9/25/09
P.O. Box 3141
Honolulu, HI 96802
Sept. 25, 2009
From David Briscoe, president
(808)674-1836
Society of Professional Journalists condemns Honolulu TV
merger
The Hawaii Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists
strongly opposes the planned consolidation of TV stations KGMB, KHNL and KFVE.
This so-called "shared services agreement" not only violates federal regulations
but will eliminate an important source of news and information for the people of
Hawaii.
Among other steps, SPJ-Hawaii will assist Media Council
Hawaii in its legal challenge of the merger.
"SPJ-Hawaii is dedicated to
fostering and protecting a free press and diversity of voices, which are
essential to preserving liberty and democracy in our islands," says chapter
president David Briscoe. "We find it especially outrageous when media
organizations themselves hinder the public's access to news and
information.
"While we recognize the financial pressures media owners
face, this merger is the wrong solution. It reduces the number of local
journalists covering the news, reduces the diversity of media voices, and is bad
for democracy and bad for Hawaii."
The merger is not only morally wrong, it is a clear attempt
to circumvent Federal Communications Commission rules that prohibit such joint
ownership in TV markets like Honolulu.
TV stations are granted the privilege of using public
airwaves, which obligates them to serve the public with news and information.
They should not be allowed to violate this public trust.
10/15/09
Hawaii SPJ needs you
These are interesting and challenging times for journalism. The future of news is unclear, but you can have an important local role in shaping that future by joining the board of directors of the Hawaii chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
The chapter is accepting nominations for the board until Monday, Nov. 16. Anyone who is a current member of Hawaii SPJ is eligible; you can join now and be eligible for the board immediately. Go to
www.spj.org to join; your national membership includes membership in the Hawaii chapter.Nominate yourself or a friend by sending an e-mail to Steve Petranik, Hawaii chapter treasurer, at
stevep@hawaiibusiness.com. (Of course, make sure your friend is willing to serve before you nominate them.)The board consists of four officers – president, vice president, treasurer and secretary – a Neighbor Island director, and four at-large directors. The board meets eight to 12 times a year, usually on Thursday evenings. Hawaii SPJ’s major issues have been media ethics, local media ownership and coverage, training and mentoring young journalists, preserving and enhancing the quality of local news coverage, media access, shield laws and related issues.
Hawaii SPJ organizes the annual Gridiron show and the proceeds pay for summer journalism internships for students. The chapter also sponsors annual awards that recognize the best of Hawaii journalism, and organizes training workshops, seminars, discussions and other events. It also helps with legal and other challenges over media issues.
Please post this invitation in your newsroom
10/10/09
Tough Times, Tougher Choices
Ethics and Excellence in the Newsroom
A Workshop Series
with
Jon Ebinger
Radio-Television News
Directors Foundation
Former Producer
ABC’s Nightline
& ESPN’s Outside
the Lines
Saturday, October 10, 2009
9 am – noon Campus Center
307
Presented by the Carol Burnett Fund
for Responsible Journalism Ethics Programs
& Society of Professional Journalists Student Chapter
University of Hawai‘i at Ma¯noaJon Ebinger is an experienced Washington
based news producer and editor who for nine
years worked for ABC News Nightline as a
researcher and producer. While with ESPN
he launched the weekly investigative program
Outside the Lines and led the show’s
production team. Since 2001 Ebinger has
also been part of production teams for the
BBC, CNBC, PBS, and The National
Geographic Channel. He has worked on
extended projects as an editor for National
Public Radio, as well as for the special events
unit for ABC News.
For the past five years he has administered
media projects for the Radio and Television
News Directors Foundation, including an
ongoing journalist exchange program for
American and German journalists, and
presents workshops across the United States
on how communities and journalists can
respond in the event of a terror crisis.
Ebinger has been honored with 8 Emmy
Awards, including 6 national news Emmys
with "Nightline" (ABC News), one national
news Emmy for "Inside Base Camp" (National
Geographic Channel), and one local Emmy
for "World Talk" (WETA-PBS). He also
received a Dupont-Columbia Award for
"Nightline" Special Programs (1995-1996).
5/23/09
Hawaii Chapter
Society of Professional Journalists
Video Journalism on the Web
When: Saturday, May 23, 2009
Where: University
of Hawai’i-Manoa, Crawford Hall
• 8:30-9:30 a.m. - Interactive panel chat on the
future of video and online journalism (free and open to public)
• 10
a.m.-3 p.m. - Hands-on workshop covering basic shooting/editing video for the
Web (registration limited; workshop cost: $5 for SPJ members; $10 for
non-members. Includes lunch. Registered participants must bring their own
digital video camera with standard firewire cable and be familiar with its
operation.)
Workshop registration deadline:
Wednesday, May 13,
2009
For information and registration,
e-mail: spjvideo@gmail.com or
call: (808) 525-8063
Parking $3 in lower campus parking structure off Dole Street
4/5/09
Thanks to contest judges
Greater Oregon Pro Chapter 2008 Nondaily Contest
Region 11
2008 Northwest Excellence in Journalism
Awards
1/23/09 The Newspaper Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde And newspapers haven’t done a good job of telling
their own story. She noted that she has yet to see a newspaper report about
advertising revenues include comments from a local advertiser about what
advertising has done for him or her.
Newspaper journalism faces an
almost Dr.-Jekyll-and-Mr.-Hyde scenario these days due to a promising future
online but unsettling present in print, Sacramento Bee Editor Melanie Sill
said.
The Dr. Henry Jekyll part is: The Internet
holds so much promise for newspapers and other journalists to reach
readers. But the Mr. Edward Hyde counterpart is: The economy
and advertising declines cast a pall over the newspaper industry.
But still there are things newspapers can do to communicate
with the communities they serve, she told about 45 SPJ members and others at a
reception at the Plaza Club downtown on Jan. 23.
Newspaper are feeling the economic effects of an advertising downturn,
but still serve a large audience, Sill said.
"The
issue is how will it affect the quality of reporting and how we will fund it,"
she said.
Her newspaper underwent "a significant
staff cut, but "we worked on making coverage better," Sill said.
One way to offset the declines, Sill said, is to find subjects that
newspapers do well and then do them even better.
She
opened "lines of communication with the community. "Our
future rests with the future of the community; we really are in it together,"
she said. "Try to be cognizant of what the community needs,"
she said. "We have to be as good at listening as we are at
telling."
Newspapers should be aware that "we can’t
do everything," she added.
Even with a smaller
staff, a newspaper "still can do a good job," she said. Her
paper had "to make some tough choices."
It did away
with a regional weekly sections because it didn’t have staffing to "sustain
them," Sill said.
But because Sacramento is the
state capital of California, the Bee has done well in government reporting. It
started a column and blog on state employees that have proved popular.
The Bee has done database reporting, posting information
such as notices of layoffs or plant closures from companies so people can find
out details for themselves.
Still, people expect
investigative reporting from their papers, and she said it needs to be done even
in times of staff cuts. It all comes down to holding
government officials accountable for their actions and why they did things the
way they did, she said.
The Bee runs
house ads about how effective its advertising is.
Melanie Sill is a Waipahu native and once was editor of Waipahu High’s Cane Tassel paper. She led an investigative team for the Raleigh News & Observer that won a Pulitzer Prize.
7/11/08
Thank you for joining us for the 2007 annual SPJ Hawaii chapter Awards Dinner.
This is our first year in the Dole Cannery ballroom. So I hope you will be pleased with tonite's dinner.
Tonite, we recognize the best in Hawaii journalism in the areas of print, broadcast, and internet.
The awards dinner is one of the many programs sponsored by your SPJ Hawaii chapter.
The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation's most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.
The Hawaii chapter is here to support local journalists and foster excellence in our profession for the benefit of our communities and its people.
I'd like to take a moment to recap some of the many programs and initiatives SPJ's Hawaii chapter has been working on for you throughout the year.
* During this year's legislative session, we worked on crafting a shield law to protect journalists from having to reveal their sources. Hawaii is now one of 36 states in the nation with a shield law. SPJ will be sponsoring a discussion on the shield law with attorney Jeff Portnoy Aug. 21 at noon at the Honolulu Advertiser building. You're all invited to attend. I believe Jeff is here tonite if you want to meet with him.
* We continue to be involved in open government issues. This year, we questioned why crime logs at the University of Hawaii weren't made available, and why the city wanted to keep a mass transit technology panel from meeting in public.
* We also foster the next generation of journalists. Every year, we provide professional opportunities for college students by placing them in paid summer internships in print, broadcast and public relations. We'll be introducing this year's lucky interns to you later this evening.
* We provide opportunities for you to meet and hear the nation's top journalists. We co-sponsored a talk by Sheila Coronel, an award-winning Filipino journalist at Columbia University's investigative journalism program. Also, local boy Byron Acohido, a USA Today reporter, was here to talk about his Pulitzer-prize winning investigative stories.
* And we can't end the year without poking fun at Hawaii's news events, politicians and other newsmakers at the Gridiron, scheduled for Oct. 24-25 at Diamond Head Theatre. Gridiron regulars know how much fun the show is. If you've never seen the Gridiron, I highly recommend it. All proceeds from the show go to fund our internship program. Due to the show's popularity, we'll be adding a Saturday matinee this year for the first time ever. Mahalo to KITV's Keoki Kerr and the Advertiser's Robbie Dingeman for again leading the show's production, and showing us that it's OK to laugh at each other and ourselves sometimes.
We hope to continue with programs that advocate for you and good journalism in Hawaii.
As we recognize the best of Hawaii journalism tonite,
we'll also be saying goodbye to a woman who represents the very best in
journalism. She laid the foundation for many journalists, many of whom are in
this room tonite. She has also dedicated her career to advocating for more open
government and accountability. Later this evening, we will recognize University
of Hawaii professor Bev Keever, who will be retiring after 26 years of
teaching. The Hawaii chapter of the Society of Professional
Journalists is pleased to announce its Annual Awards Dinner and Presentation and
a tribute to retiring University of Hawaii Journalism Professor Beverly Deepe
Keever Date: Friday, July 11, 2008 Time:
6 to 8:30 p.m. Place: Dole Ballrooms (Lanai room)
Please join in celebrating our industry’s successes.
4/1/08
Thank you to the judges of the Region X (Pacific
Northwest) Newspaper Contest
Helen Altonn
Laurie
Au
Dave Briscoe
David Butts
Alex Da Silva
Susan Essoyan
James
Gonser
Gerald Kato
Nancy Cook Lauer
Marsha McFadden
Stirling
Morita
Sandra Oshiro
Gene Park
Robert
Shikina
3/17/08
By Robert Shikina
Chapter Member
Around the world, the news media have never been freer than it is today, but there is a high price to pay for that freedom, said award-winning investigative journalist Sheila Coronel.
Hundreds of journalists have died or remain behind bars because of their work.
Meanwhile, in the United States investigative journalism faces a threat from a business pressures that favors entertainment over quality reporting, she said.
"Journalists are having a heyday in exposing crime, corruption. The bad news, of course, is we pay a price for such exposure," Coronel told dozens of people Monday afternoon at a Freedom of Information Day luncheon on the University of Hawai'i campus as part of Sunshine Week.
The Honolulu Community-Media Council, Hawaii chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, and several other organizations sponsored Coronel's speech as part of the Ah Jook Ku lecture series.
Coronel is director of Toni Stabile Center for Investigative Journalism - Columbia University and the 2003 Ramon Magasaysay Awardee for developing investigative journalism in the Philippines. She helped found the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism, which became the premier investigative reporting institution in the region.
"Investigative journalism has flourished … in many transition countries," Coronel said. In those countries, competing in crowded markets "has made journalists more aggressive in exposing wrongdoing and exposing corruption."
But along with grown of the press, more journalists -- usually local citizens -- have been killed around the world in the post-democratic era than in eras with more governmental control.
"They're being deliberately targeted for their work," she said. "They can make change possible. They become a danger to the powers."
At the end of 2007, 127 journalists worldwide were imprisoned, facing charges against a government or sometimes no charges at all, she said.
During her speech, "Endangered Watchdogs? Investigative Reporting in Troubled Times," Coronel said the news media have grown in developing countries because of so many new avenues for news and a hunger for information. The boom in media has been largely in Asia where China and India were ranked first and second respectively in newspaper circulation, compared with the rest of the world, she said.
In some cases, governments have fueled the media expansion after realizing the media can prevent corruption at the local level and educate businesses, leading to greater national profit.
In China, media market reforms have also led to media growth. When the Chinese government cut subsidies to newspapers, companies were forced to become aggressive in investigative reporting, despite the socialist system, she said.
"The need to survive in that market has forced newspapers to be more aggressive, more expose-oriented in their reporting," she said. The result is a "vibrant media environment in China."
Journalists have also gained press freedoms through freedom of information (FOI) laws around the world. In 1996, when the United States passed its first FOI law, only one other country had a FOI law. Today, 70 countries around the world have FOI laws, half of them having passed them within the last five years, she said.
But there's a downside to the new press freedoms.
"The rise of commercial media has also meant the rise of dumbed-down news and 'infotainment' throughout the world," she said.
In the United States, the problems of investigative reporting are different than in developing countries, Coronel said.
She said income from advertising and circulation is not sustaining newspapers, especially as more people get their news online. While advertisers have moved online, the profit is not enough to sustain news production, leading to a decline in investigative reporting, she said.
In addition, journalists in the United States have faced more pressure to reveal confidential sources, hindering investigative reporting.
However, she sees a possible solution – nonprofit groups, which can fund in depth reporting without commercial pressure, are stepping in to do investigative journalism, and citizen are making contributions as well.
"Citizens are filling the gap in watchdog reporting,
providing needed information," she said. "Increasingly, the line between
citizens and journalists is becoming blurred."