Society of Professional Journalists http://spjsofla.net South Florida Pro Chapter Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:04:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 en Shield law to Hit Senate Monday — Call a Senator http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/24/shield-law-to-hit-senate-monday-call-a-senator/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/24/shield-law-to-hit-senate-monday-call-a-senator/#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:04:25 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/24/shield-law-to-hit-senate-monday-call-a-senator/ SPJ headquarters learned today that the federal shield law bill will likely hit the Senate floor for a vote Monday, July 28. President Clint Brewer is urging SPJ and SDX board members to take an active role immediately in the passage of S. 2035, the Senate version of the Free Flow of Information Act.

Therefore, SPJ is asking you to help make one final, immediate push for action by contacting the following Senators and encouraging them to vote “yes” on the bill. These senators have been identified by Baker Hostetler as swing votes and/or members of the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Needless to say, their votes are vital to the passage of this law.

Ms. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.)
Phone: (202) 224-3841
E-mail: http://feinstein.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.EmailMe

Mr. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.)
Phone: (202) 224-5274
E-mail: billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm <http://billnelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm>

Mr. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.)
Phone: (202) 224-3521
E-mail: http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm&CFID=51392169&CFTOKEN=14703251 <http://chambliss.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactUs.ContactForm&CFID=51392169&CFTOKEN=14703251>

Mr. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.)
Phone: (202) 224-4774
E-mail: http://roberts.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContactInformation.EmailPat

Mr. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)
Phone: (202) 224-2541
E-mail: mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm <http://mcconnell.senate.gov/contact_form.cfm>

Ms. Susan Collins (R-Maine)
Phone: (202) 224-2523
E-mail: http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorCollins.Email&CFID=39113496&CFTOKEN=99427497 <http://collins.senate.gov/public/continue.cfm?FuseAction=ContactSenatorCollins.Email&CFID=39113496&CFTOKEN=99427497>

Ms. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine)
Phone: (202) 224-5344
E-mail: snowe.senate.gov/contact.htm <http://snowe.senate.gov/contact.htm>

Ms. Barbara Mikulski (D-Maryland)
Phone: (202) 224-4654
E-mail: mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm <http://mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm>

Mr. Carl Levin (D-Mich.)
Phone: (202) 224-6221
E-mail: levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm <http://levin.senate.gov/contact/index.cfm>

Mr. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.)
Phone: (202) 224-5641
E-mail: http://coleman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Mr. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.)
Phone: (202) 224-5054
E-mail: cochran.senate.gov/contact.htm <http://cochran.senate.gov/contact.htm>

Mr. Christopher Bond (R-Missouri)
Phone: (202) 224-5721
E-mail: bond.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm <http://bond.senate.gov/contact/contactme.cfm>

Mr. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.)
Phone: (202) 224-4224
E-mail: hagel.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home <http://hagel.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home>

Mr. John Sununu (R-N.H.)
Phone: (202) 224-2841
E-mail: www.sununu.senate.gov/webform.html <http://www.sununu.senate.gov/webform.html>

Mr. Richard Burr (R-N.C.)
Phone: (202) 224-3154
E-mail: burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home <http://burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home>

Mr. George Voinovich (R-Ohio)
Phone: (202) 224-3353
E-mail: http://voinovich.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Mr. Gordon Smith (R-Ore.)
Phone: (202) 224-3753
E-mail: gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htm <http://gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htm>

Mr. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.)
Phone: (202) 224-4944
E-mail: http://alexander.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.Home
E-mail: hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm <http://hutchison.senate.gov/contact.cfm>

Mr. John Warner (R-Virginia)
Phone: (202) 224-2023
E-mail: http://warner.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Mr. John D. Rockefeller IV (R-W.Va.)
Phone: (202) 224-6472
E-mail: rockefeller.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm <http://rockefeller.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm>

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/24/shield-law-to-hit-senate-monday-call-a-senator/feed/ Paper Cuts: Surviving and Preparing for the Layoff/Buyout http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/24/paper-cuts-surviving-and-preparing-for-the-layoffbuyout-lead/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/24/paper-cuts-surviving-and-preparing-for-the-layoffbuyout-lead/#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2008 15:28:25 +0000 Suzanne Levinson http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/24/paper-cuts-surviving-and-preparing-for-the-layoffbuyout-lead/ Lance Williams
Worried about being next on the buyout/layoff list? Or has it already happened to you or a family member?

The South Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will hold an important, free panel discussion on Thursday, August 7, to address the crippling affects of layoffs to our industry.

We will address various topics including freelancing, employment law, financial planning and life after journalism.

Our panelists include:

Laura Walsh, a Weston financial planner whose practice includes numerous local journalists, will address the fundamentals of managing your money during a crisis.

Roberto Santiago, a former Miami Herald reporter who recently became director of communications and strategic marketing for the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, will discuss making the transition out of journalism

Bill Amlong, a Fort Lauderdale employment attorney who has sued local newspapers on behalf of reporters and former investigative reporter for The Miami Herald, will address employment law issues.

Bill Hirschman, a theater critic and arts reporter for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and freelancer at-large for several publications, will talk about his experience taking a buyout from the Sun-Sentinel last year

Michael Koretzky, a former Sun-Sentinel reporter and current managing editor of Jazziz and journalism teacher at Florida Atlantic University, will give tips on how to find a new job after the layoff – both from personal experience and from running a job website,  Southfloridamediajobs.com, as well as several popular job fairs for SPJ.

Please join us on at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 7th at ArtServe, 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information please call Julie Kay at  954-303-3384

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/24/paper-cuts-surviving-and-preparing-for-the-layoffbuyout-lead/feed/ Paper Cuts: Surviving and Preparing for the Layoff/Buyout http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/23/paper-cuts-surviving-and-preparing-for-the-layoffbuyout/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/23/paper-cuts-surviving-and-preparing-for-the-layoffbuyout/#comments Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:46:56 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/23/paper-cuts-surviving-and-preparing-for-the-layoffbuyout/ Worried about being next on the buyout/layoff list? Or has it already happened to you or a family member?

The South Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will hold an important, free panel discussion on Thursday, August 7, to address the crippling affects of layoffs to our industry.

We will address various topics including freelancing, employment law, financial planning and life after journalism.

Our panelists include:

Laura Walsh, a Weston financial planner whose practice includes numerous local journalists, will address the fundamentals of managing your money during a crisis.

Roberto Santiago, a former Miami Herald reporter who recently became director of communications and strategic marketing for the Fort Lauderdale Museum of Art, will discuss making the transition out of journalism

Bill Amlong, a Fort Lauderdale employment attorney who has sued local newspapers on behalf of reporters and former investigative reporter for The Miami Herald, will address employment law issues.

Bill Hirschman, a theater critic and arts reporter for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel and freelancer at-large for several publications, will talk about his experience taking a buyout from the Sun-Sentinel last year

Michael Koretzky, a former Sun-Sentinel reporter and current managing editor of Jazziz and journalism teacher at Florida Atlantic University, will give tips on how to find a new job after the layoff – both from personal experience and from running a job website,  Southfloridamediajobs.com, as well as several popular job fairs for SPJ.

Please join us on at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, August 7th at ArtServe, 1350 East Sunrise Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale. Refreshments will be provided.

For more information please call Julie Kay at  954-303-3384

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/23/paper-cuts-surviving-and-preparing-for-the-layoffbuyout/feed/ Jackson Herald Takes Top Spot at Green Eyeshades http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/21/jackson-herald-takes-top-spot-at-green-eyeshades/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/21/jackson-herald-takes-top-spot-at-green-eyeshades/#comments Mon, 21 Jul 2008 23:05:45 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/21/jackson-herald-takes-top-spot-at-green-eyeshades/ ATLANTA – The Jackson Herald, a weekly published in Jefferson, Ga, took top honors Saturday at a banquet honoring winners of the 58th Annual Green Eyeshade Awards, a journalism contest that recognizes excellence in 11 Southern states.
The Herald won “Best of Show” for its investigative report on secret bank accounts and questionable expenditures by Piedmont Judicial Circuit District Attorney Tim Madison. The Herald’s stories, which capped a two-month investigation, took up the Jackson County weekly’s entire front page on March 7, 2007.
The Herald also won first place in the Nondaily division of the annual Green Eyeshade Awards contest, which drew more than 600 entries from media outlets in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.
In the Print-Large Daily division, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale won the top award in its division for “License to Carry” by Megan O’Matz and John Maines.
Other divisional winners were:
Print-Magazine – Georgia Trend Magazine of Norcross, Ga., for “Water Worries and A Watershed Moment” by Jerry Grillo.’
Print-Small Daily – the Sun Herald of Biloxi, Miss., for “Where did the money/charity go?” by Geoff Pender and Anita Lee.
Radio – WBHM-FM of Birmingham, Ala., for “Searching for Safetown,” by its news team.
Television – WTVF-NewsChannel 5 of Nashville, Tenn., for “An Alarming Failure” by Jennifer Kraus, Mike Rose, Kevin Wisniewski and Bryan Staples.
Online – Tampabay.com of St. Petersburg, Fla.,  for “Dim View from a Crowded Jail,” by Lee Glynn, Jacob Fries, Douglas R. Clifford, the St. Petersburg Times and Tampabay.com.
Started by the Atlanta Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, the contest is now administered by regional directors for the Society.
The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.
The complete list of Green Eyeshade Award winners follows:
ONLINE DIVISION

CATEGORY
PLACE
WINNER(S)
ORGANIZATION(S), CITY, STATE
TITLE OF ENTRY

ONLINE – BEST BLOG

THIRD PLACE
Josh Korr
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
Video Game Reviews and Commentary

SECOND PLACE
Laura Leslie
North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
“Isaac Hunter’s Tavern”

FIRST PLACE
Jeff Houck
TBO.com,    Tampa, FL
“The Stew”

ONLINE – BEST USE OF MULTIMEDIA

THIRD PLACE
Charles Trainor Jr., Patrick Farrell, Candace Barbot, Carl Juste
The Miami Herald, Miami, FL
“Afro-Latin Americans: A Rising Voice”

SECOND PLACE
Orlando Sentinel Staff
Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL
“The Legend of Col. Mike McCoy”

FIRST PLACE
Tampabay.com; St. Petersburg Times; Meg Laughlin, Don Morris, Desiree Perry
Tampabay.com/ St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Doubt”

ONLINE – BREAKING NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Clarisa Gerlach; staffs of TBO.com, Tampa Tribune, WFLA-TV
TBO.com, Tampa, FL
“Path of Destruction: Central Florida Homes

SECOND PLACE
Ken Whitehouse and Richard Lawson
NashvillePost.com, Nashville, TN
“Sources: Preds Sold”

FIRST PLACE
Tampabay.com, St. Petersburg Times Reporting Staff
Tampabay.com/ St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Scandal and Suicide on St. Pete City Council”

ONLINE – CONSUMER REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
McNelly Torres and Tiffany Ellis
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL
“Getting What You Pay For at the Pump?”

ONLINE – FEATURE REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Tampabay.com, St. Petersburg Times, Thomas French, Desiree Perry, Stephanie Boyer
Tampabay.com/ St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Zoo Story”

SECOND PLACE
Scott Fishman, Dory Funk Jr., Brett Kaplan, Jim Varsallone
Miami Herald, Miami,     FL
Pro wrestler Chris Benoit extended online coverage

FIRST PLACE
Mary Shedden, Kathy Moore, Vidisha Priyanka
TBO.com, Tampa, FL
“A Look Inside Ikea”

ONLINE – HUMOROUS COMMENTARY

SECOND PLACE
Wade Kwon
Wade on Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
“Wade on Birmingham”

FIRST PLACE
Brian Hicks
The Charleston Post and Courier, Charleston, SC
Brian Hicks columns

ONLINE – INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Tampabay.com, St. Petersburg Times; Lee Glynn, Jacob Fries, Douglas R. Clifford
Tampabay.com/ St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Dim View From a Crowded Jail”

ONLINE – NON-DEADLINE NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Tampabay.com, St. Petersburg Times, Maryjane Park
Tampabay.com/ St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Hiccups heard ‘round the world”

SECOND PLACE
E. Thomas Wood and Ken Whitehouse
NashvillePost.com, Nashville, TN
“News Analysis: Is It Really Over?”

FIRST PLACE
Mary Shedden, Vidisha Priyanka
TBO.com, Tampa, FL
“Toxic Trinkets”

ONLINE – POLITICAL REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Tampabay.com, St. Petersburg Times; Bill Adair, Matt White, Martin Frobisher
Tampabay.com/ St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
Politifact.com

ONLINE – SERIOUS COMMENTARY

FIRST PLACE
Ken Whitehouse
NashvillePost.com, Nashville, TN
“News Analysis: Fred Thompson … President?

ONLINE – SPORTS REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Ken Whitehouse, Richard Lawson, Walker Dungan
NashvillePost.com, Nashville, TN
“The Battle for the Preds”

ONLINE – VIDEOGRAPHY

THIRD PLACE
Dennis Copeland
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
“Mid-South Airshow”

SECOND PLACE
Dennis Copeland
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
“Black Snake Moan Director”

FIRST PLACE
Ricardo Lopez
The Miami Herald, Miami, FL
“Hospital Ship Comfort,” “Oystermen Livelihood Threatened

PRINT – LARGE DAILIES

LARGE DAILY – BREAKING BUSINESS NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Mark Clothier and Mary Jane Credeur
Bloomberg News, Atlanta, GA
“Home Depot Ousts Nardelli”

SECOND PLACE
Kyle Stock, Schuyler Kropf, Katy Stech
The Post and Courier, Charleston, SC
“Economist Accused of Fraud”

FIRST PLACE
Helen Huntley
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Pearlman Arrested in Indonesia”

LARGE DAILY – BREAKING NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Staff
The Miami Herald, Miami, FL
“Officer Somohano: Manhunt”

SECOND PLACE
Staff
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA
“The Bus Crash”

FIRST PLACE
Courier Journal Staff
The Courier Journal, Louisville, KY
“Court rejects Louisville’s student-assignment plan”

LARGE DAILY – CONSUMER REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Robert Farley
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“The Atypical Dilemma: A Times Special Report”

SECOND PLACE
Marry Shedden
The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, FL
“Toxic Trinkets”

FIRST PLACE
The Palm Beach Post Staff
The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, FL
“Diabetes: The Invisible Epidemic”

LARGE DAILY – COURTS AND LAW REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Curt Anderson
The Associated Press, Miami, FL
“Frozen Cuban Assets”

SECOND PLACE
Susan Spencer-Wendel
The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, FL
“Susan Spencer-Wendel: A Collection”

FIRST PLACE
Jacob Fries
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Burden on the Block: A Times Special Report”

LARGE DAILY — CRITICISM

THIRD PLACE (tie)
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, AR
“Critical Mass” collection

Christopher Blank
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
“Hannah rocks” and other pieces

SECOND PLACE
Emma Trelles
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Trelles Collection

FIRST PLACE
Brett Sokol
The Miami Herald, Miami, FL
“Great Art You Won’t See” and other pieces

LARGE DAILY – DISASTER COVERAGE

FIRST PLACE
Orlando Sentinel Staff
Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL
Tornado Coverage

LARGE DAILY – EDITORIAL CARTOON

THIRD PLACE
Robert L. Ariail
The State, Columbia, SC
2007 Cartoons

SECOND PLACE
Dana Summers
Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL
Dana Summers Collection

FIRST PLACE
Mike Luckovich
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,    Atlanta, GA
Mike Luckovich collection

LARGE DAILY – EDITORIAL WRITING

THIRD PLACE
Joe Adams
Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, FL
“City Council’s Lost Episodes”

SECOND PLACE
Jaci Carfagno
The Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington, KY
“Holding Government Accountable”

FIRST PLACE
Jamie Lucke
The Lexington Herald-Leader, Lexington    , KY
“Coal Politics”

LARGE DAILY – ENTERPRISE BUSINESS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Monica Hatcher
The Miami Herald, Miami, FL
“The Mortgage Trap”

SECOND PLACE
Shannon Behnken
The Tampa Tribune, Tampa, FL
“No Money Down”

FIRST PLACE
Sydney P. Freedberg
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“How Business Works the System”

LARGE DAILY – FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

THIRD PLACE
Mark Weber
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
“Pit Bulls”

SECOND PLACE
Uma Sanghvi
The Palm Beach Post, West PaLm Beach,     FL
“Walking with Angels”

FIRST PLACE
John Pendygraft
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Paycheck to Paycheck”

LARGE DAILY – FEATURE REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Muni Basu
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA
Feature Writing collection

SECOND PLACE
Christine Evans
The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, FL
“America’s New Main Street: The Many Faces of Immigration”

FIRST PLACE
John Romano
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“A Story for Jake: Special Section”

LARGE DAILY – GRAPHICS

THIRD PLACE
Dusty Higgins
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, AR
“Whole new ballpark”

SECOND PLACE
Don Morris, Meg Laughlin and John Corbitt
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Doubt: A Times Investigation”

FIRST PLACE
Fred Brown, Don Wood, John North
Knoxville News Sentinel, Knoxville, TN
“Searching for Cormac McCarthy”

LARGE DAILY – HUMOROUS COMMENTARY

THIRD PLACE
John Sale
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
“1,000 Words”

SECOND PLACE
Wendi C. Thomas
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
Various Columns

FIRST PLACE
Geoff Calkins
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
Various Columns

LARGE DAILY – INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Tom Dubocq
The Palm Beach Post, West Palm Beach, FL
“Palm Beach County’s Culture of Corruption”

SECOND PLACE
Jason Grotto, Scott Hiaasen
The Miami Herald, Miami, FL
“Poverty Peddlers”

FIRST PLACE
Alan Judd and Andy Miller
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Atlanta, GA
“A Hidden Shame”

LARGE DAILY – NEWS PHOTOGRAPHY

SECOND PLACE
Mark Weber
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
Various News Photography Entries

FIRST PLACE
Jim Weber
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
“Farewell Tae Tae”

LARGE DAILY – NON-DEADLINE NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Mary Giunca
Winston-Salem Journal, Winston-Salem, NC
“The life and death of James ‘J.T.’ Little”

SECOND PLACE
Thomas French
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Zoo Story: The Paradox of Freedom”

FIRST PLACE
Elizabeth Leland, Bruce Henderson, John Simmons
The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC
“A Cry for the Catawba”

LARGE DAILY – POLITICAL REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Frank Lockwood
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Little Rock, AR
“Huckabee Links with Evangelist”

SECOND PLACE
Mary C. Curtis
The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC
Series of political stories

FIRST PLACE
Bill Adair
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Three words that changed U.S. politics”

LARGE DAILY – PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Eric Eyre
Charleston Gazette, Charleston, WV
“State of Decay - West Virginia’s Oral Health Crisis”

SECOND PLACE
Joe Adams and Beth Kormanik
Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, FL
“City Council’s Hidden Agenda”

FIRST PLACE
Megan O’Matz and John Maines
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL
“License to Carry”

LARGE DAILY – SERIOUS COMMENTARY

THIRD PLACE
Howard Troxler
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
Three Columns on Community and State Issues

SECOND PLACE
Bill Maxwell
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Two Years at Stillman”

FIRST PLACE
Tommy Tomlinson
The Charlotte Observer, Charlotte, NC
Collection of Columns

LARGE DAILY—SPORTS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Orlando Sentinel Staff
Orlando Sentinel, Orlando, FL
“Orlando Magic Coaches”

SECOND PLACE
Tim Reynolds
The Associated Press, Miami, FL
“Orange Bowl Closes After 70 Years”

FIRST PLACE
Dave Scheiber
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Old Warriors, New Friends”

LARGE DAILY – TRAVEL WRITING

SECOND PLACE
Sean Daly
St. Petersburg Times, St. Petersburg, FL
“Hallowed Sound”

FIRST PLACE
Thomas Swick
South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL
“The Gift”

PRINT — MAGAZINES

MAGAZINES – COURTS AND LAW REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Susy Buchanan
Intelligence Report, Montgomery, AL
“Vigilante Justice”

MAGAZINES – CRITICISM

SECOND
Leonard Gill
Memphis Magazine, Memphis, TN
“A Pilgrim’s Progress”

FIRST
Brett Sokol
Ocean Drive Magazine, Miami Beach, FL
Sokol Collection

MAGAZINES – DISASTER COVERAGE

FIRST PLACE
Preston Lauterbach
Memphis Magazine, Memphis, TN
“Anatomy of an Inferno”

MAGAZINES – ENTERPRISE BUSINESS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Jason Kelly
Bloomberg News, Atlanta, GA
“The Ultimate Money Machine”

SECOND PLACE
Cynthia Barnett and Mike Vogel
Florida Trend, St. Petersburg, FL
“Money Ball”

FIRST PLACE
Cynthia Barnett
Florida Trend, St. Petersburg, FL
“The Carolina Connection”

MAGAZINES – FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHY

SECOND PLACE
George Kamper and Bill Semich
Key West Magazine, Key West, FL
“George Kamper”

FIRST PLACE
Christopher Edwards, Blake Miller, Carrie Campbell, Jade Wills
Charlotte Magazine, Charlotte, NC
“The Romantics”

MAGAZINES – FEATURE REPORTING

SECOND PLACE
David Holthouse and Casey Sanchez
Intelligence Report, Montgomery, AL
“Southern Gothic”

FIRST PLACE
Mike Giglio and Richard Thurmond
Charlotte Magazine, Charlotte, NC
“Leaving, Fighting, Loving, Living”

MAGAZINES – HUMOROUS COMMENTARY

THIRD PLACE
Vance Lauderdale (pseudonym, Sr. Editor Michael Finger)
Memphis Magazine, Memphis, TN
“Ask Vance”

SECOND PLACE
Roy T. Bergold Jr.
QSR, Durham, NC
“A Window is not a Trash Can”

FIRST PLACE
Susan Percy
Georgia Trend Magazine, Norcross, GA
“Business Casual” columns

MAGAZINES – INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Susy Buchanan,
Intelligence Report, Montgomery, AL
“The Ravening Wolf”

MAGAZINES – NON-DEADLINE NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Melissa Hankins, Richard Thurmond, Carrie Campbell
Charlotte Magazine, Charlotte, NC
“Four-Part series on Crime”

SECOND PLACE
Jamie Dean
World Magazine, Asheville, NC
“Pigging Out”

FIRST PLACE
Jerry Grillo
Georgia Trend Magazine, Norcross, GA
“Water Worries and A Watershed Moment”

MAGAZINES – POLITICAL REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Brett Sokol
Ocean Drive Magazine, Miami Beach, FL
“The New Face of Miami Beach Politics”

MAGAZINES – SPORTS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Eric Adelson
ESPN Magazine, New York, NY
“The Chase”

SECOND PLACE
Bill King and Tom Stinson
Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal, Charlotte, NC
“Bad Behavior: Will Fans Ever Walk Away?”

FIRST PLACE
Bill King
Street and Smith’s SportsBusiness Journal, Charlotte, NC
“Equal Access?”

PRINT — NONDAILY

NONDAILY – BREAKING BUSINESS NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Bob Mervine
Orlando Business Journal, Orlando, FL
“Gary Sain tapped for top CVB tourism job”

SECOND PLACE
Amanda Jones Hoyle
Triangle Business Journal, Raleigh, NC
“Raleigh city tower would rise 15 stories”

FIRST PLACE
Ken Elkins
Charlotte Business Journal, Charlotte, NC
“Truckmaker Scouts Charlotte”

NONDAILY – CONSUMER REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Lee Klein
Miami New Times, Miami, FL
“Eat Shit and Die”

NONDAILY – COURTS AND LAW REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Julia Neyman
South Florida Business Journal, Deerfield Beach, FL
“Lawyers help clients but end up in prison”

SECOND PLACE
Linda Ireland
The LaRue County Herald News, Hodgenville, KY
“Courts, family confused by self-defense law”

FIRST PLACE
Tamara Lush
Miami New Times, Miami, FL
“America’s Worst Cop”

NONDAILY – CRITICISM

THIRD PLACE
Chris Herrington
The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN
“Come Together,” “Bumpin’ Grind” and “Out of the Past”

SECOND PLACE
Brandon K. Thorp
New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Stage Reviews

FIRST PLACE
Carlos Suarez de Jesus
Miami New Times, Miami, FL
Art Reviews

NONDAILY – DISASTER COVERAGE

FIRST PLACE
Chris Davis
The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN
“The Windless Hurricane”

NONDAILY – EDITORIAL WRITING

THIRD PLACE
Staff
Memphis Business Journal, Memphis, TN
Three editorials

SECOND PLACE
Cindy Barth and Bill Orben
Orlando Business Journal, Orlando    FL
“Gator gloom,” “Dollars and sense,” and “Wild ride”

FIRST PLACE
Jackson Baker
The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN
“A Bridge Too Far,” “Undoing the Lock Box,” and “The Same Old Challenge”

NONDAILY – ENTERPRISE BUSINESS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Darcie Lunsford and Brian Bandell
South Florida Business Journal, Deerfield Beach, FL
“Questionable Payback”

SECOND PLACE
Isaiah Thompson
Miami New Times, Miami, FL
“Hecho in Miami”

FIRST PLACE
Brian Bandell
South Florida Business Journal, Deerfield Beach, FL
“Medicare Fraud”

NONDAILY – FEATURE REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Bianca Phillips
The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN
“The Old Age of Aquarius”

NONDAILY – HUMOROUS COMMENTARY

THIRD PLACE
Chris Herrington and Greg Akers
The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN
“Elvis Presley-1935-2007: A Wonderful Life”

SECOND PLACE
Bill Wellborn
Memphis Business Journal, Memphis, TN
“Political Correctness is Dysfunctional to Some”

FIRST PLACE
Tim Sanders
The Post, Centre, AL
“Series from Humorist Tim Sanders”

NONDAILY – INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

SECOND PLACE
Rebecca Bowe
Mountain Xpress, Asheville, NC
“Fail-safe?”

FIRST PLACE
Mike Buffington
The Jackson Herald, Jefferson, GA
“Investigation of District Attorney”

NONDAILY – NON-DEADLINE NEWS

SECOND PLACE
Mosi Secret
Independent Weekly, Durham, NC
“Stolen Youth”

FIRST PLACE
Isaiah Thompson
Miami New Times, Miami, FL
“Swept Under the Bridge, The People Under the Bridge”

NONDAILY – POLITICAL REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Jackson Baker
The Memphis Flyer, Memphis, TN
“Four More Years?”

NONDAILY – SPORTS REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Thomas Francis
New Times Broward/Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, FL
“The Bad News Bulldogs”
PRINT — SMALL DAILY

SMALL DAILY – BREAKING BUSINESS NEWS

FIRST PLACE
Bernie Delinski, Sarah Day Owen, Tom Smith, Kenda Williams
Times Daily, Florence, AL
“1,800 jobs coming to Shoals”

SMALL DAILY – BREAKING NEWS

FIRST PLACE
Town Talk Staff
The Town Talk, Alexandria, LA
“Jena Six”

SMALL DAILY – CONSUMER REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Tara Tuckwiller and Scott Finn
The Charleston Gazette, Charleston, WV
“Prescription for an Epidemic”

SMALL DAILY – COURTS AND LAW REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Jordana Mishory
Daily Business Review, Miami, FL
“Trial by Fire”

SECOND PLACE
Jordana Mishory and Billy Shields
Daily Business Review, Miami, FL
“Indigent Defense”
FIRST PLACE
Jordana Mishory
Daily Business Review, Miami, FL
“Judicial Oversight”

SMALL DAILY – EDITORIAL WRITING

SECOND PLACE
Pierre-Rene Noth
Rome News-Tribune, Rome, GA
“Voter Photo ID”

FIRST PLACE
Joe Kirby and Otis A Brumby Jr
Marietta Daily Journal, Marietta, GA
“Watching City Hall”

SMALL DAILY – ENTERPRISE BUSINESS REPORTING

SECOND PLACE
Polyana Da Costa
Daily Business Review, Miami, FL
“Down the Drain”

FIRST PLACE
Bradenton Herald Staff
Bradenton Herald, Bradenton, FL
“Manatee’s Money Squeeze”

SMALL DAILY – FEATURE REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Dean Stone
The Maryville Daily Times, Maryville,     TN
“Snapshots of Blount County History”

SMALL DAILY – HUMOROUS COMMENTARY

FIRST PLACE
Kelly Kazek
The News Courier, Athens, AL
Kelly Kazek’s Columns

SMALL DAILY – INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Geoff Pender and Anita Lee
Sun Herald, Gulfport, MS
“Where did the money/charity go?”

SMALL DAILY – NON-DEADLINE NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Rosalind Guy
The Daily News, Memphis, TN
“Investigative Series: Quality of Life”

SECOND PLACE
Andy Meek
The Daily News, Memphis, TN
“Matter of Principle”

FIRST PLACE
Julie Kay
Daily Business Review, Miami, FL
“Better Than Bank Robbery”

SMALL DAILY – PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTING

SECOND PLACE
Robin Fitzgerald
Sun Herald, Gulfport, MS
“Inmate abuse at the Harrison County jail”

FIRST PLACE
News Department
Charlotte Sun, Charlotte Harbor, FL
“Disturbing the Peace”

SMALL DAILY – SERIOUS COMMENTARY

SECOND PLACE
John Hackworth
Charlotte Sun, Charlotte Harbor, FL
“Two Minutes of Terror”

FIRST PLACE
Chris Verner
Salisbury Post, Salisbury, NC
“Two Live Blown Together and Apart”

SMALL DAILY – SPORTS REPORTING

SECOND PLACE
Jerome Richard
Times-News Publishing, Burlington, NC
“Fans Read with Joy and Relief”

FIRST
Sports Staff
Times Daily, Florence, AL
“The Sports We Play and Why We Play Them”

SMALL DAILY – TRAVEL WRITING

FIRST PLACE
Vincent C. Lupo Jr.
American Press, Lake Charles, LA
“Nashville Nuptials”
RADIO DIVISION

RADIO – SPORTS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Dave DeWitt
North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
“Black Baseball”

SECOND PLACE
Ian Melmood,
WUFT-FM/Mid-Florida Public Radio, Gainesville, FL
“World’s Fastest Game?”

FIRST PLACE
Bobbie O’Brien
WUSF Public Broadcasting, Tampa, FL
“Muslim Olympics”

***************************************************

RADIO – SPORTS COMMENTARY

FIRST PLACE
Jeff Tiberii
88.5 WFDD, Winston-Salem, NC
“NFL Pensions

RADIO – BEST NEWSCAST

THIRD PLACE
Jeff Hullinger, Herb Emory, Pete Combs, Kirk Mellish
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
5 p.m. News

SECOND PLACE
Eric Hodge
North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
8am Newscast 8/31/07

FIRST PLACE
Scott Slade and News Staff
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
Atlanta’s Morning News

RADIO – BREAKING NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Herb Emory, Veronica Waters, Sabrina Gibbons, Jeff Hullinger
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
“Mall Shooting”

SECOND PLACE
Jeff Tiberii, Bradley George,
88.5 WFDD, Winston-Salem, NC
“Live Report: WFU Coach Dies”

FIRST PLACE
Richard Sangster and News Staff
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
“Bus Crash”

RADIO – CONSUMER REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Bobbie O’Brien
WUSF Public Broadcasting, Tampa, FL
“Rescue Fees”

SECOND PLACE
Jeff Dantre
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
“Atlanta’s Top 5 Consumer Scams”

FIRST
Susan Davis
North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
“Genetic Testing”

RADIO – CONTINUING COVERAGE

THIRD PLACE
Staff
WFAE-FM, Charlotte, NC
“Light Rail Debut”

SECOND PLACE
WUNC Staff and Freelancers
North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
“North Carolina Voices: Diagnosing Health Care”

FIRST PLACE
News Staff
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
“750 WaterWatch: Georgia’s Water Crisis”

RADIO – COURTS AND LAW REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Veronica Waters
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
Veronica Waters Composite

SECOND PLACE
WFPL Staff
WFPL, Louisville, KY
Supreme Court Desegregation Case

FIRST PLACE
The State of Things staff
North Carolina Public Radio – WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
“Business of Prosecution”

RADIO – DISASTER COVERAGE

SECOND PLACE
News Staff
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
“Georgia’s Water Crisis”

FIRST PLACE
Donna Green-Townsend, Kyle Seig, Kristina Pink, WUFT Staff
WUFT-FM/Mid-Florida Public Radio, Gainesville, FL
“Wildfires”

RADIO – ENTERPRISE BUSINESS REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Dan Grech
Marketplace/America’s Desk
(WLRN Studios), Miami, FL
“Venezuela’s 21st Century Socialism”

RADIO – FEATURE REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Leoneda Inge
North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
“CSI”

SECOND PLACE
Lisa Miller
WFAE-FM,    Charlotte, NC
“Loray Mill Strike”

FIRST PLACE
Philip Graitler
Georgia Public Broadcasting, Atlanta, GA
“The Ninth Inning”

RADIO – INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Veronica Waters
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
“The Hobby”

SECOND PLACE
Bobbie O’Brien
WUSF Public Broadcasting, Tampa, FL
“Rescue Fees”

FIRST PLACE
Orlando Montoya
GPB-Radio, Atlanta, GA
“Inmate Labor in Camden County”

RADIO – NON-DEADLINE NEWS

THIRD PLACE
Staff
WFAE-FM, Charlotte, NC
“Crime in Charlotte”

SECOND PLACE
Mary Kay Mitchell
WUGA-FM, Athens, GA
“Migrant Health Clinic”

FIRST PLACE
Jessica Jones
North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
“James Ahearn”

RADIO – POLITICAL REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Laura Leslie
North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC, Chapel Hill, NC
“Meade’s Chair”

SECOND PLACE
Jamie Dupree
News/Talk 750 WSB, Atlanta, GA
“James Dupree-Information Overload”

FIRST PLACE
Tony McVeigh
Kentucky Public Radio, Frankfort, KY
“Kentucky Governor’s Race”

RADIO – PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Mary Kay Mitchell
WUGA-FM, Athens, GA
“N-BAF Controversy”

SECOND PLACE
Eric Jordan
WUSF Public Broadcasting, Tampa, FL
“Florida Stories” series

FIRST PLACE
WBHM News Team
WBHM-FM, Birmingham,     AL
“Searching for Safetown”

RADIO – SERIOUS COMMENTARY

FIRST PLACE
Tom Posey, Andrew Gobeil, Cathy Bradberry, Amanda Alpert
South Carolina ETV, Columbia, SC
“The Big Picture on the Radio,” “Crossing a Great Divide,” “The Lone Star Bridge”

RADIO – TRAVEL WRITING

FIRST PLACE
Simone Orendain
WFAE-FM, Charlotte, NC
“Philippine Postcard”

TELEVISION DIVISION

TV – BEST NEWSCAST

SECOND PLACE
Staff
WKRG-TV-5, Mobile, AL
Best Newscast

FIRST PLACE
ABC Action News Team
WFTS-TV, ABC Action News, Tampa, FL
“ABC Action News at 6pm”

TV – BREAKING NEWS

FIRST PLACE
Bay News 9 Staff
Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, FL
“Quadruple Murder”

TV – CONSUMER REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Todd Ulrich, Gerry Mendiburt, Greg Debrosse
WFTV-TV, Orlando, FL
“Bill Heard – Calls for Help”

SECOND PLACE
Keli Rabon and Travis Alford
WLOX-TV, Biloxi, MS
“Home Sweet Meth Home”

FIRST
Jennifer Kraus, Mike Rose, Kevin Wisniewski, Bryan Staples
WTVF-Newschannel 5, Nashville, TN
“An Alarming Failure”

TV – CONTINUING COVERAGE

FIRST PLACE
Will Frampton
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC
“Tillman’s Heart”

TV – COURTS AND LAW REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Greg Fox, Elias Salas, Andrew Gruen
WESH-TV 2 NBC, Winter Park, FL
“DNA: Positive ID”

TV – DISASTER COVERAGE

SECOND PLACE
Anna Tataris, Mike Kuehner
Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, FL
“Lake County Tornado”

FIRST PLACE
Laurie Davison and Jonathan Haas
Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, FL
“Ammonia Leak”

TV – FEATURE REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Laurie Stein, Reizel Larrea, John DuMontel, Gani Martinez
WFOR-TV, Miami, FL
“Alicia’s Story”

SECOND PLACE
Will Frampton
WLTX-TV, Columbia, SC
“Art of War”

FIRST PLACE
Laurie Davison and Jonathan Haas
Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, FL
“Kneading a Win”

TV – INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Tony Pipitone, Darran Caudle, Tim Arnheim
WKMD-TV, Orlando, FL
“Food Fight”

TV – NON-DEADLINE NEWS

FIRST PLACE
Andrew Douglas
WMC-TV, Memphis, TN
“Ophelia Ford Problems”

TV – POLITICAL REPORTING

FIRST PLACE
Liz Rosenblum, Mike Hardin, Al Ruechel
Bay News 9, St. Petersburg, FL
“Political Connections”

TV – PUBLIC AFFAIRS REPORTING

THIRD PLACE
Matt McGlashen and Jackie Callaway
WFTS-TV, ABC Action News, Tampa, FL
“Taking Action” compilation

SECOND PLACE
Steve Crump
WTVI-TV, Charlotte, NC
“50th Anniversary of School Integration in Charlotte”

FIRST PLACE
Tanisha Joe-Conway, Richard Warmser, Jan Hood, Carole Adornetto
AETN, Conway, AR
“Delta Dreams”

TV – TRAVEL WRITING

FIRST PLACE
Scott Andrew Fais
News 13 Orlando, Orlando, FL
“Florida on a Tankful: Hometown Havens”

TV – VIDEOGRAPHY

FIRST PLACE
Gary Arnold
WKRG-TV-5, Mobile, AL
Videography compilation

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/21/jackson-herald-takes-top-spot-at-green-eyeshades/feed/ Anne Mergen: Florida Cartoons http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/18/anne-mergen-florida-cartoons/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/18/anne-mergen-florida-cartoons/#comments Fri, 18 Jul 2008 14:34:28 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/18/anne-mergen-florida-cartoons/ Join the members of the South Florida Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists on August 3rd as we take a tour of Anne Mergen: Florida Cartoons at the Historical Museum of Southern Florida. The exhibit will display over two dozen of Mergen’s original cartoon renderings from the Great Depression through the Cold War. Mergen is renowned for being one of the first women in the United States to break into the male-dominated field of cartoon artistry. Her work, published in the Miami News, Atlanta Journal and the Dayton News, drew critical acclaim as she focused on Miami and the State of Florida. The tour will be followed by a dinner at Joe’s Seafood Restaurant on the Miami River.

Historical Museum of Southern Florida,
101 West Flagler Street
Miami, FL 33130

Admission to the 2 p.m. tour is $7 per person. Cost of dinner varies per person.

For more information please contact Sylvia Gurinsky at 954-432-7469 or email at sgurinsky2003@yahoo.com.

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/18/anne-mergen-florida-cartoons/feed/ Two Leaders to Step Down at Tribune Newspapers http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/16/two-leaders-to-step-down-at-tribune-newspapers/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/16/two-leaders-to-step-down-at-tribune-newspapers/#comments Wed, 16 Jul 2008 18:18:19 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/16/two-leaders-to-step-down-at-tribune-newspapers/ The upheaval at the Tribune Company continued Monday as the publisher of The Los Angeles Times and the top editor of The Chicago Tribune stepped down, both at a time when their papers were preparing for major redesigns and deep cuts in their newsroom staffs.

Two Leaders to Step Down at Tribune Newspapers

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/16/two-leaders-to-step-down-at-tribune-newspapers/feed/ Poynter awarded $1.4M grant to expand e-learning http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/08/poynter-awarded-14m-grant-to-expand-e-learning/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/08/poynter-awarded-14m-grant-to-expand-e-learning/#comments Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:38:36 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/08/poynter-awarded-14m-grant-to-expand-e-learning/ The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg will expand its journalism e-learning Web site through a five-year, $1.4 million grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

Poynter awarded $1.4M grant to expand e-learning

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/08/poynter-awarded-14m-grant-to-expand-e-learning/feed/ NBR: Britney Spears and the Future of Business News http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/02/nbr-britney-spears-and-the-future-of-business-news/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/02/nbr-britney-spears-and-the-future-of-business-news/#comments Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:22:01 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/02/nbr-britney-spears-and-the-future-of-business-news/ Apparently, Britney Spears is the future of business news. How do I know that Britney Spears is the future of business news? I know this because I recently attended a seminar in New York for business journalists where I learned that almost any story with the name Britney Spears in it will do well on the internet.

Britney Spears and the Future of Business News

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/07/02/nbr-britney-spears-and-the-future-of-business-news/feed/ RCN Plans Colombian Newscast in English http://spjsofla.net/2008/06/24/rcn-plans-colombian-newscast-in-english/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/06/24/rcn-plans-colombian-newscast-in-english/#comments Wed, 25 Jun 2008 03:18:39 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/06/24/rcn-plans-colombian-newscast-in-english/ RCN is launching Colombia´s first Internet newscast in English on June 30. RCN News in English will be anchored by Brian Andrews, an American Journalist now living in Colombia. View a promo here.

]]> http://spjsofla.net/2008/06/24/rcn-plans-colombian-newscast-in-english/feed/ SPJ Disappointed in Miller Conviction http://spjsofla.net/2008/06/23/spj-disappointed-in-miller-conviction/ http://spjsofla.net/2008/06/23/spj-disappointed-in-miller-conviction/#comments Mon, 23 Jun 2008 15:47:40 +0000 Kate Howell http://spjsofla.net/2008/06/23/spj-disappointed-in-miller-conviction/ Leaders of the Society of Professional Journalists said the are disappointed and concerned by Wednesday’s conviction and harsh sentencing of Miami freelance photographer Carlos Miller — who was found guilty of resisting arrest without violence during a jury trial.

Miller, who was arrested in February 2007 by Miami police after photographing officers on a public street, was sentenced by Miami County Court Judge Jose Fernandez to one year of probation, 100 hours of community service, anger management classes and more than $500 in court costs. The prosecution recommended just three months of probation, 50 hours of community service, anger management classes and court costs.

Miller wrote in his blog that Fernandez had “extreme contempt” for him, due in part to Fernandez’s disapproval of Miller’s body language and demeanor during the trial. The blog states that Fernandez also did not approve that Miller was blogging about the trial. This combination of disrespectful conduct is what Miller says led to the harsh sentence.

“The fact that Mr. Miller was arrested for taking pictures in a public place was the first violation of his First Amendment rights,” SPJ President Clint Brewer said. “Those rights were violated again when Mr. Miller’s statements in his blog became factors in Fernandez’s sentence. The Society fully defends Mr. Miller’s right to speak freely in his blog.”

Miller was also charged with, but found not guilty of, disobeying a police officer and disorderly conduct.

SPJ first supported Miller’s case after his arrest in 2007 by granting him $1,000 from its Legal Defense Fund — which aids journalists in defending the freedom of speech and press guaranteed by the First Amendment. In November, the full SPJ board voted to grant another $2,000 to help pay for Miller’s defense. For more information, or to donate to the LDF, please visit www.spj.org/ldf.asp

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, the Society of Professional Journalists promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For further information about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

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