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SPJ-NorCal hosts Reese Erlich, Author of "The Iran Agenda: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis"

Tuesday, November 13, 2007
London Wine Bar, 415 Sansome St., San Francisco
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Will the U.S. attack Iran? Award-winning freelance journalist Reese Erlich provides a first-hand report based on recent trips to Iran and Iraq. He traveled to remote guerrilla bases to uncover how the U.S. supports ethnic minority groups to carry out terrorist attacks inside Iran. Erlich reported for Mother Jones, Dallas Morning News, CBC and NPR.

Erlich will discuss his just-published book, The Iran Agenda: The Real Story of U.S. Policy and the Middle East Crisis. Commenting on the book, Walter Cronkite said, "'The Iran Agenda' is vital reading for anyone concerned about U.S. foreign policy."

Erlich was a segment producer for the Peabody award winning radio documentary Crossing East. He won the 2001-2 SPJ Depth reporting award for radio journalism.

The moderator for the evening will be Linda Jue, President, Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California.

Sponsored by: Society of Professional Journalists, Northern California

Please call Lani Silver for more information: 4l5-665-4761or e-mail her at: lanisilver (at) aol.com.

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EVENT: Multicultural health in the Bay Area: the untold story

Sponsor: Association of Health Care Journalists

• The changing face of America and what does it mean for journalists?
• Uncovered stories in multicultural communities - A look at the untold stories in the Bay area's African American, Latino, and South Asian communities, with a focus on economics and health; aging, health access and diverse populations; and the quiet crisis among South Asians.
• Covering the multicultural community with limited resources - Tips and traps on the multicultural health beat, making inroads with your coverage, applying lessons and better understanding and identifying your audience.

The workshop is noon-4 p.m. on Sept. 11, includes lunch and is FREE. We ask that people register ahead of time because seating is limited. For details on the lineup of speakers: http://www.healthjournalism.org/SFmulticultural.htm

SPJ to host June 14 reception at the National Association of Hispanic Journalists convention, San Jose

The news business today is undergoing radical change: Newsrooms are shrinking; corporations intent on controlling their message and image have moved light years into sophisticated manipulation; and politicians and governments are increasingly aggressive in challenging press freedoms.

Organizations such as the National Association of Hispanic Journalists are vital to maintaining our voice and growing our space in the industry.

Still, NAHJ cannot do it alone.

Now, more than ever, the Society of Professional Journalists is a critical sentinel in the defense of our work. SPJ has been busy of late, watching our backs. From funding the legal defense of imprisoned journalist Josh Wolf, to monitoring local, state and federal governments for legislative assaults on transparency and access to information laws, the support network has continued its long tradition of fighting on behalf of all journalists.

Now it’s time to get to know SPJ -- an organization that since 1909 has been a vanguard in the struggle for unfettered journalism.

Thursday, June 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel San Jose, NorCal SPJ will host a reception for attendees of the NAHJ annual conference. You are invited for appetizers and the company of journalists from the Northern California chapter of SPJ, one of the most active regional groups in the nation. We’ll show you what we’ve done for you, and how you can help our circle grow.

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Seek Truth and Blog It:
New Media Ethics

Panel discussion April 30 in San Francisco

How do journalist bloggers gain trust, maintain principles and uncover relevant and accurate news in a free-for-all information zone?

On April 30, a panel hosted by the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists discusses the possibilities and perils facing bloggers, vloggers and all online journalists. Is it out with the old-media standards and in with the new? Are there core beliefs and practices worth keeping?

Panelists:

• Eve Batey (SF Chronicle blog editor)
• Dan Gillmor ( Center for Citizen Media)
• Matt Mullenweg (founder of WordPress)
• Lisa Stone (cofounder of BlogHer)

Moderator: Tom Ballantyne

WHEN: 7 p.m. on Monday, April 30
WHERE: CNET headquarters, 235 Second St., San Francisco (2.5 blocks from Montgomery BART)
COST: $7; free for all members of SPJ

Come early at 6:30 p.m. for refreshments, no-host drinks and conversation

For more information, contact mattSPJ [AT] gmail.com

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VIDEO BLOGGER JOSH WOLF RELEASED AFTER 226 DAYS IN PRISON

SPJ-NorCal's journalist of the year served longest on contempt charge for refusing to cooperate with government subpoena that sought video and testimony

• Jailed SF Videographer Josh Wolf Freed From Prison KPIX-TV
• THE JOSH WOLF CASE: Blogger freed after giving video to feds, San Francisco Chronicle
• Deal With Prosecutor Gets Blogger Freed, AP via San Francisco Chronicle
• Editorial -- FOLLOWING UP: Josh Wolf's longest stand, San Francisco Chronicle
• Journalist Josh Wolf freed after seven months: FREELANCER CONSENTS TO RELEASE VIDEO TO WEB, MediaNews Group via San Jose Mercury News
• Josh Wolf's statement upon release, PR Watch Web site

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Rights of Student Journalists Focus of City College Forum

The City College Press Club and the Department of Journalism in conjunction with the Society of Professional Journalists' Northern California Chapter will host a forum entitled “In Defense of the Student Press.” The panel is comprised of a student editor, a campus adviser, and legal experts to discuss the rights of student journalists and the resources available to challenge any threat to a free campus press. There will be a question and answer period, followed by a reception.

The event is open to the public. For more information, call Juan Gonzales at (415) 239-3446.

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When History and Journalism Meet

A daylong conference at U.C. Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, April 21

Do you yearn to tackle historical narrative, but feel daunted by dusty archives? Do you dream of being Ken Burns, but worry that such effort would burn you out? Do you hunger for workshops on building biographies, getting better at Google, and finding the perfect special collection? Do you want to schmooze with your professional heroes, who have corralled such material into gripping books, films, and radio documentaries?

You are invited to attend the North Gate Professional Seminar at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism on Saturday, April 21, 2007. Reconstructing the Past: When History and Journalism Meet is a daylong conference bringing together journalists, historians, authors, filmmakers, and radio producers for a day of panels and workshops on the craft of reporting and writing historical narrative. This seminar will provide a rare opportunity for mid-career journalists (in any medium) to discuss the nature of historical work and sharpen their research, interpretive, and narrative skills.

Sponsors:
The Alumni Committee, Graduate School of Journalism, UC Berkeley
The American Society of Journalists and Authors/Northern California
The Society of Professional Journalists

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Josh Wolf, Sarah Olson and “Balco Two” Highlight Winners of 22nd Annual James Madison Awards

SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS TO HONOR AWARD RECIPIENTS AT MARCH 13 AWARDS DINNER

Feb. 12, 2007 -- The Society of Professional Journalists’ Northern California chapter will honor four Bay Area journalists who have waged separate campaigns to resist government subpoenas in defense of the First Amendment right to freedom of the press. As freelance journalists Josh Wolf and Sarah Olson, and San Francisco Chronicle reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Lance Williams discovered, government officials over the past year have aggressively challenged journalists’ rights to protect confidential sources and refuse testimony in court proceedings that would undermine the independent free press. To date, Wolf has spent over four months in an East Bay federal prison in an effort to shield his unpublished video footage from a federal grand jury.

Other Madison Award winners include Mark Klein, a former AT&T technician who blew the whistle on the federal government’s warrantless wiretapping program; reporters at four northern California newspapers who broke major stories in 2006 using public records; and student journalists at Lowell High School in San Francisco.

These Madison Award winners will be recognized March 13 at Biscuits and Blues restaurant near San Francisco’s Union Square district. Visit www.spj.org/norcal or call (415) 749-5451 for ticket information or more details.

The James Madison Freedom of Information Awards is named for the creative force behind the First Amendment. The awards honor local journalists, organizations, public officials and private citizens who have fought for public access to government meetings and records and promoted the public’s right to know. Award winners are selected by the Freedom of Information Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Northern California chapter.

Winners:

NORWIN S. YOFFIE CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Rowland “Reb” Rebele

BEVERLY KEES EDUCATOR AWARD
Robert Ovetz

CITIZEN
Ryan McKee

JOURNALIST (4 winners)
Michele Marcucci & Rebecca Vesely, ANG Newspapers
Andrew McIntosh & John Hill, Sacramento Bee
Meera Pal, Contra Costa Times
Susan Sward, Bill Wallace, Elizabeth Fernandez & Seth Rosenfeld, San Francisco Chronicle

LEGAL COUNSEL
David Greene

NEWS MEDIA (2 winners)
San Jose Mercury News
San Mateo County Times

ONLINE FREE SPEECH
Josh Wolf

PUBLIC OFFICIAL
John Sarsfield

SPECIAL CITATION
Mark Fainaru-Wada & Lance Williams, San Francisco Chronicle
Sarah Olson

STUDENT JOURNALIST (High School)
Staff of The Lowell

WHISTLEBLOWER
Mark Klein

Background information, including a complete list and a full description of winners

CONTACT:

Matthew Hirsch
Freedom of Information Committee
Phone: (415) 749-5451
E-mail: mhirsch [AT] alm.com

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Enter the 2007 James Madison Freedom of Information Awards

The James Madison Freedom of Information Awards recognize Northern California organizations and individuals who have made significant contributions to the advancement of freedom of information and expression in the spirit of James Madison, the creative force behind the First Amendment. The awards are presented at a ceremony in March during National Freedom of Information Week near the anniversary of Madison’s birth.

Eligible for nomination are Northern California journalists, citizens, media organizations, or community groups which, during 2006, have defended public access to meetings, public records, meetings or court proceedings or otherwise promoted the public’s right to know, publish and speak freely about issues of public concern.

Award Categories (awards may not be given in every category): Professional Journalist, Citizen, Legal Counsel, Nonprofit Organization, Public Official, Student Journalist, Source/Whistle Blower, Educator, Electronic Access, Career Achievement, Cartoonist, News Media.

DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES HAS PASSED.

ENTRY FORM: http://www.spj.org/norcal/2006/foientry.pdf
Also, see a list of past winners.

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Lance Williams, Mark Fainaru-Wada, Josh Wolf Named Journalists of the Year

Jerry Roberts to Speak at SPJ Awards Dinner

San Francisco, Sept. 20, 2006 -- San Francisco Chronicle reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada and freelance journalist Josh Wolf were named Journalists of the Year by the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists for upholding the principles of a free and independent press.

At a time when journalists are under increasing pressure to comply with government subpoenas -- and in the absence of a federal shield law -- these three have chosen to risk jail rather than reveal confidential sources or turn over to government unpublished portions of their work. The Chronicle reporters have refused to name the source of the grand jury testimony that informed their articles on steroid use among athletes. Wolf, who already has spent time in jail, has refused to turn over unpublished footage of an anarchist demonstration in San Francisco. While their cases are dissimilar, the underlying principles are not.

Williams, Fainaru-Wada, Wolf and the other winners will be honored at the SPJ Excellence in Journalism Awards dinner on Thursday, November 9, at the Yank Sing Restaurant in San Francisco’s Rincon Center. Jerry Roberts, the recently resigned editor of the Santa Barbara News-Press, will be the featured speaker. Roberts, longtime managing editor of the San Francisco Chronicle, is a recipient of a 2006 National SPJ ethics award.

Download the flier and post it in your newsroom or give it to a friend! (PDF)

2006 Excellence in Journalism award winners in brief:

Special board awards

• Public Service: KALW-FM, for "Understanding Wealth and Poverty."
• Career Achievement: Orville Schell, dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism.
• Distinguished Service: Nguyen Qui Duc, founding producer-host of KQED’s "Pacific Time."
• Unsung Hero: Natalie Martinez of the San Jose Mercury News, for the "Read This" teen page.
• John Gothberg Award for outstanding service to the SPJ chapter: Lisa Chung, SPJ-NorCal board member.

Breaking News

• Print: The San Jose Mercury News (Deborah Lohse, Howard Mintz, Sean Webby, Barry Witt, Brandon Bailey and John Woolfolk) for coverage of the arrest of Mayor Ron Gonzales.
• Broadcast: The KCBS News Team for reporting on Hurricane Katrina.

Explanatory Journalism

• Print: Jane Kay, San Francisco Chronicle, for "In a Warming World."
• Broadcast: Kristi Coale, Ben Trefny, Steven Short, Nate Johnson, Sue Mell, Zoe Corneli and Holly Kernan of KALW-FM for "The Public Transportation Edition."
• Online: Kristen Gerencher, MarketWatch.com, for a series on high-deductible health plans.

Investigative Journalism

Declan McCullagh and Anne Broache of CNET news.com for "Internet Privacy and Practices."

Feature Writing

• Print: Joan Ryan, San Francisco Chronicle, for "War Without End."
• Broadcast: Steven Short, KALW-FM, for "The Roving Tailor."
• Online: CNET news.com (John Borland, Daniel Terdiman, Elinor Mills, Stefanie Olsen, and Declan McCullagh) for "Taking back the Web."

Opinion

• Tim Redmond, San Francisco Bay Guardian, for thought-provoking editorials that balance passion with facts and solid arguments.

Criticism

• Anneli Rufus, The East Bay Express, for book reviews.

Photojournalism

• Michael Macor, San Francisco Chronicle, for photos of New Orleans, Iraq and Kenya.

Outstanding Emerging Journalism

Sarah Varney, KQED radio, for reports on obesity, stem-cell research and ballet.

Outstanding Student Journalists

The Mills College public-radio reporting class (Annie Abernethy, Adina Lepp, Hallee Berg, Thea Chroman, Kristin Darling, Alexandra Kostoulas and Ilana Murphy) for a series on redevelopment issues in Oakland.

For a detailed list of winners and their accomplishments, see the press release of Sept. 22, 2006 (PDF)

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Freelance journalist Josh Wolf headed back to jail

Sept. 19 -- Josh Wolf has been ordered to return to jail in the federal grand jury case to obtain his videotape of a protest. Read about it in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Associated Press and on Wolf's blog. Also read the press release about an event Thursday, Sept. 21, to raise funds for the Rise Up Network, a legal defense fund for freelance journalists that Wolf helped organize. The event, "Free the Media!" is slated from 8 p.m. to midnight at the club Crash on 34 Mason St. (between Eddy and Turk) in San Francisco.

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Jailed journalist Josh Wolf free on bail

On Sept 1, Josh Wolf was freed from federal jail in Dublin, where he had been held for the month of August. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals granted him bail before his appeal is heard on federal contempt-of-court charges pending a hearing on whether he could legitimately refuse to turn over protest videotapes to a criminal grand jury. Carlos Villarreal, executive director of the San Francisco chapter of the National Lawyers Guild, convened a press conference to announce Wolf's release and the next phase of his appeal. The previous week, SPJ awarded Wolf $30,000 for his legal defense, the largest ever such grant in the society's history.

Details in the San Francisco Chronicle and Wolf's blog.

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Governor signs bill protecting student journalists

On Aug. 28, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 2581, by Assembly Speaker Pro Tem Leland Yee (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Joe Nation (D-Marin), making California the first state in the country to prohibit college and university administrators from censoring student newspapers. The measure also prohibits any college, university or community college administrator from disciplining a student who engages in speech or press activities See also Schwarzenegger's signing message. The new law will become effective Jan. 1, 2007.

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SPJ awards $30K to imprisoned San Francisco videographer's legal defense

The Society of Professional Journalists approved an additonal grant of $30,000 from its Legal Defense Fund to support the defense of Josh Wolf, a San Francisco freelance journalist who is in federal prison for refusing a grand jury subpoena of his protest video. The award, announced by SPJ's outgoing president, David Carlson, at SPJ's national convention in Chicago on Aug. 25, was the largest such grant it had ever given. Details in The Working Press at spj.org

On a related note, the California Legislature has unanimously passed a resolution urging the federal government to pass a journalist shield law which would have helped Josh Wolf. Details in the San Francisco Chronicle. See also a statement by the National Lawyers Guild and the Grand Jury Resistance Project, posted to Wolf's support wiki. Also of interest is an amicus brief (PDF) in Wolf's case from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, WIW Freedom to Write Fund and SPJ.

And check out a collection of photos from NorCal delegates to the SPJ convention.

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Francke, Scheer share SPJ First Amendment award

Terry Francke of Californians Aware and Peter Scheer of the California First Amendment Coalition shared the 2006 Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award, presented by SPJ President David Carlson, at the annual convention in Chicago. The $10,000 was awarded for the combined efforts of Francke and Scheer to advocate for open meetings and records, defend journalists, push for laws favoring sunshine and raise public consciousness of freedom-of-information issues in California.

Details at spj.org

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Riggs: MediaNews "to become the Wal-Mart of information purveyors"

Aug. 5, 2006 -- After the U.S. Department of Justice ruled that MediaNews Group Inc. could proceed with its purchase of the San Jose Mercury News, the Contra Costa Times and myriad weekly publications, the official deal Wednesday now puts one company in control of nearly every sizable daily newspaper in the Bay Area except the San Francisco Chronicle.

"It's an opportunity to consolidate the East Bay market that I think will allow for a better opportunity to sell advertising, and allow us to consolidate to put out better newspapers for our readers," Dean Singleton, the company's CEO, told ANG Newspapers.

But Tom Goldstein, former dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism, lamented that compeition has shrunk in the East Bay, and that the merger could harm local news coverage.

George Riggs (pictured above), publisher of the San Jose Mercury News, this week took control of all Northern California MediaNews papers. In an interview with the Contra Costa Times, he said: "It's just hard to look at the newspaper business and be a real optimist," said Riggs. "We are going to have to become super, super efficient on the cost side. We're going to have to become the Wal-Mart of information purveyors. None of us wants to hear that, but that's a harsh reality."

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Josh Wolf taken into custody for refusing to give up tapes

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (KCBS) Aug. 1, 2006 -- A free-lance journalist has been jailed for refusing to give a grand jury notes and video footage shot during a protest last summer.

Josh Wolf captured portions of a demonstration in San Francisco’s Mission District on July 8, 2005 against the G8 Summit then taking place in Scotland. His attorney argued that Wolf was protected by the first amendment and that his obligation to protect confidential sources outweighed the grand jury’s need to examine the video.

SPJ-NorCal suports First Amendment Rights of videographer Joshua Wolf

The Northern California Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists reiterated its support today of San Francisco video journalist Joshua Wolf's First Amendment rights. Read the press release, Aug. 1, 2006

Freelance journalist Josh Wolf made an appearance in federal court on July 21 to face a grand jury for his refusal to give prosecutors access to raw video footage he shot of a protest that allegedly involved damage to a police car. SPJ national awarded Wolf $1,000 from its Legal Defense Fund. Read about it in the San Francisco Chronicle. Read blog coverage about the press conference at the San Francisco Sentinel and see video at Ryanishungry.com. See also Wolf's own site: www.joshwolf.net.

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Video available for panel discussion on "The Coming Media Monopoly"

On June 1, SPJ-NorCal and Media Alliance jointly presented a panel discussion in San Francisco featuring Linda Foley of the Newspaper Guild, Tim Redmond of the SF Bay Guardian, Stephen Buel of the East Bay Express, Brad Westerhold of El Mensajero and Sandy Close of New America Media.

See the video now at www.fora.tv (register for free with the site to log in):

http://www.fora.tv/fora/showthread.php?t=237

Click here for event announcement.

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Help Needed: Excellence in Journalism Contest

Got a moment? Lend a hand. Help the Society of Professional Journalists choose the best of 2005-2006 journalism for this year's Excellence in Journalism Awards.

Join the committee that is planning the contest and the fall awards banquet.

If you want to help, we have specific and discrete tasks that can take advantage of your particular print, broadcast, and online skills: page design, graphic art, writing, copy editing, and preparing broadcast scripts. And we could use your help with the myriad tasks that lead to a successful awards ceremony.

Right away, and over the next several months, we'll need to update entry forms, distribute them far and wide, organize and support the judging, write up the results, plan the awards ceremony, produce the program, etc.

We’re looking for a few good companions to help SPJ board members recognize the best in local journalism.

Contact: Co-chair Janet Mandelstam: jmand99 [AT] earthlink.net
Committee member Lisa Chung: lachungsf [AT] yahoo.com
(408) 920-5280

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21st annual James Madison Freedom of Information Awards

MAR. 16 AWARDS DINNER HONORED JOURNALISTS, OTHERS

David Mitchell receives a career achievement award from SPJ. See Paul Girard's photo album

The Society of Professional Journalists' Northern California chapter recognized retired publisher David Mitchell with the Norman S. Yoffie Career Achievement Award at the 21st annual James Madison Freedom of Information Awards March 16. A fervent advocate of public records access throughout his career, Mitchell was editor and publisher of the Point Reyes Light for 30 years. In 1979, he won the Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the notorious Synanon cult.

Named for the creative force behind the First Amendment, the James Madison Freedom of Information Awards honor local journalists, organizations, public officials and private citizens who have fought for public access to government meetings and records and promoted the public’s right to know. Award winners are selected by the Freedom of Information Committee of the Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Read the press release with a complete list of the winners.

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Society of Professional Journalists calls for national debate on sale of Knight Ridder newspapers

Jan. 26, 2006

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists and its Northern California Chapter call for an urgent national conversation about how to preserve public-service journalism in light of the likely sale of the Knight Ridder newspaper company.

Read the joint national-local statement on the fate of Knight Ridder

See also:
UPDATE: New developments on Knight Ridder sale

WHERE TO GO FROM HERE: Some initiatives worthy of discussion

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Feb. 8 SPJ mixer with Berkeley Daily Planet editor on prying records from Wal-Mart

Please join the Society of Professional Journalists' freedom of Information Committee for drinks and chit-chat on Wed., February 8, at 6 p.m., at the Triple Rock Brewery in Berkeley. Come hang out with Bay Area journalists and meet Becky O'Malley, executive editor of the Berkeley Daily Planet. The Daily Planet is currently fighting a legal battle to access court records documenting Wal-Mart's labor practices.

Details

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Feb. 3 cocktail gathering downtown to benefit SPJ

“INDIAN SUNSET” NIGHT WITH SPJ -- a toast to Bay Area Journalism
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 6-9 p.m., New Delhi Restaurant, 160 Ellis Street, San Francisco

Details

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An Open Letter on Judith Miller and Anonymous Sources

From the Northern California Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

Updated Nov. 2, 2005

The New York Times has admitted putting its legal support for reporter Judith Miller above its responsibility to inform readers about an issue of pre-eminent national importance. Similarly, the Society of Professional Journalists, at its recent convention, chose to put its commendable support of a journalists' shield law above its ethical responsibility to "clarify and explain news coverage and invite dialogue with the public over journalistic conduct." We hope to set the record straight on behalf of conscientious journalists around the country who support journalists’ First Amendment responsibilities but are deeply troubled by Miller's earlier unprofessional conduct and SPJ's failure to fully apply its own Code of Ethics to this case.

Read the entire statement | PDF version (Req. Adobe Acrobat)

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2005 Excellence in Journalism awardees

Nicole Sawaya accepted this year's Journalist of the Year award from SPJ-NorCal at the annual Excellence in Journalism Awards Nov. 15.

The Northern California chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists announced the winners of its annual Excellence in Journalism awards contest. KALW general manager Nicole Sawaya was named journalist of the year for her important contributions to the diversity and availability of news programming in the Bay Area.

Winners were honored at the SPJ Excellence in Journalism Awards dinner on Tuesday, November 15, 2005, at the Yank Sing Restaurant in San Francisco.

Details | PDF version (Req. Adobe Acrobat)

NewsTools2008.org:
A concept/design mashup for journalists, technologists and entrepreneurs

Yahoo! Conference Center
701 First Ave., Building D
Sunnyvale, Calif.

Wednesday, Apr 30, 2008 , 2:00 p.m.
through Friday, May 2, 2008, 5p.m.

"NewsTools2008.org" a concept/design mashup for journalists, technologists and entrepreneurs set for April 30-May 3, 2008 at the Yahoo! Conference Center in the heart of Silicon Valley.

Journalism's ideals meet Silicon Valley's tools in this three-day, conceptual mashup. The news is now driven by rapidly changing technology. It's time for journalists to get up to speed, and explain their needs. NewsTools2008 is a flexible, three-day convening that will offer journalists, technologists, entrepreneurs and funders a chance to explore ideas, form partnerships, develop projects, outline systems and businesses for sustaining "journalism that
matters."

NewsTools2008 limited to 200 participants. This Journalism That Matters event is organized by the Media Giraffe Project, with the support of Yahoo! Inc., the Roy S. Park Foundation, other donors and a growing list of collaborators:

http://www.mediagiraffe.org/wiki/index.php/Jtm-sv-collaborators

MORE INFO AND REGISTRATION NOW:
http://www.mediagiraffe.org/wiki/index.php/Jtm-sv or:
http://www.newstools.org/

DOWNLOAD A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT:
http://www.mediagiraffe.org/pdf/jtm-sv-invite.pdf

DOWNLOAD BACKGROUND ON JOURNALISM THAT MATTERS:
http:/www.mediagiraffe.org/pdf/jtm-sv-background.pdf

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Berkeley J-school announces competition for three investigative reporting fellowships

The Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism announces call for entries for its second annual competition for three year-long fellowships. They are open to all working journalists, but preference will be given to graduates of UC Berkeley's master's program in journalism. The deadline for applications is April 1.

Details

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Don't just report the story. Tell it like it is.

The Society of Professional Journalists invites early career reporters and front-line editors to step out of the inverted pyramid and into the art of storytelling! Through SPJ's Narrative Writing Workshops, participants will learn options for reinvigorating the writing craft.

Saturday, April 26
San Jose, Calif.
San Jose State University
Student Union-Almaden Room
One Washington Square
San Jose, CA 95192
408-924-6300
Register Online (www.spj.org)
Late registration fee of $20 will apply to registrations received
after midnight on April 11.

Join Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and reporter Tom Hallman, Jr., from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for a day filled with tips for creating excitement in news stories.

The freestyle conversation with Hallman includes discussion on the
following topics:

• Defining narrative writing
• Reporting for narrative
• Long form narrative storytelling
• How you can apply narrative techniques to your daily reporting
• Strategies for your newsroom

Participants will have the chance to send Hallman a sample of their work in advance of the workshop. Tom will critique the work and discuss it with the rest of the class.

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The Death Penalty, Race and Journalism

6:30 p.m., March 27, 2008
Downtown campus of San Francisco State University

The Journalism Department of San Francisco State University will host a special screening of “Race to Execution,” a provocative PBS documentary examining racial discrimination and the capital punishment system.

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Election 2008: Looking Beyond The Bush Years

Presented by: The Graduate School of Journalism

A talk by New York Times columnist Bob Herbert

When: Wednesday, February 6, 2008, 6:00 pm -- 8:00 pm
Where: North Gate Library, Hearst at Euclid Avenue, Berkeley

Bob Herbert joined The New York Times as an Op-Ed columnist in 1993.

For more information on this event, including possible ticketing details, please visit:

http://journalism.berkeley.edu/events/details.php?ID=467

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Marketwire and Society of Professional Journalists Present:

The Asia Juggernaut
and US-China News

Are your stories getting seen and heard? Experts discuss changing dynamics influencing the news media landscape in the Far East.

RESCHEDULED:

Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2008, 8-10 a.m.
San Francisco Chronicle

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IRE Watchdog workshop

At KQED, Jan. 19, 2008

Space is still available - Register today for this great training!

Investigative Reporters and Editors will bring Better Watchdog training to San Francisco on January 19, 2008.

It's a great opportunity to sharpen investigative skills for everyday reporting and editing -- all in an affordable program that's close to home. The workshops will cover the guiding of reporters in the effective use of the Internet, open-records laws, computer-assisted reporting and anonymous sources. You can see the detailed preliminary schedule on our website. All sessions will be held at KQED.

We would appreciate it if you would share the information with journalism colleagues who might be interested. For any additional information, visit our website at http://www.ire.org/training/watchdog/sanfrancisco08.

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Josh Wolf at
Commonwealth Club

Thursday, November 1
Josh Wolf, who spent 226 days in jail, is use to the spotlight and the center of controversy. Now, the twenty-five-year-old will discuss the controversies that surrounded him, differences between new media and old media and advocates for participatory and transparent journalism.

6 p.m., Check-in | 6:30 p.m., Program | 7:30 p.m., Wine and Hors d'oeuvres Reception | Club office, 595 Market St., 2nd Floor, San Francisco | $12 for Members, $20 for Non-members, $7 for Students with valid ID | reservations 415-597-6705

More info from the Commonwealth Club

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AAJA on Blogging

The Asian American Journalists Association is holding a blogging workshop on Nov. 10 at UC Berkeley's Journalism School. The morning workshop will feature a panel discussion and then a hands-on demonstration in the computer lab.

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Save the News!
December 12

Newsrooms are hamstrung by the business practices of Wall Street and Big Media, even as newspaper circulation declines and TV news continues the race to the bottom. Both the San Francisco Chronicle and San Jose Mercury News recently laid off large portions of their newsroom staff. The Internet is vulnerable to the same marketplace compromises. Explore alternative business models to ensure journalism remains a lively piece of our civic life. Barry Parr (Coastsider.com, Mercury Center founder), Michael Stoll (Grade the News, SJSU, SF Public Press), Rose Aguilar, (KALW-FM, Your Call radio), Josh Wilson (Newsdesk.org/Indy Arts), Northern California Media Workers speaker TBA.

TIME: 7:30 p.m.

LOCATION:
CounterPulse
1310 Mission at 9th St.

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Chapter to be honored with national award during SPJ's annual convention

The Northern California Pro Chapter is the large chapter being honored this year in the area of First Amendment and Freedom of Information activity at the SPJ conference Oct. 4-7 in Washington, D.C. The NorCal chapter saw some of the year's most troubling government interference issues and industry changes in the San Francisco Bay Area. The chapter tackled these issues head-on by supporting Josh Wolf, Lance Williams, Mark Fainaru-Wada and Sarah Olson. They also were active in supporting Jerry Roberts and eight other former employees of the Santa Barbara News-Press. Roberts was known in Northern California journalism for his many years at the San Francisco Chronicle as political reporter and later managing editor.

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The State of Journalism:
Are Integrity and the Bottom Line Compatible?

SPEAKERS:

• LESLIE GRIFFITH, Former Anchor, KTVU Television
• ROBERT ROSENTHAL, Former Managing Editor, San Francisco Chronicle
• KEVIN KEESHAN, News Director, KGO Television
• STEVE WRIGHT, VP, Editorial Pages Editor, San Jose Mercury News
• WILLIAM DRUMMOND, Professor, Graduate School of Journalism, UC Berkeley - Moderator

DATE: Thursday, September 27th, 2007

TIME: 5:30 p.m., Wine and Cheese Reception | 6:00 p.m., Program

PLACE: The Commonwealth Club of California
595 Market Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco

PRICE: $12 for Members | $18 for Non-Members

(This event is co-sponsored by SPJNorCal. Members of the chapter will qualify for the reduced member rate)

To buy tickets call 415/597-6705 or register at www.commonwealthclub.org

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Media companies are continuing to tighten their belts and, sadly, cut jobs. As layoffs at newspapers and other traditional media outlets abound and the pressure is greater than ever to increase revenue, a panel of leaders in the industry will discuss the impact of economic hardship on quality news coverage and how this affects an informed citizenry. Panelists will explore how the internet and the rising corporate environment have shaped news sources, sharing their experience of industry change over time.

An award-winning journalist with more than 30 years' experience, Rosenthal was the managing editor of The Chronicle. He previously worked at the Philadelphia Inquirer as vice president, executive editor, city editor and reporter. Also a Bay Area notable, Drummond is presently a Graduate Journalism Professor at University of California at Berkeley. He started his career at The Courier-Journal, where he covered the civil rights movement, and the Los Angeles Times, where he was a local reporter.

Other panelists include broadcast journalists Griffith, Keeshan, and Wright. Griffith is the co-anchor of the weekday edition of "KTVU Channel 2 News at 5" and the highly acclaimed "The Ten O'Clock News." Wright has also hosted a number of TV programs, and is currently the writer and voice of BBC2's retro-music show "Top Of The Pops 2." Keeshan is the Vice President and News Director of KGO-TV/DT. Under his leadership, "ABC7 News" received back to back Emmy wins for the best large market newscast.

(Media interested in attending should please RSVP to jhale (AT) commonwealthclub.org by noon day of event.)

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Writing for change

The First San Francisco Writing For Change Conference will take place Thurs.-Sat., August 23-25, 2007, at Grace Cathedral’s Wilsey Conference Center.

Dedicated to nonfiction books about change, from the personal to the planetary, we’ll cover business, culture, the environment, health, the media, personal development with a social dimension, politics, social issues, spirituality and technology.

Keynoters: Rachel Naomi Remen, "Kitchen Table Wisdom," Philip Lombardo, "The Lucifer Effect," and Riane Eisler, "The Real Wealth of Nations."

150 attendees will network with authors, agents & editors. $395 covers breakfasts, lunches, and a party. For information, phone Elizabeth Pomada, 415 673-0939
or visit www.sfwritingforchange.org

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Support Jerry Roberts

The publisher of the Santa Barbara News-Press is suing the paper's former editor, Jerry Roberts, for $25 million, claiming he damaged the paper's reputation and violated his employment contract by speaking out against ethics violations at the paper. SPJ and others have come to his defense. He is being forced to spend thousands of dollars of his own money to defend himself. He and others being sued by billionaire Publisher Wendy McCaw are asking for donations to a fund called the Lawyers Alliance for Free Speech Rigts.

For updates see: http://www.jerryrobertsandfriends.org/

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SPJ defends jailed journalist at rally

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 6 — Members of the Society of Professional Journalists joined an array of free-speech advocates on the steps of San Francisco's City Hall today to urge U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to help free Josh Wolf, the California freelance journalist who has been jailed for contempt of court longer than any journalist in American history.

"Whether you are a professional journalist or a citizen journalist, your First Amendment rights are the same," said Pueng Vongs, vice president of SPJ's Northern California chapter, during a press conference attended by about 60 people and covered by more than a dozen California reporters. "We are asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi to intervene to free Josh Wolf immediately on behalf of all journalists and the general public."

The chapter is drafting a letter to Pelosi that it plans to give Wolf's mother, who is scheduled to speak with lawmakers in Washington, D.C., this week. Pelosi has intervened to have charges dropped against two San Francisco Chronicle reporters, Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada. The Chronicle reporters face 18 months in a federal prison for refusing to name their sources for stories about drug abuse by major league baseball players.

The chapter's letter to Pelosi states in part: "Speaker Pelosi, we implore you to use the influence of your office to bring an end to Mr. Wolf's incarceration, which advances no interest in justice and by its precedent, chills the public's ability to enjoy a vigorous, unfettered and informed democracy."

Wolf has served 169 days in a federal detention center in Dublin, Calif., after refusing to comply with a judge's order that he testify and turn over videotape outtakes of a 2005 San Francisco protest to a grand jury investigating the violent confrontation.

SPJ, one of the nation's largest and oldest journalism-advocacy organizations, has remained one of Wolf's ardent supporters. The Society helped cap Wolf's legal fees at $60,000 and has paid more than half of that cost — $31,000 — from its Legal Defense Fund.

In November, SPJ's Northern California chapter named Wolf one of its 2006 Journalists of the Year as part of its Excellence in Journalism Awards. The chapter followed up today by announcing another award for Wolf in the online free-speech category of the chapter's annual James Madison Freedom of Information Awards. The chapter honored Wolf for his continuing work behind bars on several Web sites dedicated to free-speech issues.

Vongs read a statement from the chapter: "Josh Wolf's historic incarceration symbolizes the threat that all journalists now face ... Mr. Wolf's sacrifice, and the sacrifice that other journalists will also make, ensures that the public will continue to receive information unfiltered by their government."

SPJ was joined at today's press conference by a broad coalition of groups and individuals, including the Newspaper Guild, ACLU, National Writers Union, The National Lawyers Guild, a San Francisco city supervisor and the publisher of a weekly newspaper. Sarah Olson, an independent radio reporter from neighboring Oakland, Calif., also spoke passionately about the need to free Wolf. Until last week, she had been under subpoena from the U.S. Army in the case of an alleged deserter who, in a radio interview, told Olson about his reasons for refusing deployment to Iraq.

"It is indeed, as people have been saying, a very dark day for journalism as Josh Wolf breaks the record for the number of days a journalist has been incarcerated for refusing to comply with a grand jury subpoena here in the United States," Olson said. "Josh is protecting each and every one of us as journalists, each and every one of us who wants to gather up and disseminate news and information free of government intervention. He is protecting us as citizens, in a country that has at its very core, its very foundation, a commitment to the right of information, the right of freedom of speech, and the right of citizens to speak to journalists without fear of harassment or intimidation."

Others said they suspect a political motive behind the simultaneous targeting of four journalists with subpoenas. San Francisco is home to many anti-war activities and is Pelosi's home district.

"Josh Wolf is not just a blogger," said Bruce Brugmann, publisher of the San Francisco Bay Guardian newspaper, which has argued that the Bush administration targeted San Francisco. "Josh Wolf is a First Amendment hero, he's a public citizen hero, he's a journalistic hero. That's why I'm glad we're all here today to start a movement to protect people like Josh Wolf the next time this kind of thing happens."

David Greene, one of the lawyers representing Wolf, also spoke.

"Josh Wolf is in jail for every one of you out there who is holding a camera," Greene told the assembled press corps. "For every one of you out there who is holding a pad of paper taking notes, Josh is in jail for you. For everyone holding a microphone, Josh is in jail for you. For every one of you out there who plans to read what the press hear, to read what they're writing, to view what the cameras are taking, to listen to the audio that's being recorded, Josh is doing this for you. ... Josh knows that if he is to give up, it will only embolden the government the next time a subpoena is issued. It will only be sending the message that journalists don't care. Well journalists do care, and that is what Josh is fighting for. He's fighting for the public's right to know. He's fighting for the press' right to be free."

For more information visit Josh's Web site, www.joshwolf.net.

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Got Web skills? SPJ needs you

Please help SPJ-NorCal redesign its Web presence. We're looking for a volunteer or two to help us upgrade this site to a content-management system or blogware. If you have some time to help the chapter with this process, or even if you only have time to consult, please send us an e-mail: spj [AT]
michaelstoll.com. Thanks!

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Teach at SFSU

The journalism department at San Francisco State University periodically seeks part-time lecturers to advise print and online publications; to teach skills courses in reporting and writing, photojournalism, publication design, newspaper and magazine editing, investigative journalism and online journalism; and to teach lecture courses in journalism and mass communications and journalism history. Qualifications include at least five years of professional experience; a bachelor's, masters or Ph.D. Previous journalism teaching and/or training and/or coaching preferred but not required. Appointments would be for one semester. Minimum salary is $3,769 per class. Send a resume and letter of interest via email or postal service to: Erna Smith, Chair, Journalism Department, San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, Ca. 94132. Email: ersmith [AT] sfsu.edu.

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Committees