Under the leadership of its Board of Directors, the chapter membership devotes its efforts to these key areas:

• Promoting professional development
• Supporting open government
• Protecting the First Amendment
• Advocating for shield laws
• Understanding and resolving ethical issues
• Staying informed about relevant issues

SPJ/LA has won many honors, including the national SPJ Circle of Excellence Award in 2009, for its programs aimed at honing professional skills, and keeping abreast of the important issues affecting the practice of journalism.

In addition to programs on topical issues in news and media today, the chapter hosts regular informal “mixers” that provide opportunities for networking with other journalists and news sources.

And, the chapter members remain consistent campaigners for government openness and a better working relationship between law enforcement and the media. SPJ/LA annually provide scholarships that help worthy college students complete their journalism degrees.

OFFICERS

Alice Walton, President
Board Member
KPCC 89.3 FM

Navid Nonahal, Vice President
Board Member
Publisher/Editor, Iran Bureau

Stephanie Bluestein, Secretary
Board Member
Professor, Cal State Northridge

BOARD MEMBERS

Tammy Audi
Board Member
Reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Los Angeles Bureau

Joel Bellman
Board Member
Press Deputy for Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky

Sharon Bernstein
Board Member
NBC 4

Adolfo Flores
Board Member
Reporter, Los Angeles Times

Richard Hendrickson
Board Member
Associate professor in the Tim Russert Department of Communication and Theatre Arts, John Carroll University, University Heights, OH (Cleveland), teaching online from Los Angeles. Part-time instructor in the classrooms at Cal State Northridge since the fall of 2010. Part-time instructor at UCLA, teaching in the classroom and online.

Frank Mottek
Board Member (Immediate Past President)
Business News Anchor, CBS KNX 1070 Newsradio

Richard Saxton
Board Member
Freelance Automotive Journalist

John Schwada
Board Member

Jeff Wald
Board Member
Managing Partner, Jeffrey L. Wald Communications
Adjunct Professor, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism

Roberta Wax
Board Member
Freelance writer

David Zahniser
Reporter, Los Angeles Times

ASSOCIATE BOARD MEMBERS

Lauren Bartlett
Associate Board Member
Media Relations Senior Project Manager, Southern CaliforniaEdison/Edison International

Zach Behrens
Associate Board Member
Editor-in-Chief of Blogs, KCET-TV

Linda Bowen
Associate Board member
Chair, Department of Journalism, Cal State Northridge

Dan Evans
Associate Board Member
Editor, Times Community News

Julia Seifer
Associate Board Member
Special Projects Manager, ABC7 Eyewitness News

Lori Streifler
Associate Board Member
Editor, City News Service

Natalie Windsor
Executive Editor, caregivinghope.com