Journalists to meet in person — and virtually

With the Society of Professional Journalists holding its annual conference as a hybrid event, an SPJ grassroots group also will have a combination in-person/virtual gathering.

The overall conference is called SPJ 21. It’s Sept. 2-4 in New Orleans, with a virtual component.

I look forward to seeing any SPJ member on Thursday, Sept. 2, from 5:30 PM to 7 PM. This will be a hybrid meeting of the grassroots group of local SPJ members, chapter and regional leaders, and others from the association. We were formed a few years ago due to concerns about transparency and other process issues at the national level, many of which appear to have been resolved. See here and here for context.

We nonetheless continue to be in communication. This is our annual chance to see each other in the flesh — and over video for those who will not be at SPJ 21 in person. Stay tuned for information about exactly where we will meet at the convention as well as hopefully a means to participate from afar. We/I thank the SPJ staff for helping to make this a reality, by finding us space and helping with other logistics.

Here’s a round-up of our previous (and first) meeting in person as a grassroots group, at a past SPJ annual conference. As with that meet-up, we are inviting the national SPJ board and those running for election to speak with us.

From our last meeting.

In the most recent action from some members of our grassroots group, we petitioned the national board to make this very conference hybrid instead of canceling it in person and possibly paying a significant cancellation fee. After such requests from our informal group and others, such as the local Washington, D.C., chapter, the board relented and agreed to hold the event in person with in online option.

RSVP to me if you would like to attend the gathering of what I affectionately call our little group. Please specify if you will be there in person or remotely. Those who are part of our list serve will also be getting this invitation directly. If you wish to be added to this email group, please let me know. And if you have items for our agenda, please also let me know. You can find me on social media at makejdm (such as on Twitter) or email press@warren-news.com.

I’m looking forward to seeing members in NOLA. And I don’t mean “seeing.”