Dozens of college and university journalism students ready for spring and summer internships

(Photos by Tom McKee)

 

By Tom McKee, president, SPJ Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter

They came early. They dressed well. They were well prepared.

They were the dozens of Greater Cincinnati college and university journalism students seeking spring and summer internships.

The occasion was the annual Internship Interview Day at the University of Cincinnati co-sponsored by the UC Student Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter.

The majority of the students participating were from the University of Cincinnati and the remainder traveled to Cincinnati from Miami University in Oxford.

Interviews were conducted with seven media partners -- Cincinnati Magazine, Cincy Magazine, CityBeat, Fox59/CBS4 from Indianapolis, Streetvibes. Writer's Digest Books/F+W and themortgagereports.com.

UC SPJ Advisor Jenny Wohlfarth said feedback from the media partners was overwhelmingly positive. Many students are likely to land internships because of the interviews giving them a potential head start on a full-time job or career.

Annual UC student intership fair a great success

(Photo by Ginny McCabe)

By Jenny Wohlfarth

Here's a quick wrap-up report from today's SPJ-sponsored Internship Interview Day at UC:

We conducted 64 interviews with the 30 or so students who showed up to take advantage of this great opportunity to interview with local/regional media partners for spring/summer 2016 internships.

Six students were from Miami University; the rest (about 24) were from UC's
Journalism program. We had seven media partners -- Cincinnati Magazine, Cincy
Magazine, CityBeat, Fox59/CBS4 out of Indianapolis, Streetvibes. Writer's Digest
Books/F+W and themortgagereports.com.

The feedback from the media partners was so positive, just as in previous years. They were excited about the students they interviewed, so I expect there will be some successful internship
placements from this event.

This big event for our chapter couldn't happen without the board's approval to provide financial support, so thanks again for that.

Also, thanks to Tom McKee and Ginny McCabe from the Cincinnati SPJ Pro Chapter for coming to UC to help out at the event this morning.

UC student internship fair underway

#spjinternship15 @ucjournalism @cincyspj

(Photos by Ginny McCabe)

Opportunity to preview an advance screening of Spotlight

 

For the opportunity to attend a free advance screening of the riveting true story, SPOTLIGHT, download your admit-two pass here -  http://www.gofobo.com/SPOTLIGHTCSJ

 

*Passes are limited and seating is first-come, first-served and not guaranteed. Please arrive early to increase chance of entry.

 

Starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, Liev Schreiber, Brian d’Arcy James and Stanley Tucci, SPOTLIGHT tells the riveting true story of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Boston Globe investigation that would rock the city and cause a crisis in one of the world’s oldest and most trusted institutions. When the newspaper’s tenacious “Spotlight” team of reporters delve into allegations of abuse in the Catholic Church, their year-long investigation uncovers a decades-long cover-up at the highest levels of Boston's religious, legal, and government establishment, touching off a wave of revelations around the world. Directed by Academy Award-nominee Tom McCarthy, SPOTLIGHT is a tense investigative thriller, tracing the steps to one of the biggest crime stories in modern times.

Central Ohio SPJ Career Development Workshop set for Sat., Nov. 14

Journalists and Communicators in a Changing Job Market – What You Need to Know

A FREE hands-on workshop for transitioning journalists and communicators in Central Ohio.

Who? Central Ohio SPJ
When? Saturday, Nov. 14, 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Where? Room 106 at the OSU Journalism Building, 242 W 18th Ave., Columbus 43210 Columbus 43210

Register Now

This workshop and lunch are FREE, but registration is MANDATORY.

Dozens of Central Ohio journalists face career transitions following the recent sale of The Columbus Dispatch and all its affiliated print products to GateHouse Media. Many other local journalists and communicators face similar life changes due to consolidations and constrictions in the industry. To assist journalists who have been laid off, may be laid off or are transitioning to new jobs in new industries, the Central Ohio Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has put together a high-octane workshop discussing both hard and soft skills that journalists need to move into new work, self-employment or retirement. Do you have what you need to survive in the digital world? Facing questions regarding accumulated pensions and 401(k) plans? Trying to decipher insurance options? What about retirement or self-employment? Panelists at this workshop represent a broad range of disciplines and will discuss these topics, the media marketplace, financial planning, resume updates and more.

Program Schedule Note: Some of the panelists will be available during the breaks after each presentation to arrange one-on-one or small-group discussions as needed. - Registration/Coffee 8 a.m. – 9 a.m. - Welcome 9 a.m. - Social Media Strategies 9 a.m. – 9:45 a.m. Do you know what you need to brand and market yourself in the digital world? Panelist Nicole Kraft, assistant professor at Ohio State University, journalism/communication, will provide tips to help you develop a digital presence and build a social media strategy. Panelist Steph Greegor, former journalist turned film director, writer and producer and owner of her own company, Eleven One Productions, will share personal experiences about marketing herself in the digital space and how to utilize journalism skills effectively in a new field. Panelists: Nicole Kraft and Steph Greegor - Break 9:45 a.m. – 10 a.m. - Health Insurance/Finance Options 10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Paul Dolce, CFP, of Financial Solutions LLC, will discuss financial decisions facing displaced workers, such as 401(k) rollovers, fixed-pension decisions and Social Security options. Lucy Grosz, founder of Alta Vista Benefits and an insurance professional, financial consultant/strategist and former IT executive, will outline health-insurance options for displaced journalists. Panelists: Paul Dolce, CFP, and Lucy Grosz - Break 10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. - Resumes for the Millennium 11 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. YOUR MARKETABILITY Celia Crossley is the founder of Crosworks, a career and human resources consulting practice that specializes in guiding individuals and organizations through periods of change. She will discuss how to win job offers in the evolving workplace and creating a dynamite resume for the process. Former journalists Robin Hepler, senior director of public affairs for the Ohio Hospital Association, and Celina Fabrizio, assistant vice president of Paul Werth Associates, will share their insights on why journalism skills are a good match for careers in public affairs and public relations. (Hepler also is a past president of the Central Ohio Society of Professional Journalists.) Panelists: Celia Crossley, Robin Hepler and Celina Fabrizio - Lunch 11:45 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Lunch for attendees provided by the Dispatch Media Group - Beyond Journalism 12:30 p.m. – 1:15 p.m. Hugh Martin, Ph.D., an Ohio University associate professor in media economics, will discuss current jobs in Ohio that require the skills journalists have. Another option for transitioning journalists is free-lancing or consulting. Dan Trevas, a former journalist turned lawyer with extensive public-relations experience in the public and private sectors, will talk about the importance of setting up a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) for free-lancers. Kevin Peterman, CPA, Toukan & Company, will share insights about what free-lancers and small businesses need to know about taxes. Panelists: Hugh Martin, Ph.D.; Dan Trevas; and and Kevin Peterman, CPA

Ohio SPJ Awards honors top journalists in the state

By Tom McKee, Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter President

(Photo by Tom McKee)

Over 275 journalists were honored for outstanding work during the Ohio SPJ Awards ceremony in Cincinnati on October 24.

The event was hosted by the Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter during a luncheon cruise aboard the Belle of Cincinnati, a BB Riverboat based in Newport, Kentucky.

The Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland SPJ chapters partnered to stage the event, which was attended by 60 people.

More than 600 entries were received from over 1,000 journalists from 35 separate news organizations within the state of Ohio.

The judging was done by SPJ chapters in Florida.