SPJ national update IV: Network news, the P Act takes a hit, and what a pane in the glass ceiling. The Senate on Jan. 22 granted final congressional passage for a massive spending bill that includes a provision to relax limits on the size of TV networks. After the 65-28 vote, some Democrats promised fresh attempts to curtail network size. The spending bill would let networks own stations reaching 39 percent of the national audience -- up from the current 35 percent, but down from the 45 percent set by the FCC last year. More here. ... A federal judge in Los Angeles on Jan. 23 declared unconstitutional a provision of the USA Patriot Act that bans providing expert advice to groups that the U.S. government has deemed terrorist organizations. It is the first time that a court has struck down a portion of the controversial law approved by Congress six weeks after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. U.S. District Judge Audrey Collins ruled that the prohibition is so vague it could bar even innocent contacts -- "unequivocally pure speech and advocacy protected by the First Amendment" -- with the foreign groups in question. The case involved two U.S. citizens seeking to further lawful, nonviolent activities on behalf of Kurdish refugees in Turkey. The Humanitarian Law Project says the plaintiffs were threatened with 15 years in prison if they advised groups on how to peacefully resolve the Kurds' campaign for self-determination. ... Women lawyers, salespeople, accountants and print journalists make far less than their male counterparts and have a wider wage gender gap than U.S. women overall, a survey by the National Association for Female Executives indicates. This echoes findings by the General Accounting Office that women in the United States earn 80 cents for every dollar paid to men, but the latest survey said that some fields have an even bigger wage gap.
-----
Your Diary on Steroids -- and Sent Around the Globe
by Brenda Davis
So just how pervasive are Web logs -- blogs -- on the evolving journalism landscape? Let UNT j-professor Jackie Lambiase count the ways. In a recent survey of eight blog-hosting sites, 4.1 million blogs were found there. Eighty percent of Web logs are linked to outside sources, the survey continues, and almost 10 percent link to news sources. Females are more likely to create blogs than men. Need another stat? Bet there's a blog for it.
Lambiase and Mike Martinez from Knight Ridder Online ranged far afield on the Internet phenomenon at the January SPJ meeting, from favorite sites and why, to how to start and maintain a blog. Lambiase said that while many consider the blogs a legitimate source of news, she fears the temptation to plagiarize. "It is so easy to cut and paste from someone's story," she said, "and have it look like it's your own information."
She noted the "enclave mentality" that blogging nurtures. Whereas "people have a hard time getting along in public forums online," bloggers of like mind can feel safe to exchange ideas. Even media companies are getting in on the act. "The Dallas Morning News is a prime example. Its site looks into the way editorials are conceived and lists the editors' input. Editors have to contribute."
To learn how to start a blog, Martinez recommended blogger.com,
===================================================
PEOPLE & PLACES
Holly Ellman has joined Witherspoon Advertising and Public Relations as a senior account executive. Her duties will include media relations, strategic planning, editorial writing and financial management of many of the agency's PR accounts. She formerly was PR director at the LaChapelle Agency in Bedford and has served as media relations manager at Texas Wesleyan University and director of public relations for Casa Mañana Theatre.
Baby daze! Past PRSA presidents produce precocious progeny. Stephen Nash Park was born Nov. 6, preceding by a month Phillip Andrew Speairs' debut Dec. 8. Mothers Beth Park (who wrote the headline above) and Kim Speairs, dads Doug Park and Scott Speairs, and siblings Thomas Park and Kaitlyn Speairs are all resting comfortably. "Grandmother (a.k.a. Mary Guenzel) came to town to assist with child care and man the kitchen," Beth writes. "When Doug mentioned that his mother-in-law would be staying with us for a couple of months, many of his co-workers made the usual derogatory remarks. 'You don't know my mother-in-law,' Doug responded. 'She arrived with two ice chests full of Omaha steaks.' " ... Star-Telegram writers Amie and Scott Streater on Jan. 23 welcomed identical twin boys -- Kendall Scott and Addison McCulloch, born one minute apart. Big brother Cole hoped everyone would be home for his birthday three days later.
Kudos & Contracts: The Fort Worth Housing Authority has chosen InterStar Marketing and Public Relations to provide media, communications and PR services. InterStar is working to develop education opportunities and increase awareness of the options that the authority provides. The authority has a stated goal of creating mixed-income communities and expanding affordable, safe and quality housing. It provides resident services and family self-sufficiency programs through collaborations with more than 60 local social service agencies. ... USMD Hospital at Arlington, formerly Arlington Memorial South Medical Center, has hired Witherspoon Advertising and Public Relations as its agency of record. Witherspoon's services will include brand development and public relations. The four-year-old medical facility was acquired in October by a partnership of more than 60 local physicians and is now one of the nation's largest physician-owned hospitals.
===================================================
GET A JOB
Dallas-based Black Eye Digital needs a project manager/ customer service rep and a designer/production artist. The former must know the advertising/promotions industry; design skills and a working knowledge of Illustrator and Photoshop are a plus. The latter needs the skills to lay out the final design across multiple platforms, proficiency in Illustrator and Photoshop, and a keen eye for type, as projects are often type heavy. Contact Christopher Stewart, chris@blackeyedigital.com, (214) 369-4558. ... The Dallas Arboretum has for-credit (no pay) PR internships for the spring, summer and fall/winter semesters. E-mail a résumé and two writing samples to Karen Vassar at khinds@dallasarboretum.org. ...
The Fort Worth-based Texas Ballet Theater seeks a subscriber services manager. Minimum two years ticketing experience required, plus proficiency in Excel and Word. Minimum $30K (plus commission) with health and disability benefits, paid vacation and matching 403b. Send cover letter and résumé to Marketing Director, Texas Ballet Theater, 6845 Green Oaks Road, Fort Worth 76116, or e-mail lpomarantz@texasballettheater.org. ...
The Salesmanship Club of Dallas has an entry-level opening for a communications coordinator to assist in marketing the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in communications, marketing or a related field and proficiency in Microsoft Office; experience with Illustrator, Photoshop or QuarkXPress is preferred. Send a résumé and salary history to communications manager Cynthia Brown at cbrown@scdallas.org.
===================================================
NEW MEMBERS
PRSA ... Kelly Leigh Keenum, PR coordinator at Pier 1 Imports ...
Lori Lisi
===================================================
