Previous Events
SPJ Georgia Hosts Photojournalism Webinar
SPJ Georgia hosted the webinar Photojournalism – Best Practices for the Digital Age on Sept. 30.
Moderated by SPJ Georgia At-Large Board Member Benjamin Grady, a panel of practicing photojournalists and photography educators discussed issues such as ethical photojournalism, digital manipulation, narrative composition, and how to cover marginalized communities.
Third Annual Sip & Share Fund-raiser
SPJ Georgia’s third annual Sip & Share summer fund-raiser was held in Savannah in August.
Our special guest was Kathryn Wagner, editor-in-chief of Savannah Magazine.The event was held at Emma James at Savannah Harbor.
Tickets were $50.
Police-Press Relations: What’s at Stake?
SPJ Georgia hosted a solutions-driven discussion about police-press relations on July 15.
Panelists were Atlanta-Journal Constitution Editor-in-Chief Leroy Chapman, Dunwoody Police Deputy Chief Oliver Fladrich, Atlanta News First Reporter Blake DeVine and Chata Spikes, executive director of public affairs at the Atlanta Police Department.
They shared stories from the field and addressed potential conflicts between law enforcement and journalists during protests as well as day-to-day news reporting.
Tech Tools for Journalists: Using AI
See tip sheet I Watch the video
On May 21, two media pros discussed the risks and benefits of using AI in journalism:
— J.D. Capelouto, a reporter and lead writer at Semafor.
— Karin Assmann, assistant professor of journalism at the University of Georgia.
In conversation with SPJ Georgia President Katja Ridderbusch and SPJ Georgia Vice President Genelle Williams.
Media Networking Event
SPJ Georgia and Young Media Atlanta @youngmediaatlanta got together at Bridge Boutique on April 24.
A visit with Vox
SPJ Georgia visited with VOX ATL students on April 19.
We talked about the SPJ Code of Ethics and about what makes a story newsworthy.
Interviewing Skills
Managers from three organizations spoke about job and internship interviews at a free event on March 27 Kennesaw State University.
They provided practical tips and strategies to help applicants in the interview process.
Media Literacy panel
Journalists representing four news outlets spoke about misinformation, disinformation and navigating conflicts of interest. A public discussion was held, moderated by WABE Politics Reporter Rahul Bali. The event was Feb. 22 at WSB-TV.
Panelists were Jonathan O’Brien, WSB anchor/reporter; Janel Davis, Atlanta Journal-Constitution managing editor; Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow, 285 South reporter, and Larry Johnson, Cobb County Courier editor and publisher..
Coffee Club meet-up in Savannah
The SPJ Georgia Coffee Club met Jan. 25 at the 5 Spot Midtown in Savannah.
Podcasting 101
Podcasters Charlotte Norsworthy Varnum, Wanda Lloyd and Mitch Leff shared their expertise in a Jan. 23 workshop.
Holiday Party with the Atlanta Press Club
SPJ Georgia and the Atlanta Press Club celebrated the holidays Dec. 3 with a party at the Thompson Hotel Rooftop restaurant in Buckhead.
Coffee Club Meet-up in Savannah
Freelancers and media professionals in the Savannah area met Jan. 16 at Big Bon Bodega in Pooler. The meet-up was sponsored by SPJ Georgia and spearheaded by Genelle Williams.
Mental Health for Journalists
Tami Brown discussed how journalists can foster resilience while facing the challenges at work.
She is a licensed professional counselor and vice chair of the board of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Georgia .
Service Project: Beach Clean-up
SPJ Georgia board members (from left) Genelle Williams , Laura Downey and Jatika Hudson helped clean the beach at Tybee Island in mid-October.
Literary Agent Workshop
We really enjoyed Laura Usselman from the Stuart Krichevsky Literary Agency and all of the advice and encouragement she gave during the workshop on how to grab a book publisher’s attention with your first book proposal.
A few pointers she shared for consideration before you write your pitch:
*Is your story a book?
*Are there books similar to yours?
*Is this a subject that readers will buy into?
Copy and paste this link into a new browser to watch the video:
SIP & Share
SPJ Georgia held its annual fund-raising event on Aug. 10.
Mix and Mingle
SPJ Georgia and the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists (AABJ) held a joint event at Bridge Boutique on May 22.
SPJ-GA board member and WABE politics reporter, Rahul Bali moderates the Atlanta Press Club, Georgia First Amendment Foundation 2024 Gold Dome panel
On April 16, the Atlanta Press Club and the Georgia First Amendment Foundation hosted a panel to decode major bills impacting government transparency, First Amendment rights, and public policy.
WABE politics reporter and SPJ-GA board member, Rahul Bali moderated the panel. Panelists included Nora Benavidez, Legislative Committee Co-Chair, Georgia First Amendment Foundation & Senior Counsel, Free Press; Jonathan O’Brien, WSB anchor and reporter; and Maya Prabhu, Government reporter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Watch the discussion here.
SPJ-GA student representative, Allison Mawn hosts a journalism panel at the University of Georgia
AJC journalist, Ernie Suggs, UGA journalism professor, Moni Basu, and WABE politics reporter, Rahul Bali, shared valuable insights on the evolving landscape of journalism with students.
Watch the panel discussion here.
Other past events
SPJ GA is partnering with another chapter, SPJ New England, to host a discussion with Pulitzer Prize-winning feature writer Lane DeGregory!
Let us know you’re interested to get the Zoom link for the discussion.
Radio/TV host Mara Davis joined us to sample wines, talk with journalists and support journalism.
7:30 p.m. , Saturday, July 29
At 360 Media, 1040 Boulevard SE C, Atlanta, GA 30312
SPJ Georgia sponsored a Saturday morning workout in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward Park led by fitness instructor Amelia Pavlik.
SPJ Georgia Series: Covering Extremist Groups in Georgia
The aim of the series is three-fold; to educate Georgia journalists about who the groups are and what they believe in with a particular emphasis on the Peach State, a rundown on organizations who are keeping tabs on them and assessing their threat level and how journalists can cover them effectively and safely.
Panelists:
April 13: Atlanta Journal-Constitution investigative reporter Chris Joyner and Atlanta Journal-Constitution D.C. correspondent Tia Mitchell
April 27: Susan Corke, Intelligence Project director at Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC); Amy Iandiorio, investigative researcher with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL); and Dr. Cas Mudde, professor at the University of Georgia’s School of Public and International Affairs and author of The Far Right Today.
May 11: Henry Schuster, 60 Minutes producer
SPJ Georgia Fall Virtual Series
Freelancer Workshop: Covering Civil Unrest
- September 2 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
Join SPJ Georgia for a moderated discussion featuring three Georgia freelancers who will discuss their experiences covering protests. Panelists include Haisten Willis, George Chidi and Ben Gray. Register here.
Student Workshop: Information Gathering at Public/Private Colleges
- September 9 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
Join SPJ Georgia and SPJ at UGA for a student rights workshop on covering public & private universities amid a pandemic and upcoming election. Panelists include First Amendment Scholar Jonathan Peters, Rebecca Burns of The Red & Black and Debbie Blankenship of Mercer. Register here.
Election Workshop: Covering a Presidential Election in the Middle of a Pandemic
- September 16 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
Join SPJ Georgia for a workshop on covering a presidential election in rural communities. Panelists include Caitlyn Stroh-Page of The Athens Banner-Herald, Rana Cash of The Savannah Morning News and Dale Russell at FOX-5. Register here.
COVID-19 Workshop: By The Numbers. Who to Trust and How to Visualize
In partnership with the Atlanta Press Club
- September 23 at 7:30 p.m. via Zoom
Join SPJ Georgia for a panel workshop on covering the pandemic by the numbers. Panelists include Glen Nowak of Center for Health & Risk Communication, Maggie Lee, a freelance reporter and data specialist and Sabriya Rice of the Association for Health Care Journalists. Register here.
Virtual Facebook Training: Reaching Rural Georgia During COVID-19
- April 18 at 11:30 a.m. via Zoom
Join us for a Facebook Training webinar led by longtime journalist J. Kyle Foster on navigating Facebook Groups to access rural communities in the South while covering COVID-19. This webinar will be conducted via Zoom, and the Zoom information will be sent out to registered attendees. Register here.
COVID-19: Taking Care of Journalists and Journalism
- March 23 at 1:00 p.m. via Zoom
Attend this free webinar hosted by the Freedom Forum to discuss ways journalists can better report on the COVID-19 pandemic along with ways we can support one another during this time of uncertainty. Register here.
SPJ Georgia Mixer
- March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Georgia Beer Garden
Come meet the 2020 SPJ Georgia Board and fellow members at our first event of the year. Take MARTA to the MLK Station or park on Chamberlain Street or other side streets, not on Edgewood Ave. Parking info here. Register here.
69th Southern Regional Press Institute
- February 20-21 at Savannah State University
The two-day conference features keynote speakers, multiple concurrent workshops, contests and a job fair. Through its workshops and speakers, SRPI provides training for elementary, middle, high school and college students with an interest in mass media. Register here.
SPJ Georgia 