Dear SPJ Detroit members and supporters,
Welcome to our new website.
This new design provides you with tabs to information about our events, board meeting minutes, the board, SPJ’s code of ethics, membership and other helpful journalistic tools. We plan to publish summaries of future events and op-ed articles from board members and others concerning timely and critical issues facing our profession.
As we continue to improve our communication efforts, one thing that has not changed is our mission.
SPJ Detroit believes that public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of our democracy. As a thriving local chapter of the national Society of Professional Journalists, we are “dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.”
Maintaining a free press involves building a greater awareness and understanding of the Michigan Freedom of Information Act and the state’s Open Meetings Act, which were designed to allow/enhance government transparency and greater access to public records. Sadly, Michigan is the only state in the nation that exempts its governor and Legislature from its Freedom of Information Act. We want to change that.
This fall, SPJ Detroit — along with Wayne State University — will host a major one-day forum Oct. 12 to encourage citizen advocacy for FOIA reforms in Michigan. Several workshops and sessions on FOIA for journalists and citizens are planned. State Attorney General Dana Nessel is our scheduled keynote speaker.
We’ll be posting more details soon about this FOIA FESTIVAL, which will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Wayne State University student center. Please share this information with others who would join us in the fight for open government.
Thank you for your interest in SPJ Detroit and for exploring our new website. We welcome your thoughts and encourage you to become a member and participate in the future efforts of SPJ Detroit. If you are not a member, or if your membership has expired, you can contact us via this website or the “Society of Professional Journalists / Detroit” page on Facebook.
Sincerely,
Beth Konrad
President, Detroit SPJ