The San Diego Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is proud to present an innovative, inaugural yearlong series of “Better Journalism Workshops.” Join us and some of San Diego’s best journalists for bimonthly sessions of tips and strategies that will pay instant dividends at your job. Our downtown San Diego workshops will demonstrate how to develop a beat, how to get public records, how to dig into campaign contributions, how to excel at multimedia reporting, how to background people and how to tackle major investigations while handling daily assignments.

Sessions are free for San Diego SPJ members who are current on their $85 annual dues – or $15 per session for non-members. If you want to attend each session (and why wouldn’t you?), it’s cheaper to join SPJ than pay for each program, so please consider joining today.

When: 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., with a 6:30 p.m. mixer
Where: SimCenter, 1088 3rd Ave., San Diego 92101 in the Westgate Hotel building
RSVP: http://bit.ly/bjwrsvp

Drinks and light food will be served. Interest will be high and space is limited, so please register today to ensure you can take part in this incredible learning opportunity.

Tuesday, January 19:

MINING A BEAT: How to build sources, find documents and explore local issues and universal themes
Elizabeth Douglass, freelance writer with extensive experience covering energy and business news
Andrew Keatts, reporter, Voice of San Diego
Cheryl Clark, contributing writer, MedPage Today

Wednesday, March 16

GETTING PUBLIC RECORDS: Learn the best strategies and relevant laws to pry loose public records
Guylyn Cummins, media law attorney, Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
David Gotfredson, investigative producer, KFMB-TV (CBS News 8)
Jeff McDonald, Watchdog reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Tuesday, May 17

COMPUTER-ASSISTED REPORTING: Explore trends and stories in June 2016 campaign contributions
Joe Yerardi, investigative reporter and data specialist, inewsource

Wednesday, July 13

SUCCEEDING ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS: Learn how to shoot eye-popping photographs and video
Gregory Bull, photographer, The Associated Press
Joe Little, reporter, KGTV-TV (10News)
Katie Schoolov, video journalist, KPBS

Wednesday, Sept. 21

HOW TO BACKGROUND PEOPLE: Find records, social media, friends and acquaintances on deadline
Kristina Davis, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune
Caitlin Rother, true-crime author
Joseph Travers, private investigator, author of “The Original Private Investigator’s Handbook and Almanac”

Tuesday, Nov. 15

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING: Brainstorm and deliver investigations while juggling the daily grind
Lorie Hearn, executive director and editor, inewsource
Richard Marosi, reporter, Los Angeles Times
Susan White, executive editor, InquireFirst