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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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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Greetings!

The Oregon Territory SPJ chapter is back up and running!

Watch this space for news and information about journalism and media for journalists, students and others in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

--rp--