About
The East Tennessee Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists (ETSPJ) draws membership from all of East Tennessee and is based in Knoxville.
The Society of Professional Journalists is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior.
Our Mission
We are dedicated to the free practice of journalism in the United States and to encouraging and maintaining high standards for ethical behavior. We offer professional support for media practitioners, a regional voice in journalism advocacy, and provide a link for local members to maintain contact with nearly 10,000 SPJ members nationwide.
Become a Member
Any media professional or member of the public is welcome to become a member. Membership in ETSPJ provides discounts on program registration fees, award entries, etc. Chapter membership is $10, in addition to the national membership fee. When registering, please make sure to select “East Tennessee Pro Chapter” under Local Chapters.
Board Members
Interested in getting involved, either on our board or on a committee? Contact us.
Maria Cornelius
President
Maria Cornelius is a writer/editor for Moxley Carmichael. She covers the Lady Vols for 247Sports and worked for 14 years at The Knoxville News Sentinel. Her book, “The Final Season: The Perseverance of Pat Summitt,” chronicles the last season of Pat Summitt’s storied career as the Lady Vols head coach.
Michael Martinez
Treasurer
Michael T. Martínez, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Practice in the School of Journalism and Electronic Media at the University of Tennessee.
Dr. Martínez turned to academe after working for 26 years at four newspapers and a wire service — the Associated Press in New York, the Louisville Courier-Journal, the Detroit News, the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Areena Arora
Board Member
Areena Arora is a data and investigative reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel-USA Today Network. Her focus is on covering education. Born and raised in India, Areena moved to the country in 2014 to study in Ohio. She is a 2022 graduate of Columbia University’s masters in data journalism program.
Scott Barker
Board Member
Scott Barker is co-founder of The Compass, a Knoxville political news source which began publishing in 2018. Before forming The Compass, he was with the News Sentinel. He joined the News Sentinel as a reporter in 1999 and won numerous national, state and regional journalism awards both as a reporter and editorial page editor over an 18-year stint.
Angela Dennis
Board Member
Angela Dennis is a journalist for the Knoxville News Sentinel-USA Today Network and co-host of the Black in Appalachia podcast a project of East Tennessee PBS.
She is a Knoxville native, raised in Florida, and covers issues at the intersection of race and equity through contemporary and historical lenses.
Jack Lail
Board Member
Jack Lail is a retired journalist who was most recently digital manager at WATE-TV. He served as digital director for more than two decades at The Knoxville News Sentinel.
Melanie Staten
Board Member
Melanie Staten spent years in Washington, D.C., on Capitol Hill at the White House as deputy assistant press secretary for President Ford. As a journalist and reporter, Melanie worked as a general assignment reporter at WBAL on Baltimore and at the Old Bridge Observer newspaper in Manassas, Virginia. She
currently is a public relations consultant and also served as manager and a performer for the Front Page Follies.
Devarrick Turner
Board Member
Devarrick Turner is the Trending News Reporter for the Knoxville News Sentinel-USA Today Network. He has an undergraduate degree in Broadcast Journalism from Elon University and a masters degree in specialized journalism from the University of Southern California.
Jean Ash
Board Member Emeritus
Jean Ash spent 17 years as an anchor and reporter for WIVK. Ash is past president of ETSPJ and the founding president of the Front Page Foundation. She was named the 38th honoree at the Front Page Follies in 2016.
Georgiana Vines
Ex-Officio
Georgiana Vines is a longtime News Sentinel political writer and a past national SPJ president.