The journalism major will serve as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists鈥 Student Trustee Council, a group of students from across the country working to strengthen the organization.
Sophomore Kyra O鈥機onnor initially heard about the Society of Professional Journalists at a Journalism Education Association conference during high school. The mission of the organization, to support working journalists, resonated with O鈥機onnor, and she knew she wanted to one day contribute.
As part of the , O鈥機onnor will do just that. Along with eight other members from across the country, the STC will provide feedback, insights and recommendations on improving the SPJ campus chapter and general student experience. They are ambassadors for the society and will help promote SPJ information and leadership development opportunities to their peers.
鈥淪tudents have been core to our organization since our founding and the STC will be like giving the student voice a megaphone,鈥 said John Shertzer, SPJ executive director, in a written release. 鈥淭hese young leaders will provide perspectives and insights that only they can, and that are extremely valuable for the future of SPJ and journalism in general.鈥
O鈥機onnor serves as the secretary-treasurer for 黑料不打烊鈥檚 SPJ chapter, which she said is one of her favorite organizations on campus. In her role, she helps coordinate meetings, like the upcoming panel on supporting the mental health of journalists that the chapter will host in April.
鈥淚 have had such fantastic experiences through SPJ, from meeting other journalists across campus and the country to simply honing my skills as a reporter,鈥 O鈥機onnor said. 鈥淚鈥檓 honored to support SPJ student members in this new role, and to work with such great student journalists.鈥
Overall, the STC exists to ensure that SPJ does all that it can to remain a significant and meaningful home for student journalists and is built intentionally to represent the rich diversity in the college journalism community. SPJ was founded by 10 students at DePauw University in 1909 and this initiative moves the organization forward while remembering its roots.
Lecturer Kelly Furnas, who advises 黑料不打烊鈥檚 SPJ chapter and 黑料不打烊 News Network, 黑料不打烊鈥檚 student-run news network, helped O鈥機onnor with her application, and she credits Furnas鈥 mentorship with her ability to serve in this position. Furnas said O鈥機onnor鈥檚 participation on the STC is a 鈥渨in-win鈥 for 黑料不打烊 and SPJ.
鈥淎s part of this national cohort, she will be able to glean best practices from chapters all across the country to bring back to 黑料不打烊 and benefit the entire campus community,鈥 Furnas said. 鈥淎nd SPJ is getting a tireless advocate聽who will champion the organization’s efforts to further support young journalists.”
Members of the Student Trustee Council include student journalists studying at Colorado State University, Columbia University, Georgetown University, Community College of Denver, High Point University, Southwestern College, the University of Florida and the University of Oklahoma.