See Chris Kline, CEO of the Arizona Broadcasters Association give SPJ Phoenix a free Zoom presentation, “The State of AZ Media 2023,” 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 8.
Kline’s presentation is based on hundreds of interviews with Arizonans about how they consume media. Whether you work in media or consume media, you’ll be enlightened by Kline’s stats and insights on where Arizona’s media is heading.
Registered attendees will receive access to passwords to the event Zoom room prior to the event. Click here to RSVP (required)
In November, the Valley of the Sun chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists presented a seminar titled “Get Freelancing!” on how to make the most of freelancing, whether as a gig worker or full-timer. It went well, attendees had a good time and we shared useful tools and ideas. One participant may have actually landed a cool assignment and new client at the meeting.
The idea was floated for a regularly gathering group to meet to continue to share and grow as they prepare for success at freelance writing and editing. So, the chapter is proud to invite you to meet up with other freelancers at the group’s first gathering:
(Northeast corner, Scottsdale and Indian Bend roads)
Separate checks
==Tentative agenda==
Time for meet and greet
Participants’ experiences with freelancing and clients
How to get more freelance work
How to get better pay for freelancing
Topics that clients are seeking
Journalism Ethics Week coming in April
Ideas from the floor
Decide upon follow-up meetings and locations
If you would like to be a part of the group and receive further messages about future group activities, sign up for the new list at the Jan. 18 meeting, or email the group’s administrators, Terri Thorson, territ…@cox.net, or Alan Korwin, al…@gunlaws.com, expressing your interest. Terri and Alan will also answer questions.
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. Valley of the Sun SPJ sincerely thanks our panelists for appearing.
Here’s the link. Once you’re there, use this passcode: 8+$=UN5X
Photo illustration by Element 5 Digital / Unsplash
Four weeks after the election, it will all be over except for the pontificating (well, except for the recounts), as Arizonans will deal with a divided state government. Join a panel of local journalists who covered the 2022 midterm balloting for a look back and a look ahead in a Zoom discussion 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, presented by Valley of the Sun SPJ. Expected panelists include 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.
RSVP required to get Zoom access information. Send an email to phoenixspj@cox.net to sign up.
Valley, media communicators: Get your Yule on! It’s time to close the door on 2022 with your colleagues and competitors at SPJ’s legendary annual Valley Media Holiday Mixer, 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at FEZ, 105 W. Portland St. (corner of Central Avenue, at the Roosevelt light rail stop), midtown Phoenix. Your festive-minded SPJ chapter is buying the appetizers, the drinks are on you. Tell those great tales about getting the story that you’ve been aching all year to tell to an audience that truly gets you! We’ll look through our bag of holiday goodies for a few door prizes to give away. Details: https://fb.me/e/3ROGfylWG
6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Changing Hands Bookstore, 300 W. Camelback Road, Phoenix. Space is limited at this free event! RSVP REQUIRED at phoenixspj@cox.net. And please check out our Facebook event page.
Do you dream of freelancing? As a career—or just a few gigs to enhance your revenue stream? Then don’t miss this SPJ program led by Alan Korwin, a writer with three decades of successful freelancing — and a longtime Valley of the Sun chapter member — who plans to reveal secrets gathered the entire time.
In this tell-all seminar, you’ll learn the secrets of abandoning employers in favor of clients. How to maximize your fees (and know what they should be), how to turn an interview into an assignment and where the absolutely best ideas come from — the ones worth money. “There are proven techniques for establishing a financial base, picking up gigs along the way, turning one good idea into handfuls of stories, how to find and befriend editors in any field—things you never learned in J-school— because the professors don’t know,” Alan says. “They’ve never done this. But yes, you will need good English skills for any of this to work.”
Alan Korwin (above right) has been freelancing successfully since 1986. All 10 Maricopa Community Colleges have presented his writing programs. He’s now working on his 15th book, and as part of the course you’ll get help to jump-start the book inside you (everybody has one).
The trick is getting it out, and here’s how. His political work has earned him national recognition, with more than 1,000 radio and TV interviews to his credit and two invitations to oral arguments at the U.S. Supreme Court. His monthly columns appear in two national periodicals, a civil-rights newsletter, and on Townhall.com and DailyCaller.com, when he has time. His clients include IBM, AT&T, ITT, NYNEX, Amex and others, many with real names.
Light snacks provided by Valley of the Sun SPJ and water provided by Changing Hands. Cash bar available.
8 a.m.-1 p.m. Oct. 15, 2022 Vista del Sol residential community, 701 E. Apache Blvd., Arizona State University, Tempe
Scroll down for text with event details!
Registration is open Sept. 1! Back again for its 18th year — the Valley Publicity Summit, Presented by SPJ, returns Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 to Arizona State University in Tempe in the Vista del Sol Community Center and outdoors under shaded tables poolside. Journalists’ assignments and PR professionals’ client lists keep changing. PR pros: Be a part of what’s become the greatest Saturday morning in Valley media-PR relations, with discussions and “speed pitching” sessions to learn how to best pitch local media, Register and get more info here. And check out our Facebook event page!
We’re honored to announce that our featured speaker to start off the morning will be Dr. Battinto L. Batts Jr., dean and professor of the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. And we are once again deeply grateful to Barrett, the Honors College, at Arizona State University, Tara Williams, Ph.D., dean and professor, for hosting the Summit for the sixth consecutive year.
Here is a list of our participating media representatives as of Oct. 14. More will be added as they are secured:
ARIZONA DIGITAL FREE PRESS: Terrance Thornton, founder
ARIZONA’S FAMILY: Katie Faller, planning producer
ARIZONA REPUBLIC: Kathy Tulumello, news director
CITY LIFESTYLE MAGAZINES: Michelle Glicksman, Editor-in-Chief, Scottsdale City Lifestyle; Editor-in-Chief, Paradise Valley City Lifestyle; Editor-in-Chief, Chandler City Lifestyle; Editor-in-Chief, Where Traveler Phoenix+Scottsdale
CITY SUNTIMES/QUEEN CREEK SUNTIMES: Kelly Mixer, editor
ECULEUS GROUP PUBLISHING: Natasha Beal and Brian Beal (North Phoenix News, North Tatum Times, Paradise Valley View, Scottsdale North News, The Scottsdale Standard, Upper Westsider, Epic Kids)
FOX 10: Christine Goodfriend, planning editor
FOX 10: George Obi, executive producer
FREELANCE: Geri Koeppel, Phoenix New Times food/drink, Times Publications/East Valley
PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL: Greg Barr, editor-in-chief
PHOENIX MAGAZINE: Leah LeMoine, managing editor
SEDONA MONTHLY: Teresa Traverse, managing editor
THE LIST: Rebecca Guldberg, producer
TIMES MEDIA GROUP: Alex Gallagher, Scottsdale Progress
12NEWS: Melissa Morrissette, assignment desk
NOTE: While every effort is made to ensure the participation of journalists who have agreed to be part of this year’s Summit, circumstances beyond SPJ’s control may result in changes to the list of participating journalists. We will make sincere efforts to keep the list of participating journalists current.
Journalists interested in participating may inquire with Sherry Butler, sbutler@slbcom.com
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS: As of early September, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have determined that the risk of transmission in Maricopa County is LOW. This means people may choose to mask at any time. People with symptoms, a positive test, or exposure to someone with COVID-19 should wear a mask. You may check your county’s status at anytime here. We join ASU in suggesting that everyone get vaccinated (and boosted) against COVID-19, to be frequently tested for the virus and to follow protocols about face coverings inside buildings and in crowded places..
Valley media peeps: It’s that time of year again. Defy summer, at least for one evening, and join SPJ at our annual Summer Solstice Soiree June 20. Apps are on us, drinks on you. All Valley media and communicators are invited! Please get more details and RSVP at our Facebook event page, https://www.facebook.com/events/764534031215032. See you there!
Nearly one in three women experiences gender-based violence in her lifetime. For too many women, this violence escalates to the point of becoming life-threatening.
Your Valley of the Sun SPJ chapter is co-sponsoring a free daylong event on Saturday, March 26, that discusses the tragic rise of femicide and other gender-based violence, and what can be learned from what is happening in Mexico.
Ní Una Más: Preventing Violence Against Women, Lessons from Mexico, will feature journalists, lawyers, activists, academics, students and the public in a dialogue focused the issue of femicide. The event will also featuring a screening the documentary The Three Deaths of Marisela Escobedo, followed by a Q & A session with the film’s director.
Speakers include Kendal Blust, senior field correspondent with NPR member station KJZZ ’s Fronteras Desk at the station’s bureau in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.
The event is to be presented both via Zoom and in person in the Kiva Lecture Hall on the Arizona State University West Campus in Glendale 9:30 to 6 p.m. Saturday, March 26.
Join colleagues and competitors in putting 2021 in the rear-view mirror at the legendary Valley Media Holiday Mixer ’21! We’re back at the same great downtown location, the heated outdoor patio at Bliss/REBAR, 901 N. 4th St. Appetizers and door prizes (bring a business card for the drawing!) provided courtesy of your Valley of the Sun SPJ chapter. You bring the reconnecting and the fun.
(We strongly recommend that you are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 or are being regularly tested before attending. There are risks of contracting COVID-19 associated with attending public events. By attending our event, you alone are assuming any such risks.)
Registration is open Sept. 1! Back again for its 18th year — the Valley Publicity Summit, Presented by SPJ, returns Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022 to Arizona State University in Tempe in the Vista del Sol Community Center and outdoors under shaded tables poolside. Journalists’ assignments and PR professionals’ client lists keep changing. PR pros: Be a part of what’s become the greatest Saturday morning in Valley media-PR relations, with discussions and “speed pitching” sessions to learn how to best pitch local media, 
Join colleagues and competitors in putting 2021 in the rear-view mirror at the legendary Valley Media Holiday Mixer ’21! We’re back at the same great downtown location, the heated outdoor patio at Bliss/REBAR, 901 N. 4th St. Appetizers and door prizes (bring a business card for the drawing!) provided courtesy of your Valley of the Sun SPJ chapter. You bring the reconnecting and the fun.
Society of Professional Journalists - Valley of the Sun chapter - Phoenix, Arizona 