The South Florida chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is starting a support group for displaced (laid off-bought out) journalists to share information about job leads, freelancing, health insurance, financial tips, and yes, feelings.

We may have guest experts stop by, such as financial planner Laura Walsh. That’s up to you.

The first meeting will take place at 7 p.m. this Tuesday, March 24 in the back room of John Martin’s Restaurant at 253 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. For further info, call John Hopkins, late of the Herald, at 305-803-7008. Everyone is welcome.

The second meeting is at Starbucks, 3305 Sheridan St., Hollywood, on Wednesday, March 25, at 7 p.m.

If there is interest, we are also considering creating sessions in Palm Beach county.

Interested participants should RSVP to jkay50@hotmail.com and visit the SPJ web site at http://www.spjsofla.net.
If there is interest, SPJ will create sessions in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties as well.

Journalist Stacey Singer DeLoye wants to take the initiative a step further by creating a non-profit organization whose mission is to help journalists “transcend this transition into the unknown.”

“With our profession disintegrating, I believe we need to band together in a constructive way…I’m looking for people who would consider serving on a real, not virtual, board, and put real time and effort into raising money, organizing health insurance resources, a child care pool, tech support resources…whatever our colleagues need to help them survive and thrive as journalism jobs disappear.

“We’re looking for pro-bono legal help and non-profit consulting advice to get started. I’d like to get folks working on issues of governance, fundraising and guidelines. Will you help? This is a great chance to show our friends how much we care, and to learn new skills that will help our own careers in the changing information marketplace.

“The board of the South Florida chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists has voiced its support for this effort to help our colleagues. I want to get the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors involved, too.

“I’m proposing calling this organization ‘After the Jump: Helping Journalists in Transition.’”