September Newsletter
Greetings dear SPJ/LAers and welcome back to our chapter’s monthly newsletter. Fall is finally here, the weather has started to cool down and here we are with September’s newsletter!
The latest news . . .
SPJ/LA and an array of journalism groups made major headway last month on Senate Bill 98, the state legislation that seeks to ensure that journalists can safely cover protests without interference from law enforcement. The Assembly and the State Senate passed the bill, which now awaits Gov. Gavin Newsom’s signature.
The push for SB 98 is, in part, a response to a string of incidents in which members of the news media were detained, arrested or otherwise mistreated by police while covering demonstrations over the past 18 months. Those events prompted SPJ/LA to team up with several other groups to form the LA Journalism Coalition and advocate for the bill.
On Monday, the National Association of Black Journalists Los Angeles and the coalition staged a town hall discussion with LAPD Chief Michel Moore, providing journalists an opportunity to pose questions about press access and other topics. The event featured NABJLA President Jarrett Hill, LA Press Club Secretary Adam Rose, SPJ/LA Vice President Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins and Tanya McRae, NABJLA vice president.
The big question is whether Newsom will sign SB 98. He vetoed similar legislation last year. But journalism groups have become more vocal in arguing in favor of the bill, which also has been endorsed by a number of news outlets.
Coming up . . .
SPJ/LA has begun putting together our virtual ceremony for this year’s Distinguished Journalists Awards, which will debut on Nov. 4. Because of continued concerns about the spread of COVID-19 at in-person events, our board voted last month to make the ceremony a video event. The awards ceremony is our main fundraiser for the year, helping us fund scholarships and education programs.
If you’d like to be a financial sponsor for this year’s awards, it’s not too late! Logos and advertisements must be submitted no later than Oct. 15. Contact SPJ/LA Banquet Committee Chair Sarah Favot at sarah.favot@gmail.com.
Our chapter also has begun taking a fresh look at the categories we use for our annual Distinguished Journalists Awards. The committee is looking at whether to create additional categories or redesign the ones we already have. We’ll have more to say in the coming months.
Would you like to get more involved in SPJ/LA? Perhaps you’d like to run for a seat on our chapter’s board of directors! Several seats will be up for election in December, so please start thinking about whether you’d like to take your involvement in our chapter to a whole new level.
FYI . . .
SPJ/LA voted earlier this month to join an amicus brief in a public records lawsuit being waged in San Diego County. Three news outlets – Voice of San Diego, the San Diego Union Tribune and KPBS Public Broadcasting -- have been fighting for access to outbreak data related to the spread of COVID-19. After two unfavorable rulings, the plaintiffs are seeking review of the case by the state Supreme Court.
From the national organization. . .
SPJ made history this month by installing its first Latina president in its 112-year history. Congratulations to Rebecca Aguilar, a passionate advocate for journalism and a vocal supporter of SPJ/LA. Aguilar has already been making an impact by weighing in on the effort to pass SB 98 in Sacramento. And a hearty thanks to Matthew Hall for all of his hard work steering the ship as president over the past year.
Read other SPJ news here.
Finally . . .
As always, my thoughts about membership -- wrapped up in three words: Please join us!
If you’re already an SPJ/LA member, thank you for your support. If you're not, please learn about our chapter here and why you should consider joining. If you have questions, contact me at navidnonahalspjla@gmail.com.
Please follow SPJ/LA on Twitter and join us on Facebook.
Believe and stay safe!
Navid Nonahal
Membership Committee Chair
SPJ/LA