Founders Day 2009

What's next for the news?

Columbus Dispatch editor Ben Marrison will be the keynote speaker at the 2009 Central Ohio SPJ Founders Day Banquet on Thursday, May 7.

As the editor at the Dispatch since 1999, Marrison has been attempting to find answers to the challenges facing the newspaper industry. In the last year, he notified the Associated Press that the paper would be dropping their service with its contract expired; helped form the Ohio News Organization, bringing together a team of rivals in an effort to sidestep AP copy; and oversaw the layoffs of 45 members of the editorial staff in what he called the worst day of his career.

Many other papers are dropping AP, news organizations in several states are following OHNO's lead and forming cooperatives and, sadly, the Dispatch is hardly alone in reducing its staff.

Marrison will talk about the challenges facing news organizations and the outlook for the industry in his keynote.

The chapter also will present college scholarships and its First Amendment, Brick Wall, Distinguished Service and Appreciation awards.

Ticket prices this year have been rolled back to $25 ($15 for students). Reservation deadline: midnight, April 23.

The evening starts at 6 p.m. with a cash bar and networking, followed by dinner and the program at 7 p.m. Join us for an evening of fellowship at the Fawcett Center, 2400 Olentangy River Rd.