The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is the oldest organization representing journalists in the United States. The organization is headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.
It was established on April 17, 1909, at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana. Its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn.
thumb|Sigma Delta Chi logo
thumb|Sigma Delta Chi badge|287x287px
History
Sigma Delta Chi
The Society of Professional Journalists was established on April 17, 1909, as a men's collegiate professional fraternity named Sigma Delta Chi. Its ten founding members were Gilbert C. Clippinger, Charles A. Fisher, William M. Glenn, H. Hedges, L. Aldis Hutchens, Edward H. Lockwood, LeRoy H. Millikan, Eugene C. Pulliam, Paul M. Riddick, and Lawrence H. Sloan.
The stated mission of SPJ is to promote and defend the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and freedom of the press; encourage high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism; and promote and support diversity in journalism.
Symbols
Sigma Delta Chi's emblem was a key that bore a quill over a scroll, between the lamp of learning on the left and a five-pointed start on the right. Its symbol is its logo.
Membership
SPJ has three classes of members: undergraduate, professional, and alumni.
Activities
The society's chapters bring educational programming to local areas and offer regular contact with other media professionals. SPJ initiatives include a Legal Defense Fund that wages court battles to secure First Amendment rights; the Project Sunshine campaign, to improve the ability of journalists and the public to obtain access to government records; the magazine Quill; and the annual Sigma Delta Chi Awards, which honor excellence in journalism.
Code of Ethics
It has also drawn up a Code of Ethics that aims to inspire journalists to adhere to high standards of behavior and decision-making while performing their work. Last updated in 2014, this code of ethics has been what the SPJ has been best known for.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Year
!Recipient
!References
|-
| 2025
| The State News
|
|-
| 2020
| The Post and Courier
|
|-
| 2019
| Spotlight Team, Boston Globe
|
|-
| 2018
| Kansas City Star
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|-
| 2017
| Better Government Association
|
|-
| 2015
| The Columbus Dispatch and the Student Press Law Center
|
|-
| 2014
| Associated Press
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|-
| 2013
| Gina Barton, John Diedrich and Ben Poston, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
|
|-
| 2012
| Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald
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|-
| 2011
| Associated Press
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|-
| 2010
| Renee Dudley, The Island Packet of Bluffton, S.C.
|
|-
| 2009
| Jill Riepenhoff and Todd Jones, The Columbus Dispatch
|
|-
| 2008
| Jim Schaefer & M.L. Elrick, Detroit Free Press
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|-
| 2007
| Joe Adams, The Florida Times-Union
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|-
| 2006
| Terry Francke, Peter Scheer, and the California First Amendment Coalition
|
|-
| 2005
| Kate Martin and the Center for National Security Studies
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|-
| 2004
| Dan Christensen, Miami Daily Business Review
|
|-
| 2003
| Seth Rosenfeld, San Francisco Chronicle
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|-
| 2002
| William Lawbaugh, Mount Saint Mary's University
|
|}
Kunkel Awards
Responding to concerns originating in the Gamergate controversy, in 2015 the SPJ launched the Kunkel Awards (named after pioneering video game journalist Bill Kunkel) for game journalism. The award was folded into the Mark of Excellence Awards in 2020.
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Year
!Recipient
!References
|-
| 2019
| Super Bunnyhop, Alex Andrejev (Washington Post), Luke Winkie (The Atlantic), Kenneth Niemeyer (Daily Mississippian), Alex Andrejev (Washington Post), Ferris Jabr (New York Times Magazine)
|
|-
| 2018
| Mark Brown, Megan Fernandez (Indianapolis Monthly), Lydia Niles (The Daily Orange), Felix Gillette (Bloomberg), Cecilia D'Anastasio (Kotaku)
|
|-
| 2017
| My Life in Gaming, Brian Crecente (Polygon), Caroline Bartholomew (The Daily Orange), Simon Parkin (Nautilus), Jason Schreier(Kotaku)
|
|-
| 2016
| Brad Glasgow (Allthink), Richard Moss (Polygon)/Ben Sailer (Kill Screen), Aiden Strawhun (Kotaku), Danny O'Dwyer (Noclip)
|
|-
| 2015
| Kotaku, The Guardian, Super Bunnyhop, Innuendo Studios, Ars Technica
|
|}
Helen Thomas Award for Lifetime Achievement
The Helen Thomas lifetime achievement award was awarded by the SPJ between 2000 and 2010. It was named after Helen Thomas, who received the first award in 2000. The award was discontinued in 2011 due to the controversy surrounding Thomas's statements about Israeli Jews and the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!Year
!Recipient
!References
|-
| 2010
| David Perlman (science journalist for the San Francisco Chronicle)
|
|-
| 2009
| Robert Churchwell
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|-
| 2008
| Caryl Rivers (Boston University)
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|-
| 2007
| Chuck Stone (first president of the National Association of Black Journalists)
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|-
| 2006
| Stan Chambers (KTLA, Los Angeles)
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|-
| 2005
| Alan Walden (WBAL Baltimore)
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|-
| 2004
| Tom Brokaw (NBC News)
| The Sunshine State Awards are given each year to journalists in Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
See also
- Institute for Nonprofit News
- Online News Association
References
External links
- Sigma Delta Chi records at the University of Maryland Libraries
- SPJ Code of Ethics