East Tennessee Society of Professional Journalists

03/18/2026

03/18/2026

03/08/2026

Chapter's statement on arrest of Nashville journalist Estefany Rodriguez. Photo credit: Nashville Noticias

The board of the East Tennessee Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (ETSPJ) strongly condemns the March 4 detention of Nashville journalist Estefany Rodriguez, who appears to have been targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for her coverage of ICE actions. Rodriguez was taken into custody while in a vehicle with her husband, Alejandro Medina, who was born in the United States. Rodriguez entered the United States legally in 2021 and has a valid political asylum claim after receiving threats for her journalism work in her native country of Colombia. She has stayed in communication with ICE for mandatory check-ins, and her attorney has asserted she was arrested without a valid warrant.

The arrest and detention of Rodriguez, who also has a young daughter, appears to be an illegal reaction to her work as a journalist by a federal agency. ETSPJ stands behind Rodriguez and her lawyer’s efforts to secure her release.

02/28/2026

Engaged audience for annual legislative forum hosted by ETSPJ and League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County. Much thanks to WATE 6 On Your Side and WVLT for coverage.

02/24/2026

The legislative forum that was postponed in January due to ice and snow will be THIS SATURDAY, Feb. 28, from 9-10:30 a.m. at the YWCA Phyllis Wheatley Center, located at 124 S. Cruze St., in East Knoxville near downtown. A parking lot next to the building and street parking are available. Parking is free.

Coffee and breakfast bagels and pastries will be available at 8:30 a.m. and are free while they last. The event is open to the public. See you there!

01/30/2026

UPDATE: The 2026 Legislative Breakfast is being postponed because our venue is closed. We will work to reschedule.

01/30/2026

UPDATE: This event is postponed due to building issues. We will reschedule for later in the month and post when we have a confirmed date.

Event is this Saturday, Jan. 31, and will be held as planned. The forecast for Knoxville is light and dry snow. League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County will also livestream the event on Facebook for those who can't attend in person.

01/30/2026

The Minnesota Society of Professional Journalists strongly condemns the wrongful arrests of journalists Georgia Fort and Don Lemon for reporting on a church protest in St. Paul.

Read our full statement here: https://www.mnspj.org/2026/01/30/mnspj-condemns-the-arrests-of-journalists-georgia-fort-don-lemon/

01/29/2026

Event is this Saturday, Jan. 31, and will be held as planned. The forecast for Knoxville is light and dry snow. League of Women Voters of Knoxville/Knox County will also livestream the event on Facebook for those who can't attend in person.

01/16/2026

SPJ strongly condemns the FBI’s decision to execute a search warrant at the home of Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson — despite acknowledging she is not the target of the investigation.

In response to past abuses, Congress enacted the Privacy Protection Act of 1980, which sharply limits the government’s ability to search journalists’ homes or seize their materials. The law recognizes a simple truth: journalism cannot serve the public if reporters are treated as investigative proxies for their sources.

Internal Department of Justice policy changes do not override federal law. They do not negate decades of legal precedent. And they do not justify treating lawful newsgathering as suspicious conduct.

Press freedom isn’t a courtesy — it’s the law.

🔗 Read the full statement: https://bit.ly/4qTiUsg

01/16/2026

📢Submit entries to SPJ’s New America Award, honoring public service journalism that explores and exposes issues of importance to immigrant or ethnic communities in the United States.

SPJ welcomes entries from media outlets, journalists, community and issue advocacy groups, individuals and others concerned with ethnic issues. Collaboration with ethnic media is encouraged but not required.

🚨Work must have been published or broadcast in 2025.

🏆 One winner will be selected — work from any platform is eligible.

⏰Entry deadline: March 11.
🔗Submit your work today and explore contest rules, eligibility and past winners: https://www.spj.org/new-america-award/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=societyofprofessionaljournalists&utm_content=awards