Society of Professional Journalists-Madison Holiday Party

press release: The Society of Professional Journalists Madison chapter is proud to announce all funds raised through this year’s holiday party and raffle will go toward a scholarship in honor of late Capital Times reporter Pat Schneider. The annual event will take place Thursday, Dec. 12 from 7-11 p.m. at Argus Bar and Grill. 

The scholarship, funded in conjunction with the Cap Times, will go to a journalism student studying in Madison who is committed to reporting on social justice issues. 

“The Madison community lost a great reporter with Pat Schneider’s passing this year,” SPJ Madison President Shelley K. Mesch said. “As a chapter, we wanted to honor her legacy while supporting young journalists who will follow in her footsteps.”

Schneider died at age 65 in September after battling cancer. She is remembered for her dogged reporting on social inequities and her willingness to hold those in power accountable. She wrote hard-hitting stories that challenged the status quo while also maintaining compassion for her sources. 

“With Pat’s death, The Capital Times lost a fierce and highly respected reporter who for many years represented the best of what independent journalism should be,” Cap Times editor and publisher Paul Fanlund said. “More important than that, though, we lost a cherished colleague and friend. We greatly appreciate what SPJ is doing to honor her memory.”

All journalists and journalism supporters are welcome to attend the annual holiday party and raffle Dec. 12 from 7 to 11 p.m. at Argus Bar, 123 E. Main St., Madison. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to pass, if able, for the potluck.  

To take part in honoring Schneider’s legacy, please consider donating a raffle prize. Contact SPJ President Shelley K. Mesch at spjmadisononline@gmail.com for details on donating.

To get the latest news and updates, RSVP on our Facebook event page.

About the event: The annual SPJ Madison Holiday Party and Raffle, which it co-hosts with the Capitol Press Corps, continues the tradition of SPJ Madison and local journalists raising money to advance journalism. In the past, the raffle has generated donations to the Tom Mulhern Scholarship for Sports Journalism at UW-Madison, Simpson Street Free Press, UW-Madison’s two student newspapers, and the Elliott Maraniss and David Maraniss Scholarship at UW-Madison.

About SPJ Madison: The SPJ Madison Pro Chapter is a registered 501(c)4 nonprofit focused on supporting journalists, promoting journalism and advocating for the First Amendment. SPJ Madison holds regular, monthly board meetings open to journalists and journalism supporters. For more information about SPJ Madison, visit spjmadison.com.