The SPJ board of directors approved renaming the Ethics in Journalism Award to the “Fred Brown SPJ Ethics in Journalism Award” during an executive session held as part of its board meeting Friday.
Known affectionately as “Ethical Fred,” Brown, a beloved veteran Colorado journalist, SPJ leader and trailblazer in journalism ethics, passed away April 1 at age 85, leaving a lasting influence on newsroom standards and professional practice. He served as SPJ national president in 1997-98, and at various times as Region 9 director and president of the Colorado Pro Chapter. At the time of his passing, he was a valued member of the SPJ Foundation board of directors.
Brown helped define and strengthen journalistic ethics over the course of a decades-long career. He chaired SPJ’s national ethics committee, helped rewrite the SPJ Code of Ethics and authored and edited multiple editions of the SPJ media ethics book. Nearly 30 years ago, he first proposed the idea for SPJ Ethics Week, which continues to be a staple celebration for SPJ today.
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