Sue Porter named 2015 Wells Memorial Key recipient

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9/20/2015

9/20/15
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Abbi Martzall, SPJ Awards Coordinator, 317-920-4791, amartzall@spj.org
Maggie LaMar, SPJ Communications Coordinator, 317-920-4785, mlamar@spj.org

ORLANDO, Fla. — Sue Porter, vice president/programs for the corporate philanthropy of The E.W.Scripps Company, has been awarded the Wells Memorial Key, the highest honor for a Society of Professional Journalists member. Porter received the award at the President’s Installation Banquet on Sept. 20 during the Excellence in Journalism conference in Orlando, Fla.

Porter said that with digital media journalists do their jobs in many different ways. "But we do our jobs in familiar ways too, striving for excellence because we know that what we do matters to democracy."

The Wells Memorial Key was first awarded in 1913 to honor Chester Wells, the Society’s second national president, who died in office at age 26. It is awarded to a member for outstanding service to the Society during the preceding year or over a period of years.

Porter has been involved in various roles within SPJ. She has served two terms as president of the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation board of directors and was the editor of Quill, SPJ’s magazine. After joining the E.W. Scripps Company staff full time, Porter became a staunch supporter of SPJ’s Ted Scripps Leadership Program.

"I'm so honored to get to be a part of what SPJ does," Porter said.

“Because of her tireless dedication and commitment, SPJ has trained 1,000 people to be better leaders in their chapter, newsroom and community,” SPJ President Dana Neuts said.

Porter has worked as a reporter, editor, producer and a member of the Scripps Company communications staff. She recently announced that after almost 39 years of working with the Scripps Company, she would be retiring.

“As she moves on to whatever her next project may be, we know it will be nothing less than great. On behalf of SPJ, it is with great honor and gratitude that I recognize Sue Porter as this year’s Well Memorial Key recipient,” said Neuts.

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 about SPJ, please visit www.spj.org.

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