Contacts:
Nicholas Whitaker, Google News Lab Training and Development Manager, newslabsupport@google.com
Isaac Taylor, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, itaylor@spj.org


INDIANAPOLIS -- The Society of Professional Journalists Training Program, in association with the Google News Initiative are offering special election training in September and October.

“Covering and Protecting Your Elections: Tools to detect misinformation, protect yourself and your data online, and connect with voters” will kick off Sept. 5 in Indianapolis and will travel to 11 additional U.S. cities.

The training is free and includes a wide range of Google tools and workflows that can help journalists engage their audience, research and report information around political elections and use data visualizations in powerful new ways.

“During election season, misleading news reports can sway opinions. Digital attacks can take important websites offline, silencing information when voters need it most,” said Nicholas Whitaker. “SPJ and GNI want to help journalists in accessing accurate information and help them get a clear understanding of how to break down complicated topics with data. These are areas where Google tools and workflows can provide real value.”

Each training session will offer a variety of workshops including Verification and Fact Checking, Safety and Security, Data Journalism and Journalism Ethics. The 12 cities where training will be conducted are:

Indianapolis – Sept. 5
Dallas – Sept. 11
Austin, Texas – Sept. 13-15
Las Vegas – Sept. 18
Phoenix – Sept. 20
Philadelphia – Sept. 25
Columbus, Ohio – Oct. 2
Milwaukee – Oct. 2
Madison, Wisconsin – Oct. 3
Morgantown, West Virginia – Oct. 4
Minneapolis/St. Paul – Oct. 4
Miami – Oct. 10

Find more details and register today. For questions, contact SPJ Training/Education Manager Monica Williams via email or by phone at 317-920-4786.

SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, ,give to the Legal Defense Fund, or give to the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation.

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