SPJ Board of Directors Meeting: Oct. 16, Noon ET

Visit SPJ's board meeting page to download the meeting materials, get livestream/Zoom/call-in information and access related resources.

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About SPJ

The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry through the daily work of its roughly 6,000 members; works to inspire and educate current and future journalists through professional development; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press through its advocacy efforts.

What we do

We are champions for journalists.

• We recognize the achievements of journalists and best practices of media organizations through our awards programs.

We educate journalists on best practices, skills and new innovations.

• We create products and services that help instill pride of vocation in journalists at all stages in their career.

We encourage news organizations to build newsrooms that are diverse, equitable and inclusive.

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We are fighters for the First Amendment.

• We monitor and fight against efforts to violate the First Amendment and suppress free press.

• We defend journalists through legal defense funds and activate initiatives to protect the First Amendment through our First Amendment Forever Fund.

• We increase public awareness and support of the First Amendment through training and education.

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We are stewards for ethical journalism.

We build public trust in the media and greater accountability in the profession via an ethics response team, ethics hotline, and other programming.

• We promote and advance ethics through a Code of Ethics that is the most widely used code in journalism today.

• As our Code of Ethics states, we encourage journalists to boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience.

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We are producers of journalism’s future.

• We proactively design initiatives that amplify new and diverse voices for both SPJ and journalism overall.

• We provide examination, thought leadership and resources that support a more sustainable future for journalism.

• We help prepare the next generation of journalists through our student and young professional programs.

• We embrace, employ and educate journalists on technology and innovation to build journalism’s future.

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SPJ's Mission

The Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.

The Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.

To ensure that the concept of self-government outlined by the U.S. Constitution remains a reality into future centuries, the American people must be well informed in order to make decisions regarding their lives, and their local and national communities.

It is the role of journalists to provide this information in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and understandable manner.

Read about our mission here.

Chapters

SPJ's lengthy roster of chapters provide its backbone. Locate, participate in and develop a chapter here.

Find chapters in your state

SPJ's lengthy roster of chapters provide its backbone. The local chapter is the conduit SPJ members require to learn about events in their local journalism community as well as positions that journalists are taking nationwide on topics such as Freedom of Information and First Amendment rights. Locate, participate in and develop a chapter here.

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