Disco maniac on 'Stayin' Alive'
Michael Quintanilla, an award-winning journalist of more than 30 years who used to cover the cops beat at the San Antonio Express-News, had to get something off his chest. Read More

Organizers hope for more innovation, less uncertainty at 2010 convention
After a convention spent discussing the uncertainties of their profession, some SPJ members may leave Indianapolis today still in the dark, said newly installed SPJ President Kevin Z. Smith. Read More

Harper family accepts Wells Key
Working a job where most people last only about a year, former Society of Professional Journalists Executive Director Terry Harper stayed almost eight. His dedication provided financial stability for the society and turned a deficit into a six-figure surplus, outgoing SPJ President Dave Aeikens said. Read More

Song recalls earlier days of SDX
Theme songs often become embedded in American culture. Think “Star Wars” and “The Andy Griffith Show.” SPJ’s signature tune didn’t work out so well. Read More

Revving their engines
Convention attendees who ventured away from the hotel on Saturday had the chance to watch competitive motorbike freestyle riders in action. Read More

New officers urged to reduce dues, communicate
Several chapters are calling on new officers to run SPJ with more sensitivity, communication and accountability. Read More

Pulliams keep alive family's century-long media legacy
“Our whole family are newspaper people,” Russ Pulliam said at the conference celebrating the 100th anniversary of the organization his grandfather founded. The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation board member said he’s “knee deep in this story” of his family’s history with SPJ, and he tries to compare the times. Read More

Covering journalism's most difficult stories
One of journalism’s most difficult challenges is writing about tragedy. Dart Society journalists, who have received fellowships or awards from the Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, gave tips Saturday on covering some of the hardest stories. Read More

Society's longest-serving member: 'Our job is content'
Austin Kiplinger, a 73-year member of SPJ who was named a Fellow of the Society, urged attendees to refocus on the basics of journalism. Technology may change how journalism is distributed, but the need for solid reporting remains, he said. Read More

Young journalists confront burnout
Aiesha Little’s hair was falling out in her early 20s. Working long hours, Little said she felt burned out from her work as a reporter at an upstate New York daily newspaper. Read More

The Buzz: jail, jokes, jobs
A surge in journalistic “crimes” — failure to yield to an oncoming editor, dangling participles in public, improperly inverting a pyramid — pumped money into the Legal Defense Fund. Read More

Freelancing: A smart alternative?
The uncertain journalism job market can lead to layoffs and downsizing. For reporters who worry about their jobs but still want to write, freelancing is an option. Read More

New president seeking greater diversity
SPJ President Kevin Z. Smith wants to see stronger efforts to attract minority journalists to the society. Read More

Cost drives some convention-goers to attend Tweetup
From the perspective of a seasoned Tweetup coordinator, the gathering at Alcatraz Brewing Co. in downtown Indianapolis was a success. Read More

Locals rally against health care reform
The sound of car horns blasted through the Saturday morning lull in Indianapolis as drivers showed support for more than 40-50 protesters opposing President Barack Obama’s health care reform plan. Read More

Even after prison, Saberi offers optimism to students
Journalist Roxana Saberi’s message throughout the Mark of Excellence Awards luncheon was to remain optimistic about journalism. Read More

Harper remembered for strength, wit
Whether he was serenading staff members with his guitar or upholding his duties as an official Maker's Mark ambassador, Terry Harper never let his illness slow him down. Read More

Parking on a budget
Can’t afford hotel parking? Check out alternative parking that’s less than 10 minutes walking distance from the Westin and under $20 daily. Read More

Music Education
Battle of Media Bands benefits journalism scholarship fund. Read More

Speaker challenges audience with ethical questions
Sometimes Jim Burke has more ethical questions than answers. Read More

SDX celebrates 'sense of great community'
SPJ recognized the best journalism from 2008 on Friday evening, with Sigma Delta Chi Awards in 53 categories, including print, radio, television and online. Read More

Dispute comes to convention
Against SPJ officials’ wishes, The Indianapolis Star guild President Tom Spalding came with multicolored leaflets in hand to give a message to media giant and convention sponsor Gannett Co. Read More

Decline in advertising means tough times for TV
Scott Broom, a traditional “coat-and-tie” television reporter, would do anything to avoid the pink slip. So when he heard rumors of layoffs, Broom decided to reinvent himself. He now works for WUSA in Washington, D.C., writing, shooting, editing and uploading news reports. Read More

Chapter ranking criteria is relaxed
Wyoming Pro, a fledgling Society of Professional Journalists chapter, almost lost access to grants and risked probation when none of its members could afford to attend the Society of Professional Journalists’ conference and national convention. Read More

Watchdog option dropped, surprising advocates, leaders
SPJ struck Project Watchdog from the activities chapters can conduct to earn star ratings. This is because the committee has been inactive for two years and no longer exists. Read More

Emerson group wins sports honor
When two Emerson College broadcast students decided to cover the Boston Marathon last year, they had no idea their story would catch CNN’s attention and win national awards. Read More

Candidates vie for two contested positions
Dozens of delegates from Society of Professional Journalists chapters nationwide gathered Friday morning at a pre-election business meeting to listen to candidate speeches for board of directors positions. Read More

Organizers still seeking Tweetup site
Today’s Tweetup is still without a location, said organizer Ron Sylvester. Read More

Watchdogs dwindling at statehouses
With budget cuts sparking job losses in journalism, more newspapers are collaborating on statehouse coverage. Read More

A night out in Indy
Photos by Nikki Villoria. Read More

Stepping out, stepping online
Many SPJ members found themselves stepping out of scheduled convention sessions on Friday and stepping into the World Wide Web to test their newly learned skills. Read More

Former SPJ president pushes for transparency
After a revealing statewide audit conduced by watchdog group Tennessee Coalition for Open Government, resources about open records and meetings have become available in Tennessee, and the number of requests for information has increased. Read More

Convention attendance up
While many journalism conventions this year had fewer sponsorships and attendees than in previous years, sponsorship dollars and attendees are up for the Society of Professional Journalists. Read More

New president takes office Saturday
Kevin Z. Smith couldn’t land a job 30 years ago with the student newspaper at West Virginia University. He wasn’t part of the “in group,” he said. Read More

Society of Professional Journalists: A Centennial History
A multimedia look at the 100 years that made SPJ what it is today. Read More

The buzz about #SPJ100
While other convention attendees will be at the President’s Installation Banquet on Saturday night, others plan to attend “Tweetup” instead. Read More

Reporter, freed from iran, to speak
Roxana Saberi, the freelance journalist imprisoned in Iran from Jan. 31 to May 11, will be the keynote speaker at the Mark of Excellence Awards Luncheon at noon today. Read More

Reception talk: Dogs, money and fire eating
Optimism was on tap along with an open bar at the opening night reception Thursday night at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. Read More

Memorial fund to provide scholarships
Money from the new Terry Harper Memorial Fund will go to scholarships to help journalists attend SPJ programming, President Dave Aeikens announced Thursday night before an auction fundraiser benefitting the fund. Read More

Grieve job loss, and then move on
After getting laid off, it’s OK to sit on the couch in pajamas and eat a pint of ice cream every day for a week — as long as there’s a deadline on the pity party. Read More

Journalism jobs can be landed off beaten path
Community manager. Entertainment producer. Cable documentary producer. These aren’t the usual positions you go for with your journalism degree, but today’s options call for different job targets, said Michael Koretzky, who has created a job-posting Web site for journalists and was the key speaker of the “Weird Careers in Journalism” workshop on Thursday. Read More

Community journalism touted
Benjy Hamm is reading the news and he isn’t happy. Headlines and stories claim the demise of the newspaper industry, but Hamm said that’s not true. Read More

Board may choose executive director soon
The Society of Professional Journalists’ new executive director may be chosen by November, an SPJ officer said during the board of directors meeting Thursday. Read More

The big issue
Delegates discuss challenges facing SPJ. Read More

Keeping tabs on social networks
Three seconds is all the time it takes for a recruiter to search the deep Web and uncover drunken frat party photos and blog posts cursing out professors. Read More

Few members use SPJ dues waiver
Even after hundreds of newsroom layoffs, only 10 journalists have taken advantage of the free membership offered by the Society of Professional Journalists. Read More

Indianapolis a la carte: Deals on meals
For journalists on tight budgets who can’t afford the $45 SPJ luncheon or $65 banquet, don’t fret. Check out some of the local restaurants offering big meals for small spenders. Read More

Behind bars for a good cause
Neil Ralston (left), SPJ vice president of campus chapter affairs, and Steve Geimann, president of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, plead for bail for their release during the SPJ Convention Jail-N-Bail on Thursday. The fundraiser puts journalists behind bars for an hour or until at least $100 is raised for SPJ's Legal Defense Fund. Read More

#spj100
More | RSS