At the start of my term as president of the Society of Professional Journalists, I became laser-focused on accomplishing one goal in particular: hiring a new executive director who could help solidify the organization as the ethical leader of journalism and champion of press freedoms through turbulent times, and set SPJ on a path to long-term sustainability.
In Caroline Hendrie, SPJ is getting an accomplished journalist, a proven leader with a track record of success and a dedicated advocate of a free press.
Hendrie’s path into journalism was far from conventional. You could even call her an accidental journalist. In 1982, she found herself in the middle of a warzone in the Middle East. “I was climbing Mount Sinai when war broke out in Lebanon,” she recalled. “I ended up sending dispatches about the conflict to our local newspaper.” This trial by fire ignited her passion for journalism, leading her to pursue a career dedicated to seeking out the truth and reporting it.
With stints as a staff writer with the Journal Inquirer in north-central Connecticut, assistant state editor at The Record in Bergen County, New Jersey, and managing editor at Education Week, Hendrie’s journalism experience is extensive. When an opportunity presented itself to become the executive director at the Education Writers Association, she decided she could use the skills and experience she had as a manager to make a real impact for the organization, which included a focus on increasing its revenue.
“One of the things we did was try to identify partners who wanted to support our mission … and that included philanthropic partners,” said Hendrie. “We built on what was there to greatly expand the number of funders and the amounts they were giving us.”
Hendrie’s leadership at the Education Writers Association showcased her strategic acumen and commitment to advancing journalism’s mission. Under her guidance, EWA experienced significant growth, widening its impact and reach. “We just got creative in finding ways to identify allies who would support our work.” This approach to diversifying revenue streams and building partnerships proved instrumental in revitalizing EWA’s financial health and membership numbers. During her tenure at EWA, Hendrie and her team grew membership and roughly tripled its annual revenue.
Now, as she embarks on her role as SPJ’s Executive Director, Hendrie brings with her a wealth of experience and a passion for championing journalists’ rights and ethical journalism. She believes in the power of community and collaboration, emphasizing SPJ’s role as a unifying force in the journalism landscape.
“I think SPJ’s identity as the most broad-based journalism organization really opens the opportunity for us to build on the legacy of being that connective tissue in the journalism community in the field. So, I do think there’s a great opportunity for us to exert leadership and develop coalitions.”
Caroline Hendrie’s vision for SPJ is clear: to strengthen our community, advocate for journalists and foster ethical journalism practices. She recognizes the challenges facing our industry and our organization and remains optimistic about the opportunities for growth and innovation.
“I think a very important goal – not to sugarcoat anything – is to identify new sources of revenue so we can expand our impact. It’s all in the service of our mission. And I believe if we’re very clear about the change we want to see, the impact we want to make, I think that resources will come,” said Hendrie. “And so, my goal is to stabilize our finances, strengthen our community, make sure we are structured and staffed in a way where we can realize our objectives.”
As we welcome Caroline Hendrie into the SPJ family, I encourage all members to engage with her and contribute to our collective vision. Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient SPJ that continues to serve as a beacon of integrity and excellence in journalism.
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