Beech Tree News Network

Dr. Deborah T. Givens, assistant professor in the Department of Communication at Eastern Kentucky University, has been elected to a two-year term on the national board of directors of the Society of Professional Journalists. The election took place at the Society’s annual conference Sept. 4 through 7 in Nashville.
Givens will serve as Region 5 director responsible for serving professional and student chapters in Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana. Directors also organize the regional spring conferences that include two days of sessions and speakers along with a luncheon and presentation of the Mark of Excellence awards for college journalists. Her previous SPJ positions included chairing the regional Mark of Excellence contest for two years and serving as adviser to Eastern’s SPJ chapter for five years. During that time, Eastern was twice recognized as the Outstanding Chapter in Region 5.
After more than 20 years as a community journalist in Kentucky, including 16 years as owner/publisher of The Butler County Banner and The Green River Republican, Givens joined the faculty at Eastern in 2006. She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Ball State University, a master’s in public administration from Western Kentucky University, and a Ph.D. in communication from the University of Kentucky. She has been named an Outstanding Journalism Alumnus for BSU and was the Outstanding MPA Graduate Student at WKU. At Eastern she has been named a Critical Thinking Teacher of the Year, has been a Golden Apple teaching award honoree, and has been recognized for Leadership Outside the Classroom by Student Life.
SPJ has 160 professional and student chapters and approximately 7,500 members. Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., the mission of SPJ is:

    To promote this flow of information.
    To maintain constant vigilance in protection of the First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and of the press.
    To stimulate high standards and ethical behavior in the practice of journalism.
    To foster excellence among journalists.
    To inspire successive generations of talented individuals to become dedicated journalists.
    To encourage diversity in journalism.
    To be the pre-eminent, broad-based membership organization for journalists.
    To encourage a climate in which journalism can be practiced freely.

THIS STORY APPEARED ON 'INSIDE LOOK' THE ONLINE PUBLICATION OF THE EKU DEPT. OF JOURNALISM.

SUBMITTED BY ROGER GIVENS.