Region 8 Conference in Fort Worth

This weekend five SPJ members are attending the Region 8 Conference hosted by the Fort Worth SPJ Chapter.  The theme for this year’s regional convention is, “Staying Big In A Shrinking Industry.”

Today students attending the conference have a great opportunity to meet with professionals for a portfolio critique.  Larry Dechant and I are excited to hear a critique from Scott Cooper from the Oklahoma Gazette.

Tonight four of us are heading to Medieval Times in Dallas for a fun evening out on the town.  Honestly, I am a little nervous because I hear they make you eat without silver ware.  It will be interesting, for sure.

Tomorrow morning, bright and early sessions start.  The opening session at 8:30 a.m. is called Journalism 2010 and Beyond: What You Need to Thrive.  During this session, we will have the opportunity to hear from Hagit Limor from WCPO-TV in Cincinnati.  Among her list of accomplishments, Limor has won NINE Emmys at WCPO-TV!

For the rest of tomorrow, the five of us will be able to go to any sessions we wish to attend.  I know my list is pretty full!

The Mark of Excellence Awards Luncheon is tomorrow from noon to 1:30 p.m.  There we will have some delicious food and have the opportunity to meet people from other chapters as well as listen to Gilbert Bailon, a very distinguished Hispanic journalist with quite a resume, including being named by Hispanic Business magazine as “One of the Top 100 Most Influential Hispanics.”

The confernce will end tomorrow at 4 p.m.  From there, the five of us will be able to wander around the Metroplex until we will check out of the hotel at noon on Sunday.

–Jessi Propst, SPJ UT Austin President