The Minnesota pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists salutes former journalists who have moved on to new adventures. In this ongoing series, we invite newsies to reflect on their time in the news business. Our latest entry is from Sara Aeikens, who wrote for the Albert Lea Tribune and now contributes occasional columns to the newspaper. The trail of my…
The following is the Minnesota SPJ pro chapter’s statement on H.F. 1185, a bill related to the definition and retention of public correspondence: The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists strongly supports H.F. 1185, a bill introduced at the Legislature that calls for a three-year period of retention of correspondence with regard to government records and more clearly defines the meaning of…
Kristine Goodrich of the Mankato Free Press recently wrote about the recovery of a Truman boy who was told he would be paralyzed after being shot with an archery arrow. The second-grader, Curtis Bressler, is now jumping and climbing stairs, the paper reported. Free Press photographer Pat Christman contributed photos for the story — the February installment of the Minnesota Sampler.…
We’ve heard from several of you that you could have used just a few more minutes to get those last Page One Award entries in — and we’re happy to oblige. We’re extending the deadline to March 5 at 5 p.m. CT. Any entries submitted between now and then will be judged against the full set of entries, so don’t…
The Minnesota pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists salutes former journalists who have moved on to new adventures. In this ongoing series, we invite newsies to reflect on their time in the news business. Our latest entry is from retired St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter David Hawley. I never took a journalism class, never worked for a school newspaper, and I…
Attention college journalists: The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists (MNSPJ) is now accepting applications for its 2017 student scholarship. This year, MNSPJ will award one $2,500 scholarship to a student pursuing a career in broadcast, print or visual journalism. Applicants must either be enrolled in a post-secondary institution in Minnesota or have graduated from a high school in Minnesota and…
The Minnesota Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (MN SPJ) recognizes the best in Minnesota journalism each year with its annual Page One Awards. A few changes have been made to the awards this year — including exciting new categories that were much requested by Minnesota journalists. The new categories are: A special award for Best Beat Reporting,…
GENERAL GUIDELINES The fee is $22 per entry. Entries must be submitted no later than Friday, February 24, 2017. All work published or broadcast during the 2016 calendar year is eligible. Journalists (including freelancers and contract employees) working for all print, broadcast and online news outlets in Minnesota (or news outlets in neighboring states that cover Minnesota) are eligible to…
1. NEWSPAPER a. Spot News (One or more stories covering a single spot news event) b. Meeting/Planned news event (One or more stories covering a single news event that was known in advance.) c. Feature (A single feature story) d. Enterprise/In-Depth (One or more stories on a single topic or news event that reflects reporter’s ingenuity, use of sources or special research that help the…
The Minnesota pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists salutes former journalists who have moved on to new adventures. In this ongoing series, we invite newsies to reflect on their time in the news business. Our third entry is from Dave Aeikens, who worked in Minnesota newsrooms for more than two decades: What I miss the most: The uncertainty and surprises…