SPJ Georgia

SPJ Georgia is looking for its next group of leaders!

Nominations are now open for the following Board positions:
• President
• Vice President
• At-Large Member

Do you know someone who would bring great ideas, energy, and leadership to our chapter? Or perhaps that's you?

We welcome both self-nominations and nominations of fellow members who are passionate about supporting journalism and strengthening our professional community.

Nomination period: June 3–13

To be eligible, nominees must be members in good standing of SPJ Georgia at the time of nomination.

Serving on the board is a meaningful opportunity to help shape chapter programming, support journalists across Georgia, and contribute to the future of our profession.

Submit your nomination today by emailing [email protected]
and help us build a strong leadership team for the year ahead.

Strong SPJ showing at the annual conference in Minneapolis! ✨

president ran into president Sandy West during a powerful session on “Government Gagged.” Among the presenters: executive director Caroline Hendrie and national advocacy chair .

Great to see journalism organizations joining forces for these critical conversations about press freedom!

Presented by Society of Professional Journalists and New England SPJ:

Join us for an in-depth conversation with journalist John Ryan, author of “America’s Trial: Torture and the 9/11 Case on Guantanamo Bay.”

June 3, 2026

7:00 pm EST

Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81790418122

John is one of only two reporters to have lived part-time at Guantanamo Bay over the last decade, making 60 reporting trips to cover the 9/11 military commission. A three-time New York Press Club Award winner and co-founder of Lawdragon, he previously reported on international war crimes for the Los Angeles Daily Journal. His presentation will offer a rare look at the legal and journalistic challenges of reporting from inside the U.S. naval base and detention camp.

Last night’s “An Inside Look at Creator Journalism” conversation was a reminder that independent, fact-based journalism is evolving in exciting ways — and the future is being shaped by creators willing to build trust directly with their audiences.

Thank you to our speakers: Michele Hornish, Martin Kuz, Liz Kelly Nelson and moderator Patty Rasmussen for leading such a thoughtful and engaging discussion.

And thank you to everyone who joined us and brought such great questions to the conversation. If you missed it, you truly missed an engaging and timely discussion. Stay tuned for more SPJ Georgia programming ahead!

Thinking about launching your own newsletter, independent publication, or creator platform? 📣

Join SPJ Georgia for a practical conversation on creator journalism and the growing world of audience-driven media. Hear directly from journalists and creators about what it really takes to build, maintain, and grow an independent platform today.

🎤 Moderated by SPJ Georgia Freelance Chair Patty Rasmussen

Featuring:
• Michele Hornish, author of Small Deeds Done
• Martin Kuz, author of Reporting on Ukraine
• Liz Kelly Nelson, co-founder of Project C

📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026
⏰ 6:30–8 p.m. EST
📍 Zoom

💻 Free for SPJ members | $10 for non-members

Whether you're a freelancer, newsroom journalist, student, communicator, or curious about the future of media, this discussion is for you.

🔗 Register here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-inside-look-at-creator-journalism-tickets-1988732588708?aff=oddtdtcreator

📖 Learn more:
https://spjgeorgia.com/2026/05/07/what-is-creator-journalism/

What exactly is creator journalism—and how can you make it work for you? 👀

Join SPJ Georgia for an inside look at the fast-growing world of independent, audience-driven publishing. This virtual, nuts-and-bolts conversation will break down what creator journalism is, how to get started, and—most importantly—how to sustain and grow your platform.

🎤 Moderated by SPJ Georgia Freelance Chair Patty Rasmussen, featuring:
• Michele Hornish, author of Small Deeds Done
• Martin Kuz, author of Reporting on Ukraine
• Liz Kelly Nelson, co-founder of Project C

📅 Thursday, May 21, 2026
⏰ 6:30–8 p.m. EST
📍 Zoom

Free for SPJ members | $10 for non-members

Join SPJ Georgia by May 31 and get $10 off your SPJ membership fee by using the promo code GAPRO.

🔗 Click the link in our bio to register

📩 Questions? Email [email protected]

Thank you to journalists in Columbus — especially Toni Shah, associate editor of The Citizen of East Alabama — who joined us for the launch of our new media literacy campaign, “Georgia Knows Media.”

A special shoutout to our founding president Sharon Dunten for organizing the event, and to Harvest Coffee Co for hosting us. We’re excited to keep these conversations going across the peach state!

Last Saturday, journalists and communications pros gathered at Georgia Public Broadcasting for “Staying Safe in the Field” — a hands-on, interactive training focused on situational awareness, protest and field safety, active attack response, and bleeding control.

Thank you to our fantastic instructor, Brian Vaughan, for leading a powerful session filled with actionable tips and real-world examples; to SPJ Georgia President Katja Ridderbusch along with board members Laura J. Downey, Benjamin Grady, Mitch Leff and Rachel Spooner for pulling the event together; and to everyone who participated, asked great questions and fully engaged in our hands-on tourniquet competition!

📸 Benjamin Grady

Big things are happening for media literacy in Georgia. 📣

Join the Society of Professional Journalists Georgia Pro Chapter for the launch of Georgia Knows Media — a new statewide initiative designed to bring media literacy and education directly into our communities.

This hands-on, train-the-trainer workshop will equip journalists, educators, and communication professionals with practical tools to navigate misinformation, build trust, and lead meaningful conversations.

Plus, stick around after for a casual meet & greet with SPJ Georgia leadership!

📅 May 5, 2026
⏰ 10 a.m. — Noon
📍 The Harvest Coffee Co.
📧 Register: [email protected]

Welcome to the board, Lee! 🎉

Please join us in congratulating Lee Peters on being elected as the new Student Representative to the Society of Professional Journalists Georgia Pro Chapter Board of Directors.

Lee brings fresh perspective, energy, and a passion for journalism that will help strengthen the connection between students and professionals across our state.

We’re excited to see the impact he’ll make in this role!