Minnesota SPJ

25th Annual Silha Lecture – Oct. 18

Posted on 30. Aug, 2010 by scott.theisen.

Are video games that allow players to “kill,” “dismember,” or “sexually assault” images of human beings protected by the First Amendment as free expression? Or do they encourage antisocial behavior, justifying government restrictions on their availability to children?

In February 2009, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals struck down a California statute banning the sale of violent video games to minors as an invalid content-based restriction on speech. The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the decision, and will be asked to uphold the California law’s provisions, which are similar to those used to censor obscene speech.

Attorney Paul Smith will discuss the constitutional challenges to regulating the media that minors consume at the 25th Annual Silha Lecture on Monday, October 18. Smith will argue on behalf of the video game dealers’ group in Schwarzenegger v. Entertainment Merchants Association when it is heard by the Supreme Court this autumn.

A partner in Jenner & Block’s Washington, DC office and a member of the firm’s Policy Committee, Smith is also Chair of the firm’s Appellate and Supreme Court, Creative Content, and First Amendment Practices. He has had an active Supreme Court practice for many years, making oral arguments in 13 cases, including Lawrence v. Texas and United States v. American Library Ass’n. Smith also represents various clients in trial and appellate cases involving commercial and telecommunications issues, the First Amendment, intellectual property, and election law.

Smith graduated from Amherst College and Yale Law School, and clerked for Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell. In 2008, Legal Times listed him as one of 30 “Champions” of the past 30 years in Washington, DC, honoring attorneys who uphold the profession’s core values of public duty and client service. In 2010, the National Law Journal named him one of the 40 Most Influential Lawyers of the Past Decade.

The Silha Lecture begins at 7:00 p.m. in Cowles Auditorium at the Hubert H. Humphrey Center on the West Bank Campus of the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, and will include an opportunity for audience Q&A. The event is free and open to the public. No reservations or tickets are required.

The Silha Center is based at the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota. Silha Center activities, including the annual Lecture, are made possible by a generous endowment from the late Otto Silha and his wife, Helen.

Parking is available in the 19th Avenue ramp across the street from the Humphrey Institute, and at the 21st Avenue Ramp nearby. More information about directions and parking can be found at www.umn.edu/pts.

For further information, please contact the Silha Center at 612 625 3421 or silha@umn.edu, or visit www.silha.umn.edu

(Information provided by the Silha Center)

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2010 Annual Meeting

Posted on 30. Jun, 2010 by sarah.bauer.

Date:  Monday, July 26

Time: 6:30 p.m.

Location: Sweeney’s Saloon
96 North Dale Street, St. Paul, MN 55402

All chapter members are invited to attend the 2010 Annual Meeting, Monday July 26.  At this meeting ballots cast in the 2010 election will be tabulated, and new board directors and officers will be announced.  Chapter President Scott Theisen will preside over the meeting, passing the torch to President-Elect Sarah Bauer.

Please email any questions or agenda items to MN SPJ at minnesota.spj@gmail.com.

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Austin Reporter Attends SPJ’s Reporter’s Institute

Posted on 08. Jun, 2010 by sarah.bauer.

Austin Daily Herald Reporter Mike Rose attended SPJ’s Reporter’s Institute May 23-26 at the Poynter Institute in St. Petersberg, FL.   Rose wrote a short overview of the program for SPJ’s First Draft blog.  We’re sharing his thoughts here as well.  If you’re interested in attending this event in the future, stay tuned to SPJ’s website for 2011 program information.  You can also follow Mike’s journalism journey on Twitter (@mrosemn).

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The 2010 SPJ Reporters Institute was a great experience. Not only did I learn from some of the best in the journalism industry, but I met and interacted with roughly 30 of the best young reporters around. Below, one guy’s take on what we learned and what it means to the future of journalism:

Session 1: FOI and document-driven newsrooms, with Charles Davis (Executive Director, National Freedom of Information Coalition)

Davis’ main point was simple: journalists should constantly seek documents. Why? Simply put, they can be the backbone to countless big stories. And, best of all, they don’t pick favorites. They don’t speak in soundbites. They are what they are, and they say what they say. It is up to the journalist to get them. This means making FOI (Freedom of Information) requests all the time, even when the data isn’t something the reporter is aggressively seeking for a story. At the very least, filing FOI requests keeps both the reporter and the records-keeper sharp, and it lets agencies know that they need to be aware of the press. And in a day and age where more and more red tape seems to keep information obscured, watchdog journalism is as important as ever.

Session 2: Ethics, with Adrian Uribarri (SPJ Ethics Committee member)

The biggest thing I can say about ethics after this session is that it’s good to have others in the discussion. Put another way, no one has all the ethical answers, which is why newsrooms need to communicate. How does one cover a star athlete in a rape case? Should the press accommodate the government when they cry, “national security?” These and other questions come up on a regular basis, and it’s up to the reporter to act with a solid ethical compass. A good start is the SPJ’s Code of Ethics, but it’s also up to newsrooms to develop good, working policies for their specific coverage areas. Ultimately, all journalists should be aware of why they’re doing something, not just that they’re doing it. [...]

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Meeting Minutes for May 18, 2010

Posted on 29. May, 2010 by jeff.achen.

Society of Professional Journalists
Minnesota Pro Chapter
Chapter Meeting
Date: May 18, 2010
Location: Internet Broadcasting, St. Paul
Board members present: Scott Theisen, president; Sarah Bauer, president-elect; Amanda Theisen, treasurer; Jeff Achen, Sectretary;, Andy Tellijohn, Art Hughes, Sarah McKenzie, and Justin Piehowski, directors.
Absent: Nicole Garrison-Sprenger, past-president; Joan Gilbertson, Karen Lundegaard, Jane Kirtley, Alyssa Ford, directors.

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Last Call For Board Election Candidates

Posted on 27. May, 2010 by scott.theisen.

Are you interested in becoming more involved with the Minnesota SPJ pro chapter? Then consider running for a spot on our board of directors! Our 13-member board is the heart and soul of the SPJ chapter, putting on programs throughout the year and staying at the forefront of issues that matter to you as a journalist.

We are looking to fill at least four vacant spots on our board of directors. Terms are as follows:

-Board of director terms are two years long, going from July 1 to June 31
-Officer terms (president-elect, secretary, treasurer) are one year long, going from July 1 to June 31

If interested, please send an email to minnesota.spj@gmail.com with the following information:

-Name
–Tell us a little about yourself and how long you’ve been an SPJ member.
–Why you are interested in becoming a board member.

Please email your statement no later than noon on Saturday, May 29. Ballots will then be mailed out to Minnesota SPJ members.

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Register Today For The SPJ 2010 Convention

Posted on 27. May, 2010 by scott.theisen.

This year’s SPJ convention, taking place Oct. 3-5 in Las Vegas, promises to bring hands-on training to conference-goers. There will be 50+ workshops with many sessions focusing on the use of multimedia and social networking tools packed into two days. From the Las Vegas Sun, Rob Curley, well known for his work in managing multimedia in the newsroom, will be joining the conference as a keynote speaker. SPJ continues to put on a no-frills conference for journalists, educators and students that offers the perfect mix of professional development training and networking opportunities (and a lot of fun) – at an affordable price. SPJ’s national conference is one of the best buys out there when compared to other journalism conferences happening each year.

SPJ members, be sure to arrive by 1 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 3, for the Opening Business Session, regional meetings, chapter leaders’ sessions and the Opening Night Reception.

Registration is now open and you can book your room at Planet Hollywood at an outstanding rate of $129/night! Please visit www.spj.org/convention.asp to view the schedule, room rates and registration fees.

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