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June 14 – 20, 2010 Edition Journalists Society Funds Public Ethics Forums
INDIANAPOLIS/AUTHORLINK/June 15, 2010–The Society of Professional Journalists has awarded nine $2,500 grants to SPJ chapters nationwide to hold interactive public forums on journalism ethics.
The Public & The Press forums will bring news consumers, journalists and others together to discuss ethical, credible news and why it matters in the hope of combating eroding public trust in journalism. The grants are funded by the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, and will go to: Chicago Headline Club, Illinois; Fort Worth Pro Chapter, Texas; Valley of the Sun Chapter, Arizona; Washington, D.C., Pro Chapter, Washington, D.C.; Snake River Pro Chapter, Idaho; Press Club of Long Island, New York; Southwest Missouri Pro Chapter, Missouri; New Mexico Pro Chapter, New Mexico, and Connecticut Pro Chapter, Connecticut.
In an open exchange of ideas, the chapter programs will provide the public with tools to discern between talking heads and ethical, credible news.
The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation and SPJ said the program is desperately needed as the public is deluged daily from all types of so-called news outlets, making it difficult for them to identify credible, reliable journalism. As the publicÂ’s trust in the media decreases, SPJ and the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation fight to keep ethical and fair journalism strong for all U.S. citizens and for democracy.
While the SPJ chapters will spearhead the meetings, civic partners, such as local Rotary, Kiwanis clubs and universities, are invited to help conduct and market each program. Chapters will hold their individual sessions between Aug. 2010 and May 2011. More information about meeting times and places will be available soon.
To learn more information about the grants and the upcoming programs, visit the SPJ Public & The Press Web page or contact SPJ Ethics Committee Chairman Andy Schotz at lawngyland@aol.com.
Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information about SPJ, visit www.spj.org.
