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On AP’s “illegal immigration” style change
I’m glad The Associated Press continues to examine the best way to describe being in this country in violation of U.S. law. The AP is right to note that the English language evolves, and that our...
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On “fundamental” rights
During a local SPJ discussion about legislation affecting Arkansas’ Freedom of Information Act in March, state Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot) told the gathered journalists that FOI is not a right...
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One step forward: Shield Law
So this happened on the first day of August in the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee: Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) submitted an amendment to the shield law bill he and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)...
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Highlights thru Oct. 22
It’s been three weeks since my last post, and a lot has happened in SPJ and the journalism world in that short time. Here are a few highlights: Earlier this week, we lost journalism legend Ben Bradlee...
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Scott Cooper Sentencing: Justice Served, Lessons Learned
Thursday I did something I hope no other SPJ president will ever have to do. Testify against a former SPJ board member who embezzled money from a local SPJ chapter. I flew to Oklahoma on Wednesday to...
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Highlights thru Dec. 4, 2014
Hello, all. It has only been a few weeks since I posted the last update, but we’ve accomplished so much that it is almost baffling. I am so proud of SPJ staff and volunteers for their hard work and...
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Why students should get involved with SPJ communities
Guest post by Alex Veeneman, community coordinator and chair of SPJ Digital In this ever changing media environment, students need to do more to stand out, from work placements and student media...
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Executive Committee Mtg. Summary, Jan. 31
Photo by Jack Pagano On Sat., Jan. 31, SPJ’s Executive Committee met in Orlando, Florida, the site of the 2015 Excellence in Journalism Conference, co-hosted by SPJ, RTDNA and NAHJ. The executive...
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SPJ Board Meeting Recap
The SPJ spring board meeting was this past Sat., April 18 in Indianapolis. Each meeting is streamed live, but in case you missed it or don’t want to sit through the 6+ hour recording, here are the...
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Interim RD12 selected, Gen J approved as a community
On Monday, the SPJ Board conducted a Skype conference call meeting to appoint a Region 12 director to serve in the interim until national elections in September. The current director Tony Hernandez...
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Executive Committee Meeting Highlights
This week SPJ’s Executive Committee met in Washington, D.C. for its semiannual meeting on Sat., June 27. Here are highlights: The Executive Committee approved minutes from its January 31 meeting in...
View ArticleThe last roundup
Below is my column for the July/August 2016 issue of Quill: This column for Quill is the last one I will write as president of the Society of Professional Journalists. As I take a look back on the...
View ArticleSPJ Members: Ask Chapter Delegates to Pass SPJ Supporter Bylaws Change
A Guest Post by Lynn Walsh, SPJ President-Elect EIJ16 is almost a month away. On top of all of training and networking opportunities, SPJ chapter delegates will have an opportunity to vote on two...
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Requesting Public Information Should Not Result in Felony Charges
Fannin-Focus publisher Mark Thomason spoke at the SPJ National Convention in New Orleans on Sept. 20. Outgoing national SPJ president Paul Fletcher (left). Photo by Curt Yeomans, SPJ Georgia board...
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Government Employees Don’t Get To Decide Which Journalists Cover Them
A former soccer coach is acquitted in a murder trial. The prosecutor in the case holds a news conference after the verdict. Three journalists covering the trial are excluded. The dateline for this...
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Baltimore Police Email Search Fee Hinders Public Access and Decreases...
The Baltimore Police Department is charging $50 if a member of the public requests emails from the department, making public access to information and holding government officials more difficult....
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The World is Watching This Election Day, Report Ethically and Responsibly
It’s almost here, Election Day 2016. It seems like journalists and news organizations have been covering this race for years. That’s probably because some have. The length, combined with the twists...
View ArticleSPJ and Journalism Organizations Respond To Election of Donald Trump
Last week, after the election, the Society of Professional Journalists and other journalism organizations released statements reinforcing their commitment to protecting the First Amendment and fighting...
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Recent Attacks Against Journalists Are Attacks Against American Freedoms
In the last several weeks journalists have been pinned against a wall, arrested, assaulted, told to get “back in your cages,” and threatened with gun violence by a sitting state governor. The key word...
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#FreePressFriday to highlight link between journalism, democracy
“Power can be very addictive. And it can be corrosive. And it’s important for the media to call to account people who abuse their power.” — Former President George W. Bush, February 2017 Want some...
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