Upcoming Workshops & Events
Oct. 18, 2019 | 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
SCPA Executive Committee Meeting
SCPA Offices | Columbia, SC
The Officers and Executive Committee of the S.C. Press Association will meet to discuss membership matters, legal and FOI issues and the budget/financials.
Dec. 6, 2019
News Contest Entry Deadline
The entry platform and rules for the News Contest, Associate and Individual Member Contest, and Collegiate Contest is now live and will accept entries through Dec. 6.
All members should have received log-in credentials on Oct. 4. Contact us if you need your information.
The contest period is Nov. 16, 2018 through Nov. 15, 2019.
- Rules for newspaper members
- Rules for associate and individual members
- Rules for collegiate members
- Newspaper circulation divisions
The deadline to enter is Friday, Dec. 6.
Dec. 6, 2019
S.C. Journalism Hall of Fame Nomination Deadline
The S.C. Journalism Hall of Fame was established in 1973 to recognize and honor men and women who have excelled in their craft and made significant contributions to journalism and their communities.
Requirements for admission specify that a nominee must have made his or her journalistic reputation in South Carolina. If the reputation reflects achievements outside the state, the nominee must have been a native of South Carolina. Nominees must have been deceased for four or more years.
Nominations may be made by anyone now or previously employed by or associated with a South Carolina newspaper.
Nominating materials should be completed and submitted to SCPA by Dec. 6, 2019.
Dec. 12, 2019 | 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Driving Digital Revenue: Selling Social Media
SCPA Offices | Columbia, SC
Does your newspaper want to leverage Facebook and other social media sites to generate revenue?
Sharpen your social advertising skills and knowledge on Thursday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. – 3: 30 p.m. as the S.C. Press Association hosts Dr. James Bissell of Aducation and PHDesigned.
This event is open only to SCPA members and will be catered specifically toward SCPA’s daily and weekly newspaper members – large and small – so regardless of your newspaper’s size, frequency or resources, you’ll walk away with practical skills.
TOPICS/AGENDA COMING SOON
Following the session, training materials will be provided online and follow up exams available to get certification.
This workshop is perfect for publishers, ad directors, sales reps and other newspaper managers.
Thanks to sponsorship from the SCPA Foundation Smoak Fund, the cost to attend is only $75, which includes a boxed lunch.
We’re limiting this event to 30 attendees and we expect it to sell out quickly so if you’re interested, sign up soon.
Meet the trainer: Dr. James Bissell provides advertising education and consulting for Aducation. He has been an educator in higher education for the past 9 years teaching advertising, marketing, management, leadership, organizational behavior and social media management. He is also the co-owner of digital fulfillment agency, PhDesigned. Dr. Bissell consults and trains organizations on digital marketing strategies, management techniques and the development of advertising campaigns. In addition to his digital experience, Dr. Bissell has a background in newspapers, working several years in sales and marketing, new product development and digital services.
Aducation’s mission: Advertising sales are often not made because sales representatives did not fully understand your products, your customers’ needs or how to overcome competitive product offerings. First, it is important to understand the Principles of Advertising and why customers purchase specific advertising products for their business. Is their primary method of advertising budget used for TV, Radio, Print or Digital? Every wonder why or how those mediums are bought and sold? Aducation can help! We offer custom seminars and training to help companies understand advertising products and services so they can better sell their solution to clients.
Jan. 9, 2020 | 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Legislative Workshop for the Media
S.C. Statehouse | Columbia, SC
This event is open only to members of SCPA, SCBA and AP.
The annual Legislative Workshop for the Media will preview the 2020 legislative session. This event will take place Thursday, Jan. 9, from 9:30 a.m. until 3 p.m., at the Solomon Blatt Building on the Statehouse grounds in Columbia. Make plans to join your state legislators as they discuss various topics impacting the Palmetto State. (Topics coming soon!)
We recommend this event for editors, new and veteran Statehouse reporters, editorial writers, city editors and assignment editors.
The event is a one-stop shop for credentialed media to interview key members of both the House and Senate. We will name panelists as they are confirmed.
All discussions are on the record.
Lunch will be provided.
This workshop is sponsored by S.C. Press Association, S.C. Broadcasters Association and the Associated Press.
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION: If you register before Friday, Dec. 30, the registration fee is only $60. If you register between Dec. 31 – Jan. 6, the fee goes up to $70. Registrations will not be accepted after Jan. 6.
Jan. 17, 2020 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Daily Publishers Roundtable
SCPA Offices | Columbia, SC
Mark your calendar now for SCPA’s annual Daily Publishers Roundtable. Join us Jan. 17, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., at SCPA Offices in Columbia. This is a great time to meet with your peers to discuss what is working and not working in your market.
Topics are up to the group, but will include: new ad ideas that are working, non-traditional ways to build revenue, growing readership, ways to save money, managing staff and more.
The cost to attend is $25, which includes a boxed lunch.
Participants are asked to send in ideas for discussion topics and specific questions. You can do this directly on the registration form, or by contacting Jen Madden.
This event is open only to SCPA member daily publishers (if that’s not your title, but you handle the duties, you are welcome to attend).
Jan. 24, 2020 | 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Weekly Publishers Roundtable
SCPA Offices | Columbia, SC
Mark your calendar now for SCPA’s annual Weekly Publishers Roundtable. Join us Jan. 24, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., at SCPA Offices in Columbia. This is a great time to meet with your peers to discuss what is working and not working in your market.
Topics are up to the group, but will include: new ad ideas that are working, non-traditional ways to build revenue, growing readership, ways to save money, managing staff and more.
The cost to attend is $25, which includes a boxed lunch.
Participants are asked to send in ideas for discussion topics and specific questions. You can do this directly on the registration form, or by contacting Jen Madden.
This event is open only to SCPA member weekly publishers (if that’s not your title, but you handle the duties, you are welcome to attend).
March 8-14, 2020
Sunshine Week
Sunshine Week, an annual nationwide celebration of access to public information and what it means for you and your community, will take place March 8-14, 2020.
March 20-22, 2020
SCPA Annual Meeting & Awards
The Marina Inn at Grande Dunes | Myrtle Beach, SC
You don’t want to miss seeing more than 300 of your friends at the 2020 Annual Meeting and Awards Presentation! The Annual Meeting will feature educational sessions, networking events and more in our jam-packed schedule, plus hundreds of awards to present! All sessions and networking events are free and open to all SCPA members. Tickets are required for meal functions.
Meeting registration, schedule of events and other details coming soon!
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. Contest rules are now available. The site will accept entries through Dec. 6, 2019. Awards are presented at the SCPA Annual Meeting on March 21, 2020.
- 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! Here are the 2019 contest winners! The entry period and deadline for the 2020 contest will be in summer 2020.
Other Training Opportunities
- Inland Press Association webinars are programmed for the growth of your organization and career. Inland hosts more than 60 webinars on diverse topics each year. Because SCPA is a co-sponsoring association, SCPA members get a discounted rate of $15 per webinar. View upcoming webinars.
- SCPA members can attend Local Media Association webinars for $29 because our state is a Media Association Partner. Check out LMA’s webinar offerings.
- Poynter’s News University offers more than 100 interactive on-demand journalism courses. Several courses are free thanks to grant funding.