SPJ: Phoenix, Arizona Chapter

Minutes

Meeting of the Society of Professional Journalists, Valley of the Sun Pro Chapter

P.O. Box 1488, Phoenix, AZ 85001-1488

July 21, 2024, 10 a.m.

Meeting called to order: 10:06 a.m.

Attendees: Tim Eigo (President), Nicole Greason (Vice President), Mark Scarp (Secretary), Kerry Fehr-Snyder (Treasurer). Late: Deb Krol (board member), who joined around 10:20 a.m. during First Amendment Coalition update under Old Business. Absent: Teri Carnicelli (board member).

Opening

  • Secretary’s report/approval of minutes from May 19, 2024 – Board action: Moved (Tim) and seconded (Nicole). Unanimously approved.
  • Treasurer’s report – Kerry reports our investments with Russell Life Points/Northwestern Mutual as of July 20 gained $219.61 in the past quarter, to $19,459.40. Our checking account as of the same date contained $2,770.09, compared to $3,241.02 on May 17, 2024. Kerry reported on the board’s request to look into what it takes to transfer our accounts to a different institution: The conclusion is that while Wells Fargo has issues, so much is involved with transferring money to a new account that it would likely be a wash, so we should stay. The board’s sense was to agree.
  • Mark’s Mighty Minute! – Nothing to report today.

Old Business

  • Update on First Amendment Coalition and the Journalists’ Hotline – Mark told the board that the steering committee for the First Amendment Coalition of Arizona met July 15. They discussed funding options, and in what appears to be a reversal of their previous position, the Arizona Media Association appears interested in helping to fund the coalition. FAC President Morgan Loew is meeting offline with them about possible scenarios; other ideas including applying for funding from the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona. The AMA’s Lisa Simpson says she would like to help promote the coalition to rural and small-staff media. The committee also talked about co-sponsoring with SPJ an early September workshop on best practices for covering the November election (see below). Coalition attorney Peter Limperis said he has begun to receive inquiries from journalists. Next meeting is sometime this fall, although no exact date was set.
  • Update on cosponsored event with AZABJ: Retha Hill inducted into NABJ Hall of Fame, July 11, Culture HUB – SPJ co-sponsored this event with money, something AZABJ appreciated. About 45 people attended.
  • Update on cosponsored event with PEN/Arizona: Journalist-author panel and discussion, May 25, Poisoned Pen Bookstore, Scottsdale – SPJ co-sponsored this event, no money, but Tim moderated. About 40 people.
  • Update on annual Summer Solstice Mixer and board elections, June 20 – About 35 came, including many from Republic and AP. All our incumbent officers were re-elected.
  • SPJ annual report, completed and transmitted July 19 (covering period from May 1, 2023 to April 30, 2024) – It was filed, and was similar to past years’. Tim said we have to list the number of members – and we only have 20 members, down from about 50 a few years ago.

New Business

  • Possible half-day chapter board retreat dates: Saturday, Aug. 3 or Saturday, Aug. 10 – Board members said either date will work, and host Nicole said the same. Tim will work with Nicole to set the date and whether it should be an early afternoon arrival ending with dinner and optional swimming, or a morning session ending with lunch.
  • Update on 2024 Publicity Summit – Eventbrite site is up and live and promotions on Phoenix PR Pros and on Facebook and X include link to the testimonial video featuring 10 attendees of the 2023 Summit recommending everyone attend this year’s on Oct. 19. So far, we’ve sold five tickets and have four media people who’ve agreed to participate.
  • Fall event with First Amendment Coalition on the topic of interviewing candidates and covering elections – Morgan Loew and Mark will be working on this event, to be held on Sept. 7 or 14. The Concho Room at the Westward Ho hotel has been reserved for both dates. Tim asked to make sure ethics-related questions are part of the training, e.g., what do you do when an interviewee is lying to you (in real time or not). Mark said Professor Thom Reilly of ASU’s School of Public Affairs, a researcher on independent voter behavior and elections administration often seen on local and national media, agreed to present and can be available either the 7th or 14th. We are leaning toward the 14th as our next board meeting is the 8th.
  • Possible programing: RTDNA Google News Initiative: https://www.rtdna.org/training-series-digital-tools-for-election-coverage — The initiative will send our trainers for free to you chapter’s city to train journalists using Google tools. It’s a former SPJ program RTDNA is hosting. We can decide later whether to ask them to come to Phoenix; we’d need to promote it and find a venue for it.
  • Call for chapter award nominations and plan for fall presentation event – At next meeting in September, board members will be asked to provide names of possible honorees.
  • A-Mark Foundation proposal to work with our chapter to award the A-Mark Prize for Reporting on Misinformation and Disinformation – They are offering a $4,000 first prize and $500 each for second and third. (background: https://lapressclub.org/socal/a-mark-prize-for-reporting-on-misinformation-and-disinformation/ and https://amarkfoundation.org/). Tim and Mark will meet with A-Mark representatives to learn more about it. Tim will ask SPJLA leaders about their experience with A-Mark.
  • Chapter scholarship or other approach to student support — If we follow tradition, the essay question would be publicized by Sept. 1, responses due by Nov. 1, award(s) given at our Holiday Mixer. Proposed questions or alternative approaches welcome. Before our September meeting, board members should come up with a proposed essay question.
  • Ideas needed: Request for assistance by SPJ International Community and the visit to Arizona of journalists from abroad via the World Press Institute — They are in the U.S. from Sept. 6 to Nov. 9, 2024. Tim will pull together a proposal for something for the journalists to do with SPJ while here.

Adjourned: 11:31 a.m. (85 minutes)

NEXT BOARD MEETING: Sunday, September 15, 2024, 10 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mark J. Scarp, Chapter Secretary