Media executive, author and professor Chris R. Vaccaro is the Society of Professional Journalists’ 109th national president. Vaccaro, who has served as vice president of the organization this past year, was sworn in during the Presidents Reception today at MediaFest25 in Washington, D.C.
The results of SPJ’s election for seats on the Board of Directors and Regional Coordinators positions have been declared.
Vice President
Nicole DeCriscio
Executive Editor, The Owen News
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Nicole is the founder and Executive Editor of The Owen News, Indiana’s first nonprofit newspaper. She launched the publication to restore local journalism in a rural community that had lost its news outlet, building it from an idea into an award-winning organization. Under her direction, The Owen News has been named Nonprofit of the Year from the Owen County Chamber of Commerce, received a regional Quality of Place Innovation Award from Regional Opportunities Initiatives and won SPJ Indiana awards in design and reporting.
At-Large Directors:
Michelle Watson
Reporter, CNN
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Michelle is a seasoned journalist and dedicated advocate for the future of journalism. She currently serves as the Region 1 Coordinator for the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), the organization’s largest region, where she supports both professional and student chapters across the Northeast. In this role, she has worked to strengthen chapter engagement, mentor emerging journalists, and advance SPJ’s mission of promoting ethical, impactful journalism.
Laura Garcia
Managing Editor, San Antonio Report
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Laura Garcia is Managing Editor of the San Antonio Report and Regional Coordinator (Texas/Oklahoma) for the Society of Professional Journalists. Garcia previously was the evening news editor at The Texas Tribune and before was an awardwinning reporter covering the business of health care at the San Antonio Express-News and a health/nonprofits reporter at the Victoria Advocate. She graduated from Texas State University and serves on the board of directors for the San Antonio Association of Hispanic Journalists.
Secretary-Treasurer:
Sara Catania
President, Solutions Journalism Network
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Sara Catania is president of the Solutions Journalism Network, working to transform journalism so that all people have access to effective, evidence-based responses to systemic problems.
Region 2 Coordinator
Alix Bryan
Assistant Professor, Journalism Virginia Commonwealth University
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My journalism career was first cultivated in the days of rubber cement and paste-ups for the high school newspaper. Since then I have worked in print, digital and television newsrooms. My responsibilities have ranged from pushing studio cameras around for the 11 p.m. newscast, covering breaking news, flying a drone on live television, editing, social media management, field producing on events such as an interview with a former president and high-profile murder trials, political event coverage and local feature and business articles.