By Brett Hall
Philip Merrill College of Journalism, UM SPJ Chapter President
“Well now you have heard how Region 2 will take over all of journalism,” Brian Eckert joked at the end of his last meeting as the director of SPJ’s Region 2. What he was referring to in his joke was the fact that four members from Region 2 were soon voted to SPJ’s nation
al board, three of whom are also DC Pro Chapter members.
Bill McCloskey ran unopposed for re-election as a member at-large of the board. “I enjoy reading line by line of reports,” said McCloskey. “We must watch them closely.”
Longtime SPJ DC Pro member Sue Kopen Katcef ran unopposed for vice president of campus chapter affairs. “I make sure I leave an organization better than it was when I got there,” said Kopen Katcef. “After a year where we saw countless college chapters fold, something must be done.”
Former DC Pro Chapter President and former SPJ national ethics Chair Andy Schotz ran unopposed to replace Eckert as Region 2 director. Schotz also is concerned about the lack of student membership in SPJ. “Four colleges in the DC area alone have gone inactive in the last year,” said Schotz. “I think it is a shame that we can’t keep the interest here. I plan to contact those in charge at those schools and try to work with them to get the chapters active again.” Schotz said he hopes to travel to those schools as well. However, he also said “traveling is going to be my biggest challenge.”
Finally, past Virginia Pro Chapter President Paul Fletcher ran unopposed for SPJ secretary-treasurer. “These are times we need to be working on protecting journalists,” said Fletcher in his speech to the convention’s delegates. “There is work that needs to be done and I look forward to working for you.”