Instead of gambling the night away or finding yourself at the quickie chapel, make sure you’re around to check out some of the amazing programs geared for students at the convention in Vegas.  Here’s a quick overview, but the entire schedule can be viewed on SPJ’s convention website.

MONDAY

2-3:15 p.m.

How Schools and Universities Use “Privacy” Law to Thwart Legitimate News Coverage

MELROSE 2

The nation’s obsession with family privacy has been a double-edged sword. For every family shielded from unnecessary embarrassment there are countless families whose stories of struggle and misery have been obstructed by “privacy” laws that put the wall of government bureaucracy between journalist and story. This session will throw the spotlight on FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Among the most important stories journalists cover involve children and public education, which makes FERPA one of the most important laws a journalist must understand and master. Learn what FERPA really says and, most importantly, what it does NOT say.

Speakers: Frank LoMonte, executive director, Student Press Law Center; David Chartrand, journalist-author, Kansas City

3:30-4:30 p.m.

Weird Careers in Journalism

MELROSE 2

If you’re about to graduate or recently have, a future in journalism may look bleak. But there are good jobs for young journalists in places you might not think to look. Learn how to apply for them and how to separate yourself from all the other applicants.

Speaker: Michael Koretzky, student media adviser, Florida Atlantic University

4:45-5:45 p.m.

Covering Campus Crime

SUNSET 2

From sexual assaults to fraternity hazing, crime on college campuses is a story that college and professional media outlets struggle to cover. You’ll learn the laws governing access to crime records and how to get information from reluctant campus officials. The new edition of the Covering Campus Crime booklet will be distributed.

Speakers: Frank LoMonte, executive director, Student Press Law Center; Carolyn S. Carlson, assistant professor of journalism and citizen media, Kennesaw State University

TUESDAY

9-10 a.m.

Your Walking, Talking Resume

SUNSET 2

Get tips on making the best first impression, then create your own “elevator pitch” and practice introducing yourself to colleagues.

Facilitators: Aiesha Little, associate editor, Cincinnati Magazine; Renee Petrina, instructor, Ball State University

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

The Art of Interviewing

WILSHIRE A

Lots of journalists dread one thing as they prepare for a story: the interview. Unfortunately, journalism classes don’t teach reporters how to conduct a successful interview when they’re trying to “get the story.”  In mock interviews, attendees will be coached on what type of questions one could and should ask during interviews. You’ll also get constructive feedback on which tactics work best so that you’ll feel at ease when interviewing someone for your next great story.

Speakers: Mary Hausch, assistant professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Bonnie Newman Davis, associate professor, Virginia Commonwealth University

2-3:15 p.m.

It Was the Best of Sentences, It Was the Worst of Sentences

MELROSE 2

To be a great writer, you must write great sentences. But most journalists never take the time to learn what makes some sentences sing and others stink. This session will offer rare insights into this most-critical writing unit. Taking a mechanical approach to breaking down and rebuilding sentences, Casagrande will show you how to streamline your writing in a way that turns clunky, amateur prose into high-quality professional work.

Speaker: June Casagrande, author, “It Was the Best of Sentences, It Was the Worst of Sentences”

3:30-4:30 p.m.

The Nuts and Bolts of Freelancing

MELROSE 2

Whether you’re making a career change, looking for some extra income or simply interested in diversifying your portfolio, freelancing can be a terrific option. But it’s not as easy as submitting story ideas and waiting for the checks to roll in. Hear from a group of freelancers on what it takes to get started. From setting up a home office to printing business cards and invoicing, as well as the various options for freelancers, including traditional media outlets, blogging for pay or editing books.

Speakers: Holly Fisher, Freelance Writer/Editor; Dana Neuts, Freelancer; Bruce Shutan, Freelancer

SPJ’s Convention and National Journalism Conference is just around the corner (October 3 – 5), which can only mean one thing: campus chapters need money! SPJ is not oblivious to this, which is why the campus board members pulled together some fundraising ideas for campus chapters.

• One of the fastest ways to earn money is to partner up with a local restaurant or business willing to donate part of a night’s profits to the chapter. The basic idea is that the chapter would promote the evening, which means an increase in business. A lot of chain restaurants do this, but you can always check with local businesses to work out a similar arrangement.
• Some campus athletic departments will also allow campus organizations to sell concessions for a cut of the profits. A twist on this idea would be to sell an item that the department does not typically carry.
• Selling t-shirts and other memorabilia with a catchy phrase or slogan is always a big moneymaker. Early in the semester may be the best time for this fundraiser. Other items to put slogans on could be notebooks, drawstring backpacks, and water bottles.
• Some other popular items to sell – with a little bit more planning and effort – are AP Stylebooks. A stylebook sale can be very profitable. However, chapters need to be willing to make a much larger financial commitment upfront, and be prepared to compete with the campus bookstore.
• Creating midterm care packages for incoming students is also a great way to raise money. A school’s academic affairs office can provide chapters with the names and addresses of parents and legal guardians. A chapter can charge around $20 for a package, and then fill it with $5 to $7 of goodies. Another nice touch is to include a signed card from the parent or guardian.
• Don’t be afraid to “hit people up” for money, too. Department chairs, deans, and provosts usually have a special fund that can be used at their discretion. Be prepared with a good argument as to why the convention will not only benefit your chapter, but the whole school. Student governments have also been known to give money to organizations in need.

There are six ideas to get you started, but there are countless more out there. Chapters with their own fundraising ideas are encouraged to share their ideas in the comments! Also, a big thanks to Board Member Neil Ralston for most of these tips!

Don’t forget to check back for more convention ideas and news!
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Andrew M. Seaman is a student at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York, and a recent graduate of Wilkes University in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. He is one of SPJ’s student representatives on the national board and you can follow him on Twitter @andrewmseaman.

“Occasionally, I had watched the evening news with my parents and read the newspaper, but I never fully realized the impact that news had on my daily life,” said Lucy Chen, a soon-to-be junior at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Md. “And studying news literacy taught me how to gather and assess my own stream of information, whether it come from a newspaper, a TV show, or the Internet.”

The above paragraph appears in Chen’s article in the recent edition of the Nieman Reports, which is published by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. Chen is one of many students to take part in the News Literacy Project, a program designed to educate middle and high school students on how to discern fact from fiction in the digital age.

Alan Miller, a former investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times and founder of the News Literacy Project, wrote in the same edition of the Nieman Reports, “In the 2009-10 school year, the News Literacy Project worked with 21 English, history and government teachers in seven middle schools and high schools in New York City, Bethesda and Chicago, reaching nearly 1,500 students. More than 75 journalists spoke to students and worked with them on projects.”

Miller brought in several seasoned journalists to help with the project: Gwen Ifill, Sheryl Gay, Peter Eisler, and James Grimaldi – to name a few.

The project engaged students in discussions and activities through a variety of subject matter, said Miller in his article. He added that teachers were also able to adapt the curriculum to fit their own needs.

To view both of the above articles, and the Nieman Reports’ entire section on “Digital Youth,” click here.

Campus members in SPJ’s Region 3 can apply for an incredibly unique reporting opportunity.

Region 3 is currently looking for writers, photographers, print and web designers, and multimedia journalists to help seize control of the nation’s second-largest homeless newspaper over Labor Day weekend.

Students will receive free travel, free lodging, free meals and –most importantly – experience!

Interested students can click here for more details, and to see last year’s project.

No immigrant has the same story on how they came to the United States, but the stories often share some similarities.

A class at Medill has stepped up to show local ethnic papers that while each culture is different, they face similar problems.

You can read all about it on SPJ’s Journalism and the World blog!

The Society of Professional Journalists stepped up to support Northwestern University’s Medill Innocence Project today.

SPJ joined three other organizations in an amicus curiae brief, which supports a motion to stop a subpoena from the Cook County state’s attorney’s office.

The subpoena is demanding notes and other materials created by the student journalists involved with the Project’s investigation of Anthony McKinney, who has been in prison for 31 years for murder.

The students found information that led a judge to grant McKinney another hearing, which then led the Cook County state’s attorney to subpoena the information.

SPJ joined the Student Press Law Center, the College Media Advisers, Inc. and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication in the brief.

The brief argues that, while collecting the information, the students were reporters. As reporters, the students are protected by the Illinois Reporter’s Privilege Act.

A judge accepted the brief and has scheduled a hearing for Feb. 10.

The Student Press Law Center has a copy of the brief on its website in PDF format.

In related news, ChicagoBreakingNews.com is reporting, “Today, an attorney representing the Chicago Tribune, the New York Times, the Chicago Sun-Times, CBS News, the Washington Post and the Hearst Corp. – in addition to a dozen more newsgathering organizations – filed a brief in Cook County Circuit Court opposing the forced surrender of the material.”

Hopefully justice will prevail in the end, and the court will realize, as they did in Tinker v. Des Moines, that students and teachers do not shed their First Amendment rights at the schoolhouse gate.

We will keep you posted on future developments.

Photo Courtesy: Mallory Kydd

Nine students from the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School completed a 24-hour reporting project on December 6, which they titled, “Homeless≠Voiceless.”

The students spoke with 16 homeless people at St. Vincent De Paul, a local assistance organization in Phoenix, during lunch.

Their project’s website features articles, videos, and pictures from their conversations.

Mallory Kydd, chapter president, said in a press release that the chapter initiated the project hoping to give members an opportunity to report outside classroom walls.

“It gives our members a taste of what it’s like out in the field,” said Kydd.

Christopher Callahan, the dean of the Cronkite School, was the project’s editor. Callahan reviewed the student’s work as it was turned in.

Thank you to the students and the dean for sharing this wonderful and successful project with us.

Below is a video from the project: