Journalists or journalism educators are needed to help 
judge entries in SPJ’s Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest. The contest has categories for daily and weekly newspapers, magazines, online news sites, and TV and radio stations.

The contest is being judged nearly entirely online this year. Judging should be complete by early April.

If you are interested in helping out, contact Scott Maben at ScottM@SPOKESMAN.com

Six campus SPJ chapters have been awarded $100 regional programming grants to support activities during the remainder of the spring 2010 semester. As Region 5 director, I had originally planned to give five grants but when six worthy proposals were submitted, I decided to fund all six from regional funds.

Here’s how campus chapters plan to use the money:

The Western Illinois University chapter will bring Todd Frankel of the St. Louis Post Dispatch to campus March 10 for two speeches focusing on “Finding and Telling the Overlooked Story.”

 The newly formed Ball State University chapter will use its funds for a portfolio and resume critique (held Feb. 22) and for a series of “Cookies and Ethics” discussions Thursday nights in March.

 The Western Kentucky University chapter plans to bring writer Mary Meehan and photographer David Stephenson, who worked together for several years on a series titled “A New Dawn” for the Lexington Herald-Leader, to campus to discuss relationships between reporters and photographers.

Two of the grants will support First Amendment Free Food Festivals at the University of Southern Indiana March 18 and at Indiana University in April. Eastern Kentucky University will use its grant to support First Amendment Week activities April 5-8, which also will include a “No Free Lunch” event as well as a day-long visit to campus by journalist and former hostage Terry Anderson, and a film festival.

Congratulations to all of the grant recipients.

The deadline for applying for a Region 5 campus chapter programming grant is midnight Monday, Feb. 22.  Here are the details:

SPJ Region 5 has money available to fund up to five $100 grants to campus chapters in the region to be used for programming during the remainder of the spring 2010 semester. The grants can be used to support any type of programming your chapter holds before July 1, 2010.

Proposals should include:

— The chapter name and region number
— A contact person and his/her complete contact information including mailing, e-mail and telephone number. (If your chapter receives grant funds, this person will receive all communication concerning the grant).
— The name of the proposed program
— Date the program will be held
— A description of the program, including objectives.
— How the program will benefit the chapter’s members
— Any relevant details of the program, such as speakers and format
— The requested grant amount, not to exceed $100
— A preliminary budget on how the grant funds will be spent

Proposals must be submitted by midnight, EST, on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.  

Additional Details

— Grant recipients will be notified by Friday, Feb. 26, 2010.
— If your chapter is selected to receive a grant, the funds will be distributed AFTER your chapter submits the required grant program recap. To receive the grant funds, awarded chapters must file this report within one month of the completion of their program. Receipts for program related expenses should be submitted with the report. After the report/receipts are reviewed, your chapter will be reimbursed the amount of your grant (not to exceed $100) for expenses incurred for the program. The program must take place by June 30, 2010.
— Grant funds may cover travel expenses for speakers, but funds will not be awarded to cover speaker fees or honorariums.

Send your proposal to:   Liz Hansen, SPJ Region 5 Director, at liz.hansen@eku.edu

DEADLINE: Midnight EST Monday, Feb. 22, 2010

SPJ Region 5 has money available to fund up to five $100 grants to campus chapters in the region to be used for programming during the remainder of the spring 2010 semester. The grants can be used to support any type of programming your chapter holds before July 1, 2010.

Proposals should include:

— The chapter name and region number
— A contact person and his/her complete contact information including mailing, e-mail and telephone number. (If your chapter receives grant funds, this person will receive all communication concerning the grant).
— The name of the proposed program
— Date the program will be held
— A description of the program, including objectives.
— How the program will benefit the chapter’s members
— Any relevant details of the program, such as speakers and format
— The requested grant amount, not to exceed $100
— A preliminary budget on how the grant funds will be spent

Proposals must be submitted by midnight, EST, on Monday, Feb. 22, 2010. Only electronic submissions will be accepted.  

Additional Details

— Grant recipients will be notified by Friday, Feb. 26, 2010.
— If your chapter is selected to receive a grant, the funds will be distributed AFTER your chapter submits the required grant program recap. To receive the grant funds, awarded chapters must file this report within one month of the completion of their program. Receipts for program related expenses should be submitted with the report. After the report/receipts are reviewed, your chapter will be reimbursed the amount of your grant (not to exceed $100) for expenses incurred for the program. The program must take place by June 30, 2010.
— Grant funds may cover travel expenses for speakers, but funds will not be awarded to cover speaker fees or honorariums.

Send your proposal to:   Liz Hansen, SPJ Region 5 Director, at liz.hansen@eku.edu

DEADLINE: Midnight EST Monday, Feb. 22, 2010

Join other journalists from Region 5 in Chicago March 26-27 for our spring conference.  Meet new people, network and hear some of the industry’s best and brightest on topics ranging from Freedom of Information to emerging technologies.

The event will kick off on Friday, March 26, with a reception at the Loyola Water Tower Campus Atrium. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to meet conference participants and start networking in advance of Saturday’s professional development sessions.

Saturday’s professional development sessions will also be held at the Loyola Water Tower Campus. The day will be filled with professional development programs to strengthen your career and advance your skills. After lunch is served at the Mark of Excellence Luncheon, we’ll honor the 2009 Region 5 Mark of Excellence Awards winners. Please contact Heather Porter at SPJ Headquarters with any questions about the event.

Professional development sessions will focus on:

— Freelancing
— Multimedia
— Ethics
— Student press rights
— Radio
— Diversity
— New business models

Confirmed speakers include:

— Tran Ha, RedEye
— Hilary Fosdal, Interactive Content Manager, Barrington Broadcasting Group
— Brian Boyer, Chicago Tribune
— Steve Edwards, Acting Content Manager, Chicago Public Radio
— Rebecca Lindell, Managing Editor, Kellogg World
— Beth Konrad, Loyola University Chicago
— Jill Chanen, Managing Editor, ABA Journal
— Marilia Gutierrez, Managing Editor, Cafe Media LLC
— Antonio Olivo, Chicago Tribune
— Fabiola Pomareda, Reporter, La Raza Newspaper

A special thank-you to Loyola University Chicago (Downtown Water Tower Campus) for their in-kind donation of meeting space. The event will be co-hosted by the Loyola University Chicago student chapter of SPJ.

General Details

Location:
Loyola University
Water Tower Campus
820 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

Saturday, March 27
Detailed schedule coming soon.
 

Fees

Fee includes Friday night reception and continental breakfast & MOE lunch on Saturday.

Register online at https://www.spj.org/regionalconf-5-register.asp