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Back by popular demand! Minnesota SPJ is proud to host Freelance Love: a “speed-dating” style interviewing event for freelancers and the editors who love them!

If you’re a freelance journalist in Minnesota, here’s your chance to meet with multiple editors from Minnesota newspapers, magazines, and online publications in one spot. Pitch your story ideas, bring examples of your work, and get a chance to meet one-on-one with editors in “speed-dating”-style interviews.

Date: Thursday, February 23
Time: Social Hour 6:00-7:00 p.m., Interviews begin promptly at 7:00 p.m.
Place: CoCo Collaborative, St. Paul (213 Fourth St. E, St. Paul, MN 55101) | Third Floor
Cost: $20 for SPJ Members/$30 for non-members (cost includes light appetizers and beverages)

Space is limited so reserve your spot at Freelance Love today!

Register for Freelance Love

Questions? Email minnesota.spj@gmail.com.

Media Outlets represented at Freelance Love include:
Artful Living Magazine, Star Tribune Features, Northern Gardener, Pioneer Press Features, Spaces Magazine, Mpls/St. Paul Magazine, Macalester Today, SCAN: St. Catherine Alumnae News, St. Olaf Magazine, St. Thomas Magazine/CAS Spotlight/St. Thomas Lawyer, Star Tribune Business, Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal, Finance & Commerce, Franchise Times, Midwest Energy News, Momentum Magazine, IBM Systems Magazines, Minnesota Medicine, Super Lawyers, Twin Cities Runoff, Southwest Journal/The Journal, Southwest Newspapers, Tonka Times, Edible Twin Cities, Dockside Magazine, Savvy.mn, Rochester Post-Bulletin Niche Publications (Radish, At Home, Simple Life), Minnesota Conservation Volunteer, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever/Upland Tales, Minnesota Golfer, Minnesota Parent, Minnesota Public Radio

The Minnesota Pro Chapter has sent a letter to national SPJ leadership urging the organization to oppose measures in the Stop Online Piracy Act that threaten news innovation and free speech.

Thank you to member Jon Collins for raising these concerns with the MN SPJ board.

Minnesota SPJ letter re: SOPA

SPJ’s national dues will increase on Jan. 1, 2012. The increase was approved by the SPJ national board of directors on Sept. 25, 2011.

Here is a list of the new dues costs for SPJ members:
-Pro Members: $75 ($3 increase)
-Retired: $37.50 ($1.50 increase)
-Household: $37.50 ($1.50 increase)
-Post-Graduate: $37.50 ($1.50 increase)
-Student: $37.50 ($1.50 increase)
-Associate: $94 ($4 increase)

Please note: Local dues for the Minnesota Pro Chapter will remain at $15.

If you join SPJ before December 31, your national dues will be at the current rate of $72 (pros), $36 (student, post-grad, household, retired), or $90 (associate). Click here to join SPJ.

If you have questions about the dues increase, please refer to the SPJ’s FAQs page or email minnesota.spj@gmail.com.

The call is out for entries in four national SPJ Awards contests.

Sigma Delta Chi Awards: The Sigma Delta Chi Awards are among the premiere prizes given in the profession, and are unique, because they recognize achievement in all forms of journalism: print, television, radio, graphics, magazines, research, newsletters and online. Entry deadline is February 9th. Click here for more information and how to enter.

Mark of Excellence Awards: The Mark of Excellence Awards honors the best in collegiate journalism. Judged at the regional and national level, the annual competition offers 39 categories in newspapers, magazines, photography, radio, television and online journalism. Winners in Region 6 (Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota) will be announced at the Midwest Journalism Conference on March 30th. Entry deadline is January 25th. Click here for more information and how to enter.

Professionals: If you are interested in helping judge Mark of Excellence Awards for Region 6, contact MOE Region 6 Awards Coordinator Taylor Cisco.

National High School Essay Contest: SPJ wants to increase high school students’ knowledge and understanding of the importance of the Free Media to our lives. The top three national winners receive scholarship awards. Open to all high school students. Entry deadline is March 8th. Click here to download an application and the contest topic.

Minnesota Entrants: Please send your contest entries to:
Kelly Smith
c/o Star Tribune
425 Portland Ave. S.
Minneapolis, MN 55488
re: SPJ High School Essay Contest

New America Award: SPJ’s New America Award honors public service journalism that explores and exposes an issue of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities in the United States. Entry deadline February 9th. Click here for more information and how to enter.

Click here to see the 2010 SPJ New America Winner; “Civil War Kids: Young Somalis in Minnesota” by Laura Yuen of Minnesota Public Radio.