ATTENTION:News editors, Feature editors, Photo editors, Assignment desks

CONTACTS:
Julie Grimes, SPJ deputy director, jgrimes@spj.org or 317/927-8000 ext. 216


INDIANAPOLIS — The Society of Professional Journalists installed Al Cross, political writer and columnist for The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky., as president Oct. 6. The installation ceremony concluded the Society’s 2001 SPJ National Convention.

In the coming year, Cross’ goals for the Society include increased membership, greater outreach to advance journalistic ethics, and leadership on issues raised by the war on terrorism.

“We will be a leader in fighting restrictions on journalism,” Cross promised.

Ray Marcano, an assistant managing editor at the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News, passed the presidential gavel to Cross and took his position on the SPJ board as immediate past president.

“I want to thank SPJ members for electing me to the most prestigious position in journalism,” Marcano said as he ended his term. “My year as president has been gratifying because I’ve been able to advocate for causes I care about deeply - freedom of information, ethics in journalism and the First Amendment.”

Other members of the SPJ board of directors were elected by Society delegates during a business meeting Oct. 6. The board’s regional directors were selected Oct. 5 during regional meetings.

The 2001-2002 SPJ board members are:
President: Al Cross, The Courier-Journal, Louisville, Ky.
President-Elect: Robert Leger, Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader
Immediate Past President: Ray Marcano, Dayton (Ohio) Daily News
Secretary/Treasurer: Gordon “Mac” McKerral, The Business Journal Serving Greater Tampa Bay
Vice President for Campus Chapter Affairs: Jim Highland, Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, Ky.
Directors At Large (two): Jim Parker, Belo Interactive, Portland, Ore.; and Jamie Gonzales, Visalia (Calif.) Times-Delta
Campus Advisers At Large (two): David Carlson, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.; and Robyn Eoff, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Student Representatives At Large (two): Elizabeth Bienvenu, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, La.; and Brian Joseph, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo.
Region 1 Director: Irwin Gratz, Maine Public Radio, Portland, Maine
Region 2 Director: Dan Drummond, The Washington Times
Region 3 Director: Holly Fisher, The Gazette, Goose Creek, S.C.
Region 4 Director: Bruce Cadwallader, The Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch
Region 5 Director: Vicki Katz Whitaker, free-lance journalist, Springfield, Ill.
Region 6 Director: Dave Aekins, St. Cloud (Minn.) Times
Region 7 Director: Patrick Dobson, Andrews McMeel Publishing, Kansas City, Mo.
Region 8 Director: Todd Gillman, The Dallas Morning News
Region 9 Director: Jay Evensen, The Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Region 10 Director: Steve Maynard, The News Tribune, Tacoma, Wash.
Region 11 Director: Mark Scarp, East Valley & Scottsdale Tribune, Ariz.
Region 12 Director: Don Elkins, KPOM-KFAA TV, Fayetteville, Ark.

From that board, the following members will serve on SPJ’s Executive Committee: Cross, Leger, Marcano, McKerral, Highland, Carlson and Scarp.

Retiring SPJ board members were: Kyle Elyse Niederpruem, The Indianapolis Star; Charles N. Davis, University of Missouri, Columbia, Mo., who was named co-chair of the Society’s Freedom of Information Committee; Andrew P. Marra, University of Florida student, Gainesville, Fla.; Julie L. Asher, Catholic News Service, Washington, D.C.; Marcia Biggs, The Tampa Tribune; and Oren Campbell, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash.

The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, SPJ’s educational arm, named Paul McMasters of The Freedom Forum the president of the board for the second consecutive year.

The Foundation also presented Paul M. Davis, a board member ending his term, with a plaque recognizing his long years of service on the SDX Foundation and SPJ boards.

Other retiring Foundation board members are Kyle Elyse Niederpruem, The Indianapolis Star; Ray Marcano, Dayton (Ohio) Daily News; and Lou Dobbs, CNN.

The 2001-2002 SDX Foundation Board members are:
President: Paul McMasters, The Freedom Forum, Washington, D.C.
Vice President: Sue Porter, Scripps Howard Foundation, Cincinnati
Secretary: Steve Geimann, Bloomberg News, Washington, D.C.
Treasurer: Howard S. Dubin, Manufacturer's News, Chicago

SDX board members:
Betsy F. Ashton, Great Giving Inc., New York
David L. Boardman, The Seattle Times
Fred W. Brown, The Denver Post
David E. Carlson, University of Florida, Gainesville, Fla.
Frank Gibson, The Tennessean, Nashville, Tenn.
G. Kelly Hawes, The Facts, Clute, Texas
Jane Kirtley, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
Hoag Levins, AdAge.com, New York
Tony Mauro, American Lawyer Media, Washington, D.C.
Dori J. Maynard, the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, Oakland, Calif.
Russell B. Pulliam, The Indianapolis Star
Paul Steinle, Southern Oregon University, Ashland, Ore.
Georgiana Fry Vines, the Knoxville (Tenn.) News-Sentinel

SPJ representatives serving on the Foundation board are: Cross, Leger, McKerral, Highland, Carlson, Gratz and Gillman.

Founded in 1961, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that those who carry on the tradition of a free press are prepared for the challenge. Its goal is to support the educational programs of the Society of Professional Journalists and to serve the professional needs of journalists and students pursuing careers in journalism.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s largest and 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; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.