Happy Monday!
Hey SPJ @ VCU members/interests! Your executive board has a lot planned for this semester. Here are some of the activities and events we have in store for you:
Resume Workshops:
A two-part series that will help you spruce up your print resume and build an online identity!
Production Workshops and Mock Newscast:
Learn how to produce and anchor your own newscast–and then record it in a studio!
Journalism Interactive Field Trip:
Join us for an all-day conference at the University of Maryland where you’ll learn cutting edge information about the changing field of journalism and have an opportunity to network with industry professionals!
Our next meeting is this Thursday, September 22 @ 7 p.m. in the Temple Building room 2219. Hope to see you there!
Check out this great opportunity for student journalists!
If you’re interested in investigative journalism, this seminar is perfect for you. Apply soon for one of their scholarships!
SPJ’s Express Online Resume Writing Workshop : 30 Minutes or Less
SPJ Express Resume Workshop
Thursday April 21st 2011 @ 7 PM
Temple Building Rm. 1145
Having a good online portfolio is essential for today college graduates and internship seekers. Learn some tips on how to make your skills shine on line with the Society of Professional Journalists online resume workshop.
To sign up for a slot send an e-mail with your name to spjvcu@gmail.com. ATTN: Resume Workshop
Bake Sale & Candygrams
Please support the SPJ as we prepare to go to our conference in Norfolk. We will be in the Compass Feb. 10th and Feb. 14th. If you did purchase a candygram today, we appreciate it !
SPJ Takes Washington
The Society of Professional Journalist visited Washington D.C to visit the Newseum and C-SPAN. Below are images from places we visited :
Kerri Peifer from Richmond.com visits SPJ!
By Hillary Huber
Kerri Peifer, a scrumptious food writer and editor for Richmond.com, visited SPJ on Tuesday to share a little insight into her career and give advice to aspiring journalists.
(From left) Jalisa House, Katherine Coates, Mia Burnside, Manhatten Royal, Kristine Hadeed, Kerri Peifer, Hillary Huber,Jessica Coates
Although Peifer refers to herself as a food writer, she says the career name is so vague that even Wikipedia doesn’t have a description of it. According to her, food writing differs from being a food critic in that she doesn’t know enough about food to properly critique it, and is a “barely functional cook.” So what exactly do food writers do?
There are three particular skills a person must possess in order to be a successful food writer. First and foremost, they must know food–not in the “you must drink this wine and eat this cheese” sense, but know what people look for in different kinds of food. Secondly, he or she must know how to write well. Peifer said while it’s easy to say what she liked and didn’t like about a restaurant, it’s more challenging to put the entire experience into well-crafted words. Lastly, he or she must know Richmond. She said it’s important to know the culture of the city, to know the best local hot spots, and to understand what the people of Richmond like in a restaurant. Above all, he or she must have a strong voice–uniqueness, originality, and creativity are all important to incorporate into food writing.
SPJ @ VCU’s Sweet Tooth
The Society of Professional Journalist at VCU hosted a bake sale October 14-16th. With baked goods from SPJ member Katherine Coates, Jessica Coates, Cassaundra Blackmon, Hilary Huber and Sheila Villalobos SPJ had more than enough to satisfy any sweet craving.
The money raised from the bake sale will go to funding future programs and allow for SPJ to bring more to the campus community.
SPJ @ VCU Learns About Freelance Writing
By Carliss Hardy
An expert journalist and businesswoman will discuss freelance writing at an Oct. 12 seminar being sponsored by the VCU chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Maya Payne Smart, a well-known freelance writer and entrepreneur, will be the keynote speaker for the event, the chapter’s first seminar of the school year.
She will speak at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 12, in Room 2219 of the Temple Building.
Smart’s work has graced numerous magazines, newspapers and websites, including CNN Money.com and Essence. She is also the owner of Ralston Payne Enterprises LLC and publishes writingcoach.com, which gives advice on how to become a freelance writer.
Smart is a graduate of Harvard University and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. She has received awards from the Donald W. Reynolds Center for Business Journalism and from The Press Club of Cleveland.
As a freelance writer, she specializes in writing about small businesses, franchising and entrepreneurship.
Freelance writers traditionally don’t have a long-term commitment to any one employer. As a result, they usually don’t make much money.
But Smart was able to look past some of the negative aspects of the freelance world.
“I labored under the illusion that the ‘free’ in freelance meant without attachments. I took pride in the fact that I had cut my corporate strings and was forging my own path,” Smart says on her website.
One VCU student worked firsthand with Smart and said she found her expertise invaluable.
“I worked with her for my internship over the summer, and I learned so much,” said Katherine Coates, a print journalism major. “I feel like freelance writing is something we don’t get to hear a lot about, when it can be a very good career choice.”
Associate Professor Bonnie Davis, SPJ’s faculty adviser, believes Smart will have a positive impact on students when she visits.
“Maya Smart Payne is an excellent presenter, and her presence will help inspire anyone who attends this event,” Davis said.
“Maya’s success as an entrepreneur is equally impressive, as she offers succinct and strategic guidelines for journalists who dream of starting their own businesses.”
Coates said she hopes to follow in Smart’s footsteps.
“I learned a lot about freelancing from her, and now it seems like the dream career for me. So I hope someone else can get that kind of inspiration,” Coates said.
Coates said she organized the event with hopes that “students learn more about SPJ and about other career aspects of the journalism and writing world.”
The seminar is free and is open to all students interested in writing – as journalism majors or as a hobby. For more information about Smart and freelance writing, visit her website at http://www.mayasmart.com and http://www.writingcoach.com.
Smart lives in Richmond with her husband, Shaka, head coach of the VCU men’s basketball team.
To learn more about SPJ, the nation’s largest journalism organization, visit http://www.spj.org.
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