Update - March Events, Contests and SPJ Region 4 Conference in Detroit

Covering the Trump Presidency, Chapter and State Contests, Regional Conference in Detroit   The Greater Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists Update, Monday, March 6, 2016 cincyspj.blogspot.com twitter.com/cincyspj spjcincy@gmail.com Like us on Facebook Improving and protecting journalism in Greater Cincinnati since 1967

GREATER CINCINNATI PRO CHAPTER presents COVERING THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY A PRIMER THURSDAY, MARCH 9, 2017 GRAYDON LAW OFFICES 1800 SCRIPPS CENTER 312 WALNUT STREET 7:30 A.M. – COFFEE, NETWORKING 8:00 – 9:00 A.M. –  PROGRAM PANELISTS JACK GREINER:  Graydon Media Attorney KEVIN ALDRIDGE:  Cincinnati Enquirer Deputy Opinion Engagement Editor                       CHIP MAHANEY:  WCPO-TV News Director TIM BURKE:  Hamilton County Democratic Party CHIP GERHARDT:  Hamilton County Republican Party IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN US, PLEASE RESERVE A SPOT EVENTBRITE:  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/covering-the-trump-presidency-cincinnati-spj-presents-a-panel-discussion-tickets-6977420653 QUESTIONS:  Tom McKee – tmckee@wcpo.com Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter 2017 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 during 2016 in Southwestern Ohio (Cincinnati and Dayton markets), Northern Kentucky and Southeastern Indiana. ENTRY DEADLINE: March 31, 2017 Entries can be made in one or more of four categories: ALL-MEDIA: includes the three most significant awards the chapter presents for work done in any medium. WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: covers articles appearing in a newspaper, in a magazine or posted online during 2016. VISUAL COMMUNICATION: includes stories that were broadcast on a television station or appeared online during 2016. AUDIO COMMUNICATION: covers material broadcast on any form of radio or produced as a podcast for online listening during 2016. ALL MEDIA AWARDS AM-1 -- GERALD WHITE MEMORIAL AWARD This is the most prestigious award presented by the Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). It’s named in memory of longtime Cincinnati Enquirer investigative reporter Gerald White. The award is presented to an individual or team for excellence in investigative reporting in any medium. Entries will be judged on enterprise, depth of research and overall presentation. The entry must include a one-page summary of the circumstances that prompted the story, the hurdles overcome in completing production and the impact generated by the story. AM-2 -- CAMILLA WARRICK AWARD This award honors journalists in any medium who use their professional role to make an impact on people in the community. It's named for the late Cincinnati Enquirer and Post reporter and columnist Camilla Warrick. Entries can be the work of an individual or team and must include a written statement that details the public service value of the project and the overall impact of the work. AM-3 -- FIRST AMENDMENT AWARD A free press is essential in a democracy and this award honors an individual journalist or group of journalists in any medium going to extraordinary lengths to protect the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. The award recognizes excellence as journalists face constant challenges from governments, corporations or individuals trying to interrupt the free flow of information. For a full list of contest categories and details, go to: http://cincyspj.blogspot.com/2017/01/greater-cincinnati-spj-contest-call-for.html The contest entry form is online at: http://cincyspj.blogspot.com/2017/01/greater-cincinnati-spj-contest-entry.html HERE’S HOW TO ENTER: 1) Submit two copies of the entry form for each submission 2) Entries can include printouts, URL information, DVDs or CDs 3) Current SPJ member entry fee... --$15.00 for the first entry --$10.00 for the second entry --$5.00 for each entry after that 4) Non SPJ member entry fee --$25.00 per entry MAKES CHECKS PAYABLE TO: GREATER CINCNNATI SPJ PRO CHAPTER NOTE: SPJ members cannot use their membership to submit entries for non-members. Each entrant must pay the appropriate entry fee. To become an SPJ member, sign up at www.spj.org and be sure to designate CINCINNATI PRO CHAPTER on the form. The annual national membership dues are $75.00 and can be paid in one sum or through monthly deductions. There are no local chapter dues. MAIL OR BRING ENTRIES, ENTRY FORMS AND CHECKS TO: Tom McKee Greater Cincinnati SPJ Pro Chapter c/o WCPO-TV 1720 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, Ohio 45202   THE JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE AWARDS BANQUET AND GREATER CINCINNATI JOURNALISM HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY WILL BE HELD ON JUNE 22, 2017 QUEEN CITY SQUARE OFFICES OF FROST BROWN TODD   Ohio's Best Journalism - 2017 Competition Call for Entries Honoring the Best of Ohio’s Print, Broadcasting, Digital Media, Freelance, Trade and College Journalism in 2016 Entry information and a list of categories are available at our competition website Visit Contest See Categories Ohio’s Best Journalism contest is ready to accept submissions for 2017 beginning today – and we’re excited to introduce a new contest software program called OpenWater. We hope you will soon be as excited as we are about this new portal. It promises to provide a much more efficient and intuitive experience for our contest entrants. View the “Rules” and “Help” tabs in the header of the contest home page for complete directions and explanations to help you submit entries. We can’t wait for you to try OpenWater and let us know what you think. The deadline for entries is midnight March 31, 2017. Please take note of some new changes this year: In response to your questions, we clarified and made consistent details regarding the number of articles/broadcasts in specific categories. We also have added a new field asking whose name(s) should appear on any award. It is our sincere hope our updates eliminate confusion and streamline the submission process. Please contact us with any questions or comments at: contact@ohiospjawards.org Our annual statewide contest is presented collaboratively by the Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland Pro Chapters of The Society of Professional Journalists and honors print, broadcast, digital, trade, freelance and college journalists in Ohio for their best work during 2016. Our contest is the only Ohio competition that honors journalists who fulfill the SPJ mission: defense of the First Amendment, support of literacy, resistance to censorship, advocacy for openness of public records and meetings, media self-criticism and community service. Our contest also recognizes the best college daily and weekly newspapers.   ELIGIBILITY: Journalists are eligible who work for newspaper, magazine, radio, television, trade, digital and college media in Ohio and adjacent states that have significant reach into Ohio. Freelance journalists, who are Ohio residents, are eligible, regardless of where their work is published, broadcast or webcast. Last year, we added numerous freelance categories in response to the growing number of freelance journalists. Click here for Freelance categories. Newsletter and blog submissions also are welcome. Entrants need not be members of the Society of Professional Journalists. Submitted work must have been published or broadcast in 2016. FEES: A $30 entry fee must accompany each submission, except college entries. College students pay a $10 entry fee for writing of news, feature, sports and opinion. College newspapers may enter the best college daily and weekly newspaper categories for free. There is a $5 discount per entry for work by SPJ members. You may submit any given article in as many relevant categories as you wish. Not an SPJ member? Join here and save. SPREAD THE WORD: Please forward this message to anyone you think would like to participate in Ohio’s Best Journalism contest! OpenWater makes it easy to share the contest site with your colleagues and friends. Look for the social media icons (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) on the left side of the contest site landing page. QUESTIONS: For additional information, please visit our website – www.ohiospjawards.org – or contact: Sarah Mills Bacha 614.563.1066 contact@ohiospjawards.org   Region 4 Conference, Detroit Friday, March 31 & Saturday, April 1 For tickets and information, please click here. REGULAR REGISTRATION Professional SPJ member $75 SPJ student member $60 Professional non-SPJ $95 Student non-SPJ $75   "It’s time to check out the revitalized city and its Motown/auto roots! There will be keynote speakers and workshops on improving your news gathering, reporting and writing skills. Sessions also are planned to address social media and the tools of the field. Career advisors, resume critiques and a social hour offer plenty of opportunities for networking. Registration also includes three meal events." GREATER CINCINNATI SPJ PRO CHAPTER TURNS 50 By Tom McKee Break out the cake. Top it with 50 candles. Let’s celebrate. That’s right. The Greater Cincinnati Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is 50 years old.   The board is planning a luncheon for late September or early October at a site to be determined. There’s talk of bringing in a well-known speaker to add to the festivities.   That’s where our chapter members come in.   Where would you like to see it held? Who would you like the speaker to be? Who should be invited? Let chapter president Tom McKee know via e-mail at tmckee@wcpo.com. The national organization was all-male and called Sigma Delta Chi in that founding year of 1967. Emil Dansker was one of the founding fathers and he’s still a board member five decades later. Robert Webb was the first president, William Styles was the original vice-president and Curtis Linke took on the duties of secretary/treasurer. Others were a who's who of Cincinnati journalism at the time: David Altemuehle - CG&E Communications Director Brady Black - Cincinnati Enquirer Editor Caden Blincoe - freelance journalist Paul Campbell  Neil Collins Albert Colegrove Emil Dansker - Cincinnati Enquirer reporter; BGSU & CSU Instructor Walter Gray Richard Gordon - Cincinnati Post reporter  Harold Harrison - AP Bureau Chief A.H. Huenke  Herald Latham George Lecky - Cincinnati Post reporter Eugene Moore James Muers George Pieiffer Henry Segal - Editor & Publisher, Cincinnati Israelite Simeon Shaddix Robert Stewart - retired from P&G and Pinger PR Alan Stout  Vance Trimble - Kentucky Post Editor  Arlo Wagner Edward Warner, Jr. Robert Weston - Cincinnati Enquirer reporter  Warren Wheat - USA Today Editorial Writer  John Wolf Just like those individuals, the efforts of today’s journalists in fighting for freedom of the press and defending the First Amendment are more important than ever. The media business has permanently changed, no matter whether it’s print, magazine, online, radio or television. People get their news on multiple platforms right away. That challenges news organizations to create new and different content, which can light the pathway of journalism well into the future. One final note — if you’re reading this and you are not an SPJ member or member of the Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter, just go to spj.org and follow the membership instructions.For sponsorship opportunities or more details, contact Tom McKee at TMckee@wcpo.com.

“TRUTH MATTERS — FACTS MATTER” FORUM ON MARCH 23RD By Tom McKee  If you open a dictionary, you’re not likely to find the term “alternate facts.” Yet, it’s a reality brought forth in the early days of the administration of President Donald Trump. The term was actually used by a White House official within days of the inauguration. Does that serve the public? Does it damage the First Amendment? How are journalists reacting to it? Those questions form the foundation of a panel discussion called “Truth Matters — Facts Matter” on Thursday, March 23, 2017.   The program will run from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. at the National Voice of America (VOA) Museum in West Chester. It’s co-sponsored by the Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the board of the National VOA Museum. Panelists will include print, online and broadcast journalists from Greater Cincinnati media outlets. They will discuss why real news matters, the dangers of fake news, why a free press is important in a democracy and how does someone determine what is fake news. Admission is $10.00 per person with the funds going to support the museum and its programs. SPJ WORKING ON CINCINNATI MAYORAL CANDIDATE DEBATE  By Tom McKee  What a year 2016 was in politics with the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States. What a year 2017 will be in the Queen City as voters elect a new mayor. There are three declared candidates right now and the race shows signs of being extremely competitive. John Cranley - Incumbent Yvette Simpson - Cincinnati City Council Member Rob Richardson - Attorney  The Greater Cincinnati SPJ Pro Chapter is working with all three candidates on an April debate. Details have yet to be worked out, such as the date, time and location. Partners are being contacted to help distribute the information as widely as possible to voters so they can make informed choices at the polls. For sponsorship opportunities or more details, contact Tom McKee at TMckee@wcpo.com.   If you have any news, information, or employment opportunities you'd like to share, please contact us at spjcincy@gmail.com.