Society of Professional Journalists

“The organization has five categories of membership: professional and retired professional, institutional, student, post graduate and fellow. Professional and retired professional, student, and post graduate members are persons who are engaged in directing the editorial policy or editing and preparing news and editorial content of independent news media products, students engaged in the study of these skills and journalism educators. Institutional members are organizations identified with journalism provided that the principal business is within the scope of the previous sentence. Fellows are those on whom the society wishes to confer high honor in recognition of their journalistic achievements.”

“Individual members of the society elect national board officers each year through an electronic voting system.”

“Amendments to the bylaws must be approved by a majority vote of the membership of the society by referendum.”

“The form 990 is prepared by our certified public accounting firm. The controller reviews the 990 for comparison to the company's financials, as well as reviews answers for accuracy. The executive director then reviews the 990 before signing and filing the return.”

“The standard of behavior at the society of professional journalists is that all staff, volunteers, and board members scrupulously avoid conflicts of interest between the interest of the society of professional journalists on one hand, and personal, professional, and business interests on the other. This includes avoiding potential and actual conflicts of interest, as well as perceptions of conflicts of interest. The purposes of this policy are to protect the integrity of the society of professional journalists' decision-making process, to enable our constituencies to have confidence in our integrity, and to protect the integrity and reputations of volunteers, staff and board members. Upon or before election, hiring or appointment, an individual will make a full, written disclosure of interests, relationships, and holdings that could potentially result in a conflict of interest. This written disclosure will be kept on file and an individual shall update it as appropriate. In the course of meetings or activities, an individual shall disclose any interests in a transaction or decision where such individual (including any business or other nonprofit affiliations), his or her family and/or significant other, employer, close associates will receive a benefit or gain. After disclosure, an individual may participate in discussion to respond to questions, but then shall leave the meeting before the final discussion and vote and shall not vote on the question.”

“The finance committee is charged with and performs an annual compensation review for the executive director. Any compensation is then adopted by the full board of directors. The executive director determines compensation for all other staff members.”

“Governing documents, conflict of interest policy, and financial statements are available on the organization's website and upon request.”

“Consulting/honorariums 8,800. Contractors 200,480. Outside services 2,787. Payroll processing 6,268.”

“The organization's board of directors assumes the oversight of the audit and selection of an independent accountant. The selection and review process has not changed from the previous year.”