The Milwaukee SPJ Pro Chapter will award scholarships to journalism students at Marquette University, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an MPS student who intends to pursue journalism in college, the organization has announced.

Scholarship applications are accepted Jan. 1 until March 15. Awards will be announced April 1 and disbursed to the winners Aug. 1.

Criteria for the scholarships ($500 each) to UW-Milwaukee and Marquette University include:

—Student should be a declared major in journalism at either Marquette University or UW Milwaukee and have achieved at least sophomore standing.
— The student is a member in good standing with their local SPJ chapter.
— 2.5 GPA or above. (Unofficial transcript required).
—Up to 3 letters of recommendation.
—Three to five clips of media work, at least one of which has been published. Print, broadcast or Internet stories are accepted.
— Resume.

Criteria for the $200 MPS scholarship:

Criteria:
— Student should be a senior enrolled in an MPS school.
— A statement of purpose.
— 2.75 GPA or above. Transcript required.
— At least two clips. Print, broadcast or Internet stories are accepted.
— At least one letter of recommendation.

Scholarship applications may be sent via email to brandon@brandonlorenz.com. Decisions are made by the SPJ Board.

Contact:
Brandon Lorenz,
President, Milwaukee SPJ Pro Chapter
(414) 241-0730
brandon@brandonlorenz.com

(MILWAUKEE) The Milwaukee Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) will host the national SPJ Board for a centennial celebration 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Milwaukee Press Club, 1123 N Water St.

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, 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 event will feature brief remarks by past SPJ presidents (and Milwaukee journalists) Dick Leonard and Jean Otto. Otto was the first woman to serve as president of SPJ. Brief remarks from Otto, Leonard and current SPJ President Dave Aeikens are scheduled for 7 p.m., followed by refreshments and light snacks.

The event is free to SPJ members.

The SPJ-Milwaukee Chapter Board met on November 10, 2008, at 5:45 p.m. at Alterra Café At The Lake. Present were president Brandon Lorenz, treasurer Carlos Laack, secretary Jerrianne Hayslett, immediate-past president Tony Anderson and board member Stephen Byers.

A short discussion ensued about a wine tasting in the January-February timeframe.

The national SPJ Board is still planning to hold its January 8-9, 2009, meeting in Milwaukee with the business meeting at the Wisconsin Law Journal offices and a social on the 9th to include the area’s journalism community at the Press Club. President Lorenz final details of the social are underway. Past-president Anderson suggested sending an email blast to members of the local Pro and Student chapters, and local members of national SPJ. President Lorenz will notify the Madison Pro and Student chapters.

Board member Byers and Secretary Hayslett will post notices of the event on their blogs.

President Brandon will check about including links to other websites on the Milwaukee Chapter website. Secretary Hayslett will post an announcement of the launch of the website for her new book, Anatomy of a Trial: Public Loss, Lessons Learned from The People vs. O. J. Simpson, on the Milwaukee Chapter website.

Milwaukee SPJ Chapter Minutes
September 22, 2008 Miss Katie's Diner

In attendance: Brandon Lorenz, Martin Hintz, Steven Byers, Jerrianne Hayslett. Absent, treasurer Carlos Laack, immediate past president Tony Anderson.

Meeting convened at 11:40 a.m. with President Brandon Lorenz presiding.

Brandon welcomed new board member Dr. Steven Byers, Journalism Faculty and Student Publications Adviser at Marquette University.

A discussion was held about a regular monthly meeting day and time. Because of conflicting schedules and work shifts, it was agreed to try to alternate day with evening meetings each month. Next month the meeting is scheduled for Monday, October 20, at 5:30 p.m. at Alterra Café At The Lake, 1701 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive.

Brandon reported on the national SPJ annual convention, held this yea r in Atlanta, Georgia. Attendance was down from previous years, due primarily to the economy and the political season. Discussion included the continuing downsizing of news organizations, declining newspaper subscriptions and survival strategies for print and electronic media.

Next year will be SPJ's 100th anniversary.

Milwaukee SPJ Chapter Minutes
Aug. 12, 2008 Miss Katie's Diner

In attendance: Tony Anderson, Marta Bender, Brandon Lorenz, Jerrianne Hayslett

Meeting convened at 11:35 a.m. with Tony Anderson presiding.

Tony Anderson opened the meeting by asking Brandon Lorenz for a report on the Society of Travel Writer's Institute for Digital Travel Photography. Lorenz said that the event was modestly sized but drew people who came form the reporting side, so it was a good event for SPJ to be involved with.

Tony Anderson said that Steve Byers had indicated a willingness to join the board for the upcoming year. Tony also suggested that the board needs to send out a ballot as soon as possible. Brandon Lorenz would appear on the ballot as President. Tony agreed to stay on for a year as past president. Tony agreed to confirm that Carlos would be willing to stay on as Treasurer. Jerrianne Hayslett said she would be willing to fill in if a secretary couldn't be found, but that her travel schedule could keep her away for some time.

Tony suggested that in the following year the group should make a bigger push to get the word out to more media outlets. In particular, groups to focus on would be the Business Journal, The Freeman, CNI, and the AP. Marta Bender suggested that efforts me made to recruit people from minority news outlets too.

Milwaukee SPJ Chapter Minutes
June 9, 2008 Italian Community Center

In attendance: Tony Anderson, Martin Hintz Brandon Lorenz, Carlos Laack

Meeting convened at 11:35 a.m. with Tony Anderson presiding.

Tony Anderson opened the meeting by asking for a report on the Scipps Leadership Institute from Brandon Lorenz.

Brandon Lorenz said he came away from the weekend with a lot of ideas, but wanted to suggest just a few for the time being. First, he said he wanted to focus on recruiting three or four active volunteers to be given charge of things like programs. Secondly, he suggested holding monthly mixers at a bar in town, but that the the chapter invite a high profile guest as a draw. An event that could be held would be 'financial planning for journalists' with the aim of finding young folks and folks at mid-sized news outlets. Finally, the chapter could charge journalists to compete for FOI awards, and then offer the award at a banquet where the chapter also offers an FOI award to a law firm for public service.

Carlos Laack gave an update on the state of the chapter funds. He also talked about the three banks the chapter could consider moving its funds too — North Shore Bank, Bank Mutual and National City. He recommended North Shore Bank.

Finding photo agents, getting involved with stock photo agencies, travel photography as art, managing and processing images using Adobe Lightroom, keywording; and preparing images for publication are among the many sessions at The Society of American Travel Writers' first annual Institute for Digital Travel Photography, July 24-27, in Milwaukee, Wis.

The Institute is organized by SATW's Freelance Council and presented in cooperation with the Department of Journalism of Marquette University and assisted by the Wisconsin Division of Tourism. The sessions are aimed at advanced writer/photographers and intermediate photographers seeking to learn how to use travel photography for articles and guidebooks , as well as for longtime professionals seeking additional outlets and wishing to sharpen their technical skills.

Space is limited to 60 registrants on a first-come, first-served basis. Tuition is $300 for professionals and $150 for students. Participants are responsible for their own lodging and transportation. For more program details and registration information, contact: http://www.satw.org/digitalphotoinstitute/?SId=121.

More than a hundred attendees packed a meeting room to capacity at Marquette University Thursday night for a panel discussion on crime reporting in Wisconsin.

"Feeding the Media Beast: Crime Coverage in Cheese Country," featured a panel of Milwaukee area journalists and former Milwaukee County Dist. Atty. E. Michael McCann. Participants spoke for more than an hour on the challenges of crime reporting and the tensions that can come in trying to seek the appropriate balance of coverage.

Among the specific issues discussed:

John Diedrich, federal reporter at The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, spoke about the need for crime reporters to develop relationships in the law enforcement community. He also spoke about his work on an in-depth project that examined the number non-fatal of homicides in Milwaukee and the Frank Jude case.

Tom Held, general assignment reporter The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, spoke about the challenges of covering a recent shooting in Crandon. He also noted Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen's role in advising residents not to speak to the media, which made the story more difficult and said that Van Hollen's office has not been forthcoming with releasing records on the shooting.

For more information:
Martin Hintz
414-540-6636
martinhintz@wi.rr.com

"Feeding the Media Beast: Crime Coverage in Cheese Country," featuring a panel of Milwaukee area journalists and former Milwaukee County Dist. Atty. E. Michael McCann, will be held at 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 28, in Room 103, Johnston Hall, Marquette University. The hall is located at 1131 W. Wisconsin Ave.

Moderated by Tony Anderson, managing editor of the Wisconsin Law Journal, the journalists will discuss how crime coverage is handled in Milwaukee; challenges facing journalists in reporting crimes; dealing with law enforcement personnel, court officials and the legal community; and whether or not the media places too much emphasis on crime coverage.

The session is sponsored by the Milwaukee chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and hosted by the Marquette University Department of Journalism and its student SPJ chapter. The program is free and open to the public. A question and answer session is scheduled to follow the panel discussion.

The panel includes:

Brandon Lorenz, President
Brandon Lorenz is the senior editor for Building Operating Management, a national magazine that covers real estate, energy and buildings. He also contributes to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Before becoming a magazine editor he spent nearly two years as a reporter for the Waukesha Freeman, where he covered a number of high profile stories. His coverage of one of the state's worst mass murders led to a first place spot news award from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.

Carlos Laack, Treasurer

Jerrianne Hayslett, Secretary