It’s That Time of the Year Again! Celebrate at Our Holiday Party

McCormick & Schmick’s is on Via Rodeo in Beverly Hills

Join the Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for a festive holiday party in the heart of Beverly Hills. The party includes generously served hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, mini desserts and a no host cash bar. Space is limited.

RSVP now to join your friends, SPJ/LA members, print, online, and broadcast journalists on November 29th in Beverly Hills. … Continue Reading

The Art of Access: Strategies for getting public records to improve your reporting and life

The Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists invites you to a special session on strategies for acquiring public records by Society of Professional Journalists Freedom of Information Trainer, David Cuillier.

Topics of discussion will include:

• Great ideas for document-based stories you can do in your community
• Strategies for effective records requests and overcoming denials
• Psychological skills for getting officials to give you what you need
• Tips for making records part of your daily routine while stretched thin
• Rousing inspiration for doing great journalism in tough times

… Continue Reading

SPJ/LA, CCNMA Will Examine Future of Immigration Reform & Media Coverage

RSVP for a panel discussion on media coverage of immigrant communities and the future of immigration reform.

What
SPJ/LA’s panel discussion on the future of immigration reform and media coverage of immigrant communities

Who

• Paloma Esquivel, reporter, Los Angeles Times
• Pilar Marrero, reporter, La Opinion
• Kent Wong, director of the UCLA Labor Center

Adolfo Flores, reporter for the Pasadena Sun, will moderate.

 
… Continue Reading

Register for the SPJ/LA Regional Conference

Register now of Professional Journalist’s 2012 regional conference, “Best of the West,” to be held on March 30 & 31. Hosted by the Los Angeles Pro Chapter, the conference promises to be an action-packed and informative weekend for both students and working professionals. Click here to register, and here for our special room rates with the University City Hilton. Special rate until March 1, so act now.

Check back frequently for updates on programming, events and attendees. Prices below:

• Early Bird – SPJ Members   $100.00
• Early Bird – Non-SPJ Members   $125.00
• Early Bird – Student   Mar 1, 2012$50.00
• Regular Price – SPJ Members   $125.00
• Regular Price – Non-SPJ Members   $150.00
• Regular Price – Student   $75.00
• Mark of Excellence Luncheon   $40.00

SPJ/LA Hosts Holiday Networking Party

The Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists invites you to a festive holiday networking party in the heart of Beverly Hills, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the wonderful holiday atmosphere of Via Rodeo as we gather to celebrate the season, socialize with friends and colleagues, and network with other professional journalists. The party includes generously served hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, mini desserts and a cash bar.

RSVP now to join your friends, SPJ/LA members, print, online, and broadcast journalists on November 30th in Beverly Hills.

WHAT: SPJ/LA Holiday Networking Party

WHEN: 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 30th, 2011

WHERE: McCormick & Schmick’s Pacific Seafood Grill

206 N. Rodeo Drive

On the Via Rodeo

Beverly Hills, CA  90210

Phone: (310) 859-0434

COST:        $25 for SPJ/LA members

$40 for non-members

Check or cash accepted

Non-members who join the night of the event will enjoy the member price.

Give yourself the gift of SPJ/LA membership at www.spjla.org.

Cash bar

PARKING: $5 after 6pm in the Via Rodeo parking structure with elevator to party. Metered parking also available.

RSVP: Email SPJLosAngeles@gmail.com or call the SPJ/LA hotline at (323) 259-3350.

For more details or questions, please contact Frank Mottek, SPJ/LA President at spjlosangeles@gmail.com.

Future of Digital News Delivery: Sept. 22 Event

The Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, in partnership with Southern California Public Radio, will sponsor a panel discussion on “The Future of Digital News Delivery.”

Previous SPJ seminars have explored the way digital media are being used in the news gathering process. This program will focus on how news is delivered to audiences in various formats. Specifically we will be exploring an approach in practice elsewhere that gives priority to digital channels above print publication.

WHAT:

SPJ/LA’s panel discussion on the future of digital news delivery

WHO:

Gary Dauphin, new media director, KCET

Sara Catania, editorial director, NBC-LA

Jimmy Orr, digital managing editor, Los Angeles Times

Alice Walton, publisher and editor, The City Maven

WHEN:

7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 22

HOW MUCH:

Free — A link will be provided after Sept. 9th to reserve your spot under “upcoming events” on 89.3 KPCCs Crawford Family forum web site: http://www.scpr.org/crawfordfamilyforum/

WHERE:         89.3 KPCC’s Crawford Family Forum

474 South Raymond Ave., Pasadena, Calif.

PARKING/DIRECTIONS:    http://www.scpr.org/forum/directions/

Judy Muller event

Judy Muller speaks during the Aug. 17 SPJ/LA event at The Grove. (Photo by Richard Saxton)

SPJ/LA survey

The Greater Los Angeles chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is conducting a survey to determine how to better serve our members.

We would appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to participate in the survey. Click here to participate.

Thank you very much for your participation!

“Covering Business News” panel

From left to right, Frank Mottek - SPJ/LA President and KNX1070 business reporter, Howard Fine - Los Angeles Business Journal reporter, Jane Wells - CNBC Los Angeles Correspondent, John Corrigan - Los Angeles Times Business Editor, and panel moderator and TV and radio business journalist Richard Saxton.

The Los Angeles Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists hosted a panel titled “Covering Business News,” an event which drew a audience of media, journalism students and academics to hear about the career paths of some local distinguished award-winning  business reporters and how they select, cover and prioritize stories from an expansive universe of choices from the stock market to personal finance. The event was held at the AFTRA headquarters on the Miracle Mile.

The two hour discussion and question session were highlighted by: What it takes to become a business reporter, who are the best story experts and sources, forecasting the sub-prime mortgage and real bubble in 2005 before it burst, the role of the internet in determining the public’s story appetite, the most memorable stories covered, don’t believe in a “soft landing” economy, focusing on L.A.’s companies, how politics impacts business, the “who cares” story test, China: the big story and what is our economic future. Those who attended stayed around to continue enlightening individual discussions.

Last Chance to RSVP for SPJ/LA’s 35th Annual Distinguished Journalists Awards Dinner

It’s your last chance to RSVP for SPJ/LA’s 35th annual Distinguished Journalists awards dinner.

The awards banquet will be held April 7 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. Tickets are $80 for members, $90 for non-members; tables of 10 are $800. To make a reservation today, contact Roberta Wax at (818) 718-8184 or spjbanquet@gmail.com.

This year’s banquet honors Ralph Vartabedian, national correspondent at the Los Angeles Times; Dennis Anderson, editor, Antelope Valley Press; Conan Nolan, political reporter for NBC4 Los Angeles and host of “News Conference,” and Larry Mantle, host of “Larry Mantle’s AirTalk” on 89.3 KPCC, Southern California Public Radio. Robert Scheer, columnist and editor-in-chief of the progressive current events website, Truthdig.com, is the  recipient of the chapter’s Distinguished Work in New Media Award.

Sasha Strauss, a social media and branding expert, will be the keynote speaker.

Denise Dador, health specialist at ABC7, will be the mistress of ceremonies.

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to promoting high standards of ethical behavior and encouraging the free practice of journalism. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. The Greater Los Angeles professional chapter celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2009.