Reminder: SPJ Digital Democracy Event

There’s still time to be a part of Digital Democracy, the 2008 Society of Professional Journalists Regional Conference on March 14-15 at the Omni William Penn Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh.

Join journalists from across western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, and beyond as we explore how the digital revolution - including blogs, online video, websites and social media - is changing traditional news media coverage and citizens’ access to the political process. Hear speakers from The New York Times, Hearst-Argyle Television, J-Lab, NewsBusters, Media Matters, The Media Bloggers Association and more.

New Tools for Mainstream Media: Exploring Digital Content

Bloggers As Journalists, Journalists As Bloggers

2008 Race: Online & On The Road

Subpoenaed For Her Sources: Journalist Toni Locy

Online Media Criticism From The Right

Online Media Criticism From The Left

Participatory Journalism & Citizen Media

Journalism 2.0: Survive & Thrive

New Media: Journalism 2010

Open Records Laws: Forum & Update

Hosted by the Pittsburgh Professional Chapter, the conference includes a Friday night reception and Saturday full of conference activities, including the annual regional Mark of Excellence Awards banquet.

There is no late fee for online registration. Rates start at $65 for students and $85 for professionals.

Registration Link

For out of town attendees, a limited number of hotel rooms at the SPJ discounted rate still are available at the Omni William Penn Hotel. However, they will not last long. To book a room, call (412) 281-7100 or visit the conference Web site, spj.org/pittsburgh.

See you there!

Read More...

Summary only...

Subpoenaed For Her Sources, Journalist Fighting Fines

Toni Locy

Former USA Today reporter and current WVU faculty member Toni Locy is filing an emergency appeal of a federal judge's order fining her thousands of dollars a day out of her own pocket for refusing to name her confidential sources. The paper quotes the Pittsburgh area resident as saying she can't afford the unprecedented fine. "I don't have $46,000 lying around. …Can he freeze my bank accounts? Can he take my house?"

Locy is scheduled to speak at the SPJ Regional Conference "Digital Democracy" here in Pittsburgh this weekend.

The USA Today editorial headlined "Judge forces reporter to pick between sources, bankruptcy" says Judge "Walton refused to give Locy time to appeal. That, too, is unusual. Locy's crime? Keeping her word to sources so that readers could learn what those sources only dared disclose privately." USA Today's coverage is here and here.

Locy was the target of a contempt-of-court request by lawyers for Dr. Steven Hatfill for her refusal to identify sources who provided information to her about the 2001 anthrax attacks and the subsequent investigation. Hatfill was publicly identified by then-Attorney General John Ashcroft as a "person of interest" in the investigation. Hatfill is suing the Department of Justice for violating his Privacy Act rights by leaking information about him to reporters.

The AP reports that "Locy's brief says Walton is imposing "destructive financial penalties upon a reporter who has — in complete good faith — invoked a constitutional privilege not to testify so that she can secure appellate review of her unique situation."

Journalism organizations are speaking out in support of Locy, including the Society of Professional Journalists and The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which notes:

• "No judge has ever officially ordered that a reporter held in contempt may not accept reimbursement from an employer (or anyone else.)"

• "The fine (up to $5,000 a day) is punitive. If the judge wants to punish Ms. Locy, he should try her for criminal contempt and let a jury find that she willfully, intentionally and criminally forgot who her sources were for these stories."

As the Wall Street Journal's law blog notes, "starting at midnight [Tuesday], Locy is ordered to pay the fines — herself — until she appears before the judge on April 3."

American Journalism Review writes:

Journalists and press advocates said they were riled and shocked by what they regard as the judge's heavy hand. "If this judge's decision stands, it means that reporters are going to have to have insurance," says Kathy Kiely, a friend and former colleague of Locy's and a USA Today reporter. "If people think that they're going to be faced with financial ruin for doing their job, it's going to be really hard for anyone to be a reporter anymore. This raises some very, very serious long-term implications for our business and our profession."

.

Read More...

Summary only...

Digital Democracy -- You're Invited

Digital Democracy is a special event happening here in Pittsburgh next month. This is a project I've been working on for months and I'm excited to let you know about it now.

It's a conference that will explore how the digital revolution -- including blogs, online video, websites and social media -- is changing traditional news media coverage and citizens' access to the political process.

The event includes national-caliber speakers who are coming to town on Saturday, March 15.

Its website is now online at:

http://www.spj.org/pittsburgh

Our speakers include:

• New York Times Online Politics Editor Kate Phillips, who writes for and edits The Caucus, The New York Times politics news blog.

• Newsbusters.org Executive Editor Matthew Sheffield

• MediaMatters.org Senior Fellow & Director of Special Projects Paul Waldman

• Hearst-Argyle Director of Digital Media Content Jacques Natz

• J-Lab Executive Director Jan Schaffer

• Media Bloggers Association President Robert Cox

Other speakers include former USA Today reporter Toni Locy, who's topic is "Subpoenaed For Her Sources". She's the subject of a contempt-of-court request for her refusal to identify sources who provided her information about the 2001 anthrax attacks and the subsequent investigation.

There will also be sessions on "Bloggers as Journalists and Journalists as Bloggers", on new media skills and digital literacy for reporters, and on Open Records laws.

Digital Democracy is a Society of Professional Journalists regional conference, hosted by the Pittsburgh chapter. Region 4 covers Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Michigan, but the event can draw from beyond. Its something for all journalists -- and you don't have to be a member of SPJ. In fact, given the theme, bloggers, students, and others with an interest and involvement in the conference theme are welcome to attend. The Digital Democracy website has links for online registration and there's a special rate for students and SPJ members.

If you've been wondering why I haven't been blogging as much here on the Busman's Holiday for a while, it's because I've been working on this event. I'm program chair and have been lining up the speakers. I also created the website for the event. I know some fellow journalists check out the blog here, and I want to encourage you to join us and to spread the word. This is a professional enrichment event intended everyone in news organizations across the region. Links to more specifics are on the website. I hope to see you there.

.

Read More...

Summary only...