For Immediate Release:
Dateline: Indianapolis,
IN
Friday, January 26, 2024
CONTACT: Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins, SPJ National President, ashanti.blaize@gmail.com
Anastasiya Bolton, SPJ Mental Health Task Force Chair, aboltonreports@gmail.com
Kim Tsuyuki, SPJ Communications Specialist, ktsuyuki@hq.spj.orgktsuyuki@hq.spj.org
INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists stands ready to support journalists who have been impacted by the mass layoffs at several news media organizations in the past several months. To support and aid those affected, SPJ has updated its "We’re in this together" resource page on SPJ.org.
"It’s concerning to see the hundreds of journalists who have been laid off from across the journalism industry, most recently in the past few weeks of 2024. As the oldest and most broad-based journalism organization in the country, SPJ has a duty to support impacted journalists. We hope that this new webpage of resources can help assist journalists in determining potential next steps after being laid off," said SPJ National President Ashanti Blaize-Hopkins. "SPJ will continue to prioritize the needs of journalists, whether members of SPJ or not, because the fewer journalists we have across the industry, the less informed the public becomes."
The webpage provides resources for SPJ members and non-members. If you’re an SPJ member who has been recently laid off and are unable to renew your membership due to financial hardship, you may be eligible to have your membership fees waived for six months. For non-members, there are numerous job boards, and you can join the Journalists Supporting Journalists LinkedIn group.
SPJ stands with journalists during these difficult times – and always – and thanks them for their vigilance in pursuit of the truth.
SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to informing citizens; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and fights to protect First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member, give to the Legal Defense Fund or give to the SPJ Foundation.
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