FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Chad Hosier, SPJ Awards Coordinator, (317) 920-4791, chosier@spj.org
Ellen Kobe, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (317) 920-4785, ekobe@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS — Patti Cross and Andy Schotz have received the Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member Award from the Society of Professional Journalists for their outstanding contributions to their SPJ chapters and regions.

Each year, the Howard Dubin Award is awarded to no more than two members — one from a chapter of 75 or more members and one from less than 75 members. The award is in honor of longtime SPJ member of the Chicago Headline Club Howard Dubin, who not only contributes time and money to the Society but also remains dedicated to service at the chapter level.

Cross and Schotz will be recognized for this honor in Southern California at Excellence in Journalism 2013, SPJ’s annual conference, co-hosted by the Radio Television Digital News Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

Patti Cross
Cross has been the Bluegrass Pro chapter’s treasurer for more than 20 years and heads the Kentucky Media Guide project, which funds the chapter’s scholarships. Patti has also worked hard over the years with Bluegrass Pro-sponsored “Learning from the Best” events, which bring nationally recognized experts to Lexington for day-long conferences.

Fellow members of the chapter praised Cross for her loyalty to SPJ.

“Cross is the glue that holds the Bluegrass Pro chapter together,” said John Nelson, executive editor of Advocate Communications, Inc. “Besides running a business of her own, she runs the chapter's business and puts out our highly successful annual Kentucky Media Guide which in a few years under her direction has become the basic media reference for the state.”

Andy Schotz
Schotz was the Washington D.C. Pro Chapter President from 2008-2011. During his time with SPJ, he has served as vice president of D.C Pro Chapter, Mark of Excellence Region 2 coordinator and chairman of SPJ’s national Ethics Committee. In the coming SPJ elections, Schotz is running for Region 2 director.

Those who nominated Schotz noted his willingness to work hard. The high praise from his colleagues reflects the impact he’s had on his chapter and in his region.

“Andy has given generously of his time and energy, repeatedly and always for the betterment of SPJ and the members of the DC Professional Chapter,” wrote members of the chapter Julie Asher, Susan Katcef, Robert Webb and Ann Augherton. “Andy has demonstrated time and again that journalism runs through his blood. We are, indeed, fortunate to be the beneficiaries of his dedication to his profession and SPJ.”

Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press. For more information on SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

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