We are now taking nominations for our Region 4/Region 5 Dick Goehler First Amendment Defender Award.

Here is the information to nominate someone – Dick passed away shortly before our regional last year and was a staunch First Amendment/Media lawyer for Cincinnati firm Frost Brown Todd LLC.

SPJ Regions 4 and 5 are accepting nominations for the Dick Goehler First Amendment Defender Award. The Dick Goehler First Amendment Defender Award was established by Regions 4 and 5 of the Society of Professional Journalists in 2011 to honor the work and memory of Cincinnati attorney Dick Goehler of Frost, Brown, Todd in defending the First Amendment rights of journalists and citizens in Ohio, Kentucky and elsewhere. Nominees should be working journalists, educators or attorneys working primarily in the field of media law and first amendment issues. Nominees should reside or work in Regions 4 and 5 of SPJ. Region 4 covers Ohio, Michigan, West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania. Region 5 covers Kentucky, Indiana and Illinois.  The award will be presented at the Region 4 Conference in Lansing, Michigan (March 23 and 24) or the Region 5 Conference in Indianapolis (April 13 and 14). The site will be determined by the region in which the winner lives and/or works, or where they can attend the conference accept the award. Entries are due February 27. Send completed award applications and questions about this to Robyn Davis Sekula, award coordinator, at robyn@robynds.com or call her at (502) 608-6125. Click here to download the application.

The Region 4 Spring Conference “Journalism Rebooted” is fast approaching. The dates are March 23-24 in Lansing, Michigan. The registration Eventbrite site is now open at http://spjmi.eventbrite.com/. The Mid-Michigan pro chapter is doing a great job getting it all together and we have a kick-butt lineup of speakers – with a theme about the changing face of journalism.

Here is the info from the site:

The Mid-Michigan Pro and Michigan State University student chapters invite you to the 2012 SPJ Region 4 Spring Conference, “Journalism Rebooted,” on March 23-24 in East Lansing. Register by March 15 to avoid a $10 late fee. We’re lining up a schedule loaded with journalism innovators and experts to help you be a leader in this changing industry. For details on the conference schedule, visit www.spjmi.org. A limited block of rooms are available at MSU’s Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center at the special rate of $95/night. The Kellogg Center is within walking distance of downtown East Lansing and along the Entertainment Express bus route linking the Lansing and East Lansing downtowns. Book your room online now or call 800-875-5090. Use Group No. PFJ033012. Book your room by Feb. 22 to guarantee this rate. Join us Friday night for an opening reception at Dublin Square in downtown East Lansing. Then the work begins on Saturday, as we fill MSU’s Communication Arts & Sciences Building with student and professional journalists from across Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. And join us for the annual Mark of Excellence Luncheon on Saturday, where we honor the best in college journalism from across the region. Looking for other things do during your trip? Check out the new Greater Lansing mobile app from the Greater Lansing Convention & Visitors Bureau or find out more about downtown East Lansing here.