BYU NewsNet - SPJ celebrates 100-year anniversary

The Society of Professional Journalists, a national journalism organization dedicated to the improvement and protection of journalism, will celebrate its 100th anniversary on Friday.

The society began as Sigma Delta Chi, a journalistic fraternity at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. Today the society boasts nearly 10,000 members and is “the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization,” according to the national Web site.

Erica Teichert, co-president of BYU’s chapter, said the society is a good way for journalism majors to connect, network and discuss issues.

“Networking is really important if you want to find a job after you graduate,” she said.

Teichert said after graduation, members of the BYU chapter will be spread across the country. Keeping in touch with other members and having a broad range of contacts can be helpful to professional journalists.

Joel Campbell, professor of communications and adviser to the BYU chapter, said the SPJ Code of Ethics is another important aspect of the society. He said he is glad journalism students at BYU can gain an understanding and appreciation of journalism ethics at an early stage in their education.

SPJ is also valuable to professional journalists. The society provides resources for professionals to continue to develop new skills, which help them to be more competitive in the current economic climate.

Campbell described his time serving as a chair of the Freedom of Information Committee on a national level. He said SPJ has a Legal Defense Fund that provides assistance to journalists fighting legal battles to protect the First Amendment.

One of the highest profile cases SPJ was involved in during his time on the committee was the jailing of Judith Miller, a New York Times reporter who refused to testify about sources who had been promised anonymity.

Ed Carter, associate chair of the Department of Communications and a member of the board of the Utah SPJ chapter, said SPJ has been instrumental in keeping a free flow of information, especially from the government.

“That’s not just an issue that concerns journalists, it’s really for everybody,” he said. “Openness in government is about getting information to the people, whose government it is.”

On a local level, the BYU chapter has hosted several panels and speakers this year for the benefit of communications students. The guests have worked for media outlets such as NPR, the Salt Lake Tribune and the Associated Press.