2009 SPJ Announcements!

Fellow Students and Journalists:

Greetings and warmest holiday wishes to you and your family this season! I hope Winter Intercession has provided each of you an opportunity to relax and take a breather from the daily stresses and fatigues of college life at OU. However, winter quarter is creeping ever closer and soon enough we will be returning to Athens and the daily grind.

The New Year is in just a couple of days and we at OU SPJ have made our resolution already – to be more proactive in working for YOU. In 2009, we celebrate 100 years of improving and protecting journalism and the Ohio University chapter has a full slate of helpful workshops and programs to further YOUR education and experience and to connect YOU to hundreds of working professionals across the country.

Fall quarter we offered you a variety of unique programming geared toward “Hot Topics” from the election to the economic meltdown. But that was just the beginning… Here’s a quick look at what OU SPJ has up its sleeve for you this January:

Meetings

Our first meeting will occur on Tuesday, January 6 and will be a detailed introduction to the programs I outline below. We will also introduce you to SPJ’s Centennial plans on a nationwide scale. From here we will meet as committees to plan the work the needs to be completed throughout the quarter – this is YOUR chance to make a difference and leave a legacy – make SPJ something more meaningful then a weekly meeting.
Then on Tuesday, January 13 we will have pizza and board games as a chance to get to know each other better and build a community here at Scripps. We hope you’ll join us for free food and fun and bring your friends!
This quarter we are focusing on the values upheld by national SPJ – diversity, First Amendment, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Come to SPJ and know YOUR rights as a journalist across the country.

inc. – internships. news. commentary.

By far the most exciting of our new projects is the new OU SPJ publication, “inc.”
“inc.” includes insightful stories and helpful hints from alumni and guest speakers in the industry. Also inside you’ll find a continuously updating list of available internships.
“inc.” will be the definitive resource for Scripps students interested in internship opportunities, free-press activism and in what’s going on in the media industry. Editions can be picked up in Scripps Hall and at weekly SPJ meetings.
“inc.” will initially be published bi-weekly, with an expanded schedule and online version to be available in future months.
“inc.” drops Tuesday, January 13.

Book Drive

Reading is one of the most crucial aspects of good journalism – it is the stepping stone to the English language and, ultimately, the world of journalism. This is the basis for our 1st ever book drive in Athens and on campus. Books can be donated in bins located not only in select buildings on campus, but also at businesses in town.
This community effort will bring the joy of reading to children in struggling Appalachian schools which have little or no funding to provide adequate libraries of books to be read for pleasure.
The initiative will last from January 23 to February 30.

High School Essay Contest

As part of a larger national endeavor, OU SPJ is joining in the 2009 SPJ High School Essay Contest as judges for our region. This year’s theme is “Why Free News Media Are Important” and essays are to be 300-500 words.
Using the WOUB service area as a map, we will be contacting and recruiting for essays from high schools in 19 counties. As an organization, we’ll be reading and judging the submitted essays in March.
Our winner will compete against others for a $1000 scholarship.


This is just the tip of the iceberg for our schedule for Winter Quarter – we at OU SPJ hope that you share in our excitement about the programs scheduled for these next three months.

We’ll see you and your friends for our first meeting on Tuesday, January 6 at 5 p.m. in Scripps 111! Don’t forget to read our blog at http://ohiouspj.blogspot.com to keep in touch and learn more about the programs mentioned above.

Hope you had a safe and happy holiday season and we will see you in 2009!


Warmly,

Evan Millward
President
SPJ Ohio University chapter

Trouble Hits Home

In a front page note Sunday, Cincinnati Enquirer publisher Margaret Buchanan announced the paper will debut a narrower page size in March as well as combine its Local and Life sections.

The Associated Press also reports the paper plans on cutting classified ads on Mondays and Tuesdays as part of further cost-cutting efforts after seeing revenues decline all year.

The Enquirer is owned by Gannett, which recently cut some 2000 jobs in the latest of budgetary precautions being taken by the publishing powerhouse.

Looks like print editions are going to be taking the Jenny Craig route to save money at least for the time being.

Thoughts?

Evan

Holiday Message

SPJers -

I know we had promised some announcements before the holidays, but we all have been very busy these past few weeks with other obligations.

You'll see those come next week, I promise haha. We'll also catch you up on what's happening in the media world then too.

Thanks for hanging in there and we'll see you all in Athens in just under two weeks!

On behalf of SPJ the OU chapter - Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

Evan

Detroit Papers - No More Home Delivery

Well, it's official.

We reported here last week rumors that the Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News would both be cutting home delivery on most days of the week.

We also reported that they would announce their final plans today

CNN and other sources have reported what we feared most... read on.

But, is this a bad thing? It's been no secret that the future lies online, and that is what these papers are doing now - cutting home delivery on all but three days and boosting their electronic editions. Is this the future of the industry?

What do you all think about this news? Does this affect anyone's plans to major in news writing/editing at OU?

Also, we will have our promsied announcement up tomorrow, once we send it to membership via email! :D

Evan

Waiting for Tuesday

Uh-oh.

It looks as if the rumor that has been flying all week, that the Detroit News and the Detroit Free Press would cut daily circulation down to a select couple of days each week, may be coming true.

The Wall Street Journal reports today that people close to the company have said that the president is scheduled to make an announcement Tuesday and this is the leading scenario.

Here is the full story.

On a related note, everyone's favorite raging conservative pundit (or bitch?), Ann Coulter, has now thrown her opinion (as if anyone cares) into the ring - she is thrilled about the supposed impending death of newspapers.

Watch the video here.

Finally today, regardless of the news out of Detroit Tuesday, we at OU SPJ will have some VERY exciting news coming via email that day. I'll post it here as well - be on the lookout for it!

Have a great weekend!

Evan

Someone Tell Dr. Stewart

Here's a fun story-

Tickets are now on sale for a little competition in Washington D.C. called "Journopalooza."

Four bands made up of reporters from The Washington Post, the LA Times, McClathy Newspapers, the Washington Independent, Bloomberg News, and others will compete for the title of Best Reporter-Based Washington Rock Group.

The proceeds from the event benefit both the Committee to Protect Journalists and the National Press Club and their efforts to train and support journalists.

Visit the official website and check out the contenders!

Who knows - maybe one day our very own Bob Stewart will be taking the stage as a journalist-musician in D.C. as well!

Trouble in Toledo

Turns out Dayton wasn't next, it was Toledo.

The Associated Press is reporting that the Toledo Blade, owned by Block Communications, is cutting 25 jobs from the newsroom due to declining ad revenues and its ties to the faltering auto industry.

Is it me or has this month been a landslide of trouble for newspapers?

I want to know what you all think newspapers should be doing to slow this snowball effect of layoffs and closures or sales...thoughts?

Evan

Could Dayton Daily be next?

More bad news from the newspaper world and Cox Publishing this evening.

Cox, which owns the Dayton Daily News, announced last week the imminent closure of its D.C. bureau.

Now it appears the Cox-owned Atlanta Journal-Constitution will cut its distribution area by 27 counties in Georgia and North Carolina as well as 156 full- and part-time jobs in the newsroom and business sectors.

Read more on this

My worry - will Dayton soon see similar cuts and struggles? Though it appears to be the flagship paper of the company (since it is the birthplace of Cox Enterprises and all), I feel like these economic times and the news coming in from around the business are taking no prisoners.

Something to watch for those of us in and around the DDN's distribution area, me thinks.

Evan

A Win for Public Records

Yesterday, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled in favor of the "Toledo Blade" in a debate over public records.

Seneca County commissioners must now hand over emails that discuss proposed plans to replace a 120-year old courthouse.

Read more here

On a side note, join us Winter Quarter for discussion on YOUR rights as journalists and reporters to these public records. We'll be spending time discussing the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and First Amendment rights as well.

A full schedule of Winter events will be announced shortly.

Evan

Making Friends

I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with Taylor Dungjen and Elissa Sonnenberg today in Cincinnati.

Taylor is the president of the University of Cincinnati SPJ chapter and Elissa is the organization's faculty adviser.

We discussed membership challenges and programming opportunities in our chapters as well as the state of the media and business in general.

As we prepare for the 100th Anniversary of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Region 4 conference in Columbus in April, it was nice to meet other involved students and faculty. Especially following the news from publishers across the country last week, networking is becoming more important than ever before.

Be on the lookout - OU SPJ has made some new friends and maybe, just maybe, we'll be seeing more of them over the next few months too ;)

As a reminder, dues need to be paid by December 31. Be on the lookout - we'll be sending members emails over the next week or so about the exciting new projects and schedules for Winter Quarter!

Evan

Plain Dealer Announces Layoffs

Hey Everyone!
It has been a rough week for newspapers across the country. In addition to the last couple posts, the Cleveland Plain Dealer also announced layoffs earlier this week. Editor Susan Goldberg cited lack of participation in the sale of the 166-year-old publication, which is currently owned by Advance Publications (Sun Newspapers, Conde Nast). Twenty-seven employees were notified Tuesday through a telephone call from Goldberg that they did not need to come into work.

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003918104

On a side note, I hope everyone is having an awesome break! Let me know if you have any suggestions! I look forward to working with you!

Sincerely,
Stefanie Toth
Treasurer

Winter Blues Part 2

Team,

While researching for the previous post, I ran across some more information that might be valuable.

The E.W. Scripps Company is selling off the Rocky Mountain News, one of the nation's most recognized and respected tabloid newspapers. This may come as surprise, especially following announcements by other large publishing companies, such as Cox (Austin American-Statesman) and Landmark (Virginia Pilot in Norfolk), of sales in recent weeks.

Also, an update on the Gannett story. Editor & Publisher is reporting that the total number of jobs cut in the company's move to scale back its workforce may be over 2,000 by the end of the cuts.

I highly recommend reading through Editor & Publisher on occassion. For more on these stories and others, go to www.editorandpublisher.com

I'll try and find some happy news to post about later ;)

Your thoughts?

Evan

Winter Blues

Some news from national SPJ HQ to update you on over break:

No good news to be had anywhere, I guess - with an auto industry bailout up in the air and banks still struggling to stay in their seats on the current economic roller coaster, it should come as no surprise that the already-struggling media companies have begun to fall victim to the current worries as well.

This week marked the beginning of a shocking and painful round of layoffs across the country, the largest being a 10% cut of staff throughout the Gannett company (owner of the Cincinnati Enquirer). The layoffs began Monday and already total over 650 positions. These cuts were not unexpected, as Gannett had announced them in October, but are still painful in these trying economic times.
More on this

Also this week, Cox Publishing (owner of Dayton Daily News, Springfield News-Sun, and many local papers in suburban Cincy) announced the April 1, 2009 closure of its ENTIRE Washington bureau. The company will also sell 10 of 17 of its daily papers, including the Austin American-Statesman. Luckily, the Dayton Daily News will still have reporters stationed in D.C.
More on this

And finally, today, in SPJ -related news, the organization and journalism community is mourning the loss of past president and former Mexico (Mo.) Ledger editor and publisher Robert White. White,93, passed away Thursday, November 20 following a lengthy illness. White was known for his work for press-freedom advocacy.
More on this

Remember - become an SPJ today and get weekly updates about news like this from SPJ Leads! Dues must be in by December 31 for the OU chapter! Join at www.spj.org/join.asp

Evan

Holiday Update

Hey SPJers!

Hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and very very tasty!

We are entering the loooong stretch of winter intercession and your SPJ Executive Board is hard at work with the exciting programs and projects that are being planned for Winter Quarter. I can't stress enough how exciting these events are and how much help we will need from you, the membership.

Between now and January 5th, we'll be announcing these projects and our Winter Quarter so be on the lookout here, on our Facebook page, and in your email inboxes!

Also, another reminder that dues must be paid online at www.spj.org/join.asp by December 31st in order to be inducted into the Ohio University chapter later this academic year. By joining, you will be able to receive a variety of benefits, including attending the Region 4 conference in April in Columbus. Don't miss your opportunity to join the largest journalism society in the world - it's your best way to network and meet future colleagues and bosses!

Stay tuned here for more updates as we release our exciting new schedule for Winter 2009!

Evan Millward
President