SPJ Greater Oregon Chapter

Reminder that the Build a Better Journalist Conference is THIS Saturday in Portland! RSVP now:

2023 Building a Better Journalist Conference The Building a Better Journalist Conference is where journalists and journalism students can gather, network, and learn from each other.

2023 Building a Better Journalist Conference The Building a Better Journalist Conference is where journalists and journalism students can gather, network, and learn from each other.

Have you RSVP'd for the 2023 SPJ-AAJA Building a Better Journalist Conference yet? We're meeting in Portland on Saturday, Oct. 28, and we'll feature discussion panels and classes to build a better journalist, as well as presentations on the state of local news.

RSVP Today for the 2023 Fall Conference in Portland — SPJ Oregon Register now for the 2023 SPJ-AAJA Building a Better Journalist Conference, presented by the Agora Journalism Center and the UO School of Journalism and Communication (SOJC). It is going to be a big event for journalists, so RSVP today to get your seat! 

Want to learn more about how to cover wildfires in Oregon? A collaboration of Oregon State University fire researchers and University of Oregon journalism professors have published a comprehensive wildfire guide for journalists. It includes everything from what to expect when covering a fire, understanding land management and fire agencies, ecological and social impacts, and how to communicate with scientists. We highly recommend any journalist covering wildfires in Oregon to check it out.

Find the "Stories of Fire" publication on OSU's Fire Program site:

Fire Program Forests across the western United States are stressed from high tree densities, drought, and insect and disease outbreaks. Past management practices along with more human-caused wildfire and changes in weather are causing wildfires to burn hotter, longer, more frequent, and over greater areas. Fores...

Attention Oregon media: Training for unescorted access to wildfires is now available!

Oregon Department of Forestry will provide SPJ Oregon with a weekly report of all journalists who have completed the training. SPJ Oregon will then generate certificates and email them weekly.

Remember, media access under House Bill 4087 to scenes of wildfires and other natural disasters only applies to non-federal (state or local government) public lands that are closed due to the disaster.

Thanks to all the media and public safety agencies that participated in the effort to implement House Bill 4087:
Oregon Department of Forestry
Oregon Department of Emergency Management
Oregon State Fire Marshal
Oregon Department of Transportation
Oregon DEQ

Wildfire Access — SPJ Oregon With the help and encouragement of SPJ Oregon, lawmakers in 2022 passed HB 4087, which grants journalists access to natural disaster scenes on state public lands. The bill went into effect in 2023.

Congratulations to the 2022 winners of the Northwest Excellence in Journalism contest! The SPJ Greater Oregon & Western Washington chapters are announcing winners' names ahead of final results on June 1. See if your name is on the list here:

Announcing 2022 contest winners — SPJ Oregon The SPJ Oregon Oregon and Western Washington chapters are releasing the names of winners ahead of announcing final results on June 1.

More than a quarter of Oregon's newspapers have closed. Many others have been gutted to bare-bones staff. HB 2605 aims to help sustain and revitalize local news through public funding. Read more here and add your name to the letter of support.

Oregon HB 2605 Sign-on Letter Oregon House Committee on Rules & Joint Committee on Ways and Means 900 Court St., NE Salem, OR 97301

See you Friday night in Portland!

Sunshine in April Social & Fundraiser SPJ Oregon social gathering and fundraiser to raise funds for media transparency work at the Capitol.

Get your tickets today for our in-person annual fundraiser! Come hang out with local journalists in Portland on Friday, April 21.

Sunshine in April Social & Fundraiser SPJ Oregon social gathering and fundraiser to raise funds for media transparency work at the Capitol.

Deadline extended! You now have until Friday, March 3, to submit entries into this year's SPJ NW Excellence in Journalism Contest.

Contest — SPJ Oregon This competition is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. It honors journalists across SPJ Region 10, which covers Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon.

The SPJ NW Excellence in Journalism Contest is now live! Submit your best work — whether it's writing, video or radio — of 2022 by Feb. 24.

Contest — SPJ Oregon This competition is one of the largest of its kind in the nation. It honors journalists across SPJ Region 10, which covers Alaska, Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon.