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  Writer's Week  

Society of Professional Journalists

    Cleveland Pro Chapter Newsletter     

March 16, 2014   

 Deadline For Next Edition: March 23, 2014 
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President's Message

Films on Jayson Blair, the New York Times  

at the Cleveland International Film Festival 

Rodney Bengston
Rodney Bengston

 

The Cleveland International Film Festival always has been a good and enlightening experience for me, but there are two films this year that should be of special interest to journalists.

                   

"A Fragile Trust: Plagiarism, Power, and Jayson Blair at the New York Times" details how Blair - a man with an undiagnosed mental illness - was able to fabricate and plagiarize a number of stories during this time at the newspaper.

                   

The film will be shown at 9 p.m. March 20 at the Apollo Theatre in Oberlin and at 9:45 p.m. March 27 and 4:15 p.m. March 28 at the Tower City Cinemas. The March 28 showing will include a Film Forum, which should provide an interesting discussion. As the film festival guide listing says, "This powerful and important film will make you question both the news markets you trust and your role as a consumer in them."

                   

There also is the short documentary, "Reporting on the Times: The New York Times and the Holocaust," based on the book, "Buried by the Times." It will be part of a shorts program at 2:10 p.m. March 26 and noon March 27 at Tower City Cinemas.

                   

With so many changes happening right now in journalism, it often good to look at the past to determine our path for the future, and it can also show us the path we might want to avoid.

                   

For more on the many films at this year's festival go to www.clevelandfilm.org.

                   

Speaking of quality journalism, I just wanted to make a quick mention that the deadline is quickly approaching for the Phillip W. Porter Scholarship, where the Cleveland SPJ Chapter awards a scholarship to a deserving high school student. More about that in my next column - and in the article below.  

 

Rodney Bengston

President, SPJ Cleveland 

Region 4 Conference coming up April 4-5
Central Ohio SPJ logo
The Columbus-based Central Ohio Chapter of SPJ will host this year's Region 4 Conference April 4-5 at Ohio State University, drawing SPJ members from all over Ohio, Michigan, Western Pennsylvania and West Virgina for a Friday night reception plus a full day of programming on Saturday.

Friday night's opening reception promises to be memorable. It's at Columbus' newest museum, the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum, located in Sullivant Hall, 18103 N. High St. on the Ohio State campus. Special guest will be Jeff Smith, author/cartoonist of the BONE graphic novels and winner of many national and international awards. The evening's events start at 5:30 p.m.

We'll have more about the programs planned for Saturday in weeks to come. For now, just mark those dates on your calendar and get ready for the trip to Columbus. A block of rooms is being held at a nearby hotel and you find the link to book those and register for the conference, here. Cost is $95 if you're an SPJ members, or $50 for student SPJ members. The rate is $150 for nonmember professionals and $75 for nonmember students.
Applications open for Porter Scholarship

Once again this year, the Cleveland Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is holding the Phillip W. Porter Scholarship competition for 2014 graduating high-school seniors planning a career in journalism in the six Northeast Ohio counties of Cuyahoga, Lake, Ashtabula, Lorain, Medina and Geauga.

 

A $4,000 scholarship will be awarded to the winner. The student will be entitled to $1,000 upon entering the college of his/her choice, and $1,000 for each of the succeeding three years as an undergraduate, provided satisfactory grades are maintained and ongoing documentation for proof of same is forwarded each semester to SPJ.  

  

All applications must be submitted in writing and received by April 1. Late or incomplete applications will not be considered. 

 

The complete application package, including the cover letter sent to each high school guidance counsellor, eligibility rules and an application form, is attached in PDF format. If you have any problems downloading the form or questions about the scholarship, please contact Dr. Anup Kumar, chair of the Porter Scholarship Committee, at Cleveland State University's School of Communication.  

 

Art Apps for iPads
cdpug logo
Nancy Aikins, of Penton Publishing, will discuss her favorite iPad apps for drawing, painting and photography at the Cleveland Digital Publishing User Group's General Meeting on March 27. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. and will be held at the New Horizons Computer Learning Center, 1 Infinity Corp Ctr. Dr., Cleveland. Other speakers include Henry Lee, Janet Dodrill and Marvin Sable.

 

OHIO SPJ AWARDS COMPETITION
Honor the Best of Ohio's Print, Broadcasting, Online, Trade, College Journalism

CALL FOR ENTRIES

Entry information and a list of categories is available here.

Ohio's Best Journalism is presented collaboratively by the Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland Pro Chapters of The Society of Professional Journalists.  It is the only Ohio competition that honors journalists who fulfill the SPJ mission: defense of the First Amendment, support of literacy, resistance to censorship, advocacy for openness of public records and meetings, media self-criticism and community service. This program also recognizes the best college daily and weekly newspapers, and awards up to $2,000 in scholarships for excellent student writing in news, feature, sports and opinion.

DEADLINE:  No entries will be accepted after 4:29 pm, May 2, 2014.

ELIGIBILITY: Journalists are eligible who work for newspaper, magazines, radio, television, trade, online and college media in Ohio and adjacent states that have significant reach into Ohio. Entrants need not be members of the Society of Professional Journalists. The work must have been published or broadcast in 2013.

FEES: A $30 entry fee must accompany each submission, except College,  College students pay a $10 entry fee for writing of news, feature, sports and opinion.  College newspapers may enter free.  You may submit any given article in as many relevant categories as you wish. Submissions from trade publications, newsletters and other print alternatives are welcome. This contest is for journalists in the state of Ohio and immediately adjoining states whose publications / stations / work have significant reach into Ohio. There is a $5 discount per entry for work by SPJ members.

SPREAD THE WORD: Please forward this message to anyone you think would like to participate in Ohio's Best Journalism contest!

QUESTIONS?  For additional information, please contact Mike Lorz, 624 443-1877, or mlorz@rrcol.com.

 
Job opportunities
 
Thanks to Kelly Blazek for her dedication and commitment in seeking out many of the jobs posted below.
 
REPORTER-WTAM-FM
Newsradio WTAM 1100 has a full-time Reporter/Anchor opening in its award-winning news department. Applicants should have a minimum 3 years-experience, strong writing/multi-tasking/social media skills and a passion for broadcasting. Excellent web skills, including photo editing, are required. E-mail demo/materials and resume toray@wtam.com 
 
 
ASSISTANT PRODUCER - THE OHIO CHANNEL/IDEASTREAM (COLUMBUS)
Info on this Columbus Statehouse opportunity here. 
 
REPORTER/PRODUCER - IDEASTREAM
Info and apply here. 
Events
There is more information on these events and opportunities below, in articles under this column or below the President's Message. For job listings, see lower left; for student internships, see lower right
March 20, 9 p.m.
Apollo Theatre, Oberlin
and
March 27, 9:45 p.m.
March 28, 4:15 p.m.
Tower City Cinemas
"A Fragile Trust: Plagiarism, Power and Jayson Blair at the New York Times"
Cleveland International Film Festival
www.clevelandfilm.org

March 20
Learn about the Professional and Technical Writing Program at
Youngstown State University
NEO STC
Radcom, Inc. 
561 Bostom Mills Road #400 Hudson
5:30 p.m.
Registration required
See details below at left

March 26, 2:10 p.m.
March 27, noon
Tower City Cinemas
"Reporting on the Times: The New York Times and the Holocaust."
Cleveland International Film Festival
www.clevelandfilm.org

March 27
Cleveland Digital Publishers Users Group
Art Apps for iPads
with Nancy Aikins of Penton Publishing
at the
New Horizons Computer Learning Center
1 Infinity Corp. Center Drive
at 6 p.m.
More info below at left

April 4-5
SPJ Regional 4 Conference
Opening reception Friday 5:30 p.m.
Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum
Ohio State University
Sullivant Hall
1813 N. High St.
Columbus
and a full day of programs
Saturday, starting at 8:30 a.m.
Fawcett Center
Ohio State University
2400 Olentangy River Road
Columbus
Register here!
see more at left below

Ohio's Best Journalism
SPJ Awards
Entry deadline May 2, 4:29 p.m.
see more below at left

 

 

Students get taste of journalism at SPJ event

Students on the path towards a career in journalism are watching newspapers such as The Plain Dealer carefully. With the introduction of free online news publications, the outlook for decent paying jobs in the news field is thinning.

 

The world will always need journalists to gather and report information. However, it now seems that journalists entering the field must be able to sell themselves in a variety of fields, including online content management, according to Thom Fladung, managing editor of the Plain Dealer.

 

To read the full article, by Karl Schneider, go to The Collegian's website. Thanks to Karl for the photo above of Fladung speaking to our group on Feb. 18.  

 

Professional and Technical Writing
The Northeast Ohio Society of Technical Communicators will host a panel discussion on the launch of Youngstown State University's Professional and Technical Communications program. 

The event will be held March 20 from 5:30 p.m-8 p.m at Radcom, Inc., 561 Bostom Mills Road, Hudson. 

To register email treasurer@neostc.com.
 
Quick Links

 SPJ Job Bank

Join or Renew Membership
(Be sure to scroll down on the application form and sign up for the Cleveland Pro Chapter, as well as the national SPJ)
Internships for journalism and communication students
LINCOLN ELECTRIC
ASSOCIATE PRODUCT MANAGER

LINCOLN ELECTRIC
CREATIVE SERVICES/GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Info and apply here. 

SEASONAL INTERN
GAME PRESENTATION (QTV)
CLEVELAND CAVALIERS
 Info and apply here. 


DEVELOPMENT INTERN

GORDON SQUARE ARTS DISTRICT

Spring 2014

The Gordon Square Arts District is seeking an intern to help complete the organization's campaign for development through investment in the arts. The student will have the opportunity to work closely with a small staff in a busy fundraising office, be involved in a variety of development activities, and have a hands-on role in the completion of a major capital campaign. He or she will also learn by working within a unique collaboration between three non-profit organizations, experience how the arts can be used as an economic development tool, and be a part of the work

a part of the work required to complete a $30 million capital campaign.  

 

Primary responsibilities would include, but not be limited to:

Working with donor database records and mailing lists for annual fund solicitations and mailings;
Compiling GSAD historical archives of photos, newsletters and press into succinct, useable format;
Organizing hard copy donor record files;
Assisting with marketing projects and materials, including maintaining information packet materials;
Assisting in fundraising initiative and event implementation;
Conducting prospect research;
Assisting with general prospect and donor activities, and
Other duties as assigned.

 

Ideal candidates would be available to work at least 2 days per week, 3-4 hours per day. GSAD will accommodate a student schedule, provide mentorship, and complete necessary requirements for the student to qualify for school credit.

 

Interested candidates should send a resume and cover letter to Development Manager Theresa Schneider.

 

Laurie Mitchell
Marketing & Communications  

216-292-9936

 

infoaboutusWriter's Week is a service of the Cleveland chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. This e-newsletter is edited by Carrie Buchanan, assistant professor, Tim Russert School of Communication & Theatre Arts, John Carroll University, and assistant editor Chris Mosby, a reporter, editor and graduate of John Carroll University.

Please send news items and job & internship postings to spjcleveland@gmail.com    

 

Street Address: Cleveland SPJ, 4337 Chanticleer Drive, Fairview Park, Ohio 44126-1906

Chapter email: Cleveland@spj.org

President: Rodney Bengston  

Chapter web site:  www.spjchapters.org/cleveland/

  

      The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. SPJ is dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi and based in Indianapolis, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed public, works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists, and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press.