Panelists Join the Society of Professional Journalists’ ‘Best of the West: 2012 SPJ Spring Conference’

News directors, veteran journalists and new media experts will lead the Society of Professional Journalists’ “Best of the West: 2012 SPJ Spring Conference” on March 30-31 at the Hilton Universal City in Los Angeles.

The latest speakers confirmed to appear will participate in the “Freak Out!” session, which will be focused on how journalists cover traumatic stories and deal with their own feelings about witnessing such events. KNX 1070 business news anchor and immediate past president of the Greater Los Angeles chapter, Frank Mottek, will moderate the discussion. The panelists will be:

• Dr. Leslie Seppinni, doctor of Clinical Psychology
• David Singer, Psychotherapist, trauma therapist, news producer
• Diane Thompson, News Anchor, KNX 1070 Newsradio

KCBS reporter Bob Butler and Rich Goldner, the news director for KSWB-TV FOX5 San Diego, are also confirmed to participate in Saturday’s panel on Jobs in the Newsrooms of the Future.

Conference registration includes access to all of the day’s sessions and networking opportunities, a Friday night cocktail party and a continental breakfast on Saturday. Visit the conference website at http://spjla-bestofthewest.org/ to register for the conference and Mark of Excellence luncheon.

To reserve a hotel room at the Hilton Universal City, please visit http://bit.ly/GBX2KR.

This year’s keynote speaker for the Mark of Excellenceluncheon will be Tom Goldstein of The Bay Citizen. Goldstein is interim dean, professor of Journalism, and director of the Media Studies Program at UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism. He has been a journalism educator for more than 25 years, first at the University of Florida, then at and at Columbia. Goldstein worked as a reporter at AP, Newsday, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

The annual conference will bring together professional journalists and students from throughout the region – California, Arizona, Nevada and Hawaii.

The sessions on March 31 will be:

One Man Band: Beyond Broadcast

• Reporter Joe Little shoots, writes, edits, and reports as a one-man-band for 10 News in San Diego. Little will share his experience and tips on being a reporter who does it all in a never-ending news cycle.

Technology and Social Media

• Participants are encouraged to log onto SPJLA-bestofthewest.org to submit their questions about Twitter, Facebook, WordPress and anything tech-related. The top questions will be selected and answered, during this interactive session, by Julie Spira, social media strategist and the CEO of Social Media and More, and Ellen Olivier, society columnist and creator of Society News LA.

Freak Out!

• Learn how to cover and react to emotional and traumatic stories with panelists Dr. Leslie Seppinni, doctor of Clinical Psychology, David J. Singer, Psychotherapist, crisis response expert, news editor, and Diane Thompson, a news anchor for KNX 1070 Newsradio. The moderator will be the immediate past president of the Greater Los Angeles chapter, Frank Mottek.

Ethics Scenarios

• The editor of the Glendale News Press, Dan Evans, will present common ethical dilemmas that reporters and editors face. Participants will be divided into groups to work through each dilemma. Their answers will then be presented to the group for discussion.

Jobs in the Newsrooms of the Future

• Former KTLA News Director and Partner at Real News Collective LLC,Jeff Wald, will moderate a discussion about hiring reporters, producers, writers and managers of the future.Bob Butler, a reporter with KCBS Radio, Rich Goldner, the news director for KSWB-TV FOX5 San Diego, Marcia Brandwynne, talent coach and correspondent for America News Now and Barbara Lopez-Nash, Regional Human Resources Director atTribune Broadcasting, will talk about the specific skills and experiences they look for. This is a great opportunity to meet face-to-face with the people directly in charge of hiring at some of the city’s most important newsrooms.     

Mentoring and Networking  

• Students will be paired with professional journalists for one-on-one mentoring. Use this session to ask questions, seek advice and make a connection with a reporter who knows the ups and downs of the business.

Concurrent with the sessions, we will host a Networking Room. Stocked with coffee and cookies, this place will be available to meet other reporters and continue Q&As with panelists once their sessions are over.

Registration prices are:

• $125 standard registration for professional members
• $150 standard registration for professional non-members
• $50 for students

The Mark of Excellence Awards luncheon is a separate ticket at $40.

When:  Friday evening, March 30 to Saturday, March 31, 2012

Where:  Hilton Universal City, 555 Universal Hollywood Drive in Universal City, CA

Cost:   $125 for professional members, $150 for professional non-members, $50 for students. Registration includes all programs, continental breakfast and Opening Night Reception. Mark of Excellence Awards Luncheon tickets are sold separately for $40 per person.

Register online: http://spjla-bestofthewest.org/

Questions:  SPJLosAngeles@gmail.com