The San Diego Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists will continue its annual tradition of recognizing the most helpful and least helpful sources from public agencies in 2017.

The Window Award will go to the public official or agency that most prioritized transparency and the public’s right to know in 2017.

The Wall Award will go to the public official or agency that made it hardest for journalists to do their jobs in 2017, ignoring requests or otherwise compromising the public’s right to know.

Your nominations are key to our selection process. Give us your nominations here.

We’ll give out both awards in March, along with our prestigious annual Sunshine Award, which recognizes individuals and groups for making important contributions in the area of open government. Stay tuned for event details. And thanks for taking part in this invaluable exercise to protect the public’s essential access to information.

The San Diego Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is proud to announce its second yearlong series of “Better Journalism Workshops.” Learn from some of the best journalists in San Diego and across the country. We will demonstrate how to excel on multiple platforms, master the art of getting public records, improve your investigative reporting skills and how to interview people in trauma. You will leave with tips and strategies that will pay instant dividends at your job.

The sessions are free and open to anyone. We strongly encourage you to join or renew your SPJ membership to help make programs like this possible.

When: 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Where: San Diego Central Library, Shiley Suite (9th floor), 330 Park Blvd., San Diego 92101

RSVP: http://bit.ly/2ELIF6U

Tuesday, Feb. 20

SUCCEEDING ON MULTIPLE PLATFORMS: Learn how to shoot eye-popping photographs and video and capture high-quality audio

Kris Arciaga, video journalist, KPBS

Kinsee Morlan, engagement editor, Voice of San Diego

Howard Lipin, photographer, The San Diego Union-Tribune

Tuesday, April 24 

MASTERING THE ART OF GETTING PUBLIC RECORDS: A conversation with Jason Leopold, senior investigative reporter, BuzzFeed News

With Felix Tinkov, partner, Lounsbery Ferguson Altona & Peak

Tuesday, September 25 

INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING: A conversation with Amy Brittain, investigative reporter, The Washington Post

With Amy Julia Harris, reporter, Reveal.

Tuesday, Nov. 27 

INTERVIEWING PEOPLE UNDER TRAUMA: From wildfires to high-profile crimes and much more, finding people under difficult circumstances and interviewing with skill and care

Rory Devine, reporter, KNSD (NBC7 San Diego)

Lyndsay Winkley, reporter, The San Diego Union-Tribune

TBD

Remember the man who stole a truck to drive victims of the Las Vegas shooting to the hospital? San Diegan Taylor Winston is among the panelists who will discuss how they’ve been treated by the media at this year’s Grade the Media event.

Sponsored by the San Diego chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, report cards will be handed out on the Point Loma Nazarene University campus on February 28. These panelists were the subject of big news stories this past year and this is their chance to talk about what it was like to be in the spotlight. Moderated by Claire Trageser of KPBS, the panel includes:

Taylor Winston – The Iraq war veteran from Ocean Beach who put his life on the line during the Las Vegas mass shooting.

Tony Manolatos – A PR consultant working for several high-profile clients, including the San Diego school system, the campaign against community choice aggregation and Councilman Chris Cate following his decision to share a confidential memo.

David Alvarez – This San Diego City Councilman spent 2017 wrestling with such issues as local governments’ hepatitis A response, homelessness, and vacation-rental regulations.

Dulce Garcia – A Dreamer and immigration attorney who has sued President Donald Trump.

Where: Colt Hall on the campus of Point Loma Nazarene University, 3900 Lomaland Drive, San Diego

When: Wednesday, February 28, 2018. Mixer at 6 p.m., panel at 6:30 p.m. 

Admission: Free; light refreshments provided. Please RSVP here.

For related news before the event and live tweets during the discussion, follow @GradeTheMedia on Twitter. Join in the conversation that night using the hashtag #spjgtm. 

Writers symposium tickets available

The San Diego Pro Chapter of SPJ is helping bring author and columnist (and basketball legend) Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to San Diego on Feb. 22 as part of the 23rd annual Writer’s Symposium By The Sea at Point Loma Nazarene University. Since retiring from basketball, Abdul-Jabbar’s commentaries on social issues have appeared in Time magazine, the Washington Post and the New York Times. He released two books in 2017, “Becoming Kareem” (for young readers) and “Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50-Year Friendship On and Off the Court.” He has written several books for young readers, including mysteries, science fiction and a collection of historical essays called Black Profiles in Courage.

Our local chapter has participated in bringing great writers to the Symposium for many years. The Symposium runs Feb. 19-23.

In addition to Abdul-Jabbar, Symposium speakers include novelist Jane Smiley, NPR podcaster Krista Tippett, mind/body expert Deepak Chopra, and filmmakers Justin Skeesuck and Patrick Gray. There is also a workshop for veterans, focusing on writing about conflict, with NPR’s Kelly McEvers.

Student discounts are available. Tickets are at  https://www.pointloma. edu/events/writers-symposium- sea.

For more information, contact Symposium assistant Randy Meza at randymeza@pointloma.edu or 619-849-2695.