Don’t forget that YOU CAN JOIN SPJ Georgia as a charter member and further your journalistic ambitions and the industry in Georgia.

NEW AVENUES FOR FREELANCERS

As a freelancer, it is music to my ears that SPJ now has a freelance community, active and gaining strength, catering to the freelance members in the organization. The beta site is up and you can check it out here as well as register to be included on the Freelance Directory and even look up job listings. There is no additional fee to be a member of this group, but the resources are aplenty and the discussion forums are just one sign to prove that this community is gaining traction fast. For me, it helps to be part of an organization where I can have free access to a freelancer directory if I am seeking collaborators on an important story or leads on new opportunities that might not have made it my way through other channels. But that’s not all, folks!

Take a peek at the upcoming Excellence in Journalism conference in Nashville, and you will see SPJ is serious about building community, especially the freelance community, amongst its members. Region 3 Director Michael Koretzky is presenting on freelance foul-ups (pissing off editors). There is a breakout session on landing freelance dream gigs, and another one on the freelance life by SPJ Freelance Community President Michael Fitzgerald. There’s a few other sessions as well that are enticing for a freelancer like me, and I hope you will be there to make the most of this three-day conference. Check out the schedule at a glance here, and I am sure you will find something useful and informative that you would love to attend.

Meanwhile, if you are looking for a roommate for the conference, then you can post a request. Also make sure you take the time to check out the job postings in the freelance community site.

Wishing you a fantastic time at the conference! Write in and let us know your experience as a Georgia Pro chapter member and we might just feature your feedback right here.

-Ruksana Hussain, SPJ Georgia interim board member

SPJ GEORGIA MEMBER NEWS

Kennesaw State University student Ellen Eldridge, who serves as Kennesaw State University campus chapter president, became a staff writer with Reporter Newspapers in Metro Atlanta.

If you would like to share news about an SPJ Georgia member, please email spjgeorgia@gmail.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS & CONTESTS

Sept. 4-6: SPJ Excellence in Journalism national conference is held in Nashville, Tennessee, at the Opryland Hotel. Registration is now open, and SPJ members get a $200 discount.

Continuing: SPJ national revises its Code of Ethics.

BOARD MEETING REVIEW

On July 1, the SPJ Georgia interim board met via Google Hangout. Sharon Dunten, Marsha Walton, Jason Meucci, Adina Solomon and Devika Rao were in attendance.

The following are highlights of the July 1 interim board meeting:

• As of July 1, SPJ Georgia had 56 members.
• VOX Teen Communications in Atlanta wants a partnership with SPJ.
• The board discussed having a SPJ Georgia membership directory and a freelance directory for Georgia.
• Devika will work on creating a SPJ Georgia brochure.
• The board discussed a partnership with the Atlanta chapter of the Online News Association.

The next board meeting will be held by video chat on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 7 p.m. Please contact spjgeorgia@gmail.com if you want to attend the meeting. Please note that all records are open to SPJ Georgia members upon request.