Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

Ethics > SPJ Ethics Committee Position Papers > Checkbook Journalism SPJ Ethics Committee Position Papers Money can corrupt almost anything it touches, and that certainly includes the news. The practice of paying for information, known as checkbook journalism, threatens to corrupt journalism. Paying for interviews, directly or indirectly through so-called licensing fees, is now accepted practice in Great Britain and has been used by tabloid publications in the United States.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth publicly criticized that coverage. The Pentagon has also appointed active-duty Navy captain William Urban to the paper's leadership, which has traditionally been made up of civilians. "Stars and Stripes cannot fulfill its mission if its journalists or newsroom leaders must worry that independent reporting could bring retaliation from the officials they cover," said SPJ National President Chris R. Vaccaro.

The Society of Professional Journalists is renewing its call for Congress to block a new U.S. Department of Homeland Security rule that would end the decadeslong practice of admitting foreign correspondents for the duration of their assignments.

The Society of Professional Journalists has named Stacie Overton Johnson and Wendy Miller Jordan recipients of the 2026 Howard S. Dubin Outstanding Pro Member Award, recognizing exceptional service and contributions to SPJ. The award is presented annually in honor of Howard Dubin, a longtime SPJ leader whose decades of service span local, regional and national levels.

The Society of Professional Journalists has announced the recipients of its 2026 Sunshine Award, recognizing individuals and organizations for advancing the principles of open government. This year's honorees are Thomas Susman, a nationally recognized freedom-of-information advocate, and the Police Records Access Project, a searchable public database of law enforcement records documenting police use of force and misconduct.

Draft retains core principles while addressing emerging challenges in journalism The Society of Professional Journalists Ethics Committee on Monday proposed revisions to the SPJ Code of Ethics, opening a public review and feedback period on the first proposed changes to the Code since 2014. The proposed revisions and resources explaining the draft are available on the SPJ Code of Ethics Revision Project webpage.

For a century, the Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics has helped journalists make difficult decisions, explain their work and earn the public's trust. SPJ is now considering revisions that preserve the Code's four foundational principles while addressing profound changes in how news and opinion journalism are produced, distributed and understood. The SPJ Ethics Committee has released proposed revisions for review.

The Society of Professional Journalists has named Kim Komenich, associate professor at San Francisco State University, as the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award and Julia Wildman, a senior at Colorado Mesa University, as the recipient of the 2026 Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award.

Media Contact: Justin Paprocki, SPJ Professional Learning Manager, SPJ Communications,[email protected] The Society of Professional Journalists hosted its relaunched Leadership Institute July 17-19, bringing together 17 professional SPJ members from across the country for an intensive three-day program focused on leadership, governance and press freedom advocacy.

The Society of Professional Journalists is committed to building a journalism profession that reflects the communities it serves. The Dori Maynard Diversity Leadership Program helps journalists from underrepresented backgrounds connect with industry leaders, expand their professional networks and enrich their participation in SPJ.