Minutes

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

Nov. 19, 2023, 10 a.m.

Started: 10:13 a.m.

Attendees: Tim Eigo, Mark Scarp, Nicole Greason, Teri Carnicelli. Absent: Deb Krol.

Opening

• Secretary’s report/approval of minutes from Sept. 10, 2023 – Board action: Moved (Teri) and seconded (Nicole). Unanimously approved.
• Treasurer’s report – Teri reports our investments with Russell Life Points/Northwestern Mutual as of Nov. 17 lost $25.81 in the past quarter, to $17,949.83. Our checking account as of the same date contained $4,235.45, compared to $2,892.01 on Sept. 9, 2023.
• Announcement – Nicole wanted to thank Deb Krol and her Arizona Republic colleague Arlyssa Becenti for speaking to ASU Barrett, The Honors College students about issues affecting Indigenous people on Nov. 3 The two, who cover Native peoples and issues, provided a fascinating perspective the students greatly benefited from hearing, Nicole said.
• Mark’s Mighty Minute! – Mark and Tim spoke on Nov. 17 with Morgan Loew of Arizona’s Family, president of the First Amendment Coalition. They discussed Morgan’s recent conversation with attorney Peter Limperis of the Tucson law firm of Miller, Pitt, Feldman and McAnally PLC.
  • Limperis is counsel to KVOA-TV, Channel 4, in Tucson, and is interested in providing free hotline legal services to journalists as Dan Barr of Perkins Coie did. Dan left Perkins Coie in January to become chief deputy Arizona attorney general.
  • The conversation was positive, and Peter said he will ask permission of his partners, which he said was likely to be given.
  • If approved by the partners, Morgan, Tim and Mark agreed that the next step would be to find funding sources for the hotline to replace those formerly funding it when Dan was representing the coalition, benefactors, media outlets themselves (particularly smaller and/or rural ones paying a small, three-figure contribution annually, and of course, SPJ.
  • A new coalition board would also need to be created; SPJ would have a seat on that board. Stay tuned for these next steps. A revitalized and reinstated FAC would be a big marketing tool for the chapter in showing value to current and prospective members.

Old Business

• Recap of ALMA/SPJ public records/open meetings training, Oct. 14 – About 40 professionals and students attended the workshop, held at the former Westward Ho hotel in space provided by ASU’s Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Print, radio and online media were represented but no television. We intend to hold a similar workshop in spring 2024.

• Recap of Valley Publicity Summit, Oct. 21 – Mark handed out the final revenue-and-expense sheet to board members. With sponsorships, the chapter took in $5,421 in revenue and incurred $1,895 in expenses, leaving proceeds of $3,527, $767 more than last year. Board members discussed improving communication with sponsors to get invoices sent and sponsorship checks returned to the chapter faster next year.

• SPJ National Convention, Sept. 28-30 – Delegates voted to eliminate the delegate system for society business, putting future matters of all kinds before the entire membership to vote on. The SPJ national board voted to cancel the 2024 convention in Indianapolis, citing the Society’s financial woes. The 2025 event in Washington, D.C., is still scheduled. The board will meet in January 2024 to possibly reinstate the Indianapolis convention if finances have improved by then.

New Business

• Review and decision on scholarship essay submission by Kira Caspers, Scottsdale CC – Question: Among the challenges facing the journalism profession today is the rollout of artificial intelligence. AI tools and software have grown tremendously in effectiveness, even over the past six months, and have implications for reporters and newsrooms. Board action: Moved (Nicole) and seconded (Tim) to approve a $750 scholarship for Kira. Passed 3-1, with Teri voting no.

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• Don Bolles Memorial bill background and proposed board action – We have been asked by state Rep. Jen Longdon (who is opening a folder for a bill) to be the fiscal agent for receiving donations to build the memorial if the bill to allow it passes the Arizona Legislature in 2024. Board members discussed creating a coalition to supervise the solicitation effort. Tim will contact Greg Burton, the editor of the Arizona Republic, to solicit their involvement, although indications are that the Republic prefers not to pursue the bill this year.

• Ideas needed for a January mixer, educational sessions or student events, and sessions on strategies, ethics or freelancer tips – Ideas included:

• Another “Beer for Bylines” event.
  • Author/local journalist Christina Estes and her new novel “On the Air” and possibly other local journalist-authors.
  • Jimmy Jenkins of the Republic on criminal justice issues.
  • A Phoenix showing of the documentary about trust in media “Trustworthy” (possibly going in with the Cronkite School) that was a big hit at the recent SPJ convention, another public records workshop.
  • Going in with the Arizona Democracy Resilience Network, who are trying to get out in the community to promote civil discourse, access to the ballot, regenerating confidence in our elections process. Nicole said she talked with one of its leaders, Don Henninger, who said he’d be willing to tailor a program to our journalist audience; the event would be promoted largely through their network with SPJ as co-sponsor.

• Major chapter tasks for 2024: (1) Website refresh, (2) Assisting ASU student chapter to get reinstated, (3) Historic Site in Journalism, (4) Prep for 2025 Regional Conference.

• Major chapter task for spring 2025: SPJ Phoenix hosts the Region 11 conference –

(NorCal to host in October 2024, and San Diego to host in spring 2026).

Teri left the meeting at 11:55 a.m.

• Valley Media Holiday Mixer, Dec. 5, at FEZ on Central – Tim will ask to reserve FEZ for this year’s event, as it was a very good location last year. NLGJA is co-sponsor. Come on out – and share the news! https://www.facebook.com/events/295243910078492/

PROPOSED NEXT MEETING: Sunday, January 14, 2023, 10 a.m.

Adjourned: 12:11 p.m. (98 minutes)

Respectfully submitted,

Mark J. Scarp, Chapter Secretary