This event successfully defies the stereotype that media people and public relations people can’t get along. Here, connections are made, explanations are given, networking takes place. We will hear about the ever-changing media landscape and how it affects editorial vision and decisions regarding content. We will share information on what makes an ordinary pitch an effective one and know the rules of whom to contact, when to contact them, and what to pitch to them. During and after the Summit, journalists maintain their vital roles as independent makers of decisions regarding coverage, but they do so having informed PR practitioners of their and their media outlets’ story-pitch policies and preferences. Likewise, PR professionals learn of the challenges facing media and the frameworks in which they respond best to story pitches – or decline them. Now, to get to the Valley Publicity Summit’s Eventbrite page with registration info and signup, click here.
Barrett, the Honors College, Arizona State University, Tempe
Registration is open! Back again for its 16th year — the Valley Publicity Summit, Presented by SPJ, returns Saturday, Sept. 28, 2019, to Barrett, the Honors College, at Arizona State University in Tempe. A lot happens in a year: 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.
COVID-19 PROTOCOLS: We strongly recommend ASU’s COVID-19 protocols at this event. As of early October, those protocols recommend (1) wearing masks outdoors when physical distancing is not possible and (2) that participants be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
As of Oct. 14, here’s a list of media professionals expected to join us at this year’s Valley Publicity Summit:
Sondra Barr, managing editor. Epic Kids
Natasha Beal,owner/publisher of Eculeus Group Publishing (North Phoenix News, North Tatum Times, North 32nd News, Scottsdale North News, The Scottsdale Standard, The Upper Westsider and Epic Kids) and managing editor Michelle (“Shelly”) Talsma Everson
Jason W. Brooks, reporter, Buckeye Independent, Independent Newsmedia
Erin Edgemon, managing editor, Phoenix Business Journal
Christine Goodfriend, producer, KSAZ-TV Fox 10
Susan Lanier Graham, editor, North Peoria Lifestyle magazine; publisher/editor-in-chief, Wander with Wonder
Debra Utacia Krol, environmental, Indigenous and science issues, Arizona Republic/azcentral.com
Al Macias, news director, KJZZ-FM (NPR)
Adrian McIntyre, PhD, Valley Business Radio, PHX.fm
Kelly Mixer, editor and senior reporter, Queen Creek Sun Times
George Obi, producer, KSAZ-TV Fox 10
Patrick O’Grady, managing editor, Independent Newsmedia, including the Daily Independent in the West Valley and weekly community newspapers Valleywide
Jeff Popovich, content producer, Arizona’s Family Foodie, AZ Family KTVK 3TV | KPHO CBS 5
Rebecca Rhoades, AZ Big Media and several lifestyle publications
Madison Rutherford, associate editor, PHOENIX magazine
Jill Schildhouse, freelance writer/editor
Colleen Sparks, editor, North Central News
Teresa K. Traverse, managing editor, Sedona Monthly; freelance writer and editor
We will list more participating journalists as they are secured.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: We strongly recommend ASU’s COVID-19 protocols at this event. As of early October, those protocols recommend (1) wearing masks outdoors when physical distancing is not possible and (2) that participants be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Our annual thank-you party for Valley media is at an exciting new location!
Each June, your Valley of the Sun SPJ chapter refuses to let the longest day of the year go by without showing our appreciation for our members and for all Valley media people with a Summer Solstice Soiree. Come and cool off with an ice cold brew or other beverage 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 20, at an exciting new location!
After several years of benefiting of our annual loyal patronage, our former Soiree location decided in its, um, wisdom, to give up serving food. When we heard this, we thought, how can the chapter provide its traditional buffet of free appetizers that way? The only solution: Move. And we’ve found a great spot in about the same part of town: The highly praised and decoratedHelton Brewing Co., 2144 E. Indian School Road (at 22nd Street), Phoenix. RSVP on our Facebook event page.
A bit of business
As usual, we will take five minutes (or less, as we’ve gotten pretty fast at this) to hold our annual voice-vote chapter officer elections. Like to be an officer? You have to be a chapter member to be one. Email phoenixspj@cox.net for details.
The House of Broadcasting
(HOBI) invites members of the media to join them at Changing Hands-Phoenix, 300
W. Camelback Road, as they host a book signing 7 p.m. Friday, May 17, for “Images of America: Phoenix Television”
($21.99, Arcadia Publishing), written by John Craft and Lisa Honebrink.
Craft is a member of the
faculty at the ASU Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Honebrink has been a radio producer and spent time as a public information
officer for the city of Phoenix, including a stint in the mayor’s office. She
continues to work in Public Relations.
Craft and Honebrink said
they wanted to give readers a behind-the-scenes look at past and present on-air
personalities, programs and other significant moments that have shaped society
and, specifically, the lifestyles of Phoenicians since TV burst onto the scene
here in the late 1940s.
To view a short segment
Craft and Honebrink had on KAZ-TV with Pat McMahon to talk about the book,
click the link below:
Then on Tuesday, May 21,
come back to Changing Hands in Phoenix for the much-anticipated launch of Jana
Bommersbach’s latest true-crime book, “A
Stolen Life: The Debra Milke Story” ($20, paperback). Her presentation
begins at 7 p.m.
Arizona said Debra Milke was
a baby killer. Phoenix Homicide Detective Armando Saldate testified she
“confessed” to having her 4-year-old son killed when he though he was
going to see Santa. On his word alone, she was convicted in 1990 and became the
only woman on Arizona’s death row. So how did she go free in 2015—only the
second woman in American history to walk off death row? How did both a federal
court and Arizona’s Court of Appeals lambast Arizona for imprisoning her in the
first place—the state court saying it was “ashamed” of what happened
to her, seeing it as “a severe stain on the Arizona justice system.”
This non-fiction, investigative book probes deep inside this fascinating criminal case … inside the prison, inside the evidence, inside the breakdown of justice, inside the legal tenacity, inside the heart and mind of Debra Milke. To pre-order your book, click here.
Jana Bommersbach is one of
Arizona’s most acclaimed journalists, authors and public speakers. This is her
seventh book.
The very first event of the #ONAPhoenix group is happening this week! Group organizers want to bring people together to have some drinks and share ideas for this #ONALocal group. And no, you don’t have to be an ONA member to attend. The event is open-ended and casual – drop by and head out when you’d like.
The following message about an exciting upcoming event was sent to us from Lauren Aguirre of the new Phoenix group of the Online News Association (onaphx@gmail.com):
“It’s a casual meet and greet in downtown Phoenix. The goal is to bring people who are interested in being involved with the group together face-to-face for the first time. It’s a chance to meet other journalists just as excited as you are about ONA Phoenix. I hope all of you can make it. As the founder and organizer of ONA Phoenix, I would love to meet you in person.”
We’re passing on this announcement from the Arizona Latino Media Association:
“The Arizona Latino Media Association and the Education Writers Association are teaming up to present ‘Get Schooled: Covering Education Like A Pro,’ an informative conference for journalists and communicators on key education topics that frequently make headlines, including:
Charters and School Choice
Teacher Activism
Mental Health, Social Emotional Learning and Schools
“9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Saturday, March 2, 2019, in the First Amendment Forum at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 555 N. Central Ave., Phoenix.
“Panelists, including education journalists and experts, will share their insights and best practices for covering education issues and producing compelling stories. Among the panelists are:
Kathy Hoffman, Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction
Arianna Prothero, Staff Writer, Education Week
Justin Price, Data Reporter, The Arizona Republic
Marisol Garcia, Vice President, Arizona Education Association
Dale Russakoff, freelance writer and author of The Prize, a book about Mark Zuckerberg’s $100 million gift to the Newark, New Jersey, schools
Dr. Sofia B. Pertuz, Senior Advisor, Campus and Diversity & Inclusion, Jed Foundation
Janine Menard, Chair, Arizona School Counselors Association
Matt Beienburg, Director of Education Policy, Goldwater Institute
“”he conference is free and includes a light breakfast and lunch. RSVP at https://bit.ly/2UH398K “
Marina Cinami, Communications Coordinator, ACES: The Society for Editing (https://aceseditors.org/), asked us to pass on this message to our chapter members:
“ACES is the nation’s leading organization of editing professionals, educators, and students. We set standards of excellence and give a voice to editors in journalism, government, business, and beyond through top-notch training, networking, and career opportunities.
“Our next boot camp is coming up, it’s near you, and registration is open! Check out the details:
“Fundamentals in Editing
When: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28
Where: Fairfield Inn & Suites, Midtown Phoenix, 2520 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85004
How much: $150 for members. $200 for nonmembers.
Presenters: Teresa Schmedding and Merrill Perlman
“What you’ll learn
1. Why editing is important (and how to convince your bosses). 2. Grammar and punctuation basics. 3. Commonly confused and misused words. 4. Elements of proofreading. 5. Clarity: smoothing out dense or garbled prose and streamlining copy. 6. Accuracy: checking facts and sources, ensuring charts/graphics are correct, identifying and filling in missing information. 7. Headlines: writing clear, informative display type in print and online (including SEO). 8. Style: why you need a style guide.
“If you’re an editor or edit as part of your job, ACES’ Editing Boot Camps will help you perfect your skills. Have questions? Contact us at info@aceseditors.org.
Brian M. Costello, associate director of marketing and communications at the Loyola Law School, Los Angeles, asked us to post the following message:
“The Civil Justice Program at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles will host its 14th-annual Journalist Law School from Wednesday, June 5-Saturday, June 8, 2019 on its Frank Gehry-designed campus in downtown Los Angeles. The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 15, 2019. Apply or learn more at www.journalistlawschool.org.
“The fellowship condenses core law-school subjects and break-out topics into a long weekend filled with courses taught by law professors, judges and prominent attorneys. Fellows have the opportunity to suggest and select sessions based on their areas of interest. This year, faculty planners expect to focus on issues related to scrutiny over presidential conduct, the intersection of technology and the law, and other legal topics frequently occupying news headlines. That’s in addition to such core classes as constitutional law, criminal law, civil justice, evidence and more.
“Journalists with at least three years of experience who cover the law in some fashion are encouraged to apply. Journalist fellows, who are competitively selected, receive a certificate of completion at the end of the four-day program. JLS alumni include about 500 reporters, editors and producers from a wide range of local, national and international news organizations.
“There is no cost to journalists to attend the fellowship. Instruction, lodging and most meals are included. The Journalist Law School will cover half of travel expenses up to $300. Fellows will be housed at the nearby Omni Los Angeles Hotel.
“Please see www.journalistlawschool.org for more information and to apply. If you have questions about the program, please let me know.
Get your Yule on, celebrate the year gone by and the year ahead with your media peeps, colleagues and competitors alike, in this must-be-there holiday event! Your friendly neighborhood Valley of the Sun SPJ chapter will put out a spread of free appetizers (drinks are on you) and give away door prizes.
We will also be raising funds for chapter events and activities by selling cool soft denim blue caps with the SPJ shield logo and the words, “I Support Freedom of the Press” for only $10!
Admission to the mixer is free, so — right now! — say your “Going” today on our Facebook event page, Valley Media Holiday Mixer ’18. The event hashtag: #getyouryuleon
Roosevelt), named by USA Today as one of the 
Society of Professional Journalists - Valley of the Sun chapter - Phoenix, Arizona 