Thanks for the memories, but first let’s make some more

Hi SPJ-ers,

First of all, I want to make sure that each of you knows about our Verge Magazine Premiere Party that takes place this coming Wednesday in 53 McMicken between 4:30 and 6 p.m. You’ve got to come out for free food, a fun time, and to learn about a new venue for you to publish your work! My team and I are very excited about sharing this new publication with you! Afterward, you can join us for the SPJ After Party at Christy’s Biergarten! We really hope you can come, and look forward to seeing you all there. Click here for details.

Photo courtesy Elise Manahan, 2010.

As many of you know, I am graduate next month and I will officially hand the torch over to Max Webster and his team on June 12. I’ve learned a lot during my time with SPJ, having served as the organization’s programming director, treasurer and president, I have discovered the perplexities and responsibilities of taking a lead. But more importantly, I’ve been truly blessed to work with some fantastic people, make some lifelong friends, and engage one-on-one with many of you in classes, over lunch, or at events. Each of our members are the heart and soul of this organization, and as I move on to the next chapter of my life and begin my career, you guys are the ones that I will remember and carry with me.

Some of you have expressed concern about my departure, and you wonder where the organization will go in my absence. Those of you who know me, know that I’m not one to make recommendations lightly or to hand over responsibility unless I’m confident that the people taking my place will really do their best by you. I’m so happy to say that I leave without any regrets, and that I trust that you are in very capable hands with Jenny Wohlfarth as your new adviser, Max Webster as your new president, and folks like Ginny Walters, Michelle Tufano, Hunter Tickel, Chip Reeves and others stepping up to bat. I’ve worked with all these folks in one capacity or another, and I know that they are brimming with ideas and passion, and truly want to make SPJ better than ever next year.

But they still need your help. There is only so much these guys can do, but with your assistance I know that they can truly accomplish great things. So please consider helping out on the executive board, even if it is taking a director position or offering your assistance when you have the time. Better yet, make the time. SPJ can give you so much if you step up and pick its low-hanging fruit, including everything from leadership experience, to networking opportunities, to job banks, internships, award and more. Find out about the positions that are still open here.

Also, if you have ideas about programs, speakers, events, or more that you would like to see SPJ implement next year, we welcome your feedback. Just send us an email to uofc.spj@gmail.com. Our new team will meet this summer and will review all your suggestions as they plan out next year’s calendar.

Finally, I really hope that each of you will consider coming to the National Convention in Las Vegas in October. View our events page for details. You may even have the opportunity to get your fees, hotel stay and airfare paid for! So why not plan on being there? I’d be delighted to see each of you at the convention, and would be so proud to know that you’re getting involved.

In these final moments of my presidency, I want to thank you for believing in me for so long. I’ve had no greater joy at UC than working with you, learning about your passions and helping you find new ways to follow your dreams. Keep up the good work, keep in touch, and I look forward to seeing you all again very soon and learning once again about all the exciting, wonderful things you’re pursuing.

All my best,

Jathan Fink
President
UC Society of Professional Journalists

p.s. To stay in touch with me personally, you can check out my website or blog or simply follow me on Facebook and Twitter. –j.f.

Don’t Miss These Great SPJ Events!

Hi everybody,

Believe it or not, it is that time of year again, when we must start planning for the next academic year. As a result, we will hold elections for next year’s officers on March 1st, following the Hagit Limor event at 7 p.m.

If you are interested in running for office, please attend an information session next Monday evening at 5 p.m. in the open space on the 6th floor of Steger Student Life Center. Elise Manahan, our vice-president, will preside and the executive board will be on hand to tell you what their positions entail. All interested students should make plans to attend. No previous experience is necessary. Refreshments will be served.

Also, the UC SPJ Winter Mixer will be at Christy’s Restaurant on Thursday, Feb. 18th from 5 – 7 p.m. If you plan on attending this event, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CJS5CLR to RSVP. This will be a great opportunity for students to meet with area professionals, faculty and other j-school students. Feel free to invite your friends, just make sure you have them RSVP too.

We’re also gearing up for two fantastic conferences coming up in Spring. First, there is the SPJ Region 4 Spring Conference that will be held in Cleveland on Apr. 9-10, 2010. But seats are limited. If you would like to attend, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CRJMMCN to express your interest. This conference is a fantastic networking venue and career builder.

Then, in May 14-16, 2010 we’re heading to Gainesville, Florida for the Storytellers’ Summit. Visit http://www.jou.ufl.edu/storytellers/ for more information on this phenomenal opportunity. Then, if you’re interested in attending, please visit http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/CTDPQ8J to let us know.

For budgetary reasons, you must submit an interest form to us no later than Feb. 26, 2010 for the SPJ Conference and/or the Storytellers’ Summit. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Best regards,

Jathan

Jathan Fink
President
Society of Professional Journalists
University of Cincinnati
(513) 375-0838
jathan@me.com

“All our dreams do come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

October 2009

Dear Members and Friends,

October is one of my favorite months of the year. There is a crisp, fresh quality to the air that wasn’t there before. The leaves begin to catch fire in a brilliant display of color. And college football (and soccer) are in full swing, giving us ample opportunity to go out and root for our favorite team!

For J-School students, October also signifies the arrival of deadlines: whether they are for those stories you’re writing for The News Record, covering for Uptown or writing for one of Jenny’s magazine writing classes. But this month also offers up some exciting opportunities for you too.

First, the SPJ Central Ohio Chapter will host the Law and Media Conference on Friday, October 2nd in Columbus, Ohio. Journalists, lawyers, judges and academics will discuss topics like “sexting,” legal issues in the digital age, journalist privilege and more. And students only pay $15 to register. Visit our events page for details.

The Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter also invites you to join them for the 2009 Ohio SPJ Awards Banquet on Saturday, October 3rd aboard the Belle of Cincinnati riverboat in Newport, Kentucky. Network with the pros and watch as professional and student journalists receive well deserved recognition for a job well done. Click here for more information.

And don’t forget about Coffee Connections, your chance to let your hair down after a long week of hard work. Our first event was a success as students and faculty gathered at Baba Budan’s to swap stories, catch up, and ultimately, just to relax with their peers. If you weren’t able to join for the first event, catch up with us this week. Coffee Connections will be held every Friday at 4 p.m. and will be at Baba’s for the remainder of October.

If you’re looking to get involved with SPJ in a more serious role, consider stopping by the SPJ Executive Board meetings on the first and third Mondays of each month. We love getting input from members, and anytime you want to lending hand, we will gladly accept your help as well. These meetings are held in 645C Steger Student Life Center at 7 p.m. We hope to see you there!

Finally, I would also like to take this opportunity to invite you to get involved on campus, rack up community service hours if you need them, and make friends in the process. The Clifton Community Cleanup happens this weekend on Saturday, October 4th at 1 p.m. To participate all you have to do is show up. Everything you need will be provided, including free food! You don’t have to bring anything but a willing spirit. Send an email to clifton.community.cleanup@gmail.com for further information.

As you can tell, October is a busy month, and we will keep you posted about further developments as they appear. We’re really happy to have you on board and look forward to seeing you at one of our future events!

Happy autumn!

Jathan

September 2009

September 2009

Dear Members and Friends,

September marks a bittersweet time for many of us as Summer gives way to Fall and we pack away the beach balls and swimsuits of summer and prepare to return to the daily grind. For some, that may mean returning to the normal routine at work, breaking out the ties and jackets that dictate our professional lives.

For others, the arrival of Fall means going back to school, pulling all nighters and falling asleep on our keyboards as we try to make deadline for The News Record, producing a new news program for Bearcast, or creating a new segment for Uptown or U-Cast.

This marks my third term as the president of SPJ. Over the years, I have seen a lot of changes within the organization. When I first joined, there were barely ten of us on the roster and only about three of us who attended meetings. For a while, I had to wear the hats of both Treasurer and Secretary. Still, under the tutelage of the late Al Salvato, our small group was determined to turn SPJ around and as the Journalism program was officially launched, we began to see the progress we had been hoping for.

Now, several years later, I am delighted to say that the Journalism program is one of the fastest growing programs at the University of Cincinnati, thanks to the diligent efforts of our wonderful faculty. And in conjunction with that, the UC Chapter of SPJ has continued to grow, we have over 200 members and we continue to grow!

I am also extremely pleased with the number of individuals who have stepped up to the plate this year and have joined me in positions on the Executive Board. Elise Manahan, whose focus is photojournalism, joins me as Vice-President. But she’s not wet behind the ears by any means. Like me, she sharpened her teeth first on the position of Treasurer before filling her current role.

Also returning this year is our University Advisor, the ever effervescent Elissa Sonnenberg. For those of you who don’t know her yet, Elissa has phenomenal networking skills and a passion for everything journalism, including her students. With her trademark wit, tenacity and drive, she constantly prods all of us to do better, reach higher and dream bigger. She is an incomperable asset to SPJ and we are delighted to have her on board once again.

I also want to warmly welcome four new Board members as they fill their positions this month. These additions include Ginny Walters as Secretary, Kate Foster as Webmaster, Katelyn Fridley as Programming Director, Marielle Murphy as Membership Director and Tifanei Moyer as our Marketing Director. Together, we look forward to accomplishing phenomenal things!

But that’s where you come in. Even though we have more Executive Board members than ever before, we also have an ever growing roster of members. So to provide the best possible programming, we need your help. Whether you want to make the leap and fill another spot on the Executive Board, help us by hanging flyers or working a table at one of the upcoming student activities fairs, any contribution you can make will be greatly appreciated.

This year, in addition to providing fantastic programming, we also want to offer more chances for you to network and meet other students from across campus and even from other universities, thereby broadening your scope as a journalist and enriching your life while attending UC.

There is so much for you to anticipate this coming year. I can’t wait to share more details with you at the beginning of Fall term. See you on September 23rd!

Best,

Jathan

Jathan E. Fink
President
UC Society of Professional Journalists

p.s. If you have any questions or comments for us, whether that be programming suggestions or anything else, please feel free to contact us at any time.