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
— FOIA compliance summary
— Maine and D.C. officials aim to hide communications; Calif. opens more records
— Judge: Oregon shield law doesn’t cover blogger in defamation suit

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 Nominations 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 chair.

Outside of SPJ, she serves as WCPO-TV's Emmy and national award-winning investigative reporter. At WCPO, Hagit is regarded as a "do-it-all" journalist. She's served as an anchor, general assignment reporter, and now helms the award-winning I-Team. 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 Audit Tookit | PDF
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FOI FYI: SPJ’s FOI Committee Blog
— FOIA compliance summary
— Maine and D.C. officials aim to hide communications; Calif. opens more records
— Judge: Oregon shield law doesn’t cover blogger in defamation suit

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

Legal Defense Fund Auction

Dear community partner,

On behalf of the Legal Defense Fund of the Society of Professional Journalists, I am reaching out to you today in support of a free press and free speech for all. Every day, journalists challenge government secrecy and speak out against corruption. They should be able to do so without fear of retaliation from those with more money or power.

Continue reading this letter [PDF, 124 KB]

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 2011 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!

Donations must be received by August 26, 2011. 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 Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester by e-mail or by phone at 317-927-8000 x 210.

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.