Jen Reeder was inducted into the Dog Writers Association of America (DWAA) Hall of Fame in recognition of her years of dog writing and service to the organization. After a five-year hiatus, Reeder was honored at the legendary banquet dinner on February 8 at the New Yorker hotel before the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show returned to Madison Square Garden. Goodnewsforpets.com’s association with DWAA goes back to our launch in 2000. Still, the relationship with Reeder was formed when she became president of the DWAA in 2017, and Lea-Ann Germinder, editor and publisher, and her team at Germinder + Associates provided public relations for the DWAA.
Reeder has received many awards, including being named the sixth #Germinder20 #PowerofPink Honoree celebrating Germinder + Associates’ 20th anniversary. Prior to becoming a freelance journalist, Reeder traveled extensively abroad as a travel writer. Her effervescent personality, passion, and commitment to classic journalism remain as strong as ever. Goodnewsforpets decided to revisit with her as she celebrates this latest accolade.
Congratulations on being named the 2025 DWAA Hall of Fame Inductee. You’ve won so many awards for your amazing career. What does this award mean to you?
I am ridiculously excited and, above all, grateful. It’s the honor of a lifetime. Being inducted into the DWAA Hall of Fame has been a chance to reflect on my career and really lean into gratitude for all of the editors I’ve had the privilege of working with over the years, as well as the opportunities they’ve given me. It’s always a thrill to break into a new publication. I’ve loved having such a special reason to reach out to some of my special editors from over the years to thank them for the part they’ve played in my career so far.
You worked really hard for two years as DWAA President and have volunteered for other organizations. What compelled you to take on a leadership position?
I think DWAA is amazing. It started back in 1935 – so cool!
One year I attended one of the annual meetings held before the awards banquet and was one of the only non-board members there. I learned the organization was still recovering from a treasurer embezzling funds. (They caught him, and he went to prison.) Someone on the board said the group’s future was “in trouble,” which scared me.
I tried to get my friend Laura Coffey (a terrific journalist and author of the award-winning book “My Old Dog: Rescued Pets with Remarkable Second Acts”) to run for DWAA president, but she was way too busy as a writer/editor/producer at the TODAY show. However, she said she’d be the VP if I became president. Su Ewing was in charge of recruiting a leadership team and was wonderfully supportive of the idea. Laurren Darr stepped up as Secretary – and even ran the writing competition for both years of my term.
Marsha Pugh stayed on as the new trusted treasurer and offered invaluable advice as a bridge between administrations. Germinder + Associates volunteered to handle publicity and proved invaluable (thank you so much, Lea-Ann!). Merrie Meyers came on as newsletter editor, and Mara Bovsun launched our Young Writers on the Web program to nurture the next generation of dog writers. I am so grateful to everyone who helped strengthen DWAA at a critical juncture. Then Carol Bryant, Maggie Marton and Kristin Avery took over and brought their tech savvy and talents to the leadership team during my two-year term as Immediate Past President. The depth in this organization and generosity of members is stellar.
What did you learn from that volunteer journey and the benefits that other writers should consider volunteering?
DWAA leadership positions are demanding volunteer roles, so it made me incredibly grateful to all the people who have kept this organization going for nearly 100 years!
I’m grateful for the connections I made. It’s also a fun icebreaker to mention at a writing conference or cocktail party. I can’t tell you how many people have said something like, “There’s a Dog Writers Association of America? I need to know more!” and go on to share stories and photos of their dogs.
Being part of DWAA and sharing ideas of ways to strengthen the dog writing community is rewarding and helps all of us – not to mention, dogs.
Last time we interviewed you, you told us this story about the writers in your family who inspired you to become a journalist. It’s now a few years later. What continues to inspire you?
Jen Reeder and her brother Brian typing with their dad, Tom Reeder, on an IBM Selectric typewriter in 1976.
I always say that I grew up “drinking writing from two straws” because there were successful writers on both sides of my family. My dad, Tom Reeder, is a retired TV comedy writer. My mom’s dad, Harrison Stephens, was a newspaper reporter and editor. As a bonus, my godfather is a retired television writer, and everyone in my family loves to read. They’ve all encouraged my passion for reading and writing, which go hand in hand. (Yes, I got a lot of jokes growing up about “Jenny Reeder is a reader!”) I’m grateful to have received so much love and support throughout my life.
In addition to my family, editors, veterinarians and fellow writers, I’m inspired by dogs, of course! They are such an amazing species. It’s incredible what they can do when given the chance and the right training. I’ve covered dogs who protect the environment by sniffing out whale scat from the bow of a boat, or who detect Covid or ovarian cancer, or rescue skiers buried in an avalanche. I’ve interviewed countless service dog handlers – both children and adults – who’ve told me their dogs changed their lives and, in many cases, saved their lives.
Obviously, they’re ideal pets, too. Dogs bring laughter and unconditional love into our homes and generally brighten our lives. One of my early essays for the HuffPost was titled, “I’ve Become a Crazy Dog Lady, But I’m Okay With It,” and I stand by that. Actually, another one that went viral was the Modern Dog essay, “My Dog Taught Me the Meaning of Life.” (For the record, it’s to spread as much happiness as possible to others and to yourself.) I know you get it!
You started out as a freelancer and now you are a very successful freelance writer. Any tips to share for today’s job market?
Ooof. It’s such a challenging time for journalism with all the layoffs and budget cuts. I really think connecting with other writers and editors in person at conferences and events (like the DWAA awards banquet) is more important than ever. One editor at a conference last year confessed to me that he had over 10,000 unread emails in his inbox! How is a stranger going to break through? There are also some terrific online webinars to help keep abreast of industry changes. Get involved!
Maybe because it’s how I got my start, but I think local newspapers and magazines can be a terrific way to learn on the job and get more clips. Plus, you’re supporting your community, so it’s a win-win.
You excel at storytelling, and you have the awards to prove it! Do you still find that longer features compel people to sit down and read it versus the shorter forms of content?
Thanks! Longer stories like features give readers a chance to really dig into an interesting subject. I like to start with a compelling anecdote that will draw them in and then (hopefully!) want to keep reading. That said, attention spans seem to be shrinking, and everyone is so busy, so it really depends on the publication and the intended audience.
Do you also write shorter forms of digital content?
For sure. I typically have way too much info from interviews that I’m trying to cram into a tight word count, so it’s an interesting exercise – sort of like a puzzle. One of my tricks is to suggest captions that include quotes I couldn’t squeeze into the main story. This is a good problem – it’s so much better to have too much quality content than a thin interview that you’re trying to pad.
Can you tell us about some recent assignments that you really enjoyed writing?
I love profiling inspirational people and pets for features. For my next “In Their Debt” column for Just Labs Magazine, I profiled dogs who volunteer with the nonprofit First Responder Therapy Dogs to offer stress relief to firefighters at wildfire basecamps, police officers and other first responders like 911 dispatchers. The founder’s goal is to offer therapy dogs to every first responder in the United States, so anyone with social, well-trained dogs might want to check them out!
For AKC Family Dog Magazine, I had the chance to profile a remarkable woman about her guide dog, who also alerts when she’s about to have an epileptic seizure. Choosing to partner with a guide dog instead of entering an assisted living facility completely transformed her life. I don’t want to scoop myself and give too much away, so I hope everyone will check out the March/April issue.
I also had fun writing a piece for Reader’s Digest about how to tell if you are your dog’s favorite person. My editors encourage me to not only interview experts but incorporate my own experiences when appropriate, so it’s always fun to share anecdotes involving my dogs or other dogs from my personal life.
When you became president of DWAA, you reached out to us. Do you feel public relations still plays an important role in the communications mix of an organization?
Are you kidding? Public relations is vitally important! You understand how to promote an event, award, product or organization across the country and secure major sponsors. I know how to arrange words for an article or essay, but PR is an entirely different beast – there’s strategy and insider knowledge and tech savvy involved.
You are passionate about excellence in writing. Can tell us about some of your other passions?
Dogs, of course! I also love travel, hiking, camping and dancing like a maniac to live music. Work hard, play hard, right?
I was lucky to be able to donate a kidney to my husband in 2012. It surprised me how many people got concerned looks when they heard I was going to donate and sort of whispered, “What’s it going to do to you?” so I founded the nonprofit Rock 1 Kidney, which shares stories of ways kidney donors are “rocking one kidney” since donating.
I’ve met a ton of kidney donors here in Colorado (and from across North America, actually), and in addition to volunteering in booths at community events, we get together for hikes, potlucks or margaritas. Unsurprisingly, many kidney donors are also dog lovers, so it’s really fun for me.
You won a special award last year from the Colorado chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Can you tell us about that?
I was thrilled to win first place in “Beat Reporting” in the extra-large newsroom category for my beloved beat: pets. (I grew up with cats – I love them, too!) I had to submit six articles I’d written about pets, and shared stories I wrote for TODAY.com, PBS’s Next Avenue (two), AKC Family Dog Magazine, Discover Magazine and the American Animal Hospital Association’s NEWStat.
This competition was for reporters with very different beats – tech, food, music, health, travel, education, business, etc. – so I felt incredibly proud to bring home a win for pets.
Anything else you’d like to share?
Thank you so much to the Dog Writers Association of America for inducting me into the Hall of Fame, and to all the editors, colleagues and sources who helped me get here! As I said before, it’s the honor of a lifetime.
She’s In! DWAA Inducts Journalist Jen Reeder into Hall of Fame
