Boost your live coverage skills at “Tweet It Now” workshop Feb. 16

sdspjeditor — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 19:51:17 +0000

Gone are the days of filing your story at day’s end. Today’s journalists are responsible for producing online content in addition to their print or broadcast work. And today’s savviest journalists go a step further – filing stories as they happen via Twitter.

Learn how you can improve your “live coverage” skills at SPJ’s “Tweet It Now: Real-time Reporting via Twitter” workshop on Thursday, Feb. 16.

Speakers will include Voice of San Diego education writer-turned-Los Angeles Times journalist Emily Alpert (@emilyschoolsyou), San Diego CityBeat’s Dave Maass (@DaveMaass) and U-T San Diego reporter Wendy Fry (@WendyFry). U-T San Diego reporter Matthew Hall (@SDuncovered) will moderate the program.

Learn the benefits of using Twitter coverage in your reporting, and take home skills you can use when covering meetings, elections, court proceedings, sports events, protests, disaster scenes and more.

When: Thursday, February 16, 6:30 p.m. mingling, 7 p.m. program
Where: KGTV Studio, 4600 Air Way, San Diego
Directions: Visit www.10news.com and click on “Contact Us” for directions
Cost: Free for SPJ members; $5 non-members

Filed under: Uncategorized

SD Press Club’s Making LinkedIn work for you forum this Wednesday

sdspjeditor — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:05:52 +0000

Guest speaker Rick Itzkowich, the author of Social Networking for Business Profits, will discuss how to get the most out of the social media site LinkedIn this Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the U-T San Diego auditorium off the main lobby. The event is free for Press Club members and U-T San Diego staff and $10 for everyone else.

What: LinkedIn Workshop
When: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 6 to 8 p.m., reception at 6 p.m., program at 6:30
Where: U-T San Diego, 350 Camino de la Reina, San Diego CA 92108
More information: sdpressclub@cox.net or 619-231-4340

Filed under: Events, Uncategorized

Calling all entries! Two contest deadlines arrive on Thursday, Feb. 9

sdspjeditor — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:05:00 +0000

The Society of Professional Journalists is excited to announce that the 2011 Sigma Delta Chi Awards are open for entry until Feb. 9. Among the premiere prizes awarded to professional journalists, the SDX Awards recognize the best in U.S. professional journalism from print, online, art/graphics, newsletters, television, radio and journalism research.

See last year’s winning entries. Submit entires online at awards.spj.org. The fee per entry for SPJ members is $60; non-members may enter for $100. Read the contest rules. Winners will be honored at a banquet in July. Please contact Lauren Rochester with questions at 317-927-8000 ext. 210 or lrochester@spj.org.

The New America Award contest is also accepting entries through Feb. 9. The award honors public service journalism that explores and exposes an issue of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities living in the United States. Read about last year’s winners at Minnesota Public Radio News. Each entry must include a cover letter explaining the significance of the issue, any obstacles encountered and benefits gained. The letter can also provide background about the nominees and talk about the effects of the journalism produced. Entries may be in any language, but English translations must be supplied for entries that are not in English. There is no fee to enter the New America contest. For full rules and a mail-in entry form, visit spj.org/a-newamerica.asp.

Filed under: Uncategorized

The Writer’s Symposium at PLNU on Tuesday, Feb. 28

sdspjeditor — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:38:39 +0000

SPJ members are invited to join with other journalists for a special dinner and interview event with Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist Chris Hedges at the Writer’s Symposium by the Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University on Tuesday, February 28.

The San Diego SPJ chapter is co-sponsoring the event so the first 40 SPJ members who purchase a ticket to the evening interview (available at www.pointloma.edu/writers ) can also attend a dinner event with Chris Hedges and have front-row reserved seating. However, you must contact event coordinator, Edie Chapman, for this special deal.
So, purchase your ticket first, then email ediechapman@pointloma.edu to let her know you want to attend the complimentary dinner. Only SPJ members can come to the dinner, but all are welcome to purchase a ticket for the evening interview only.
The dinner will be held in PLNU’s Cunningham Dining Room from 5:30-6:30 and the interview will begin at 7:00.
Also check out the events at the symposium, including interviews with the highly regarded Dave Eggers and Rachel Held Evans and practical workshops with local investigative journalist Caitlin Rother and with literary agents Elise Capron and Jill Marr.

Filed under: Uncategorized

Report Card on the Media: Newsmakers grade the local press Jan. 26

sdspjeditor — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 17:25:05 +0000

Carrie McGonigle/Courtesy of San Diego Union-Tribune

This annual event features three panelists who have repeatedly made both local and national headlines in recent years, and 2011 was no exception.
They are San Diego Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani, San Diego Police Department Chief William Lansdowne, and Carrie McGonigle, mother of slain Escondido teenager Amber Dubois.

Join us as these people grade the media on its coverage this year. Fabiani will talk about the media’s portrayal of the Chargers’ quest for a new stadium. Lansdowne will talk about issues of misconduct and morale within his police department. McGonigle will talk about the news coverage of her missing daughter and the man who murdered her as well as her amazing discovery in northern California in September of a missing girl’s remains.

Follow us on Twitter at @GradeTheMedia for related news before the event and follow the account for live tweets during the discussion.

What: SD-SPJ Report Card on the Media
When: Thursday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m.
Where: Point Loma Nazarene University Fermanian Business Center, 3900 Lomaland Drive
Panelists: San Diego Chargers special counsel Mark Fabiani, San Diego Police Department Chief William Lansdowne, and Carrie McGonigle, mother of slain Escondido teenager Amber Dubois
Moderator: Channel 4 station manager and programming host Dennis Morgigno

Filed under: Events

SPJ Ho-Ho-Holiday Party – Thursday, Dec. 8

sdspjeditor — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 20:31:59 +0000

We’re having our holiday party at Baja Betty’s this year! The $20 admission gets you food (a full taco bar!), soda and a drink from Betty’s festive margarita or sangria punch bowls. Of course, we’ll all also be buying additional drinks from Betty’s real full bar!

So spread the word and the cheer. Be there, or Santa will be super upset.
When: Thursday, Dec. 8, 6 p.m.
Where: Baja Betty’s, 1421 University Ave., Hillcrest
Cost: $20 per person

Filed under: Events

What does It Take to be a Backpack Journalist?

sdspjeditor — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:30:37 +0000

Sharon Heilbrunn and Joe Little

Two of the best at the demanding job of backpack journalism provided tips to an eager audience of journalism students and local media at a recent SDSPJ event held at KGTV, 10News.

Sharon Annie Heilbrunn, with the San Diego Union-Tribune and NBC, Channel 4, is a true “one-woman band,” who covers the San Diego Chargers with her creative multimedia skills. A self-declared “Type-A,” Annie said she finds a special satisfaction in video-editing her stories for the most effective storytelling she can provide through the synergy of sounds, words and pictures.

Joe Little usually shoots, writes, edits and reports on his own, covering primarily the South Bay and water issues for the 10News afternoon and evening newscasts. Three of Joe’s bullet points for backpack journalists:
1. Take your time but manage your time wisely.
2. Check your gear before heading to a story (there’s no one there to back you up).
3. Just because you’re by yourself doesn’t mean you can’t be creative.
Both Joe and Annie emphasized the value of trial and error—“Just do it!” And the audience who engaged in lively Q & A took in the advice with great eagerness.

As PLNU broadcast journalism major Hannah Faria said: “It was really amazing seeing how good the reporters were at the jobs they do. They shared so many of their skills, and I will definitely take advantage of the tips they gave me.”

Filed under: News

How to Get Your Story Told – A media access workshop on Dec. 3

sdspjeditor — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 01:33:39 +0000

The San Diego Association of Black Journalists is sponsoring this media access workshop for nonprofit and grassroots organizations, but all are welcome.

When: Saturday, December 3, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: YWCA San Diego, 1012 C St., San Diego
Registration: Online at www.sdabj.org
Cost: $20 per person – all proceeds go toward the SDABJ Scholarship Fund
Note: Parking not provided
Panelists: Greg Dawson, NBC 7 San Diego news director; Danya Bacchus, NBC 7 San Diego reporter; Dorrine Mendoza, North County Times online content producer; Aida Soria, KUSI-TV planner; Nina Garin, San Diego Union-Tribune Night & Day reporter, and John Van Zante, Rancho Coastal Humane Society public relations manager

Filed under: Events

Stop by the SPJ board meeting Dec. 6

sdspjeditor — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 01:34:43 +0000

The SPJ San Diego board welcomes all members, local journalists and students to attend board meetings to give your ideas for programs and to help us plan events. Join us as we plan upcoming programs on backpack journalism, reporting via live-tweeting and other fun ways to use social media on the job, and more.

Board meetings are generally held the first Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. in the 4th floor editorial boardroom at the San Diego Union-Tribune.

When: Tuesday, Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m.
Where: San Diego Union-Tribune, fourth floor editorial boardroom, 350 Camino De La Reina, in Mission Valley – enter through the employee entrance on the northwest side of the building, take the elevator to the fourth floor and listen for the witty repartee.

Filed under: Events

The 11th annual La Jolla Writers Conference – Nov. 4-6

sdspjeditor — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 19:40:11 +0000

Almost one million new books were published last year, and the majority were self-published. This conference features more than 75 classes for people who think they have a book in them.

Get answers to these questions: What Do You Want To Know About Writing a Book? About Publishing a Book? About Getting Published? About Methods of Publication? About How to Make Your Book a Success?
The conference is being held at Paradise Point Resort & Spa in San Diego. Registration is $435 for the full conference, $195 for Friday only, $265 for Saturday only and $195 for Sunday only.
For more information, visit www.lajollawritersconference.com or call 858-467-1978.

Filed under: Events