September 21st, 2016 • 2016: New Orleans
VIP tour takes visitors through graveyard, sculpture garden
I spent the final day of the Excellence in Journalism Conference tooling around the city on an air conditioned bus on one of the VIP City Tours. The tour guided conference attendees through the French Quarter, the neighborhood of Treme, the Garden District, St.
September 20th, 2016 • 2016: New Orleans
VCU’s South wins SPJ’s Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award
The Society of Professional Journalists honored Jeff South as the recipient of the Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award as an outstanding journalism educator who has made an exceptional contribution to the profession and/or journalism education. According to the SPJ, South won this year with passionate letters of support from faculty of the Robertson School of Media and Culture.
September 19th, 2016 • 2016: New Orleans
Director of SPLC discusses first amendment challenges facing college journalists
The Student Press Law Center’s Director Frank LoMonte discussed press freedom challenges facing college journalists today. He emphasized the defunding of college newspapers, corruption in the electing of college presidents and administrative retaliation against college advisors. “If you ask college journalists today what the biggest problem they’re facing is, most of them won’t tell you it’s direct institutional censorship, but what I’ve started calling censorship by starvation,” LoMonte said.
September 18th, 2016 • 2016: New Orleans
Journalism Expo
The Excellence in Journalism Conference Expo, hosting different exhibitors and recruiters, is only this Sunday and Monday. Held from 9 a.m to 5 p.m in the Napoleon Ballroom on the third floor, the expo features booths recruiting and educating attendees on the latest in journalism tools and technologies. One booth contains the Freelance Community of the Society of Professional Journalists, who talk to those interested in freelancing and show them the resources SPJ has such as their website and blog. "Regardless of where you're located geographically you can join this community to get in touch with a network of other freelancers," SPJ Membership Chair Board Member Ellen Eldridge said. One booth for Eli Lilly and Company's focuses on health education for journalists. "I remember being a journalist and I worked long hours in the newsroom and ate a lot of things I shouldn't," Director of Communications Janice Chavers said. The expo contains a silent auction that includes everything from hotel stays to signed reporter's notebooks. There are also career profile critiques by professionals who meet with those who want their resumes or portfolios critiqued and on-site registration for the conference.