CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA — On a sunny spring day in the middle of Charleston’s historic district during its busiest time of year — Spring Break, more than 60 journalists gathered at the College of Charleston for the 2018 SPJ Spring Conference & Freelance Blitz. It was full day of programming and sharing for both freelance and newsroom journalists.

The conference provided five breakout sessions, a multi award-winning keynote speaker, two panels full of experts in freelancing and editors who hire them, and trainers from both Google and Facebook. And to top it off — 125 collegiate SPJ Mark of Excellence regional awards  were given out to outstanding student journalists and publications during the luncheon.

The conference was sponsored by SPJ Region 3, Cox Institute and Content That Works. Also contributing to the conference, Google News Lab, Facebook, and the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information.

Thank you to the following individuals who shared their expertise for the conference: Bob Sullivan, Independent Journalist, Author, and Investigative Journalist; Lori Johnston, Owner, Fast Copy Services; Keith Herndon, Executive Director, Cox Institute, University of Georgia; Haisten Willis, SPJ Georgia President; Adina Solomon, Atlanta Freelance Journalist; Ginger Willis, Professional Organizer; Stell Simonton, Atlanta Freelance Journalist; Louise Phelps, Publisher/CEO, Coast Empire News; Helen Mitternight, Charleston Freelance Journalist; Holly Fisher, Charleston Freelance Journalist; Kevin D. Liles, Photojournalist; Frank LoMonte, Executive Director of the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information; Andy Owens, Editor the Charleston Regional Business Journal; Hanna Raskin, Food Editor/Food Critic, Charleston Post & Courier; Jesse Darland, Managing Editor, Content That Works; Paul Osmundson, Editor at Columbia The State newspaper; Debora Wenger, Trainer, Google News Lab; and Kerwin Speight, Trainer, Facebook & SPJ.

Special thanks to SPJ Region 3 intern Sarah Jones and Francis Marion University student Sara Porter for all their work on the conference. And also all the SPJ Georgia members who volunteered at the conference: Shelly (and her husband Michael) Gable, Pam Dorsett, Stell Simonton and SPJ member Holly Fisher.

And thank you to all the professional and student journalists that attended the 2018 SPJ  Region 3 Spring Conference and Freelance Blitz.

NOTE: This post originally appeared on SizingUpTheSouth.com, the official website of SPJ Region 3. Click here for the original post and additional photos.