San Diego SPJ Announces Changes to its Annual Journalism Awards

San Diego SPJ is kicking off its annual journalism contest a little early this year. We figured your best stories from 2022 will be fresh in your mind and we’re excited to introduce some new awards categories. The official contest launch date is Monday, Jan. 30. We’ll accept submissions through Monday, Feb. 27. Early bird pricing will be available through Monday, Feb. 20, and regular entry pricing takes effect on Tuesday, Feb. 21.

Here’s all the information you need to enter:

How to enter
Contest guidelines
Contest FAQ


Stay tuned for more details later this month. We’ll announce the contest launch here on our website, via email and on social media — including a link to the contest website — so keep an eye out.

Students: Please note that we are not launching our scholarship contest on Jan. 30. It will kick off at a later date, to be announced.

If you have any questions, please feel free to email spjsandiego@gmail.com.

Advertisement

Save the Date: San Diego Media Holiday Mixer

Join San Diego SPJ, the San Diego Association of Black Journalists and the San Diego Press Club for a fun holiday mixer!

When: Wednesday, Dec. 7 from 6:30 to 9 p.m.
Where: The Church by The Lost Abbey, 1313 J St. in East Village

The space is mostly outdoors, so we recommend bringing a sweater. We’ll provide pizza and dessert. Drinks are available for purchase at the bar. Street parking is available, or you can park in the Padres’ Tailgate Park parking lot.

Please RSVP by Monday, Dec. 5.

San Diego SPJ selected as Society of Professional Journalists Large Chapter of the Year

In addition to being honored with two Society of Professional Journalists’ Circle of Excellence Awards for our work on newsroom diversity and First Amendment advocacy, San Diego SPJ was thrilled to receive the Large Chapter of the Year award at SPJ’s 2022 annual conference. Board members Bella Ross and Jakob McWhinney accepted the award on our behalf.


Judges noted SD-SPJs newsroom diversity survey, describing it as “a challenging feat to accomplish because some newsrooms wanted to refrain from participating” and the chapter’s work on open government issues, including board members’ meeting with staff from the San Diego mayor’s office regarding the city’s email retention policy. That advocacy work that led to the city implementing the longest email-retention policy in the state. Also mentioned was SD-SPJ’s new mentorship program (keep an eye on this space for the program’s second round) and the continuation of our annual Wall, Window and Sunshine awards, among other chapter activities.

SD-SPJ wants to thank our members for their continued support. Y’all are the best! Not a member? Join here.

San Diego SPJ Receives Two National Honors

Stranger Things Reaction GIF by SAG Awards - Find & Share on GIPHY

Your San Diego Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists learned this week that it’s being recognized with two SPJ Circle of Excellence Awards for its work on newsroom diversity and advocacy for government transparency. San Diego SPJ is one of six chapters in the nation to be awarded a Circle of Excellence Award this year.

SPJ recognized the San Diego chapter for delivering San Diego County’s first-ever newsroom diversity survey and various efforts to ensure access to public records and information. You can read more about how we earned this recognition here

Are you an SPJ member? If not, consider becoming one to help us continue this important work. You can join here.