UPDATE MAY 13, 2019: The grant funds described below have nearly all been exhausted. We’re incredibly pleased at the response from our members. Watch this space for new funding opportunities!

Original post below:

Your SPJ chapter has made funds available to help members attend seven upcoming conferences. They are:

This is free money — a lot of it — to help defray registration and travel costs for our members, and we encourage everyone to apply. Deadlines for some of them are fast approaching, so move quickly.

Applicants must be SPJ Rio Grande members. Not a member? See this page for why you should join, and how to do it.

To apply, write a brief (fewer than 600 words) narrative, including:

  • Who you are and where you work (or where your work is published) and how attending the training/conference will improve your journalism
  • How you’ll give back to your community of journalists and in New Mexico or West Texas and share what you’ve learned
  • Your SPJ member number

Please also provide a letter of support from your editor, news director or equivalent. If you’re a freelancer, provide a letter of support from a professional reference who knows you well.

Email the above as attachments to SPJ Rio Grande Vice President John R. Roby, or to our general email address. Use “SPJ grant” as the subject line. Write to either of them with any questions as well.

Be sure to check the website (linked above) for the conference you’re interested in, as some might have additional application requirements. SPJ Rio Grande has no control over that — we’re merely offering funds to help our members attend them.


John R. Roby

John Roby is the former vice president/communications for the Rio Grande Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.