Officers

Oklahoma SPJ Pro Chapter Officers

President:
Heide Brandes, Freelance reporter

Vice President:

Sterling Cosper, Native American Journalists Association Membership Manager

Treasurer:
M. Scott Carter, Oklahoma City Community College

Secretary:
Phil Todd, East Central University

Board Members
Quadrant I (NW Oklahoma, including Enid, Ponca City and Woodward): Heather Payne, Otoe-Missouria Tribe

Quadrant II (SW Oklahoma, including Oklahoma City, Norman and Lawton): Mark Hanebutt, University of Central Oklahoma; Dr. William Hickman, University of Central Oklahoma
Quadrant III (NE Oklahoma, including Tulsa, Stillwater and Bartlesville): Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Tulsa World

Quadrant IV (SE Oklahoma, including Ada, McAlester and Shawnee): VACANT

Meet Us

Heide Brandes Vice President

Heide Brandes is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than
20 years of published work. As an investigative reporter for numerous
newspapers and for Reuters News Service, Heide now freelances fulltime
for such publications as Gannett, National Geographic, BBC Travel,
Cowboys & Indians, Roadtrippers, Sierra Magazine, ROVA, Travel Awaits,
Huffington Post and more. She also has bylines in such publications as
The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal,
Hemispheres and others.

Heide earned a Society for American Travel Writers’ Lowell Thomas
Award in 2019 and has numerous gold, silver, bronze and honorable
mention awards from The North American Travel Journalists Association.
She serves as vice president of the Society for Professional
Journalists Oklahoma Pro-Chapter and is a guest lecturer at regional
universities and schools.

Her work can be seen at www.heidebrandes.com.

Besides freelancing fulltime, Heide is an avid traveler, medieval
warrior, hiker, professional bellydancer and bellydance instructor and
kind of a quirky chick who lives in Oklahoma City.

Sterling Cosper, President

Heide Brandes Vice President

Muscogee (Creek) citizen Sterling Cosper is Program Manager for the Native American Journalists Association, where he was formerly a board member, and has been with the Society of Professional Journalists, Oklahoma Chapter since June 2017. He was manager of Mvskoke Media at Muscogee (Creek) Nation and resigned in November 2018 due to the tribal government's repeal of the original MCN free press law. Twitter: @CosperSterling, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sterling.cosper, LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sterlingcosper/, Instagram: @sterlingcoEmail: sterlingcosper@gmail.com

M. Scott Carter Treasurer

Heide Brandes Vice President

Phil Todd Secretary

M. Scott is a sixth-generation Oklahoman with more than four decades of journalism experience. He is a four-time winner of the Associated Press-Oklahoma News Editors Sweepstakes Award and worked as the State Capitol Bureau Chief and an investigative reporter for the Journal Record for many years. Later in his career, he was an investigative reporter for the ACLU of Oklahoma, a non-profit organization dedicated to the Bill of Rights. Carter also taught journalism, feature writing and photojournalism at Oklahoma City Community College and served as the faculty adviser for the college’s student newspaper, The Pioneer.

Previously, he worked for newspapers in Stillwater, Cushing, Blackwell and Norman and as a stringer for the Associated Press, the Dallas Morning News, Sport Magazine and United Press International.

He is also a published novelist and winner of the 2012 Oklahoma Book Award for Young Adults. Carter earned the 2012 Gold Award for Young Adult Fiction from the National Association of Independent Book Publishers and Foreword Magazine’s 2012 Good Award for YA Fiction.

Carter and his wife Karen have six children, two dogs, one lizard and several poorly-behaved cats.

Phil Todd Secretary

Heather Payne Quadrant I Rep

Phil Todd Secretary

Phil is a longtime journalist and media scholar with more than 30 years’ experience in newspapers, magazines, textbooks, reporting, editing, design, prepress, radio, and instruction. He teaches journalism at Oklahoma City University, and previously taught at Seminole State College, East Central University, the University of Oklahoma, St. Gregory’s University, Oklahoma Baptist University, the University of Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky University, and Spencerian College.

He has presented and published work on topics ranging from media pedagogy and ethics to musicology. Most recently, his OU dissertation was named the 2020 Penn State Davis Ethics Award winner for best media ethics-related research.

In addition to causing whatever trouble he can in Shawnee over the past 20 years, he also serves as copy editor and consultant for Peace Studies, a quarterly publication of The Peace and Justice Studies Association; and does publicity and planning for ProgDay, an annual outdoor progressive rock festival in North Carolina.

Heather Payne Quadrant I Rep

Heather Payne has served as the quadrant I representative on the OKSPJ board since 2017. She is currently the public affairs officer for the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. Payne attended the University of Oklahoma majoring in journalism with an emphasis in public relations. She has worked for 20 years in journalism and public relations, including several years working for KGOU public radio. On a personal level, she loathes social media. Ironically, she is also the webmaster for this site and an administrator on the organization's social media accounts.

Mark Hanebutt Quadrant II Rep

Heather Payne Quadrant I Rep

Dr. William Hickman, Quadrant II Rep

Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Quadrant III Rep

Dr. William Hickman is currently Adjunct Professor of mass communication at Rose State College in Midwest City, Okla. and Professor Emeritus of mass communication at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, Okla. He is a native of Oklahoma City. He received his B.A. in journalism from Oklahoma Baptist University, an M.L.A. from Texas Christian University and a J.D. from Oklahoma City University School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in the state of Oklahoma.

Dr. Hickman has made various local and national conference presentations and chaired panel discussions for the American Copy Editors Society and the ACP/CMA National College Media Association. He has participated in panel discussions for the UCO Media Ethics Conference. He has authored book chapters on “Writing the Depth/Investigative Story“ and “Writing the News for the Web” for the textbook “The Journalist’s Primer.” He was named a Fulbright Scholar to the Republic of Kazakstan while at Oklahoma State University and conducted two trips of Kazakstan to lecture on media and news reporting to Kazak journalists. While at Oklahoma City University, his article “The NCAA and Televised College Football: Does Economic Efficiency Score Points?” was accepted for publication in the OCU Law Review. He was an AmJur award winner as top student in his Bankruptcy course.

He has served in the UCO Faculty Senate. He was named to the campuswide committee that evaluated online learning programs to select Desire2Learn, the current university learning management program. He has been a department leader in online learning. His course, Victims and the Media, became the first in the department to use streaming video for students to attend lectures in real time via desktop, laptop and tablets.

His academic interests are in the Internet and social media as a news and information source, media law, military-media relationships and newsroom management. He is a distance runner, competing in several marathons including the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. He lives in Edmond.

Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Quadrant III Rep

Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton is a reporter for the Tulsa World. A citizen of the Cherokee Nation, she is also a member of the Native American Journalists Association. When she is not chasing down stories or sources, the third generation Oklahoma State University alumna is chasing down her two kids, dog and cat who thinks he's a dog.

VACANT, Quadrant IV Rep

Lenzy Krehbiel-Burton, Quadrant III Rep

VACANT, Quadrant IV Rep

OK SPJ Membership Quadrants

Quadrant I

Quadrant I: Alfalfa, Beaver, Blaine, Canadian, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Kingfisher, Logan, Major, Noble, Roger Mills, Texas, Woods and Woodward counties

Representative-Heather Payne

Quadrant II

Quadrant II: Beckham, Caddo, Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, McLain, Murray, Oklahoma, Stephens, Tillman and Washita counties

Representative--Mark Hanebutt & Dr. William Hickman

Quadrant III

Quadrant III: Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Lincoln, Mayes, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Tulsa, Washington and Wagoner counties

Representative--Sterling Cosper

Quadrant IV

Quadrant IV: Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Love, LeFlore, Marshall, McCurtain, McIntosh, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Seminole and Sequoyah counties

Representative--Vicky Misa

OK SPJ Bylaws

OKLAHOMA PRO CHAPTER SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISTS BY-LAWS

ADOPTED MAY 14, 1999

AMENDED APRIL 1, 2017

ARTICLE I – DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1: “Chapter” shall refer to the professional chapter of the national society headquartered in Oklahoma City, Okla.

SECTION 2: The name of the chapter shall be The Oklahoma Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists

SECTION 3: Meetings shall mean regularly scheduled or special meetings authorized by the Board of Directors

SECTION 4: “Members in good standing” shall mean those members who are listed by the national chapter as being current in payment of their local and national dues. Currently there are no local dues.

ARTICLE II – MEETINGS

SECTION 1: There shall be a regular meeting of the chapter each month, and a meeting of the Board of Directors each month, unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors (“Board”), and the time and place shall be fixed by the Board. The Board shall also be authorized to call special meetings of the chapter and the board.

SECTION 2: Notice of each meeting of the chapter shall be by mail, telephone, e-mail or other communication to the last known address or telephone number of each member in good standing of the chapter at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting.

SECTION 3: Notice of special meetings of the Board shall be given to each member of the Board and each Chapter officer at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of such meeting, and shall be given by mail, telephone, e-mail or other communication.

SECTION 4: Emergency meetings of the Board may be conducted by telephone or e-mail means.

SECTION 5: For purposes of conducting business of the Board, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the officers and directors then holding office. All actions of the Board shall be by majority vote of the officers and directors present once a quorum has been established.

SECTION 6; For purposes of conducting business of the Chapter as a whole, a quorum shall consist of no less than one-sixth (1/6) of the total professional members in good standing. All actions shall be by majority vote of the professional members in good standing who are present at any meeting at which a quorum has been established.

SECTION 7: Approval of Chapter by-laws and amendments thereto, and changes in chapter dues, shall be proposed at one meeting and voted upon at a subsequent meeting, after at least seven (7) days notice of the subsequent meeting has been given to all members in good standing of the chapter.

SECTION 8: Meetings shall be conducted by Roberts Rules of Order.

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS

SECTION 1: The officers of the chapter shall consist of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer and they shall perform the functions customarily associated with such titles. Each of these officers shall be elected during the May meting, take office immediately, and serve a term of two (2) years. Officers may serve consecutive terms. Immediately following the election, the secretary shall notify the national headquarters of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of the new officers elected and the date they take office. Vacancies may be filled by appointment of the president, or by vote of the chapter as a whole, as determined by the Board.

SECTION 2: At least two (2) months prior to the meeting at which the annual election is to occur, the president shall appoint a committee consisting of three members in good standing to nominate officers and directors to be voted on at the annual election. Nominations may also be made from the floor at the time of the election.

SECTION 3: The president may appoint other committees, either standing or temporary, as s(he) deems necessary.

ARTICLE IV – BOARD OF DIRECTORS

SECTION 1: The Chapter shall have a Board of Directors which shall be responsible for direction and planning of all the Chapter’s activities, including, but not limited to membership and attendance, planning, programs, meetings, convention representation, approving financial reports and expenditures, or authorized by the Board, cooperation with national chapter headquarters in all matters furthering the goals of the Society and the Chapter, and other activities deemed necessary by the Board or the Chapter as a whole. The Chairman shall designate persons to carry out these duties, subject to approval of the board.

SECTION 2: The board of directors shall consist of 10 members, including officers. One-half of the board members shall be elected at each May meeting to a two-year term. Board members may serve consecutive terms. Vacancies shall be filled by a vote of the board of directors as soon as practical after the position is vacated

SECTION 3: The President shall be chairman of the Board and shall preside at all Board meetings.

SECTION 4: The Board shall meet at such times and places as a majority of its members deems necessary, and in accordance with applicable rules of the national chapter. The Chairman may call a meeting upon his or her own initiative, and must cal a meeting when a majority of the board requests it.

SECTION 5: All Board meetings shall be considered open meetings at which any member in good standing and others invited to speak by the Board may participate.

SECTION 6: Any board member who misses three meetings in a calendar year without providing at least 12 hours written notice for their absence shall be considered derelict of duty and removed from office.

SECTION 7: At least one seat will be filled by a representative from each of the state’s four quadrants.

a. Quadrant I: Alfalfa, Beaver, Blaine, Canadian, Cimarron, Custer, Dewey, Ellis, Garfield, Grant, Harper, Kay, Kingfisher, Logan, Major, Noble, Roger Mills, Texas, Woods and Woodward counties

b. Quadrant II: Beckham, Caddo, Carter, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Garvin, Grady, Greer, Harmon, Jackson, Jefferson, Kiowa, McLain, Murray, Oklahoma, Stephens, Tillman and Washita counties

c. Quadrant III: Adair, Cherokee, Craig, Creek, Delaware, Lincoln, Mayes, Muskogee, Nowata, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Osage, Ottawa, Pawnee, Payne, Rogers, Tulsa, Washington and Wagoner counties

d. Quadrant IV: Atoka, Bryan, Choctaw, Coal, Haskell, Hughes, Johnston, Latimer, Love, LeFlore, Marshall, McCurtain, McIntosh, Pittsburg, Pontotoc, Pottawatomie, Pushmataha, Seminole and Sequoyah counties

SECTION 8: No more than four seats will be held at any one time by representatives from a single quadrant.

ARTICLE V – CONVENTION ATTENDANCE

SECTION 1: The Chapter may be represented at each national convention by the number of delegates authorized by the national chapter headquarters. Each delegate shall be elected by the Board.

ARTICLE VI – DUES

SECTION 1: The amount of local dues to be paid by each member of the chapter shall be fixed by the Board, subject to ratification by the membership. Dues shall become due and payable at the beginning of each calendar year.