Thursday, December 10, 2015

Mark Your Calendar: Build a Better Journalist Conference, Jan. 23, 2016




Come build yourself into a better journalist with a day-long conference packed with helpful, real-world tips from top presenters on Saturday, Jan. 23, at the George S. Turnbull Portland Center in Portland.

Spend the morning in a nationally recognized hands-on workshop on fact-checking from the American Press Institute (API). Then break out into sessions on a range of topics before ending the day with a panel discussion from reporters who covered the Oct. 1 Umpqua Community College shooting. Find out how they covered it, and how we can ethically report when tragedy hits our communities.

Admission is FREE for current SPJ student and professional members. For non-members, pay just $25 as a professional and $15 as a student. (Not a member yet? Join online at www.spj.org/join.asp) Cost includes breakfast and a catered lunch. Order tickets online at http://spjoregon.eventbrite.com.

Connect with your fellows on the Facebook page: facebook.com/SPJOregon

Here's the day's schedule:

  • 9 a.m. Introduction/breakfast
  • 9:15: API: Understanding campaign ads: History/background/types of deception
  • 10 a.m.: API: Social media verification
  • 10:45 a.m.: API: Understanding audience bias, ways to reach wider audiences with fact-checking journalism
  • 11:30 a.m.: API: Deep research: beyond Google
  • 12:30 p.m.: Buffet-style lunch
  • 1:30 p.m.: Student session on resume critiques (meet one-on-one with media industry hirers); Professional session by Online News Association on new technology in media
  • 2:30-4 p.m.: Covering Roseburg: Panelists who were on the ground discuss what went well, what went wrong, and how to ethically cover tragedy in a small town

Questions? Email us at spjoregon@gmail.com

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Thursday, November 5, 2015

SPJ Seeks Judges for Student Mark of Excellence Contest

The Oregon Territory Chapter of SPJ is looking for volunteer judges for the 2015 Mark of Excellence student journalism awards.

Because we don't want to overload anyone (and we want to encourage volunteers this year and in the future) we're looking for volunteers to judge just ONE category of the awards. There are categories in radio, television, newspaper and online journalism, produced by college students from one of our sister regions of SPJ. (We won't be judging our own area.)

Judging takes place online between Feb. 8-26, 2015. You will receive a username and password to access your entries.

If you'd like to help (and it really is fun to see student work), please contact Samantha Swindler, SPJ Oregon President, at sswindler@oregonian.com by Dec. 1. We must have our share of the judges lined up by December.

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Thursday, September 3, 2015

Oregon Territory SPJ Chapter Elects New Officers for 2015-16

The Oregon Territory chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has a new board of directors.

Elected in an email survey of chapter members, the board of directors will serve for the next year.

Elected were:

President -- Samantha Swindler, a Washington County editor for The Oregonian as well as editor of the Forest Grove Leader newspaper.

Vice President -- Kaellen Hessel, causes reporter for the Salem Statesman Journal, covering nonprofits and social services.

Secretary -- Christen McCurdy, news editor at The Skanner News in Portland.

Treasurer -- Craig Brown, metro editor at The Columbian newspaper in Vancouver, Wash.

At-Large Members -- Inka Bajandas, public outreach program manager at the Oregon Forest Resources Institute, based in Portland.

Ian Kullgren, state government reporter for The Oregonian

Aimee White, development director for United Way of Deschutes County.

Rob Priewe, journalism instructor at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany.

The board of directors will next meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at the offices of the Statesman Journal newspaper in Salem. Other chapter members are welcome to attend the monthly board meeting, which has been alternating meeting locations between the Statesman Journal and The Oregonian in Portland.

For more information or to get involved in the chapter and its activities, contact Samantha Swindler at sswindler@oregonian.com or Rob Priewe at rob.priewe@linnbenton.edu.


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Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Oregon Territory SPJ Chapter Approves Updated Bylaws



The Oregon Territory SPJ chapter approved new bylaws at it meeting Aug. 13 in Portland. The bylaws outline the mission and operations of the Oregon and Southwest Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

BYLAWS

MISSION STATEMENT
Members of the Oregon Territory Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists believe an informed public is the basis of justice and democracy. Oregon SPJ members champion freedom of the press; train journalists; encourage students; recognize excellence; and promote the highest ideals of their profession.

ARTICLE I. Definitions
Section 1.
The name of the chapter is the Oregon Territory Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (referred to hereafter as "Oregon SPJ" or "the chapter").
Section 2.
Oregon SPJ encompasses all of Oregon and Southwest Washington as a state chapter of the National Society of Professional Journalists.
The chapter is a member of the national organization's Region 10 – including Oregon, Alaska, Washington, Idaho and Montana.
Section 3.
Oregon SPJ was founded June 22, 1966, as the Willamette Valley Professional Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi (the organization that later became the National Society of Professional Journalists).
Section 4.
"Meetings" refers to regularly scheduled meetings of Oregon SPJ's board of directors.

ARTICLE II. Membership
Section 1.
Membership in Oregon SPJ is open to all individuals engaged in journalism (or the teaching of journalism) as their primary occupation.
Section 2.
Individuals engaged in public relations, advertising and other professions related to journalism but not directly involved in the independent gathering and dissemination of news are not eligible for membership.
However, they may support the efforts of Oregon SPJ by becoming associate members of the organization.

ARTICLE III. Organization
Section 1.
Oregon SPJ is governed by an eight-member board of directors. Board members may be SPJ members or associate members.
Section 2.
Vacancies of the board of directors are filled by a majority vote of the existing board members attending an official meeting of the chapter.
Section 3.
The board is governed by four officers – the president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer.
Section 4.
Board officers are elected to one-year terms via a ballot disseminated to the entire membership of the chapter to close Sept. 1.
Section 5.
Board members and officers may be voted out of office by a majority vote of the entire board of directors.
Section 6.
There are no limitations on the number of terms a board officer may serve.
Section 7.
Chapter bylaws may only be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire board of directors.

ARTICLE IV. Meetings
Section 1.
The board of directors of Oregon SPJ meets monthly. The exact time and meeting place is determined by a vote of the board.
Section 2.
Other issues concerning the board, as they arise, are addressed with teleconferences,  emails and other forms of long-distance communication.
Section 3.
The president may call special board meetings, if warranted, by providing board members at least 72 hours notice of the meeting.
The exact time, date and location of the meeting will be decided by a consensus of board members.
Section 4.
A board meeting requires a quorum of the board. A quorum is majority of the occupied seats of the board. All actions taken by the chapter will be decided by a majority vote of the board members present.
 Decisions made outside board meetings must be approved by a majority of the entire board.
 Section 5.
The board of directors will hold an annual membership meeting, open to all chapter members. This meeting may coincide with the chapter's annual Excellence in Journalism awards ceremony.

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To get involved in the chapter and its activities, contact Samantha Swindler at sswindler@oregonian.com or Rob Priewe at rob.priewe@linnbenton.edu.

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Oregon Territory SPJ Seeks Nominees for Chapter Board

Photo courtesy of Keith Bacongco via Flickr.com.

The Oregon Territory Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is now seeking nominees to serve on the chapter's eight-member board of directors.

More specifically, nominees are being sought to fill positions of chapter president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and four at-large members. An online vote open to all chapter members will be conducted later this summer.  

All current chapter members in Oregon and Southwest Washington are eligible to seek any of the open positions, which have an annual term.

Current board members are:
  • President: Hannah Hoffman, formerly of the Statesman Journal
  • Vice President: Ian Kullgren, Oregonian
  • Secretary: Christen McCurdy, The Skanner
  • Treasurer: Kaellen Hessel, Statesman Journal
  • Open Records Chair: Inka Bajandas, Daily Journal of Commerce
  • At-large Members:
  • Craig Brown, Vancouver Columbian
  • Finn J.D. John, Oregon State University
  • Rob Priewe, Linn-Benton Community College
  • Samantha Swindler, Forest Grove Leader/The Oregonian
In addition to electing new members to the the board of directors, the chapter is looking to update the group's bylaws to bring those in line with the national organization and reflect changes in the chapter's operations. 

Those interested in serving on the board should contact Hannah Hoffman at hannah.k.hoffman@gmail.com or rob.priewe@linnbenton.edu. 

Building a Better Journalist Conference 
The chapter also is beginning planning for a journalism training program tentatively slated to happen in October at the University of Oregon. In the tradition of past "Building a Better Journalist" programs, the sessions would be open to both professionals and students.

The chapter hopes to team up with UO's School of Journalism and Communication for the day-long program on a Saturday in October. Among the topics the chapter is exploring are: Covering law enforcement, investigative reporting, the view from the PR desk, getting that first job in journalism, photojournalism and open records access.

For more information or to contribute ideas for the conference, contact Samantha Swindler at sswindler@oregonian.com.

-rp-
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Wednesday, June 24, 2015

List of Winners for SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism Contest


Willamette Week reporter Nigel Jaquiss accepts the Bruce Baer
Award for investigative reporting from Bud Clark.

Below is a link to the list of winners for this year's SPJ Northwest Excellence in Journalism Competition.

Winners were announced and handed awards during programs June 6 in Albany, Ore., and June 13 in Seattle. Awards will be sent to winners who were unable to accept their awards in person.

Congratulations to all the winners!

To see the list of winners, click here ...

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1dtt7Lb3fnyTcPn17aw3KymMFECRGcjVuKjbRk_G3o7I/edit?usp=sharing

For more information, contact chapter President Hannah Hoffman at hannah.k.hoffman@gmail.com or rob.priewe@linnbenton.edu. 

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Friday, May 15, 2015

Pulitzer Winner to Speak at SPJ Awards Program on June 6; Sign Up Now!

Now is the time to RSVP for the annual SPJ Awards banquet and social set for Saturday, June 6, in Albany, Ore.

In addition to announcing regional journalism award winners, this year's banquet will feature a keynote address by Nigel Jaquiss, Pulitzer Prize winner at Willamette Week, who will talk about his role in covering the story of John Kitzhaber and Cylvia Hayes that ultimately led to the resignation of Oregon's governor and multiple state and federal investigations.

This year's program is moving south -- to the campus of Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, 6500 Pacific Blvd. S.W., just a few minutes off I-5. And the price is only $25 per person.

Please send  reservations to Oregon Territory SPJ Chapter President Hannah Hoffman at hannah.k.hoffman@gmail.com.

Nominate Your Rookie of the Year, First Freedom Award Candidates

There's still time to send your nominations for the Rookie of the Year and the First Freedom Award.

Rookie of the Year: This award goes to a journalist who had her or his first full-time reporting job during 2014. Internships do not count, but nominees can have been hired full-time at any point during the year.

Editors (or other co-workers) should submit a letter of recommendation and three clips. Submissions should be mailed to Hannah Hoffman, 4159 River Road N., Keizer, OR 97303.

The deadline for submissions is May 29.

The winner receives a $500 cash award.

First Freedom Award: This award goes to a nonjournalist who has worked to push for more open records and government in Oregon.

Examples in the past have included district attorneys, nonprofit groups and citizen bloggers. Nominations should demonstrate a tangible impact of some kind and should be submitted to the address listed above. Deadline also is May 29.

Journalists from Oregon and Southwest Washington are excited to re-energize the area's SPJ chapter. The program on June 6 is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with the journalism community, to share stories and to appreciate each other and the important work we do.

Please forward this notice to anyone in your newsrooms who may be interested in either nominating someone for an award or attending this event in June.

Contact: Hannah Hoffman, hannah.k.hoffman@gmail.com

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Wednesday, April 29, 2015

June Banquet Honors Oregon Journalists; Nominations Sought for "Rookie of the Year" and "First Freedom" Award


It's that time again! Banquet time! Time for food, drinks and awards (not to mention fabulous company). Save the date for June 6 at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany.

It's centrally located, so encourage your Southern Oregon colleagues to join us. Tickets will go on sale soon and will be cheaper than they have been in recent years, $25 each.

In the meantime, send us your nominations for the following chapter awards:

Rookie of the Year: This award goes to a journalist who had his or her first full-time reporting job during 2014. Internships do not count, but nominees can have been hired full-time at any point during the year.

Editors should submit a letter of recommendation and three clips. Submissions should be mailed to Hannah Hoffman, 4159 River Road N., Keizer, OR 97303. Deadline for submissions is May 29.

Winner receives a $500 cash award.

First Freedom award: This award goes to a nonjournalist who has worked to push for more open records and government in Oregon. Examples in the past have included district attorneys, nonprofits and citizen bloggers. Nominations should demonstrate a tangible impact of some kind and should be submitted to the address listed above. Deadline is May 29.

We hope to see you all at the banquet on June 6. It is an excellent opportunity to reconnect with the journalism community, to share stories and to appreciate each other and the important work we do.

Please forward this notice to anyone in your newsrooms who may be interested in either nominating someone for an award or attending our event in June.

See you in June,

SPJ Oregon President Hannah Hoffman

Bruce Baer Award Honors Best of Oregon Investigative Journalism


Since 1978, the Baer Award, which carries a $1,000 prize, has been given in recognition of Oregon’s finest investigative and public affairs journalism.  Any work published or broadcast in 2014 may be nominated.  

Bruce Baer
Stories submitted for the award are judged on the quality of reporting, as well as the enterprise and courage reflected in the work, according to Friends of Bruce Baer, the group that sponsors the annual award.

Les Zaitz of The Oregonian won the award last year for “Under the Curse of Cartels,” a series exploring the widespread impact of Mexican drug cartels operating in Oregon.  Amelia Templeton of Oregon Public Broadcasting received a Special Recognition award for a story that examined the ramifications of law enforcement cutbacks in Josephine County.

Further information about the award and the nomination form can be found at http://journalism.uoregon.edu/brucebaer.

The award is in memory of Bruce Baer, who was dean of the Oregon Capitol press corps when he died of cancer at age 40. He had worked for daily newspapers and radio stations in the Pacific Northwest prior to spending 13 years at KATU-TV in Portland.

The prize will be presented June 6 at the annual awards banquet hosted by the Oregon Territory Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. This year’s event will take place on the campus of Linn-Benton Community College in Albany.

Entries should be submitted to: Dr.  Jeffrey D. Robinson, Department of Communications, Portland State University, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR  97207.

Links to online versions of the stories also should be included.

Questions can be directed to Roger Anthony at 503-998-5509.

Monday, January 26, 2015

Plans Take Shape for Oregon Territory SPJ Journalism Contest, Awards Program

Journalists from Oregon and Southwest Washington are pushing hard to revitalize the area's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

That effort began with new energy on the chapter's board of directors, which is now meeting monthly, a new chapter name, and laying out plans for this year's Northwest Excellence in Journalism daily and non-daily journalism contests. Winners will be honored at the annual awards program this spring.

NEW NAME: The chapter is now officially known as the Oregon Territory chapter of SPJ, recognizing the wide region that it encompasses, from the southern and eastern borders of Oregon to Vancouver and Southwest Washington.

NEW BOARD: The chapter's board of directors is now comprised of:
  • President: Hannah Hoffman, Statesman Journal
  • Vice President: Tom Henderson, McMinnville News-Register
  • Secretary: Christen McCurdy, freelance journalist
  • Treasurer: Kaellen Hessel, Statesman Journal
  • Open Records Chair: Inka Bajandas, Daily Journal of Commerce
  • Members at Large:
  • Craig Brown, Vancouver Columbian
  • Finn J.D. John, Oregon State University
  • Rob Priewe, Linn-Benton Community College
  • Samantha Swindler, Forest Grove Leader/The Oregonian
  • Lisa Loving, The Skanner
CONTEST ENTRIES: The deadline to enter and pay for entries for this year's Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest is THURSDAY, FEB. 12.

The contest covers work published or broadcast in 2014. Categories include Daily Print and Online, Alternative Weeklies, Traditional Weeklies, Non-daily Newspapers, Magazines, Radio and Television, and Visuals (photos and online video).

For more information and to enter, here is the link: omnicontests4.com/default.aspx?comp_id=C68D0B7A-9D6A-4E44-AAFF-14D22A6FD11C

Awards will be presented June. 6.

CONTEST JUDGES: Among the news board's top priorities is restoring the annual contest. Board members are seeking journalists from around the chapter who are willing to judge entries from another region as part of our partnership with other chapters to honor the best in journalism.

If you would like to get involved, contact Craig Brown at the Vancouver Columbian. His email address is craig.brown@columbian.com. 

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR: At the same time, the chapter is seeking nominations for the "Rookie of the Year" Award, which honors the top newcomer to journalism in our region. To be eligible, nominees must be in their first year in journalism at one of the state's media organizations, whether print or broadcasting.

AWARDS PROGRAM:
The board is in the early stages of planning the awards banquet, which is tentatively set for Saturday, June 6. Stay tuned for updates on the time, date and location.

NEW BLOG:
Rob Priewe, journalism intructor at Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, has agreed to edit the chapter's new blog. If you have items to contribute or suggestions, contact Priewe at rob.priewe@linnbenton.edu or call 541-917-4563.

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