June 28 2008 - SPJ to Host Citizen Journalism Academy - Los Angeles

The Society of Professional Journalists will host the third of three Citizen Journalism Academy programs June 28 at the Loyola Law School Los Angeles, Robinson Courtroom, 919 Albany St., Los Angeles.

The workshop will teach citizens how to practice accurate and ethical journalism. The Society aims to help participants understand how such practices could increase reach and reputations within a specified community and around the world.

"As people are practicing journalism through blogs, Web site production and interaction with sites maintained by mainstream news organizations, they're contributing to the daily news cycle while influencing how community members get their news and perceive the world around them," said SPJ President Clint Brewer. "SPJ sees this as an opportunity to help citizen journalists by arming them with the tools they will need to be an effective citizen journalist or community watchdog."

Topics in these one-day workshops will explore:

-- Journalism ethics. The new-media landscape is rife with dilemmas for anyone wanting to report accurately, fairly and outside the bounds of special interests.

-- The basics of media law. The same longstanding laws concerning libel, slander and access to people and information apply to 21st-century news-gatherers.

-- Access to public records and meetings. Public information can add substance and value to every news story. But knowing where to look for it can be tough.

-- Standard and responsible reporting practices. With media ethics and law in mind, how else should news-gatherers approach sources?

-- The use of technology. We'll show you an array of tools you could start using -- or continue using even more effectively.

The program will take place from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost to attend the Citizen Journalism Academy is $25, which includes lunch and course materials. For more information about this program or to register, visit http://spj.org/cja.asp.