SPJ Colorado Pro congratulates veteran Colorado journalist Vince Bzdek on his upcoming retirement after leading the Colorado Springs and Denver Gazettes and Colorado Politics, following his work at the Washington Post, Denver Post, Colorado Springs Sun and his family's Brush News-Tribune.

SPJ Colorado Pro is saddened to learn of the passing of Lynn Bartels, one of Colorado's finest politics reporters and commentators for decades. Our hearts go out to her loved ones and many friends.

On Juneteenth, we celebrate Colorado's historic Black newspapers as digitalized in the Colorado State Library's Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection. Outlets like Denver Urban Spectrum and African American Voice continue to serve communities of color. ⬇️ www.historycolorado.org/colorado-his...

DEADLINE for nominations is June 29!

NEWSLETTER: In this edition, we introduce you to our new chapter leaders, recap our farewell to Fred Brown (with video), catch you up on student news, and tell you how to register for our national conference this fall.

NEW LEADERS! Learn more about our chapter's new officers and board members.

COLORADO STUDENT JOURNALISTS WIN NATIONAL HONORS: The Society of Professional Journalists has announced national winners of the Mark of Excellence Awards. Here are the Colorado honorees. @spj-posts.bsky.social

Read the latest from Quill, the national magazine of the Society of Professional Journalists. A subscription to the Quill print edition is included with your SPJ membership. @spj-posts.bsky.social ⬇️ ‪https://www.quillmag.com/

DEADLINE TODAY (May 22)!

SEEKING CHAPTER BOARD CANDIDATES -- DEADLINE MAY 22: Help SPJ Colorado Pro remain a robust chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and carry out its mission of “encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior." Here's how. ⬇️

VIDEO: On May 7, we paid tribute to Fred Brown -- our friend, a champion of journalism ethics, and a leader of the Society of Professional Journalists and the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition -- in a celebration of life at The Denver Press Club. Watch it here. @spj-posts.bsky.social

SEEKING BOARD CANDIDATES: Help SPJ Colorado Pro remain a robust chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists and carry out its mission of “encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior." Here's how. ⬇️ @spj-posts.bsky.social

SPJ Colorado Pro board members Doug Bell and Marco Cummings met this week with University of Denver journalism students from the DU Clarion. Bell presented “How to Get a Job in Media,” sharing advice on breaking into the journalism industry. Photos: DU Clarion staff photographer Carter Schwent.

Our friends at the Denver Press Club are honoring five luminaries of Colorado media with Hall of Fame induction this week. Click on the link in the first comment to learn how you can join in the celebration.

Scenes from last night's celebration of life for Fred Brown at the Denver Press Club. More details and photos at our Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram channels.

THURSDAY MAY 7: Join us as we pay tribute to Fred Brown – our brother in journalism, our ethical soul, and a loving husband – at a Celebration of Life. Details here. ⬇️

NEWSLETTER: Updates on our May 7 celebration of the life of Fred Brown, our Top of the Rockies Awards gathering, our mentorship program and more. Get caught up here. ⬇️

Join us on May 7 as we pay tribute to Fred Brown – our brother in journalism, our ethical soul, and a loving husband – at a Celebration of Life. Details here. ⬇️ spjcolorado.org/2026/04/22/f...

NEWSLETTER: Updates on our May 7 celebration of the life of Fred Brown, our Top of the Rockies Awards gathering, our mentorship program and more. Get caught up here. ⬇️

Big weekend for our nonprofit local journalism: #Boulder Reporting Lab won 19 @spjcoloradopro.bsky.social awards, including 8 first place honors for reporting on housing, climate, accountability + more. Thank you to our readers for making this work possible. boulderreportinglab.org/2026/04/26/b...

ROLL CALL: SPJ TOP OF THE ROCKIES WINNERS! Watch the slide show of our announcement of this year's winners of our annual four-state excellence in journalism competition on our YouTube channel.

SPJ INDIVIDUAL AWARDS HONOREES! Our chapter recognized the best of the best in Colorado journalism Saturday at our annual awards reception. More on the honorees here. ⬇️ spjcolorado.org/2026/03/25/s...

SPJ TOP OF THE ROCKIES WINNERS! Out of nearly 2,100 entries from newsrooms across Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming, here are last year's finest achievements in journalism as recognized last night at our annual awards reception. Winners here! ⬇️ spjcolorado.org/2026/04/25/t...

The Society of Professional Journalists is recognizing the best collegiate journalism in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming with our Mark of Excellence Awards for calendar year 2025. Here are the winners. @spj-posts.bsky.social

Join us on May 7 as we pay tribute to Fred Brown – our brother in journalism, our ethical soul, and a loving husband – at a Celebration of Life. Details here. ⬇️ spjcolorado.org/2026/04/22/f...

Deepest thanks to our friends at the national Society of Professional Journalists for this tribute to our fallen brother. @spj-posts.bsky.social

J-STUDENTS: YOU'RE NOT ALONE! SPJ Colorado Pro is launching a mentorship program designed to connect working journalists with Colorado college students. Details here. ⬇️

RSVP FOR SPJ COLORADO'S BIG AWARDS NIGHT! Join us April 25 as we toast excellence in journalism at the 2026 Top of the Rockies Awards Reception. We'll also present our individual awards to the best of the best Colorado journalists, and bestow student scholarships. Details here! ⬇️

SPJ has renamed its national award for ethics in journalism in recognition of our departed friend Fred Brown, a veteran Colorado journalist, champion of high ethical standards for journalism, and a longtime state and national SPJ leader. Also, a celebration of Fred's life is planned for May 7.

Students from Front Range colleges gathered at the Denver Press Club to have their resumes and portfolios reviewed by Colorado journalism professionals. Details here, along with other ways for students to further their careers through SPJ Colorado Pro.

SUPPORT LOCAL NEWS! On Local News Day, April 9, learn more about several of metro Denver's independent community newsrooms at a free fundraising/networking event at 5 p.m. at the Denver Press Club. RSVP here. ⬇️ denverpressclub.wildapricot.org/event-6627210

Our tribute to "Ethical Fred," our fallen friend, guide, and journalistic giant.

We at SPJ Colorado Pro have lost our brother, our mentor, our ethical soul. We mourn the passing of longtime SPJ leader Fred Brown. Our hearts go out to Fred's wife, Mary, and all who knew and worked with him. Our chapter will have more to share about Fred in the coming days.

FRIDAY, APRIL 3! Are you a Colorado student aspiring to a career in journalism or PR? Do you need expert advice on how to present your work effectively and land a job? Then join us April 3 as SPJ Colorado Pro and The Denver Press Club present our Spring Portfolio Review.

BEST OF THE BEST! SPJ Colorado Pro is announcing recipients of our 2026 individual awards for excellence in journalism: Jeremy Jojola, Linda Carpio Shapley, Doug Cosper (posthumous) and the Aurora Sentinel. Join us 4/25 for the presentation. Info and more on our honorees here.

Are you a Colorado student aspiring to a career in journalism or PR? Do you need expert advice on how to present your work effectively and land a job? Then join us April 3 as SPJ Colorado Pro and The Denver Press Club present our Spring Portfolio Review.

Congratulations to this year’s students receiving SPJ Colorado Pro scholarships — our truth tellers of tomorrow!

RSVP FOR SPJ COLORADO'S BIG AWARDS NIGHT! Join us April 25 as we toast excellence in journalism at the 2026 Top of the Rockies Awards Reception. We'll also present our individual awards to the best of the best Colorado journalists, and award student scholarships. Details here! ⬇️

VIDEO: If you missed our March 24 conversation with Colorado media meteorologists, you can watch it on our YouTube channel. Link below. www.youtube.com/live/crqMoWA...

BEST OF THE BEST! SPJ Colorado Pro is announcing recipients of our annual individual awards for excellence in journalism. This year’s honorees are Linda Carpio Shapley, Jeremy Jojola, Doug Cosper (posthumous) and the Aurora Sentinel. Join us April 25 for the presentation. Info here. ⬇️

Catch up on all our upcoming events (including Tuesday’s conversation with TV meteorology superstars) in our latest newsletter!

EVENT, MARCH 24: What does it mean to be a media meteorologist when your forecast competes with social media algorithms, viral misinformation and is subject to instant audience scrutiny? Join us as our all-star panel of experts explores how weather coverage is evolving in the current climate.

RSVP FOR SPJ COLORADO'S BIG AWARDS NIGHT! Join us April 25 as we toast excellence in journalism at the 2026 Top of the Rockies Awards Reception. We'll also present our individual awards to the best of the best Colorado journalists, and award student scholarships. Details here! ⬇️

OUR WEATHER PANEL IS GATHERING FORCE! Lauren Brand of KOAA News5 in Southern Colorado is joining Chris Bianchi, Jaden Knowles and Mike Nelson for our March 24 conversation, "‘T-Storms, Trends & Trolls: Broadcast Meteorology in 2026." Hope you can join us! Details here. ⬇️

Are you a Colorado student aspiring to a career in journalism or PR? Do you need expert advice on how to present your work effectively and land a job? Then join us April 3 as SPJ Colorado Pro and the Denver Press Club present our Spring Portfolio Review.

📣 Join SPJ and the SPJ New England for SkillsFest26! A free, two-day virtual program March 26–27 with hours of hands-on journalism training from top industry pros. 📰 ✍️✅Registration is free and open to all. 🔗Learn more and sign up today!: bit.ly/470WC0i

VIDEO: In case you missed our March 11 webinar on covering the courts, or if you took part and you'd like to review it again, watch it on our YouTube channel here.

EVENT, MARCH 24: What does it mean to be a media meteorologist when your forecast competes with social media algorithms, viral misinformation and is subject to instant audience scrutiny? Join us as our all-star panel of experts explores how weather coverage is evolving in the current climate.

Journalists: Do you have questions about covering the courts or the work of judges? On March 11, the SPJ Colorado Pro chapter presents “Covering the Courts,” a free webinar featuring legal affairs journalists and judges sharing tips. @spj-posts.bsky.social