Andy Thibault

Andy Thibault

SPJ National E-Newsletter Notes Column About Fanatic Judges
SPJ LEADS: Connecting Members of the Society of Professional Journalists
By Christine Tatum
SPJ National Secretary-Treasurer
Business Writer, The Denver Post
December 23, 2004

SERVE, PROTECT. After more than two years of study prompted by the Chicago Headline Club (notably former chapter FOI chairman Phil Kadner), Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan has added a "public access counselor" to her staff. Kadner, a columnist for the Daily Southtown, explains:

http://www.dailysouthtown.com/southtown/columns/Acurrent/kadner.htm
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Join SPJ's fight for "access counselors" in every state. Contact FOI committee co-chairman Charles Davis: daviscn@missouri.edu

ENEMY OF THE STATE? Now is not such a bad time "to shine the light on fanatics" bent on making journalists' jobs more difficult, writes Connecticut Law Tribune columnist and SPJ member Andy Thibault:

http://www.andythibault.com/cooljustice-1-5-05.htm

FALSE NOTE. Longtime SPJ member and television newswriter Mervin Block tracks down sources and sorts through conflicting information to get to the bottom of a "60 Minutes" report mentioning opera singer Placido Domingo: http://www.mervinblock.com/60minutesapplause.html

Need a great program? Block leads newswriting workshops. For more info: http://www.mervinblock.com/workshops.html

TAKE THE MONEY. PLEASE! Chapters have until Jan. 10 to apply for a $1,000 grant that could cover the costs of a program focused on professional ethics: http://www.spj.org/ethicsweek.asp

Want to suggest a program for SPJ's next national convention, coming up in October in Las Vegas? Contact Chris Vachon: cvachon@spj.org

WHAT'S UP DOC? SPJ has signed an amicus brief in Island Packet v. Kittrell, a case challenging the illegal closure of proceedings in South Carolina's administrative law court pertaining to the suspension of a physician's license to practice medicine.

Support SPJ's Legal Defense Fund, which helps cover the cost of amicus briefs. Contact chairman Bruce Cadwallader: bcadwallader@spj.org

SPEAKING OF JUDGES. SPJ could use your help in judging media awards. Contact Assistant Programs Director Heather Porter to pitch in: hporter@spj.org.

FELLOWSHIP FRENZY. The International Women's Media Foundation invites applications for the Elizabeth Neuffer Fellowship, a new program that supports women journalists who report on human rights and social justice
issues. The fellowship combines research opportunities at MIT's Center for International Studies and other Boston-area universities with reporting opportunities at the New York Times and the Boston Globe. The deadline to apply is Feb. 25. For further information and an application form, see the IWMF Web site -- http://iwmf.org/programs/neuffer.

The East-West Center in Honolulu is accepting applications for its spring 2005 Jefferson Fellowships, a travel-study fellowship for mid-career journalists from Asia, the Pacific and the United States to acquire greater understanding about the region. Fellows spend a week at the East-West Center discussing regional issues with experts. The Americans then travel to Jakarta, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Beijing for 16 days. The Asians and Pacific islanders travel to Washington, D.C., Minneapolis and Dallas. Fellows return to Honolulu for follow-up discussions. The application deadline is Jan. 24, 2005. For fellowship announcement and application, click here <http://www.eastwestcenter.org/semedu-program.asp?program_ID=10&Topic=Me
dia%20Program&Area=Seminars> or visit www.eastwestcenter.org.

ACT LOCALLY. Cleveland SPJ and the CSU School of Communication are hosting an exhibit of ethnic publications through Dec. 31 (another great program idea your chapter could use!). For details about the "The Greater Cleveland Ethnic Media Showcase," contact Clifford Anthony, clifforda@prodigy.net or 216-383-0773.

Need to know what's happening in Wisconsin journalism. The Madison Pro chapter has posted useful links: http://spj.org/madison/linx.htm

THINK GLOBALLY. SPJ extends a hearty "Gamsa Hamnida!" (thank you) to Virginia Pro member Lee Bumgarner, who is launching a satellite chapter in South Korea, where he is teaching English and freelance writing for a year.

SPJ LEADS WILL RETURN THE WEEK OF JAN. 3 ... so that Christine Tatum can settle down for a long winter's nap after opening all of her presents this week.

HQ HOLIDAY SCHEDULE. The SPJ Headquarters will be closed on the following days during the holiday season: Friday, December 24; Monday, December 27; Friday, December 31; and Monday, January 3. Regular office
hours are Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. EST.

Thanks for reviewing "SPJ Leads," a regular update for SPJ members. Expect format changes in upcoming weeks. Send your newsy items of 100 words or less by noon Colorado time every Monday to christinetatum@hotmail.com. SPJ Leads is looking for items pertaining to all things SPJ: program ideas, local chapter and member needs, job leads and chapter accomplishments. Links to chapter Web sites are welcome.

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