SPJ honors Norris for exceptional service to journalism

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7/23/2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7/23/2014

Contacts:
Chad Hosier, SPJ Awards Coordinator, (317) 920-4791, chosier@spj.org
Taylor Carlier, SPJ Communications Coordinator, (317) 920-4785, tcarlier@spj.org

INDIANAPOLIS – The Society of Professional Journalists is pleased to honor Michele Norris as a Fellow of the Society. It is the highest honor given by the Society and is awarded for extraordinary contribution to the profession.

Norris has held many titles during her career, but currently she is a host and special correspondent for NPR. She also is the creator of the Race Card Project, which is an effort to lead a broader conversation about race – a response to her 2010 published book, The Grace of Silence: A Memoir. Previously, Norris worked for ten years for ABC as a Washington Bureau reporter and also spent time working for other big names in journalism such as The Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times.

Most notably, Norris has made a lasting impact in the world of journalism because her work targets everyone from important politicians to parents struggling to find childcare -- anything applicable to her broad audience of readers.

Her work hasn’t gone unnoticed. Norris has received previous awards and mentions from the National Association of Black Journalists, the University of Minnesota, Essence magazine and Ebony magazine. She also received an Emmy award and Peabody award for her coverage of 9/11 during her time with ABC News.

Her education began at the University of Wisconsin, where she majored in electrical engineering, but was continued at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis where she graduated with a degree in journalism.

Norris will be honored at the Excellence in Journalism 2014 conference in Nashville, Tenn. She will receive a jeweled key and a plaque on Sept. 6 at the President’s Installation Banquet. Click here for a list of previous honorees.

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 on SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

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