About SPJ

SPJ's Mission

The Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.

The Society of Professional Journalists is dedicated to the perpetuation of a free press as the cornerstone of our nation and our liberty.

To ensure that the concept of self-government outlined by the U.S. Constitution remains a reality into future centuries, the American people must be well informed in order to make decisions regarding their lives, and their local and national communities.

It is the role of journalists to provide this information in an accurate, comprehensive, timely and understandable manner.

Read about our mission here.

Chapters

SPJ's lengthy roster of chapters provide its backbone. Locate, participate in and develop a chapter here.

Find chapters in your state

SPJ's lengthy roster of chapters provide its backbone. The local chapter is the conduit SPJ members require to learn about events in their local journalism community as well as positions that journalists are taking nationwide on topics such as Freedom of Information and First Amendment rights. Locate, participate in and develop a chapter here.

Jump to:
— Region 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12

Become an SPJ Member

Make a solid investment in yourself and your profession by joining the Society of Professional Journalists. Click here to discover the benefits of an SPJ membership.

Upcoming events and deadlines

- 11/24/24: SPJ + Aquiline Universal Newsroom Biweekly Chat
- 12/01/24: Entries Open: New America Award
- 12/03/24: SPJ Georgia: A Winter Wonderland
- 12/05/24: Entry deadline for the Lukas Prize Project
- 12/06/24: Presidential Transition Briefing: What journalists should know about the transfer of power before Inauguration Day

>> Full calendar

SPJ President's Column

Since its founding in 1961, the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation (formerly Sigma Delta Chi Foundation) has promoted excellence and ethics in journalism.

— About the foundation
— Meet the board of directors
— Bylaws
— Foundation grants
— 1909 Society

SPJ Awards

— National Contests
— Awards, Fellowships and Internships
— SPJ Honors (Public)
— SPJ Honors (Members)
— National Chapter Awards
— Local/Regional Contests

Committees

The work of SPJ is largely done at the national committee level. No matter what your passion, SPJ has an outlet for your talents, passion and energy.

The Society of Professional Journalists 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.

Learn about the many programs and committees that embody this principle. The work of SPJ is largely done at the national committee level. No matter what your passion — freedom of information, legal defense, diversity, ethics, freelance, international journalism, First Amendment rights, journalism education — SPJ has an outlet for your talents, passion and energy.

Chester C. Wells, Sigma Delta Chi’s second national president, is remembered today through the Wells Memorial Key, which is the highest honor SPJ can bestow on a member. But little else about his legacy has been documented.

Journalist Gordon Govier set out to discover the story of Chester Wells, who was elected president at the second national convention of Sigma Delta Chi, held in Madison, Wisc., in May 1913. This is what he found.

Related
— SPJ History: Timeline, milestones, presidents and more
— Wells Memorial Key for Outstanding Service to the Society

What we do

We are champions for journalists.

• We recognize the achievements of journalists and best practices of media organizations through our awards programs.

• We educate journalists on best practices, skills and new innovations.

• We create products and services that help instill pride of vocation in journalists at all stages in their career.

• We encourage news organizations to build newsrooms that are diverse, equitable and inclusive.

We are fighters for the First Amendment.

• We monitor and fight against efforts to violate the First Amendment and suppress free press.

• We defend journalists through legal defense funds and activate initiatives to protect the First Amendment through our First Amendment Forever Fund.

• We increase public awareness and support of the First Amendment through training and education.

We are stewards for ethical journalism.

• We build public trust in the media and greater accountability in the profession via an ethics response team, ethics hotline, and other programming.

• We promote and advance ethics through a Code of Ethics that is the most widely used code in journalism today.

• As our Code of Ethics states, we encourage journalists to boldly tell the story of the diversity and magnitude of the human experience.

We are producers of journalism’s future.

• We proactively design initiatives that amplify new and diverse voices for both SPJ and journalism overall.

• We provide examination, thought leadership and resources that support a more sustainable future for journalism.

• We help prepare the next generation of journalists through our student and young professional programs.

• We embrace, employ and educate journalists on technology and innovation to build journalism’s future.

From the President: Meet SPJ�s new executive director

Explore SPJ