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November 2007
No orange flowers, please ...
LINDA KAYE, 1942-2007
Freelance photographer Linda Kaye chronicled the sports scene in North Texas -- her beloved TCU Horned Frogs, the Dallas Cowboys, the Rangers -- for nearly 50 years. She took iconic photos of bloodied pitcher Nolan Ryan after a ground ball hit his face and of University of Texas coach Darrell Royal huddling with his quarterback during the 1970 Cotton Bowl. Royal so liked the picture that he had a painting made of it that hangs in his house.
Ms. Kaye will be inducted into the Bob Schieffer School of Journalism Hall of Excellence at TCU, an honor she learned about shortly before she died Oct. 14 of cancer. Upon her death, the tributes tumbled forth. ...
When I read of Linda's death a couple of days ago, I recalled how she helped a cub reporter/photographer one night in the mid-'80s at the old Arlington Stadium during a Rangers game. I guess I seemed a little lost among the Star-Telegram, Dallas Times Herald and Dallas Morning News big-timers in the photog's booth on the first-base side, and she took time out to suggest that I focus on second base when a runner was on first with fewer than two outs for either a steal or double-play shot. No sooner had she offered those words of wisdom than the batter hit a grounder to short and the Rangers turned a double play. I got the shot and was always grateful to Linda. In recent years, I looked for her in the photographer's booth at the new Ballpark at Arlington and remembered that moment. I noticed she wasn't there on the last day of the season when Texas trounced the Los Angeles Angels. Now I know why. -- Tim Blackwell
From the time I joined the Star-Telegram photo staff in 1987, I often have been asked, "Did you know Al Panzera? Do you know Linda Kaye?" I never met Mr. Panzera, a legendary sports photographer for the paper, but I did know Linda. I could count on seeing her at almost every TCU event. If her clothing was any indication of her loyalty, it was definitely with TCU. Over the years she wore more and more purple -- eyeglass frames, shoes. Purple, purple, purple. When Rick Waters at the TCU Magazine told me Linda was in hospice care, I made time that day, a Saturday, to go visit her. Associated Press photographer Ron Heflin and his wife were there, as were Linda's brother, Roger, and another relative. Linda was in good spirits and being her feisty self. I commented on the numerous flower arrangements in her room and how beautiful they were, but she couldn't fully concur because one had "orange" in it. And the kicker was that she said it came from the TCU Athletic Department! I got up to take a closer look. Maybe the orange was to reflect the autumn season, I said. But Linda wanted nothing to do with the color. Wearing a purple TCU t-shirt and purple socks, she was watching a football game on TV and keeping an eye on who was beating whom when she turned to me and said, "Guess who called me?" Not sure where to begin, I guessed another photographer or a mutual friend, and she said no, bigger. I mentioned a local photo editor. "No. Bigger. Bigger in the world." Okay, I said, George W.? "Bigger." I looked away confused, and her relative mouthed, Nolan Ryan. When I finally guessed correctly, Linda recapped her conversation with Nolan, shaking her head in disbelief. "I can't believe he called me," she said, over and over. She was simply thrilled. She didn't understand why all these people would visit her, call or send flowers. I explained to her that she was a lovable Fort Worth fixture. She wasn't buying it. I said, "You're a lovable, sometimes ornery fixture." She thought about that and said, "Yeah, ornery is a good word." -- Carolyn Bauman Cruz
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MEETINGS
Next at IABC Fort Worth ...
Juggling Expectations: The Attitude of Stakeholder Management
Carter & Burgess marketing wizard John Bartkus will plumb the intricacies of stakeholder and management expectations at the November IABC meeting. The topics, specifically: the rising expectations of stakeholders; the seven types of stakeholders (dormant to dangerous); five driving questions for managing expectations; and the attitude of stakeholder management.
Bartkus, program manager of business development and sales support on C&B's national marketing team, has 17 years of project management experience, the last nine in professional services. He has a background in sales, marketing, operations and business technology and a passion, he says, for leading organizational improvement through the effective blending of people, process and technology.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27
Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
Parking: $2.50 in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets
Cost: members $25, nonmembers $30, students $20 (online add $1)
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Next at Greater Fort Worth PRSA ...
PRSA Professional Development Day: PR Measurement and Tracking
It'll be a Joe Trahan doubleheader at the November PRSA meeting as the engaging communications trainer fronts a morning seminar, then addresses the noon luncheon. Trahan, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA, will discuss how to move the "behavior change needle"; how to apply his Publics/Objectives/Strategy/Tactics program; how to write attainable communication objectives; how to earn senior leadership trust; and how to measure results in a "keep it simple" manner.
Since 1998, Trahan, a retired lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve, has trained more than 3,500 people yearly in media relations throughout the United States, England, Norway, France, Belgium, Paraguay, Mexico and the Netherlands. He is a former member of the national PRSA Board of Directors and national PRSSA faculty adviser.
Date: Wednesday, Nov. 14
Time: registration 8:30 a.m., session 9-11:45, lunch noon-1 p.m.
Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
Parking: $2.50 in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets
Cost: workshop and lunch, members $65, nonmembers $75, students $40; workshop only, members $45, nonmembers $55, students $25; lunch only, members $30, nonmembers $35, students $25
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Next at Fort Worth SPJ ...
It's a Gas, Gas, Gas
Who is Barnett, and what's all this fuss about his shale?
John W. Barnett settled in San Saba County in the late 1800s. He put his name on a local tributary -- the Barnett Stream -- and later geologists named a nearby outcrop of shale the Barnett Shale.
All the fuss in Fort Worth centers on the mother lode of natural gas in that shale, and it's under 18 North Texas counties. The U.S. economy needs gas. Getting gas requires drilling. Drilling raises citizen concerns about the environment, leases and such. The makings of copious fuss.
FW SPJ will put everything in perspective at the November meeting, hosting Gary Hogan, with the Fort Worth drilling ordinance task force, and a representative of the gas exploration business. They will discuss how the process affects neighborhoods, the land and the public coffers.
Time & date: mingling 6 p.m., eats around 6:30, then the program Wednesday, Nov. 14
Place: Joe T. Garcia's Mexican Restaurant, 2201 N. Commerce St.
Cost: $15 members, $20 nonmembers, $5 students
Menu: Joe T.'s famous family-style enchilada dinner
RSVP: Kay Pirtle at mkpirtle@yahoo.com
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STRAIGHT STUFF
Meet Fort Worth's "ladies of grace and gumption" -- Amelia Rosenstein (portrayed by Hollace Weiner), Eleanor Schott (Katie Sherrod), Edna Gladney (Sherrie McLeRoy) and Flora Reeder (Susan Petty) -- at the TCU Press autograph extravaganza honoring Elmer Kelton, 4-6 p.m. Friday, Dec. 7, at the Fort Worth Botanic Garden building. Sherrod and Kelton will be among the authors signing -- Sherrod's latest book is "Grace and Gumption: Stories of Fort Worth Women" -- along with Judy Alter, Beth Alvarez, Paul Boller, Mike Cochran, Deborah Crombie, Merrill and Paul Donarrigo, Ron Hall and Denver Moore, Quentin McGown, Ellen Niewyk, Chuck Parsons, Sam Ratcliffe, William and Rosalie Schiff (with co-author Craig Hanley) and Carlton Stowers.
Worth repeating from last time. Paul LaRocque will discuss headlines -- the good, the bad, the Jay Leno specials -- at the American Society of Business Publication Editors meeting Wednesday, Nov. 14, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Southern Recipes Grill, 2715 N. Collins St. in Arlington. Cost: $20 for ASBPE members, $25 nonmembers (cash preferred). RSVP to Tonie Auer, 817-925-2013 or tonieauer@gmail.com. ...
Frank Rush III, author of "Come Have Fun With Frank Rush at Craterville Park and Sandy Lake Amusement Park," will explain how to market non-fiction at the Writers' Guild of Texas meeting, 7-8:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 19, at the Richardson Public Library, 900 Civic Center Drive. Rush wrote "Come Have Fun" to honor his father and grandfather, pioneering entrepreneurs in the Texas and Oklahoma amusement park industry. Write Carol Woods at shurlock@flash.net for more info, and she'll remind you of the party Dec. 17 and of the appearance Jan. 21 by Kat Smith, author of "The Naked Author." ...
Deadline is Nov. 15 to apply for a 2008 Pulliam Journalism Fellowship. Applicants should have daily newspaper experience, including internships and work at a college publication, and should be committed to a career in newspapers. E- fellowship director Russell Pulliam at russell.pulliam@indystar.com for an application packet. Now entering its 35th year, the program awards 20 fellowships annually. ...
The American Copy Editors Society is accepting nominations for its annual headline contest (deadline Dec. 15) and the Robinson Prize (deadline Dec. 1). Total cash winnings: $5,500. Info at copydesk.org.
IABC local update: Ragan Report editor David Murray will address the Dallas IABC Quill Awards luncheon Tuesday, Nov. 13. Info here.
PRSA local update: Greater Fort Worth PRSA will again partner with the Texas Public Relations Association on the 2008 Silver Spur/Best of Texas Awards competition. Entering at the member rate saves 50 percent over the nonmember rate, and the chapter will receive a share of the proceeds. The Silver Spur/Best of Texas Awards is the only statewide contest for Texas PR practitioners. "First call" deadline is 5 p.m. Jan. 17; "last call" is 5 p.m. Jan. 24. Each last call entry requires a $50 late fee. Silver Spur and Best of Texas Awards will be presented at the annual banquet Saturday, March 1, during TPRA's annual conference in San Antonio. More from tpra.com, awards@tpra.com or Julie Fix, APR, at 281-494-6097.
PRSA local update II: Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic seeks volunteers for a regional PR committee to increase awareness of the organization. Contact Jenny Falke at 512-323-9390, ext. 303, or jenny@rfbdtexas.org. Get info on the organization at rfbd.org.
PRSA local update III: Black belt mentoring. The chapter's sensei program kicked off Oct. 10 with six master PR practitioners ("sensei") agreeing to advise a like number of students ("kohai"). To participate, e-mail Linda Jacobson, ljacobson@quepr.com.
PRSA local update IV: NBC 5 assignment editor Stephen Wright will reveal "Things Assignment Editors Love and Hate" at the NuPros meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 16, at the Four Star Coffee Bar, 3324 W. 7th St. All new professionals are invited.
PRSA local update V: The chapter's ethics program in September is going into a national PRSA database of program ideas for 2008. The Sept. 12 program, "Ethics in Action: The Complexity and Consequences of Misunderstanding(s)," had a record attendance and featured TCU professors Will Powers and Melissa Schroeder. Patti Grey reviewed drafts of the pending resource file during the national conference with the hope of distributing by the end of the year.
PRSA local update VI: Tom Dunning, who heads the powerful Dallas Citizens Council, and newcomer Wayne Mielke, APR, whose company, Comerica, recently moved its headquaters to downtown Dallas from Detroit, will discuss "PR-ing the Rebirth of a City" at the Dallas PRSA meeting Thursday, Nov. 8. More here.
SPJ national update: Protection maybe, and only for some; and FEMA employees wear many hats. The House of Representatives on Oct. 23 passed HR 2102, the Free Flow of Information Act of 2007, which attempts to reinforce free speech and a free press but which appears to leave unprotected blogger-journalists, stringers and freelancers. Those disseminating information are protected only if they do it "for a substantial portion of the person's livelihood or for substantial financial gain." The question may be moot, as President Bush says he will veto the act. More here and here and here and here. ... The Federal Emergency Management Agency staged a phony news conference Oct. 23 about assistance to victims of wildfires in southern California. The agency -- slammed for its marginal response to Hurricane Katrina -- had FEMA employees pose as reporters and ask questions of Vice Adm. Harvey Johnson, the agency's deputy director. "I'm very happy with FEMA's response," Johnson said in reply to one softball query. No genuine journalists attended, although they were given a conference call number they could use to listen in. More here.
SPJ national update II: Sounds like a Swiss army knife for reporters; and journalists urged not to forsake principles. Reuters says it is working with Nokia on a handheld device that could transform the way journalists in the field file news reports. The mobile application is billed as a "a lightweight toolkit that provides everything journalists need to file and publish stories from even the most remote regions of the world." More here. ... Journalists are in danger of committing professional suicide if they abandon core values in an effort to keep the industry viable, the executive editor of the International Herald Tribune told the annual meeting of the Online News Association. Michael Oreskes, speaking Oct. 19 in Toronto, said journalists have a responsibility to complete the mission of finding business models that sustain watchdog journalism, citing London School of Economics research showing that as press freedom goes up, national income rises and political corruption declines, thus making nations with a free press "[politically] cleaner and wealthier." More here.
SPJ national update III: We'd tell you the truth, but then you'd know the truth; and score one for the alt press. NASA on Oct. 31 promised Congress that it will reveal results of an unprecedented federal aviation survey that found that near-collisions, runway interference and other aircraft safety problems occur far more often than previously recognized. NASA gathered the information under an $8.5 million safety project, through telephone interviews with 24,000 commercial and general aviation pilots over nearly four years. The agency initially refused to disclose the results and, further, ordered the contractor that conducted the survey to purge all related data from its computers. More here and here. ... A criminal case against Phoenix New Times fell apart Oct. 19 amid admissions that a special county prosecutor made serious mistakes. Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas dismissed all charges against the free weekly newspaper less than 24 hours after two New Times owners were arrested for publishing details of a grand-jury subpoena that demanded the internet records of any person who had visited the newspaper's web site since 2004. More here.
SPJ national update IV: Futurists ponder your morning paper; and investigative journalists planning to do the work, then give it away. What will the newspaper look like in 2020? The World Association of Newspapers asked 22 futurists, academics, industry insiders and internet pioneers. Some say newspapers will resemble glossy magazines. Some say they will be individually tailored to readers. Some envision networks of news generators and digital news hubs. More here. ... Paul Steiger, the top editor of The Wall Street Journal for 16 years, and a team of wealthy Californians are assembling a group of investigative journalists who will provide their work to media outlets at no charge. The nonprofit group, Pro Publica, will pitch each project to a newspaper or magazine, wherever it will make the strongest impression. The intent is to do long-term projects, uncovering misdeeds in government, business and organizations. More here.
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Red and Yellow, Black and White, Income's Always in Their Sight
by Susan Tallant
Where are all the minority journalists? SPJ members and guests picked the brains of four student media advisers to find out during the October meeting at Shady Oak Barbeque & Grill in Arlington.
Robert Bohler of TCU said one problem is lagging enrollment in academic journalism because of more lucrative degree options. "No one goes into law or medicine because that is their calling," he said. "They go for the money."
Bohler said students are not following their passion anymore. The industry could help by triggering an interest when future journalists are young. "When I was a kid I knew about (Walter) Cronkite and (David) Brinkley. ... I don't think kids today know their journalists."
Tracy Everbach, UNT, believes minorities either don't know enough about the profession, find it too hard to break into, or don't like the pay. A solution, she said, may lie in recruiting. Her editor started a freshman internship program to groom future reporters and also visited high school minorities to generate enthusiasm for the profession.
Besides an African-American editor this semester, nine of the last 10 UNT editors-in-chief have been white, with three females. In contrast, Bohler's group this year of 10 editors and 17 reporters (mostly women) includes 15 Anglos.
The Tarrant County College adviser, Eddye Gallagher, said her staff is a balance of males and females in a wide range of ages. "We have been pretty diverse," she said. TCC has had two black editors and several Hispanic editors since the college opened in 1967.
Lloyd Goodman, UTA, said that although the university paper, The Shorthorn, has a combined editorial/advertising/production staff of 75, only one-third of the students want to be career newspaper people. "The rest just like it," he said.
He said The Shorthorn handles news involving minorities like any other type of coverage, by walking the beat. "It is extremely important to get your staff out there, talking, and not just staying with each other," he said. "There are parts of the community that editors need to see."
Each campus approaches student news a little differently and the pay varies from staff to staff, but all four advisers agreed that perceived income potential is a big issue for attracting journalism majors, regardless of their ethnicity.
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PEOPLE & PLACES
The University of Oklahoma's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication and the JayMac Alumni Association named Linda Pavlik, Class of 1970, a distinguished alumna. Pavlik's career spans more than 30 years as a communications specialist, the past 24 as president of Pavlik and Associates. Before moving into PR, Pavlk established the first Tarrant County news bureau for the Dallas Times Herald. She was a political writer and investigative reporter for five years at the Star-Telegram, where editors nominated her for the Pulitzer Prize two consecutive years, and she won numerous state and national awards for investigative reporting and public service journalism. ...
Those country-fried raconteurs Mike Cochran and Clayton Williams will command your attention at a Dallas Press Club free-beer-wine-appetizers book signing of "Claytie," Cochran's biography of Williams, Thursday evening, Nov. 15, at the Anatole Hotel. "Things have been going extremely well," Cochran reported Oct. 29. "Just got back from a weekend of events in College Station, and we're ahead of schedule on sales heading into the Texas Book Festival this week in Austin." ...
UTA's Alexa Garcia-Ditta received honorable mention in the Associated Collegiate Press' Feature Story of the Year contest announced in late October at the National College Media Convention in Washington, D.C. Reneé Gatons, Dominic Bracco and Daniel Johnson were recognized for page design and photography. ...
Alpha & Omega Services has chosen Immotion Studios to revamp its web site. A&O is the leading national contractor for mounted security services for large outdoor venues such as music festivals, shows and tours. The revamp is part of a larger A&O brand repositioning. Clients of A&O and its consulting division,Kel Executive Services, include the Town Center Improvement District of The Woodlands near Houston, the annual Bonnaroo Music Festival in Tennessee and dozens of amphitheaters nationwide. ...
After nearly eight years at the Fort Worth Zoo, Lyndsay Nantz is leaving to serve the Presbyterian Night Shelter. "As most of you know, I have volunteered for the shelter for the past three years, and God has grown in me a heart for the homeless in our society," she wrote friends in October. "I've accepted the PR and development director position at the shelter and will do what the zoo trained me to do -- raise awareness and money! ... I'm excited (and a little daunted) with the new challenges ahead as my new co-workers and I try to slowly eradicate homelessness in Fort Worth." Her first day on the job is Nov. 19.
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GET A JOB
For those interested in weekly journalism, the Flower Mound Messenger has an opening. Writes executive editor Charles Young: "It's an entry-level position, can add measurably to a clips file and put food on the table, too. You get to wear a lot of hats but don't have to take them off when you eat." Contact Young at editor@alliancenews.net or 817-329-7700, ext. 115. ...
The Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas seeks a 12 hours-a-week graphic designer to join its in-house marketing department. Should have at least two years in design, pre-press and print production and a visual communications degree, plus proficiency in Quark, InDesign, Illustrator and Photoshop. E-mail résumé and three .pdf design samples (or a link to a portfolio) to employment@jfgd.org. ...
A small boutique firm seeks a freelance publicist for pitching restaurant and retail accounts to the Dallas and Austin media. Freelancer may work from home. Send résumé to kellie@kmccrory.com. ... A local PR consultant is needed to help an international software company with press releases. Clients are at the enterprise level in finance, insurance, healthcare, telecommunications and utilities. Respond to karen.owens@isis-papyrus.com.
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NEW MEMBERS
SPJ ... Jenny Blankenship, UTA
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Marc Flake, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
As I write this, a handful of Greater Fort Worth PRSA members are packing their bags for the annual International PRSA Conference in Philadelphia. They will return better informed about our craft, more educated about the issues we face and inspired with a fresh enthusiasm for our profession.
I have attended three of these conferences, and each provided a banquet of growth activities that kept me busy from sunrise to sunset. Thankfully, the organizations I've worked for have always valued keeping employees current with new tools and techniques. I hope your company is as visionary, but if it needs a little encouragement, one look at a 50-page magazine on this year's conference, downloadable at prsa.org, should convince the most skeptical employer that sending you to next year's event would greatly benefit your organization.
At many companies, this is a good time to make your pitch. If nothing else, get included in next year's professional development budget. I'd like to go every year, but I know better than to push my luck. By spacing out my requests, I've been successful despite my notorious procrastination.
Those of you who own your own business have a greater funding challenge. I assure you the investment will be worth it. Just ask any of those who traveled to Philadelphia in October.
The Fort Worth chapter will host its own professional development seminar on PR measurement Nov. 14 when we welcome the return of Joe Trahan, Ph.D., APR, Fellow PRSA. Dr. Trahan has spent more than 25 years in governmental, association, and educational and nonprofit public relations. He's knowledgable, skilled, with a depth of experience not often found. You'll learn something and have a great time doing it.
In other words, if you can't make an International PRSA Conference, we'll bring conference-quality professional development to you.
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PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
Betsy Boyett, IABC Fort Worth
The end of the year is just around the corner, and communicators are really getting busy with projects. It's times like these when being a member of IABC is vital. IABC is more than a support system, it's a room full of resources with years of experience at their fingertips. I hope you have utilized your IABC membership and resources.
There couldn't be a better opportunity to tap into those resources than our new "Dine-Around." The inaugural event was Nov. 1 at Taverna Restaurant in downtown Fort Worth and provided a great opportunity to network in a relaxed environment and build some relationships. A very big thank you to planners Cheryl Hart and Mike Agnello.
You all should be back from travels (and full of turkey) just in time for our next professonal development meeting the week after Thanksgiving. After that, IABC is working hard to make your Christmas shopping easy and fun at the communicators holiday party and gift drawing Wednesday, Dec. 5.
I appreciate your continued support of IABC Fort Worth. We hope you will take advantage of the many opportunities planned for the coming year.
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Relive the 2007 SPJ Convention and National Journalism Conference. Right here. ...
Thanks, Lloyd Goodman, for the tip -- for anyone in the business, cyberjournalist.net is worth a visit. And thanks, Bill Massad, for alerting us to Linda Pavlik's OU honor. Without attentive readers, the eChaser is just chasing its tail. ...
She was too gracious to say so, but don't you figure Susan Tallant was surprised to see her crisp Clayton Wiliiams-Mike Cochran eChaser piece last month sans byline. Susan's a gem and undeserving of such shabby (accidental) treatment. To prove my contriteness, I think I'll just double her pay.
Closing words: "I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks." -- frontiersman Daniel Boone ... "Stare, pry, listen, eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long." -- photographer Walker Evans ... "There are no wrong notes." -- Thelonious Monk ... "If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans." -- James Herriot