Virginia Society of Professional Journalists names two new board members

Virginia Society of Professional Journalists names two new board members

RICHMOND – The Virginia Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists board of directors unanimously selected two members to fill vacancies on the board — Bonnie Newman Davis and Mike Szvetitz.

Newman Davis is a journalist, journalism educator and communications practitioner. In 2011, Newman Davis was awarded Journalism Educator of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists. She currently serves as adjunct faculty at Norfolk State University.

Szvetitz, the former sports editor at The Richmond Times-Dispatch, was named managing editor of RTD in 2017. Under his direction as sports editor, RTD staff received 10 Associated Press Sports Editors writing and section awards. While working as sports editor of Opelika-Auburn News in Alabama, the sports section received the highest honor in the APSE contest three times, 20 APSE awards and was named Best Sports Page by the Alabama Press Association eight times.

Newman Davis and Szvetitz complete the 13-person board comprised of editors, communications experts and educators across the Commonwealth. The current SPJ Virginia Pro chapter officer and board of directors are:

President – Jeff South; professor, Virginia Commonwealth University

Treasurer – Brian Eckert; freelance writer and editor

Secretary – Logan Bogert; reporter, The News Virginian

John Hopkins; retired, Miami Herald

Gregory Gilligan; business editor, Richmond Times-Dispatch

Caroline Cardwell; public relations and communications strategist, Virginia Retirement System

Nicole Livas; anchor/reporter, ABC 13 News

Frank Klimko; associate editor, Best Week Insurance

Wilford Kale; retired, Richmond Times-Dispatch

Clissa England; retired, Richmond Times-Dispatch

Brett Hall; WAVY-TV

Bonnie Newman Davis; journalist and journalism educator

Mike Szvetitz; managing editor, Richmond Times-Dispatch

One member of the current board will be appointed to serve as Vice President in the coming weeks.

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SPJ is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry through the daily work of its nearly 10,000 members; works to inspire and educate current and future journalists through professional development; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press through its advocacy efforts.

SPJ Va Pro falls into SPJ’s Region 2, which spans Delaware, Maryland, Washington D.C., Virginia and North Carolina.

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