Awards
Circle of Excellence Awards
2023
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Large Chapter Circle of Excellence Awards
– Professional Development: Florida Pro Chapter
– Diversity: Florida Pro Chapter
– First Amendment and FOI: Chicago Headline Club
– Campus Relations: Greater Los Angeles Pro Chapter
Small Chapter Circle of Excellence Awards
– Professional Development: Valley of the Sun Pro Chapter
– Diversity: Arkansas Pro Chapter
– First Amendment and FOI: St. Louis Pro Chapter and Utah Headliners Chapter
– Campus Relations: San Diego Pro Chapter
2022
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Large Chapter Circle of Excellence Awards
Professional Development: New York Deadline Club
Diversity: San Diego Pro Chapter
First Amendment and FOI: San Diego Pro Chapter
Campus Relations: Press Club of Long Island
Small Chapter Circle of Excellence Awards
Professional Development: SPJ Georgia
Diversity: SPJ Georgia
First Amendment and FOI: Utah Headliners Chapter
Campus Relations: Greater Cincinnati Pro Chapter
2021
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Large Circle of Excellence
Professional development: Chicago Headline Club
Diversity: New England Pro Chapter
FOI/First Amendment: New Jersey Pro
Student relations: SPJ Florida
Small Circle of Excellence
Professional development: SPJ Georgia
Diversity: Oklahoma Pro Chapter
FOI/First Amendment: SPJ Georgia
Student relations: Cincinnati Pro Chapter
2020
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Large chapters
– Professional development: Chicago Headline Club
– Diversity: Chicago Headline Club
– FOI/First Amendment: New Jersey Pro and Oregon Pro
– Student relations: Chicago Headline Club
Small chapters
– Professional development: Cincinnati Pro
– Diversity: Northwest Arkansas Pro
– FOI/First Amendment: Cincinnati Pro
– Student relations: Utah Headliners
2019
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Large chapters
– Professional development: Chicago Headline Club
– Diversity: Greater Los Angeles Pro
– FOI/First Amendment: Chicago Headline Club
– Student relations: New Jersey Pro
Small chapters
– Professional development: Las Vegas Pro
– Diversity: Minnesota Pro
– FOI/First Amendment: Bluegrass Pro
– Student relations: Arkansas Pro
2018
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Large chapters
– Professional Development: Washington, D.C. Pro
– Diversity: San Diego Pro
– First Amendment/FOI: Oregon Territory Pro
– Campus Relations: Washington, D.C. Pro
Small chapters
– Professional Development: Arkansas Pro
– Diversity: Greater Cincinnati Pro
– First Amendment/FOI: Utah Headliners
– Campus Relations: St. Louis Pro
2017
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Large chapters
– Chapter Communication: Florida Pro
– Campus Relations: San Diego Pro
– Diversity: Florida Pro
– First Amendment & FOI: Press Club of Long Island
– Professional Development: Minnesota Pro
Small chapters
– Chapter Communication: Rio Grande Pro
– Campus Relations: Cincinnati Pro
– Diversity: Arkansas Pro
– First Amendment & FOI: Rio Grande Pro
– Professional Development: Middle Tennessee Pro
2016
Large chapters
– Chapter Communication: Los Angeles Pro
– Campus Relations: Colorado Pro
– Diversity: Chicago Headline Club
– First Amendment & FOI: NorCal Pro
– Professional Development: Minnesota Pro
Small chapters
– Campus Relations: Hawaii Pro
– Chapter Communication: Cleveland Pro
– Diversity: Georgia Pro
– First Amendment & FOI: Rio Grande Pro
– Professional Development: Utah Headliners
2015
Freedom of Information
Large Chapter: Northern California Pro
Small Chapter: New England Pro
Diversity
Large Chapter: Louisville Pro
Small Chapter: North Carolina Pro
Campus Relations
Large Chapter: Press Club of Long Island
Small Chapter: San Antonio Pro
Professional Development
Large Chapter: Colorado Pro
Small Chapter: Charlotte Pro
Chapter Communication
Large Chapter: Colorado Pro
Small Chapter: Cleveland Pro
2014
Freedom of Information
Large Chapter: Press Club of Long Island
Small Chapter: Utah Headliners
Diversity
Large Chapter: Florida Pro
Small Chapter: Northwest Arkansas Pro
Campus Relations
Large Chapter: Fort Worth Pro
Small Chapter: Madison Pro
Professional Development
Large Chapter: Colorado Pro
Small Chapter: Rio Grande Pro
Chapter Communication
Large Chapter: Minnesota Pro
Small Chapter: East Tennessee Pro
2013
Freedom of Information
Large Chapter: South Florida Pro
Small Chapter: Virginia Pro
Diversity
Large Chapter: South Florida Pro
Small Chapter: Northwest Arkansas Pro
Campus Relations
Large Chapter: South Florida Pro
Small Chapter: Virginia Pro
Professional Development
Large Chapter: NY Deadline Club
Small Chapter: Greater Tri-Cities Pro
Chapter Communication
Large Chapter: Western Washington Pro
Small Chapter: St. Louis Pro
2012
Freedom of Information
Large Chapter: Washington D.C. Pro
Small Chapter: Utah Headliners
Diversity
Large Chapter: Northern California Pro
Small Chapter: No award
Campus Relations
Large Chapter: Colorado Pro
Small Chapter: Hawaii Pro
Professional Development
Large Chapter: Western Washington
Small Chapter: Greater Charlotte
Chapter Communication
Large Chapter: Northern California
Small Chapter: St. Louis
2011
Freedom of Information
Large Chapter: Chicago Headline Club
Small Chapter: Utah Headliners
Diversity
Large Chapter: Chicago Headline Club
Small Chapter: East Tennessee Pro
Campus Relations
Large Chapter: South Florida Pro
Small Chapter: Wyoming Pro
Professional Development
Large Chapter: Chicago Headline Club
Small Chapter: Southwest Missouri Pro
Chapter Communication
Large Chapter: Greater Los Angeles Pro
Small Chapter: No award
2010
Freedom of Information
Large Chapter: NY Deadline Club
Small Chapter: Utah Headliners
Diversity
Large Chapter: San Diego Pro
Small Chapter: No award
Campus Relations
Large Chapter: Valley of the Sun
Small Chapter: No award
Professional Development
Large Chapter: Minnesota Pro
Small Chapter: Indiana Pro
Chapter Communication
Large Chapter: Colorado Pro
Small Chapter: Wyoming Pro
2009
Freedom of Information
Large Chapter: Chicago Headline Club
Small Chapter: Utah Headliners
Diversity
Large Chapter: Western Washington
Small Chapter: No award
Campus Relations
Large Chapter: Western Washington
Small Chapter: William O. Douglas Pro
Professional Development
Large Chapter: Los Angeles Pro
Small Chapter: William O. Douglas Pro
Chapter Communication
Large Chapter: Washington D.C. Pro
Small Chapter: North Central Florida Pro
Annually, SPJ recognizes chapters for outstanding work, during the preceding year, in five areas:
First Amendment and Freedom of Information activity
Campus relations and scholarship activities
Activities promoting diversity among journalists
Professional development and continuing-education programs
Chapter communications
Awards are given for each category to one large (75 or more members) and one small (fewer than 75 members) professional chapter.
Eligibility
Open to professional SPJ professional chapters. Nominations are made based on a review of chapters' annual reports. Reports are reviewed by each respective Regional Director and one chapter from each region, both large and small, is nominated to advance to the national level. At-Large Directors then review the annual reports of the nominated chapters to select a single large and small chapter for each category within the Circle of Excellence.
Winner Announcement and Presentation
Winners will be announced and honored at the SPJ National Convention.
Deadlines
All annual reports postmarked by their respective deadline will be considered for Circle of Excellence Awards.
For more information
Contact SPJ Headquarters at (317) 927-8000 or email: awards@spj.org.