Reminder - Freelance Chat with Award-Winning Freelancer Lisa Murtha - March 31

 

Attention Freelancers! Journalists! JOIN US FOR A FREELANCE CHAT WITH AWARD-WINNING FREELANCER LISA MURTHA ON THURS., MARCH 31 TOPIC: "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources" Wondering how to come up with article ideas and original sources? Award-winning freelancer Lisa Murtha will offer insight on how to make the most of your freelancing by finding creative ways to generate fresh ideas and how to connect with original sources. Coming up with freelance ideas doesn't have to be hard. In fact, it can be fun. In "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources," award-winning freelancer Lisa Murtha will offer plenty of practical tips and advice. The session will be moderated by Ginny McCabe, award-winning freelancer and president of Cincinnati SPJ. ABOUT GUEST SPEAKER LISA MURTHA A Cleveland, Ohio native, I earned a Bachelor's Degree in English / Creative Writing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. After a short stint as a location scout for Candid Camera, I pursued a decade-long career in television production, with highlights including: producing Cincinnati's first-ever early-morning newscast, serving as script supervisor on numerous local and national television commercials, producing home and garden segments for the Do-It-Yourself Network and eventually creating, writing and producing a regional Emmy-nominated documentary film about two mid-century-modern architects for public television called A Hillside Firm. While working in production, I began building my freelance writing portfolio as well, penning everything from cover stories in Cincinnati Magazine to a ghost-written column in the Cincinnati Enquirer and educational resources and website content for PBS. Today I live in southwest Ohio and continue my work, mainly in print journalism, for clients like America Magazine,Chicago Magazine The Epoch Times and the Cincinnati Business Courier. I am also a Contributing Editor for Cincinnati Magazine, where I write both feature stories and a bi-monthly series called Person of Interest. I have won numerous state and local awards for my work - most recently, 2021 Best Freelancer from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. In 2020, I won both the Cleveland Press Club's General Magazine Features award and the Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalist's Best Magazine Story award for my feature on a Covington, Kentucky family that triumphed after a vicious, nationwide social media-orchestrated attack following the January 2019 Nicholas Sandmann / CovCath / March for Life incident in Washington, D.C. My husband and I are also the proud parents of 3 sons - two fully grown and living down south and one who’s a junior in high school here in Cincinnati. ABOUT MODERATOR GINNY McCABE Named "Best Freelance Writer" in 2018 and a Kiplinger Fellow in 2019, Ginny McCabe’s work can be seen in publications like Journal-News and Reuters. One of her books, Secrets Young Women Keep (Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins) is an ECPA Silver Medallion winner and has been featured on the CBA Young Adult Bestseller Lists. Ginny is the president of the Cincinnati Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and a is a SPJ Freelance Community board member. Serving as Region 4 Coordinator, she also works with professional and student SPJ chapters in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Connect with Ginny at www.ginnymccabe.com and on Twitter @ginnymccabe. SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTSGREATER CINCINNATI PRO CHAPTER AND GRAYDON TO PRESENT OUR QUARTERLY EVENT FOR FREELANCERS Open to all freelancers and journalists including print, broadcast, radio and digital.There will be a discussion, and time for a Q&A.  Topic: "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources" with Lisa Murtha Cost: $15 Program: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Questions: Ginny McCabe at gmwriteon@aol.com or at 513-604-6720 Sign up on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freelance-chat-with-lisa-murtha-presented-by-cincinnati-spj-and-graydon-tickets-29951239864

Explore the untold stories of narrative journalism with the Cincinnati’s Storytelling of Journalism Project

By Michele Day

Four years after a shooting in a Madison, Ohio, junior high school cafeteria, Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Keith BieryGolick provided readers with a different perspective on the tragedy. Whatever happened to the survivors?

Cincinnati Magazine writer John Stowell set out to tell a story about a mountain climber’s exhilaration at reaching the summit of Mount Everest. But when the pandemic disrupted that  quest, Stowell found a better angle. He framed a portrait of never-give-up grit and stubborn defiance of Murphy’s Law.

 

Narrative journalists such as BieryGolick and Stowell specialize in capturing the behind-the-scenes, highly personal dramas of news. But as a journalism educator, I often wonder about another narrative that the public rarely sees. It’s the story of BieryGolick attending physical therapy sessions with a young adult still recovering from the impact of bullets ricocheting through his body. It’s the story of Stowell gently probing a mountain climber to share the painful emotions that accompany missing the opportunity of a lifetime.

NKU Student Media Adviser Michele Day

It’s the story of narrative journalism at work. That is the purpose behind the Cincinnati’s Storytelling of Journalism Project, a collaboration between Northern Kentucky University journalism students and the NKU and Greater Cincinnati chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists.

The idea began as a way to take my NKU students inside the minds of Greater Cincinnati’s best non-fiction storytellers. Inspired by the Nieman Storyboard Annotations, I began developing a class assignment for students to interview journalists about process and craft. I wanted the students to understand how journalists put themselves in the right place to capture that wonderful moment of dialogue and to recognize the extra pains reporters must take to verify even the tiniest details.

Thanks to the efforts of Greater Cincinnati SPJ leaders and the generosity of seven amazing journalistic storytellers, 19 NKU journalism students had the chance to explore those questions early last December. The students, working in groups of two to three, researched the works of narrative journalism in the 2021 Excellence in Journalism Awards, sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati SPJ chapter and then met with the journalists via Zoom to explore the complex process of developing these stories. To make the process most effective, I reached out to Chip Scanlan, a nationally known writing coach and frequent author of Nieman Annotations, for tips on how to question journalists about journalism and how to present your findings in a most engaging way.

NKU SPJ Chapter President Madison Plank

Students found the assignment enlightening. The interviews provided unique networking opportunities and in-depth insights into the nuances of journalistic reporting and writing, said Madison Plank, president of NKU’s SPJ chapter. “It felt more personal compared to a panel discussion,” she said. Plank, whose group interviewed Cincinnati Enquirer reporter Dan Horn, said they talked a lot about journalistic values. “We were able to see the message behind the story,” she said. “When we scroll through the news, we just see the surface level and we don’t see the work behind it.” The student documented their learning experience by writing Q&A pieces highlighting the most interesting insights and then transcribing the journalists’ annotations into the text of the stories. As a teacher, I would have been satisfied if the project had stopped there. But thanks to the efforts of SPJ Board Member Kevin Schultz, Chapter President Ginny McCabe and many others, the benefits of this project can extend beyond my NKU classroom.

Cincy SPJ Chapter Board Member Kevin Schultz

Schultz edited, formatted and fact-checked the students’ Q&A pieces and collaborated with McCabe to post them on the SPJ chapter website. Now anyone on the Internet can share a behind-the-scenes glimpse of narrative journalism in Greater Cincinnati. In our fractured and skeptical media world, telling the untold stories of quality journalism seems more important than ever. I think you’ll find the efforts of these journalists inspiring. Personally, the efforts of my students give me hope for a bright future in narrative journalism.

           Keith BieryGolick, Cincinnati Enquirer, Best of Show

Keith BieryGolick spent 1.5 years reporting to reveal the full story of a local school shooting victim

Student interviewers: Peyton Duncan and Kathy Dubois.

John Stowell, Cincinnati Magazine, Best Feature Story
John Stowell persevered through the pandemic to write a story about disappointment and perseverance

Student interviewers: Brendan Connelly and Matthew Dietz

Terry DeMio, Cincinnati Enquirer, Camilla Warrick Award
Terry DeMio discusses covering the opioid epidemic, the pandemic’s impact, and the intricacies of the beat

Student interviewers: Lauryn Rosengrant & Kiley Shea Steiner

Sarah Haselhorst, Cincinnati Enquirer, Camilla Warrick Award
How a former Cincinnati Enquirer intern explored the pandemic’s impact on individuals in addiction recovery

Student interviewers: Olivia Barrell, Bailey Cooper, and Aaron Magee

Dan Horn, Cincinnati Enquirer, Government/Community Issues Reporting
This veteran local reporter used narrative writing to tell the story of eviction in Cincinnati

Student interviewers: Amari Brandy, Andrew Flynn and Madison Plank

Max Londberg, Cincinnati Enquirer & Ambriehl Crutchfield, WVXU, Best Education Story Finalist
How two local news outlets teamed up to capture a day inside six tri-state home classrooms during the pandemic

Student interviewers: Tareza Chiasson and Paul Kremer

Carrie Blackmore Smith, Cincinnati Magazine, Best Feature Story Finalist
How Carrie Blackmore Smith Turned a Canoe Trip Down the Ohio River Into an Award-Worthy Story

           Student interviewers: Cassidy Akers, Sam Shelton & Margo Roysdon

Michele Day advises the NKU student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Reminder - Upcoming Deadlines and Events - Cincinnati SPJ

The Greater Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists  cincyspj.blogspot.com twitter.com/cincyspj spjcincy@gmail.com Like us on Facebook Improving and protecting journalism in Greater Cincinnati since 1967

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Final Reminder - Deadline Tues., Mar. 22 Greater Cincinnati SPJ 2022 Excellence In Journalism Contest - Call For Entries The Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is looking for the most outstanding work appearing in print, online and on-air between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, in Southwestern Ohio (Cincinnati & Dayton markets), Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana.   This is a chance for publishers, editors, reporters, photographers and videographers to promote excellence in journalism by showcasing work that informs and enlightens the public with truth, integrity and ethics.   Entries must be submitted by a recognized news organization or individual based in Greater Cincinnati or Greater Dayton. National or regional news organizations may enter, but the contest will only accept submissions focusing on people and events from those two regions.   EXTNEDED ENTRY DEADLINE: 11:59 P.M. - MARCH 22, 2022   HERE’S HOW TO ENTER   All entries must be submitted online using the web-based BNC program.   http://betternewspapercontest.com Greater Cincinnati SPJ Excellence In Journalism   Note:  BNC is optimized to use the Google Chrome browser and Firefox for PC and Safari browser  (Apple Mac).  Please use recent versions to make entering easier. 1)     Log on to “betternewspapercontest.com"   2)  Click "Open Call Login" at the top of the page   3)      Look for "Create Your Open Call Account Here" and fill out the requested information, then press "submit"   4)   A validation email will be sent to you that you will need to click the link in to validate your account   5) After validating your account, log into your account via the “Open Call Login” page and navigate to the “My Contests” page   6)      Look for the “Greater Cincinnati SPJ Excellence In Journalism” contest in the “Available Contests” section & check the box next to the contest name   7)    Navigate to “Manage Entries” page - click "Submit Entry " on left side   8)     Select appropriate category by number   9)     Read the category note describing what is expected of each entry   10)     In box labeled “Who should be credited for this entry” enter the names of those responsible for the entry and click “submit."  You can enter three names, but anything above that enter "staff"   11)     To upload digital files and attachments, follow the instructions indicated   12)     To add web/audio/video content, copy and paste the content’s URL address into the provided website URL field.  Note -- there is a 20MB limit on file size. Here are examples of free streaming content websites where you can upload audio and video content:            --AUDIO – www.kiwi6.com or www.tindeck.com            --VIDEO – www.youtube.com or www.vimeo.com   If you have questions or problems click on “Help & Support” atop of the BNC website   OR: CONTACT CONTEST COORDINATOR Tom McKee – tmckee9@yahoo.com – (513) 608-1782   ENTRY FEES   SPJ Members $25.00 for each entry PROOF OF VALID SPJ MEMBERSHIP NUMBER IS REQUIRED TO RECEIVE THIS RATE   Non-Members $35.00 for each entry   College/University Students No fee   Paying through PayPal When all entries are submitted, log onto your account Navigate to the “Manage Entries” page Click “Calculate Entry Fees” Follow the instructions complete the transaction  Becoming an SPJ member is easy.  Simply sign up at spj.org.    There is a membership promotion currently running through April 30, 2022 - Pro members can join for $50 for a one-year membership. (The regular membership cost is $75 annually.)  Memberships can be paid all at once or in monthly installments.   Designate the Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter as the chapter you want to join. The chapter has no local dues. For a complete list of categories, and other details, go to: http://cincyspj.blogspot.com/2022/01/call-for-entries-now-open-2022-cincy.html. If you would like to have a copy of the contest information emailed to you, contact Tom Mckee, contest coordinator, at tmckee9@yahoo.com, or Ginny McCabe, Cincinnati SPJ president, at gmwriteon@aol.com. Thank you!

SPECIAL PROGRAM SPJ and its National Professional Standards & Ethics Committee will host a key program to help guide journalists with ethical decision-making on everything from handling war images to treatment and characterization of refugees. It will be helpful whether a journalist is in a combat zone or in a local newsroom. Title:  THE ETHICS OF WAR COVERAGE  Day/Time:  Wed., Mar. 23 at 7 PM (EDT). Guest speakers:  Eric Wishart is the AFP Standards & Ethics Editor and he will put on a master class. Fred Brown - Who helped write the SPJ Code of Ethics - will moderate. Please join us and feel free to share the link to the event. (Those attending must register to attend.)  https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_UIL-b6LGTw2vGDxdJNRzEQ?fbclid=IwAR300l73Bhywdnz00ZfHyMg3noEHc0_fv-cnipylhWefUXLGXToRduQQ5HA

___________________________________________________________ Registration Open for SPJ's Region 4 and 5 Regional Conference Join Us! Dear SPJ member, Wonder where the future of journalism is headed? Is there equity in the newsroom? How will journalists survive and thrive in the future? These are only a few of the topics we’ll cover during the virtual Society of Professional Journalists Region 4 and 5 Conference on Sat., Apr. 9, 2022.   The conference will begin with opening remarks from SPJ President Rebecca Aguilar, followed by a morning keynote talk from Kat Stafford, national investigative writer and a global investigations correspondent, focused on race and inequity at The Associate Press.  Then, professional and student journalists are invited to participate in two breakout sessions, and a second, noon keynote on how journalists can fight stress with Al and Sidney Tompkins of The Poynter Institute.   In addition to programming, the conference will feature networking opportunities and the day will be highlighted by a presentation of the prestigious Mark of Excellence Awards for both regions. Be there to help recognize the regions' best college journalism.   To register, visit Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spj-region-4-5-conference-2022-virtual-tickets-289838975177.  Registration is $45 for SPJ members, $25 for student members, $55 for non-members, and $35 for student non-members. Also, be sure to check out the conference website to stay up to date on speakers and programming.   For more details, email Ginny McCabe, Region 4 Coordinator at gmwriteon@aol.com, or Amy Merrick, Region 5 Coordinator at amerric1@depaul.edu.   SPJ Region 4 & 5 Regional Conference - Schedule Saturday, April 9, 2022 (10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. EST) – Virtual Conference OPENING REMARKS - 10 a.m. - 10:15 - Rebecca Aguilar – SPJ National President   KEYNOTE #1 - 10:15 - 11 a.m. – “Newsroom Equity” with Kat Stafford, national investigative writer at The Associated Press   BREAKOUT SESSION - #1 – 11 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. – “Lightning Talks” Panel Discussion             Featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Keith BieryGolick from The Cincinnati Enquirer and Ryan Martin of IndyStar and Nic Antaya, an award-winning freelance photojournalist from Detroit   BREAK- 11:50 a.m. - noon   LUNCH KEYNOTE #2 - noon- 12:50 p.m. – “Managing Newsroom Stress and Trauma” with Al and Sidney Tompkins of The Poynter Institute     BREAKOUT SESSION #2 - 1 p.m. to 1:50 p.m. – “Telling Stories with Your Cell Phone” featuring Mike Castellucci, an award-winning expert on mobile journalism   Networking/Chapter Leader Chat - 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.             Led by Amy Merrick and Ginny McCabe   MARK OF EXCELLENCE AWARDS CEREMONY with closing remarks 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.             Hosted by Tom McKee and Patti Gallagher Newberry

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Attention Freelancers! Journalists! JOIN US FOR A FREELANCE CHAT WITH AWARD-WINNING FREELANCER LISA MURTHA TOPIC: "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources" Wondering how to come up with article ideas and original sources? Award-winning freelancer Lisa Murtha will offer insight on how to make the most of your freelancing by finding creative ways to generate fresh ideas and how to connect with original sources. Coming up with freelance ideas doesn't have to be hard. In fact, it can be fun. In "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources," award-winning freelancer Lisa Murtha will offer plenty of practical tips and advice. The session will be moderated by Ginny McCabe, award-winning freelancer and president of Cincinnati SPJ. ABOUT GUEST SPEAKER LISA MURTHA A Cleveland, Ohio native, I earned a Bachelor's Degree in English / Creative Writing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. After a short stint as a location scout for Candid Camera, I pursued a decade-long career in television production, with highlights including: producing Cincinnati's first-ever early-morning newscast, serving as script supervisor on numerous local and national television commercials, producing home and garden segments for the Do-It-Yourself Network and eventually creating, writing and producing a regional Emmy-nominated documentary film about two mid-century-modern architects for public television called A Hillside Firm. While working in production, I began building my freelance writing portfolio as well, penning everything from cover stories in Cincinnati Magazine to a ghost-written column in the Cincinnati Enquirer and educational resources and website content for PBS. Today I live in southwest Ohio and continue my work, mainly in print journalism, for clients like America Magazine,Chicago Magazine The Epoch Times and the Cincinnati Business Courier. I am also a Contributing Editor for Cincinnati Magazine, where I write both feature stories and a bi-monthly series called Person of Interest. I have won numerous state and local awards for my work - most recently, 2021 Best Freelancer from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. In 2020, I won both the Cleveland Press Club's General Magazine Features award and the Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalist's Best Magazine Story award for my feature on a Covington, Kentucky family that triumphed after a vicious, nationwide social media-orchestrated attack following the January 2019 Nicholas Sandmann / CovCath / March for Life incident in Washington, D.C. My husband and I are also the proud parents of 3 sons - two fully grown and living down south and one who’s a junior in high school here in Cincinnati. ABOUT MODERATOR GINNY McCABE Named "Best Freelance Writer" in 2018 and a Kiplinger Fellow in 2019, Ginny McCabe’s work can be seen in publications like Journal-News and Reuters. One of her books, Secrets Young Women Keep (Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins) is an ECPA Silver Medallion winner and has been featured on the CBA Young Adult Bestseller Lists. Ginny is the president of the Cincinnati Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and a is a SPJ Freelance Community board member. Serving as Region 4 Coordinator, she also works with professional and student SPJ chapters in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Connect with Ginny at www.ginnymccabe.com and on Twitter @ginnymccabe. SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTSGREATER CINCINNATI PRO CHAPTER AND GRAYDON TO PRESENT OUR QUARTERLY EVENT FOR FREELANCERS Open to all freelancers and journalists including print, broadcast, radio and digital. Lunch will be served.  There will be a discussion, and time for a Q&A.  Topic: "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources" with Lisa Murtha Cost: $15 Program: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Questions: Ginny McCabe at gmwriteon@aol.com or at 513-604-6720 Sign up on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freelance-chat-with-lisa-murtha-presented-by-cincinnati-spj-and-graydon-tickets-299512398647

HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT CINCINNATI'S STORYTELLING OF JOURNALISM PROJECT? Cincinnati’s Storytelling of Journalism Project is a collaboration between Northern Kentucky University (NKU) journalism students, the NKU Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the Greater Cincinnati Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.     For the project, students interviewed seven professional journalist winners and finalists from the Greater Cincinnati SPJ Chapter’s 2021 Excellence in Journalism Awards to create Nieman Storyboard Annotations-inspired Q&As and story annotations that analyze and celebrate our region’s best works of journalism. Special thanks to Michele Day of NKU and Kevin Schultz of Cincinnati SPJ who led the project. Also, thank you to the students and journalists who participated in this outstanding endeavor. The following are the stories that have been highlighted in Cincinnati’s Storytelling of Journalism Project: How a former Cincinnati Enquirer intern explored the pandemic’s impact on individuals in addiction recovery Terry DeMio discusses covering the opioid epidemic, the pandemic’s impact, and the intricacies of the beat This veteran local reporter used narrative writing to tell the story of eviction in Cincinnati How two local news outlets teamed up to capture a day inside six tri-state home classrooms during the pandemic Keith BieryGolick spent 1.5 years reporting to reveal the full story of a local school shooting victim John Stowell persevered through the pandemic to write a story about disappointment and perseverance How Carrie Blackmore Smith Turned a Canoe Trip Down the Ohio River Into an Award-Worthy Story   For those interested in finding out more information or entering the 2022 Excellence in Journalism Contest, check out the details below.   2022 GREATER CINCINNATI  SPJ PRO CHAPTER EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM CONTEST CALL FOR ENTRIES   The Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is looking for the most outstanding work appearing in print, online and on-air between January 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, in Southwestern Ohio (Cincinnati & Dayton markets), Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. This is a chance for publishers, editors, reporters, photographers and videographers to promote excellence in journalism by showcasing work that informs and enlightens the public with truth, integrity and ethics. Entries must be submitted by a recognized news organization or individual based in Greater Cincinnati or Greater Dayton. National or regional news organizations may enter, but the contest will only accept submissions focusing on people and events from those two regions.  For more details or to enter, go to http://cincyspj.blogspot.com/2022/01/call-for-entries-now-open-2022-cincy.html THE ENTRY DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED:  11:59 P.M. - MARCH 22, 2022

SPJ Membership: Why Join?

For more than 100 years the Society of Professional Journalists has been dedicated to encouraging a climate in which journalism can be practiced more freely and fully, stimulating high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism and perpetuating a free press. Join us today!   Why Join? – How SPJ works for you: Development, career support, local connections, advocacy, industry insights. – Discounted rates for attending our Excellence in Journalism Conference and nominating your work for SPJ’s Sigma Delta Chi and Mark of Excellence Awards. – Get access to discounts on everything from insurance to hotel stays to AP Stylebooks and office supplies. – Member-only website features: Join communities, watch on-demand training videos and webinars, add your information to the Freelancer Directory read our guide for freelancers, and more as part of your SPJ membership.   For more details, go to: www.spj.org/join.asp. Membership Special: Now through April 30, 2022 professional members can join for $50. The regular annual rate is $75 for pro members.

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Deadline Extended! Ohio’s Best Journalism – 2022 Contest Call For Entries Honoring the Best of Ohio’s Print, Broadcast, Digital Media, Freelance, Trade and College Journalism A list of categories is available on the competition website:   2022 Categories We’re excited for the coming year based upon the successful rebound of the contest in 2021. Thanks so much for your support. Ready to submit? Click here for the contest portal. If you already have submitted in the past, please use the same login information. A list of categories and other contest information (winners’ list from 2021, videos of some of the best of show winners and 2021 contest booklet) can be found on the competition website. A reminder to the growing number of freelance journalists in our profession: The contest features numerous freelance categories. Click here for Freelance categories. View the “Rules” and “Help” tabs in the header of the contest home page for complete directions and explanations to help you submit entries. The deadline for entries has been extended through Monday, April 4, 2022.

Copyright © 2021, Greater Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists. All rights reserved. spjcincy@gmail.com

 

Freelance Chat with Award-Winning Freelancer Lisa Murtha

 

Attention Freelancers! Journalists! JOIN US FOR A FREELANCE CHAT WITH AWARD-WINNING FREELANCER LISA MURTHA TOPIC: "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources" Wondering how to come up with article ideas and original sources? Award-winning freelancer Lisa Murtha will offer insight on how to make the most of your freelancing by finding creative ways to generate fresh ideas and how to connect with original sources. Coming up with freelance ideas doesn't have to be hard. In fact, it can be fun. In "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources," award-winning freelancer Lisa Murtha will offer plenty of practical tips and advice. The session will be moderated by Ginny McCabe, award-winning freelancer and president of Cincinnati SPJ. ABOUT GUEST SPEAKER LISA MURTHA A Cleveland, Ohio native, I earned a Bachelor's Degree in English / Creative Writing from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. After a short stint as a location scout for Candid Camera, I pursued a decade-long career in television production, with highlights including: producing Cincinnati's first-ever early-morning newscast, serving as script supervisor on numerous local and national television commercials, producing home and garden segments for the Do-It-Yourself Network and eventually creating, writing and producing a regional Emmy-nominated documentary film about two mid-century-modern architects for public television called A Hillside Firm. While working in production, I began building my freelance writing portfolio as well, penning everything from cover stories in Cincinnati Magazine to a ghost-written column in the Cincinnati Enquirer and educational resources and website content for PBS. Today I live in southwest Ohio and continue my work, mainly in print journalism, for clients like America Magazine,Chicago Magazine The Epoch Times and the Cincinnati Business Courier. I am also a Contributing Editor for Cincinnati Magazine, where I write both feature stories and a bi-monthly series called Person of Interest. I have won numerous state and local awards for my work - most recently, 2021 Best Freelancer from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. In 2020, I won both the Cleveland Press Club's General Magazine Features award and the Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalist's Best Magazine Story award for my feature on a Covington, Kentucky family that triumphed after a vicious, nationwide social media-orchestrated attack following the January 2019 Nicholas Sandmann / CovCath / March for Life incident in Washington, D.C. My husband and I are also the proud parents of 3 sons - two fully grown and living down south and one who’s a junior in high school here in Cincinnati. ABOUT MODERATOR GINNY McCABE Named "Best Freelance Writer" in 2018 and a Kiplinger Fellow in 2019, Ginny McCabe’s work can be seen in publications like Journal-News and Reuters. One of her books, Secrets Young Women Keep (Thomas Nelson/Harper Collins) is an ECPA Silver Medallion winner and has been featured on the CBA Young Adult Bestseller Lists. Ginny is the president of the Cincinnati Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and a is a SPJ Freelance Community board member. Serving as Region 4 Coordinator, she also works with professional and student SPJ chapters in Ohio, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. Connect with Ginny at www.ginnymccabe.com and on Twitter @ginnymccabe. SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTSGREATER CINCINNATI PRO CHAPTER AND GRAYDON TO PRESENT OUR QUARTERLY EVENT FOR FREELANCERS Open to all freelancers and journalists including print, broadcast, radio and digital. Lunch will be served.  There will be a discussion, and time for a Q&A.  Topic: "Finding Fresh Story Ideas and Original Sources" with Lisa Murtha Cost: $15 Program: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Questions: Ginny McCabe at gmwriteon@aol.com or at 513-604-6720 Sign up on Eventbrite at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freelance-chat-with-lisa-murtha-presented-by-cincinnati-spj-and-graydon-tickets-29951239864