35th Law and the Media Seminar 2/20/21
CANCELLED DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTIES CAUSED BY THIS WEEK’S WINTER STORM AND RESULTANT ISSUES. This year, the annual Law and the Media Seminar will be held virtually on Saturday, February 20, 2021, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The theme is “Justice Reform: The Quest for Fairness and Accountability.” The keynote speaker will be Benjamin Crump, civil rights attorney whose […]
SPJ+1
SPJ’s national headquarters issued a notice this week about national president Matthew Hall’s new initiative to increase membership across chapters. Please read the notice below and consider who among your colleagues might be interested in joining. Note also that Hall will visit with the Houston chapter virtually on Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. Central. A free press isn’t free. Journalism […]
Jingle Bells for Journalists 2020
On Sunday, December 14, 2020 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Central time, Houston SPJ will host Jingle Bells for Journalists, a virtual holiday party. The event will be held via Zoom and will feature: Party games (trivia quiz, icebreaker questions, and more A silent auction to benefit the Pagano Scholarship Fund. A visit by national SPJ President Matthew Hall […]
Reporting From Above
Mention drone journalism and several issues come up right away – laws, ethics, storytelling, privacy, and more. Join us for an insightful panel discussion of drones’ role in today’s reporting. Register today. Confirmed speakers: * Brandon Wade, a Dallas-based freelance photographer named in a lawsuit challenging the Texas drone photography law. * Alicia Wagner Calzada, an attorney for the National […]
SPJ HQ Launches Race and Gender Hotline
The following originally appeared on SPJ national’s website. Confidential and nonjudgmental You’re a reporter on deadline. How do I properly identify that transgender crime victim? You’re an editor on deadline. Can my headline be short and sensitive? You’re an art director on deadline. Is my illustration stylistic or whitewashing? You’re a photographer on deadline. Is my photo representative or insensitive? Fast answers for confused […]
Houston chapter holds another successful virtual coffee break
Houston SPJ’s Sept. 20 virtual coffee break was interesting as usual. We had guests from as far as Ukraine and Florida, and the conversation covered a range of topics from collaborating on projects to the best way to improve public speaking skills. Join us for the next one! These online gatherings are an opportunity for journalists and journalism students to […]
Houston SPJ marks the suffrage centennial
August 26, 2020 marks the centennial of the 19th Amendment, guaranteeing women the right to vote. The press was a significant part of that milestone, including the “suffrage press,” which the activists themselves put out to further their cause. On Saturday, August 22, at 1 p.m. CDT, Houston SPJ will present a program entitled “Suffrage and the Press: 100 Years […]
When the press badge doesn’t protect you
If you missed our panel discussion on July 25, or you saw it and want to catch it again, you can watch it here. During the protests that followed the death of George Floyd, there were widespread incidents of journalists being attacked even when they identified themselves as press. The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker reports more than 430 aggressions against […]
What you should know about the Pagano Scholarship
Studying journalism in college isn’t something you do for the money, or for the prestige, or for the cushy work hours. You pursue journalism because you’re passionate about truth and eager to tell the stories of your state, town, neighborhood, or even your own family under stay-at-home orders. Journalism students face the same challenges as students in other programs, especially […]
Going above and beyond
When the pandemic first got serious in the U.S. and stay-at-home and shelter-in-place orders were handed down, what a regular workday was changed for many people. It was no different for journalists, who if they went out to cover a story had to use equipment like an extended mic and to wear masks while keeping a minimum of six feet […]
