What: The Twin Cities Media Alliance’s 7th Annual Fall Media Forum – Inform, Connect, Organize: Media Tools for the New Normal

When: Saturday, Nov. 12, from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Registration starts at 9; program at 9:30.)

Where: Minneapolis Central Public Library, 300 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis.

Why: Budget cuts and a tough economy threaten many of the things that Minnesotans value most – the quality of our schools, the vitality of our neighborhoods, even our jobs and livelihoods. This forum focuses on the media tools and information resources that can help citizens, communities and businesses inform themselves, communicate and work together.

The expression “New Normal” usually refers to the idea that our current economic hard times are here to stay. But we are also living in a media New Normal, in which ordinary citizens have unprecedented access to powerful media tools. Around the world, from Tahrir Square to Wall Street and the Government Center plaza, people are using these tools in dramatic ways. But these are also tools that can be used to build stronger neighborhoods, organize around a ballot issue, or help a neighborhood business connect to its community.

This event is free and open to the public, but advance registration is encouraged. Register here.

Everyone is welcome to attend the morning sessions, the afternoon sessions or both. Continue reading →

IMPORTANT NOTE: All spaces for Minnesota SPJ’s Intern Night event are full. Thank you for your interest!

Are you trying to land an internship at a Minnesota media outlet? Want to learn from the pros on what it takes to be a successful intern? Join the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists for our annual Intern Night. Meet internship recruiters from various media outlets around the state and learn what you’ll need in order to land an internship and how you’ll be able to use those skills in your future journalism career.

This event is open to all college students in the Minnesota/Western Wisconsin area.

Date: Wednesday, October 26th
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: WCCO-TV (90 S. 11th St. Minneapolis)

Questions? Email us at minnesota.spj@gmail.com.

At the end of this month, six of our MN Pro chapter leaders, Anna Pratt, Scott Theisen, Dan Haugen, Sarah Bauer, Dave Aeikens and Amanda Theisen, will be flying to the Big Easy to participate in the Society of Professional Journalists’ annual convention, attended by SPJ members from across the country. The once-a-year trip promises to be a great time for networking, professional development and piping-hot beignets, but the real reason our chapter sends people to the convention is to represent the views and concerns of Minnesota Pro at the business meetings. This year, the national and regional elections are going to be comparatively sedate. John Ensslin, a courts reporter at the Colorado Spring Gazette, is running unopposed for national SPJ president after the previously elected president-elect, Darcie Lunsford, switched to a career in public relations. Our own magnificent Amanda Theisen is running again, also unopposed, for her Region 6 directorship. (Read all about the candidates here, http://spj.org/elecbios.asp#r3.)

What the elections lack in excitement, though, will be made up entirely by the floor resolutions. “One Member, One Vote” will make a reprise appearance this year after being voted down in 2004 and 2006. This resolution would essentially do away with the delegate voting system long used by SPJ to elect its board members and regional directors. Though our chapter is neutral on the resolution at this time, the University of Minnesota student chapter has signed on as a supporter, as well as pro chapters from the Rio Grande to Long Island. Amanda Theisen, does a nice job summarizing all the politics behind “One Member, One Vote” at her SPJ blog, Write Rite: http://blogs.spjnetwork.org/region6/?p=107.

There will be even bigger fireworks at the closing business session this year when a floor resolution will be introduced calling for the reinstatement of the Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award, which was retired in January after the feisty, 91-year-old reporter and columnist made some comments that were perceived to be anti-Semitic by some, notably the Anti-Defamation League. The retiring of the award embroiled the national board in controversy, and has led to some very prominent SPJ leaders stepping away from the organization. This blog post, with the comments following, does a nice job explaining the views on both sides: http://blogs.spjnetwork.org/spjworks/?p=332.

Minnesota Pro is also neutral on the Helen Thomas issue, but our voting delegates will have to end up on one side or another, and relatively soon. That’s where, you, our membership comes into play. Read up on the issues and let our voting delegates, or anyone on our chapter board, know how you feel about “One Member, One Vote” and the Helen Thomas award. You can do this in several ways. Feel free to phone me directly at 612-568-0859, or email the chapter at Minnesota.spj@gmail.com. You can also find other board members to contact here: http://www.mnspj.org/board-members/. If you would like to share your views in person, our voting delegates will be at the Bullfrog Cajun Bar on Thursday, September 22 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Come by, talk shop and knock back an Abita beer from Louisiana. Even if you don’t have an opinion on SPJ politics, we love to see our friends in Journalism.

For truth and transparency,
Alyssa Ford
2011-2012 MN Pro Chapter President