Society of Professional Journalists: Legal Defense Fund

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Legal Defense Fund Committee
The LDF Committee oversees the Society's Legal Defense Fund, a unique account that can be tapped for providing journalists with legal or direct financial assistance. Application to the fund is approved by either a small committee or the national board, depending on the level of assistance sought. The committee works throughout the year raising funds for LDF.

FOI FYI: Latest Posts
— Oklahoma State University wins SPJ’s National Black Hole Award
— North Carolina paper Cherokee Scout withdraws request for gun records, grovels for forgiveness
— University of Wyoming will make presidential finalists public, despite new law

Legal Defense Fund Committee Chair

Hagit Limor
Investigative Reporter
WCPO-TV
1720 Gilbert Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45202
513/852-4012
E-mail
Bio (click to expand)

Hagit Limor’s other experience with SPJ includes stints as National President; National President-Elect; National Secretary-Treasurer; National Membership Committee; National Finance Committee Chair; current National Legal Defense Fund Committee chair; National Chair of Executive Director Search Committee; Board Member of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation; and Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter President, membership chairman and current board member.

Outside of SPJ, she serves in dual roles as a professor at the University of Cincinnati's Electronic Media Department and as WCPO-TV's Emmy and national award-winning investigative reporter. At WCPO, she's served as an anchor, general assignment reporter, and currently as investigative reporter. Her abilities as a writer and reporter have garnered Hagit more than 100 national, state and local awards, including ten Emmy awards, a National Headliner Award, three national Sigma Delta Chi Awards and as a national finalist with the Investigative Reporters and Editors Association.

Hagit received bachelor's and master's degrees in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University.

At home, she shares life with her husband Jeff, her son Jake, a dog and two cats.

Freedom of Information
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FOI FYI: SPJ’s FOI Committee Blog
— Oklahoma State University wins SPJ’s National Black Hole Award
— North Carolina paper Cherokee Scout withdraws request for gun records, grovels for forgiveness
— University of Wyoming will make presidential finalists public, despite new law

FOI Committee
This committee is the watchdog of press freedoms across the nation. It relies upon a network of volunteers in each state organized under Project Sunshine. These SPJ members are on the front lines for assaults to the First Amendment and when lawmakers attempt to restrict the public's access to documents and the government's business. The committee often is called upon to intervene in instances where the media is restricted.

Freedom of Information Committee Chair

Linda Petersen
Managing Editor
The Valley Journals
801-254-5974 X 17
E-mail
Bio (click to expand)

Linda Petersen is the managing editor of The Valley Journals, a group of 15 free, total market coverage, monthly community papers in the Salt Lake Valley, Utah.

She is president of the Utah Foundation for Open Government, a citizen coalition that works to educate and advocate for open government.

A past president of the Utah Headliners pro chapter, she is currently the chapter’s FOI officer and treasurer.

For her open government advocacy, she has received the Utah Press Association John E. Jones Award, the Utah Headliners Clifford P. Cheney Service to Journalism Award and the Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Chapter Member Award.

Home > Legal Defense Fund > LDF Auction > Contribute

Legal Defense Fund Auction

You don’t want to miss the opportunity to see the fabulous items available for bid and to network with hundreds of journalists — all for a great cause! Proceeds from this event will go to SPJ’s Legal Defense Fund, a unique account that financially supports journalists waging legal battles to defend the freedom of speech and the press.

Both the live and silent auctions will take place during the Excellence in Journalism 2012 conference.

Pitch in!

You can help fight important legal battles that protect the First Amendment by contributing to SPJ's annual LDF auction. Journalism and campaign memorabilia, original artwork, autographed books and tear sheets and newsroom T-shirts always sell well. Get creative!

See a list of donation items or submit your own ideas.

Donations must be received by August 17, 2012. We are unable to accept items on-site during the convention. Please be sure to include the Item Donation Form with your auction item. Questions? Contact Communications Coordinator Christine DiGangi by email or by phone at 317-927-8000 x 205.

Please send donations, along with the donation form, to:

Society of Professional Journalists
Attn: LDF Auction
3909 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208

If you are making a monetary donation, please be sure your check or money order indicates that the contribution is for the Legal Defense Fund. Please note: Donations are not tax deductible.