Fall 2009 candidates’ nights

Posted on September 29, 2009
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SPJ Central Ohio is proud to be a sponsor of the Franklin County Consortium for Good Government’s events this year. This nonpartisan organization puts on a series of well-run candidates’ nights intended to help undecided voters make their choices with as much information as possible. The forums are timed, fair and include audience participation. Visit the consortium at http://www.franklincountyconsortium.com/2009Events/tabid/83/Default.aspx to see what’s scheduled for your neighborhood.

Law & Media Conference Oct. 2

Posted on September 14, 2009
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Join Central Ohio SPJ and the Ohio State Bar Association Friday, Oct. 2 for the 2009 Law & Media Conference at the bar association’s offices, 1700 Lake Shore Dr., Columbus, 43204.

Last day to register and get a $20 discount is Sept. 25.

This year’s topics include legal issues in the digital age, “sexting,” public records and the media’s economic crisis.

Hope to see you there!

Click here for the full schedule and registration form.

Main Street Free Press Museum Sept. 10

Posted on August 31, 2009
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Join Central Ohio SPJ Thursday, Sept. 10 in Fredericktown — about an hour from Columbus

It’s free!
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Issue 1 forum July 20

Posted on July 14, 2009
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Issue 1 in the upcoming Aug. 4 special election is a proposal by the City of Columbus to partially address the current and projected fiscal imbalance of the city’s general fund by increasing the tax rate on personal earned income by 0.5% to 2.5%. Whether or not Columbus voters support Issue 1, the outcome of this special election will have a significant impact on Columbus residents and workers and their neighborhoods for years to come.

Join us for a moderated public discussion of Issue 1, featuring prominent speakers presenting both sides of the issue. Sponsored by the non-partisan Franklin County Consortium, organizer of “Meet the Candidates Forum” events throughout central Ohio since 1991, the Columbus Community Coalition and the Society of Professional Journalists (Central Ohio Pro Chapter), this FREE event will provide the public with an opportunity to present questions to speakers at the event.

The moderator for this special event will be Carol Luper, ABC6 and Fox 28 News reporter.

For more information, email info@columbuscoalition.org or call (614) 219-9622 or respond at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/event.php?eid=98480358610&ref=nf.

Conference Tweets

Posted on April 5, 2009
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A few folks followed Saturday’s spring conference on Twitter. See what they had to say:

http://search.twitter.com/search?q=%23ohspj

Heaven help us

Posted on March 31, 2009
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An open invitation for all journalists:

A Prayer Service for The Media

A free people require a free and thoughtful media. The people of God at Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square rejoice in the freedom that is our heritage and pray that God will continue to bless those who influence public opinion and work to sustain and protect our civic life.

As a sign of gratitude for all who serve our common life as devoted journalists, and in celebration of the excellence incarnated in our neighbors at The Columbus Dispatch, Trinity Church will offer a Prayer Service for those who influence public opinion.

12:05 p.m. Wednesday, April 1
Trinity Episcopal Church
125 East Broad Street, the corner of Broad and 3rd Streets

The Rev. Richard A. Burnett, Rector

Founders Day 2009: What’s next for the news?

Posted on March 27, 2009
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Ben Marrison in the Columbus Dispatch newsroom.

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 newspaper industry. In the last year, he notified the Associated Press that the paper would be dropping their service with its contract expired; helped form the Ohio News Organization, bringing together a team of rivals in an effort to sidestep 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.

Make your reservations at http://foundersday2009.eventbrite.com

Call for nominations

Posted on March 27, 2009
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Members are asked to submit nominations for the chapter’s annual awards. The board of directors will review the nominations and select winners in each category.

The First Amendment Award: This award recognizes significant contributions to the First Amendment rights of freedom of expression. Individuals and organizations both inside and outside of journalism are eligible.

Distinguished Service Award: This award is for a member of the chapter who demonstrates professional excellence and dedication to SPJ.

Appreciation Award: This award is presented to an individual or organization that has made a notable contribution to journalism in central Ohio.

Brick Wall Award: Started in 2001, this dubious distinction is presented to the individual or organization that, according to chapter members, did the most to block citizen access to public records and proceedings or otherwise violated the spirit of the First Amendment during the past year. Anyone is eligible, but special consideration will be given to public officials and tax-funded agencies that fail to follow the law.

Send nominations, including background, to cnelson@centralohiospj.org by March 31.

For prior award winners, see the listing on the chapter’s Web site.

Spring Conference 2009

Posted on February 11, 2009
Filed Under Chapter News, Events, Ohio SPJ Awards | 1 Comment

The Society of Professional Journalists will host Spring Conference 2009 on April 3-4 at the Doubletree Worthington, with programming support from the Online News Association and the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism.

The event will open Friday, April 3, with an evening cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception at Winking Lizard Crosswoods, followed by a full Saturday of networking and professional development sessions dedicated to new media.

Pulitzer-prize-winning columnist Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald will deliver a keynote on President Obama’s influence on national culture. Pitts also will be available for a book signing as he just had his first novel published.

Detroit News recruiter Walter Middlebrook will talk about his paper’s plan to cut back home delivery and boost digital readership.

Breakfast and lunch are included in the registration fee.

Use the discount code “spring” before March 20 for $20 off any registration.

Go to the registration page

Here’s the lineup:
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2009 Ohio SPJ Awards: Call for entries

Posted on January 21, 2009
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Entries are now being accepted for the 2009 Ohio SPJ Awards.

The 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 Feb. 27, 2009.

Download the entry form and rules or go to www.spjawards.com for more information.

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