Project Invictus gathering to be held on August 1, 2009, in Delray Beach, Florida. To learn more about these gatherings, contact 2009 Ochberg senior fellow Dan Grech at dangrech@gmail.com.
Project Invictus logo designed by Michael Koretzky, national board member of the Society for Professional Journalists
Last December, I hosted a gathering in Miami for fellow journalists who were feeling uncertain because of the changes in our industry. The goal of the conversations was to renew journalists' sense of mission and hope for the future. I used many of the lessons I had learned about trauma and self care as a 2008 Ochberg Fellow. The Miami gathering was a great success, and was attended by Dart Center Executive Director Bruce Shapiro.
Since then, the Dart Society has sponsored similar gatherings in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Denver, and at the Investigative Reporters and Editors conference In Baltimore. Several more are planned in the coming months. The Dart Society’s generous funding has made these gatherings possible, and given them a name: Project Invictus. Invictus is Latin for unconquered.
These gatherings are about bringing together a group of like-minded professionals for a renewing conversation about why we do what we do. We’re not simply searching for solutions. Rather, the goal is to renew our sense of strength and mission so that we can sustain ourselves in this time of transition and be open to the new opportunities as they emerge.
I will be co-hosting the next Project Invictus gathering on Aug. 1 in Delray Beach, Fla. Sixteen outstanding professionals from South Florida will be participating, including Dart Society member Liisa Hyvarinen, a 2001 Ochberg fellow who will be traveling from Tampa to join the conversation.
This is a particularly exciting gathering because it's being co-sponsored by the South Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. The SPJ chapter gave half the funds for the gathering, and officer Michael Koretzky (who's also on the national SPJ board) has handled the logistics and guest list for the gathering. Michael is one of the most creative journalism educators I have ever met, not to mention a fantastic designer, as you can see from the logo he designed. It’s been a pleasure to work with him.
I hope to explore ways to continue to hold similar gatherings around the country. Our colleagues are hurting out there; they need this. If you would like to host a Project Invictus gathering in your city, please contact me at dangrech@gmail.com. And I will see you at the Dart Society reunion in August!
