One of the university’s newest RSOs, UCA’s Society of Professional Journalists seeks to provide journalism students the tools and connections to help them enter the professional world.
During its brief existence, the RSO has featured guest speakers such as former Seven by Your Side host Jason Pederson – who spoke on his experiences and the importance of vigilant journalism.
SPJ has also discussed the Freedom of Information act, its usefulness and how it has come under attack from government institutions in recent years.
“SPJ is a wonderful organization – nationally and statewide – so I’m so excited that we revamped our university program just last semester,” SPJ president Harley Walls said. “I’m so excited to host meetings and try to get people to fall in love with journalism the same way I did.”
In fall of 2024, Arkansas SPJ partnered with UCA students for a countywide FOIA audit – which saw journalism students go to various institutions to request information.
This audit engaged many students’ awareness of SPJ and increased momentum for the chapter’s introduction at UCA.
Arkansas SPJ treasurer Rob Moritz, a journalism professor at UCA, is the chapter’s advisor.
Moritz has chaired the Freedom of Information Task Force and worked extensively with maintaining FOIA as a journalistic tool.
In Nov. 2025, Moritz was awarded journalism educator of the year, in part for the FOIA audit he organized at UCA.
President Harley Walls has worked as the editor of the Scroll for two years.
“There’s so many routes and opportunities for journalists to take, so I just want everyone to find their niche and grow fond of their chosen major and future profession,” Walls said.
Walls herself had not originally been involved in the journalism program. But after spending time with the Scroll, became interested and eventually invested in the program.
Walls said having an SPJ program at UCA is valuable because of the experience it provides for students.
“It invites journalism majors and others who are interested to come experience what it’s like to be a journalist and learn from professionals what it’s like outside the brick walls of UCA,” Walls said.
For the spring semester, SPJ will continue its slate of guest speakers and panels discussing the various topics affecting the journalism profession.
The first meeting will be a casual gettogether for students preparing for the upcoming semester.
“Everybody’s invited just to come and sit and talk,” Moritz said.
The guest will be Jeannette Stewart, editor of the Log Cabin Democrat, who is a member of the Arkansas SPJ board.
Stewart will take questions about SPJ in what Mortiz’s said would be a more casual, social event to begin the semester and encourage students to get involved in the program.
On Jan. 29, SPJ is hosting a panel discussion on the status of covering education in Arkansas.
The panel discussion will be hosted in Stanley Russ Hall – where all SPJ meetings will take place.
Among the panel members will be Debra Hale Shelton, a longtime AP writer who has worked closely around the Arkansas education system and I.C. Murrell, editor of the Pine Bluff Commercial newspaper.
“I hope to host many meetings this semester that ignite a fire in our future journalists so they can enjoy their future careers and be satisfied with their choice in journalism,” Walls said.
