New SPJ National Convention Info

There is a registration form now available on the SPJ website. Below is a list of prices for the registration and meals for the events.

Pre-register by Sept. 12 and receive the early registration rates below.

Registration Fees (does not include meal events):
Pro Member: $150
Pro Nonmember: $250
Student Member: $100
Student Nonmember: $150

Meal Events:
Opening Reception: $50
Mark of Excellence Awards Luncheon: $40
President's Banquet: $60

Also, remember, the induction of new SPJ members is tonight in Kleymeyer Hall, which is room LA0101. This will begin a 5 p.m. Elections for officers will also take place during this time, so everyone, please be there!

Brian Kennedy
Secretary, USI SPJ

Meeting minutes, April 12

1. The induction of new SPJ members will take place Tuesday, April 26 at 5 p.m. in the UC. We’re currently scheduling the room, but once that is taken care of, I will send out an e-mail for an update. Also, if anyone needs to be inducted into the chapter, please send an e-mail to usispj@hotmail.com, or talk to myself, Briana or one of the advisors.

2. We need to know who is planning on going to Las Vegas for the convention in October. Like #1, e-mail usispj@hotmail.com if you are doing so. This will determine the rates that we can get and the amount of fundraising needed.

3. Speaking of fundraising, a suggestion came up during the meeting. Pizza Hut and Papa Johns have fundraiser cards that basically work like coupons for pizza. I’m going to look into this, as it’s something we could do early in the next semester.

4. We’re planning on having officer elections before the end of the semester. These will probably happen during the induction ceremony on April 26. If you are interested in a position, you know the e-mail address.

5. Discussed High School Media Day. The event will take place on Assessment Day, November 15. SPJ will be involved in this event. Ideas for the Day include advisor’s sessions, getting the Shield staff involved and taking a tour of the college media (Shield, AccessUSI, AM 820).

6. Finally, the SPJ Region 5 Conference at Northwestern University in Chicago will take place this Friday and Saturday. I will be attending, and will post in the blog my report on what happened.

That’s all for now. See you all later!

Brian Kennedy
Secretary, USI SPJ

Next meeting...

The next meeting will take place next Tuesday, April 12, in the Burleigh Room, first floor of the LA building, same place as always. Meeting time is 3 p.m. If you cannot attend, e-mail an officer, usispj@hotmail.com, or put a comment in here. Hope to see you guys there!

Brian Kennedy
Secretary, USI SPJ

Paypal for Convention

It is now possible to pay online for the convention next month in Chicago. And you don't even need a credit card! All you have to do is forward money through Paypal to the Chicago Headline Club, the SPJ chapter putting on this event. The website is here. Chicago Headline Club

If you don't want to pay through Paypal, you can still bring the registration fee to the convention.

Brian Kennedy,
Secretary, USI SPJ

Sunshine for USI

Sunshine Week is officially upon us, and for us, that means seeing the release of the FOIA audit from last Novemeber. For those that don't know, SPJ, Shield, AM820, the advanced reporting class, and others helped out in the audit, which meant obtaining records deemed on the record by the Indiana Open Records law. Unfortunately, the audit showed that there were some organizations that didn't hand the information over, and some didn't even know what the record was, or didn't know about the Open Records law. That is just sad.

Read more about it in The Shield.

Brian Kennedy
Secretary, USI SPJ

Info for Region 5 Conference...

I have received an e-mail from Richard Roth about the Region 5 Conference, scheduled for April 15 and 16 at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University in Chicago.

The e-mail contains registration information. Basically, it's this: Pick when you're going to be at the convention, then send the e-mail back to Roth. You will pay the registration fees when you arrive at the convention.

If are planning on going to the convention and do not have the e-mail, please post a comment here. I will send you the e-mail. Everyone have a good day!

Brian Kennedy
Secretary, USI SPJ

Preliminary Las Vegas convention information

This is the preliminary schedule for the Las Vegas SPJ convention in October. Obviously, this will undergo changes in the next few months. Once that information becomes available, you can expect to see that info here!

SUNDAY -October 16th
10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Registration
1- 5:00 p.m. Pre Convention Sessions
2:15 - 3:30 p.m. Professional Development Sessions
3:45 - 5:00 p.m. Professional Development Sessions
5:00 - 6:00 p.m. Ted ScrippsLeadership Institute Reception
6:00 - 9:00 p.m. Opening Night Reception (Wear something comfortable)

MONDAY -October 17th
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration
9:00 - 10:15 a.m. Keynote Address
9:00 - 4:00 p.m. Legal Defense Fund Silent Auction
10:15 - 10:45 a.m. Journalism Expo Break
10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Critique Sessions for Students
10:45 - 11:45 a.m. Professional Development Sessions
Noon - 2:00 p.m. Mark of Excellence Luncheon (Business casual dress for this event)
2:15 - 3:15 p.m. Professional Development Sessions
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Professional Development Sessions
6 - 7:30 p.m. Legal Defense Fund Reception/Live Auction

TUESDAY -October 18th
8:00 - 3 p.m. Registration
8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Keynote Address
9:30 - 10 a.m. Journalism Expo Break
10 - 11 a.m. Professional Development Sessions
10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Critique Sessions for Professionals
11:15 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. Professional Development Sessions
12:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m. Journalism Expo Break/Lunch on your own
2:15 - 3:15 p.m. Professional Development Sessions
3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Professional Development Sessions
6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Diversity Reception
7:30 - 10:00 p.m. President's Installation Banquet (Attire for banquet is business)