A dozen UTA alumni and former Shorthorn reporters have been nominated for Katie Awards, a recognized symbol of excellence presented by the Press Club of Dallas. The annual competition is open to journalism and communications pros in Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Colorado, New Mexico and Arkansas. The UTA nominees include, at Bloomberg, Mary Schlangenstein; at the Associated Press, Matt Slocum; at Al Dia, the Belo Spanish-language publication, Liliana Vargas; at the Star-Telegram, Steve Wilson, Michael Currie, Tom Pennington and Linda P. Campbell; and at The Dallas Morning News, Reese Dunklin, Tawnell Hobbs, Mike Hashimoto, Tom Fox and Michael Ainsworth.
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NEW MEMBERS
SPJ ... Melynda Bonner
PRSA ... Christy R. Jones, Harris Methodist Fort Worth Hospital ... Chiaveli Navarro
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Holly Ellman, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
As we wind down the year, there is a lot of which to be proud, yet still much to do.
In October, president-elect/membership VP Marc Flake fielded a dynamic panel of broadcast assignment editors for a free, members-only media seminar. Dee Coleman (CBS 11), Lance Conrad (WFAA-TV), Gary Daniels (Fox 4) and Steve Wright (NBC 5) discussed their daily activities, the difficulty of filling the air with news the viewers want and how we can best work with them to get our company's/client's events and news covered. Flake served as the moderator for what has become a tradition for GFW PRSA members. Well done, Marc!
At the regular meeting in October, new officers were elected, including Laura Van Hoosier, president-elect; Chris Smith, vice president, programs; Krista Brown, treasurer; Nancy Farrar, treasurer-elect; and Joan Hunter, secretary. Directors are Lyndsay Nantz (term expiring December 2007) and Tom Burke, APR (2009); they join Carol Murray, APR, whose term expires in 2008. Andra Bennett, APR, was elected assembly delegate (term ending 2009), joining Heather Senter, APR, whose term expires in 2008. Also at the October meeting, the proposed amendments to the chapter bylaws were unanimously adopted.
Don't miss the Wednesday, Nov. 8, professional development seminar that Lisa Orr has put together. John Bassler, Ph.D., will discuss SWOT analysis and SWOT-driven strategic planning, environmental and competitor analysis, and provide tips on how to develop a strategy and measure the results. Following the seminar, David Mack, Ph.D., will discuss leadership on a practical level -- how to lead effectively, strategies to be a good leader and how to motivate (and discipline) employees. Visit fortworthprsa.org for more information and to register.
GFW PRSA will celebrate its 20th anniversary with style at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 29, at Shady Oaks Country Club. Members and guests will enjoy a delicious array of heavy hors d'oeuvres and hear Cheryl Procter-Rogers, APR, Fellow PRSA and president and CEO of PRSA, discuss the challenges facing today's public relations practitioners. Members, look for your invitations in the mail. Guests are welcome. For more information, hit that web site again, fortworthprsa.org.
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PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
Ken Roberts, IABC Fort Worth
Heavy hitters. That phrase came to mind while listening to the speakers at October's IABC meeting.
A panel of Gold Quill winners -- Texas Instruments' Jenifer Ragle; Stephani Hawkins and Scott Hunt of Sabre; and Scott Cytron, a Dallas-based communications consultant and member of IABC's International Board of Directors -- shared lessons learned from their successful Gold Quill entries. Scott brought an interesting perspective because he's not only a former Gold Quill winner, but a current Gold Quill judge. The Gold Quill is IABC's highest award.
The meeting topic was "How to Prepare a Gold Quill Communications Plan," but the information presented has value beyond the award. One of the not-so-secret steps to success with a Gold Quill entry is being able to show pre- and post-campaign measurement and demonstrate how the campaign changed perceptions, prompted action or increased awareness. Other traits of Gold Quill-caliber campaigns are crisp strategic planning, a clearly defined audience and knowing the messages you want to deliver.
While I would love to win a Gold Quill, the competition is held just once a year. But I work on communication projects every day. I left the meeting plotting how to bring Gold Quill attributes to the proposal we're preparing for one of our municipal clients, and the enhancements we're making to our intranet, and the booth display we're creating for a trade show.
I'm feeling a bit challenged, which is great because I believe we achieve more when responding to challenges.
IABC Fort Worth's November meeting will certainly inspire challenges as we host a half-day professional development seminar Tuesday, Nov. 28. The morning seminar will be followed by our regular monthly meeting. Details are on p. 1 in this eChaser issue and at iabcfortworth.com.
I look forward to seeing you Nov. 28. Member or guest, at IABC Fort Worth you're always welcome.
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
That was a joyful time time Kristin Sullivan, Gayle Reaves-King, Rebecca Bosquez, Kay Pirtle and I had with SPJ national's Christine Tatum at Reata last month. What a power-packed new prez, all effervescence and verve and fresh ideas. Come again, Christine, when you can stay longer. ...
Tim Curry, Terri Moore and Joe T. Garcia's also made us happy last month. At 10 a.m. on the day of the debate fandango we had 60 RSVPs. At 2 p.m. we had 80. When the candidates started talking, a bunch more than that had jammed into Joe T.'s converted chruch-ballroom, La Puertita. Big draw, big demand on the kitchen, big night for SPJ. ...
President Bush recently signed into law the Military Commissions Act of 2006. Anyone out there actually read it? It's here. Maybe we should. Wonder if Bush has, or anyone in Congress, or even one editor in the big-time media. MSNBC's Keith Olbermann has. He says the country now faces "a government more dangerous to our liberty than is the enemy it claims to protect us from." Writer Ronda Hauben has. Says the new law essentially enables the executive branch of government to create its own processes and procedures, with no oversight from the other two branches. Says the law resembles the Enabling Act that Adolf Hitler used to consolidate fascism in Germany in March 1933. Her article is labeled opinion. So is Olbermann's report. But what if they're right? ...
They're blogging all over the place at the national web site, and one of the most impressive entries is FOIFYI, a running treatise on the free flow of public information. More at spj.org or from Joel Campbell at joel_campbell@byu.edu. And on the subject of blogs, check out the Oregon chapter's blog, which serves as the chapter home page: oregonspj.blogspot.com. It's an experimental effort to connect journalists throughout Oregon and southwest Washington. Members will find a slew of things, including upcoming events, great work by local journalists and changes to local laws that affect news-gathering.
Closing words: "Show me a sane man and I will cure him for you." -- Carl Jung ... "Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot." -- Charlie Chaplin ... "Earth laughs in flowers." -- Ralph Waldo Emerson ... "What people are ashamed of usually makes a good story." -- F. Scott Fitzgerald
Closing words II, G.W.B. & the Pharisees division: "I want justice. And there's an old poster out West, I recall, that said, 'Wanted, Dead or Alive.' " -- President Bush when asked if he wanted Osama bin Laden dead (CNN, Sept. 17, 2001) ... "I wouldn't necessarily say he's at the center of any comma nd structure. And, again, I don't know where he is. I'll repeat what I said. I truly am not that concerned about him." -- Bush press conference March 13, 2002
