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Students, apply for summer 2017 newsroom fellowships

January 26, 2017 by Jeff South

sigmadeltachi_spj

Virginia SPJ,SDX Educational Foundation
and Society of Professional Journalists, Virginia Pro Chapter

$1,500 FELLOWSHIPS SUPPORT
SUMMER NEWSROOM INTERNSHIPS

Two $1,500 cash fellowships that support summer newsroom internships are available to rising juniors or seniors at an accredited Virginia college or university.  The internships must be at least six weeks’ full-time work at bona fide news organization approved by the foundation board of trustees.

The responsibility of securing a summer internship rests entirely with the student. Applicants are not required to have an internship pre-arranged in order to apply. The foundation may help students arrange an internship, but it cannot guarantee one can be found. Payment of the fellowship stipend to the student (or internship provider, if required) can be made in advance, upon formal confirmation of the internship by the host news organization and approval of the internship by the foundation trustees. The stipend will be paid regardless of any salary offered by the host news organization, and it can be used for living expenses or any other purpose related to the summer internship.

Applicants are not required to be journalism majors, but they must demonstrate intent to pursue a career in journalism (print, broadcast and/or online media). Both 2017 fellowship winners will be recognized at the annual George Mason Banquet, held annually to honor a Virginian who has supported freedom of the press and contributed significantly to journalism.

Applications are now being accepted and must be postmarked by March 13, 2017. Here is the application form. (The form is also embedded below.) Fill out the Word document, and then send it to:

Ms. Clissa England
SPJ Fellowship Chair
5803 Fox Hollow Dr.
North Chesterfield, VA  23237-3103

Fellowships will be announced in April 2017.

Internships must meet the following requirements:

  • Internship experience should include writing for publication/broadcast.
  • The internship must be offered by a bona fide news organization and last at least six weeks.
  • The internship must be approved by the Virginia SPJ/SDX Educational Foundation board of trustees before payment of the fellowship stipend will be made.

Supporting materials:

Posted in Newsroom fellowships, SDX Educational Foundation, Society of Professional Journalists, SPJ, students, Updates |

Want to be on the SPJVA Board of Directors?

December 1, 2016 by rsidersky

The Virginia Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists seeks nominees for the following open positions on its board of directors:

Officers
President (one year term)
Vice President (one year term)
Secretary (one year term)
Treasurer (one year term)

Board positions
One director to serve one term expiring in 2018
Two directors to serve terms expiring in 2019

What’s required in a nutshell: help plan programming around the state for SPJ, call in to monthly board meetings, support SPJ’s mission, represent SPJ in your newsroom and at journalism events, including regional and national conferences.

If you are interested in filling one of these positions or have questions, please send chapter president Robyn Sidersky an email at robyn.sidersky@gmail.com by Dec. 7.

Posted in Chapter business, Society of Professional Journalists, Updates |

2016 George Mason Award Brunch

November 11, 2016 by kane804

The Coleman Bridge over the James River at Yorktown.

 

SPJ Virginia Pro Chapter gathered by the James River for the 2016 George Mason Award Brunch on Sunday, Oct. 30. About two dozen members met at Riverwalk Restaurant in Yorktown to honor George Mason Award recipient Dave Ress.

A reporter at The Daily Press and noted Virginia freedom of information and open government expert, Ress accepted the award from chapter President Robyn Sidersky. Betsy Edwards, executive director of the Virginia Press Association and the person who nominated Ress, remarked on his willingness to share his knowledge with fellow reporters and open government advocates.

Dave Ress speaks during the George Mason Award Brunch.

Dave Ress speaks during the George Mason Award Brunch.

The Mason Award, established in 1964, is presented annually to an individual for outstanding contributions to Virginia journalism. It is named for the principal author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the forerunner of the Bill of Rights.

Catherine Wiedman, a senior at Emory & Henry and recipient of the Virginia SPJ/SDX Educational Foundation’s fellowship, was also honored during the event.

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Catherine Wiedman, Dave Ress, Clissa England, Paul Fletcher and Robyn Sidersky at the brunch.

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National Immediate Past President Paul Fletcher shares his thoughts.

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Posted in Awards, George Mason Award, Programs, Updates |

Ress to receive 2016 George Mason Award

October 12, 2016 by rsidersky

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Robyn Sidersky
President, Virginia Pro Chapter SPJ
Phone: (954) 296-4407
Email: robyn.sidersky@gmail.com
www.spjva.com

 Buy tickets here.

Ress to Receive 2016 George Mason Award

 

RICHMOND, VA – (Oct 12, 2016) – Dave Ress, an investigative reporter with The Daily Press (Newport News), has been selected as recipient of the 2016 George Mason Award by the Virginia Pro Chapter, Society of Professional Journalists.

The Mason award, established in 1964, is presented annually to an individual for outstanding contributions to Virginia journalism. It is named for the principal author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights, the forerunner of the Bill of Rights.

Ress will be honored during a luncheon Sunday, Oct. 30 at Riverwalk Restaurant, 323 Water St., Suite 1-A, Yorktown. Ticket information will be available soon at www.spjva.com.

Ress has spent more than two decades in Virginia newsrooms. His efforts to press lawmakers and public officials on public information, records and transparency issues is matched by his willingness to share what he has learned.

“His extensive knowledge of FOIA has been invaluable in his job for The Daily Press – but even more invaluable is David’s willingness to share this knowledge with reporters across the Commonwealth,” wrote Betsy Edwards in her nomination letter. “His commitment to open government will make a real difference in how the Freedom of Information Act in Virginia is applied in years to come.”

Past recipients of the award include journalists, educators, attorneys and others who have made lasting impacts in Virginia. Recent recipients and more information are available at https://spjva.com/2015/02/01/the-george-mason-award/.

Posted in Awards, George Mason Award, Journalism, Updates | Tagged , , |

SPJVA to launch mentoring program

September 1, 2016 by rsidersky

The Virginia Pro Chapter of SPJ is launching a mentoring program for the fall. Our goal is to match journalism students with professionals throughout the state. Fostering the next generation of journalists is part of SPJ’s mission and we hope to support that through this program.

We ask students and professionals to fill out the applications below so that we can make the best matches. We ask that each pair check in at least once per month, and arrange at least one in-person or Skype meeting.

Students: apply here.

Professionals: apply here.

Have questions? Contact Bob Bennett, the mentoring program coordinator, at bobfox61@yahoo.com.

Posted in Journalism, Updates | Tagged , , , |

SPJVA Board to meet Sept. 1

August 31, 2016 by rsidersky

The SPJVA Board of Directors will meet via phone at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1.

Agenda:

  1. Scholarships to EIJ update
  2. Mentoring program update
  3. Forms here: student mentorship application, professional mentorship application
  1. VPA Day at the Capitol (formerly AP Day)
  2. VCOG Banquet
  3. George Mason banquet update
  4. Local events
  5. Board elections
  6. EIJ

 

Call-in number: 641-715-3580

Access Code: 583987

 

Any member is welcome to call in.

Posted in Updates |

SPJVA to award five scholarships to students to attend Excellence in Journalism Conference

June 7, 2016 by rsidersky

Five student journalists in Virginia will have the chance have their registration paid for to attend this year’s Excellence in Journalism Conference, being held Sept.18-20 in New Orleans.
Any college journalist in Virginia who is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists may enter to have their registration covered to attend the conference. One of the highlights of this year’s event is a question and answer session with The Washington Post’s Marty Baron, who is portrayed in the movie “Spotlight.”
To enter, students should write a 200-word essay explaining why they deserve to attend and what they’ll learn from the conference.
The deadline to enter is July 15, 2016. Entrants should email their essays to Greg Gilligan, business editor at The Richmond Times-Dispatch and an SPJ Virginia Board Member. Send essays to ggilligan@timesdispatch.com. Along with your essay, please include a few clips showing that you are a student journalist, along with your name, school, phone number, email, and mailing address.
The state’s professional SPJ chapter is sponsoring the scholarships.
The winners will be notified soon after.

Posted in Chapter business, Journalism, Society of Professional Journalists, Updates |

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