Find out about all upcoming events and activities for Phoenix-area journalists from the Phoenix SPJ blog, here.
WELCOME TO THE VALLEY OF THE SUN CHAPTER of the Society of Professional Journalists, Phoenix’s premier journalism association since 1958. SPJ is where journalists gather to fight for First Amendment freedoms and work to improve and protect the journalism profession through promoting ethical, responsible journalism and upholding the right of access to government through public records and open meetings. SPJ offers several continuing education opportunities to help journalists be more effective in their work.


OUR NEXT EVENT — “BEER FOR BYLINES”: Our annual Summer Solstice Soiree and chapter elections will be 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 21, the longest day of the year, at State 48 Brewery, 345 W. Van Buren St. in downtown Phoenix. This year, we’re adding a refreshing angle we call Beer for Bylines: Bring in a recent byline (let’s say its posting/publishing/broadcasting had to have occurred sometime since June 1) and, in exchange for your brief recounting of the story behind the story, the chapter will buy you a beer (or non-alcoholic beverage). (We’re grateful to the Utah SPJ chapter in Salt Lake City for the idea; they held a successful Beer for Bylines event in March.) More on this event and the elections will be announced soon.
Members: We will briefly hold voice-vote elections for our 2023-2024 chapter officers at this event. Any member of the chapter (current on national and local dues) interested in serving as president, vice president, secretary or treasurer should email phoenixspj@cox.net no later than June 10, 2023.
CHAPTER EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR REPORTER. The chapter has issued a statement supporting Arizona Capitol Times reporter Camryn Sanchez, to whom a Flagstaff magistrate issued a restraining order barring her from contact with a state senator.
May 11 update: Judge rejects senator’s restraining order against reporter.
April 24 update: Arizona Capitol Times announces intention to oppose restraining order in court.
(Arizona Capitol Times photo.)


RECORDING OF “BEYOND OBJECTIVITY” NOW AVAILABLE! Did you miss our engaging discussion on how the traditional standard of “objectivity” is under attack from increasingly diverse newsrooms, saying it has excluded too many young journalists, the people they serve, and the issues they care about from a monochromatic picture of reality. WE recorded our April; 26 program with Leonard Downie Jr., former executive editor of The Washington Post, and Andrew Heyward, former president of CBS News, who led a conversation about their report “Beyond Objectivity: Producing Trustworthy News in Today’s Newsrooms.” To download the recording, please click here.
(Stock photo by Marcus Winkler for Unsplash)
RECORDING OF “ETHICAL DECISIONS IN NEWS GRAPHIC IMAGES” NOW AVAILABLE! Missed our provocative SPJ Ethics Week Zoom presentation, “Ethical Decisions in News Graphic Images: Dialogue and Action”? We recorded it! On Wednesday, April 19, Eric Wishart of Agence France-Presse (AFP) shared his insights about what goes into deciding whether or how to use controversial graphic images in news coverage. To download the recording, please click here.
(Stock photo above by Hans Eiskonen for Pixabay.)


RECORDING OF “STATE OF ARIZONA MEDIA” NOW AVAILABLE! Missed our insightful Zoom presentation, “The State of Arizona Media”? We recorded it! On Wednesday, March 8, Chris Kline, president and CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters Association, shared his insights on how Arizona consumes media, the result of hundreds of interviews with Arizonans. To download the recording and/or a copy of his accompanying PowerPoint slides, please click here.
RECORDING OF “NOW WHAT?” PANEL DISCUSSION NOW AVAILABLE!: Missed our lively Dec. 6 Zoom panel of local journalists who covered the 2022 midterms look back and ahead, presented by Valley of the Sun SPJ? We recorded it! Hear panelists Stacey Barchenger of The Arizona Republic/azcentral, Jessica Boehm of Axios Phoenix and Jen Fifield of Votebeat, with moderator Rachel Leingang of Arizona Agenda the Arizona Press Club’s 2021 Virg Hill Arizona Journalist of the Year.
Here’s the link. Once you’re in, use this passcode: 8+$=UN5X
Photo illustration by Element 5 Digital / Unsplash


The 18th annual Valley Publicity Summit is now history, but not before benefiting dozens of public relations and media professionals eager to connect, reconnect and talk story pitching preferences at the Oct. 15, 2022, Summit. The tentative date for the 19th annual Summit is Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023, at Barrett, the Honors College, Arizona State University. Stay tuned to this site for details.
The Valley of the Sun chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is grateful to Barrett, the Honors College, at Arizona State University, for being our gracious hosts in 2022 for the sixth year.
Deepest appreciation goes to our event sponsors, the Phoenix chapter of the Public Relations Society of America and Lambert, for their highly valued support in 2022.
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WHO WE ARE: The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry through the daily work of its nearly 10,000 members; works to inspire and educate current and future journalists through professional development; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press through its advocacy efforts.

Established in 1958, the Valley of the Sun chapter of SPJ celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2018. The chapter regularly sponsors journalism activities and events and social, educational, and service activities for professional and student journalists at daily and community newspapers, magazines, broadcast outlets, journalism web sites and media blogs, as well as editors, writers, freelancers, producers, publishers, and public relations professionals living and working in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Our organization’s award-winning programs include:
- Journalism training – We connect our members with dozens of professional development and training sessions covering FOIA requests, journalism ethics, media pitches, etc.
- Journalism awards – We host an annual banquet that recognizes excellence in journalism and honors local media with journalism awards.
- Journalism networking – We provide ample opportunities to network with other journalists and freelance writers via happy hours and other social events.
- Journalism scholarships – Student journalists can apply for reporting scholarships to pay for journalism training and education at the collegiate level.
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