The buzz about #SPJ100

By Julieta Chiquillo, Jacqueline Palochko and Emory Williamson
“I recommend that people not get jailed during lunch time,” said Neil Ralston, Legal Defense Fund committee member.
Ralston was a having a difficult time raising bail money for LDF’s Jail ‘n’ Bail game, which aims to collect funds for the account. LDF raises thousands of dollars every year to help journalists who need legal assistance and push for First Amendment protection legislation.
People pay $5 to arrest a friend, who must remain in jail for an hour or raise $100 to be released.
Steve Geimann, Sigma Delta Chi Foundation president, joined Ralston in jail after being charged with failure to yield to an oncoming editor.
— By Julieta Chiquillo
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Here are some curious tweets The Working Press (@theworkingpress) staffers found by following #spj100 at Twitter.com.
@sonyanews: I just got arrested at #spj100! (for the legal defense fund)
@emilymonacelli: My phone died during the last two seminars, so I struck up a conversation with a human instead of checking Twitter. Imagine that. #spj100
@tlange: Just spent an hour picking the brain of Michael Koretzky. Very cool, and not just because of the free drink. #spj100
@Karamat: This biz can beat you down, especially these days, but I always get rejuvenated when I come to SPJ events.
@TheMitcher: Three quarters of the people in the room raised their hands when asked if they had Tweeted in the last 45 minutes. #spj100
@divadrummer: #spj100 I LOVED Koretzky’s “Weird Jobs”. Feel empowered and skilled; now all I need is the degree. Weird jobs for a weird woman.
@vhernandezcnn: Michael Koretzky/Weird Journalism Jobs: In the future newspapers will run like magazines, and magazines will run like radio stations #SPJ100
— By Jacqueline Palochko
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While other convention attendees will be at the President’s Installation Banquet on Saturday night, others plan to attend “Tweetup” instead.
Tweetup, a meeting organized by convention attendees using the social networking Web site Twitter, is scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday at Loughmiller’s Pub and Eatery.
But there’s a problem — a Loughmiller’s bartender said the nearby restaurant is closed Saturdays unless a “a special event is going on” or if the Indianapolis Colts are playing. The SPJ convention doesn’t count.
Organizer Ron Sylvester said he is in talks with Loughmiller’s management and hopes they can make an exception and keep the restaurant open.
Sylvester said he would definitely know by today.
He said they want more participants so he can assure the manager adequate attendance.
Sonya Smith – a fellow Tweetup organizer – said she looks forward to the event and encourages others to attend.
“I don’t have the money,” Smith said of the $65 banquet. “This is an informal, free get-together for people interested in journalism.”
Sign up for the Tweetup at spj100.eventbrite.com
— Emory Williamson