President - Jennifer D. Cason - Daytona Beach News-Journal
Jennifer D. Cason currently works with the Daytona Beach News-Journal. She began her career in journalism at Starkville Daily News as the education reporter/news editor. Following college graduation, she interned at Southern Progress Corporation in Birmingham, Ala., and then moved to the Tampa area where she worked with Hernando Today as special sections and news/graphics editor. She also freelanced for the Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, Miss.
Cason earned her bachelor's degree in communication with an emphasis in journalism from Mississippi State University in 2002 and is actively pursuing her MBA.
Treasurer - Megan Stokes - East Orlando Sun
Megan Stokes is the associate editor of the East Orlando Sun. She attended the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University. During her four years there she aquired six internships at various local newspapers including the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and worked as a staff reporter for WVU's student-ran newspaper The Daily Atheneaum — a top ranking student newspaper.
Following college graduation, she worked as the government reporter for The Daily Commercial in Leesburg, FL and then moved on to The East Orlando Sun.
Membership Coordinator - Sherry Mims- Daytona Beach News-Journal
Sherry Mims works as a copy editor at The Daytona Beach News-Journal and freelances for Lake & Sumter Style magazine. She graduated from the University of South Florida in 2004 and has worked as features writer and interim features editor at The Daily Commercial in Leesburg.
Honorary Membership
Past President - Stephanie Slater
Stephanie Slater served as the Florida Press Club's president from October 2003 to October 2006. She now works as the public information officer of the Boynton Beach Police Department.
Prior to leaving, Slater was the police reporter for the Palm Beach Post, covering law enforcement agencies in Boca Raton, Delray Beach and Boynton Beach.
Prior to joining The Post, she spent two years on the police, fire rescue and courts beat at the Boca Raton News.
She credits the Florida Press Club with helping her land a job at the Post. It was at the club's 2002 convention in St. Augustine that she met Palm Beach Post Managing Editor Bill Rose.
Slater got her start in journalism at age 16, freelancing for The Journal News in Rockland County, N.Y. She graduated from the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communication at Syracuse University in May 2000 with a degree in print journalism.
Past President - George McGinn
George McGinn, police reporter and photographer at the North Port edition of The Charlotte Sun, has 28 years of journalism experience as both a photographer and reporter.
McGinn started his career as a freelance photographer and writer for the Rockland Journal News in Nyack, N.Y. He also freelanced for the New York Post, New York Daily News, The Village Voice, and wrote magazine articles for Field and Stream and Tennis Match magazines.
McGinn left the industry in the 1980s and spent six years in law enforcement as an auxiliary police officer and then a full-time police officer. He also spent two years as a military policeman in the U.S. Army.
In 1997, McGinn moved to Sarasota, and started freelancing for Getty Images, the New York Post, the Bradenton Herald, E! Online, ASA Racing's Actionline Newspaper, Minneapolis Star Tribune, The Knight Foundation, Canadian Television Network, and Oldies 108 Web site. His photography has appeared on encyclopedia.com, msn.com, and the Knight-Ridder Tribune News Service.
In 2003, McGinn took a job as the photo editor of the Venice Gondolier Sun. He transferred to the Charlotte Sun to work as a photographer for their North Port paper, and jumped into reporting, where he covered the city beat.
McGinn has won many awards from both the Florida Press Association and the Florida Press Club, including the FPC 2005 Francis DeVore Award for Public Service. He is also a 2005 Pulitzer finalist for his contribution as a photographer for the Charlotte Sun's coverage of Hurricane Charley.
Visit McGinn's Web site at www.sportsshooter.com/gmcginn.
Who Are We?
We are a volunteer, non-profit organization of writers, editors, photographers, graphic artists, researchers, librarians, and support technicians who work at Florida's many daily and weekly newspapers. The club's mission is to support its members through activities including regional journalism seminars, an annual Excellence in Journalism contest, a convention and awards banquet.
How Can You Join?
Send $20 along with your name, address, phone number,email address, and the name of your newspaper to Megan Stokes, 1043 S. Hiawassee Road Orlando, FL 32835; or come to one of our seminars and take advantage of our special seminar rates. If you join during the year, you will not be required to pay dues at contest time. The following year, you will pay dues at the time of the contest.
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