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SYRACUSE PRESS CLUB

Established in 1951

Who we are

The Syracuse Press Club was founded in 1951. Its members are journalists, educators, students and communications professionals working in local Central New York print, radio, television and digital media.

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Blog Posts

WATCH: Journalists reflect on 2020 election, Capitol riots

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January 17, 2021

Syracuse Press Club and Syracuse University teamed up to host a virtual event on Jan. 7, 2021, featuring national reporters reflecting on the historic 2020 election. Jennifer Jacobs of Bloomberg …

SPC board proposes slate of officers for 2021

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January 5, 2021

NOTICE: The Syracuse Press Club Board of Directors at its January 2021 meeting nominated the following slate of candidates as its board for the next year. Pursuant to the club’s bylaws, …

Syracuse Press Club

2 days ago

Happy Member Monday, everyone!Today we feature a talented, Chicago-born journalist, who has always had a passion for giving a voice to the voiceless.Meet Melanie Johnson TV!Job title: Anchor/Reporter at CNYCentral.com.Past journalism jobs: NBC Nebraska and Spectrum News Rochester.Have you had any jobs outside journalism? Nope. I’ve always known what I wanted to do.Education: Howard UniversityThree stories you’re proud of, from the past year: 1. The truth behind the lens; Syracuse native photographs chaos on Capitol Hill cnycentral.com/news/local/the-truth-behind-the-lens-syracuse-native-photographs-chaos-on-capitol-…2. Post 40 day protesting pledge cnycentral.com/news/local/syracuse-black-community-cny-law-enforcement-give-perspective-on-their-… 3. Disgust & heartbreak: local leaders react to Trump’s decision to free Syracuse cop killercnycentral.com/news/local/disgust-heartbreak-local-leaders-react-to-trumps-decision-to-free-syrac…Role models: Michelle Obama & RuPaul Fun fact about you: I’m a taco fanatic.Advice to other local journalists: Advocate for yourself and take the responsibility of being a voice for others an oath to this profession. Speak up!Want to be featured for Member Mondays? You must be an active SPC member and you can join anytime: syracusepressclub.org/become-a-member/ … See MoreSee Less

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Syracuse Press Club

1 week ago

Happy Member Monday, everyone! Today, we feature a VIP on the Syracuse Press Club board, who currently serves as our Membership Chair and has been integral to the success of many SPC events over the years.Meet Laura Hakes Bailey!Job title: I’m a part-time newscast director and the internship coordinator at WSYR NewsChannel 9, where I have worked in various roles since I started in May 1990. I’m also a freelance TV technical director for Syracuse University‘s Athletics Production coverage of ACC sports for ESPN.Have you had any jobs outside journalism? I’m also an adjunct professor at Onondaga Community College in the Broadcast Media Communication (formerly EMC) department, Cayuga Community College in the Telecommunications department in the School of Media and Arts, and starting this semester will also be teaching at Le Moyne College and SUNY Cortland.Depending on how far back you want to go, I’ve worked as a summer camp counselor, in a print and video duplicating facility, and at Rudy’s Lakeside Drive-In in Oswego (which is HARD!), among other things.Projects you’re proud of, from the past year: I directed the ‘Female Forward’ broadcast of the Syracuse University Women’s Basketball game on January 16, 2020. It was a production that had women in the lead roles for the broadcast of the game that aired on ESPN‘s ACC Network Extra. This project really stood out for me because in more than 30 years of television production I’ve often been one of only a couple of women, if not the only woman, in the room (or production truck). To work with so many in lead roles on a production was such a contrast to where I started. In addition, the majority of the women involved were students. I’m excited to think that for them this may not be a big deal – it’ll just be normal.Education: AAS – Onondaga CC, R/TVBA – SUNY Oswego, Broadcasting & Mass CommunicationsMSEd – SUNY Oswego, VTPRole models: Strong women in every field. I’m always so excited to read about (or even meet!) women who have gone beyond what was expected or "traditional."Fun fact about you: Isn’t really about me… my husband and all three kids are volunteer firefighters! I stay at home with the dog and wait for them to get home safely. But one about me? I started working in television when I was 16. Advice to other local journalists: Pay attention and ask questions. About EVERYTHING. Don’t let anyone hold you back.Want to be featured for Member Mondays? You must be an active SPC member and you can join anytime: syracusepressclub.org/become-a-member/ … See MoreSee Less

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Syracuse Press Club

1 week ago

“Gomez & Lisa” co-host Lisa Chelenza has left the Syracuse radio show on Classic Rock TK99 after 16 years. Chelenza joined Galaxy Communications in 2004 as part of the “Gomez and Dave in the Morning” show. She was promoted to co-host in 2015 and the show was renamed "Gomez and Lisa in the Morning.” In her farewell letter, Lisa wrote:"How do you say good-bye to 16 years in radio alongside talented broadcast professionals, filled with amazing experiences and remarkable moments?A career marked by once in a lifetime opportunities, like being a part of the broadcast team hosting Syracuse University Basketball and Football games in the storied Carrier Dome, interviewing greats like Floyd Little, Pearl Washington and Don McPherson, with the bonus of then getting to know them on a personal level, only to learn, YES, they are genuine, kind, lovely people. Chatting with Hall of Fame SU Basketball Coach Jim Boeheim about his favorite restaurants and SU Football Coach Dino Babers about sweet potato pie and what candy his family is giving out for Halloween.A career filled with meeting and interviewing rock stars from Joan Jett to Eddie Money, Bret Michaels, Alice Cooper and Cheap Trick, just to name a few, cool pre-show soundchecks and backstage access.A career where every day I wake up and head into the studio with my sweet, funny, generous broadcast partner Glenn “Gomez” Adams, and a long list of creative and smart producers keeping us on track.This past decade and a half has flown by in the blink of an eye and I wouldn’t change a thing. I feel so fortunate to have spent these years at Galaxy Media with people who have become my second family. Through good times and more challenging times we made it together.Thank you to our listeners and now twitchers, for being a huge part of my life. So many of you have become lifetime friends and I appreciate each and every one of you."Friday, January 15 was Lisa’s last day as co-host. She will continue to be a voice on Galaxy radio station promos and commercials in the future.Congratulations to Lisa on all her wonderful accomplishments on TK99 over the last 16 years! We wish her all the best.radioink.com/2021/01/12/galaxy-media-host-retiring-after-16-years/ … See MoreSee Less

Galaxy Media Host Retiring After 16 Years – Radio Ink

radioink.com

“Gomez & Lisa” co-host Lisa Chelenza is leaving the Syracuse radio show after 16 years. Chelenza joined the Galaxy in 2004 as part of the “Gomez and Dave in the Morning” show. She was promoted…

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Syracuse Press Club

2 weeks ago

Some good news for the journalism industry: Local newsrooms are now eligible for forgivable loans through the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). Senator Chuck Schumer, who strongly advocated for this change in Congress, said Theresa Underwood of NewsChannel 9 first brought this issue to Schumer’s attention. Previously, local newsrooms were not eligible for PPP loans because they’re owned by large parent companies, investors or part of franchises. Now, local newspapers, radio and television stations will be treated as independent, non-affiliated entities for the purposes of determining eligibility for PPP, as long as they meet the SBA size standards for a small business. Schumer said this could be a vital lifeline for local news outlets that are losing advertising revenues and suffering huge financial losses during the Covid-19 pandemic. “You’re needed more than ever,” Schumer told 200+ New York journalists on a Zoom call on Jan. 13. “I firmly believe in you and I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for your heroic efforts during these very difficult times, to cover what you have covered in this extremely difficult year. You’re the ones who shine a light on what is wrong in our society, to establish the facts, to hold elected officials accountable.” … See MoreSee Less

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Syracuse Press Club

2 weeks ago

Happy Member Monday, everyone! Today, we feature a very important member of the Syracuse Press Club board, who currently serves both as club secretary and Awards Chair. She’s the one hustling to get your contest entries in this month so we can recognize the best local journalism from the past year. She is also a former SPC Newcomer Award winner.Meet Julie McMahon!Job: Supervisor-Reporter at The Post-Standard | syracuse.com and adjunct professor at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.Education: Bachelor’s degree in English from SUNY Geneseo; master’s in journalism from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University.Past journalism jobs: Before Syracuse.com, I worked in legal trade publications in New York and Boston.Have you had any jobs outside journalism? Until this job, I’ve always had a part-time gig in food service: bartender, barista, server, even line cook. I grew up working in a small-town café so learned the ropes and always appreciated the extra cash. I have also worked in libraries and once was a pro at Dewey Decimal System.Projects you’re proud of, from the past year: Our entire Back in Business effort, which was really service journalism at its core, designed to directly help small business owners struggling because of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m proud of my new role helping to lead our breaking news and crime coverage, which I started in September. So far, one of my favorite stories has been working with Samantha House on covering the sonic boom that shook Central New York. It was a good reminder of what makes breaking news so much fun.Role models: Nikole Hannah-Jones, whose vision for and execution of the 1619 project for The New York Times is so incredibly aspirational. No longer living, Ida B. Wells and Nellie Bly, two badass female journalists who risked their lives to expose truths and blazed the trail for the rest of us.Fun fact about you: My graduating class in high school was only 23 people. (I’m from the Catskills.)Advice to other local journalists: Strong back, soft belly. It’s a version of a Buddhist principle that to me it means you can show your personality, your human side, be soft sometimes. But always stay connected to your backbone, that column of strength from which you’ll need to derive a lot of stamina, a lot of strength, to keep going in this industry. Even when things get tough, you can always dig deeper, find more motivation and strength in the face of adversity, whether it’s people criticizing your work or not returning your phone calls.Want to be featured for Member Mondays? You must be an active SPC member and you can join anytime: syracusepressclub.org/become-a-member/ … See MoreSee Less

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Join Us

The Syracuse Press Club invites all working and inactive journalists to become members of the club. Your membership fee supports our annual banquet, journalism scholarship and events throughout the year. Click below for more information and to join today!

Wall of Distinction

The Wall of Distinction is where outstanding journalists in Central New York are permanently enshrined. Located in the theater lobby of the John H. Mulroy Civic Center in downtown Syracuse, the first group of inductees was first installed to the Wall on Dec. 4, 2000. This was also the date the Syracuse Press Club’s 50^th anniversary was observed.