Public records workshop held

The East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists had a workshop Monday, May 24, on open records. The workshop was for journalists, bloggers, and anyone else interested in what kinds of public records are available and how to get them.

The presenter was David Cuillier, Ph.D., chairman of the SPJ Freedom of Information Committee and SPJ newsroom trainer. He is an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where he teaches public affairs reporting, computer-assisted reporting and access to public records. He's blogging his 45-day speaking tour at Access Across America.

More here.

SPJ executive director dies after battle with cancer

Terry Harper, the seven-year executive director of the Society of Professional Journalists, died Tuesday at his home in Indianapolis after a long battle with brain cancer, according to SPJ President Dave Aeikens. He was 45.

Aeikens, who informed SPJ board members in an e-mail this afternoon of Harper's death, said Harper had just recently stepped down from his post. SPJ officials had posted a notice just this morning advising members of Harper giving up his day-to-day responsibilities due to his illness.

Terry was a friend, a colleague and a hell of a human being. NFOIC mourns his passing and wishes the world to know what a huge role he played in supporting the work of the NFOIC. He is missed, and the world is a smaller place without him.

Charles

More here.

UA professor, FOI advocate honored

Congratulations to David Cuillier, assistant professor at The University of Arizona School of Journalism and chairman of the national Freedom of Information committee for SPJ. Cuillier won AEJMC's "Promising Professor" award and was recently named a research fellow for 2009-2010 by the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy at the UA.

An assistant professor in The University of Arizona School of Journalism took first place in the national "Promising Professor" faculty competition. The award is given by the Mass Communication Society division of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, known as AEJMC.

David Cuillier, who teaches courses on public affairs reporting and computer-assisted reporting, will be honored as one of the nation's best and brightest teachers at AEJMC's national conference Aug. 5-8 in Boston. The competition was open to faculty who have taught no more than five years full-time. Cuillier also won the graduate student category of the competition in 2004 while a doctoral student at Washington State University.

At the conference, Cuillier will give a presentation about his teaching and present two research papers: one based on a study that shows skepticism is closely tied to support for freedom of information, and the other about teaching methods in journalism education. He also was invited to speak on a panel about press access to law enforcement information.

More here.