Stater”

 

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (Published at least 4 times per week)

Place: 3

Staff, The Parthenon

Marshall University

The Parthenon

“The Parthenon”

 

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (Published less than 4 times per week)

Place: 1

Staff, Central Michigan Life

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Central Michigan Life”

 

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (Published less than 4 times per week)

Place: 2

Staff, The News Record

University of Cincinnati

The News Record

“The News Record”

 

Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper (Published less than 4 times per week)

Place: 3

Staff, The Oakland Post

Oakland University

The Oakland Post

“The Aokland Post”

 

Non-Fiction Article

Place: 1

Ted Hamilton

Kent State University

The Burr

“The Last Great Gun Debate”

 

Non-Fiction Article

Place: 2

Ben Wolford

Kent State University

Fusion magazine

“A New Era”

 

Non-Fiction Article

Place: 3

Sarah Steimer

Kent State University

Fusion magazine

“Anyone can come and not be judged”

 

Best Student Magazine

Place: 1

Staff, Fusion Magazine

Kent State University

Fusion Magazine

“Fusion magazine”

 

Best Student Magazine

Place: 2

Staff

Kent State University

The Burr

“The Burr”

 

Best Student Magazine

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Breaking News Photography

Place: 1

Charles Yesenczki., Brock Fowler

Ohio University

The Post

“Suicide Attempt Averted”

 

Breaking News Photography

Place: 2

Sarah Miller

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Truck catches fire…”

 

Breaking News Photography

Place: 3

Enoch Wu

Bowling Green State University

The BG News

“Marry Me”

 

General News Photography

Place: 1

Joshua Kodis

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“No homos go to heaven”

 

General News Photography

Place: 2

Nikki Rotunda

West Virginia University

The Daily Athenaeum

“Toxic truth…”

 

General News Photography

Place: 3

Charles Yesenczki

Ohio University

The Post

“President”

 

Feature Photography

Place: 1

Jake May

Central Michigan University

St. Petersburg Times

“An old-fashioned good time”

 

Feature Photography

Place: 2

Staff, Daily Kent Stater

Kent State University

Daily Kent Stater

“24 hours in Portage County”

 

Feature Photography

Place: 3

Sihang Zhang

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Drills for drugs”

 

Photo Illustration

Place: 1

Joseph Herr

The University of Toledo

The Independent Collegian

“Boozing students face….”

 

Photo Illustration

Place: 2

Joshua Kodis

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Campus Conservation”

 

Photo Illustration

Place: 3

Jessica Scott

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“CMU hopes to 'rope in' Ball State”

 

Sports Photography

Place: 1

Kareem Elgazzar

University of Cincinnati

The News Record

“Brian Kelly not…”

 

Sports Photography

Place: 2

Mattew Stephens

Central Michigan University

Central Michigan Life

“Fated fumble”

 

Sports Photography

Place: 3

Emily Lang

University of Cincinnati

The News Record

“Sweet victory”

 

Radio News Reporting

Place: 1

Adam Cavalier

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“Big dips for 50 years”

 

Radio News Reporting

Place: 2

Leannda Carey

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“Marshall in the dark”

 

Radio News Reporting

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Radio Feature

Place: 1

Adam Cavalier

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“The Toastman”

 

Radio Feature

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Radio Feature

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Radio In-Depth Reporting

Place: 1

The FM88 Sports Team

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“The 2008 Marshall football preview”

 

Radio In-Depth Reporting

Place: 2

Alison Chandler, Kate Liebers, Jaime Koziol

Miami University

WMNB 88.5

“Building and breaking barriers”

 

Radio In-Depth Reporting

Place: 3

Brandon Woolum

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“Marshall is doomed”

 

Radio Sports Reporting

Place: 1

Adam Cavalier

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“Metal v. Wood”

 

Radio Sports Reporting

Place: 2

Andrew Ramspacher

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“From Futbol to Football”

 

Radio Sports Reporting

Place: 3

Adam Cavalier

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“Byron's Pack”

 

Radio Newscast

Place: 1

The Newscenter 88 Team

Marshall University

WMUL - FM

“The 5:00 p.m. Edition of Newscenter 88”

 

Radio Newscast

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Radio Newscast

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Television Breaking News Reporting

Place: 1

Not awarded

 

Television Breaking News Reporting

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Television Breaking News Reporting

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Television General News Reporting

Place: 1

Kyle Miller

Kent State University

TV2

“Center of Hope”

 

Television General News Reporting

Place: 2

Anthony Rizzo

West Virginia University

WVU News

“School Bond Fails”

 

Television General News Reporting

Place: 3

Julie Landis

Kent State University

TV2

“MRDD”

 

Television Feature

Place: 1

Stephen Butera

West Virginia University

KDKA-TV

“Hero Car”

 

Television Feature

Place: 2

Janet Iruin

West Virginia University

WVU News

“Holocaust Rememberance”

 

Television Feature

Place: 3

Pavel Kofman

Michigan State University

Spartan TV

“Jake's Story”

 

Television In-Depth Reporting

Place: 1

Julie Landis, Lauren Yelichek & Janelle Maddox

Kent State University

TV2

“Cystic Fibrosis”

 

Television In-Depth Reporting

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Television In-Depth Reporting

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Television Sports Reporting

Place: 1

Matthew Myall

Michigan State University

Spartan TV

“Coach Baum”

 

Television Sports Reporting

Place: 2

Chris Gunnoe

West Virginia University

WVU News

“Voice of the Mountaineers”

 

Television Sports Reporting

Place: 3

Brandon Brown

West Virginia University

WVU News

“Pride of WV”

 

Television News Photography

Place: 1

Not awarded

Television News Photography

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Television News Photography

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Television Feature Photography

Place: 1

Not awarded

 

Television Feature Photography

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Television Feature Photography

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Television Sports Photography

Place: 1

Not awarded

 

Television Sports Photography

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Television Sports Photography

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Television Newscast

Place: 1

Staff, WVU News

West Virginia University

WV PBS

“WVU News”

 

Television Newscast

Place: 2

Staff, UT:10 News

The University of Toledo

UST:10 News Channel 31

“UT:10 News”

 

Television Newscast

Place: 3

Staff, Focal Point News

Michigan State University

Spartan TV

“Focal Point Newscast”

 

Online News Reporting

Place: 1

Staff, KentNewsNet.com

Kent State University

KentNewsNet.com

“Prentice fire”

 

Online News Reporting

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Online News Reporting

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Online Feature Reporting

Place: 1

Kristen M. Daum

Michigan State University

The Oklahoman

“Three youths battle…”

 

Online Feature Reporting

Place: 2

Ida Lieszkovszky

Miami University

KosovaLive

“Former drug addict refocuses…”

 

Online Feature Reporting

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Online In-Depth Reporting

Place: 1

Not awarded

 

Online In-Depth Reporting

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Online In-Depth Reporting

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Online Sports Reporting

Place: 1

Staff, KentNewsNet.com

Kent State University

KentNewsNet.com

“KSU football vs. Akron”

 

Online Sports Reporting

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Online Sports Reporting

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Online Opinion and Commentary

Place: 1

Not awarded

 

Online Opinion and Commentary

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Online Opinion and Commentary

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Best Affiliated Web site

Place: 1

Staff

Kent State University

CyBurr

“CyBurr”

 

Best Affiliated Web site

Place: 2

Staff

Kent State University

KentNewsNet.com

“KentNewsNet.com”

 

Best Affiliated Web site

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication

Place: 1

Not awarded

 

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication

Place: 2

Not awarded

 

Best All-Around Independent Online Student Publication

Place: 3

Not awarded

 

 

Register for the 2009 SPJ Region 4 spring conference!

Information is now online here.

Hendrickson gets regional, national honors

Dick Hendrickson, a member of the Cleveland chapter and adviser of the John Carroll University chapter, left SPJ's national convention in Atlanta with two honors.

Region 4 director Jeremy W. Steele awarded Hendrickson the Virginia Frizzi Regional Director's Award for his work for the region. The honor is named for Ginny Frizzi, a longtime former regional director who created the award to recognize a member whose contributions bettered Region 4. The award was reinstituted in 2007 by then-RD Kevin Smith.

Hendrickson helped lead the charge when the Ohio chapters reorganized their statewide awards program last year. With his leadership and the help of his Ohio SPJ peers, the contest was deemed a success despite numerous obstacles.

He also was honored by SPJ with the Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Professional Member Award. Read SPJ's press release here.

Region 4 Mark of Excellence winners announced

Winners at the regional level of SPJ's Mark of Excellence contest were honored this past weekend at the Region 4 conference in Pittsburgh. The Mark of Excellence Awards honor the best in college student journalism.

Region 4, which includes Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania, received 377 entries from students at 18 colleges and universities.

First-place winners from Region 4 go on to compete in the national round of judging against winners from SPJ's 11 other regions.

WVU students start petition campaign for journalists in anonymous source case

To: Journalists and Concerned Citizens

From: The West Virginia University Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Kellen Henry, President

Re: Petition on Behalf of Reporters Toni Locy and James Stewart who face contempt charges for protecting their confidential sources in the Steven Hatfill case.

Please consider signing, circulating and mailing the attached petition to Judge Reggie B. Walton as quickly as possible.

This document urges the Judge Walton to reverse his decision to hold former USA Today reporter and West Virginia University professor Toni Locy in contempt of court for refusing to reveal confidential sources. He has threatened to levy large fines against Locy that may not be paid by Gannett or any other source. Judge Walton also could hold former CBS reporter James Stewart in contempt in the same matter. (Read related post at the SPJ LDF blog).

Please FAX completed petitions to Judge Walton at the number below and mail the original, signed copies to him at the address below. If possible, please keep a record of the number of signatures you collect and send that information to: Professor Bonnie Stewart, WVU SPJ Chapter faculty advisor (304-293-3505 Ext. 5417 or bonnie.stewart@mail.wvu.edu)

Chambers of Judge Reggie B. Walton's contact information: 

• Telephone Number: 202-354-3290

• Fax Number: 202-354-3292

• Address: 

United States District Court for the District of Columbia 
E. Barrett Prettyman United States Courthouse  
333 Constitution Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001

You're invited to Digital Democracy, the Region 4 conference

Digital Democracy is a special event happening here in Pittsburgh next month. This is a project that's been months in the making and I'm excited to let you know about it now.

It's a conference that will explore how the digital revolution -- including blogs, online video, websites and social media -- is changing traditional news media coverage and citizens' access to the political process.

The event includes national-caliber speakers who are coming to Pittsburgh on Saturday, March 15.

Its website is now online at:

http://www.spj.org/pittsburgh

Our speakers include:

• New York Times Online Politics Editor Kate Phillips, who writes for and edits The Caucus, The New York Times politics news blog.

• Newsbusters.org Executive Editor Matthew Sheffield

• MediaMatters.org Senior Fellow & Director of Special Projects Paul Waldman

• Hearst-Argyle Director of Digital Media Content Jacques Natz

• J-Lab Executive Director Jan Schaffer

• Media Bloggers Association President Robert Cox

Other speakers include former USA Today reporter Toni Locy, who's topic is "Subpoenaed For Her Sources". She's the subject of a contempt-of-court request for her refusal to identify sources who provided her information about the 2001 anthrax attacks and the subsequent investigation.

There will also be sessions on "Bloggers as Journalists and Journalists as Bloggers", on new media skills and digital literacy for reporters, and on Open Records laws.

Digital Democracy is a Society of Professional Journalists regional conference, hosted by the Pittsburgh chapter. Region 4 covers Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, but the event can draw from beyond. Its something for all journalists -- and you don't have to be a member of SPJ. In fact, given the theme, bloggers, students, and others with an interest and involvement in the conference theme are welcome to attend. The Digital Democracy website has links for online registration and there's a special rate for students and SPJ members.

I want to encourage you to join us and to spread the word. This is a professional enrichment event intended everyone in news organizations across the region. Links to more specifics are on the website. I hope to see you there.

Bob Mayo

SPJ Region 4 Conference Committee

E-mail: bobmayo4@gmail.com

SPJ Ohio Awards call for entries released

The much anticipated call for entries for the Ohio SPJ Awards is out. Download it here. Deadline to enter is Feb. 29.

Cleveland Writer's Week for 2/1/08

Ohio SPJ Awards, "Sharpening Your Skills" series, and more in the Cleveland chapter's Writer's Week. Read it online here.

12th annual Ohio SPJ Awards

Dear Media Executive:

 

Hello from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists Awards program, a statewide journalism honors recognition program that is presented collaboratively by the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati chapters of SPJ.  This letter is to inform you that our 12^th annual, Ohio SPJ Awards Program is coming soon. 

 

We urge you to start compiling entries for this prestigious contest.  The deadline this year for contest entries is February 29, 2008. 

 

In the coming weeks, we will be sending you the Official Call for Entry and Rules booklet, but in the meantime we want to make you aware of five, exciting categories that have been added this year.

 

For the first time, an award will be presented for Best TV News Producer in Ohio, a category long-overlooked. In addition, we have added four new college journalist writing awards-news, feature, sports and opinion-- that come with $500 scholarships.

 

Also, we want you to be aware that this is the ONLY statewide contest sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists. A contest flyer with similar graphics, language and categories is making the rounds this year and causing some confusion, but be assured that the Ohio SPJ Awards contest will be the only one bearing the SPJ logo and name.  Information will be posted soon on www.SPJAwards.org  

 

We in the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati SPJ Pro Chapters are looking forward to another fantastic contest that will honor the best of Ohio's print, online, radio and television journalism, and we hope you are too.

 

Please watch your mailboxes for contest rules, categories and entry forms.  Thank you, and good luck with your entries.

 

Sincerely,

 

Ohio SPJ Awards, and

Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Pro Chapters of SPJ

More details on the Region 4 conference

Here's a much-anticipated look at the Region 4 conference on March 14-15 in Pittsburgh, including some information on hotels and speakers.

Stay tuned to the Pittsburgh chapter's Web site for more information, including a way to register online. The following info comes from Pittsburgh's Ginny Frizzi and her team:

Hotel:   Omni William Penn Hotel, in downtown Pittsburgh. Reserve online here.

Room Rate: $132 per night, plus tax

Hotel Parking Costs: $14 per day (weekdays); $5 per day (weekend)

Conference Registration:

Student:  SPJ Member: $65       Non-Member:   $75

Pro: SPJ Member: $85      Non-Member:   $105       

Checks should be made out to “Pittsburgh Pro SPJ” and sent to Ginny Frizzi, Office of Media Relations, Point Park University, 201 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222. Ginny can be reached at (412) 392-3987 or vfrizzi@pointpark.edu

Note: Registration deadline is March 10. $20 extra for late or on-site registration.     

Conference Theme: The conference theme of “Digital Democracy” will explore how the digital revolution--including blogs, online video, websites and social media-are changing traditional news media coverage and citizens' access to the political process. 

Conference Program: The conference will open with a reception at 7 p.m. on Friday, March 14 at the Allegheny/Harvard-Yale-Princeton, located within a short walking distance of the hotel at the corner if William Penn Place and Strawberry Way.

On Saturday, March 15:

7:45-9 a.m.        Breakfast with Keynote Speaker

Two tracks with programs from 9:15-10:30 a.m. and 10:45 a.m.-Noon, with a coffee break between sessions.

Mark of Excellence Luncheon from 12:15-2 p.m.

Two tracks with programs from 2:15-3:30 p.m. and 3:45-5 p.m., with a coffee break between sessions.

Bob Mayo of WTAE-TV is serving as program chair. He will be slotting the actual sessions and speakers very soon.

To date, we have:

Confirmed Speaker:

Jan Schaffer, executive director

J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism

Topic: "Participatory Journalism & Citizen Media ".  Learn about the growth and content of citizen media. "Local news web sites offering content generated by users are securing a valuable place in the media landscape and are likely to continue as important sources of community news", according to a report  by J-Lab: The Institute for Interactive Journalism."  J-Lab is an incubator for innovative news experiments that use new technologies to help people actively engage in critical public issues.  Schaffer, former Business Editor and a Pulitzer Prize winner for The Philadelphia Inquirer, is executive director of J-Lab and one of the nation’s leading thinkers in the journalism reform movement. She launched J-Lab in 2002 at the University of Maryland’s College of Journalism to help newsrooms use innovative computer technologies to inform people about important public issues. The center spotlights new forms of digital storytelling on www.J-Lab.org. It rewards innovative practices through the $16,000 Knight-Batten Awards for Innovations in Journalism. It funds cutting-edge citizen media start-ups through its New Voices project (www.J-NewVoices.org). It has also built a web tutorial on how to launch community news sites (www.J-Learning.org).. 

Schaffer will also speak about the work of J-Lab.

Confirmed Speaker:

Matthew Sheffield, executive editor

NewsBusters.org

Invited Speaker: A representative of MediaMatters.org. MediaMatters says it hopes to participate, but has not confirmed yet, as of this writing.  They hope to have an answer next week.

Topic: "Tables Turned: Online Media Criticism from the Right and Left".

Representatives of political websites discuss their organizations' role of critiquing the mainstream news media via the web.

NewsBusters --a project of the Media Research Center (MRC)-- describes itself as "the leader in documenting, exposing and neutralizing liberal media bias." The MRC launched the NewsBusters blog "to provide immediate exposure of liberal media bias, insightful analysis, constructive criticism and timely corrections to news media reporting."

Media Matters for America is a Web-based, not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) progressive research and information center which describes itself as "dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media".  Media Matters works to systematically monitor a cross section of print, broadcast, cable, radio, and Internet media outlets for "conservative misinformation."

Confirmed Speaker:

Brad King assistant professor, Media Informatics

Northern Kentucky University

Topic: "New Media: Journalism 2010".  A presentation for journalists about "going digital".

King will provide an overview of the new technologies, and discuss what the modern newsroom needs to look like to accommodate the web. He'll also talk about which new skills journalists should --or should not learn.   This session will provide an overview of how new social technologies and integrated news departments create new business models.
 

Confirmed Speaker*:

Toni Locy, Shott Chair of Journalism

West Virginia University

Former Reporter for USA Today
 

Topic: " Subpoenaed for Her Sources: A Journalist's Story". Former USA Today reporter Toni Locy is the subject of a contempt-of-court request by lawyers for Dr. Steven Hatfill for her refusal to identify sources who provided information to her about the 2001 anthrax attacks and the subsequent investigation.  Hatfill was publicly identified by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft as a "person of interest" in the investigation. Hatfill is suing the Department of Justice for violating his Privacy Act rights by leaking information about him to reporters.

A federal judge has ordered  Locy and four other journalists to reveal their sources. She and another reporter face possible contempt charges for refusing to do so.  Hatfill's attorneys are seeking thousands of dollars in fines for which they want her to be personally liable.

* If the subpoena against her is resolved before the SPJ Region 4 Conference, Locy will talk about her experiences in that case. She will address her concerns about the use of "waivers" to get reporters out from under promises of confidentiality to sources. Locy  will also speak of the potential for people to use civil lawsuits to go after reporters and, she fears, silence them.  Locy will also discuss developing your sources and the increasing legal dangers facing reporters.

 

Confirmed Speaker:

David L. Marburger, a partner in the Cleveland office of Baker Hostetler. He is recognized as an authority on legal issues related to the content side of the communications industry, particularly constitutional law litigation (especially First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of the press, 14th Amendment, commercial speech, commerce clause), libel and privacy, state and federal freedom of information and copyright.

Confirmed Speaker:

  Teri Henning, General Counsel, Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA).  Henning , advises Pennsylvania newspaper personnel regarding legal and legislative matters affecting newspapers, files amicus briefs in court cases significant to Pennsylvania newspapers, and conducts member education seminars.

Confirmed Speaker:

Brian Farkas, News Editor for West Virginia, Associated Press, Charleston. Farkas is active in efforts to form an Open Government Coalition in West Virginia.

Topic: "Open Records Laws: Forum & Update". Learn about and compare Open Records Laws in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, and Michigan.  Our panel of experts will discuss the current status and use of the laws, proposed changes, and what a model Open Records Law might look like.

Confirmed Speaker: Mark Briggs

Assistant Managing Editor for Interactive News The News Tribune, Tacoma

Topic: "Journalism 2.0: How to Survive and Thrive"

Briggs' presentation would be based on his "Journalism 2.0", "a 128- page digital literacy guide for the information age."  Briggs introduces new media techniques for pros who have been in the business for years or amateurs who want to do community news. He discusses everything from writing scripts and blogs to RSS feeds and editing video.

Confirmed Speaker: Robert Cox

President of the Media Bloggers Association

"The Media Bloggers Association is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to promoting, protecting and educating its members; supporting the development of "blogging" or "citizen journalism" as a distinct form of media; and helping to extend the power of the press, with all the rights and responsibilities that entails, to every citizen.

Getting ready for the primary in Michigan

Political consultant Mark Grebner will be the SPJ Mid-Michigan chapter's guest for lunch at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 8 at Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub in downtown East Lansing. Grebner, known for his voter lists, made headlines by challenging Michigan's new primary in court because of a provision that turns over lists of voters only to the Republican and Democratic parties. Come chat with Grebner about the case and get his thoughts on the Jan. 15 state primary. Cost is $10 for members and students and $12 for nonmembers. Lunch is included.to Dawn Parker . RSVP is appreciated

Region 4 Ethics Week activities

Two Region 4 chapters have received grants to help put on 2008 Ethics Week programming, during the week of April 21-27.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania SPJ, $450
Program Name: “News Media in Indiana, Pa.: Of Whom, By Whom, Form Whom?”
Description: The program will be a journalism symposium at which local news-media representatives will join a panel to address the title question, discuss issues related to it and answer questions from a moderator and from students and citizens from the campus and surrounding community. The chapter’s objectives are to illuminate the work of professional journalists in the community, to shed light on the pressures they face on the job and to invite citizen appreciation for and constructive criticism of their performance.

Central Ohio Pro, $550
Program Name: “Grey Matter: Working in a freebie culture”
Description: We life in a freebie culture, from free doughnuts to game tickets. Are all gifts to be refused? Is there a grey area? The Central Ohio Act Independently Ethics Program will: Give analysis of real life examples; Provide ethical insight from both journalists and public relations professionals; Encourage group discussion with the panel.

Read about more programs across the country here.

Cleveland Writer's Week for 1/4/08

Jan. 23 Ohio public records luncheon, forecasting the news in Lakewood, and more in the Cleveland chapter's Writer's Week. Read it online here.

Looking ahead to Pittsburgh and the 2008 Region 4 Conference

Folks are hard at work at the Pittsburgh chapter to put the finishing touches on the 2008 SPJ Region 4 Conference. Here's a quick look at the basics:

- WHEN: Friday, March 14 and Saturday, March 15
- WHERE: Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh. The room rate is $132 per night (plus tax) and reservations can be made directly with the hotel. The number is (412) 553-5009 or reservationa@omnihotels.com
- REGISTRATION FEE: Stay tuned!
- THEME: “Digital Democracy.” The conference will explore how technology has changed and is changing the way elections and politics in America are covered.

- SPEAKERS and more to come soon!