Society of Professional Journalists#Deadline Club
{{Short description|Association for journalists in the US}}
{{redirect-multi|3|SPJ|Sigma Delta Chi|Quill (magazine)|other uses of "SPJ"|SPJ (disambiguation)|the Sigma Delta Chi sorority|Sigma Delta Chi (sorority)|other uses of "quill"|Quill (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox organization
|name = Society of Professional Journalists
|image = Society of Professional Journalists logo.jpg
|size = 100px
|caption = Logo, Society of Professional Journalists
|motto =
|formation = {{start date and age|1909|4|17}}[http://www.thetatauarchives.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PROFESSIONAL-FRATERNITIES_B_49.pdf Professional Fraternities by Professional Interfraternity Conference - 1950]
|type =
|headquarters = 3909 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, Indiana
|location =
|membership =
|language = English
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = Emily Bloch[http://www.spj.org/spjboard.asp About the SPJ: Board of Directors] at spj.org.
|key_people = Caroline Hendrie - Executive Director
|num_staff =
|budget =
|website = {{URL|https://www.spj.org/}}
}}
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States. It was established on April 17, 1909, at DePauw University,{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B5OfAAAAMAAJ| title=The Sigma Delta Chi Story (1909-1949)| author=Glenn, William Meharry| year=1949| access-date=August 21, 2010}}2009 SPJ Annual Report, letter from the presidents and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn.{{cite web| url=http://indianajournalismhof.org/1985/01/william-meharry-glenn/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726174413/http://indianajournalismhof.org/1985/01/william-meharry-glenn/| url-status=dead| archive-date=July 26, 2011| title=William Meharry Glenn| publisher=Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame| access-date=August 21, 2010}}
History
The Society of Professional Journalists was established on April 17, 1909, as a men's professional fraternity named Sigma Delta Chi. Its ten founding members were:{{cite web |title=Sigma Delta Chi, Honorary Journalism Fraternity, Founded at DePauw |url=http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=16880 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610202426/http://www.depauw.edu/news/index.asp?id=16880 |archive-date=June 10, 2011 |access-date=August 21, 2010 |publisher=DePauw University}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
- Gilbert C. Clippinger
- Charles A. Fisher
- William M. Glenn
- H. Hedges
- L. Aldis Hutchens
- Edward H. Lockwood
- LeRoy H. Millikan
- Eugene C. Pulliam
- Paul M. Riddick
- Lawrence H. Sloan.
}}
The organization continued to function as a fraternity until 1960 when it became a professional society. At the 1969 San Diego convention, Sigma Delta Chi decided to begin admitting women into the society. In 1973, the society changed its name to Society of Professional Journalists, Sigma Delta Chi. In 1988, the present Society of Professional Journalists name was adopted.{{cite web|url=http://www.spj.org/quill_issue.asp?ref=1481|title=Join us in celebrating 100 years of SPJ at DePauw University in April|first=Dave|last= Aeikens|magazine=Quill|date=March 3, 2009 }}
The stated mission of SPJ is to promote and defend the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and freedom of the press; encourage high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism; and promote and support diversity in journalism.[http://www.spj.org/mission.asp Society of Professional Journalists - "Our Mission"]
= Code of Ethics =
{{See also|Code of ethics in media#Society of Professional Journalists' version}}
It has also drawn up a Code of Ethics that aims to inspire journalists to adhere to high standards of behavior and decision-making while performing their work.{{cite web |title=SPJ Code of Ethics |url=http://www.spj.org/ethicscode.asp |access-date=November 23, 2015 |website=Society of Professional journalists}} Last updated in 2014, this code of ethics has been what the SPJ has been best known for.
Chapters
SPJ has had as many as 300 chapters across the United States, which Sarah Scire wonders how well this system is well-suited for the digital age.{{Cite web |last=Scire |first=Sarah |date=September 28, 2023 |title=The Society of Professional Journalists faces a “dire situation” |url=https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/09/the-society-of-professional-journalists-faces-a-dire-situation/ |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=Nieman Lab}}
Membership
As of 2023, membership has declined from its peak around 10,000 members to more than 4,000 members. The declining number of journalists in the United States appears largely responsible for the decline as well as the organization's inability to afford to put on a conference in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Fu |first=Angela |date=2023-10-04 |title=Facing a financial shortfall, the Society of Professional Journalists turns to its foundation for support |url=https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2023/is-spj-broke-financial-update/ |access-date=2024-10-27 |website=Poynter |language=en-US}}
Activities
The society's chapters bring educational programming to local areas and offer regular contact with other media professionals. SPJ initiatives include a Legal Defense Fund that wages court battles to secure First Amendment rights; the Project Sunshine campaign, to improve the ability of journalists and the public to obtain access to government records; the magazine Quill; and the annual Sigma Delta Chi Awards, which honor excellence in journalism.
Awards
= Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award =
The Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award is awarded annually by the Society of Professional Journalists in honor of publisher Eugene S. Pulliam's dedication to First Amendment rights and values. The award seeks "to honor a person or persons who have fought to protect and preserve one or more of the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment."[https://www.spj.org/a-pulliam.asp "Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment Award"] SPJ.org
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Year !Recipient !References |
| 2020
| |
| 2019
| Spotlight Team, Boston Globe | |
| 2018
| |
| 2017
| Better Government Association | |
| 2015
| The Columbus Dispatch and the Student Press Law Center | |
| 2014
| |
| 2013
| Gina Barton, John Diedrich and Ben Poston, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | |
| 2012
| Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald | |
| 2011
| Associated Press | |
| 2010
| Renee Dudley, The Island Packet of Bluffton, S.C. |"Reporter Dudley wins award" October 7, * 2010 The Post and Courier retrieved November 8, * 2015 |
| 2009
| Jill Riepenhoff and Todd Jones, The Columbus Dispatch | |
| 2008
| Jim Schaefer & M.L. Elrick, Detroit Free Press | |
| 2007
| Joe Adams, The Florida Times-Union | |
| 2006
| Terry Francke, Peter Scheer, and the California First Amendment Coalition | |
| 2005
| Kate Martin and the Center for National Security Studies | |
| 2004
| Dan Christensen, Miami Daily Business Review | |
| 2003
| Seth Rosenfeld, San Francisco Chronicle | |
| 2002
| William Lawbaugh, Mount Saint Mary's University | |
| 1997
| Jonathan Marshall, Scottsdale Daily Progress | |
= Kunkel Awards =
Responding to concerns originating in the Gamergate controversy, in 2015 the SPJ launched the Kunkel Awards (named after pioneering video game journalist Bill Kunkel) for game journalism.{{cite web | url=https://www.cjr.org/analysis/gamergate_spj_ethics.php | title=Why some SPJ leaders are engaging Gamergate | website=Columbia Journalism Review | date= November 23, 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.podcat.com/podcasts/uyTvOl-original-gamer-podcast/episodes/akF6eo-161-gamergate-debate-talk-with-spj-s-michael-koretzky |title=#161 - #Gamergate debate, 'Original Gamer Podcast' - Podcat |access-date=May 29, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808142649/https://www.podcat.com/podcasts/uyTvOl-original-gamer-podcast/episodes/akF6eo-161-gamergate-debate-talk-with-spj-s-michael-koretzky |archive-date=August 8, 2016 }} The award was folded into the [https://www.spj.org/a-moe.asp Mark of Excellence Awards] in 2020.Koretzky, Michael. [https://blogs.spjnetwork.org/kunkel/2020/05/10/over-not-out Over, not out]. Society of Professional Journalists. 10 May 2020.
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Year !Recipient !References |
| 2019
| Super Bunnyhop, Alex Andrejev (Washington Post), Luke Winkie (The Atlantic), Kenneth Niemeyer (Daily Mississippian), Alex Andrejev (Washington Post), Ferris Jabr (New York Times Magazine) |
| 2018
| Mark Brown, Megan Fernandez (Indianapolis Monthly), Lydia Niles (The Daily Orange), Felix Gillette (Bloomberg), Cecilia D'Anastasio (Kotaku) |
| 2017
| My Life in Gaming, Brian Crecente (Polygon), Caroline Bartholomew (The Daily Orange), Simon Parkin (Nautilus), Jason Schreier(Kotaku) |
| 2016
| Brad Glasgow (Allthink), Richard Moss (Polygon)/Ben Sailer (Kill Screen), Aiden Strawhun (Kotaku), Danny O'Dwyer (Noclip) |
| 2015
| Kotaku, The Guardian, Super Bunnyhop, Innuendo Studios, Ars Technica |
= Helen Thomas Award for Lifetime Achievement =
The Helen Thomas lifetime achievement award was awarded by the SPJ between 2000 and 2010.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spj.org/a-hthomas.asp|title=Helen Thomas Award for Lifetime Achievement - Society of Professional Journalists}} It was named after Helen Thomas, who received the first award in 2000. The award was discontinued in 2011 due to the controversy surrounding Thomas's statements about Jews and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.[https://www.spj.org/news.asp?ref=1030 SPJ board of directors votes to retire Helen Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award][https://spjdc.org/2011/12/retirement-of-helen-thomas-award-upheld-by-convention-delegates/ Retirement of Helen Thomas award upheld by convention delegates]
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Year !Recipient !References |
| 2010
| David Perlman (science journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle) |
| 2009
| Robert Churchwell |
| 2008 |
| 2007
| Chuck Stone (first president of the National Association of Black Journalists) |
| 2006
| Stan Chambers (KTLA, Los Angeles) |
| 2005
| Alan Walden (WBAL Baltimore) |
| 2004
| Tom Brokaw (NBC News) |
| 2003
| Ed Barber (The Independent Florida Alligator) |
| 2002
| Tom and Pat Gish (The Mountain Eagle, Whitesburg, Kentucky) |
| 2001
| not awarded |
| 2000
| Helen Thomas, former senior UPI White House correspondent |
= Other Awards =
The SPJ also administers the Green Eyeshade Awards and the Sunshine State Awards. The Green Eyeshade Awards annually recognize journalists in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Virginia,and West Virginia.{{Cite web |title=Green Eyeshade Awards {{!}} Excellence in Journalism |url=http://www.greeneyeshade.org/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |language=en-US}} The Sunshine State Awards are given each year to journalists in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.{{Cite web |title=Sunshine State Awards {{!}} SPJ Florida |url=https://spjflorida.com/sunshine-state-awards/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |language=en-US}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.spj.org}}
- [https://archives.lib.umd.edu/repositories/2/resources/869 Sigma Delta Chi records] at the University of Maryland Libraries
- [https://www.spj.org/pdf/spj-code-of-ethics.pdf SPJ Code of Ethics]
{{Authority control}}
{{DePauw University}}
{{Professional Fraternities}}
Category:Journalism-related professional associations
Category:Organizations established in 1909
Category:1909 establishments in Indiana
Category:Professional associations based in the United States