Society of Professional Journalists
Encyclopedia
The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalist
s in the United States
. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University
, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of Sigma Delta Chi included Gilbert C. Clippinger, Charles A. Fisher, William M. Glenn, Marion H. Hedges, L. Aldis Hutchens, Edward H. Lockwood, LeRoy H. Millikan, Eugene C. Pulliam
, Paul M. Riddick, and Lawrence H. Sloan.
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.
SPJ has nearly 300 chapters across the United States that bring educational programming to local areas and offer regular contact with other media professionals. Its membership base is more than 9,000 members of the media.
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 Award
s, which honour excellence in journalism.
It has also drawn up a Code of Ethics
that aims to ensure that journalists adhere to high standards of behavior and decision-making while performing their work.
The organization helped foster the creation of the American Reporter
, the first electronic internet-only newspaper.
Its president of the SPJ in 2008-2009 was Dave Aeikens. From 1939-1940, the president was the university professor Elmo Scott Watson
, then at Northwestern University
in Evanston, Illinois
. Watson was particularly known for his work on the history of the American West.
The same year, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation had a revenue of 934,731 and expenditures of $766,690.
Sigma Delta Chi received $312,500 in grants in 2009.
received this award in 2005.
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University
DePauw University
DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, USA, is a private, national liberal arts college with an enrollment of approximately 2,400 students. The school has a Methodist heritage and was originally known as Indiana Asbury University. DePauw is a member of both the Great Lakes Colleges Association...
, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of Sigma Delta Chi included Gilbert C. Clippinger, Charles A. Fisher, William M. Glenn, Marion H. Hedges, L. Aldis Hutchens, Edward H. Lockwood, LeRoy H. Millikan, Eugene C. Pulliam
Eugene C. Pulliam
Eugene Collins Pulliam was an American newspaper publisher and businessman who was the founder and longtime president of Central Newspapers Inc., a multi-billion dollar media corporation....
, Paul M. Riddick, and Lawrence H. Sloan.
Overview
The stated mission of the SPJ is to promote and defend the First AmendmentFirst Amendment to the United States Constitution
The First Amendment to the United States Constitution is part of the Bill of Rights. The amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering...
guarantees of freedom of speech
Freedom of speech
Freedom of speech is the freedom to speak freely without censorship. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used...
and freedom of the press
Freedom of the press
Freedom of the press or freedom of the media is the freedom of communication and expression through vehicles including various electronic media and published materials...
; encourage high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
; and promote and support diversity
Multiculturalism
Multiculturalism is the appreciation, acceptance or promotion of multiple cultures, applied to the demographic make-up of a specific place, usually at the organizational level, e.g...
in journalism.
SPJ has nearly 300 chapters across the United States that bring educational programming to local areas and offer regular contact with other media professionals. Its membership base is more than 9,000 members of the media.
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
Freedom of information legislation
Freedom of information legislation comprises laws that guarantee access to data held by the state. They establish a "right-to-know" legal process by which requests may be made for government-held information, to be received freely or at minimal cost, barring standard exceptions...
; the magazine Quill; and the annual Sigma Delta Chi Award
Sigma Delta Chi Award
The Sigma Delta Chi Awards are presented annually by the Society of Professional Journalists for excellence in journalism.- History :The Awards, according to the SPJ, did not begin in 1932 when the society chose six individuals for their contributions to journalism. In 1939 the awards program began...
s, which honour excellence in journalism.
It has also drawn up a Code of Ethics
Code of ethics in media
The code of ethics in media was created by a suggestion from the 1947 Hutchins Commission. They suggested that newspapers, broadcasters and journalists had started to become more responsible for journalism and thought they should be held accountable....
that aims to ensure that journalists adhere to high standards of behavior and decision-making while performing their work.
The organization helped foster the creation of the American Reporter
American Reporter
The American Reporter is the first online-only newspaper. Started in 1995 by current Editor-in-Chief Joe Shea. It is published seven days per week as an electronic daily newspaper and is owned by the writers whose work it features....
, the first electronic internet-only newspaper.
Its president of the SPJ in 2008-2009 was Dave Aeikens. From 1939-1940, the president was the university professor Elmo Scott Watson
Elmo Scott Watson
Elmo Scott Watson was an American journalist and college professor, whose longest educational stint was at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois...
, then at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
in Evanston, Illinois
Evanston, Illinois
Evanston is a suburban municipality in Cook County, Illinois 12 miles north of downtown Chicago, bordering Chicago to the south, Skokie to the west, and Wilmette to the north, with an estimated population of 74,360 as of 2003. It is one of the North Shore communities that adjoin Lake Michigan...
. Watson was particularly known for his work on the history of the American West.
Budget
In 2009, The Society of Professional Journalists had revenue of $1.4 million. It spent $1.6 million.The same year, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation had a revenue of 934,731 and expenditures of $766,690.
Sigma Delta Chi received $312,500 in grants in 2009.
Deadline Club
The New York chapter of the SPJ, called the Deadline Club, gives out an annual Deadline Club Award to New York-area journalists. Journalist Russ BakerRuss Baker
Russ Baker is a US investigative journalist and founder of the nonprofit website . His recurring themes are politics, secrecy, and abuses of power. His recent writings have focused on elites in finance, resource extraction, military and intelligence operations, and their quiet influence over...
received this award in 2005.