CONTACT
Todd Gillman, Sigma Delta Chi Foundation President, (202) 661-8421 or tgillman@spj.org
Terrence G. Harper, executive director, (317) 927-8000, ext. 220 or tharper@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS – Todd Gillman, Washington correspondent for the Dallas Morning News, was elected president of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of the Society of Professional Journalists at the Society’s convention in New York City.

 The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation is the educational arm of SPJ, the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism organization.

“Journalism faces more challenges than ever. A culture of secrecy is creeping into more corners of government. The news media have suffered some serious self-inflicted wounds. And market pressures are taking their toll,” said Gillman. “The Sigma Delta Chi Foundation is here to help. We’ll keep encouraging excellent and ethical journalism. We’re very proud of the leading role the Society of Professional Journalists takes in this fight, and look forward to finding innovative ways to continue our efforts to serve and protect the public.”

Betsy Ashton, executive editor of Great Giving, Inc. and co-chair of the Society’s 2004 convention was elected vice president; and Steve Geimann, team leader for U.S. transportation at Bloomberg News, was elected secretary.

Newly elected Foundation board members include: Alvin M. Cross, director for the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky and Christine Tatum, business writer for the Denver Post. Tatum also serves as secretary-treasurer for SPJ.

Directors re-elected for additional terms include Kenneth F. Bunting, executive editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Howard S. Dubin, chairman & treasurer, Manufacturers’ News, Inc; Robert Leger, editorial page editor, Springfield News-Leader; Hoag Levins, editor/executive producer, AdAge.com; Anthony Mauro, Supreme Court correspondent, American Lawyer Media; Russell B. Pulliam, associate editor, The Indianapolis Star; and Matthew Winkler, editor-in-chief, Bloomberg News.

Geimann, Cross and Leger have each served as president of SPJ.