SPJ/LA’ s March Newsletter
Hello!
With spring upon us, our thoughts are on new beginnings. We’re hoping for an end not only to the pandemic, but some of the injustices that have weighed on communities for too long.
On that note, wishing everyone a happy spring and welcome to SPJ/LA's March newsletter!
Coming Up…
Please join us for this week’s virtual panel discussion "A Year of COVID-19 in Southern California -- the Shutdowns, the Testing, the Surges, the Vaccines." The panel starts Wednesday at 7 p.m. and you can RSVP here.
The Asian American Journalists Assn. is turning 40! The group’s L.A. chapter will kick off its celebration on Friday, April 2 with a virtual panel at 6 p.m. featuring several of the group’s founders. SPJ/LA is a proud co-sponsor of this event. Register for it here.
The application period has opened for SPJ/LA’s 2021 Scholarships. The deadline to apply for any of SPJ/LA’s six scholarships is May 1, 2021. Student journalists in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties can download the application form here.
Speaking of scholarships, we have a big change this year. SPJ/LA’s Richard D. Hendrickson Memorial Scholarship has been redesigned to focus on students of color pursuing careers in print and/or online text journalism. Learn more here
Some news you might have missed …
SPJ/LA recently announced its 2020 Distinguished Journalists Awards, which honor five local journalists and a Freedom of Information champion. Read about the honorees here. Details on our awards ceremony will be announced at a later time.
Our chapter recently spoke out over the targeting of freelance journalist Lexis-Olivier Ray by the LAPD and City Atty. Mike Feuer. SPJ/LA called for an explanation from Feuer’s office and the LAPD, and urged the city to drop the matter. Read our statement here.
Last month, SPJ/LA’s Generation J Committee staged the lively panel discussion: "Student Journalists Pivot in the Wake of COVID-19." If you missed it, you can watch it here.
A few other notes . . .
The L.A. chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists is hosting its own panel discussion on COVID-19 titled “Pandemia Latina: What went wrong and what is next?” The event starts at 1 p.m. Friday, March 26, and registration is available here.
There’s a new journalism group in town: the Iranian American Journalists Association. Join them as they celebrate their beginning at a Nowruz virtual mixer set for Thursday, April 1 at 5 p.m.
From the national organization . . .
The Society of Professional Journalists extended its support to the Asian American Journalists Association and its Asian American members while encouraging “responsible and fair” coverage of the Asian community following the March 16 Atlanta shootings. Here in Southern California, SPJ/LA also stood in solidarity with AAJA.
Read more about SPJ's undertakings here.
Fun fact...
SPJ borrowed its Code of Ethics from the American Society of Newspaper Editors back in 1926 when the organization was known as Sigma Delta Chi. In 1973, SDX adopted its own Code of Ethics, revising it repeatedly over the following decades. Read the latest version of SPJ’s Code of Ethics here.
Finally...
Here are my thoughts about membership -- wrapped up in three words: Please join us!
If you are already an SPJ/LA member, we thank you for your support. If you're not, please learn about our chapter here and why you should consider joining. And if you have questions, please contact me at navidnonahalspjla@gmail.com.
Please follow SPJ/LA on Twitter and join us on Facebook.
Happy Nowruz to all who celebrate.
Believe and stay safe!
Navid Nonahal
Membership Committee Chair
SPJ/LA