Panel Discussion: The FOI and the 2013 General Assembly

The Arkansas Pro Chapter of the SPJ, the Arkansas Press Women, and the Arkansas Press Association will host a panel discussion from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, March 15, on the Freedom of Information Act and how it is being impacted by legislation in the 2013 General Assembly, which is currently underway.

Panelists are state Sen. Eddie Joe Williams of Cabot, state Sen. David Johnson of Little Rock, APA Executive Director Tom Larimer, and Arkansas’ Independent Colleges and Universities President and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette columnist Rex Nelson. The moderator will be Eric Francis, president of the Arkansas Pro chapter.

The discussion will focus on:
HB 1300 — Public Water System Security and its Sunshine Clause (Rep. Collins)
HB 1327 — School Safety (Rep. Wright)
SB 131 — Concealed Weapons (Sen. Holland)
SB 225 — Minors involved in vehicle accidents (Sen. Williams)

The discussion will be held in the conference room of the Arkansas Press Association and lunch will be provided. Please join us for this important panel about a topic that impacts not only journalists, but all Arkansans.

Please RSVP to organizer Sarah Morris if you are coming so we know how many lunches to order.

Sarah Morris
smorris@stuttgartdailyleader.com
(870) 673-8533
(870) 926-7127

2013 Journalism Contest is open for entries!

The Arkansas Pro Chapter SPJ has issued the call for entries to its 2013 journalism contest. Employees of all print, broadcast, and online media outlets based in Arkansas are eligible to enter their work from 2012.

The deadline to submit entries is Friday, March 22. The annual awards banquet will be held in Little Rock in May, with national SPJ President Sonny Alborado as the guest speaker.

For a copy of the contest guidelines and entry form, contact chapter president Eric Francis at Eric.Francis@yahoo.com.