FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 21, 2015

Contacts:
Dana Neuts, SPJ President, 360-920-1737 (PST), dneuts@spj.org
Jennifer Royer, SPJ Communications Strategist, 317-361-4134, jroyer@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS—The following is a statement by Dana Neuts, SPJ National President, on the passing of Dan Reimold, founder of College Media Matters:

“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dan Reimold, founder of College Media Matters. Dan was a good friend to SPJ, giving the keynote address at our Student Union event during Excellence in Journalism 2012 (EIJ12) in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; participating in an SPJ Twitter chat; and writing for his column, College Media Geeks, about our former communications coordinator.

In his EIJ12 speech, he addressed the growth of student journalism in America and was quoted by one attendee as saying, ‘students will reinvent journalism as we know it.’ This attendee later tweeted that Dan’s message was ‘the greatest message at #EIJ12.’

He had that effect on students and colleagues alike. By all accounts, Dan had a way of reaching journalism students; a way of getting – and keeping – them excited about their chosen field. His death, which came far too soon, will be felt not only in the college journalism community, but by the journalism community as a whole.

Our thoughts and condolences are with Dan’s family, friends, students and colleagues during this difficult time.”

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 about SPJ, please visit spj.org.

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