Upcoming Workshops & Events
Dec. 8, 2023
SCPA Foundation Internship & Scholarship Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for an SCPA Foundation’s internship and/or scholarship is Dec. 8. The internship program provides a meaningful, hands-on training experience for students interested in news reporting, copy editing, photojournalism, advertising or visual communications. Two or more interns are placed each summer at SCPA member newspapers. Each internship is eight weeks long and pays $4,480.
Internships are open to student journalists who attend a four-year college in South Carolina or who reside in South Carolina and attend a four-year college elsewhere. Rising juniors and seniors, and recent college graduates are eligible to apply.
The Foundation also awards one scholarship each year to an S.C. college student interested in pursuing a newspaper career. The Mundy Scholarship, worth $1,000 per academic year, is named for the Foundation’s first president, the late Frank R. Mundy of the Greenwood Index-Journal.
Dec. 25-26, 2023
Happy Holidays!
SCPA and SCNN Offices Closed
Jan. 1, 2024
Happy New Year!
SCPA and SCNN Offices Closed
Jan. 8, 2024 | 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Legislative Workshop for the Media
S.C. Statehouse, Columbia
Sponsored by the South Carolina Press Association, South Carolina Broadcasters Association, The Associated Press & South Carolina Educational Television
Make plans to join key leaders of the General Assembly on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. at the Statehouse as we discuss various topics that will impact the Palmetto State in 2024.
This is a one-stop shop for members of the media to interview key members of the House and Senate.
We recommend this event for editors, reporters, news directors, editorial writers, publishers and managers.
All discussions are on the record.
Lunch will be provided.
If you register by Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, the fee to attend is only $60. Registrations received between Dec. 30, 2023, through Jan. 4, 2024, will be $70. Registrations will not be accepted after Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024.
Please note space is limited and this event is only open to members of SCPA, AP and SCBA.
Jan. 11, 2024 | 2-2:30 p.m.
New Member Orientation
Zoom
Are you a news organization leader who is new to SCPA? SCPA’s next new editor/publisher/member orientation is set for Thursday, Jan. 11, from 2-2:30 p.m. on Zoom.
We invite you to learn more about SCPA’s member services, legal/FOI Hotline, SLED checks, lobbying, training, contests, communications, resources and ad representation. This will be an informal space to get information about your membership and ask questions. RSVP if you’d like to attend.
If you’d rather set up a time to meet with SCPA staff at your newspaper or at our office, contact us.
Jan. 18, 2024 | 2 p.m.
Newspaper Media Engagement in South Carolina
Zoom presentation sharing the results of the 2023 Coda Ventures statewide survey
Join SCPA and CODA Ventures on Thursday, Jan. 18 at 2 p.m. for a webinar presenting the results of the South Carolina statewide study.
In February, we’ll host another webinar featuring CODA on how your advertising sales staff can use the audience data in your sales efforts.
More details coming soon!
Jan. 19, 2024 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Revenue/Advertising Roundtable
SCPA Offices, Columbia
Join SCPA for an advertising/revenue roundtable on Friday, Jan. 19, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., at SCPA Offices in Columbia. This event will be an informal space to share ideas and collaborate on advertising and revenue generating ideas!
Topics are up to the group, but may include: new ad ideas that are working, ideas for sections/niche/magazines, non-traditional ways to build revenue, contests and promotions, events and more. We’ll also have plenty of time for show and tell.
Attendees are asked to bring ideas and samples to share. If you have ideas for discussion topics or specific questions you’d like addressed, please submit them when registering.
The cost to attend is $30, which includes lunch.
This event is only open to SCPA members.
Please note SCPA will host a circulation/postal training event in 2024.
Feb. 1, 2024 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Local Government Beat Reporting Roundtable
SCPA Offices, Columbia
Reporters and editors who regularly cover local government topics are invited to join their peers for a Local Government Beat Reporting Roundtable on Thursday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., at SCPA Offices in Columbia.
This event will be an informal space to share ideas and collaborate on how to best cover the complex issues our local governments face. Journalists who cover local government are welcome to attend.
Topics are up to the group, but may include: story/series ideas, FOI/legal issues, building trust with sources, reporting on budgets, storytelling with data, hot button issues affecting local government bodies, meeting coverage, resources, challenges you face on the beat and more. We’ll also allow time for open discussion.
Please submit discussion topics, ideas and specific questions on the registration form.
The cost to attend is $30, which includes a boxed lunch.
Feb. 15, 2024 | 2-3:15 p.m.
FOIA & Libel Training
Zoom
Join SCPA Attorney Taylor Smith on Thursday, Feb. 15, from 2-3:15 p.m. for a refresher on the S.C. Freedom of Information Act and libel. If you are new to the Palmetto State or just need a refresher, sign up for this helpful session.
This session is only open to SCPA members and is free to attend.
If you have specific questions or topics that you’d like Taylor to address, you are welcome to email us in advance.
March 10-16, 2024
Sunshine Week
Save the date! It’s your right to know.
Sunshine Week is set for March 10-16, 2024. We encourage you to write and share editorials, stories and columns about the importance of openness to your community. Please share your Sunshine Week articles, projects and events so we can help promote them.
Sunshine Week was launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors — now News Leaders Association — and has grown into an enduring initiative to promote open government and shine light into the dark recesses of government secrecy.
March 14, 2024
SCPA Executive Committee Meeting
SCPA Offices, Columbia
More details and agenda coming soon!
Membership applications must be received by March 1.
March 14-15, 2024
SCPA Annual Meeting & Awards
Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center
Save the date!
A few important dates to also pencil in:
- Dec. 1: Deadline to enter the contest!
- Feb. 29: Deadline to reserve your hotel room in our discounted group block.
- March 4: Deadline to register to attend!
More details coming soon!
SCPA has secured a block of rooms at Aloft Columbia Downtown, located at 823 Lady St., Columbia, SC 29201. This property is a two-block walk from the Annual Meeting venue. Book at our discounted group rate of $157. A limited number of rooms are available Thursday and Friday nights. The deadline to book your room is Feb. 29, 2024.
Earn Your Press Pass Online Journalism Training
Thanks to funding from the SCPA Foundation, this self-paced online training course is now available to all SCPA members at no charge. This training will be especially helpful for early-career journalists, collegiate journalists, freelancers and employees with limited journalism training or experience. Training topics include newspaper basics, interviewing and reporting skills, sourcing considerations, news judgment, headline and cutline writing, AP Style, copy editing and basic photography. Members who complete the entire course will receive a Certificate of Completion. If you have a reporter, freelancer or anyone who helps produce content for your newspaper who could benefit from this training, please sign up!
Contests & Awards
SCPA recognizes the best in South Carolina journalism through our annual contests. Our prestigious awards programs are open to SCPA members only. Each year, nearly 4,000 entries are received in SCPA’s News, Advertising and Collegiate Contests.
- Our annual News Contest recognizes excellence in daily and weekly newspaper journalism. We also have an Associate and Individual member division, and a Collegiate Contest. The 2023 News Contest is open and accepting entries through Dec. 1, 2023. Awards will be presented at the SCPA Annual Meeting March 14-15, 2024, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in downtown Columbia.
- The PALMY Advertising Awards recognize the Palmetto State’s best, brightest and most enterprising advertising professionals and advertisers, and the impact they have made in their communities! 2023 PALMY Advertising Awards will be presented in July 2023. The 2024 PALMY Contest will open in May 2024.
Other Training Opportunities
- SCPA now offers free, individualized virtual training on legal and FOI topics for member newspapers. Learn more.
- SCPA members can attend Local Media Association webinars at a reduced rate because our state is a Media Association Partner.
- Poynter’s News University offers more than 100 interactive on-demand journalism courses. Several courses are free thanks to grant funding.