Contact:
Heather Porter, Programs Coordinator, (317) 927-8000, ext. 204
Beth King, APR, Communications Manager (317) 927-8000, ext. 211

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists today announced its 2008 schedule of workshops designed to improve writing in the nation’s newspapers.

The Narrative Writing Workshops, led by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tom Hallman Jr. of the Oregonian, show journalists how to move beyond the inverted pyramid-style of writing to the art of storytelling.

This year's workshops are scheduled in:

-- San Jose, Calif., on April 26 at San Jose State University.
-- Des Moines, Iowa, at Drake University on May 24.
-- Gainesville, Fla., on June 14 at the University of Florida.
-- Houston, Texas, at the University of Houston on June 2.
-- Richmond, Va., at the University of Richmond on July 26.

“During the workshop, participants will learn ideas for narrative reporting, the daily get, long-form narrative storytelling and strategies to take back to the newsroom,” Hallman said. “Narrative writing is a true gift and I look forward to teaching my craft with future narrative writers.”

In 2001, Hallman won the Pulitzer Prize for feature writing for a series of articles in The Oregonian. Additionally, he has been the recipient of every major writing award for journalism, including multiple American Society of Newspaper Editors awards, a Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award, a National Headliner Award and a Nixon National Writing Award. A reporter for more than 25 years, Hallman has been at The Oregonian since 1980.

Programs will be from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and cost $40 for SPJ members and $60 for non-members. Lunch is included. Late fees shall apply for registrations received less than two weeks before each workshop. For complete details or to register, visit SPJ's Narrative Writing Workshop page or call Programs Coordinator Heather Porter at (317) 927-8000, ext. 204.

To learn more about SPJ’s Narrative Writing Workshops and other training programs, please visit SPJ's Training page.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism advocacy organization. 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 further information on SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

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