November 2006 Newsletter
SPJ Conference Heats up in Chicago
There was a lot of hot air blowing in the windy city at the annual SPJ National Conference held at Chicago’s Hyatt Regency Hotel Aug. 24-27.
The conference highlight was a debate on the "One Member, One Vote" proposal, which would require a change to the SPJ bylaws to allow all SPJ members to vote for national board members electronically without having to attend the annual national convention. Currently, only chapter delegates who attend the national conventions are allowed to vote on the convention floor.
After over an hour of passionate debate, the proposal was defeated.
Supporters of the proposal say electronic voting would have
created more open elections and given a voice to all SPJ members
who can’t afford the time or money to attend the
conventions. Outgoing SPJ President Dave Carlson said he was
disappointed the measure wasn’t adopted. He said it could
have enfranchised the 40 percent of SPJ members who don’t
belong to a chapter and the 50 percent of student chapters who
don’t attend SPJ’s national conference. Carlson said he
hopes the amendment, which was tabled two years ago, will receive
another vote next year.
Opponents of the proposal say members at local chapters would not
have the opportunity to have personal interaction with candidates
during the conference to make an informed vote. Although some
delegates thought the proposal had good intentions, they were
opposed to changing the bylaws. And some delegates questioned the
reliability of the technology that would be used to cast votes.
One suggestion was to consider allowing chapter-less members to forge virtual chapters that would elect delegates to vote for them at the national conference. SPJ could also increase the number of votes given to a chapter to allow them to cast ballots in favor of multiple candidates.
Had the amendment been approved, SPJ members would have been able to cast their votes online or by telephone by the 2007 convention, planned for Washington, D.C. The computer software needed to allow electronic voting would have cost about $4,000.
Gridiron Raises Money for SPJ Interns
What would October be like without Dan Cooke dressed up as Hawaii Gov. Linda Lingle, or The Honolulu Advertiser’s ethnic affairs reporter Gordon Pang in a dress, or KITV weatherman Ben. Gutierrez on stilts as Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann?
No, it’s not Halloween. It’s SPJ-Hawaii’s annual Gridiron show, poking fun at Hawaii politicians, newsmakers and news events with song and dance.
The Gridiron theme this year was "Raw and Untreated." Held at Diamond Head Theatre Oct. 20-21. This year’s show poked fun at the city’s Ala Wai Canal sewage spill controversy. The show also spoofed the mayor for kicking the homeless out of Ala Moana Park, the 40 days and 40 nights of rain in March, Oahu’s traffic gridlock, Don Ho’s Thailand heart surgery, and the drunken driving arrest of Lost star Michelle Rodrigues. It was a night of fun with Governor Gov. Lingle and Mayor Hannemann attended the Oct. 20 show..
The bills and revenues are not all in, but the sell-out event is expected to raise about $27,000 raised XXX for SPJ-Hawaii’s Internship program. The money raised will go to pay for journalism internships in print, broadcast and public relations for Hawaii college students. This year, 13 students were selected in the program.
If you did not make this year’s esteemed roster of people we made fun of, like the show says: "Relax, never fear. We’ll get you next year at the Gridiron!"
SPJ would like to thank the cast, crew and sponsors for making this year’s Gridiron a success. Visit www.hawaiispj.org for more photos of this year’s show. Gridiron song books are available for purchase for $10 by contacting SPJ President Stirling Morita at spj@flex.com. You can also inquire about participating or becoming a sponsor in next year’s show. SPJ President Stirling Morita at spj@flex.com
SPJ-Hawaii Summer Internship Program
SPJ-Hawaii will be accepting applications for its 2007 Summer Internship Program.
Paid summer internship positions will be available in print, broadcast and public relations to Hawaii college students at the sophomore level and above either going to school in Hawaii or on the Mainland.
Please visit www.hawaiispj.org for updated information and application in December or contact Internship Chair Craig DeSilva at 282-1038 or at cdesilva@hotmail.com.
SPJ-Hawaii would like to thank Hope and Jerry Britton of Medford, Ore., for making a generous donation to the internship and scholarship fund in the name of John H. Black.
Black, an editor at Trade Publishing Co. and SPJ-Hawaii board member, died of cancer last year. Black headed the internship program for many years, allowing dozens of Hawaii journalism students to get their start in the business through paid internships.
If you are interested in making a donation to help the program, please email us at spj@flex.com.