#eij14

With #EIJ14 in the books, find out what attendees thought about the event and what they expect of next year’s conference in Orlando. Also check out some excellent statistics on Excellence in Journalism 2014.

The 950 journalist who attended Excellence in Journalism 2014 were able to choose from no fewer than 52 workshops and breakout sessions. The Super Sessions with Kara Swisher and Dick Ebersol attracted about 300 people each, while roughly 40 to 50 people came to most of the workshops.

CNN Newsource spoiled journalists with a big Opening Night Reception at the Wildhorse Saloon.

160 journalists attended the President’s Installation Banquet Saturday night.

The Society of Professional Journalists raised more than $9000 at its Legal Defense Fund Silent and Live Auctions, which “financially supports journalists waging legal battles to defend the freedom of speech and the press.”

The new code of ethics was the most retweeted topics of the conference, and the event website, ExcellenceinJournalism.org, was viewed no fewer than 87,346 times.

We trust you had an excellent time in Nashville and hope to see you on September 18-20 in Orlando, Florida for Excellence in Journalism 2015!

The Society of Professional Journalists President’s Installation Banquet rounded out the 2014 Excellence in Journalism Conference on Saturday evening. Members, volunteers and staff gathered to celebrate the end of the conference and honor members and journalists for their efforts within SPJ and the media industry.

Dana Neuts was officially sworn into office at the SPJ President’s Installation Banquet as the president of the society.

Alex Tarquinio of the New York Deadline Club accepting the Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member Award.

Michele Norris of NPR was recognized as a Fellow of the Society.

Kevin Smith, ethics committee chairman, receiving the Wells Memorial Key for Outstanding Service to the Society.

The now ex-President David Cuillier, swearing in the current President, Dana Neuts.

Attendants at the SPJ President’s Installation Banquet.

After multiple discussions and various sessions on the matters, the votes on the SPJ Name Change and the Code of Ethics revision were counted. The results were announced at the SPJ closing business session on Saturday. Board of directors and newly inducted representatives gathered to review the Code of Ethics revision, which was last revised in 1996. The proposed name change — to Society for Professional Journalism — was also a big debate since last year’s EIJ conference in Anaheim, Calif. but fell short against a majority vote. For the first time, all SPJ members were able to vote on the issues via an online voting system  – whether remote or from Nashville for the Excellence in Journalism conference.

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There were many great memories at EIJ14, but our staff at EIJ News thoughts these were the top 5:

SPJ Ethics Code Revisions Pass. After much discussion and revision, the new Code of Ethics passed at the closing business session.

SPJ Name Change Motion Failed: A highly publicized discussion and session could not steer the majority of those who participated in the straw poll to possibly changing the Society of Professional Journalists to the Society for Professional Journalism to vote in its favor.

SPJ Took Over Wildhorse Saloon: CNN threw a party so epic for EIJ14 in Nashville that it got members square-dancing and cupid-shuffling!

The Kara Swisher Takeover: EIJ14 would not have been the same without the energy and great enthusiasm of famed journalist, Kara Swisher. She even had Brian Steltzer co-talk at a session with her!

Michael Koretzky Speaks His Mind: EIJ14 had a lot of opinionated journalist, but none was more visibly outspoken then Region 3 Director Michael Koretzky. From passing out controversial T-shirts to advocating for the SPJ name change, Koretzky didn’t let you forget how much more SPJ members could do!

Attendees and registered SPJ members were able to vote for the upcoming year’s directors and representatives since Thursday when the Excellence in Journalism conference began. And doing so in appropriate fashion for the digital age; for the first time members were able to cast their votes via an online voting system.

The position applications opened in the spring. Since then, candidates have campaigned for their hopeful spots in the society with live streamed candidate speeches and the creation of social media groups to raise awareness of their ambitions. Restricted against posting signs in the hotel and convention center, getting support from current board members and using the SPJ membership database for political purposes, the process was thorough. Their last chance to campaign was at the EIJ conference, at the SPJ Opening Business session on Thursday, Sept. 4.

The election results for the officer positions for 2014-2015 SPJ Board of Directors were released at Saturday’s SPJ Closing Business Session. They are as follows.

President-Elect – Paul Fletcher

Secretary-Treasurer – Lynn Walsh

At-Large Director – Alex Tarquinio

Campus Adviser At-Large – Mike Reilley

Student Representatives – Brett Hall and Jordan Gass-Poore

Region 1 Director – Rebecca Baker

Region 4 Director – Patti Gallagher Newberry

Region 5 Director – Deborah Givens

Region 7 Director – Rob McLean

Region 8 Director – Eddye Gallagher

Region 9 Director – Tom Johnson

Region 11 Director – Matthew T. Hall

The New Media Entrepreneur Session 1

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In recent years, journalism has undergone a profound, all-encompassing change. Old hierarchy structures, job prospects, linear career steps and ways to make money have been disrupted by new jobs, new methods to self brand and new revenue streams.

One of the most important issues in this new era in journalism, which is something many journalists still dread, is how to monetize stories.

Kara Swisher, Brian Stelter and Etienne Uzac are no strangers to media entrepreneurship. Saturday morning, the three industry heavyweights discussed media entrepreneurship, new forms of storytelling and the future of journalism.

All three journalists have built successful (and profitable) news media businesses. After founding AllThingsD.com in 2007, San Francisco-based technology journalist Swisher started re/code.net, an “independent tech news, reviews and analysis site.”

“Journalists who have never owned a business, run around giving business advice and drag people down,” Kara Swisher said.

If anything, the second panelist was even more well-known than Swisher. While still in college, Brian Stelter sold his blog TV Newser to Mediabistro. He went on to work for the New York Times and is currently the host of CNN‘s Reliable Sources.

“Mobile social video. We reiterate that all the time,” said the 29-year old senior media correspondent when asked where journalism is headed.

The other young gun on the panel was Etienne Uzac, 31, CEO and co-founder of the International Business Times. The London School of Economics and Political Science graduate started IBT Media in 2006 because he thought the “established media companies were not fast enough to capture emerging media trends.”

“There was a real need for business information that takes the new world seriously,” Uzac said. IBT Media purchased Newsweek in early August 2013.

All three panelists share an unconditional belief in social media, a focus on divergent ways of storytelling and the importance of a positive cash flow.

Most well-known new media ventures need big dollars from angel investors or venture capitalists.

“We were one of the few media companies that were bootstrapped,” Uzac said. “Venture capitalists are looking for the next unicorn.” Swisher emphasized The New York Times “shouldn’t just make $1 in profit. They should make a ton of money!” Uzac added: “Media companies need to diversify revenue streams.”

The lively and humorous discussion evoked many laughs from the audience. It is safe to say that it was mostly the ever-flamboyant Swisher who kept the attendees in stiches. After agreeing that news organizations need to be proactive, not reactive, she added: “Flexible? Adaptable? I call it bendy! My sex advice stops now.”

The three trailblazers were all about new trends and technologies. “You need people who are creative and are not entrenched in their own way of thinking,” Uzac said.

Swisher pointed out a similar trend: “A lot of people at news organizations are waiting for permission to report on a story. Try new things, see if it works and adapt. We go through a lot of reiterations at ReCode.”

Stelter joked: “I wonder if I can anchor a newscast on Twitter.” Swisher chimed in, saying she wanted to put a GoPro on one of her reporter’s heads.

If Stelter, Swisher and Uzac are right, new trends are inevitable, and the best practice is to embrace them. However, “the history of media is not one replacing the other,” Stelter said.

For the first time in its 105 years, SPJ members are in talks for possibly creating their first ever virtual chapter. The Freelance Community, the first non-geographic community recognized by SPJ, has made a motion at EIJ14 for the Bylaw Committee to consider making a chapter for the future.

The motion, initially drafted by D.C. freelancer and Freelance Committee member Hazel Becker, states “The Freelance Community requests that the SPJ Board ask the Bylaw Committee to consider what changes might be needed to give communities a voice in governance of the society.” The Freelance Committee voted unanimously for the motion and planned to relay the message to respective parties before the upcoming Board of Directors meeting.

While all were in favor of the decision, that did not stop members from having some concerns about the longevity and outreach of the possible chapter. By the numbers, there are roughly 1,500 freelance journalists that are registered SPJ members. The Freelance Committee has about 50 signed up members (about the size of a small chapter). “We need to do more to get freelancers on board…we have not done much promotion at the moment,” says Michael Fitzgerald, Chairman of the Freelance Community.

Job opportunities were a common discussion topic during the agenda. There was an array of recent college graduates and older journalists who have recently decided to make the transition into the Freelance industry. The new website, which launched in July, plan to have more job updates and opportunities.

There are currently three virtual communities recognized by SPJ: Freelance, Digital Media, and Nepalese American. If approved and set in motion, The Freelance Community would be the first virtual chapter in SPJ history.

[View the story "EIJ14 Day 2 in Tweets" on Storify]