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Native American Journalists Association to partner with SPJ, RTDNA for Excellence in Journalism Conference in 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 18, 2015
Contacts:
Dana Neuts, SPJ National President, 360-920-1737(PDT), dneuts@spj.org
Rebecca Landsberry, Interim Executive Director, NAJA, 405-325-1649, RebeccaLandsberry@naja.com
Mike Cavender, Executive Director, RTDNA, 770-622-7011, mikec@rtdna.org
Jennifer Royer, SPJ Communications Strategist, 317-361-4134, jroyer@spj.org
ORLANDO, Fla. — The Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) will join the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) at the annual Excellence in Journalism Conference in New Orleans, Sept. 18-20, 2016.
SPJ, RTDNA and NAJA boards voted this summer to approve the partnership, and NAJA has representatives at Excellence in Journalism 2015 being held in Orlando today through Sunday.
“The Native American Journalists Association is excited to join SPJ and RTDNA for a national conference,” said Rebecca Landsberry, NAJA interim executive director. “Our members, who represent tribal newsrooms, freelancers and media professionals covering Indian Country and their communities, are thrilled to partner with SPJ and RTDNA. They are looking forward to the dynamic programming they’ve come to expect from NAJA along with fresh networking opportunities between these three well-respected journalism organizations at EIJ16.”
“We have already seen the energy and excitement when SPJ, RTDNA and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists get together every other year for EIJ, and we look forward to that same electricity with this new NAJA partnership,” said Dana Neuts, SPJ national president. “Collaboration with other journalism groups means more sessions, more great ideas, more educational and networking opportunities. Journalism as a whole benefits when individual associations and societies in the field can work together, sharing strengths and challenges, ideas and solutions.”
"We couldn’t be more excited that NAJA is joining EIJ in New Orleans," said Mike Cavender, executive director of RTDNA. “People who have attended EIJ in years where we have partnered with NAHJ tell us all the time how much they enjoy the convention and the energy they feel when the three groups attend. I’m confident attendees will find the same excitement from this great partnership with NAJA. We look forward to making EIJ16 another great destination for all journalists.”
Since 2011, the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association have partnered to host an annual conference that provides journalists with the industry’s best training and networking opportunities. Following two successful Excellence in Journalism conferences, SPJ and RTDNA welcomed the National Association of Hispanic Journalists as an EIJ collaborator for the 2013 event in Anaheim, Calif. SPJ and RTDNA again welcome NAHJ for the 2015 conference in Orlando, and will welcome NAJA for the 2016 conference in New Orleans.
EIJ conference attendees are the top professionals in journalism, including: newsroom decision makers, leaders, station managers, reporters, producers, content managers, editors, freelancers and educators — people who are looking to implement new technologies, software products and journalism best practices in their newsrooms as soon they return home from the annual convention.
EIJ is set to return to Anaheim, Calif., in 2017 and will be held in Baltimore in 2018.
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information on SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.
RTDNA is the world's largest professional organization devoted exclusively to electronic journalism. RTDNA represents local and network journalists in broadcasting, cable and digital media in more than 30 countries. Learn more about RTDNA at www.rtdna.org.
NAJA serves and empowers Native journalists through programs and actions designed to enrich journalism and promote Native cultures. NAJA recognizes Native Americans as distinct peoples based on tradition and culture. In this spirit, NAJA educates and unifies its membership through journalism programs that promote diversity and defends challenges to free press, speech and expression. Learn more about NAJA at www.naja.com.
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