Archive for 2008

From National: SPJ Concerned Over RNC and DNC Arrests

by Sarah Bauer on September 3, 2008 in News with Comments Off

For Immediate Release:
9/3/08

Contact:
Clint Brewer, SPJ President, (615) 301-9229, cbrewer@nashvillecitypaper.com
Scott Leadingham, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (509) 859-2818, sleadingham@spj.org

ATLANTA – Leaders of the Society of Professional Journalists, currently meeting in Atlanta for the annual SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference, are expressing outrage over recent arrests of journalists at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions.

SPJ, which represents journalists in all types of media outlets, is especially concerned that police in Denver and St. Paul have displayed aggressive tactics that interfere with the free flow of information and the constitutional guarantee of a free press. Additionally, what may have been viewed as an isolated incident in Denver last week has spilled over to St. Paul. SPJ firmly believes that both incidents represent an unacceptable infringement of the rights of journalists and, ultimately, a disservice to the public. Continue reading →

Free people in a free country are free to use their cameras

by Sarah Bauer on August 29, 2008 in News with Comments Off

Minnesota Pro Chapter
Society of Professional Journalists

For Immediate Release
August 29, 2008

Police confiscating reporting equipment, prohibiting journalists from covering news events, and hassling photographers are definite warning signs as we head into the Republican National Convention. The Society of Professional Journalists is discouraged to learn of such tactics recently in the name of public safety. We hope these are isolated missteps by local law enforcement officials before the big event arrives and police have more important matters to attend to.

Three out-of-town citizen journalists, here to document events happening outside the Xcel Energy Center, had their belongings–including cameras and notebooks–confiscated by Minneapolis police while in Northeast Minneapolis. Police claim the three were trespassing, but no charges have yet been filed. The three who where detained maintain there was no such trespassing and their interaction with police was an attempt to intimidate them because the group they represent has documented police abuse in the past. Continue reading →

Minnesota SPJ recognized for Freedom of Information Efforts

by Sarah Bauer on August 22, 2008 in Awards, News with Comments Off

National SPJ leaders chose the Minnesota Pro Chapter as the top chapter in the country for First Amendment and FOI contributions. Minnesota is one of five chapters the national journalist’s organization recognized in separate categories. In announcing the award, the committee made specific note of the state chapter’s efforts to educate and encourage local ethnic media outlets to improve their coverage of public officials through focused document research. A statement issued by the national group said such events “underscored the importance of journalists using FOI initiatives to strengthen the validity of published articles.”

“This is a great honor,” said Minnesota Pro Chapter President Nicole Garrison-Sprenger. “We put a lot of effort into reaching diverse populations to promote SPJ’s mission. We don’t do that for the awards but it’s gratifying to be recognized.” The award is one of several the Minnesota chapter has garnered in recent years, including the 2007 National Chapter of the Year.

The national Society salutes five chapters for their work each year in areas such as chapter communications, professional development and campus outreach.

June 18, 2008 Meeting Minutes

by Scott Theisen on July 1, 2008 in Meeting Minutes and Documents with Comments Off

Society of Professional Journalists
Minnesota Pro Chapter
Board of Directors meeting
June 18, 2008

Sweeney’s, St. Paul

June 18, 2008 Meeting Minutes (PDF)
Continue reading →

VIDEO: Byron Pitts address at Minnesota SPJ’s 2008 Page One awards banquet

by jeff.achen on June 13, 2008 in Events, News, Video with Comments Off

Congratulations to all 2008 Page One Honorees

by Sarah Bauer on June 13, 2008 in Awards, News with Comments Off

Two Citizens Win Freedom of Information Award from State’s Largest Journalism Group

Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists presents its Peter S. Popovich Award to two women working to keep public information available to all citizens

NOTE: All 2008 Page One Award Winners are listed below.

Reporters and First Amendment lawyers aren’t the only ones who fight for freedom of information. With that in mind, the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists this year honored two non-journalists for their roles in keeping information public and available to all citizens.

Mary Flister, who has been recording Maplewood city meetings and making them available to the community, despite rebukes from to stop, and Robbie LaFleur, director of the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library, who has been an unyielding advocate of information accessibility for the general public, both received the Peter S. Popovich Award. The award is given each year by the by MNSPJ to “the person or organization that exemplifies the fight for First Amendment Rights.”

The awards were presented Thursday evening at the SPJ’s annual Page One award banquet in St. Paul. The Minnesota chapter presented awards in more than 80 categories to the state’s top print, broadcast and online journalists for their work in 2007, including coverage of the I-35W bridge collapse. In a nod to the growing number of local news web sites, organizers expanded the number of online categories, including blogging and web-design awards.

Continue reading →

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