The SPJ News

October 27, 2022
How to Restore Public Trust in the News
By Sophie Schulz
A diverse team of three journalists gathered to discuss the growing epidemic of distrust in news media. They suggested multiple ways we can regain public trust. In an age where information is being thrown at us from all angles, disinformation is becoming the norm.
October 27, 2022
Nonprofit says their data tool could save local journalism
By Megan Woolard
Journalists can now examine data in a new way with the help of a tool from the University of Southern California’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Crosstown is a non-profit news organization that uses a data processing tool to offer news on a hyper-local level.
September 9, 2021
“Building a Pipeline from the Classroom to the Newsroom”: What is NBCU Academy and How Can I Participate?
By Alexandra Bowman, Danielle Layton
If you are interested in learning from reporters who really understand the craft, this is a great use of your time. Going through the specific scenario and deconstructing the different developments was extremely helpful to me as an aspiring reporter.
September 8, 2021
4 top political cartoonists. 1 virtual room. Here’s what they had to say about virtual satire in the age of social media.
By Alexandra Bowman
Throughout the virtual chat, the four touched upon the struggles they face as political cartoonists. And agreed one of the biggest thorns in their side, is social media and the “bandwagoning” on damning misinterpretations of their work.
September 8, 2021
How to Create More Inclusive Classrooms
By Hannah Foote
Many journalists start in a classroom rather than a newsroom, and panelists at the 2021 SPJ Conference stress the need for these classrooms to be safe and inclusive spaces. University of North Texas professor Dorothy Bland said she encourages students and professors alike to start feeling comfortable outside of their current comfort zones.
September 5, 2021
Ever wondered how to turn a news story into a book? Two publishing industry insiders spill some knowledge.
By Sudiksha Kochi
Having a byline on a story is great and all, but what about having a published book with your name on it? Industry insiders, Mindy Marquez Gonzalez, of Simon & Schuster, and Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, associate professor of journalism at California's Santa Monica College, talked about how you --- yes, YOU -- can turn that story into a published book.
September 5, 2021
The benefits of unionizing a newsroom–and why you should consider it
By Sudiksha Kochi
...the top three issues cited by people interested in organizing unions are economic uncertainty, job security and diversity, equity and inclusion in their newsrooms. The organizers also want to ensure that there is a commitment to the craft of journalism.
September 4, 2021
SPJNews21 Student Reporters Discuss Evacuating from Hurricane Ida
By Brooklyn Joyner, Domonique Tolliver, Grace Altenhofen, Ja'Colbi Rivers, Zaria Oates
September 4, 2021
Connecting with Conservatives for Local Journalists
By Allison Hageman
Conservative news consumers often want news that is just facts or includes both side's perspectives. The unfair perception can be impacted by word choice, headlines, sourcing, and news consumers not being able to tell between news and opinion.
September 4, 2021
J-school professors: Engaging with community, crucial tool for student journalism
By Hannah Foote
Engagement is journalism and the quicker student journalists learn this, the better. Two J-school professors detail teaching methods aimed at encouraging the next generation of storytellers to strengthen their bonds with those they interview.
September 4, 2021
Special Citations for Los Angeles Times and Kansas City Star
By Grace Altenhofen
“In the past, coverage was either nonexistent or offensive and inaccurate. If you were a black Kansas Citian in 1950, you couldn’t even have your obituary in the Kansas City Star. You couldn’t get respect even in death.”
September 4, 2021
An Inside Look Into Covering the Trump and Biden Administrations
By Sudiksha Kochi
“When we first came into this administration, it was not the same situation where you could be there all the time and get to know your sources in person. There were a lot of restrictions, because of the pandemic. In fact, many of these officials weren't working in the building.”
September 4, 2021
How to be an All-Star Pitcher
By Hannah Foote
Pitching is a crucial skill all journalists must hone and strengthen. The pitching process sets reporters up to share important stories and keep an eye out for gaps in current coverage. Susan Valot, a member of the SPJ Freelance Board, moderated a pitching-focused session at the organization’s 2021 conference.
September 4, 2021
Journalists List Impacts of their Investigative Reporting
By Chatwan Mongkol
Stories from tipsters, personal curiosity and relationships with communities — these are things that led journalists to produce investigative, long-form works that bring about changes and impacts.
September 4, 2021
Investigative podcast “Why Don’t We Know” hopes to inspire journalists to seek hidden, uncollected data
By Hannah Foote
The producers of investigative podcast "Why Don't We Know" -- a podcast "that tells the story of the absence of data" -- hope it'll inspire the work of other journalists and motivate them to look for hidden and uncollected data.
September 4, 2021
Data Journalism is Not Just About Numbers
By Grace Altenhofen
“One of the great things about data journalism is that you can use that skillset to make your story not just anecdotal, but analytical."
September 4, 2021
Censorship and ‘Media Gags’ Prevent Journalists from Serving the Public Interest
By Hannah Foote
Not sharing the information journalists need to prevents sometimes life saving information from reaching the public, especially during a pandemic.
September 4, 2021
How Journalists Can Take Advantage of Public Records
By Chatwan Mongkol
...know the specific records and know the law that requires the release of such records.

October 31st, 2022 • 2021: Virtual
SPJ announces 2023 conference

SPJ ended the final business of the conference by looking ahead to next year’s convention which will be in Las Vegas. And that’s a wrap on #MediaFest22! Thanks to @acpress and @collegemedia for partnering with us to make this a great convention.

October 29th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C. | #2021: Virtual
Change to SPJ Delegate System Fails

The changes would have established the membership as the legislative body and members would be able to ratify any proposed changes to the bylaws.

October 29th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
Reporter speaks on combating journalistic repression

Whether it is due to restrictive reporting laws abroad, publications based in news deserts or lack of funding, press freedoms are now threatened in more ways than one. Jessica Jerreat knows this first-hand. Working as a press freedom editor for Voices of America [VOA], Jerreat shed light on the realities of censorship and attacks that can happen to reporters covering stories around the world.

October 29th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
How to Avoid Jerks on Twitter as a Journalist

1.1 million “abusive or problematic” tweets were sent to women in 2017. Two female journalists refer to Twitter as a “hotbed of harassment.” After years of being journalists and being interactive with their followers through their social media accounts they insinuated that using the app is a skill that took them effort and time to master.

October 29th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C. | #2021: Virtual
Deserting the Printed Past: Why College Publications Need to Adapt

The way students on college campuses consume media is changing – leading college publications to ask the question: how can we keep the audience engaged? This panel of university-based journalists came to argue that the problem is in the print. “Things have changed, and we need to change also,” said panelist David Simpson of Georgia Southern University.

October 29th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
OPENING KEYNOTE PRESENTATION HAS STUDENTS INSPIRED FOR THE FUTURE OF JOURNALISM

"It really inspired me to see women who are Black like myself working in the media. It showed me I can do this too...”

October 29th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
Journalists Should Think like Lawyers (Sometimes)

“I just think that if its a public record by law then it should be that police department has to put in a request to keep things away from the public record instead of us having to request to get the information.”

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
Defending Democracy

The clear attack on democracy should have been the main focus instead of involving political parties in the initial reporting.

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
Localizing Climate Change Reporting

The public’s trust in local journalists is exactly why they need to start reporting on climate change if there’s any hope of people taking it seriously.

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
The Filmed Blue Line: Teaching journalists about requesting police footage

The power of dash and body cam footage is undeniable. Joy Ramsingh, an attorney at Ramsingh Legal, spoke at MediaFest22 as a panelist teaching journalists how these record requests differ from others. She also gave practical tools to handle the requests.

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
‘We need to show up’: Journalists Woodward and Bernstein talk 50th anniversary of Watergate, reporting techniques and Trump in MediaFest keynote presentation

“We need to show up … We are not showing up enough..”

October 28th, 2022 • 2021: Virtual
Talking Trauma: Journalists discuss the stress of reporting

When journalist Naseem Miller covered the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando back in 2016, there wasn’t much conversation surrounding how journalists cover traumatic events. Now journalists are having open conversations about how to sensitively cover traumatic events, while also taking care of themselves.

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
AP Style Stays Current by Seeking Inclusivity

Not only does The Associated Press update basic rules of grammar and punctuation but it also assists journalists in remaining inclusive in their reporting. These updates reflect the inevitable changes of human society. Claire Regan’s “AP Style Smackdown” explained how the style guide better helps journalists to keep up with the three rules Regan shared in her panel: accuracy, consistency and sensitivity.

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
Restoring Public Trust in News

"Americans say they don't have any reasonable trust in news..."

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C. | #2021: Virtual
‘Safety starts with a conversation’: Learning how to be proactive when reporting in the field

After years working as a first responder, Chris Post has taken on the role of “second first responder” in his job as a photojournalist at the Associated Press. Post, executive director and safety advisor of the International Media Support Group, calls journalists “second first responders” in society.

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C. | #2021: Virtual
How to elevate your college sports reporting one public record at a time

“If the media relations person stonewalls you and says don’t report on this, then write about it...”

October 28th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
How to make your resume stand out to recruiters

“I want to know that you can tell me a great story, and I want to know you can do it in a minute thirty or less...”

October 27th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
Accessibility of the Infographic: Panel Discusses Ways They Kept Readers Engaged

The entirely scrollable format gives people the ability to experience the most out of the infographic with the least amount of effort.

October 27th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
Uncover and Enhance Your News Stories with Census Bureau Data

Collectively ACS data helps to determine $675 billion of federal government spending per year.

October 27th, 2022 • 2022: Washington D.C.
Up in the Air: Using Drones to Cover News

Innovative and aerial journalism is creating a new perspective in media. National experts Greg Agvent and Charles D. Tobin led a panel on using drones to report news stories at MediaFest22. The pair discussed rules and permitting requirements around drone use, how to become trained in the use of drones, legal implications of using drone footage, and the progression of drone usage.