The snow has melted (in some fortunate areas of the country) and spring is just around the corner. So what better way to welcome the warm weather than with exciting, cost-efficient SPJ programs and activities on your campus?
PROGRAM IN A BOX
The Society of Professional Journalists has recently created Programs in a Box to help accommodate your chapter’s programming needs. We understand that sometimes the clock moves too fast and budgets are just too small, so this new initiative is intended to help you implement a successful program with little planning and little cash.
“PIB” contains a variety of pre-planned programs for your chapter to utilize at any time. Each program includes nearly all materials that you’ll need — even fliers! Just choose a program that interests you, download the “stuff,” and watch it come to life.
The first of many “PIB’s” to come is Journalism Movie Night. The only thing we can’t do? Pop the popcorn!
Once your chapter has used one of the programs included in “PIB,” we would love to know how it turned out! Please share both successes and failures so we can continue to build and improve.
Additionally, if your chapter has held a successful program that you think another chapter could benefit from or if you just have something to add to our list, please let us know.
Direct all feedback about “PIB” to SPJ National Student Representatives Tara Puckey and Taylor Mirfendereski.
SPJ’s SPRING CONFERENCES
The 2011 SPJ/RTDNA conference, “Excellence in Journalism” may be more than six-months away, but there’s no reason why you can’t get a taste of professional development in just a few weeks.
Each spring (between March and April), SPJ holds day-long conferences across the United States, bringing area journalists, students and journalism educators together in one place to hear from industry experts on topics impacting today’s journalists.
Regional conferences create excellent opportunities for students to network with professionals and fellow SPJ students from your region. You’ll build relationships that can lead to mentorships, internships, and even jobs.
Click here to read details about your region’s spring convention.
FIRST AMENDMENT FREE FOOD FESTIVAL
It’s a well-known fact that SPJ fights for a free press and strives to educate students about the First Amendment. But what you may not know is that SPJ offers $250 grants to student chapters willing to host a unique educational event that’s literally a food fight.
The First Amendment Free Food Festival (FAFFF) is a program in which students symbolically sign away their First Amendment rights in exchange for a free lunch. Since it was created in 2006, more than 20 FAFFF’s have been hosted around the country.
SPJ will award $250 grants to 10 chapters who want to host a FAFFF on their own campuses. While there’s no deadline to apply, you must host your FAFFF by May 31, 2011.
Visit http://www.spj.org/fafff.asp and koretzky.com/free for more details about this perfect spring event.
