I’m happy to announce my candidacy for At-Large Director of the Society of Professional Journalists.
After a first run for the post last year, I’ve worked on aiding SPJ specifically on programming and outreach — essential elements to our growth and evolution.
As SPJ Eastern Chapter Doctor — a new position to which I was appointed — I’ve had the pleasure of working with many SPJ chapter and national leaders. The job requires listening to member issues and offering guidance, using my experience as a former regional director and a three-term pro chapter president.
I’ve come away from the experience humbled by the sheer talent that makes up our membership and motivated to help the Society address ongoing concerns as a national board member.
For chapter leaders, those concerns are membership recruitment, leadership development, programming and, practically, tech help.
For members, they are the need to gain practical knowledge and skills, as well as advocacy and networking. And we must continue to kick up SPJ’s cool quotient.
I heard these issues repeated over and over in phone calls, emails, on social media and one on one. I spoke with dozens of members while organizing the SPJ Region 1 Spring Conference at Stony Brook University, which I co-chaired alongside my good friend, Press Club of Long Island Treasurer Bill Bleyer.
On the programming front, I lent a hand this year in building a training module on mobile newsgathering that is now being rolled out in sessions across the country, including at SPJ-ONA JournCamp in Pheonix, Ariz. on May 18. Videos lessons will soon be available on SPJ.org.
Lastly, I’m very happy that every member will have a say this year in who will lead the Society thanks to the one-member, one-vote measure that passed at the New Orleans convention.
As we near the convention in Fort Lauderdale, I hope to hear what you have to say.
Take a look below at my full credentials, and feel free to comment, reach out by email or following me on Twitter, G+ or Facebook.
Carl
—————————————————————————-
Current SPJ Position: Eastern Chapter Doctor
Current Employment: Newsday’s online editor for local news.
Previous SPJ Experience: Co-chair, 2012 SPJ Region 1 Spring Conference; Region 1 Director, 2004-2006; President, Press Club of Long Island, 2002-2005 (Region 1 Chapter of the Year, 2002); board member, 1998-2011. Served as PCLI corresponding secretary and VP-Print. Student chapter president, Stony Brook University, 2004-2006; founding student chapter president, St. John’s University, 2003.
Past Work Experience: Executive producer, News 12 Interactive, 2007-2010; Editor, Long Island Business News, 2003-2007 (previously managing editor and reporter); spot news and tech reporter, Marketwatch.com, 2000-2001.
Education: B.A. in multidisciplinary studies, Stony Brook University, 1996.
Honors, Awards and Activities: Regional Director of the Year, 2005; Winner of outstanding service to journalism award from PCLI, 2005; LIBN 40 under 40 honoree, 2010; currently board member of the Buskin Committee for Campus Journalism at Stony Brook University.









Follow me