A Magazine by the Society of Professional Journalists



February 12th, 2018 • Journalism Education
Make a difference by getting involved in classrooms

I touch the future – I teach. That slogan has adorned many T-shirts around the country for years. Now, professional journalists have the opportunity to touch the future by signing up as a guest speaker under #Press4Education.


October 22nd, 2015 • Quill Archives, Education Toolbox
Education Toolbox

In 2014, SPJ’s Journalism Education Committee conducted research into the state of high school journalism, and we uncovered several intriguing issues. Many programs are thriving, but others were troubling. Some lack support from local journalists and/or administrations, and nearly a third of all administrators conduct prior review of all publications.


October 22nd, 2014 • Quill Archives, Education Toolbox
Education Toolbox

Research show the people known as the millennial generation usually do not read news in print. Newspapers fall far, far behind social media, Comedy Central and other sources. The most recent Pew Research Center biennial news consumption survey shows that even with news available 24/7 through a variety of outlets, 29 percent of the millennial generation are “newsless” As journalism faculty, it’s frustrating in a reporting class to ask students what news they are reading and the answer comes back: “The news apps on my phones.


June 6th, 2013 • Quill Archives, Diversity Toolbox
Diversity Toolbox

It has been happening a lot lately: Native Americans misrepresented in the media, often with animal images. Whether it is Michelle Williams’ Another Magazine photo shoot where she is dressed as a Native American in a wolf-like costume or a former Minnesota TV news director posting on Facebook an “Indian and other animals” are on his front lawn, once again Native Americans are being described in media as anything but human.


August 8th, 2012 • Quill Archives
Shields Up In Indian Country

Tahlequah and Pawhuska, Okla., are 120 miles apart and are homes to very different American Indian tribes. The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is based in Tahlequah, and the Osage Nation is headquartered in Pawhuska. Both tribal communities, acting independently, have recently passed shield laws, creating the first such reporter’s privilege laws for native journalists.


June 21st, 2012 • Quill Archives, Diversity Toolbox
Diversity Toolbox

On August 22, 2011, former University of Idaho psychology professor Ernesto Bustamante shot and killed his former student and lover Katy Benoit at her rental house. After the shooting, Bustamante sequestered himself in a hotel room, a move that led to a stand-off with Moscow, Idaho, police and, ultimately, Bustamante’s suicide.


August 4th, 2011 • Quill Archives, Diversity Toolbox
Diversity Toolbox

Note: Special thanks to the Texas Department of Developmental Disabilities and Easter Seals for their insights on reporting about disabilities. Reporters interview all types of people. Unfortunately, when it comes to people with disabilities, reporters often make unconscious mistakes that can ruin an interview.


December 2nd, 2010 • Quill Archives, Education Toolbox
Education Toolbox

With the changes in news, many reporters, editors and producers are looking to academia for their next job. After all, how hard can it be to teach? Plenty, especially for someone who is not prepared for the classroom. What does it take to teach these days?


August 2nd, 2010 • Quill Archives, Diversity Toolbox
Diversity Toolbox

As journalists, language is the stock and trade. Words have power; they should be used carefully. One thing many majority or Caucasian journalists may not realize is their language is different from people of color’s. Why? Perhaps because, as Carole L.


October 3rd, 2009 • Quill Archives, Diversity Toolbox
Diversity Toolbox

Jim Gray may be the youngest chief in Osage Nation history, but he is dealing with a complex old battle: press freedom in Indian Country. A former journalist and co-publisher of the Native American Times, Gray told the Native American Journalists Association on Aug.


April 3rd, 2009 • Quill Archives
Reviving fairness in journalism

In today’s media market, fairness often takes a backseat, said Bob Sands, manager of network news for Oklahoma’s public television network, OETA. Years ago, young journalists were told to be “objective” in reporting, but people began to realize it is virtually impossible for humans to be completely objective, so “fair” was substituted.


August 25th, 2008 • Quill Archives
Leap the Native American journalistic divide

When most U.S. journalists try to cover Native America, they run into a cultural divide and don’t even realize it. The result is a frustrating attempt to cover what should be a simple story under ordinary circumstances. The primary complaints are: • Native Americans won’t talk with me.


August 7th, 2007 • Quill Archives
Reporting on Disabilities: Putting People First

Pam Henry of Oklahoma City was a journalist who counts among her accomplishments her work as a pioneering female radio news reporter and being the first female reporter and anchor of WKY-TV (now KFOR-TV). In her more than 30 years in the industry, she was an award-winning electronic news reporter, producer and news director; shortly after her 2002 retirement, she was inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame.


December 1st, 2006 • Quill Archives
Newspaper works to include blogging in code of ethics

Editor Steve Smith said he knew there had to be a change in the Spokane Spokesman-Review code of ethics when the newspaper began sponsoring blogs. The only question was: How does the paper incorporate the loose, sometimes marginal journalism blog postings into the company’s code?