President’s letter — Sept 2017
A message from the president
September 2017
Report from EIJ 2017
Connecticut had a strong showing at this year’s conference, with nearly 20 journalism professionals, students, and professors making the trip to Anaheim for the annual Society of Professional Journalists. This year’s meeting saw a major change to the structure for the national board and installation of an old friend as new president. See below for more details.
Come meet us for food and drinks!
We’re coming to your area for happy hour
Before we get caught up in EIJ, we want to let you know that we’re coming out to talk with all of you. We’ll be at Bar Louie in West Hartford on Sept. 27 with WVIT-30’s Max Reiss and Hartford Courant’s Daniela Altimari. Join us beginning at 7 p.m. to talk about journalism, politics, sports, or whatever else. Free food, too! The festivities begin at 7 p.m. We’re also working out the details for a similar event in the New Haven area on Oct. 18, so stayed tuned.
Huge loss for Connecticut journalism
Bob Veillette dies at 72
Before we return to updates from Anaheim, we have some somber news to pass along. Bob Veillette, longtime managing editor of the Republican-American, died Wednesday at Saint Mary’s Hospital. Veillette’s tenure as managing editor was the culmination of a 40-year career at the Rep-Am. He had to leave the paper in 2006 due to a stroke, though. The Rep-Am will have more on Veillette later this week.
Learn more about Veillette’s life and career
Local girl does good!!
Connecticut SPJ alum now national president
Some of you may remember Rebecca Baker, who worked for the New Haven Register and served as Connecticut SPJ secretary during her time in the Nutmeg State. She was installed Saturday as the new SPJ national president. Baker also recently named deputy news director of the New York Daily News.
Learn more about our new SPJ president
Leaner, meaner national board
Convention approves shrinking SPJ board
Delegates at the convention approved reducing the current 23-member board to nine in hopes of making the board more efficient and better able to respond quickly to national issues. We at Connecticut SPJ heard your concerns about the change being too small, and offered an amendment for an 11-member board. The amendment received modest support but fell short of the two-thirds majority needed. Delegates approved the nine-member board, but we at Connecticut SPJ voted against the change, in large part, to your feedback. Please note the change doesn’t affect our chapter’s board.
Learn more about the bylaw change
Learn more about EIJ from your friends
Grant winners participate in the festivities
WVIT-TV 30’s Jill Konopka and Central Connecticut State University student Analisa Novak were part of the Connecticut contingent thanks to travel grants from Connecticut SPJ. It’s the third year in a row we’ve helped members attend the national conference. EIJ is coming to the East Coast twice in the next three years, so make sure to apply and join us in the future.
See all the opportunities here
Job Openings
See who’s hiring
Looking for work, or know someone who is? Check out the jobs bank we’ve just added to our website. We’ll keep adding job postings as we learn of them, so please share with us any openings. Keep in mind that some of these postings may have expired or been filled.
See all the opportunities here
Thanks for your continued support.
Your president,
Mike Savino
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