SPJ opens first student chapter outside US

Manama: The US Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) has opened its first international student chapter at the Northwestern University in Qatar.

During a panel discussion, Richard Roth, Northwestern University in Qatar's senior associate dean of Journalism, said that the Society of Professional Journalists voted this year to open its first international chapter to mark its 101st anniversary.

The society, founded in 1901, describes itself as being dedicated to encourage the free practice of journalism and high standards of ethical behaviour.

"SPJ has chosen Qatar because I have been on the national board of SPJ in the US and I knew [SPJ] president Kevin [Smith]," Roth said.

"He really wanted to expand beyond the US so he talked to me about it," he was quoted as saying in the Qatari daily Gulf Times on Wednesday.

Free flow of information

Students of Northwestern University — Shannon Farhoud, Zeina Kanaan, and Rana Halabi — were inducted into the first chapter as president, vice-president and secretary.

Roth said that the three leaders would convene student meetings.

"They have programmes to learn more about journalism and I expect they will visit professional journalists and go to schools to teach students journalism, or invite them here," he said.

Society of Professional Journalists President Kevin Smith said that the society promoted the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry through the daily work of its 9,000 members.