SPJ 2009 Meeting

Hey guys! Here is the power point that we shared at the first meeting! So if you missed the meeting you can check out all of the info here.

Secondly, remember that there is a resume workshop TOMORROW 11/4 that we are taking part in with NABJ. If you signed up don't forget to be there!

SPJ Meeting One

Ohio SPJ Awards!

Congrats to the Lantern and writers Gerrick Kennedy, Tom Knox and Molly Gray (oops that's me!) for representing the Ohio State University SPJ chapter in the state awards!!

The Lantern won second place for daily college newspaper.

Gerrick Kennedy took first place in college feature writing.

Tom Knox took second in college feature writing and second in college news writing.

Molly Gray took second in college sports writing.

Let's strive for even better outcomes NEXT year!!!

SPJ convention scholarship!!

Look no further than SPJ for recognition of your hard work upholding our First Amendment rights. And with SPJ, you can combine that with the chance to meet journalism recruiters, professionals and students from all over the country at the 2009 SPJ Convention, August 27-30 in Indianapolis. Apply for the Robert D. G. Lewis First Amendment Awardfor a $500 prize that helps get you to Indianapolis, where you will make invaluable career connections and share your efforts with other defenders of the First Amendment.   As a Convention attendee, you'll find professional development sessions that will directly help your future journalism career. Take advantage of the following:   SPJ's Six-Step Program to Career Success Not only is a complimentary massage included in this package, but so are a dozen sessions on a range of career-enhancing advice, personal writing critiques  and access to the Career Development Center.   Programs to upgrade your skills and help land you that first job Now, more than ever, it's important to stay sharp and ahead of the game. Learn how to ask the big interview questions that get the biggest results ; work with Chicago Sun-Times Web editor Kristen Miller to learn how to tell your stories interactively online; or find your next job at "Weird Careers in Journalism" from former hiring editor Michael Koretzky who knows where to look.   Start your journalism career off right. Visit the 2009 SPJ Convention Web site for more information and DON'T WAIT TO REGISTER! The deadline for the Robert D. G. Lewis First Amendment Award is July 14. Get the application details here.   If you have any questions about the application process, contact SPJ Awards Coordinator Lauren Rochester at 317-927-8000 ext. 210 orlrochester@spj.org.   We hope to see you in Indianapolis!

Meet the New Executive Board for '09-'10

Eryn Bostwick ~ President

I am a third year Journalism major with a minor in Political Science. My passion for politics landed me an amazing internship wiht Gongwer News Service, where I cover committee meetings at the Statehouse. I have learned so much there and wouldn't trade the experience for anything! My favorite part of the journalism program at OSU is that the variety of classes allows each student to focus on what they are really interested in.

Zack Meisel ~ Vice President

I'm a sophomore journalism major with an undying passion for sportswriting that's constantly challenged by neverending disappointment and heartbreak from my hometown Cleveland sports teams. I covered sports for The Lantern the entire year, focusing on the football and men's and women's basketball teams. I'll be the sports editor of the paper starting in the fall and hope to continue to pursue a career in the field of sports journalism. Previous internships: CollegeFanz Sports Network, Unigo.

Molly Gray ~ Relations Executive

Hi! I'm a sophomore journalism and international studies major. I was a sports writer for The Lantern for Fall '08 and Winter '09 and I am now the Arts and Entertainment editor (started Spring '09 and will continue until Winter '10). I love both fields and don't know where I'll end up yet! I have had an internship with Bleacher Report Inc., a sports news site. I worked as a photographer at Dodger Stadium in high school. And I will be interning this summer at NBC4 in Columbus. I am in Ohio for school but I lived the first 18 years of my life in Los Angeles and will be a Lakers and Dodgers fan until the day I die. I hope to return to L.A. after graduation and write for the L.A. Times. GO BUCKS!

Kristen Levenick ~ Treasurer

My name is Kristen Levenick and I am a sophomore journalism major, as well as a psychology major and sexuality studies minor. I'm only just getting my feet wet in the journalism program here at Ohio State, but I am eager to learn and get involved with as much as I can. I am particularly drawn to magazine journalism and feature writing and hope to be involved with something pertaining to that area in the future.

Media Panel Tonight!!

Don't forget about the Media Panel today from 6:30-8pm in the Frank Hale Cultural Center's Multi-purpose room (100-F). 

The panelists include: NBC4 sports reporter, Omar Ruiz, Columbus Dispatch reporter, Simone Sebastian, Women's Studies Professor, Rebecca Wanzo, NBC4 photojournalist, Charles Busby, and the Columbus Association of Black Journalists president, Sherri Williams. 

The topic presented is "Biases in the Media," where each panelist will give insight and share personal accounts on how women, minorities and marginalized groups are covered in the media currently for the better or worse.
Communication Associate professor,  Dr. Osei Appiah will moderate.

This event is sure to be enlightening, thought-provoking, and interactive as attendees will get the opportunity to ask the panelists questions and view various misrepresentations in the media hands-on, from magazine covers to television shows, political cartoons, movies and video games.

Elections

Our May meeting, to be held on Tuesday 5/19, will be the last meeting of the year. During the upcoming meeting we will be holding elections for chapter president, vice president and treasurer for the upcoming school year.

If you are interested, please send the following information to spjohiostate@gmail.com by Sunday 5/17:

Name, rank and major
Which position you are interested in running for (you may rank them in order of preference if interested in more than one)
A short (less than 100) description of why you are interested in running, what you would like to do with SPJ for the upcoming year, and why you think you are fit for the job

Please feel free to email with any questions as well.

May Meeting

Thanks to those who made it out to our April meeting last week.

May's meeting will be on the 19th (Tuesday), at 7 p.m. in the journalism building (room is TBA). We will host a panel of sports media professionals.

Mark your calendars. There is more information to come.

Central Ohio SPJ Founders Day 2009

What's next for the news?

Columbus Dispatch editor Ben Marrison will be the keynote speaker at the 2009 Central Ohio SPJ Founders Day Banquet on Thursday, May 7.

As the editor at the Dispatch since 1999, Marrison has been attempting to find answers to the challenges facing the Dispatch and the newspaper industry. In the last year, he notified the Associated Press that the paper would be dropping its service when its AP contract expired; helped form the Ohio News Organization, bringing together a team of rivals in an effort to sidestep reliance on AP copy; and oversaw the layoffs of 45 members of the editorial staff in what he called the worst day of his career.

Many other papers are dropping AP, news organizations in several states are following OHNO's lead and forming cooperatives and, sadly, the Dispatch is hardly alone in reducing its staff.

Marrison will talk about the challenges facing news organizations and the outlook for the industry in his keynote.

The chapter also will present college scholarships and its First Amendment, Brick Wall, Distinguished Service and Appreciation awards.

Ticket prices this year have been rolled back to $25 ($15 for students). Reservation deadline: midnight, April 23.

The evening starts at 6 p.m. with a cash bar and networking, followed by dinner and the program at 7 p.m. Join us for an evening of fellowship at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Rd.

Register online at http://foundersday2009.eventbrite.com

April SPJ Meeting - 4/15

The April SPJ meeting will be held Wednesday (4/15) at 7 p.m. in room 139 of the Journalism Building.

We will host a panel of recent journalism graduates who are using their degrees to work in other fields. Come out for free pizza and pop and to learn more about the options you have with your journalism degree!

Email spjohiostate@gmail.com with questions.

2009 SPJ Convention

Perhaps you recently took a spring break trip that recharged your academic batteries. It’s not too early to plan your next trip. Consider making it a vacation and professional development opportunity rolled into one amazing experience. We suggest the 2009 SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference, August 27-30 in Indianapolis.

Convention programming will focus on the key issues in today’s shifting media landscape, issues of critical importance to the next generation of journalists: students and young professionals.
This year, like every year, the Convention will feature over 60 professional development sessions, a career development center, Journalism Expo and the national Mark of Excellence Awards luncheon.

But unlike years past, this year SPJ will celebrate a truly landmark event – our 100th anniversary. Join students and professionals from all over the country as they reflect on SPJ’s history and explore the future of the largest and most broad-based journalism organization in the country.

Best of all, you’ll have access to these amazing opportunities at an affordable price. Registration for students, post-graduates and campus advisers is only $135 – that’s $65 cheaper than an iPhone! But you’ll have to register before August 2 to get that early-bird price.

In fact, consider registering now – before the spring semester or quarter ends.

Log on now to the Convention Web site to see all the opportunities that await you, like a chance to meets CBS News and “60 Minutes” foreign affairs correspondent Laura Logan.

And if you want to be a part of the behind-the-scenes coverage, don’t forget the April 17 deadline to apply for The Working Press, a daily tabloid newspaper that covers the Convention. It’s is a great way to earn real newspaper internship experience – plus your registration and lodging are paid. Get all the details here.

We hope to see you in Indianapolis!

Spring Meetings

Our spring SPJ meetings will be:

Wednesday, April 15th
Tuesday, May 19th

Save the dates. Have a great spring break!

SPJ Convention Internship

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: The Working Press

Newspaper Internship for SPJ Convention

Deadline: April 17, 2009 

SPJ is looking for a few good (no, GREAT!) student journalists to staff The Working Press, a daily tabloid that covers the annual Convention and National Journalism Conference. The position is great for professional development and internship experience.

This year's convention will be August 27-29 in Indianapolis. The convention is an annual event organized by SPJ to provide journalists across the country with career training, networking opportunities and much more. Selected interns will need to arrive in Indianapolis by noon Wednesday, August 26. The internship ends Sunday, August 30.

For selected interns, SPJ provides:

- Complimentary convention registration

- Complimentary accommodations at convention hotel

- Mentoring by professional journalists

- Networking venues

- A place to showcase your talents in front of many professionals

Interested? Visit the SPJ Web site for more information and application instructions. Applications must be postmarked by April 17, 2009.

Contact Professional Development Coordinator Heather Porter with questions: 317-927-8000 ext. 204 or hporter@spj.org.

We hope to see you in Indianapolis!

Ohio SPJ Awards deadline extended

Deadline extended to March 20 for ‘09 Ohio SPJ Awards

(A program of the Cincinnati, Cleveland & Central Ohio pro chapters)

The postmark deadline for entering this year's competition has been extended to March 20, 2009. 

A printed copy of this year's Call for Entries is included in Ohio's Best Journalism, which was mailed in January. 

An online version of the official 2009 Call for Entries, including entry forms, is available at http://spjawards.org.

Mail your entries, postmarked by March 20, 2009, to: Ohio SPJ Awards, 1331 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43207.

NABJ Event

The National Association of Black Journalists at OSU is having a Minority Media Panel on Thursday, March 5 at 6:30-8pm in the Frank Hale Black Cultural Center Hall of Fame room.

The professional panelists include:
Jerry Revish, Ch. 10 anchor
Tanisha Mallet, Ch. 10 reporter
The CEO of FlyPaper Magazine
Mike Jackson, NBC4 anchor
Charles Busby, NBC 4 photojournalist
Tanya Hutchins, NBC4 digital journalist
Kerry Charles, ABC6 producer

Simone Sebastian, Columbus Dispatch reporter

Ohio SPJ Awards 2009 - Call for Entries

Society of Professional Journalists

Ohio SPJ Awards 2009

Call for Entries

To Honor the Best of Ohio's Print, Broadcasting, Online, Trade and College Journalism

 

The Ohio SPJ Awards competition, presented collaboratively by the Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland Chapters of SPJ, honors print, broadcast, online, trade and college journalists in Ohio for their best work during 2008 to both serve the public interest and to protect press freedom. Categories have been revised to better reflect the changing challenges of journalism. 

This is the only Ohio competition that honors journalists who fulfill the SPJ mission, defense of the First Amendment, support of literacy, resistance to censorship, advocacy for openness of public records and meetings, media self-criticism and community service. This program also recognizes the best college daily and weekly newspapers, and awards up to $2,000 in scholarships for excellent college journalistic writing in news, feature, sports and opinion.  Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by February 27, 2009. 

ELIGIBILITY: Journalists are eligible who work for print and broadcast mediums in Ohio, and mediums in adjacent states that have significant reach into Ohio. Entrants need not be members of the Society of Professional Journalists. The work must have been published or broadcast in 2008.  

ABOUT SPJ:  The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation's 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 through the daily work of its nearly 10,000 members; works to inspire current and future journalists through professional development; and advocates for the protection of the First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech and press. 

WHAT SPJ DOES: Nationally, SPJ improves and protects journalism through national and local training, freedom of Information advocacy and resources, its Code of Ethics that encourages responsible reporting, a web site filled with career resources -www.spj.org, and a national recognition program for excellence in journalism.  Local SPJ chapters provide programs relevant to a city or region. Check www.spj.org to for membership information, and to find a chapter near you. 

COLLEGE STUDENT JOURNALIST RULES: 

Student material published in student publications or broadcast on student radio or television stations is eligible for either college or professional categories, but not both. 

Student-produced material that is published in a professional publication or broadcast on a professional radio or television station is only eligible for professional categories.

Scholarships are awarded only in the college categories. 

GENERAL RULES: 

SPJ chapters in other states will conduct judging. All decisions of judges are final.

By entering, entrants and their employers agree that entries or excerpts may be published in the Ohio SPJ Awards Program Booklet, in future year entry materials, on the websites of Ohio SPJ, or the Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland SPJ chapters, or in program publicity.

Make checks payable to SPJ, and mail with entries to Ohio SPJ Awards, 1331 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43207.

Deadline: Entries must be postmarked by February 27, 2008. 

CHECK OUT ALL PAST WINNERS AT: www.spjawards.com 

COLLEGE JOURNALISM CATEGORIES: 

Best College Daily Newspaper - For the best student newspaper or publication published regularly 3 or more times a week. Enter three issues. NO ENTRY FEE. 

Best College Non-daily Newspaper - For the best student newspaper or publication published regularly up to twice a week. Enter three issues. NO ENTRY FEE. 

Best College News Writing - One $500 scholarship will be awarded to the college journalist who show the most promise as a news writer, print or broadcast, through published or aired stories and academic standing. Ohio students only. Student entry fee: $10.  Submit two or more stories, a recommendation from an advisor/teacher, and a grade report. 

Best College Feature Writing - One $500 scholarship will be awarded to the college journalist who show the most promise as a feature writer, print or broadcast, through published or aired stories and academic standing. Ohio students only. Student entry fee: $10. Submit two or more stories, a recommendation from an advisor/teacher, and a grade report. 

Best College Sports Writing - One $500 scholarship will be awarded to the college journalist who show the most promise as a sports writer, print or broadcast, through published or aired stories and academic standing. Ohio students only. Student entry fee: $10.  Submit two or more stories, a recommendation from an advisor/teacher, and a grade report. 

Best College Opinion Writing - One $500 scholarship will be awarded to the college journalist who show the most promise as a opinion writer, print or broadcast, through published or aired opinion pieces and academic standing. Ohio students only. Student entry fee: $10.  Submit two or more stories, a recommendation from an advisor/teacher, and a grade report.

Entry Fee:  $10 per each entry in each writing category.  No entry fee for newspaper categories.  Make check payable to SPJ.  Mail check with entries to Ohio SPJ Awards, 1331 South High Street, Columbus, OH 43207. Deadline:  Postmarked by February 27, 2009.

SPJ Region 4 Conference

Perhaps you made a resolution for this new year. Maybe it’s to drop a few extra pounds, quit an unhealthy habit or something in between. Many resolutions seem to center around personal improvement.

This year, why not resolve to better your personal AND professional skills? And hey, there’s no exercise, dieting or nicotine patches required!

SPJ members in Region 4 (Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania) are invited to attend the Region’s Spring Conference, April 3-4 in Columbus, Ohio, taking place at the Double Tree Worthington. The special hotel room rate for the conference is $94. You can reserve a room now by clicking here.

All journalists in the region are welcome, with special discounts for SPJ members and students.

Registration fees: $70 professional SPJ member; $45 student SPJ member; $80 professional nonmember; $55 student nonmember.

On the schedule will be professional development sessions, the Regional Mark of Excellence Awards luncheon, a Friday night happy hour and a keynote address by Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts.

Don’t delay – mark your calendars now! More information will be available in the upcoming weeks from the Central Ohio Pro Chapter, host of this year’s conference. Updates will be forthcoming at the chapter’s Web site,www.centralohiospj.org.

For more information, please contact Katy Waters at 614-220-5468 or kwaters@bizjournals.com.

And remember, this year you can do something good for yourself and your career – and SPJ will be with you every step of the way.

OSU SPJ Blog

Hey all,

As you can see, we have started a blog for the Ohio State Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. I will be updating this blog from time to time with chapter news. 

If you have any suggestions for posts please email me at spjohiostate@gmail.com

Thanks!

Anna