Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Twitter isn't just for those techie types anymore...

Interesting post on major news being broken on Twitter lately.

http://mashable.com/2009/08/18/mainstream-news-twitter/

I'll admit I hesitate to put upcoming stories on Twitter before they're published, to avoid being picked up by local competition. But, I've been doing it more and more. If the story's done, it's done.

Plus, the author of this post has a good point, Twitter has a broader reach than my small capital city paper does on a good day. Even if I don't have thousands of followers, my followers have followers and news spreads quickly that way. It's like a game of telephone, or high school.

I'm a newspaper girl through and through, but Twitter is a useful tool for journalists and we'll be having an SPJ session to discuss that very soon.

Why join SPJ?

Lots of reasons.

Like professional development.
Networking.
Scholarships.
Awards.
Conferences/conventions.
Job banks.
Programming.
Mentors.
Professional resources.
Legal support.

Personally, I joined SPJ when I was a college student in Virginia. It was my dad's idea actually. He said "If you're serious about being a journalist, you should start joining professional organizations."

So I did.

Next thing I know, I was awarded the chapter's scholarship. That's where I met the internship for the Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, which would become my first job out of college. Then, I was on the board.

Now, I'm in 'bama, running the state chapter here. Through SPJ, I've gotten more training, professional development and mentors than anywhere else. I've been able to network with some of the nation's best, and that interaction has been just as valuable as on the job training.

In short, I highly recommend joining SPJ and then getting actively involved in the organization. We have plenty of room to grow in Alabama and we need your help to do it.

For more about joining SPJ: http://www.spj.org/whyjoin.asp

SPJ in the news

SPJ's code of ethics is mentioned at the bottom of this USA Today op-ed.

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2009/08/letters-lines-are-blurring-in-strange-new-world-of-journalism-.html

National Convention

The national convention is coming up, next week, and there's still time to register.

www.spj.org

I'll be headed up and looking forward to visiting with friends from last year's convention and the Scripps leadership institute from last year.

Plus, I'm running for regional director for Region 3, which includes Alabama, Florida and South Carolina. That means there will be some shifts in leadership for Alabama Pro and I'll keep you posted as those come together.

If anyone is interested in leadership positions or getting more involved in the chapter, please let me know. We've got some great programs coming up and I'm pretty excited to see them come together and would love to have you all involved!

Friday, August 14, 2009

MEDIA OF BIRMINGHAM> August: last-minute mixer on Tuesday / job listing / Southern Accents / Birmingham News

Hi MOBsters,

AUGUST EVENT: Join us Tuesday for our Summer Mellow Mixer at Mellow Mushroom in Inverness (not the one on Southside).

http://bit.ly/TfD5O

Invite your friends and colleagues in media (print, broadcast, online, etc.), public relations, advertising and marketing. Free event.

Our thanks to Mellow Mushroom for helping put this event together.

Plus ... VOLUNTEERS DRINK FREE: E-mail mailbox[AT]mediaofbirmingham.com to be an event photographer or greeter.


* * *

Blog updates:

* EXCLUSIVE: Birmingham magazine hires Thicket's editor-in-chief, advertising director
http://bit.ly/16cGwm

* EXCLUSIVE: Birmingham News could face layoffs by February
http://bit.ly/18QsBC

* Southern Accents magazine shuts down, 20 staffers out of work
http://bit.ly/4Fy1YR

* WERC looking for part-time anchors
http://bit.ly/IVXxW

* American Marketing Association, Birmingham chapter presents: Hoffman Media's success story,
11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Summit Club, $10-$30
http://bit.ly/8L5t4

* A busy summer for the new Alabama Pro chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists
http://bit.ly/1Bobi1


Let us know what's happening in Birmingham media.

The MOB

--
Media of Birmingham
mailbox@mediaofbirmingham.com
http://mediaofbirmingham.com

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

SPJ National Convention

It's getting close, but the national convention is Aug. 27-31. I'll be there and will post information and what I've learned here.

Another chapter member, George Daniels, is also attending. He's a journalism professor at the University of Alabama and works with the student SPJ chapter there.

For more info about the conference, go to www.spj.org

Welcome!

Hello Alabama SPJ'ers!

Welcome to our new chapter blog. This will serve as our newsletter of chapter happenings, information, and journalism of note from around the state.

Everyone is welcome to contribute and we'll build this as we go.

For other info about SPJ-Alabama Pro, you can e-mail alabamapro.spj@gmail.com or follow us on Twitter at SPJ_AlabamaPro.

More information about the national SPJ organization is available at www.spj.org.

We have some programs and activities coming up, so keep checking back here for info.