Advocacy

SPJ/LA works to ensure that journalists in Southern California can perform their jobs unimpeded -- covering protests, attending court hearings, monitoring government proceedings and providing other vital news coverage. Our chapter believes in supporting journalists who are in need and, when necessary, teaming up with other news organizations to ensure our voices are clearly heard.   

 

Examples of SPJ/LA advocacy and community involvement include:

  • Calling on L.A. County District Attorney Jackie Lacey to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of excessive force abuses locally, including those committed against working journalists. Read more.

  • SPJ/LA donated $10,000 to the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation to provide emergency relief to journalists facing economic pressures due to COVID-19. Read more.

  • SPJ/LA called on Hon. David O. Carter, Judge of the District Court for the Central District of California, to reverse his judicial order excluding members of the media from covering the matter of LA Alliance for Human Rights et al v. City of Los Angeles et al.

  • SPJ/LA called on SPJ National’s board of directors to return sponsorship money provided by Fox News for the Excellence in Journalism (EIJ) conference.

  • AB 700 was pulled following protests from SPJ/LA, the California Newspaper Publishers Association, the ACLU, and other journalism organizations and open-government advocates.

  • The Greater Los Angeles Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists joined an amicus brief filed by the Reporters Committee For Freedom of the Press on behalf of the Palisades News and two of its editors, who have been sued by cannabis entrepreneur Stephanie Smith for alleged defamation.

  • SPJ/LA in coordination with ONA/LA hosted an online harassment self-defense training for journalists, facilitated by PEN America. Read more.