SPJ ‘s Region 2 Conference takes place this year at the University of Maryland, Knight Hall 7765 Alumni Drive College Park, MD 20742 on March 31-April 1 2023. The event includes the Mark of Excellence Awards Lunch. Registration available online at this link.
Conference Agenda
March 31 – Reception 6 p.m.
April 1 Registration opens at 8 a.m.
Session A: University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism professor and broadcaster Nathan Stevens will lead a discussion on video game journalism, how reviewing games works, and the future of Esports.
Session B: “Covering trauma and coping with stress” session moderated by James Madison University SPJ President Grant Patrick Johnson.
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
Session A: Jeff South, associate professor emeritus, Robertson School of Media and Culture at Virginia Commonwealth University will moderate a panel on “AI and journalists: How to use artificial intelligence tools in reporting.” Speakers will include Derek Willis, a data expert teaching at the University of Maryland, and Cristiana Bedei, an Italian freelancer who has written for Vice, Refinery 29 and other publications.
Session B: Bonnie Newman Davis will lead a panel on “Fighting to be Heard.” Davis is managing editor of the Richmond Free Press and author of “Truth Tellers: The Power and Presence of Black Women Journalists Since 1960.” Howard University journalism professor Yanick Rice Lamb will be a panelist.
Noon to 2 p.m. – Mark of Excellence Awards – The keynote speaker at this year’s luncheon will be Joyce Koh, Washington Post enterprise video reporter and on-air correspondent. An alumna of the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism, Koh has covered the war in Ukraine, the 2020 presidential campaign, police brutality protests, the Trump administration, and the national opioid crisis.
2:30-3:45 p.m.
Session A: Former SPJ National President Rebecca Baker will head a panel on “Mining the trade journalism job market.” Baker is editor at large for Bloomberg Tax Bloomberg/Industry Group in Washington. Panels include Thai Phi Le, senior managing editor, Industry Dive and Teresa Andersen, vice president of content, ASIS International.
Session B: Podcasting Panel with Michael Pope, co-host of Pod Virginia, a podcast about Virginia politics https://podvirginia.com/ ;Financial Times podcast host/producer Marc Filippino https://www.ft.com/ft-news-briefing; Ellen Weiss, part of the team that produced successful indie podcast Blind Landing; and David Schultz, producer and host of podcasts at Bloomberg Law and Bloomberg Government on topics including the Supreme Court, tax policy and the business of law.
Registration is $50 for students and $60 for pros Lunch only is $37.
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