SPJ Media Alert

Monday, Oct. 1, 2001

ATTENTION:
News editors, Business editors, Feature editors,
Photo editors, Assignment desks, Calendar listings

CONTACTS:
Sarah A. Shrode, SPJ Director of Communications, 317/927-8000 or sshrode@spj.org

WHAT
2001 Society of Professional Journalists National Convention

WHEN
Thursday, Oct. 4; Friday, Oct. 5; Saturday, Oct. 6

WHERE
DoubleTree Hotel – Bellevue
300 112th Ave., S.E.
Bellevue, WA 98004

THURSDAY, OCT. 4, EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

7 a.m.
Society of Professional Journalists Board of Directors meeting
Room: Overlake Meeting Room

Noon
Joint meeting of the Society of Professional Journalists and Sigma Delta Chi Foundation boards of directors
Room: Marymoor Meeting Room

1:30 p.m.
Sigma Delta Chi Foundation Board of Directors meeting
Room: Marymoor Meeting Room

2:15 – 3:15 p.m.
Revised Session
The Care and Handling of Controversial Pictures – When terrorists attack media centers such as New York and Washington, D.C., the quality of the photographic report is extremely high, and the volume is huge. The decisions affecting picture selection and play become as complex as the report is large. What is the historic photo that will become an icon of the event? What about the graphic pictures? Are scenes of people jumping from buildings too insensitive for a grieving nation to see? If so, how do you convey the immensity of the casualties? If not, how do you play the graphic pictures? How do you handle reader reaction to those decisions? Did television coverage affect news judgment of still photography? If so, why? If not, why not? These are a sampling of questions the panel will address.
Room: Glendale Meeting Room

3:30 p.m.
FOI and the Public Eye – In light of the events of Sept. 11, 2001, journalists in America will face new challenges in accessing government information. The federal government might institute harsher penalties for the release of classified information, and agencies might restrict certain information in the name of security. Military coverage also might be tightly controlled. President Bush has said that covert actions might remain secret, even when successful. Media organizations (including SPJ) have been working to address possible assaults on FOI. In this panel, SPJ FOI Committee Chair Ian Marquand will lead a discussion of potential dangers and responses. In addition, panelists will share new FOI resources to help journalists learn about access at the state and federal level.
Room: Glendale Meeting Room

7 p.m.
Opening Night Reception – The Society of Professional Journalists will kick off its convention at the Experience Music Project's Sky Church. The Sky Church features a massive video frieze enhanced by state-of-the-art acoustics and more.
Location: Experience Music Project, 325 Fifth Ave. North, Seattle, Wash.

ABOUT SPJ
The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. 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.

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MEDIA PASSES: Media passes for events at the Oct. 4-6 2001 SPJ National Convention may be obtained at the convention's onsite SPJ Office at the DoubleTree Hotel – Bellevue, 300 112th Ave., S.E., Bellevue, Wash.

For more information or to obtain a media pass, contact Sarah A. Shrode, SPJ Director of Communications, at sshrode@spj.org or at the convention's onsite SPJ Office.