SPJ Honors Davis with President’s Award
Columbia, Mo. (Sept. 18, 2006) — Calling him a “tireless worker,” outgoing president Dave Carlson presented Charles Davis with the President’s Award at the recent Society of Professional Journalists‘ national convention in Chicago. Davis is an associate professor at the Missouri School of Journalism and serves as executive director of the National Freedom of Information Coalition, which is headquartered here.
“Charles Davis isn’t just smart or well informed,” Carlson said. “He’s a tireless worker. Whatever I asked of him and whenever I asked it, he said yes. This award is hardly adequate to thank him for all he has done for SPJ. It is volunteers such as Charles who make SPJ great.”
The President’s Award, presented at the President’s Installation Banquet, was formed to recognize outstanding contributions of talent, truth and energy of the highest level for the betterment of the profession, the Society and its members, Carlson said. Davis recently ended a six-year term as SPJ’s Freedom of Information Chair.
“The President’s Award was certainly unexpected, and it was a really nice gesture by President Carlson, whom I have known and enjoyed working with for years,” Davis said. “SPJ means so much to me, and it rewards me in so many ways, that I feel like I owe SPJ far, far more than it owes me.”
Davis has advised the Missouri SPJ student chapter since joining the School in 1999. Under his leadership, it has grown to be the largest student chapter in the country with more than 100 members. SPJ recognized Davis’ work with the David L. Eshelman Outstanding Campus Adviser Award in 2001.
Janelle Walker came from Fowler, Ill., to study broadcast journalism at the Missouri School of Journalism. She interned in summer 2006 with the Minocqua-Arbor Vitae-Woodruff Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Bureau in Minocqua, Wisconsin. Janelle plans to graduate in December 2006 and pursue a career in tourism marketing.
Updated: April 10, 2020