"The problem comes in that there will be no one there to oppose it; it is basically an ex parte communication between prosecutor and judge," Williams said. "We will just have to wait and see how often it is used, or if it is abused."
Then there's HB 2564, the so-called "frequent flyer bill," which places "reasonable" limits on the amount of time government employees spend responding to requests for information. The limits do not apply to professional journalists, who the bill defines as persons who work for a news organization licensed by the FCC, or a newspaper qualified to publish legal notices, or a free newspaper of general circulation published at least once a week. Left out are bloggers, magazines and college newspapers.
Williams said the bill was born out of a situation between a school and parents who were abusing the Freedom of Information Act by excessively requesting records.
"Hard cases," he said, "make bad law."
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PEOPLE & PLACES
Theresa Davis, the force behind Vibrant PR, has landed new clients SpeedSoft.com and Sarah Zink Business Training (plus "Think Zink" on BizRadio). ...
Angela Neville, Marc Barrera and Tom Domine, all members of the Dallas-Fort Worth chapter of the American Society of Business Publication Editors, are regional winners in the Azbee Awards of Excellence. ...
Cowboy chef Grady Spears and Austin restaurateur Lou Lambert have selected the Hondo Group to develop a PR strategy and the brand and logo design for their latest venture, Dutch's, formerly the site of Jon's Grille on the TCU campus. Spears was the founding chef of the Reata restaurants in Alpine, Fort Worth and Beverly Hills. Lambert, a graduate of both TCU and the Culinary Institute of America in New York, worked under Wolfgang Puck at the prestigious Postrio restaurant in San Francisco.
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GET A JOB
Partners Together for Health, the foundation for JPS Health Network, yearns for a talented, hard-working volunteer one day a week who doesn't mind depleting stacks of filing (must know alphabet A-Z), sorting mail (must be able to read), running errands (must be directionally empowered) and other office-related tasks. In return, the Partners staff will provide free entertainment, camaraderie and a lunch or two. Call 817-920-7305 to discuss this opportunity to serve Partners, JPS and mankind. ...
Dallas-based Brighter Tomorrows seeks a brochure graphic designer and a printer, perhaps pro bono, to help proclaim its message of empowerment of survivors of domestic and sexual violence. More from development director Nancy Swartz, nancyswartz@brightertomorrows.net, 972-263-0506. Brighter Tomorrows re-branded last fall and has expanded. ...
Stephen F. Austin State University seeks a coordinator to manage the Office of Student Publications and advise the student-produced yearbook. A bachelor's degree in communication or a related field or equivalent experience is required, along with experience in monitoring budgets and knowledge of Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Creative Suite 2 and other layout software. E-mail résumé and cover letter to pinelogads@sfasu.edu.
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Marc Flake, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
One recent Friday, I spent a pleasant lunch with the future leaders of our chapter. It was my privilege to speak to the NuPros special interest group. Over the years, I have sought the counsel of members who have more experience or just a different perspective, and advising younger PRSA members and PRSSA members is a most enjoyable way for me to give something back.
It's so enjoyable, maybe we all should do it. One of the goals for my presidency is to create a program where seasoned pros can help further a younger member's career. Say "mentor program," though, and time constraints come to mind. None of us has enough hours in the day. Let me propose, instead, a mentor lite effort that I call the Sensei Program.
Sensei is a Japanese title of respect for teachers, professionals, politicians and other authority figures. It is also used to acknowledge someone who has achieved mastery in her field. Continuing with the Japanese terminology, a kohai is considered a junior learner.
All I ask of our seasoned professionals (senseis) is that they meet with a NuPro (kohai) at the chapter meeting lunches. Spend 30-45 minutes on things like the rainy weather, or how awful the last season of "24" was, or how things are going at work. Since you will be sitting with your peers, your kohai will have access to their wisdom, too. If you have a few minutes to keep talking after lunch, that's even better.
Now I don't expect a NuPro to address a seasoned professional as "sensei," nor a PR lifer to call a recent college grad a "kohai" (although these handles do possess a certain Hollywood snap lacking in "mentor" and "mentee"). Make it first names, please.
Donna Darovich, chair of our Masters special interest group, will compile a list of potential senseis. Linda Jacobson, who heads the NuPros SIG, will identify the kohais. By the September chapter meeting, let's get both groups together for some meaningful conversation.
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PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
Betsy Boyett, IABC Fort Worth
IABC Fort Worth celebrated the Bronze Quill awards last month with a fantastic program created by Jeff Posey. As award winners stepped to the podium, Jeff interviewed each about his or her entry in the competition and what made it unique. He elicited tips and tricks from the winners for all of us to use. What an enlightening and informative program.
Board members were elected following the BQ luncheon. We have extraordinary board members in IABC, incredibly generous folks who donate their time and energy to every project that we work on.
I'm so proud to have a great team to work with this year and can't wait to get started. Here are the shining stars of the IABC board: past president (the best job on the board!) Ken Roberts, Freese and Nichols; president Betsy Boyett, City of Euless; secretary Pam Fry, Freese and Nichols; treasurer Tim Tune, City of Fort Worth; membership VP Cheryl Hart, Hart Marketing; marketing VP Jeff Posey, Carter & Burgess; publicity Mike Agnello; and webmaster Colby Horton. Mike Long, Amy Yancey and Betsy Black serve on the Bronze Quill Committee.
IABC traditionally takes July off, so enjoy the break and plan on visiting us at the Aug. 28 meeting. See you there!
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Hope you like the leadoff Eagle Mountain sailboat picture and the phrase "Fun in the sunset" (Kay Pirtle gets credit for both), as you likely will see them every summer when we advance the how-can-you-miss-this? lake party. For your delight we offer good food, majestic views, wafting breezes, guitar strumming and a ride on Amon Carter's boat, plus this year the lake actually has water in it. The fun is yours for the taking. ...
Tough business, scary business. The Committee to Protect Journalists says that more than 240 journalists have fled their country to escape violence, imprisonment or harassment in the past six years. Few ever return. That's an average of three exiled journalists a month. They came from 36 countries, but more than half were from just five nations: Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Colombia and Uzbekistan.
Closing words, Bob, Bob, Bob, too little, too late division: "I think the press and I in particular should have been more aggressive in looking at the run-up to the Iraq war, and specifically the alleged intelligence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction stockpiles. To answer the WMD question before the March 2003 invasion would have been a monumental task, but one that we should have undertaken more systematically." -- Bob Woodward
