Author Archives: spjphx

Former CBS Corredspondent Ben Silver Dies at 85

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Former CBS news correspondent and Arizona State University journalism professor Ben Silver has died. He was 85.

The university says he died Wednesday from complications of Parkinson’s disease at his home in St. Louis Park, Minn.

Silver was a CBS national correspondent in the 1960s and covered race riots, school integration and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy’s accident at Chappaquiddick.

Silver worked at WCKT-TV in Miami from 1957 to 1966, reporting from the Soviet Union and Latin America. He won a Peabody Award in 1960 for his coverage of Latin America.

He began teaching at ASU in 1972 and continued to file CBS reports for several years. He retired in 1990.

He is survived by his wife, six children and 11 grandchildren. Services will be held Sunday in Minneapolis.

Registration for SPJ-ONA JournCamp Ends May 14

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Don’t forget to register for the SPJ-ONA JournCamp in Phoenix! Here are a few workshops you’ll get to enjoy:

  • Entrepreneurial Journalism: Where does every journalist, from the up-and-coming student to the seasoned newsroom manager, fit in this new field? Hear from one journalist turned innovator and entrepreneur who’s been leading the charge in this expanding space. Trainer: Retha Hill, Arizona State University
  • Visual Storytelling: Visual storytelling is no longer reserved for those who just work in television. Working on the Web means journalists in all media need to find creative ways to provide information to their audiences. We’ll show you how you can use pictures to tell your story, even if none are (obviously) available. Trainer: Victoria Lim, freelancer
  • Social Media as a Reporting Tool: Social networks sprout by the minute, but which ones should you focus on, and how can you use them to find news, crowdsource information and generate leads? We’ll give you ideas for how to curate information, what you should consider in the verification process and how to publish it all, with specific case studies. Trainer: Daniel Petty, Denver Post

When:  Friday, May 18. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cost:  $20 for SPJ or ONA members / $40 for non-members. (Registration fee includes breakfast and lunch.)

See more programs and speaker bios at www.spj.org/spjona.asp. To register, visit www.spj.org/spjona-register.asp. Hurry, registration closes May 14!

Freedom of Information Awards Winners Announced

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The Valley of the Sun Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) pays tribute to working journalists and others at its annual Arizona Freedom of Information Awards Reception, 12:00 p.m. Saturday, April 21 in the Monte Vista Room of the Heard Museum, 2301 N. Central Ave., in Phoenix. The keynote speaker will be Valley TV and radio icon, Pat McMahon.

Those being honored include:

  • First Amendment Award — Elvina Nawagun-Clemente, Cronkite News Service; Staff, The Arizona Republic; Matthew Casey, The Tombstone Epitaph; Hillary Davis, Arizona Daily Sun; Lauren Gambino, Tia Casañeda and Heather Billings, Cronkite News Service; Joe Ferguson, Arizona Daily Sun; Cyndy Cole, Arizona Daily Sun
  • Sunshine Award — Todd Feltus & Greg Collins, Kercsmar & Feltus PLLC, on behalf of Judicial Watch; Teri Hayt, Arizona Daily Star
  • The Phil Alvidrez Award for Excellence in Journalism — Tom Arviso Jr., Navajo Times
  • The Order of the Silver Key Society — Al Macias, KJZZ; Ken Western, The Arizona Republic; and Bill Heywood (posthumous).

Tickets are $45 for SPJ members, $50 for non-members, and $40 for students. Tickets can be purchased online via Paypal. Otherwise, mail checks to the P.O. Box address listed below by no later than Monday, April 16. Checks or cash will be accepted at the door, but RSVPs are required via e-mail by April 16. Tickets include the reception with heavy hors d’oeuvres, iced tea, coffee and dessert, and a memorable time honoring outstanding examples of the use of the First Amendment in shining a light on important public issues.

JOB ALERT: Reporter and Social Media Coordinator

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The largest woman owned law firm in Arizona seeks a highly motivated, creative, and experienced Reporter and Social Media Coordinator. This person is primarily responsible for developing original written articles plus a consolidation of news stories would be of interest to the Firm’s clients. This person will also be managing and tasked with growing a 5,000 readership twice weekly newsletter publication. Other responsibilities are developing, executing and managing a social media program. Previous reporting experience required. Excellent writing skills, passion for the news, Investigative background preferred, and social media experience required.

The ideal person must be energetic, creative, an excellent writer and internet-savvy. Those with daily use of twitter, blogs, message boards and social networks are preferred. This person should have a solid knowledge of the Real Estate market, Arizona politics, renewable energy, family law and current events relevant to Arizona.

  • Engaging, friendly personality
  • Accountable, analytical, responsive
  • Social Media Master
  • Creative, able to devise engaging programs to increase participation of new and existing users on social media properties
  • Strong strategic sense about social media efforts and a keen interest in business development and growth strategies
  • Must be able to update all social media sources several times daily, 7 days a week
  • Observe, analyze, and track news sources impacting the markets
  • Ability to work individually on a project or in a team environment
  • Ability to communicate results to management clearly and in a fast paced environment
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Excellent Writer
  • Demonstrated experience and a great affinity for learning new technologies, including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus, social media monitoring tools, blogger relations, Constant Contact, etc.
  • Demonstrated experience in analyzing readership numbers for marketing across all aspects of the firms relevant practices
  • Provide real-time coverage and produce multiple daily market updates
  • Identify, recommend, and develop stories on all subjects relevant to Rose Law Group Reporters editorial mandate
  • Implement digital journalistic strategies to enhance reports and engage audience interests
  • Solid news judgment and a strong interest in current events
  • Demonstrated ability to research and produce creative, engaging stories

Experience Required

  • Solid verbal and written communication expertise
  • Creative and analytical skills
  • Prior Real Estate related work experience a plus
  • Bachelors degree in marketing, communication, journalism; or equivalent work experience.
  • A strategic vision of the social media landscape and its role in branding and marketing to infuse social media strategies, trends and best practices
  • Proficient understanding of the following tools/sites including, but not limited to: WordPress, Wildfire, Facebook apps, Facebook advertising, LinkedIn, Foursquare, HootSuite among others

To submit resume forward to hchadwick@roselawgroup.com.

Paul J. Schatt Memorial Lecture is March 29

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This year’s Paul J. Schatt Memorial Lecture featuring Steven Ginsberg, national political editor for The Washington Post will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 29, in the First Amendment Forum (second floor) of the Cronkite School. Ginsburg will share the stage with Leonard Downie Jr., former editor of the Washington Post who now teaches at the Cronkite School, for a conversation about the 2012 presidential election.

Please consider coming to hear this interesting presentation and to support Paul’s memory. Paul, a former Arizona Republic editorial pages editor who taught as a Cronkite adjunct professor for 30 years and was a longtime Valley of the Sun SPJ member, died in November 2005. The following spring, he posthumously received the chapter’s highest honor, the Phil Alvidrez Award for Excellence in Journalism.

‘Friend Raiser’ at Hooters supports student SPJ chapter

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The student chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) housed at the Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication invites you to enjoy wings and basketball while helping out the chapter financially during a fundraiser on Tuesday, March 27 (that’s tonight).

As part of Hooters’ “Friend Rising” program, for every diner at the Arizona Center eatery who brings in this flier today, Hooters will donate $2 to the Cronkite SPJ student chapter. The flier is good all day, but several chapter members will be heading over around 7 p.m. to watch the Phoenix Suns take on the San Antonio Spurs. So stop by and show your support!

 

ALERT: House Republicans strictly enforcing rules on the press

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Phoenix, Feb. 17, 2012—According to a press release sent out today by the Arizona House Democrats, House Republicans are now “arbitrarily” enforcing press restrictions, citing a little-used House Rule that allows them to remove reporters at will.

House Democrats first learned about the new enforcement Thursday afternoon when 12News reporter Melissa Blasius and a 12News photographer was kicked off the floor of the House because they didn’t have state-issued press badges. On Jan. 9, opening day of the legislature, Associated Press photographer Ross Franklin was not allowed onto the House floor and was told he needed a state-issued press badge.

Both Franklin and Blasius, as well as many other reporters and photographers have been allowed onto the floor in past years and in 2012 without state-issued press badges. Franklin was told he needed to go through a painstaking process to get the badge or else he would only be allowed in the upstairs gallery, a difficult location from which to take photos.

In order to get the badge, Franklin was told he had to:

·        Obtain a form from Department of Administration, open only from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

·        Return to House of Representatives on the second floor.

·        Give the badge request form to House Republican PIO Rey Torres so he can send it in for approval.

·        Get approved form and take it back to the Department of Administration to submit the form and get a picture/badge made.

According to House Rule 28-D, a press box on the floor “shall be maintained, to which shall be admitted only duly accredited representatives of the press holding nontransferable cards issued by the Speaker and revocable at his discretion.” But this rule was never or loosely enforced in the past. House Republicans began enforcing the rule this year without giving any mass notice to the media.

House Democrats, however, are alerting the media to the new enforcement and highly encourage all press to contact House Republican Public Information Officer Rey Torres TODAY at 602-926-3233 or rtorres@azleg.gov for details on applying for the badge and eliminate the risk of being removed from the House floor while reporting.

Phoenix SPJ Seeks Nominations for Freedom of Information Awards

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Arizona media professionals who produced informative news items for the public by making use of public records requests are invited to submit their stories for consideration in the 2012 Freedom of Information Awards contest, presented by the Valley of the Sun Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Categories include:

  • First Amendment Awards – honoring published or broadcast work in 2011 that involved significant reliance on public records and open meetings
  • Sunshine Awards – honoring Arizonans (both journalists and non-journalists) whose actions helped foster greater openness in government in 2011 through improved access to public records or open meetings
  • Order of the Silver Key Society – paying tribute to journalists from any medium with at least 25 years of experience in the state of Arizona (consecutive or cumulative) whose careers exemplify high standards and consistent, top-quality journalism
  • The Lloyd Clark “How it Made Print” Award – honoring print journalists (all circulations) responsible for a published story, photograph or graphic design whose own story of how it became reality is exceptional. Unusually difficult circumstances, or unusual tenacity in pursing the story, will be the hallmark of the subject of the winning entry. Entries need not have been published in 2011.

There is no cost to enter the contest. Nominations can be from employers/supervisors as well as self-nominations. The deadline to enter is March 19, 2012. For more information, download the 2012 Freedom of Information Awards brochure.

Entry Forms

Free investigative business journalism workshop in Phoenix

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Arm yourself with the knowledge to cover private companies better by attending a free afternoon workshop, Cracking Private Companies, Jan. 5 in Phoenix.

Presented by the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism and hosted by The Arizona Republic and Arizona Newspapers Association, this workshop will teach you:

  • How private companies are structured, and how they are different from public companies;
  • Where to find public information on private companies;
  • How to produce a better private-company profile.

Jodi Schneider, tax-policy editor for Bloomberg News, will teach the sessions from 12:45-5 p.m. on Jan. 5. To register for this free workshop, visit http://businessjournalism.org/ws-registration/?cid=611.

Make your hotel reservation via by emailing davehill@businessjournalism.org by Dec. 9 to qualify for a discounted Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel rate of $129/night plus tax.

Can’t make it? Here’s more free training from the Reynolds Center