Cincinnati Professional Chapter
 Online OnPress

 June 27-July 3, 2004 ▪ A weekly online newsletter

 enews@cincyspj.org ▪ More than 550 subscribers

SPJ National Convention draws journalism pioneers

 

The Society of Professional Journalists' National Convention offers our members and the journalism community an opportunity to reflect on the industry and to engage in thought-provoking, stimulating and hands-on training. Reporters, editors, educators and students from across the U.S. and several foreign nations will make this event a top priority.

 

This year’s convention will run September 9-11 in New York City. With the theme of “Raising the Torch,” we are putting together a convention that will be the pinnacle of the journalism year.

 

Speakers this year include Walter Cronkite, Clarence Page, Brian Williams, Bill Moyers, Jill Abramson, David Brooks and Paula Madison – among others. To learn more or to register, please go visit http://spj.org/convention.asp.

OnPress to be mailed to nearly 1,000 local media

 

OnPress, the chapter’s monthly print newsletter, will begin being mailed to nearly 1,000 local journalists for one year. The SPJ board decided to begin this free subscription in the Cincinnati-Dayton-Northern Kentucky region to reintroduce SPJ to the area. Many haven’t heard about the Society or are unaware what the chapter does benefiting local media. This initiative hopes to change this at a time when the local chapter is taking strides to better programs and have meaningful events for local media.

 

Be looking for your copy of the June edition, complete with all contest winners this week (mailing was delayed because of technical issues).The July issue isn’t far off. Deadline for the next issue is July 9.

 

If you do not start receiving your free subscription within approximately two weeks, please send an e-mail to onpress@cincyspj.org. We’d love to add you to the list.

Convergence program heavily attended

 

Nearly 30 journalists representing several media organizations and universities in the Cincinnati-Dayton-Northern Kentucky area came to learn about how media locally are dealing with –and embracing – the concept of bringing together often competing outlets. During last Thursday’s lunch hour program, reporters from local broadcast, print and Web organizations discussed the positive and negative elements associated with this rapidly-changing area.

 

The program was organized by Enquirer transportation reporter and Cincy SPJ program chair, James Pilcher, who also sat on the panel leading the discussion. Other panelists, and special thanks go out to, Maryanne Zeleznik, WNKU’s news director, Deb Silverman, WCPO’s suburban reporter (who has her office inside the Enquirer’s suburban bureau) and Amy Whitaker, The Cincinnati Enquirer, the paper’s integrated media editor, added greatly to the dialogue.

 

Pilcher presented a package of articles he wrote about the Brent Spence Bridge. A fully-integrated piece, using elements from television, the Web and driven with writing in the Enquirer, the package won an Award of Excellence at SPJ’s recent banquet June 11. The story can be seen here: http://www.cincinnati.com/news/bridge/. Pilcher cooperated with WCPO reporter Tom McKee in presenting the story on both TV and in print. Pilcher also appeared on TV to talk about the story.

 

Journalists attending seemed split about convergence’s benefits, asking several probing questions about whether this new mix helps – or hurts – competition and might lead to staff cutbacks. Editors and reporters on the panel said they had not experienced or expected convergence to lead to cutbacks. In fact, many felt it made them work harder.

 

Afterward, attendees were invited on a tour of WCPO’s new facility. The new building is still undergoing some construction and is much bigger than the old facility, which once stood on Central Avenue. The downtown building has been torn down to make way for expansion of the Albert B. Sabin Convention Center, soon to be re-named the Cinergy Center.

 

Special thanks also to Bob Morford and Kevin Roach of WCPO who helped organize the lunch – plus bought the drinks and snacks.

Got an idea?

 

Journalists in Cincinnati haven’t had a voice to communicate with one another for years. SPJ is about to change that. And you can help. If you have an idea for an article for our weekly online newsletter or want to write a longer article for our print newsletter – or write for our web site, it’s easy. Or if you have an announcement or just some thing to say, plus SPJ is always looking for program ideas, send an e-mail to onpress@cincyspj.org.

Next SPJ Board Meeting:
12 p.m. July 23, 2004
Main Cincinnati Public Library 800 Vine Street, Meeting Room 3B

No August board meeting

About SPJ

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. For more than 95 years, SPJ has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced freely and fully, stimulating high standards of ethical behavior in the practice of journalism, and perpetuating a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.

Board Meetings, fourth Friday every month (except August)


Meet the Board: http://www.cincyspj.org/board.html
To contact the entire chapter board at once: board@cincyspj.org
Join SPJ: http://www.cincyspj.org/join.html
National SPJ: http://spj.org
Cincinnati’s chapter: http://www.cincyspj.org

This message was sent from the Cincinnati Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Periodic messages are sent as a way to communicate to its membership and other journalists about programs, news and events related to their field and the local SPJ chapter. If you would prefer not to belong to this list please visit this link to be removed: http://www.cincyspj.org/onlineonpress.htm. For more information about SPJ or to contact a member, please send an e-mail to info@cincyspj.org.