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K-State Today

May 9, 2014

K-State Society of Professional Journalists elects 2014-2015 executive board

Submitted by Meagan Miller

Kansas State University's chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists elected its executive board for 2014-2015 on Thursday, May 1.

Junior Morgan Huelsman and senior Zaldy Doyungan will lead the chapter as president and vice president. Paul Cannon will be the secretary-treasurer. Emily Grotenhuis will serve as the marking director. Meagan Miller will be the membership director.

"I'm excited to watch the Society of Professional Journalists grow and add more events that can benefit students, professors and professionals," Huelsman said. "I enjoy working with people who share my same passion."

The Society of Professional Journalists is a national organization that focuses on ethical behavior and First Amendment rights while educating and inspiring journalists through professional development. The society also works on developing leadership skills with professionals and students across the nation. It has 250 local chapters. Locally, Kansas has one professional chapter in Wichita and K-State is home to the only student chapter.

The K-State chapter is preparing for its second year back on campus after being inactive for a few years. The executive board is working on recruiting new members and connecting students and professionals through networking events and workshops. The first step in preparation was electing new officers that will build a strong core.

The national Society of Professional Journalists organization requires that each chapter have a minimum of five officers. Nationally, the society does not dictate the specific offices, but they do suggest beneficial positions to fill. Tom Hallaq, assistant professor of journalism and mass communications, and Bonnie Bressers, associate professor of journalism and mass communications, serve as co-advisers for K-State's chapter and oversee elections.

"I hope to have a K-Stater filling one of the student positions on the national board sometime in the near future," Hallaq said. "I would also like to see the society establish an event that will become a standing traditional on campus."

For more information about the Society of Professional Journalists, contact Morgan Huelsman at morgan@huelsmanei.com.