The Society of Professional Journalists has selected Laura J. Downey and Wesley Wright to each receive a Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member Award for contributions to their SPJ chapters and regions.
Each year, this award is given to no more than two members — one from a chapter of 75 or more members and one from a chapter of fewer than 75 members. The award honors Howard Dubin, a devoted SPJ leader whose decades of service have spanned local, regional and national levels. A longtime member of SPJ’s Chicago Headline Club, Dubin has served the Society in countless capacities — most recently as treasurer of the SPJ Foundation Board of Directors — while consistently giving his time, expertise and resources to strengthen both SPJ and its chapters.
Wright is assistant director of student media at Florida Atlantic University, where he advises an award-winning student newspaper called the University Press and other campus media outlets. A Jacksonville native, Wright previously spent time reporting and editing in Virginia, Florida and Colorado. He is at-large director on the SPJ Board, a 2023 Future Leaders Academy alumnus and has been an SPJ member since 2020.
In 2021, Wright founded the ReNews Project, a non-profit with a mission to restart dormant student newspapers on historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic-serving institutions by removing barriers that stand between students and their desire to do good journalism. He has coordinated seven visits so far with more planned this year in Maryland, Kentucky and North Carolina.
“Wesley’s ongoing contributions to SPJ and to champion student journalism are no secret,” SPJ National President Emily Bloch said. His dedication to student media and empowering young people within the field is critical to the organization and proudly honors the work of Howard Dubin and everything this award is about.”
Downey, a 2021 Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program Fellow and 2022 graduate of the Maynard 200 Fellowship Executive Leadership Program, is immediate past president of the SPJ Georgia Pro Chapter. She is executive editor of WebMD’s point-of-care products.
Downey made history as the first Black president of the chapter since its official founding in 2014. Under her leadership, the chapter raised the most funds in its history, significantly increased membership and built partnerships with other prominent media organizations in the state.
She also spearheaded the creation of the chapter’s first high school scholarship program, championed diversity in journalism and empowered the board to embrace bold new initiatives that strengthened the chapter’s impact on the journalism community and beyond.
“Chapters ebb and flow, rise and fall,” said Michael Koretzky, SPJ Region 3 Coordinator. “When they’re their best, they’re led by presidents like Laura Downey. Laura toiled nonstop to bring SPJ Georgia back to its former glory — and perhaps exceed it.”
Wright and Downey will be honored during the Society Reception at the MediaFest25 journalism convention in Washington, D.C., Oct. 15-18.
SPJ champions journalists by recognizing outstanding achievement, fighting to protect press freedom, promoting high ethical standards and educating new generations of emerging professionals. Support excellent journalism and fight for your right to know. Become a member and give to the Legal Defense Fund, First Amendment Forever Fund or SPJ Foundation.
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