Guest post by Alex Veeneman, community coordinator and chair of SPJ Digital

In this ever changing media environment, students need to do more to stand out, from work placements and student media opportunities, writing on the side, either on a freelance basis or with online or print publications. As students try to build their brand and get their foot in the door of journalism, SPJ can help, especially through participation in our communities.

An SPJ community is a unique way to get involved with SPJ and to make it your own. Inside an SPJ community, you can get insight on how to improve your craft, or get a new perspective on how to approach a subject. You might find new ways of doing things that will bring both personal and professional benefits in the long term. This can be invaluable for students, from networking to potential leads for employment after you graduate.

SPJ benefits too. You can lend your expertise on a particular subject and help make journalism better for you and your peers in the industry. You can also get involved regardless of if you are affiliated with a chapter. Important discussions can be conducted about issues in the industry, programming can be created, and resources can be made available that will bring significant benefits to journalism as a whole.

Recently, we unveiled our student community, dedicated to tackling issues concerning student journalists and student journalism. This community brings many benefits to the SPJ’s student membership, by tackling issues important to students and helping bring different student media perspectives to help students get ready for the ever changing world of journalism.

In addition to our student community, we have a digital community, a freelance community, an international community, and Generation J will be turning into a community. All of these communities rely on enthusiastic volunteers, collaboration and ideas, and can also help play a role in getting students ready to enter the industry.

Being involved in a community is an incredible opportunity. You can let your voice be heard and also make a significant difference in the future of your SPJ, and I want to make that opportunity possible for all SPJ members, especially students.

I implore you to get involved, and help build your career with your SPJ. You won’t regret it.

Alex Veeneman, a recent university graduate, is SPJ’s Community Coordinator and interim chair of SPJ Digital. Veeneman also serves as Deputy Editor and Media Editor for Kettle Magazine (www.kettlemag.co.uk), an online publication in the UK. He is based in Chicago.

To get involved with the communities, you can email (alex.veeneman01@gmail.com) or tweet Alex (@alex_veeneman) for more information.

As always, the Excellence in Journalism conference co-hosted by SPJ and RTDNA was chock full of good content, networking opportunities, business sessions and hearty discussions about what we need to do better or differently. Focusing on the positive, here are some of the comments I heard from fellow convention goers:

“The most encouraging thing I saw – and experienced – at this year’s EIJ was the energy among many of the younger attendees. During the ‘ask the experts’ time, they were forthright and willing to sit right down and ask questions in a quest to learn more. Unlike the grizzled conference veterans who were looking to network, forge connections for the next gig or locate an open bar, these young journalists were eager to lay the groundwork on their growing skillset by listening to the pros.”

“Another great facet of this year’s EIJ was the efforts put forth by staff in scheduling sessions and meetings. It’s been a long-standing concern that meetings were taking place while learning sessions were underway. If we – as a population that needs to stay current in our understanding and skills – want to excel, we can’t be in board and committee meetings while educational events are happening.”

~Jeff Cutler, New England Pro Chapter

“Diversity Fellowship Program!”

~ Athima Chansanchai, Western Washington Pro

“Meeting the reps from JEA and finding out NJ does a better job than most states getting pros and high school students together!”

~ Jane Primerano, New Jersey Pro Chapter

“I thoroughly enjoyed the networking opportunities at every turn. In many ways, it’s a conference of extroverts – people willing to talk to anyone and find shared experiences. Every year, I meet new people and go home with more contacts than I had.”

~ Robyn Sekula, Louisville Pro Chapter

“I was very proud to be an SPJ member after seeing the cooperation and hard work that went into revising and ultimately passing an Ethics Code.”

~ Joe Radske, region 6 director