Recently a small puffy envelop arrived from SPJ headquarters. What could it be? An earring I lost at a convention? Valentine’s Day chocolate? It was something even better: a pin commemorating my 10 years of membership in the Society of Professional Journalists.

As many journalists can relate, dedicating oneself to anything career-wise can be a challenge in these times of churn in our profession. Layoffs, buyouts, closures, and just plain burnout… Not to mention our natural tendency to seek new opportunities, decide to take a break to go back to school, go it alone as a freelancer or entrepreneur or opt for more family life than work life. It all adds up to a tall order to stick with one job or one company for ten years.

Speaking for myself (having experienced many of the above-referenced vagaries of journalism life) I was more pleased than I would have imagined to get that 10-year pin!

Evolution and opportunity

The pin reminds me of my evolution in SPJ. It represents the support and opportunities that have come my way through the organization–not to mention the friends I’ve made along the way.

Membership has helped me in practical ways: training, resources, networking, mentoring, conferences (regional and national). The fact of being an active member who actually knows other active members as well as organization leaders and staff has opened doors in my career. I’ve judged MOE and SDX awards, organized a spring regional conference (and attended several), made a point to attend the national convention as often as possible, chatted on SPJ Blog Talk Radio, and more.

Over the past ten years, I’ve seen SPJ evolve into a broad based journalism organization that welcomes journalists from media platforms beyond newspapers and academe. Thanks to the efforts of Sally Lehrman (now an SDX Foundation board member) and her organizational descendents, the organization is reaching out to members from diverse background like never before.

This year’s national convention exemplifies both changes: For the third time, SPJ and the Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) are teaming up for Excellence in Journalism 2013 in Anaheim. This year the National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) is joining in, too!

Ten for ten (years)

That 10-year pin got me thinking: Who else has been a member for 10 years? Linda Hall, our membership director at HQ, was kind enough to send me a few names. (Andy Schotz sent me a message on Facebook to let me know he also got his ten-year pin. Thanks, Andy)!

Joel Jay Campbell > associate professor, Brigham Young University

Carol Cole-Froe > independent journalist and  and adjunct professor at the University of Oklahoma

David Joachim > weekend Washington editor. The New York Times; adjunct professor, George Washington University

Gerard T. Koeppel > journalist and author, Bond of Union, Building the Erie Canal and the American Empire (2009)

Beth Konrad > professor, Loyola University Chicago

Dominick Miserandino > owner, TheCelebrityCafe.com

Gayle Reaves-King > editor, Fort Worth Weekly

Andrew Schotz > assistant managing editor at The Gazette (Gaithersburg, Md.)

John Siegenthaler > founder, The First Amendment Center

Scott A. Thiesen > web producer, KSTP.com

Going the distance

Of course there are members who’ve stuck with SPJ far longer than ten years. I salute you! After posting a note about my pin in the SPJ Linkedin Group, I heard from a few other folks:

Elizabeth Kelly shared that she’s been a member for 18 years!

Eileen Sisk reported receiving her 35-year pin. Nice!

Jacqueline Jordan said: “Just got my 20-year pin. Not bad for a freelancer, huh? We revived our local pro chapter last year (San Antonio, Region 8) and will hold our first conference in several years in May!”

My SPJ Timeline:

2002. Joined SPJ as campus chapter adviser at Florida A&M University.

2005. Became a member of the first class of Diversity Leadership Fellows. Began blogging for “Who’s News: Diversity Everyday,” Who’s News: Diversity Everyday,” the SPJ Diversity Committee blog

2006. Ran for Campus Adviser At-Large. Lost.

2008. Ran for Region 7 Director (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska). Won!

2011. Asked by SPJ President John Ensslin to serve as national Membership Committee chair

2012. Asked by SPJ President Sonny Albarado to stay on as national Membership Committee chair

Ready to join or rejoin SPJ? Drop me a line with your questions: me@hollyedgell.com and find more information at SPJ.org.

> It’s $75 dollars for a full year of professional membership, $37.50 for student membership 

> We offer newsroom membership options.

> We offer collegiate institutional memberships

Find your local chapter!

One of the primary goals immediate past president John Ensslin had during his tenure was to find a meaningful way to offer memberships to news organizations.

Mission accomplished! With great assistance from our SPJ executive director Joe Skeel and his team, then president-elect Sonny Albarado (now our fearless leader) and research into what fellow journalism groups were doing, came consultations with newsrooms leaders and employees and input from the membership committee. A promising formula emerged.

The plan is based on membership tiers, each offering price points based on the value and benefits of which newsrooms would like to take advantage.

This means, whatever its size, a newsroom can decide to make an investment that suits its budget and needs:

• Bronze $250
• Silver $750
• Gold $1,250
• Learn more about each tier!

All the membership tiers offer some basics: dues discounts for individual members; discounts on products and services; an ethics plaque; and a free newsroom subscription to Quill magazine. All newsrooms memberships also allow individuals to register for conferences at the member rate.

Among the first to take advantage of this new membership plan is the Osage News in Oklahoma. Welcome!

To learn more about newsroom membership, you can contact SPJ Chapter Coordinator Tara Puckey via email or phone: 317-927-8000, ext. 215. Or, check out the information available online.

With 2013 shaping up to be another wild ride for journalism and journalists, it may be the right time to bring your newsrooms into the largest, broadest-based organization for our profession anywhere.

Here are some more reasons to join us!

Excellence in Journalism 2013. The national conference unites members from SPJ, the Radio Television Digital News Association and–new this year–the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. August 24-26 in Anaheim, Calif.

NEW: Access to health, life, disability insurance and more benefits through WestPoint Financial Group.

Spring regional conferences. Sprouting up from coast to coast, there’s bound to be a conference near you. The one-day gatherings offer training, chances to network, and more. Find your nearest conference here!

Committee work. One of the best ways to make an impact on journalism and roll up your sleeves in the SPJ is to volunteer for a committee. This can especially satisfying if you live far from the nearest SPJ chapter and find it a challenge to attend meetings. Committees include people from around the country! Find a committee that suits your skills and interests here.

Resources and support for freelance and independent journalists. You are not alone! The freelance committee is among the most active and engaged in SPJ. The on demand resources for training and help are outstanding. Check it out!

For more insights into what SPJ can do for you (and vice versa), I encourage you to read more entries in this blog and peruse the rest of the SPJ blog roll.

Feel free to ask a question below, or email: me@hollyedgell.com

Editor’s Note: The 2012 membership drive may be over, but I’m still in a membership state of mind. Remember, the membership committee is always interested in sharing thoughts and ideas from members, former members, and would-be members. So, drop me a line: me@hollyedgell.com.

A native of Phoenix, Anne Stegen is the president of Arizona State University’s SPJ chapter. Anne keeps herself pretty busy! Not only is she a journalism major in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, she serves as a resident hall community assistant and works as web administrator for ASU’s School of Social Work.

Guest Post by Anne Stegen, Arizona State University Society of Professional Journalists

I did not grow up wanting to be the anchor on the evening news. Reporters never drew my attention; they were just a part of every day life, updating citizens on goings on. Like many, my interest in journalism became apparent in my high school newspaper class. The North Canyon Rattler Review was a little, quarterly publication. School administrators designed it to give students writing skills; not to stir the pot and exemplify the First Amendment’s virtues.

Armed with a pen, paper, and 30 questions, I gained an interview with the football coach and the prodigy sophomore quarterback and muscled my way on to the football field. I had to prove I was a journalist by showing my equipment bag’s contents: a 3.1 megapixel point and shoot and my family’s first generation digital camera. I took photos that were mediocre at best, but photography from the sidelines was an honor that no of my fellow student reports had attained. It was a small story, but that experience changed my life forever.

At that Friday night football game in high school, I became a journalist. I felt important and privileged to see events unfold from a perspective that no one else had, and share that with others.

I joined SPJ in the fall of 2009–right out of high school–in my first semester at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The officers were so knowledgeable and the network of members was so vast, that I was swept into it fully. Now here I am, president of the premiere journalism organization at one of the best journalism schools in the country. Once again, I feel privileged that journalism has afforded me this opportunity.

My perspective has changed since that football game. I don’t want to be a news anchor or even a reporter, and the industry faces an uphill climb. I grew up coding my Neopets profile in HTML, and getting my father’s business’s website to the top of Google, which we now call SEO. Convergence is not a challenge for me because I already live it. I have to land that first job out of college, and I am hopeful because of my progressive media skills and SPJ’s network. I am a member of SPJ because I have just as much to contribute to the Society and the industry as it can give to me.

Connect with Anne on Twitter

Why join SPJ?

Find your SPJ chapter! 

Note to readers: The 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Membership Drive runs Sept. 4 to Oct. 4. As membership chair, I’ve assigned myself the task of sharing the stories of members around the country through a series of Q&A posts. If you would like to share your thoughts via Q&A or in a guest post, email me@hollyedgell.com. We are also interested in hearing from people wondering why they should join and former members who have constructive ideas about how SPJ can serve the profession. Please share these posts with non-members!

Q&A with Sandra Gonzalez, Las Vegas

Sandra is the newest member of the reporting team at KSNV-TV in Las Vegas. In her first week on the job she had the opportunity to cover President Obama’s campaign stop. Not bad! Sandra spent six years reporting in New Orleans, first at WVUE-TV and then at WGNO-TV.

Edgell You have a new job in Las Vegas. What are you looking forward to covering in your new city?

Gonzalez I am an open book, full of excitement with my sleeves rolled up ready to cover politics, crime, education, economy, whatever needs to told. But, at the end of the day, it’s always about people, and how they are affected. What a great city to be in! I can’t wait to see what lies ahead and what I will be witnessing and sharing.

Edgell You recently returned from EIJ 2012 in Fort Lauderdale. Can you share a favorite moments or takeaway?

Gonzalez I was was an SPJ Diversity Fellow and I really enjoyed the friendships I made with the other fellows who have the passion for journalism like I do, who like to share information and experiences on social media like I do, and understand the challenges we have faced in our different regions of the country. We were also exposed and introduced to so many leaders in the industry. One who stood out was Anne Vasquez of the Sun Sentinel. She has transformed her career from reporter to management, from print to digital, from state to state. Her courageous adventure in her career inspired me as I have continued to morph in this ever changing industry.

Edgell When did you join SPJ and why?

Gonzalez I was exposed to SPJ last year when the Excellence in Journalism conference was in New Orleans in 2011. I was a reporter in New Orleans for six years, and at the time, a one-man band. That’s where I was introduced to the Diversity Committee by Rebecca Aguilar, a 2011 Diversity Fellow. I also met Sonny Albarado, who was President-elect at the time. I felt like this was an organization I wanted to be a part of and I was invited to became part of the SPJ Diversity Committee.

Edgell You also are an active member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. What do you see as the benefits of belonging to both SPJ and NAHJ?

Gonzalez I have been active with NAHJ for many years. I like what it stands for, fair portrayal of Latinos in the news, and making sure there are Latinos in newsrooms. Now that I have been introduced to SPJ, I think the two organizations with their focuses on enhancing and strengthening the core of journalism, just blend together. I am also highly impressed with SPJ’s outreach efforts to bring journalists of diverse backgrounds into the fold to train them with leadership and confidence to take back to their respective communities and of course, companies.

Edgell Fill in the blank: Life without my SPJ membership would be…

Gonzalez …missing out. I think my life has blossomed with the influence SPJ has made on my career as a journalist. I have learned so much and have been exposed to so much, and know there is so much more I can learn as journalism continues to evolve. As a Latina, and a TV reporter, I really appreciate SPJ’s relationship with RTDNA and other journalism organizations like NAHJ. I hope to become active in the SPJ Nevada chapter now that I am in Las Vegas.

Connect with Sandra on Twitter and Facebook.

Contact the Las Vegas SPJ chapter president Charles Zobell: czobell@reviewjournal.com

Why join SPJ?

More about the SPJ Membership Drive: Toolkit and Calendar included!

Find your SPJ chapter! 

Q&A with Julie Ann Grimm, Rio Grande SPJ

Learn more about Rio Grande SPJ

Why join SPJ?

More about the SPJ Membership Drive: Toolkit and Calendar included!

Find your SPJ chapter! 

 

Note to readers: The 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Membership Drive runs Sept. 4 to Oct. 4. As membership chair, I’ve assigned myself the task of sharing the stories of members around the country through a series of Q&A posts. If you would like to share your thoughts via Q&A or in a guest post, email me@hollyedgell.com. We are also interested in hearing from people wondering why they should join and former members who have constructive ideas about how SPJ can serve the profession. Please share these posts with non-members!

Q&A with Paul E. Fletcher, Virginia SPJ

Paul is publisher and editor-in-chief of Virginia Lawyers Weekly in Richmond and serves as president of the Virginia chapter of SPJ. Before joining the ranks of journalists, Paul was a lawyer. At a time when many journalists are looking for jobs, I thought it would be interesting to hear from Paul about working for a niche publication.

Edgell You work for a specialty (or trade) publication. To what degree would you recommend journalists consider job opportunities in this sector of our industry?

Fletcher I have been with Virginia Lawyers Weekly, a professional publication that serves the legal community in Virginia, for 24 years. At a professional or specialty publication, the most valuable and rewarding aspects of journalism – the chance to break news, to tell stories, to explore important issues and to get at the truth – are no different from work at a general circulation publication. You write for a particular, narrower segment of people with shared concerns. Working here is not unlike staying on one beat and digging deeper into that niche.

Edgell When did you join SPJ and why?

Fletcher I joined SPJ in 1992 because I saw the group was the largest and best national association for journalists.

Edgell Perhaps equally important, why do you remain a member? For example, what are the elements, resources, or tools you find most relevant and useful?

Fletcher I really enjoy the opportunity to connect with journalists of all stripes – general circulation, specialty pubs, broadcast, web, freelance. SPJ provides insight into the opportunities and challenges facing the profession. Quill magazine always has some interesting and provocative content, and I’ve found the training available on the SPJ website to be useful.

Edgell Have you ever tried to recruit someone to join SPJ? How’d it go? What’s your pitch (whether you’ve actually tried to reel someone in or not)?

Fletcher All of the reporters in my shop are members of SPJ. My pitch focuses on the fact that SPJ provides a chance to network and a part of something bigger, the opportunity to connect with other people who face the same work issues, both positive and negative. The group provides professional support to people in a field subject to numerous pressures. The professional training opportunities alone make membership a bargain.

Edgell Fill in the blank. Life without my SPJ membership would be _____________.

Fletcher Less informed. My SPJ membership gives me perspective on what it means to be a working journalist, on how to do that job well and on how to serve my readers best.

Connect with Paul on Linkedin

Connect with Virginia SPJ on Facebook and Twitter

More about the SPJ Membership Drive: Toolkit and Calendar included!

Why join SPJ?

Note to readers: The 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Membership Drive runs Sept. 4 to Oct. 4. As membership chair, I’ve assigned myself the task of sharing the stories of members around the country through a series of Q&A posts. If you would like to share your thoughts via Q&A or in a guest post, email me@hollyedgell.com. We are also interested in hearing from people wondering why they should join and former members who have constructive ideas about how SPJ can serve the profession. Please share these posts with non-members!

Q&A with Tara Puckey, SPJ Headquarters Staff

Tara is the perfect person to talk about how SPJ chapters power the entire organization. A freelance journalist, she knows the Society from several angles: member, national board member, and now Chapter Coordinator at HQ in Indianapolis. Tara’s job is to keep the Society connected to its chapters around the country and serve as a resource for those chapters and their members. Here’s how she describes the job on her Linkedin profile:

“Assist chapters around the world in building, growing and sustaining their membership while supporting the missions of the Society.”

Tara took the time in the busy week before Excellence in Journalism 2012 to answer five questions.

Edgell You’ve experience several aspects of the SPJ experience. What are some of the hallmarks of a strong chapter that serves its members well?

Puckey Strong chapters can often be tied back to good leadership and strong, unique programming. This business is changing and evolving, so the days where professionals could take paid time out of their day to sit and listen to lectures are gone. Journalists are looking for someone to remind them what an amazing craft this truly is, to teach them new skills and techniques in a way that is interactive and innovative, and someone to lean on. A strong chapter does all those things while staying connected to members and serving local interests as well.

Edgell I’ve heard you talk about the importance of chapters keeping in touch with members. In an age where personal connections seem to be dwindling, why is that local communication so important for chapters?

Puckey Members often come in two kinds: those who know SPJ in their own backyard and are unfamiliar with the national level or those who know SPJ on a national level but haven’t ever connected with SPJ on a local level. That has to change. Members need to know the great things SPJ is doing on a national level, which comes from good communication through the chapter level, but also need to be connected to journalists in their community.

One thing we know members want from SPJ is networking – for jobs, for friendships, for training. Networking is great on the national level, but it’s also important on a local level so we’re working hard to make sure that all members can know SPJ in their backyards.

Edgell Based on what you’re hearing from chapter leaders, what kinds of programming seem to be resonating with members right now?

Puckey Programming is constantly changing with the needs of journalism, which itself is constantly changing, so each and every year I see new and innovative programs that address some of the challenges our members are facing. Right now, members seem to be drawn to interactive programs, events where they’re not only learning, but also having fun and engaging with other professionals or students as well. Chapters are producing short videos, magazines and plays or gathering to conduct hands on training with social media pros. Overall, they don’t want to just sit and listen anymore, they want to do.

Edgell A couple of our regions cover a wide geographic area. Chapters can be physically far from their members and potential members. Any advice for how chapters engage with journalists in this context?

Puckey This has been an ongoing struggle. With changing technology, our members have found it easier to connect through tools like Skype. Some chapters are even holding events with it, cutting programming costs while keeping members connected to quality speakers.

Right now, there’s no official “right” answer for members that are far away from chapters. We’re working on finding the best way to give them a local connection, including networking and programming opportunities. In the meantime, I would encourage chapters with far away members to offer live streaming of events, start a Wiggio or other forum where members can have constant discussions about problems or issues they’re facing and to simply keep in contact with those members. Truthfully, an email or phone call makes members feel less disconnected, even when they aren’t able to attend programming or events in person.

Edgell You’ve been in your job at HQ for a few months now. What’s your favorite thing about working with chapters?

Puckey I think one of my favorite things about being at HQ is that I have the chance to get to know more chapter leaders and members. Another favorite is the fact that I’m able to facilitate sharing amazing ideas from one chapter to another. Sometimes that’s all it takes to spark greatness, so it’s rewarding to see a chapter in New York put a twist on a program originally held in Texas. And I have to add that working with SPJ “newbies,” who are always excited and enthusiastic, to start new chapters is another one of my favorite things.

Overall, I’m lucky that I fell into this great but sometimes messy business. And that I’m part of an organization that reminds me daily why I love it so much. SPJ is great for training and resources and advocacy and all our other important missions, but it’s mostly important to me because I’m connected with others who love it just as much as I do.

Connect with Tara Puckey: tpuckey@hq.spj.org > Twitter & Facebook. Or, give her a call: 317/927-8000 ext. 215

More about the SPJ Membership Drive: Toolkit and Calendar included!

Why join SPJ?

The 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Membership Drive runs Sept. 4 to Oct. 4. Just Tweet it! Please share your membership story on Twitter this month. The hashtag is #joinspj. I recommend adding #journalism as well.

You may know Sarah Bauer from her voice: She’s the host of  the monthly program “Your SPJ Memberbership” on BlogTalkRadio. She is Program Director at Minnesota Newspaper Association and also serves as co-chair of the SPJ Membership Committee.

As an active member of the Minnesota SPJ chapter, Sarah knows a thing or two about keeping chapters alive, kicking and relevant. She served as president of the chapter from 2010-11 and held other board positions before that. I asked her to share her “sales pitch” to journalists who have decided to leave the Society.

Guest Post by Sarah Bauer

I’ve talked to hundreds of SPJ members over the course of my work with the membership committee. We always try to reach out to former SPJ members and see why they left, and what it would take to bring them back to SPJ. A common response over the past few years has been, “I’m out of work,” or “I’m no longer working in journalism.”  And, for those members, there isn’t much that I – or anyone– could say to bring them back.  But, members do come back.

Here are a few things that often convince people to become a member of SPJ – again!

1. Camaraderie.
Whether you work in a newsroom, or freelance from your home office, SPJ provides an instant network of colleagues. When you connect with a local chapter, you’ll have regular opportunities to meet and greet journalists in your area.  Some of my best friends are journalists (no surprise, I guess), but they are all people I met through SPJ.  I go to them for advice, I go to them for hot media gossip. I go to them when I need help. I go to them when I need to disconnect from work.
2. Opportunities for Training.
SPJ provides countless opportunities for professional improvement.  From in-person gatherings at the local level, to SPJ’s eCampus online, webinars hosted by national, and resources like the Journalist’s Toolbox. In short, there are weekly, if not daily opportunities for training. Let’s not forget the national convention! Members get nearly a 50% discount to attend, and get two FULL days of top-notch sessions and hands-on instruction with nationally renowned speakers.
3. Recognition.
At the local and national level, SPJ provides opportunities for journalists to be recognized for their good work. Did you help bring down a corrupt politician with your sweeps piece? Did you write a six-part series helping regular citizens understand the intricacies of the city budget?  Did you look into your city’s public worker pension plan and expose wrong-doing or waste?  In Minnesota we have the Page One Awards.  At the national level, the Sigma Delta Chi Awards are doled out annually. Enter your best work in SPJ’s awards programs: members get exclusive entry fee discounts and access to awards programs.
4. Doing good.
SPJ is out in the real world, lobbying for a federal shield law. Paying legal bills for arrested journalists. Providing legal support for journalists. The staff and volunteers from all over the country work hard to make sure that journalists know how to submit FOIA requests (and work to make sure FOI laws stay on the books), they make sure public meetings stay open to the public, they train journalists to be better watchdogs. SPJ defends the First Amendment, and works daily to strengthen the Fourth Estate. If that doesn’t make you feel good about being an SPJ member, I don’t know what will.

Follow Sarah on Twitter

Connect with the Minnesota SPJ Chapter on Facebook & Twitter

More about the SPJ Membership Drive: Toolkit and Calendar included!

Why join SPJ?

 

Note to readers: The 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Membership Drive runs Sept. 4 to Oct. 4. As membership chair, I’ve assigned myself the task of sharing the stories of members around the country through a series of Q&A posts. If you would like to share your thoughts via Q&A or in a guest post, email me@hollyedgell.com. We are also interested in hearing from people wondering why they should join and former members who have constructive ideas about how SPJ can serve the profession. Please share these posts with non-members! 

Q&A with Brian Smith, Des Moines

Is Brian living the 21st Century journalism dream? He’s Assistant Digital Editor for Social Media at  the The Des Moines Register. Fresh out of Iowa State University, he has a very cool job at a pivotal political moment for the country. Brian was a leader of the Iowa State Leo Mores Chapter of SPJ and rose through the ranks of the award-winning Iowa State Daily.

Edgell You work for a major daily in a swing election state. What are some of the challenges and exciting elements you are coming across as a journalist?

Smith There is definitely a lot of excitement in Iowa right now. Paul Ryan’s first solo visit was at the soapbox The Des Moines Register sponsors at the Iowa State Fair. President Barack Obama was in the state on the same day as part of a three day bus tour. Some days its a struggle to find the time to experiment and try new ideas. Luckily, our editor is really passionate about digital and makes it a priority.

Edgell  When did you join SPJ and why?

Smith I joined SPJ my sophomore year in college. I was taking an intermediate reporting class and the professor was the adviser for the SPJ chapter at Iowa State. He encouraged me to join and I’ve been a member ever since.

Edgell Perhaps equally important, why do you remain a member? For example, what are the elements, resources, or tools you find most relevant and useful?

Smith I stayed in SPJ during college because of the great opportunities our chapter provided. Now that I’m out of school, I’m keeping my membership because of the regional conferences and online resources from SPJ. I met some great people during regional conferences and had a great time organizing last year’s at Iowa State.

Edgell Have you ever tried to recruit someone to join SPJ? How’d it go? What’s your pitch (whether you’ve actually tried to reel someone in or not)?

Smith I served as an officer in Iowa State’s SPJ chapter for two years. Part of our recruiting plan was to go to introductory classes and talk about SPJ. I usually emphasized the opportunity to network with fellow students who shared a passion for journalism. Our officers were often high level editors in student media organizations and the first to land jobs after school. Getting to know these people was always a big benefit for underclassmen.

Edgell Fill in the blank. Life without my SPJ membership would be _____________.

Smith ….less informed.

Connect with Brian on Twitter and Linkedin

More about the SPJ Membership Drive: Toolkit and Calendar included!

Why join SPJ?

The 2012 Society of Professional Journalists Membership Drive runs Sept. 4 to Oct. 4.

Bonnie Newman Davis is the Greensboro News-Record/Janice Bryant Howroyd Endowed Professor of Journalism and Mass Communication at North Carolina A&T State University.

I met Bonnie when we were both members of the first SPJ Diversity Leadership Fellows Program in 2005 (see more in this post). Since then, we’ve both maintained our involvement with the Society, especially through committee work. I think Bonnie would agree that one of the best ways make a difference as an SPJ member—and network with other journalists around the country–is to get involved with one of the society’s many committees.  

SPJ Committees: Volunteer today!

As we enter the second week of the 2012 Membership Drive, Bonnie provides a timely look at what the SPJ Diversity Committee does.

By Bonnie Newman Davis

When a former Duluth, Minn. news director referred to a Native American as an “animal” on his Facebook page, Rebecca Tallent denounced the incident on SPJ’s Diversity Blog.

“Just when so many of my students claim there are no more race problems in America, we see issues such as this on the rise again,” wrote Tallent, an associate journalism professor at the University of Idaho. “This isn’t the first attack against Native American images in the past few years; it is only one of the latest.”

The disappointment doesn’t stop there. Ever wonder why women tend to exit newsrooms at a greater rate than men? Pick up the latest issue of Quill or peruse it online and see what Tracy Everbach’s research reveals, including this reality:  “Young women and young men start out working in journalism in approximately the same numbers. But women are much more likely to leave the profession after five years, research shows.” Everbach is an associate professor of journalism at  the University of North Texas.

Oh, and if you didn’t get a chance to attend Unity, multimedia reporter Sandra Gonzalez provides an update on the organization’s first convention sans NABJ on SPJ’s Diversity Blog.

Watching the watchdogs 

Name-calling, unwelcome women and Unity minus NABJ are just a few of the issues that have been tackled by SPJ’s Diversity Committee in the past year. Other blog topics include the sometimes biased coverage of NBA player Jeremy Lin. George Daniels, the committee’s former chairman, and Rebecca Aguilar, a Dallas-based freelance television journalist, wrote how Lin’s sudden fame was subsequently met with racial slurs.

Sally Lehrman, another frequent blog contributor, wrote about the media’s treatment of the Trayvon Martin shooting death at the height of its coverage last April, as well as a post regarding the media’s tendency to focus on the negative when covering Native Americans. Lehrman, who served as national chair of SPJ’s Diversity Committee for 10 years, is the Knight Ridder/San Jose Mercury News Endowed Chair in Journalism and the Public Interest and professor at Santa Clara University.

Aguilar is the forceful engine behind much of the diversity committee’s increased content. Aguilar pokes, prods and pushes our committee to do more and be more.  We are fortunate to have her on our team as we continue to shed light on a news industry that can do more and should do more to ensure that our nation’s newsrooms reach the racial parity originally sought by ASNE some 40 years ago. While waiting for that parity to be achieved, our goal is to ensure that media coverage of diverse communities is accurate, fair and relevant.

Mind on the mission

The Diversity Committee doesn’t just talk the talk. During EIJ 2011, our committee was instrumental in helping to pass a resolution that urges journalists and style-guide editors to stop the use of illegal alien and encourage continuous discussion and re-evaluation of the use of illegal immigrant in news stories. Diversity committee member Leo Laurence initiated the effort, and Aguilar helped galvanize the resolution’s passage. Our committee continues to monitor such language throughout the news industry.

Our committee continues also to pay attention to The Hiring Gap Resolution, another initiative passed during last year’s convention. The resolution was triggered by a study that showed increased numbers of racial and ethnic minorities graduating from journalism programs, yet having substantial difficulty finding work. Daniels, an associate professor of journalism at The University of Alabama, recently reported improved hiring among minorities, and currently is writing an article for Quill about the latest Annual Survey of Journalism and Mass Communication Enrollment’s findings.

SPJ has made it clear that diversity is part of its core mission and values. To that extent, the Diversity Committee has spent several weeks working with Lauren Rochester, SPJ’s awards coordinator, and Chris Vachon, SPJ’s associate executive director, in selecting participants for the 2012 Diversity Leadership Fellows Program. Created in 2005, the program enables members to learn about the inner workings of SPJ through an immersion into teaching of the Society’s missions, culture and operations. The educational process begins at the SPJ national convention and as a result, the program includes a complimentary registration and paid travel for the event. Fellows are also involved in many aspect of the conference. This program is funded by the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation. We are excited about the six newest fellows, and the awesome list of mentors who have volunteered to work with the fellows.

And there’s more

Diversity committee members make vast contributions to regional conferences, serve as judges for SPJ’s New America and other awards programs, and advise campus chapters. Continuing plans include greater involvement in national convention planning, more frequent and more interactive content on our diversity blog, an updated diversity sourcebook, and participation in research-oriented projects.

 “Like” The SPJ Diversity Committee Facebook page: SPJ Diversity Now.

More about the SPJ Membership Drive: Toolkit and Calendar included!

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