Society of Professional Journalists - Valley of the Sun chapter - Phoenix, Arizona

Free investigative business journalism workshop in Phoenix

spjphx — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:49:29 +0000

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

Join us on BusinessJournalism.org for this live chat:
Steve Rubel, executive VP for Edelman PR, AdAge columnist, Nov. 22, 12:30-1:15 p.m. ET. More info at http://businessjournalism.org/2011/10/13/edelmans-steve-rubel-live-chat-tuesday-nov-22/
Learn in just one hour a day with these free Webinars:
- Quick-Hit Business Investigations – Concept to Execution. Dec. 6. More info at http://bit.ly/jspQwd
- Investigating Private Companies and Nonprofits. Jan. 23-26. More info at http://businessjournalism.org/2011/10/24/investigating-private-companies-and-nonprofits-online-jan-23-26/
- How Not to Be Bamboozled by Local Economic Studies. Feb. 8-9. More info at http://businessjournalism.org/2011/08/10/how-not-to-be-bamboozled-by-local-economic-studies-online-feb-8-9/
- Business Editing in Depth – 10 Things You’d Better Know. May 1. More info at http://bit.ly/pf9NBU
- Unlocking Financial Statements. May 14-18. More info at http://businessjournalism.org/2011/10/25/unlocking-financial-statements-online-may-14-18/
- Economics 101. June 26-28. More info at http://businessjournalism.org/2011/10/31/economics-101-online-june-26-28/
And don’t miss these free workshops:
- Follow the Money – Tracking Companies’ Influence on Politics. St. Louis, Feb. 22 (pre-CAR Conference). More info at http://businessjournalism.org/2011/10/24/follow-the-money-tracking-companies-influence-on-politics-st-louis-feb-22/
- Be a Better Business Watchdog – CAR for Business Journalists. Indianapolis, March 15 (pre-SABEW Conference). More info at http://businessjournalism.org/2011/10/25/be-a-better-business-watchdog-car-for-business-journalists-indianapolis-march-15/
- Follow the Money – Tracking Companies’ Influence on Politics. Boston, June 13 (pre-IRE Conference). More info at http://businessjournalism.org/2011/10/24/follow-the-money-tracking-companies-influence-on-politics-boston-june-13/

Tagged: investigative reporting, journalism training, Phoenix journalism events, Reynolds Center for Business Journalism

AZ Republic hiring reporters, editors and content producers

spjphx — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:55:11 +0000

The Arizona Republic has several new openings for reporters, editors and content producers. More information is available below and if you want to contact the respective editor, all emails are firtsname.lastname@arizonarepublic.com.

Political reporter

We are looking to add an aggressive, watchdog reporter to the National Politics Team in the First Amendment Center. This reporter would help cover the state’s 10 (and soon to be 11) member congressional delegation, with particular emphasis on the 2012 election season. The campaign already is attracting huge levels of interest with two, and possibly three, open House seats, as well as redistricting, which could throw some lawmakers into competitive races for the first time in years.

We are looking for a reporter who could cover at least three of the competitive races in-depth, providing deep analysis and breaking news on all those races, while helping to monitor some of the other, less competitive races. He or she would be expected to contribute regularly to page A1, AZ Fact Check, azcentral.com and our politics blogs. The job would require some night and weekend assignments, as well as travel around the state.

Responsibilities would include:

– Significant daily and Sunday enterprise stories.

– Profiles and deep backgrounding of all the major candidates.

– Watchdog stories on the candidates, their backgrounds, their claims, etc.

– Fact Checks on claims by the candidates or parties.

– Coverage of quarterly campaign finance filings.

The successful candidate would be a self-starter who has a proven record of watchdog journalism, performs well on deadline, is a gifted writer and — perhaps most important — works well in a team environment. If you’re interested, please send a note explaining how you would approach the job to national editor Kristen DelGuzzi by Friday, Nov. 11. If you have any questions, please email or call her at x4855.

State Politics/Governor’s Office reporter

We are looking for a State politics/Governor’s Office reporter to join our four-person state Capitol team, focusing on the Governor’s Office, several state agencies (such as parks and veterans affairs) and some legislative/budget issues. Ginger Rough, who currently has this beat, has asked for a change of assignment for family reasons.

Her replacement will serve as a watchdog over the Governor’s Office, analyzing policy decisions and budget proposals, among other duties. He or she will be an integral part of a high-profile team that produces frequent A1 stories, breaks political news and regularly contributes to AZ Fact Check, our politics blog and the Sunday Politics page.

Responsibilities include:

– Daily and Sunday enterprise stories.

– Watchdog stories on the Governor’s Office and administration.

– Fact Checks on claims, statements, news releases, etc. by the governor and her office.

The successful candidate will have demonstrated excellent beat management, proven initiative and a strong record of watchdog journalism, performing well on deadline, and working well in a team environment. If interested, please send a note explaining how you would approach the job and links to no more than six of your best stories in the last two years to state government and politics editor Christina Leonard by Friday, Nov. 11.

Arizona Politics Digital Editor

With the 2012 election season gearing up, azcentral is overhauling its politics page to create a dynamic, robust and interactive page that will be the go-to page for all political news in Arizona. The site would be filled with all the rich political content already being produced every day by Republic and 12 News staffers, as well as new content we plan to create, including interactive tools and features. The page, which will launch in time to showcase Arizona’s GOP presidential debate on Dec. 1, will also be updated throughout the day with fresh local, state and national content.

The politics digital editor is an integrated member of the politics team. He or she will own this new page and ensure that it is the destination site for political news in Arizona throughout the 2012 campaign season and beyond. This editor will help conceive and define the new site and be responsible for:

– Updating the page regularly throughout the day with local and wire stories.

– Collaborating with politics editors from The Republic and 12 News to identify important stories and recommend the best ways to package and present them online.

– Monitoring major politics sites such as Politico and the Huffington Post for stories to summarize and link to.

– Maintaining a new humor blog about the presidential campaign that would aggregate the best snippets from the late-night talk shows and other blogs.

– Working with USAT and ContentOne to coordinate online political coverage across Gannett.

The editor also would work closely with the social media team to develop a strategy that ensures our political coverage reaches and engages with as many people as possible using Twitter, Facebook and other tools. He or she would collaborate with story editors, reporters and photographers to identify the best way to present and tell a story online. The editor also would be responsible for optimizing headlines and other story elements for SEO, moderating story chats and performing a daily traffic analysis.

The successful candidate must be a political junkie who is comfortable with writing, performs well on deadline, is a champion of experimentation and innovation and a terrific team player. Online experience is a plus, but not essential. Some development skills (or interest in developing them) would be ideal, too, because we will be creating new features for the site as the election season progresses.

If you are interested, please send a note explaining how you would approach the job to Nicole Carroll by Friday, Nov. 11.

Neighborhood Content Editor/Producer

We are looking to launch a hyperlocal neighborhood content/blog network in early 2012. We aim to pilot the idea in the East Valley/Scottsdale and eventually grow the concept to other parts of the Valley. We are seeking an experienced, community-minded person to oversee all aspects of content creation and editing for this project. The neighborhood content editor/producer will recruit, train and manage dozens of contributors who will publish information on digital platforms. This will be a coaching, teaching and mentoring job. The neighborhood content editor/producer also is responsible for some day-to-day writing and editing of hyperlocal content. The successful candidate will be an aggressive community organizer, an excellent writer, and have knowledge of social media networks, video and still photography.

Responsibilities include:

– Organizing and managing content for neighborhood websites.

– Developing a network of strong sources and voices within the assigned neighborhoods.

– Training and organizing community contributors across a variety of topics to post content to neighborhood sites.

– Editing, selecting and publishing news and other stories daily with accuracy and consistency.

– Organizing, coordinating and attending community meetings and events.

– Keeping in contact with other news staffers to make them aware of any larger news emerging from the contributors or neighborhoods.

– Capturing, editing and posting still images and video to the site.

– Using social media tools to engage with neighborhood residents.

– Creating engaging ways for users and contributors to interact with the site including contests, polls and other interactive elements.

If you are interested, please send a note explaining how you would approach the job to Nicole Carroll by Friday, Nov. 11.

Tagged: Arizona Republic, az journalism jobs, political reporting

KJZZ’s O’Dowd to speak at Phoenix College on Nov. 1

spjphx — Mon, 31 Oct 2011 18:41:43 +0000

KJZZ News Director and Reporter Peter O’Dowd will speak at Phoenix College Nov. 1 about his news organization’s major project to cover the U.S.-Mexico border and provide its audience with a deeper understanding of the region’s nuanced history and present-day issues.

The lecture is part of the PC Liberal Arts Department’s Fall 2011 Lecture Series. The event is free and open to the public.

KJZZ is the Valley’s local public radio station and National Public Radio member located at Rio Salado Community College in Tempe. Reporters at the station’s Changing America desk have spent the last year examining the people, history and current circumstances found in the borderlands. KJZZ reporters, including O’Dowd, have traveled into the interior of Mexico as well as Guatemala as part of their coverage.

O’Dowd has chronicled these trips and will share why they matter in a discussion titled, “Links to Home: Reporting On the Southwestern US, Mexico and Central America and Why We Should Care.”

As news director, O’Dowd leads a staff of reporters in seven bureaus across the southwestern United States. An accomplished journalist, his work has aired on The BBC, NPR’s Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Talk of the Nation, and American Public Media’s Marketplace. He has covered technology, the housing bubble and the constant debate over immigration policy that keeps Arizona in the national spotlight.

O’Dowd has a master’s degree from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, and a bachelor’s from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Prior to his journalism career, he taught English to schoolchildren in Tokyo, Japan.

DETAILS:

When: Tuesday, November 1, 2011
noon-1 p.m. AND 7-8 p.m.

Where: Phoenix College Osborn site, Willo Room, 3310 N. 10th Ave. (NE corner of 11th Avenue and Flower)

Admission: Free and open to the public

For more information, call 602-285-7651.

Tagged: free, KJZZ, lecture, O'Dowd, Phoenix College

Raise a glass for our new regional director, Teri Carnicelli

spjphx — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 15:18:56 +0000

Plan on making an SPJ night of it this Friday, Oct. 7! After our program on journalists-turned-authors at Monti's La Casa Vieja restaurant ends at 8 p.m., we'll be taking a short one-block walk to Caffe Boa wine bar and bistro, 398 S. Mill (at 4th Street), for a "Carnicellibration" honoring our chapter president, Teri Carnicelli, who was elected to the SPJ national board of directors last week. Teri will represent Arizona, California. Hawaii, Nevada and the Pacific Islands as Region 11 director.

For details on the earlier program, visit http://phoenixspj.org/2011/09/14/from-journalist-to-author-turning-your-beat-into-a-book-set-for-oct-7.

Tagged: Phoenix journalism events, SPJ

FCC Chairman to attend Oct. 3 public event on “The Information Needs of Communities”

spjphx — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 17:05:21 +0000

On Monday, Oct. 3, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski will attend a field event at Arizona State University’s Cronkite School on the recommendations of the recently released staff-level report on the current state of the media landscape. The report, titled “Information Needs of Communities: The Changing Media Landscape in a Broadband Age” was delivered to the FCC in June 2011.

The report describes tremendous innovation in the media landscape but also identifies critical gaps, including a shortage of local news reporting. The report also offers recommendations for government, nonprofit players and entrepreneurs. At this event, Chairman Genachowski will hear from journalists, academics, businesses, and the public about innovating and strengthening news and information gathering and reporting to meet citizen needs. To read the report, visit http://www.fcc.gov/infoneedsreport.

The free public event takes place 9-11:30 a.m. on Floor 6, Channel Eight, in the Arizona PBS Studio A at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 555 N. Central Avenue. The event will be webcast on www.fcc.gov/live. Audience members watching online may submit questions to panelists by e-mailing livequestions@fcc.gov or on Twitter using the hashtag #FCCLIVE.

Joining Genachowski from the FCC will be: FCC Commissioner Michael J. Copps; Steven Waldman, chair, FCC Working Group on the Information Needs of Communities; and William Lake, chief of FCC Media Bureau.

PANELISTS:

• Jonathan Blake, Senior Counsel, Covington & Burling, LLC, on behalf of Barrington, Belo, Dispatch, Gannett, Hearst, Post-Newsweek, and Raycom

• Susan Crawford, Professor, Cardozo Law School

• Kevin Davis, CEO and Executive Director, Investigative News Network

• Greg Dawson, Vice President of News, NBC San Diego

• Leonard Downie Jr., Weil Family Professor of Journalism, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University

• Paul Giguere, President and CEO, National Association of Public Affairs Networks

• Retha Hill, Executive Director of the Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Arizona State University

• Jason Klein, President and CEO, Newspaper National Network

• Craig Parshall, SVP and General Counsel, National Religious Broadcasters

• Nicol Turner Lee, Vice President and Director, Media and Technology Institute for the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

• Laura Walker, President and CEO, New York Public Radio (WNYC)

• Coriell Wright, Policy Counsel, Free Press

Hugh Downs to speak at Arizona Town Hall fall luncheon

spjphx — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:38:27 +0000

Television today bears little resemblance to the fledgling communications vehicle that existed in 1945, the year Hugh Downs made his TV debut from the still experimental studio of WBKB-TV now WBBM-TV Chicago. The remarkable evolution of that medium, as well as the myriad others Americans consume daily, will be the focus of Downs’ presentation, “Changes in the Media,” during the Arizona Town Hall’s Fall Luncheon, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 22, at the Wyndham Phoenix Downtown, 50 E. Adams St. His talk will incorporate the impact media has on our community, policies and its other influences.

It was 26 years ago that Downs first gained recognition from the Guinness Book of World Records as holding the record for the greatest number of hours on commercial network television. Although his broadcast career has spanned more than six decades, he is probably best known as the Emmy Award-winning co-anchor of the ABC News’ “20/20,” a primetime news magazine program (where he was paired with Barbara Walters), from the show’s second episode in 1978 until his retirement in 1999.

A longtime Valley resident, Downs is the author of 12 books. In recognition of Downs’ impact on the field of communication, Arizona State University is home to the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication.

Prior to the luncheon featuring Downs, a special silent auction will be held to benefit the ongoing work of the Arizona Town Hall. The luncheon will be a part of A Day of Civic Action with other Arizona organizations and will coincide with the National Conference on Citizenship.

Luncheon tickets are $125. Contact Tara Jackson at 602-252-9600 or visit http://www.aztownhall.org/FallLuncheon2011.asp.

Tagged: Hugh Downs, networking, Phoenix journalism events

‘From Journalist to Author: Turning Your Beat into a Book’ set for Oct. 7

spjphx — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:28:53 +0000

Many Arizona journalists are facing reduced hours, unpaid “furcations” and the possibility of even more layoffs at their place of business. It’s not bad time to start thinking of ways to supplement your income. Why not take some of those hundreds of hours spent on investigating notable issues and incidents (which got you only 20 column inches total) and turn it into a non-fiction bestseller? We present three former Virg Hill Journalists of the Year who have done just that, with great success. Here how they were inspired, how they got started and what they learned from the process.

Panelists include:

• Jana Boomersbach, an acclaimed and respected journalist whose work has encompassed every facet of the profession: she’s been a reporter and editor for both weekly and daily newspapers; she’s written a book and is a major contributor to an anthology; she’s written columns and investigative stories for magazines; she’s appeared on television with both political commentaries and investigative stories. Boomersbach has written two non-fiction books based on her past investigative reports: “The Trunk Murderess: Winne Ruth Judd,” which won Arizona’s Don Bolles Award for Investigative Reporting and was recognized as one of the nation’s five top non-fiction books in 1992, when it was nominated for the prestigious Edgar Allan Poe Award; and “Bones in the Desert: The True Story of a Mother’s Murder and a Daughter’s Search.” It examines the 2004 murder and secret desert burial of Loretta Bowersock, mother of Arizona’s “domestic diva,” Terri Bowersock of Terri’s Design & Consign. The book discovers the horrible secrets that led to this “classic case of elder abuse” and examines the impact of this tragedy on all it touched.

• Shanna Hogan, author of “Dancing with Death: The True Story of a Glamorous Showgirl, Her Wealthy Husband and a Horrifying Murder.” In 2004, former stripper-turned-suburban-housewife Marjorie Orbin filed a missing person’s report on her husband. She claimed that Jay, a successful art dealer, had left town on business after celebrating their son’s birthday more than a month before. And then, a shocking discovery: Jay’s headless, limbless torso was discovered on the outskirts of the Phoenix desert—and all evidence pointed to Marjorie as the killer. An Arizona State University journalism graduate, Hogan has written for several Arizona-based publications. She has received numerous writing awards, including first place honors for crime reporting, feature writing and investigative journalism.

• Terry Greene Sterling, author of “Illegal: Life And Death In Arizona’s Immigration War Zone.” This book sheds light on the invisible immigrants who persevere despite kidnappings and drug wars, an ongoing recession, and laws barring them from working, learning, and driving. Sterling has been a journalist for over 25 years, and has been honored with 49 national and regional journalism awards. She was a staff writer for Phoenix New Times for 14 years, and then branched out on her own. She is currently a contributor for The Daily Beast, and Writer-in-Residence at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Her work has also appeared in The Washington Post, Newsweek.com, salon.com, The Nieman Narrative Digest, PHOENIX Magazine, The Arizona Republic, Arizona Highways, High Country News, and Preservation Magazine.

The program takes place 6-8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7 in the Rio Salado room at Monti’s La Casa Vieja, 100 S. Mill Ave. in Tempe. Cost is $5 for SPJ members and students with ID, and $10 for non-members and guests. There will be complimentary refreshments and a cash bar. RSVP requested by Oct. 5 at: p.collins@ananews.com.

To download the program flier, click here. For more information, call Teri Carnicelli at 602-410-1267.

Tagged: author, book, panel, professional development, program

Target Market Media to hire writer/associate editor

spjphx — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:03:57 +0000

Target Market Media is seeking to fill a full-time local position of WRITER/ASSOCIATE EDITOR for our national network of local editions of Attorney at Law Magazine, Certified Public Accountant Magazine and soon to launch Financial Consultant Magazine.
Target Market Media is a publishing company specializing in business-to-business industry specific professional trade magazines maintaining a specialization in the publishing of monthly and bi-monthly, short run, regionally focused, controlled circulation, professional, business to business, industry trade publications and local association newsletters and magazines. Target Market Media’s focus has always been about niche media and marketing. The company goal has always been to provide very effective solutions for customers that are trying to reach very specific and highly targeted professional clients.

Job Overview
• Interview feature story subjects and write short feature stories in all three magazine title editions throughout the country
• Manage a full schedule of magazine deadlines for feature stories
• Manage all Proofreading and copy editing for the entire content for all magazine titles
• Edit and re-write submissions of professional articles and editorial from attorneys, accountants and financial planners
• Develop a variety of editorial content for all magazine titles
• Selecting and developing editorial topics
• Manage all pre-press responsibilities for magazine editorial content

Qualifications
• Experienced in professional interviews and developing feature stories
• BA/BS in English, journalism or related field
• Minimum 3 years experience with a publishing company
• Excellent written & verbal communication skills
• Well organized and proven ability to manage multiple projects
• Ability to manage 20+ interviews and custom features/profiles per month

Send resume, cover letter, and compensation history to 4647 N. 32nd Street Suite B-280, Phoenix, AZ, 85018.

Tagged: editing, editor, hire, hiring, job, magazine, production, reporter, writer

INI seeks editor for Scottsdale/TPV publications

spjphx — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 16:02:37 +0000

Independent Newspapers is looking for an editor to oversee its print and digital products in the Town of Paradise Valley and Scottsdale. Responsibilities include reporting and gathering hyper-local news in each of the communities; daily oversight of our digital products; editing and production of our two weekly newspapers and one monthly.
INI is looking for someone who is highly motivated to create products that are second to none in their communities when it comes to providing local news. We want to be the best and we’re only looking for those who want to excel at their chosen profession! Must have strong journalism skills, strive for quality at all times and be very professional in manner and appearance. The company offers competitive pay and benefits.
If interested, e-mail Bret McKeand, publisher, at scibret@aol.com. Check them out at www.newszap.com.

Tagged: community, editing, editor, hire, hiring, job, newspaper, production

Scottsdale Company Hiring Investigative Writer/Editor

spjphx — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:55:52 +0000

A Scottsdale-based company is looking for a writer/editor with some investigative reporting background. Job requirements include, but are not limited to newspaper articles, newsletters, interviews, HTML formatted documents, and research trending home improvement topics.

Summary of skills sought include excellent written and verbal communication (including but not limited to reporting, interviewing, newspaper writing, fact-checking and web writing); capacity to shift focus quickly from one project to another; capable of managing several projects, tasks and assignments simultaneously; organize yourself and workload to meet or beat every deadline; ease with online posting (templates, not much HTML); and a working mastery of the Microsoft Suite Software including PhotoShop.

Submit resume and investigative sample piece to info@rosieonthehouse.com. They will be interviewing to hire immediately!

Tagged: az journalism jobs