GFW PRSA Member Spotlight
best lesson learned in PR Communication skills are core to everything we do. No matter how the technology
or culture may change, those who can write and speak well will be successful — not only in public relations but in all spheres of business and life.
advice to a new PR pro Integrity, trust and character are traits all employers want in their
employees. Never compromise on these traits. Always tell the truth. Trust takes
a long time to establish but can be quickly destroyed. Show integrity,
consistency, a strong work ethic and utmost loyalty to your employer and
clients, and you will find success in your career.
trade secrets Journalists aren’t that different from us. They just have a different job to do. Treat
journalists with courtesy and respect and they will usually respond in kind.
Forget the hype and pushiness and treat journalists the way you want to be
treated.
favorite movies My tastes are all over the board, from inspiring classics like “Chariots of Fire” to escape movies such as “National Treasure” and “Crash.” I like movies with great music, whether it’s “Walk the Line” with Johnny Cash or a dance movie like “Flashdance.” Sagas such as “Dances with Wolves” also appeal to me. Then, of course, there’s “Harvey,” in a category of its own.
hobbies I’m happiest in the water or on the beach. Swimming, walking, landscaping,
watching movies and reading are what I enjoy the most.
this much I know There’s never been a more exciting time to be in PR. The changes to our field
emanating from online communications, social media and a host of cultural
shifts are exciting and invigorating. Communicators who can embrace change and
enjoy the challenge have a great future.
To be featured in the PRSA Member Spotlight, e-mail your responses and a photo
to lauravanhoosier@msn.com. You may choose not to answer any questions or add some.
GET A JOB
Dallasnews.com has two openings for a full-time entertainment editor/producer.
Complete an internal job application form and forward it with résumé to entertainment editor Bridgette Williams at brwilliams@dallasnews.com.
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NEW MEMBERS
PRSA ... Sally McCall Caunch, Cash America International
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Andra Bennett House, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
Remember the long-running game show “Truth or Consequences”? Sometimes in the world of PR, the game is truth and consequences. Everyone agrees that if we lie about, hide or omit critical facts,
we will eventually pay the consequences. But truth — or personal opinion — has consequences as well.
Some months ago this debate hit the blogs regarding Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, who penned an Aug. 11 opinion piece for The Wall Street Journal regarding
health care reform. It prompted thousands of comments on Whole Foods’ internet forum, and protesters urged a boycott.
Mackey certainly has freedom to his opinions. But were the PR implications and
financial ripple effects worth sharing those opinions in such a public arena?
Health care as a philosophy is certainly tied to Whole Foods’ mission, but taking a political stance may have unnecessarily alienated too
much of the customer base. The jury is still out.
Another example is Rush Limbaugh’s bid to become co-owner of the St. Louis Rams. Some high-profile NFL players
said they would not play for Limbaugh, based on racial comments he has made, so
he was dropped from the bid. Others, like Time magazine’s Bill Saporito, think that the NFL “is just another big business — why should it be anything less? — only with a huge amount of ego attached to it. Rush should fit in quite well.”
Limbaugh is either worshiped or vilified. Anyone entering into a business
relationship would certainly be within her rights to weigh the benefits vs.
risks of aligning with a person whose reputation could impact the value of the
franchise.
It shouldn’t be a surprise when a public figure cannot separate unrelated business dealings
from his reputation. We cannot separate a pastor’s/CEO’s/radio host’s opinions or behavior from his responsibility to trustholders. These people can’t live their lives in compartments. Is that fair? Not always. But it’s the way it is.
Public figures have always been held to higher standards. With today’s 24/7 media, now more than ever freedom of speech does not guarantee freedom
from the consequences of that speech.
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Cheryl Hart, IABC Fort Worth
Just as we’re starting to see changes in the weather and in the trees, IABC Fort Worth is
seeing some changes, too. First, this month’s meeting will be Monday, Nov. 16, instead of our regular fourth Tuesday. We
didn’t want to compete with Thanksgiving. We’ll still be at the Petroleum Club, 37th floor, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. For all of you
who can’t make Tuesdays fit your schedule, this one’s for you. You will be educated and thoroughly entertained by our own Kay Colley as she teaches us about wikis — what they are and how to use them effectively. We’ll look for you on the 16th.
Second, the Petroleum Club will close in June for renovations, so we thought it
best to start the year at a fresh locale. Beginning in January, our new home
will be the City Club in the D.R. Horton Tower, 3001 Commerce St. We will
continue to meet the fourth Tuesday, with the exception of December and July.
As November will surely fly by, let me mention now our upcoming communicators
party co-sponsored with SPJ. The purpose is to restock the JPS readers library
with books and magazines — principally for children, but anything appropriate is welcome. Mingling with
fellow communicators at Coors can’t be beat, either, and the food is great. We’ll have more information on this “don’t you dare miss” event, but mark your calendars for Wednesday, Dec. 2.
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Hooray for perfect hosts Paul and Harriet Harral, for food benefactor Tim Blackwell, for SPJ leader Kevin Smith and for whoever kept what is now the historically and serenely breathtaking
Berkeley Place neighborhood from becoming a u-stor-it tract or somesuch during
the urban renewal mania of the ’60s. All of these elements came together in a delightful reception Oct. 9 for
new SPJ national president Smith. See the pictures on p. 2. And looking ahead,
if you’re Twitter-jittered or otherwise technologially impaired, don’t miss the multimedia skills workshop Saturday, Nov. 14, at TCU. More on p. 1,
where you’ll also find a little multicolored type at the top proclaiming the Christmas
party/JPS book benefit Dec. 2 at Coors. Ways to learn! Fun things to do! You
think this chapter isn’t hopping? ...
SPJ leaders are outraged that the Obama administration now proposes changes that essentially render useless S. 448, the
Free Flow of Information Act. The changes would weaken the proposed shield law
and offer little protection for reporters who refuse to disclose confidential
sources. “Not long ago, President Obama was a key supporter of this bill, but after one
meeting with his national security team he appears to have been scared into
making this poor decision,” SPJ president Kevin Smith said. The latest stance is an about face to the support the administration gave
early in the process. It also contradicts promises Obama made regarding a
federal shield law during his campaign and in his previous service as a
senator. ...
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard has prepared an online guide for
journalists writing about the swine flu. Covering Pandemic Flu offers the tools needed to understand the complexities of the disease, debunk
misconceptions and ask the right questions. Speaking of keeping up with the
latest news, SPJ’s Journalist’s Toolbox, maintained by DePaul University online journalism instructor and former Los
Angeles Times reporter Mike Reilley, remains a major resource for information that will strengthen the reporting of
any story (including H1N1).
Closing words: “Between two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before.” — Mae West, who also said (she said a lot of things), “Those who are easily shocked should be shocked more often.” ... “Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep
after.” — Anne Morrow Lindbergh ... “Whenever people say, ‘We mustn’t be sentimental,’ you can take it they are about to do something cruel. And if they add, ‘We must be realistic,’ they mean they are going to make money out of it.” — writer Brigid Brophy
Closing words II: “I’m trying to remember if I’ve met her before. I’m sure I must have. What is she, the governor of Guam? ... This woman is being
put into a position she is not even remotely prepared for. She hasn’t spent one day on the national level. Neither has her family. Let’s wait and see how she looks five days out.” — then-President George W. Bush, quoted in former speechwriter Matt Latimer’s book, on Sarah Palin; Bush’s eyes are said to have twinkled at the Guam line
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