The Scripps Howard Foundation, with the Indiana University School of Journalism has announced a national competition for journalism students. 

Winners receive scholarships, grants to their college newspapers and nine national scholars become part of a 13-day guided tour to Japan.

Following the inspiration of Roy W. Howard - the journalist who led Scripps Howard Newspapers from 1922-1953 and United Press International from 1912-1920 - Dean Brad Hamm of the Indiana University School of Journalism will lead the students through a study of journalism in other cultures. They will visit media organizations and cultural and historical landmarks. 

Deadline for entries is Feb. 29. The tentative date for the tour is June 15-23. Winners will visit Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hirosima. 

For more information and an entry form click here

Sometimes changes come so quickly we have to stop and ask "Where do we go now?" That "reboot" is the theme of this year's Region 4 conference and it promises to give us answers as well as tools to help us cope and evolve. 

The conference will open Friday Night, March 23,  with a reception at Dublin Square in East Lansing and Saturday will move to The Communication Arts & Sciences building at Michigan State University. There will be workshops, speakers and the Mark of Excellence luncheon, which honors the best in college journalism for Michigan, Ohio, Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia. 

Registration costs start at $30 for students and $60 for professionals. 

If you book by Feb. 22, you are guaranteed a $95/night rate at Michigan State University's Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center (use Group No. PFJ033012). There is a block of rooms reserved so book online here now if you can. The hotel is optimally located, allowing you to walk downtown or take the Entertainment Express bus route which links the downtowns of Lansing and East Lansing. 

More information will unfold as we get closer to March 23. Click Here frequently for updates. 

The competition is underway for the 17th annual "Best of Ohio Journalism Awards."

The awards honor print, broadcast, trade, online and college journalists, published or broadcast in 2011, for their best work serving the public interest and protecting press freedom. 

These are the only Ohio awards that honor journalists who fulfill SPJ's mission to:

• defend the First Amendment, 
• support literacy, 
• resist censorship, 
• advocate for openness of public records and meetings, 
• encourage media self-criticism and community service

You do not need to be a member of SPJ to enter or win. 

Entries must be postmarked by March 6. For more information and to download an entry form click here.

That's the question for this year's national SPJ High School Essay Contest.

In a country as free as ours, it's easy to forget how important independent media are in a society. This question is designed to stimulate students to think about the meaning of that freedom. 

Do you know a student who can answer it well in 300-500 words by March 8?

The first place award is a $1,000 scholarship; second place is $500 and third is $300. 

All students enrolled in Grades 9-12 are eligible. To qualify, all local entries must be double-spaced, typed or handwritten, and sent, postmarked by March 8, to:

SPJ High School Essay Contest 

Columbus, OH 43215 

Click here for more information and to download an entry form.    

If you are in your first three years of reporting in the field, SPJ's Reporter's Institute could be an invaluable tool in your professional growth.

From June 10-13 in St. Petersburg, Fla., SPJ is offering an intense three-day program that provides keys to long-term journalistic development including:

• Writing for the Web
• Video Basics
• Creating Mutiplatform Content
• Using Census Data
• Mobile Newsgathering
• Freedom of Information
• Active Listening

and much more!

The program costs $300 outside of travel. The deadline for applications is March 15. 

For more information and to apply online click here.

The Society for Features Journalism is sponsoring a Diversity Fellowship Program for journalists of colour. 

Emphasizing multimedia, leadership and writing, the program will take place at the same time as SFJ's annual conference, Aug. 22 - 25, at the University of Maryland. 

Fellows will network with exceptional journalists who specialize in lifestyle reporting. They will complete a project and present a short report at the conclusion of the event. 

The fellowships cover AASFE conference registration, airfare and hotel as well as a $300 stipend for conference related expenses. 

To be considered you must apply by Mar. 31. 

For more information and to submit your application click here.

Thanks to Kelly Blazek for her dedication and commitment in seeking out many of the jobs posted below. To receive her full newsletter (We only excerpt media-related jobs.) see the separate box headlined Cleveland Job Bank below at right. 

The Chronicle-Telegram has an opening for a part-time copy editor with Quark experience, a good eye for design and the ability to catch mistakes. Must be able to work weekend evenings. Send resumes to Managing Editor Julie Wallace at jwallace@chroniclet.com.     

Crain's Cleveland Business seeks a General Assignment Reporter. The reporter will contribute stories to our weekly staffing and... energy newsletters, will handle assignments for our weekly themed sections and will write news stories for our print publication and website. Solid reporting and writing skills are essential, and video reporting skills are a big plus. For more information on the publication Visit Here. 

ASSISTANT EDITOR - WTWH MEDIA Design engineering b2b media company seeks hard-working, online-savvy editor to join our team of professionals. Our ideal candidate will have a journalism degree and excellent writing and copyediting skills. S/he should be comfortable on camera and meeting with industry contacts in person. The position requires using online tools, including posting to WordPress, recording videos and podcasts, reporting news and copyediting technical articles.This assistant editor position will be based in our offices on the West Bank of the Flats in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. We are looking for someone who is motivated, and who will work as part of a team of talented writers and editors.Roles and responsibilities include but are not limited to:* Post news and product announcements on a variety of vertical and horizontal websites* Write and edit 1-2 monthly departments per print issue * Serve as primary copy editor for all print materials * Assist other editors with editing and proofreading manuscripts, staff features and departments for accuracy, clarity* Assist managing editor with overall material workflow* Engage with engineering readers across multiple social media venues * Help develop and star in videos/podcasts/webinars of interest to core audience * Travel to industry shows and meetings as needed. Resumes with a writing sample and salary requirements will be considered. Full benefits package including medical, dental, vision, 401(k). Please send materials to Paul J. Heney, Editorial Director, pheney@wtwhmedia.com.

COMMUNICATIONS STAFF WRITER - BAKER & HOSTETLER The Cleveland office has again been named as "One of the 99 Great Workplaces for Top Talent in Northeast Ohio" by the Employers Resource Council. Our Firmwide Marketing Department has an excellent opportunity for a Communications Staff Writer in our Cleveland office. The ideal candidate will be responsible for producing and maintaining Firmwide marketing collateral materials and website content. Will work with the Online Communications Analyst and Internal Communications Writer for posting content to the Firm's intranet and website, will support the Firm's business development program, and will assist with overall marketing activities for the Firm. Responsibilities include the following: Gather information, write, edit, and coordinate hardcopy production and/or electronic posting of Firm and practice group information, collateral/capabilities materials, and other written communications as assigned. Develop communications materials in conjunction with Marketing Department Directors, Business Development & Marketing Managers, and attorneys. Stay abreast of Firm and practice group priorities and activities, as well as news and current events relevant to the Firm, such as industry rankings. Ensure consistency of information across all Firm communication platforms.Requirements:Bachelor's degree in journalism, public relations, English, or related field, with 5-7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Law firm or professional services experience desirable. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite. Ability to write reports and business correspondence. Ability to present information effectively and to respond to questions from all levels of professional and support staff, clients, and the general public. Interpersonal communication skills necessary to maintain effective relationships with partners, attorneys, clients and staff. Excellent organizational and planning skills with ability to prioritize multiple tasks and projects to meet deadlines; ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced environment with demanding individuals; high level of maturity and confidence necessary to interact with sophisticated internal clients; outstanding attention to detail and creativity; flexibility and persistence; motivation and energy with the ability to work with little supervision and collaborate with other members of the team.How to Apply: Send resume to Aurie Watkins, Firmwide HR Coordinator, or fax to 216-861-6618.

MULTI MEDIA JOURNALIST - WKYC TV 3 * Shoot, write, edit and report stories for daily newscasts.* Enterprise stories and package ideas.* Deliver live stories and packages from remote locations and in studio.* Produce daily content for website and social media platforms.* Work with desk on follow-up* Other related duties as assigned.Experience: 3 Year(s) Requirements:* Minimum 3 years medium market television news reporting experience.* "Live" on scene reporting experience* Strong writing skills, web and social media skills, outstanding news judgment, excellent communication and people skills, strong shooting and editing skills.* Ability to enterprise story ideas* Strong live/breaking news skills* Broad knowledge of Cleveland area issues and news contacts is a plus.* Must work quickly and efficiently in rapidly changing broadcast environment* Degree in Journalism or relevant major.* Must have valid driver's license. Apply to: jobs@wkyc.com 

P/T PRODUCTION ASSISTANT - WKYC TV 3 * Serve as Floor Director and Teleprompter Operator for WKYC-TV newscasts and special projects. * News script coordination. * Computer entry. * Program research. * Other duties as assigned. Requirements: * Experience in studio production such as Floor Director, Teleprompter Operator, or other related areas. * Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills required. * Word processing skills. * Must have flexibility in work schedule. Position involves extremely early and late hours and may include weekends. * College degree preferred. Apply E-Mail: jobs@wkyc.com 

PART-TIME ON-AIR PERSONALITY - WKRK-FM THE FAN Auto req ID 10245BR 92.3 The Fan is looking for part-time Sports Talk Show Hosts for weekend and fill-in shifts. Required Skills/Experience Candidates must be familiar with the Cleveland sports scene, be able to singlehandedly steer a show and deliver entertaining sports information. Major market sports related experience is preferred and candidates must be able to identify with the Cleveland sports scene and able to talk about more than just the games! NOTE: Shifts could occur at any time and requires an open schedule. - Additional Candidate Instructions Please indicate in your cover letter where you saw our posting.Apply online:  www.cbsradio.com.  

AFTERNOON TALENT - WQAL RADIO

Auto req ID 10597BR
Q104 Cleveland has an afternoon drive opening. Our current host has moved to co-host a morning show. Are you wild about social media, pop culture and have an interesting perspective on life? Then we want to see your resume. Required Skills/Experience
Preferred Skills/Experience Two years of on-air experience is preferred.
Minimum Education Level Associate Degree or Equivalent Experience
Additional Candidate Instructions Email audio sample to jobs@q104.com
Apply online here

PRODUCER - CBS RADIO Auto req ID 10781BR
CBS Radio Cleveland is looking for a full-time producer to shape the sound of our stations. Basic computer skills are necessary to post audio or written content to the web and the ability to multi-task while providing support to the rest of the staff. .
Required Skills/Experience -
Preferred Skills/Experience We prefer candidates have one year previous broadcast experience and the ability to work under pressure while meeting specific deadlines. Apply online here.  

PRODUCTION DESIGNER - CLEVELAND MUSEUM OF ART The museum's Design and Architecture department seeks candidates to fill its part-time Production Designer position. Duties include, but are not limited to, formatting labels and panels in Creative Suites, preparing maps, signs, banners, and various graphics on the Macintosh, maintaining organization of electronic files for multi-departmental use, and other special projects as assigned. Bachelor's Degree with one to two years experience in production design and proficiency in Creative Suites for Macintosh is required. This is a part-time position with a maximum of 20 hours per week. Apply online here. 

INTERACTIVE MULTI MEDIA SPECIALIST  

- TOOLING U  

Reporting to: Manager, Content Development
The Interactive Multi Media Specialist is responsible for creating illustrations and animations that will be used in online manufacturing training content. The role also assists in coordinating the workflow of multimedia from outside vendors, assists in video editing, and maintains changes and revisions to multimedia content. Major Functions:
*Creating engaging and instructionally sound illustrations of manufacturing components and processes.
*Creating engaging and instructionally sound Flash-based animations of manufacturing components and processes.
*Collaborating with outside contractors to ensure animations, 3D models, and illustrations meet specifications and are delivered on a timely basis.
*Editing video content for use in an online training format.
*Maintaining a process-oriented approach to multimedia and file management, ensuring content is well-documented, archived, and keyword searchable.
*Collaborating with Content Developers to ensure online training content is clear, concise, instructionally sound, and engaging.
Minimum Education, Skills, and Experience Requirements:
*Bachelor's degree in graphic design or related field.
*Minimum of 1 year professional work experience.
*Strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite software applications (knowledge of Flash and ActionScript is essential).
*Strong knowledge of illustration software.
*Strong knowledge of photo-editing software.
*Knowledge of 3D modeling software (preferred, but not required).
*Knowledge of video-editing software.
*Ability to work independently on the job and manage the contribution of others (such as contract illustrators, 3D modeling artists, Flash artists, etc.) in order to meet deadlines established by the Manager, Content Development.
Working conditions:
*Standard office environment.
*Some travel required.
Please send your cover letter and resume to:
Attn: Katie Borgula
Manager, Human Resources
E-mail: hr@sme.org
Only those applicants meeting specific criteria will be contacted.   

Jerry Masek: 35 years with SPJ

Jerry Masek received his 35 year pin from SPJ this week. But what we're most grateful for, here at SPJ Cleveland, is the incredible amount he has done for SPJ in those years. He's been president of this chapter more than once, and when he was president, we earned a national Chapter of the Year award for exceptional programming and other activity. Indeed, one of Jerry's projects was to start Writer's Week, now edited by Carrie Buchanan and Elaine Wilson.  

Masek has also been active at the national level, where he chaired the Membership Committee of SPJ's national board of directors.  

An award winning photojournalist, Masek has been active in private and public sector communications for the past 40 years. He's a Cleveland Press alumnus, as we learned last summer when we feted the late, great newspaper.  

As well as photojournalism, his projects extend to media relations, speech writing, newsletter editing, and newspaper journalism.

Masek's work has been found nationwide in the National Star tabloid, in Passenger Transport, Metro Magazine and Public Gaming magazine, and online at donnanowak.com, rideRTA.com and MBSConline.org. 

In our region, his pictures have been published by the Associated Press, Balanced Living magazine and the Cleveland Women's Journal. They have been in 10 newspapers in Ohio and Indiana, and on TV stations that broadcast Ohio Lottery drawings.