9/20/2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Abbi Martzall, SPJ Awards Coordinator, 317-920-4791, amartzall@spj.org
Maggie LaMar, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, mlamar@spj.org

ORLANDO, Fla. — Michael Koretzky, editor of Debt.com and Region 3 Director of the Society of Professional Journalists, has been named the 2015 Regional Director of the Year.

The award was announced at the SPJ President’s Installation Banquet at Excellence in Journalism 2015 in Orlando, Fla. The award honors a regional director who serves and contributes to his or her region in the most outstanding fashion during the previous year and is based primarily on nominations and letters of recommendation.

Koretzky was selected by the executive board for his “out-of-the-box programming, from Zombie-themed interview training to obituary writing workshops staged in a funeral home.” One of his most popular events is the First Amendment Free Food Fair, where students “sign away” their First Amendment rights for a free meal. This event was created in 2006 to teach students the importance of the First Amendment.

Koretzky has been a member of SPJ since 2003 and started his first national position with the organization in 2008 when he became the national director at-large; a position he held until 2010. He also served on the South Florida Pro Chapter board from 2005 to 2007 and was the South Florida Pro Chapter president in 2011.

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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