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  Writer's Week  

Society of Professional Journalists

    Cleveland Pro Chapter Newsletter     

Dec. 4, 2014   

 Deadline For Next Edition: Dec. 12, 2014  
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President's message
It's the holiday season: Let's facilitate
thoughtful, reflective discussion 
Rodney Bengston
Rodney Bengston 
  

We have officially entered the holiday season.

 

With that in mind, besides the usual wishes for health, wealth and happiness let us hope for a new year with people showing a little more tolerance and a willingness to listen.

 

For example, we know racial issues can be a hot-button topic, but instead of opposing sides trying to shout each other down I am hoping to see a more thoughtful, reflective discussion. And the media should play a role in facilitating that discussion.

 

Here is what I have learned in life: If I take the time to sit and listen to someone - even if I vehemently disagree with that person - I usually learn something and have a better appreciation of where that person is coming from. We may still disagree, but if mutual respect is given, that discussion can be ongoing.

 

Happy holidays.

 

Rodney Bengston

President, SPJ Cleveland       

FOI Chair Cuillier urges public to contact senators to support FOIA Improvement Act

 

David Cuillier, SPJ's national freedom of information committee chair, is urging the public to contact U.S. Senators in support of the FOIA Improvement Act, which will help journalists and citizens better access their government. SPJ also urges journalists to write editorials to spread the word about the bill.

 

The Senate Judiciary Committee recently unanimously approved the bipartisan legislation that strengthens the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), the nation's premier open government law. Now that the House has approved a similar bill, finality resides with a Senate vote. 

 

Read more about the bill here.

Crowdfunding project raises funds
for public records requests

 

Renegade Press has established a Public Records Fund to cover the costs of obtaining documents in the public interest.

Money donated to the fund will be used solely for the purposes of making these records public, and records will be posted to the Renegade Press website alongside receipts so that anyone with an Internet connection can hold the fund's executor accountable.

 

Pending public records requests include court documents in the case against a Kentucky correctional officer who received no jail time after confessing to 25 counts of sexually assaulting inmates and administrative records relating to sexual assaults at an Ohio juvenile correctional facility, where 30 percent of inmates reported being sexually assaulted.

 

Learn more about the project or donate here.

Post, find jobs with the help of SPJ

 

Need a job, internship or fellowship? SPJ is always on the lookout for you. Follow @spj_tweets for openings, or share great journalism openings with us when you or your news organization have them by tweeting them to us!

 

Employers: Reach those who are most dedicated to the profession by posting your openings in SPJ's Job Bank. Our members want this info, but we can't share them all. Post in our job bank so that everyone has the chance to see it - for longer than a fleeting tweet!

Job Opportunities

NIEMAN LAB STAFF WRITER

 

Join a small newsroom at Harvard to report on journalism innovation - innovation in how news gets reported, produced, distributed, discovered, consumed, and paid for - with a particular focus on how mobile is changing the news. If you enjoy the sort of stories produced by the Nieman Lab and would like a chance to report, write (and maybe edit) them full time, you might be a good candidate. 

 

Apply here.

 

NORTHEAST OHIO MEDIA GROUP COMMON PLEAS COURT BEAT REPORTER

 

Bring your courts coverage experience to one of the premier court reporting jobs in the country where you'll have the opportunity to cover a beat that has regularly produced high-impact, high interest news. On this beat, you will cover all key stories about criminal and civil cases in the Common Pleas courts of Cuyahoga County, in Cleveland, Ohio. This is the largest court system in the state, with dozens of judges handling cases every day. You will report on indictments, trials and sentencings by writing, creating videos, and posting across multiple platforms including all relevant types of social media. You'll also participate in live coverage of the highest-profile cases, posting from courtrooms in real time. This beat also includes coverage of the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office.

 

Get more information and/or apply here.

 

NORTHEAST OHIO MEDIA GROUP CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR

 

If you have strong customer service and administrative support skills and are seeking a challenging position where you can take ownership of your responsibilities and grow your skills and career, this Campaign Coordinator role could be a great learning and development opportunity for you. Leveraging your knowledge of digital advertising products, you will provide quality support at a number of levels for sales and fulfillment functions.  You'll learn the full range of our offerings, work alongside talented and knowledgeable sales people and gain the organizational "big picture."

 

This is a stepping-stone position for a driven professional who genuinely enjoys helping others and contributing to the team. Prove yourself and demonstrate your talent and you could pursue other opportunities within the Northeast Ohio Media Group, such as a sales or marketing role.

 

Northeast Ohio Media Group is a digitally focused company that operates cleveland.com and Sun News and is responsible for multimedia ad sales, marketing and content for
The Plain Dealer, Sun News and cleveland.com

 

Get more information and/or apply here.  

 

NORTHEAST OHIO MEDIA GROUP DIGITAL SALES SPECIALIST

 

The Digital Sales Specialist is responsible for generating digital revenue primarily through coordinated sales calls with account executives deployed at Local Market Group hubs. SSC will provide expertise with digital advertising to existing and prospective clients and display an ability to generate revenue across all platforms according the client's needs. This individual will work with the sales team to prepare for client presentations and to assist in the individual assessment for each client and work together to come up with individual proposals tailored to each client need.

 

Get more information and/or apply here.

 

JOBS LISTINGS FOR TECHNICAL COMMUNICATORS 

 

If you're a writer who can handle scientific and technological jargon and translate it into understandable English, or perhaps a graphic designer who can deal with technological topics, you might want to consider technical communication. Here's a site set up by the Society for Technical Communication with job listings in the Pittsburgh area. There is a Northeast Ohio Chapter of STC, which holds regular workshops and programs about technical communication. Find them at neostc.org.  

Journalism scholarships & fellowships

2015 FASPE JOURNALISM PROGRAM

 

FASPE (Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional Ethics), in collaboration with The Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, is now accepting applications for a fellowship that uses the conduct of journalists during the Holocaust and in Nazi Germany as a launching point for an intensive two-week summer program on contemporary journalism ethics.  Fellowships include an all-expenses-paid trip from New York to Berlin, Krakow, and Oświęcim (Auschwitz) where students work with leading faculty to explore both journalism history and the ethical issues facing working journalists today.  All program costs, including international and European travel, lodging, and food, are covered.

 

The 2015 FASPE Journalism program will run from May 24 to June 4.  To be eligible applicants must either (1) be enrolled in a graduate program or (2) be working journalists who completed their undergraduate degrees between June 2010 and June 2014.

 

Completed applications must be received by Jan. 6, 2015.  All FASPE programs are non-denominational and candidates of all religious, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

 

To apply or to learn more about FASPE, visit www.FASPE.info   

Direct any questions to Thorin R. Tritter, Managing Director of FASPE, at ttritter@FASPE.info.
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)

Join the #youngjournojobs Twitter chat

On Dec. 9 at 2 p.m. ET, @spj_tweets and host @collegemedia will hold their second college/post graduate #youngjournojobs Twitter chat. The discussion will cover all the woes, trials and tribulations of application season.

 

Attendees are encourages to come prepared with questions, answers, suggestions and comments about internships and applications. Read the first #youngjournojobs TwitterChat with Kenna Griffin here.

Internships for journalism and communication students
  EDITORIAL CONTENT INTERN
MAJESTIC STEEL
Cleveland, OH

 
You may get the majority of your info now from Twitter and the Daily Show, but you're also dialed in to a time that came before your Facebook newsfeed. In terms of tech, the steel industry is a bit behind, but with your help, we're looking to change that perception by building the first brand in steel. 

 

In terms of your skills, you should fancy yourself a writer who doesn't shy away from a challenge. That means writing about a breakthrough in technology one day and the rising price of zinc the next. To succeed, you'll have an analytical side that's balanced by a creative edge. Be prepared to brainstorm and then execute. 

 

You'll work hand-in-hand with our Creative Content Lead to help re-launch many of our social channels, in addition to writing our blog and sourcing topics for our Industry Insights page. You'll also be viewed as one of the team, so expect to walk away armed with a full portfolio of at least 30 - 50 articles. 

 

Here's the nitty gritty of what we'll need you to do: 

* Assist in writing content for our shiny new website and blog.

* Help us brainstorm creative content ideas for our blog, videos, collateral,  

* Source information for our Industry Insights page by keeping your finger on the pulse of current industry-specific media. 

  *Manage our social media channels, including Twitter, Insta, Facebook, Google+ and Vine. This does not mean you get to tweet all day...just for some of the day.  

*Constantly be on the lookout for the next great thing - or better yet, come up with it.   

* Get excited about challenging a traditional industry with non-traditional ideas and work. 

 

You'll need this under the hood: 

* A junior or senior college student, or recent grad. 

  *A strong desire to stretch your brain to its limits.  

*Must be able to think outside your daily activities to see the big picture.   

* Proven writing ability in the form of blog posts, school assignments or personal projects. 

* Social media prowess. We can teach you a lot, but you should be interested in using social media to build a brand. 

 

To apply, click here.

 


CLEVELAND INDIANS  COMMUNICATIONS INTERN 

 

PRIMARY PURPOSE:  

To assist Indians Communications Department in all activities including business communications, social media and other projects as assigned. 


RESPONSIBILITIES & DUTIES:  

* Utilize creative writing and editing skills to assist in the creation and implementation of communication plans and messaging. 

* Assist daily social media efforts, including writing daily posts, monitoring and tracking all platforms. 

* Assist in coordination of Indians Social Suite, both selection of candidates and gameday coordination. 
* Assist in planning and execution of media events, press conferences and influencer events. 
* Assist by monitoring all social media channels, websites, blogs and other media outlets for content relative to Indians, baseball and sports industry. 
* Assist digital efforts including Indians.com updates, email marketing and tracking. 
* Update and create message points for TV/Radio ratings.  

* Perform other duties as assigned. 


Requirements  

Marketing or communications or journalism degree preferred. 
* Excellent creative writing and editing skills.  

* Proficient in Social Media Channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Blogging, etc.

Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, E-mail & Internet. 
* Excellent oral communication. 
* Excellent interpersonal skills. 
* Reads, speaks, and comprehends English effectively. 
* The ability to work with multicultural populations and have a commitment to fairness and equality.
* Represents the Indians organization in a positive fashion to all business partners and the general public. 
* Ability to lift and carry items up to 40 lbs. 
* Ability to work extended days and approx. 40 hours per week for 10 months. 
* Ability to sit or stand for an entire shift. 
* Ability to move throughout all areas and levels of the Ballpark. 
* Ability to develop and maintain successful working relationship with members of the Front Office.
* Ability to act according to the organizational values at all times.

View or apply to job here.  

   

VIRTUAL INTERSHIPS
THE CELEBRITY CAFE

We are looking for dedicated interns who understand the culture TheCelebrityCafe.com embodies. We have nine different internships opportunities; Marketing and Social Media, Business Administration, Research, Copy Editing, Graphic Design and our News, Music, Entertainment and Sports Writing internships.

This is a 12-week internship for students in a virtual office for academic credit only.

We had previously asked students to dedicate 10 hours minimum per week, but will be increasing the requirement to 15 hours each week. As the online forums for writers grow, we want to continue to guide students to the best of our ability and and help them understand how an online magazine operates, and found that this can not be properly done within our original time requirements.

Additional program descriptions are online here

We also want to highlight the importance of our Marketing and Social Media internship. Students who are interested in this internship will become knowledgeable in an array of online communication, and will learn how to combine online marketing with overarching outreach goals in a professional setting. This is a necessary skill for students to acquire upon entering professional work settings, many that are heavily internet focused.

Openings for the internships are limited. Please apply here as soon as possible.

 

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 Jackie Mitchell, a reporter for the Cleveland Jewish News and recent 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  

  

      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.