It was created in 1975 through the merger of Pi Delta Epsilon and Alpha Phi Gamma.

[2] It held its first national meeting at the David Lipscomb College in Nashville, Tennessee in 1977.

[4] The seal of the Society of Collegiate Journalists incorporated elements of its predecessors.

[5] The society's colors are black and white, symbolizing journalism's heritage of print media.

At the local level, chapters host workshops, speakers, and seminars related to journalism.