Highlights from #EIJ14

Minnesota SPJ sent a “delegation” of five chapter leaders to the 2014 Excellence in Journalism Convention in Nashville, September 4-6. The convention is a combined effort by the Society of Professional Journalists and the Radio Television Digital News Association.

We’re happy to report that Minnesota SPJ took home a Circle of Excellence Award from SPJ at the convention! We were honored for excellence in communication with our members and friends, via this website and other channels. We were also one of three finalists for Large Chapter of the Year. We didn’t win, but applauded Florida Pro for taking home the honor.

DAY 1: Thursday featured some great half-day workshops, the SPJ Region 6 meeting and the SPJ opening business session. Tennessee’s own “Freedom Sings,” based at the First Amendment Center performed an awesome set.  They are an all-star group that tells the entertaining, engaging and inspiring story of free speech in America through rock, pop, hip-hop and country music. We re-convened in the evening for a great opening night reception, hosted by CNN NEWSOURCE at the Wildhorse Saloon in Downtown Nashville.  There was line dancing and a country band. Very Nashville.

DAY 2: On Friday, attendees dove into the great sessions.  Ethics. Management. Social Media. Better writing.  Our delegates spread out throughout the massive convention space at the Opryland Hotel and had a great day of learning and networking. The MN crew went out for BBQ, music and some impromptu dancing, following the day’s business.

DAY 3: Saturday was perhaps the most “exciting” part of the convention.  After another great day of sessions, delegates from SPJ chapters all over the country debated, edited and voted to pass an updated code of ethics. You can read it here: http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp

Results of the annual SPJ Election were also announced: http://www.spj.org/elections.asp

Following the closing business session, Dana Neuts was sworn in as the 2014-2015 SPJ President at the President’s Installation Banquet.  You may have met Dana at the regional conference this spring. You can learn more about Dana and follow her year as president here: http://blogs.spjnetwork.org/president/

You can check out video and photos, recaps, interviews and features from the convention on The EIJ News — the convention news site staffed by a crew of talented student interns: http://www.eijnews.org/

And of course, if you didn’t follow along live, you can still search the hashtag #EIJ14 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Next year, #EIJ15 will be held in Orlando, FL. Let us know if you’d like to attend!

When: September 18-20, 2015

http://excellenceinjournalism.org/eij15/