SPJ Media Alert

Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2001

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

CONTACTS:
Sarah A. Shrode, SPJ Director of Communications, sshrode@spj.org

Sessions focus on Sept. 11 Tragedies,
High-Profile Legal Case and More

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

FRIDAY, OCT. 5, EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

9 a.m.
SPJ Business and Opening Session – The SPJ National Convention’s Opening Business Session sets the pace for a program-packed weekend with the First Amendment Center’s live concert series, “A New Kind of Freedom.” The program, which explores free expression and First Amendment issues, is an energetic and innovative multi-media production involving live music, film clips, recordings and narration.
SPJ Convention delegates also will meet the candidates for the 2001-2002 SPJ board of directors. Any nominations from the floor will be made during this meeting.
Room: Evergreen Ballroom - Idylwood, Fairweather, Bellefield

10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
Revised Session
Intimate Storytelling – Television News Center President Herb Brubaker will discuss how reporters told the stories of the lives affected by the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C. He will be reviewing the tapes and scripts of these television reports in this session.
Room: Lakehills Meeting Room.

Noon
Legal Defense Fund Luncheon – Free-lance writer Vanessa Leggett has been jailed since July 20 for refusing to turn over notes a research to a federal grand jury. SPJ came to her defense legally with a $12,500 Legal Defense Fund grant. SPJ said individuals who are engaged in the practice of gathering information for dissemination to the public should be free to gather and report without fear of becoming an arm of the government. Mike DeGeurin, Leggett's attorney, and Bruce Sanford, SPJ First Amendment legal counsel at Baker & Hostetler in Washington, D.C., will review Leggett's case and its implications for journalists and news organizations.
Room: Evergreen Ballroom - Idylwood, Fairweather, Bellefield

2 p.m.
Will Strikes Continue to Ravage Successful Newspapers? – Panelists, including The Seattle Times Executive Editor Michael Fancher and Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editor and Publisher Roger Oglesby, will examine the long-term ramifications of The Seattle Times and Post-Intelligencer newspaper strike of 2000-01. Session leaders will discuss the impact of strikes on recruiting, negotiations and the future of union bargaining at American newspapers.
Room: Marymoor Meeting Room

3:15 – 4:15 p.m.
Revised Session
The Role of Religion Reporting After the Terrorist Attacks – Religion emerged as a dominant theme in the aftermath of the events on Sept. 11. Reporters throughout the country sought to explain Islam and the country’s multifaith spiritual fabric. Religion reporters also wrote about misconceptions and prejudice and told the story of Americans grieving at religious services nationwide. In this workshop, leading newspaper religion reporters and other experts will examine the coverage of religion following the attacks.
Room: Lakehills Meeting Room

4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
New Session
Covering Disasters – Sept. 11, 2001, was undoubtedly the biggest news day in any journalist’s life. The media did an extraordinary job in extraordinary times. When there is “real news,” it’s clear the media shines. Television and radio calmly told a story without spreading fear, and newspapers, news magazines and Internet sites provided detailed explanations and context. Come hear stories of journalists on the frontline, how they got the story and how they got it published. And, let’s look ahead to the implications for newsgathering as America moves to a war footing.
Room: King County East – Sahalee, Glendale, Overlake Meeting Rooms

6 p.m.
HEADLINE SESSION: News We Know But Dare Not Tell – Via a live, trans-Pacific satellite feed, journalists in Asia and America will examine what happens when self-imposed restraints prevent a journalist from asking difficult questions or writing frankly about matters of substance.
Room: Marymoor Meeting Room

7:30 p.m.
Sigma Delta Chi Awards Dinner – Winners of the 2000 Sigma Delta Chi Awards for Excellence in Journalism will be honored during this banquet. From deadline coverage to investigative reporting, these awards recognize journalism's best and brightest. Award recipients include Keith Morrison, Charmian Gilmartin and the staff of Dateline NBC; the staff of the Great Falls (Mont.) Tribune for coverage of the Bar-Jonah case; and 2000 Pulitzer-Prize winners Alan Diaz of The Associated Press, Tom Hallman Jr. of The Oregonian, Ian Johnson of The Wall Street Journal, and Matt Rainey of The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J. Featured speaker for the evening is Frank Blethen, publisher of The Seattle Times.
Room: Evergreen Ballroom - Idylwood, Fairweather, Bellefield

ABOUT SPJThe 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.