From National: SPJ Urges St. Paul Mayor to Drop All Charges

For Immediate Release: 9/5/08 Contact: Scott Leadingham, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (509) 859-2818, sleadingham@spj.org ATLANTA – Leaders of the Society of Professional Journalists call on St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman to drop charges against journalists who were arrested while covering protests of the Republican National Convention. According to the Associated Press, at least 19 journalists were arrested Thursday during the closing…

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From National: SPJ Concerned Over RNC and DNC Arrests

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…

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

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…

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Minnesota SPJ recognized for Freedom of Information Efforts

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…

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Congratulations to all 2008 Page One Honorees

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.…

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2008 Page One Awards Banquet

The 2008 Page One Awards Banquet will be held Thursday, June 12, and will honor the best in Minnesota journalism from 2007. The Minnesota Pro Chapter will also present the 2008 Peter S. Popovich Award as well as its 2008 student scholarship awards. The event will feature guest speaker Byron Pitts, a CBS News National Correspondent who recently was embedded…

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VIDEO: New Media, New Standards? Ethics in Online Journalism

Watch video of the Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists and Minnesota Public Radio forum on online journalism ethics Feb. 25, 2008. Host Bob Collins and lead panelist Dan Gillmor, along with guest panelists, discussed what is possible and what is at stake. Guests included: Chuck Olsen, MNstories.com Michael Caputo, MPR - Public Insight Journalism Jane Kirtley, Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics & Law (University of MN) Steve Perry, Minnesota Monitor Dave Pyle, AP Terry Sauer, Star Tribune Wendy Wyatt, University of St. Thomas Scott Libin, WCCO-TV  

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Freedom of Information Day | March 14, 2008

What: Freedom of Information Day Celebration Presentation of the John R. Finnegan Freedom of Information Award Silha Center’s Jane Kirtley Envisions “The Light at the End of the Tunnel” When: Friday, March 14, 2008 | 12:00 p.m. Where: Minneapolis Central Library The people’s right to know assumes a vast network of agencies and individuals committed to affirmation of that right.…

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