Let me tell you why I joined. It was 1998‚ and I’d just left a daily NJ newspaper to go to work for a real estate newsletter. While I was excited about the new opportunity‚ I was also concerned about getting out of touch with the mainstream of my profession. I wanted to stay in contact with reporters and editors and people who work in different locales in the industry.

That was my reason. It worked for me. Now what works for you? Maybe you want to network‚ meet somebody who works someplace where you’d like to‚ learn more about your profession and your options within it. Or maybe you just want to hang out with a bunch of people you have something in common with.

At NJSPJ (in fact in SPJ national) we offer all that‚ and something more. Because on top of all that‚ we are also one of the nation’s foremost voices for journalistic freedom‚ open government‚ open records‚ and all-around freedom of expression. NJSPJ co-founded the NJ Foundation for Open Government‚ which in turn successfully lobbied for the NJ Open Public Records Act‚ which brought access to government documents in our state into the 21^st Century‚ from the 19^th. And we are continuing our advocacy of free voices in our current campaign to protect the college press from administration encroachment‚ as happened last year at Ocean County College.

We do an annual contest (which you can find out more about by clicking here)‚ and an annual Ethics Forum‚ in which we bring in speakers to talk about various ethical issues that challenge us daily. In the last one‚ in November‚ we brought in former journalists who had gone into public relations to talk about the media and its flaws from the perspective of having been on both sides of the notepad.

Finally‚ here’s another important thing that makes SPJ unique among journalistic fraternities: We’re open to all. We’re open to bloggers‚ reporters‚ editors‚ feature writers‚ tv producers‚ radio correspondents‚ freelance writers‚ etc.

So if you want to join‚ just click here‚ and download a membership application. Be sure to check the local chapter box‚ and include the $15 annual dues in your check. And if you want to get on our email list‚ to keep updated on NJSPJ activities‚ just send a message to Barbara Reed at breed@rutgers.edu.

Michelle Maskaly
NJSPJ President

Reminder: This coming Monday, at 6 p.m., the NJSPJ Board, will meet at The Orchid, 455 Main Street, Metuchen. Please to join us to make/finalize some important plans for our 50^th Anniversary Celebration Sept. 14^th.

The 50^th Anniversary party will take place at the Crowne Plaza in Edison. It will feature past presidents of the chapter, including Wilson Barto, our first president. Other officers will speak about their days, challenges and sometimes hilarious jobs with the chapter.

Put the Sept. 14^th date on your calendar now.

Good food, good NJSPJ-ers, lively conversation--include yourself. Meal is only $5; the rest is paid for by the chapter.

The next Board Meeting is Monday, September 30 at The Orchid, 455 Main Street, Metuchen at 6 pm.

Please e-mail Barbara Reed at breed@rutgers.edu with any questions.