4th Estate: SPJ's Region 4 Blog

Hendrickson gets regional, national honors

2008-09-16T19:37:00Z

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

2008-03-18T17:29:00Z

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

2008-02-21T20:16:00Z

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

2008-02-15T16:44:00Z

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

2008-02-15T16:34:00Z

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

2008-02-04T15:51:00Z

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

2008-01-17T15:40:00Z

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

2008-01-15T21:50:00Z

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

2008-01-07T19:35:00Z

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

2008-01-04T21:23:00Z

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

2008-01-04T21:21:00Z

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

2008-01-03T19:51:00Z

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!

Detroit launches new site, sets JOY deadline

2007-12-19T18:13:00Z

The Metropolitan Detroit Chapter has launched a slick new Web site, put together by new chapter webmaster Celeste Filiatrault, of the Oakland Press.

Re-elected President Steve Raphael also reports a new schedule for the chapter's annual Journalist of the Year Awards. Deadline for entries is Feb. 28 with the awards banquet in April.

Southern Ohio works toward chapter charter

2007-12-18T22:11:00Z

Greetings, from the Society of Professional Journalists Southern Ohio Chapter!

Several months ago, we hosted an informational meeting in Portsmouth, Ohio, letting people know we were coming to town. I know it seems like we've forgotten you, but I promise we haven't. We've spent these past few months working very closely with SPJ national headquarters, to find out what we need to get our chapter up and running, and now we're finally ready to get things rolling.

What we need now is 20 professional member signatures on a petition of support for the Southern Ohio Chapter of the SPJ. If you're a member of the organization, and if you support the creation of a southern Ohio chapter, please consider signing our petition.

Please note that ONLY REGISTERED SPJ MEMBERS CAN SIGN OUR PETITION! But that doesn't mean we're leaving you out if you're not yet a member. All you need to do is join the SPJ, at http://www.spj.org/join.asp and then you can sign our petition, and once our local chapter is functional you'll be able to join and participate in our regular meetings and events.

You'll also get all kinds of great stuff just for being a member - whether you join our chapter or not. The SPJ Web site can tell you all about the perks, which include group discounts, health insurance, journalism magazines, networking opportunties, national conventions and much more!

Southern Ohio is badly in need of a local chapter, and we need YOU to help get it started. Once we're fully approved, we will be holding regular meetings and functions, and we will elect a board who will then officially decide such things as our chapter name, membership dues (if any), meeting schedules and more. So if you'd like to be part of our chapter, or if you'd just like to join the national organization with no chapter affiliation, check them out online and then please consider signing our petition to establish this new chapter.

If you are a member of the SPJ and support the creation of our this new chapter in southern Ohio, please send me your name, address and phone number, to be added to our petition, which will be sent to national headquarters for approval in January!

With YOUR help, we can bring the Society of Professional Journalists to southern Ohio!

Thank you.

Ryan Scott Ottney

SPJ Southern Ohio

Chapter Coordinator

southernohio@spj.org

www.spj.org/southernohio (under construction)

Out with Queen City

2007-12-17T22:51:00Z

The board of the Queen City Professional Chapter has voted to change its name to
the Greater Cincinnati Professional Chapter, a name board members said better represents the group.

Cincinnati picked up the nickname, "Queen City," by the 1820s, according to the Cincinnati Historical Society Library. Residents proud of the city's development dubbed it the "Queen of the West."

The name change requires approval of the executive committee of SPJ's board of directors, which grants chapter charters. The executive committee next meets in January.

Get more info on the chapter from its December newsletter.