The Society of Professional Journalists has joined an amicus brief with the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press in a case involving a defamation lawsuit in California that concerns the “actual malice” standard. The court’s ruling, according to the brief, would severely constrain the ability of the press to “effectively expose deception in the government” and “preserve the even greater values of freedom of expression and the right of the people to know.”
An NAB session outlines how to apply traditional journalistic ethics to the use of social media in both collecting and distributing information. The discussion focused on best practices for using social media as part of the profession, even if there is no way of formally encoding them. “We are not giving you all the answers,” says SPJ’s Andrew Seaman, who recently participated in updating SPJ’s Code of Ethic to extend to social media. “The only absolute we have in the code is do not plagiarize.”
In a new report, The Society of Professional Journalists and the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, find science and environmental reporters struggle to obtain […]
The Society of Professional Journalists is reiterating its call to the Environmental Protection Agency to stop banning leading national scientists from communicating with the press and the public. In recent days the EPA has reaffirmed in great part its policy released earlier this year restricting the communications of independent scientists who advise the agency, according to a memorandum from the EPA’s chief of staff. In response, SPJ sent another letter to the EPA on Monday decrying its decision.
Exclusives
Whoa! Journalism’s New Code Of Ethics
The journalism profession is trying to reduce speeding on the information superhighway. The Society of Professional Journalists adopted a new code of ethics this month and the main difference between the revamped code and and the one that had been in place since 1996 is that the new version addresses the alarming tendency to rush stuff onto the Web as soon as we hear about it, without taking the time to make sure it’s true.
The Society of Professional Journalists today announced the recipients of its annual Sigma Delta Chi Awards, which recognize exceptional professional journalism produced in 2013. Judges selected 85 honorees from nearly 1,800 submissions. The TV station winners are KNTV San Francisco; KWTX Waco, Texas; WFTS Tampa, Fla.; WVUE New Orleans; KBMT-KJAC Beaumont, Texas; KUSA Denver, KHQ Spokane, Wash; and WKBT La Crosse, Wis.
The Society of Professional Journalists has written a letter to Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy opposing the state’s efforts to pass legislation that would withhold public information about the Newtown school shootings.
Fager, Kalb Highlight RTDNA-SPJ Conference
For the second year, RTDNA and SPJ will jointly hold a journalism conference for all media. Slated for Sept. 20-22 in Fort Lauderdale, this year’s Excellence in Journalism gathering is expected to draw up to 1,500 attendees. CBS News’ Jeff Fager is expected to speak upon receiving RTDNA’s prestigious Paul White Award. Former CBS newsman Marvin Kalb will lead a panel on the Murrow legacy. Hearst, Young and Scripps are planning meetings of news managers at the conference.
The TV station winners of the annual Sigma Delta Chi accolades for excellence in journalism from the Society of Professional Journalists are WISH Indianapolis; WGXA Atlanta; KLAS Las Vegas; KOMU Columbia, Mo.; KCRG Cedar Rapids, Iowa; KPHO Phoenix; WVUE New Orleans; WIVB Buffalo, N.Y.; and WTWO Terra Haute, Ind.
Relevance Is Top Priority At RTDNA Show
After teaming with the NAB for its annual conference, the Radio Television Digital News Association has a new partner this year, the Society of Professional Journalists. It’s a move RTDNA Chairman Kevin Benz says gives the group an opportunity to present a conference “that is absolutely and totally journalism-based. We believe that we will be putting on the most important journalism discussion in the country.”
Among the winners of the annual Sigma Delta Chi Awards for execllence in journalism given by the Society of Professional Journalists are WRIC Richmond, Va.; KTRK Houston; KARE Minneapolis; KTUU Anchorage (two awards); WVUE New Orleans; and KING Seattle (two awards). Other TV winners included NBC Nightly News, PBS Frontline, 60 Minutes (two awards), CNBC, NET News and Central Florida News 13.
The Society of Professional Journalists has joined an amicus brief supporting Raycom Hattiesburg, Miss., NBC affiliate’s fight to lift a court order preventing it from airing a videotape of alleged abuse at a youth detention facility.
