Registration is now OPEN for the SPJ Regions 4-5 Spring Conference, April 1-2, 2011, at the METS Center in Northern Kentucky.

Early bird registration is among the least expensive in the country for SPJ regional conferences, with a lineup of rock-star speakers designed to inspire and teach. You can find a link to registration here: http://spj2011.eventbrite.com. Registration is $50 for student SPJ members, and $70 for SPJ pro members. This early bird price is only good through March 4 – so grab your seat fast. You can also find a link to the conference hotel on that same page.

 You can find a lengthy description of the conference on the Event Brite site, which will be updated as we continue to line up speakers. We’re excited to announce our keynote speaker, Jonathan Katz, AP International Desk reporter, who will discuss his work in Haiti during the earthquake and subsequent humanitarian crisis.

Students will receive their Mark of Excellence Awards at the conference, which covers seven states: Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Ohio, Michigan, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. We’ll also provide an opportunity for student members to get their work critiqued during the afternoon of Saturday, April 2.

Congratulations to all of the Region 5 Mark of Excellence winners. The complete  list of winners is posted at http://www.spj.org/news.asp?REF=957. First place regional winners advance to the national competition. National winners will be recognized at the 2010 SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference in Las Vegas Oct. 3-5. The MOE luncheon is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 4.