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Alyson Ahrns 
July 10, 2008
SPJ Communications Department
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HITTING
THE HILL
SPJ leaders are on Capitol Hill today and Friday to lobby Congress for the passage of a federal shield law. The group's lobbying comes at a most opportune time as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced this week that the shield law legislation will come to the floor for a vote before the August recess.
"This trip to Washington is extremely important in accomplishing SPJ's mission of getting a federal shield law passed," SPJ President Clint Brewer said. "Being a physical presence on Capitol Hill sends a strong message to Congress that we believe America is not a place where journalists should be compelled to give up their confidential sources."
To voice your support for a federal shield law, contact your local lawmakers. To contact members of the U.S. House of Representatives, visit House.gov http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RocAbN-95BWruws92_rvbSX2_r7jq4yIj5vTtrujJPZD3T-PXyD9ZBjBU6CmID6GHBRgw-tB45b7yI27UEJO4pvrMkFHCSuYZc69xucGrDDaL46iLhdxGg86QScrCAnGUU=
for a list of U.S. Senate members, visit Senate.gov http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RqRHBwTy5Pd_1vkmC5h_t5QjZETOmV6sqsmwn-3ae10A50-xBFdmlGDqQ_iomvNpnbsHBjQOppt93bgU41_jouXBYbyswbgVpMliLT3uxmlYNEsmXERc5nGPY0ihK8NM8Xj12wD6rwGTKJQRy4cVJNj9EpNwHHBchleRvS0mjBgwA==
To learn more about SPJ's efforts to pass a federal shield law, please visit SPJ's federal shield law page http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9Rqfh4zttvsh8Sufmv9R0PhVahxg5OTaNCVi_5GzER3kvfzGtoBuVPHP6XKXl7weyJxDKGfWDMkt4azRzhO8-3zAHFebX8dtZ00nWGMhLDItAoMa80HxRh7X

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KEEPING IT OPEN!
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Electronic Message Preservation Act
 http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RpwzE_ycNkJuBnEkTmViEGxTisAKHlh8fhcVMw18yWoC7MRpZX9jykbFUOYNGSwk_fbxtckYas4xovEB1ttDBb3gk9ZOnzAjCmi5M00I38kvUguvXnnZPlISs6g7hzKW4VyycWOzx8nqMtoAn_KhuzGrkbA9EtKv3A=(H.R.
5811)
today by a vote of 286 to 137, scoring a victory for openness in
federal agency e-mails.
Earlier in the week, SPJ http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RqCYmdEGMK0A-_Z8ByOyhtVbWmM4xMUwKq5DTxe03n9o0yrVJhgqbfU5970TihhWZX8O2v5EE-L3mKamk4YtqL7cP_sWsJlhFAPxStcaOvLXABDa2bqfG-LE0nlrO56wa-98PfKZAaXfh4aAQYAsfjo-b293RhUj1N80o8mf8SubcvyALMgtq-H
 joined http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RqCYmdEGMK0A-_Z8ByOyhtVbWmM4xMUwKq5DTxe03n9o0yrVJhgqbfU5970TihhWZX8O2v5EE-L3mKamk4YtqL7cP_sWsJlhFAPxStcaOvLXABDa2bqfG-LE0nlrO56wa-98PfKZAaXfh4aAQYAsfjo-b293RhUj1N80o8mf8SubcvyALMgtq-H
OpenTheGovernment.org
and other organizations in a letter of support for the legislation. The act preserves White House e-mails and requires systems to collect and maintain electronic communication in federal agencies. This legislation (which has the usual exemptions for e-mails that would harm national
security, privacy, etc.) will help historians and journalists
better understand what is happening and why.
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SHIELD LAW SUCCESS
Hawaii
Gov. Linda Lingle signed the state's shield law bill into law last
week, providing more protection to journalists who are asked to reveal
the identities of their confidential sources. The law was passed
unanimously by both houses in late April. Hawaii is now the 36th state
to adopt a shield law for journalists. Read more details about Hawaii
journalists' protections in specific scenarios in the full article http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RrmT_GAhX47Dc2EYObr7_qtXLmj9Ie1_aAjN50Nrzzq-pTeAqDKRTSnXYtQBiq_uJRvkWvI4qZeFsi1SO6alBJYOWllXP_Q_VIGjbCUTyuJrv3yIWSPEFvbSl3TFKlSExOElFtcd-TEaA==

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GET THE WORM
Early-bird registration for the 2008 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RqUWxUykPFFoNPjeaebtMMrdW-4ECFZVzuGyMzfWav-ji__I5InSbOQ5e24Uspg4-P0mkii-EZT4oskZ0e2LR5YNtOMeUoI3KVLD35IjzDwhnZD71jOC7zs
is
almost over! Discounted rates run through July 28 and are only $185
for professional members and $135 for students, advisers and retirees.
Room rates at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta are $160 through Aug. 6 or
until the room block fills. The convention will take place Sept. 4-7 in
Atlanta. Surf over to SPJ's Convention page http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9Ro8zVCu7l9Lhh9lmBC6M7engXllZJb46jOweci0IWZ2vZzNoKPjkuzzBpjymIWcUBTVHYGDz43iAieZTFhnRKex0W8_lG8BCM7eWBmw3V7HCiDd_QtWCmwt
to
register or get information about programming, hotel and
travel, a roommate request and other conference details. While you're
there, you can also check out some of the A-list attractions Atlanta
has to offer on the local attractions page http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9Rqk0m0-G7bBTWTL9u_yeSkOnKn3M3F7bMNSq6KnFmgg8Q4-K4AvX7GO2ul41fVbSF7aTKAOfy6Q9OANmX_SznkUQEkCOA0MP2iOVDpC3uJypDP97BRD-W0QSX_5_BcHjIBnFLes6BL1GVus-NtcC5-qpyZdACnx4fkM0t9MeXwpOnNYDjzJNz4vtrcliRp28tkd068FvC792A==
Hurry up, and register today!

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STUDENTS: CASH FOR CONVENTION
Applications are being accepted for the Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award.
 SPJ and the Lewis family present this award to a student member of SPJ who has
demonstrated outstanding service to the First Amendment through the field of journalism.
Please visit the awards page http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RrKl86sxlJBSZVbYiqTxP6s_ecMzN-iyNlUyFgvbJi_80-ZNQuTo2uM4WKLxvahSID4R6NX4CBYuqJqqm8pZOPqyDAdeS9VA76f5ut7MvT9QkbjhnUr48SL
for complete details or contact Heather Porter [mailto:hporter@spj.org]. The $500
cash award must be used toward attending the 2008 SPJ Convention & National
Journalism Conference in Atlanta. The application deadline is July 14.
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REGISTER TODAY
FOR STORYTELLING AT ITS BEST
Pulitzer
Prize-winning journalist Tom Hallman Jr. will share the art of
storytelling during a Narrative Writing Workshop on July 26 at the
University of Richmond in Richmond, Va. The program is $40 for SPJ
members and $60 for non-members. Lunch is included. Hurry up and
register today; a $20 late fee will be charged for anyone registering
after midnight, July 11. For complete details or to register, visit SPJ's Narrative
Writing Workshops page http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RqxRfddI6eVEBoRwg4JTgWZVNBpw47KmEea173GQKhnszg7vKs2vj0aONNu-QWKBBmnDHssPOO-nLjmYN77LkMvwfCRp6JoqZ4R51NgkYFkaQ==
or contact Programs Coordinator Heather Porter [mailto:hporter@spj.org]at (317)
927-8000, ext. 204.

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OR TRY VISUAL JOURNALISM
Western Washington University is hosting a Visual Journalism Conference on Saturday,
July 19 and Sunday, July 20 to bring students and professionals together to learn
about the latest advancements in the journalism industry. The conference will feature
discussions on photography, audio, video and graphic design from the best in the
 business! The cost is $50 for students and $105 for professionals - lunch and snacks
are included in the admission price! Want more info? Visit the Visual Journalism
 Conference page http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RrKgl1JME2myJvjw-c9Ju90zOk_ypm7PCW4XiHPR6TzbjYDjOdRzTDMOsB7dOAabkP5AemS34gKgUiPqrpinWvvL_vtcGjDIw-GacFo6B16IljVHkkragsH4gahbUPcZt1C6LJ6F543PjT8XMx5Eibu
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CALL FOR UNITY
Are you headed to Chicago for the UNITY '08 Convention July 23-27? SPJ will be there
too! The Society will have a booth at the convention and we would love to have any
of our members join us there. If you would like to volunteer to work the SPJ booth,
please contact Chris Vachon cvachon@spj.org And don't forget to check
out UNITY '08's Web site http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RpsO-MczFufOzPZ1YtuJQB5J2bnz1xyXicjDKjodLjL48k9w0A4EaS8Axa19VMhZtEJg0GjU_vAc0s-wE232p9U9qSK-rTfvVHxNkOsoLPlRA==
to learn more about the nation's largest gathering of journalists of color.
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AND BEFORE UNITY '08
The Poynter Institute will host a Pre-UNITY Workshop at The Chicago Tribune offices
July 22 and 23. "Diversity in the Digital Age" invites 40 journalists to discuss
 the reason why diversity in newsrooms is not a top priority even when a diverse
 staff helps reporters better connect with their audience and cover the news most
accurately. Read the article on Poynter Online http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9RpIdQBn82MSNuLEmNFJuuqedOtABdTODBdfvjr0mMYjTviTB-b3Iy0dYMFWKwkic9T-t4eA2OYVGDtm_I3Ct3rNLmFVUqUwNNIneLzOCPOAtr1EH_2Q_b4v2VZ_hLy4lFw=
to
get all the details about this thought-provoking workshop.

quinnipiac http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001aC8TrM-n9Rqe8eQURTbpL7kR5FQYnyoBKFW6cZJ6EMrxJJlf7qqAOi-np_GHe4lLTcPyQbGlzKbbOeTjOG6G8udG1ETmATQZCmfL58j9dVCvZcjN8_YZ2Yl0QZ8kjqrTrhOV5AHgGvM=
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