Oklahoma Society of Professional Journalists host Region 8 Spring Conference
Published: March 24th, 2015
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Oklahoma Professional Chapter will host its Region 8 Spring Conference from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 28th at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.
This year’s conference focuses on journalism’s “Best Practices” and will feature workshops on reporting, writing, social media, ethics and campaign-finance investigations by top-notch journalists and media professionals from across the U.S..
Journalists, communications professionals and others interested in the latest on journalism’s best practices are welcome to attend.
SPJ Region 8 spring conference SCHEDULE:
8 a.m. to 9 a.m.
Registration
9 a.m.
“Welcome to the Jungle: The Culture of Newsrooms” by Kathleen McElroy, assistant professor in the School of Media and Strategic Communications at Oklahoma State University and a former editor at The New York Times.
10 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Workshops (some workshops will run until 10:45 a.m.)
“Follow the Money” How journalists can explore campaign finances and write investigative pieces by Eve Byron of the National Institute on Money in State Politics
“SPJ Code of Ethics” by National SPJ President Elect Paul Fletcher. He will discuss the latest in journalism and ethics from 10 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
“Weather Coverage Panel” by Kurt Gwartney, former KGOU Radio operations director and a National Press Foundation Understanding Violent Weather fellow; Joe Wertz, Oklahoma’s NPR State Impact team member and Rachel Hubbard KOSU Radio associate director and general manager.
10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Workshops
“Follow the Money” How journalists can explore campaign finances and write investigative pieces by Eve Byron of the National Institute on Money in State Politics. (Drop-ins welcome).
“Covering TV News in Today’s News & Budget World Panel” by Alex Cameron, a TV news journalist with KWTV-News 9 investigative team and Phil Cross, an investigative reporter at Fox News Channel 9.
“Podcasting: A How-To Panel” featuring Chase Harvick with OETA Channel 13, Stephen Tyler with the “Apologize for the Inconvenience” podcast. Moderated by Michael Cross, KOSU Radioâs host of Morning Edition.
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
SPJ Oklahoma Region 8 Luncheon (lunch provided with registration) highlighting the media coverage of the 20th Anniversary of the Bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. Announcement of the SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards.
1:45 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Workshops
“Tribal Government Reporting Panel” moderated by veteran journalist M. Scott Carter, a staff reporter at Oklahoma Watch.
“First Amendment on College Campuses” by Joey Senat, an associate professor at OSU and longtime advocate for Open Records and transparency in government.
“Freelancing and How to Market Yourself Panel” by Carol Cole-Frowe, an award-winning and full-time freelance blogger and veteran journalist and Heide Brandes, an award-winning freelance journalists.
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
“Covering Executions Panel” featuring Cary Aspinwall, an enterprise writer for The Tulsa World; Graham Lee Brewer, a criminal justice reporter for The Oklahoman and Sean Murphy, capitol correspondent for the Associated Press.
“The Professionalization of Information Panel” moderated by Kevan Goff-Parker, a longtime award-winning journalist and PR pro for the Oklahoma Department of Human Services Developmental Disabilities Services division. The panel will feature Michael McNutt, a former longtime journalist/editor and now press secretary for Gov. Mary Fallin; Calley Herth, formerly of the Oklahoma Insurance Department and Jennie Melendez, spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Health Care Authority.
3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m.
“The Changing Models of Journalism Panel” moderated by Patrick B. McGuigan of CapitolBeatOK.com and The City Sentinel. Panelists are David Fritze, the executive editor at Oklahoma Watch and The Oklahoma Observer Editor Arnold Hamilton.
“Covering Live Events Panel” discussing the use of social media and online tools to report the news.
The panel will feature Tiffany Gibson, an online editor of NewsOK and Adam Kemp, an enterprise reporter for the Oklahoman.
Both journalists have covered severe weather, court cases and other breaking news across the Oklahoma City metro.
4 p.m.
Conference Concludes and SPJ Oklahoma Board Members hold Budget Meeting.
Registration begins at 8 a.m. Saturday.
The college is located 395 W. Lindsey Street in Norman.
To register and for more information about the conference, please link to the event website
Registration for the luncheon must be received by 5 p.m. Thursday, March 26.