Contacts:

Doug Lyons, program director & editorial writer at the Sun Sentinel, 954-356-4638, dlyons@SunSentinel.com

Joan Armour, seminar coordinator, 615-330-8739 joan@ARMOUR-ARMOUR.COM

A special guest speaker has been added to the program. Kerry Sanders, national correspondent with NBC, will share his take on the “big” stories — ranging from the Haiti earthquake to the Casey Anthony case. (Note: Kerry’s schedule is subject to breaking news.)

The meeting will be held in the second floor Training Room. All attendees must first report to the front lobby.

Meeting Host: Fort Lauderdale Police Department

The South Florida Media Coalition’s main goal is to improve the working relationship among the media and public information officers in South Florida through open dialogue in this forum. PIOs from all disciplines are welcome, as are all members of the media — news managers, assignment editors, producers and reporters — from television, radio, print and online.

Please send your email RSVP to SFMediaCoalition@broward.org. For more information about the South Florida Media Coalition, contact Mike Jachles at mike_jachles@sheriff.org.

Directions to Fort Lauderdale Police Department

From I-95:
Exit I-95 at Broward Blvd. and go EAST to 1300 W. Broward Blvd. The Police Department building is on the right, less than 1 mile from I-95. If the front lot is full, parking will be permitted in the rear of the building. Please do not park in spots marked as reserved.

The competition recognizes quality journalism in the best tradition of our profession. Out-of-state journalists will judge all entries and may award first-, second- and third-place honors in each category. Finalists will be notified in late April and winners will be announced at the Sunshine State Awards ceremony in late spring.

DEADLINE

All entries for the 2010 competition must be received (not postmarked) by 7 p.m., Friday, March 5, 2010.

FEES

We have worked hard to keep the competition affordable. We’ve kept our standard entry fee at $28, and this year all SPJ members are allowed one (1) FREE ENTRY. The entry fee for the James Batten Public Service Award is $45. There is no fee for student entries in the College Journalist of the Year category.

GUIDELINES & ENTRY FORM

Visit this page our chapter’s website to download entry materials.

If you have questions, contact Chapter Administrator Tim Dodson.

The sessions are tailored specifically to the needs of independent, community, non-profit, displaced and employed journalists, bloggers and students in the South Florida area.

The event is open to the first 90 registrants. Registration is $10, which covers lunch.

More details are available on the ONA website.

Some of the speakers confirmed for the event include:

Liz Balmaseda, Pulitzer Prize winner, columnist and author of Sweet Mary
Rick Bragg, Pulitzer Prize winner and best-selling author
Roy Peter Clark, author and senior scholar at the Poynter Institute
Michael Connelly, best-selling novelist
Lane DeGregory, Pulitzer Prize winner and St. Petersburg Times reporter
Jane Dystel, literary agent (clients include Barack Obama)
Bill Frakes, Sports Illustrated photojournalist
Thomas French, Pulitzer Prize winner and author
Carlos Frias, author of Take Me With You
Fabiola Santiago, Miami Herald senior writer and author of Reclaiming Paris
Keith Woods, dean of faculty at the Poynter Institute

The early registration deadline is March 1, 2010. Go to the Storytellers’ Summit website (http://www.jou.ufl.edu/storytellers/) for more information.

I’m beyond excited about the programming and events that our chapter is putting on this year. On Thursday, Jan. 28, we’re having a South Florida SPJ Coming Out party where you are invited to hear what we have in store for 2010.

From 7-9 p.m. at the Porterhouse in Boca Raton, you’ll get to chow on some free food while hearing about all the great events we are putting on this year, from our upcoming Parachute Training in February to our Project Invictus in March to our annual Ethics Hold ‘Em in April, and that’s only to name a few. Most, if not all of the events will be discounted for SPJ members. For more information about the party, click here. Door prizes, giveaways, and raffles will also take place.

If you are unable to come to the party but still want information about upcoming events, please feel free to contact me at dzinn3@gmail.com

I look forward to seeing you there!

Dori Zinn
VP of Membership, South Florida Pro Chapter

I will be sending out an invitation / evite to all professional journalists I can think of, and urge you to do the same. And I’ll post details on our web site, http://www.jitflorida.com and Twitter page, @jitflorida.

One of my primary goals at the meeting is to establish a Care and Support Committee, with regional chairs, to coordinate help and help our colleagues who run into health or other crises, whether working or not. That help could take the form of hot meals, transportation, child care, money collection — whatever the committee wants. We will need leaders to head up such a committee, so please think about joining that.

See you on the 30th! Bring a dish, snack or drinks to share if you can, and don’t forget there’s a $1.50 gate fee to get into the park.

Click below for a discount coupon to Butterfly World and a map to Tradewinds Park , on Sample Road in Broward County :

http://www.butterflyworld.com/discount.html

All the best to you,

Stacey Singer DeLoye
www.jitflorida.com

JANUARY MEETING

WHO: PIOs and News Media
WHEN: Thursday, January 28, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Clear Channel Studios, 7601 Riviera Blvd., Miramar
Meeting Host: WIOD radio news staff
Program: Blog/Online Journalism – Changing the Way News is Covered
Panelists: Bob Norman, New Times and Brittany Wallman, Sun-Sentinel

The main goal of the South Florida Media Coalition is to improve the working relationships among the media and public information officers in South Florida through open dialogue in this forum. PIOs from all disciplines are welcome, as are members of the media – news managers, assignment editors, producers and reporters from TV, radio, print and online.

Please pass the word and share this with your colleagues.

Please R.S.V.P. by January 22 so we can plan on seating and refreshments. Email to PublicInfo@Broward.org. For more information about the South Florida Media Coalition, contact Mike_Jachles@sheriff.org or 954-831-8300.

Directions to Clear Channel Studios

From the Turnpike Extension – Take the Northwest 27th Avenue exit. Travel North to Riviera Blvd. Go EAST on Riviera Blvd. Follow the road as it curves – the Clear Channel building is on left, just north of Turnpike toll booth. Please park in the back section of the parking lot.

From University Drive / Northwest 27th Avenue – Turn EAST on Riviera Blvd. Follow the road as it curves – the Clear Channel buidling is on left, just north of Turnpike toll booth. Please park in the back section of the parking lot.

The case of Carlos Miller started in 2007 while he was on assignment as a photojournalist for a now-defunct website. He took some photos of police, refused their order that he stop, then found himself in succession with his head against…