February 2015
=====================================================
MEETINGS
Next at IABC Fort Worth ... No meeting this month, but stay on the line — website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn. An operator will be with you shortly.
Next at IABC Fort Worth ... No meeting this month, but stay on the line — website, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn. An operator will be with you shortly.
-----
Media Panel: State of the Newsroom
How can PR professionals better pitch in the evolving landscape? How are stories
being prioritized? How can seasoned PR practitioners stay up-to-date with the
ever-changing newsroom?
A panel of print, online and TV journalists — Bud Kennedy, Bob Francis, Deborah Ferguson and Lori Conrad, with moderator Charlie Hodges — has answers at the ready for this month’s PRSA meeting.
(But the room is maxed out — no more registrants can be squeezed in, no walk-ups. To add your name to a
waiting list, e- hospitality chair Tracy Greene at tracy.greene@cartermuseum.org.)
Kennedy, a Fort Worth native, has been a Star-Telegram columnist for nearly 34
years. Since 1981, he has written more than 1,500 weekly dining columns and
more than 3,000 news, political and human interest articles. A social media
whizzeroo, he has nearly 20,000 followers on two Twitter accounts (@BudKennedy and @EatsBeat) and 13,000 “likes” on two Facebook accounts.
Ferguson co-anchors “NBC 5 Today” weekdays from 4:30 to 7 a.m. She joined the station in 1991 after starting her
journalism career as a reporter/anchor for WBAP Radio in Fort Worth. Among her
honors is a regional Edward R. Murrow Award and a Gracie Award for Outstanding
Anchor – News presented by American Women in Radio and Television.
Francis has been editor of the Fort Worth Business Press since 2008 and has
received three Katie Awards from the Dallas Press Club. He also is editor of
Research Texas and the Energy Report and has served as a freelance writer for
numerous publications, including American Way, Brand Week and Manufacturing
Automation.
Conrad has more than 20 years of PR, marketing and public affairs experience in
the Fort Worth-Dallas market and in 2010 received a Lone Star Emmy for
co-writing and co-producing a half-hour television special about a local equine
therapy program.
Hodges is a GFW PRSA member and former news reporter at NewsRadio 1080 KRLD and
the Texas State Network.
Time & date: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 Place: Colonial Country Club, 3735 Country Club Circle, Fort Worth (map)
-----
Get Out on a Saturday Morning, Change Your Life
Students will obtain firsthand advice from journalism, advertising and PR
professionals Saturday, Feb. 21, at Fort Worth SPJ’s annual Student Careers Conference at the Tarrant County College Trinity River
Campus in downtown Fort Worth.
More than 20 media professionals from throughout Fort Worth-Dallas will be
available for one-on-one discussions about career interests, how they found and
fought for their jobs, and creating a plan that will strengthen the job search
after graduation.
Meda outlets represented include WFAA, The Dallas Morning News, Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Weekly, Dallas Voice, KERA-FM, Idea Grove, Concussion, Moroch,
MultiView, GCG Marketing, the Graham Leader and Telemundo.
Organizers’ advice to student participants: Bring your résumé, work samples and plenty of questions. Dress is business professional — this is a career conference, and you could be talking to a future employer.
Several students have landed jobs and internships because of connections they
made at the conference.
Keynote speaker is SMU assistant professor Jake Batsell, author of "Engaged Journalism: Connecting with Digitally Empowered News
Audiences." The book, recently published by Columbia University Press, analyzes
the changing relationship between journalists and their audiences.
=====================================================
STRAIGHT STUFF
Deadline is March 15 to enter the 17th annual contest for collegiate newspaper
columnists sponsored by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists Education
Foundation. The winner receives a $1,000 scholarship and expenses paid
(airfare, hotel, shuttle, registration) to the 2015 NSNC conference in
Indianapolis, June 25-28. The scholar also will be listed in the NSNC’s College Columnist Hall of Fame. The Jeff Zaslow College Columnist Award is
open to undergraduates, including seniors, who write bylined general interest,
editorial-page or specialized (humor, sports, business, arts, culture, etc.)
columns published in the print or online editions of college newspapers. There
is no entry fee. Judges are professional news media columnists. Info
here. ...
Are you stuck with a mind that refuses to settle down? Join author Ginnie Bivona at the next Writers’ Guild of Texas meeting (7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, Richardson Public Library) for
a conversation about the creative mind and how the creative urge never seems to
go away. After beginning her writing career doing restaurant reviews and
cooking columns, Bivona has written numerous books, including the novel “Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Traveling Tea Party,” which became the Hallmark movie “Bound by a Secret.”
IABC local update: Alan Lewis, chief strategist and vice president of cllient engagement at JCS Consulting,
will discuss “Emerging Technologies for Communicators” at the IABC Dallas meeting Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Maggiano’s NorthPark. Info.
PRSA local update: Chapter members delved into the strategic plan at the January luncheon. Called
Vision 2015, it starts with four guiding principles — lifelong learning; vibrant, diverse and welcoming professional community;
recognition of capabilities and accomplishments; thought leadership, ethics and
professional excellence — and has several goals, including:
• Increase chapter membership by 10 percent and chapter participation by 10
percent.
• Recommend one or two initiatives the chapter should undertake to help awareness
of key legislative issues.
• Finish readiness reviews and online exams for those who expressed interest in
becoming accredited as APRs during 2014; provide mentors for APR candidates.
• Implement quarterly opportunities for members to participate in a community
service project.
• Increase social media engagement by 20 percent.
• Increase the number of Worthy Award entries by 20 percent.
PRSA local update II: Robert Hastings, the Department of Defense’s chief public affairs and communications officer in the Bush administration, will present “War Stories: Rebuilding Confidence in America’s Military Institutions” at the PRSA Dallas monthly luncheon Thursday, Feb. 12, at Seasons 52 at
NorthPark Center. Info here.
-----
THIS MONTH IN PR/MARKETING HISTORY BY JEFF RODRIGUEZ
An irreverent look at the people and events that keep us up at night
I’ve Got a Bad Feeling About This: How One Halftime Show Created a PR Disaster,
Two Catchphrases, a Fashion Trend and a World Record — and Revolutionized the Internet
What a great Super Bowl game that was. Two strong teams, a down-to-the-wire
finish, a colorful halftime show.
Speaking of halftime shows, the one from Super Bowl XXXVIII, 11 years ago this
month, was something, too. That’s when Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed a duet of Timberlake’s song “Rock Your Body.” At the end of the number, Timberlake sang, “I’m gonna have you naked by the end of this song” and, to emphasize the point, tore away part of Jackson’s costume. Her right breast was visible for less than a second — long enough, it seemed, for all 140 million viewers to go righteously,
indignantly crazy.
“Nipplegate,” it was called. You remember it. But not many people remember the aftermath — and the heartburn it caused PR pros.
First came the statements. MTV, the show’s producer, said the incident was “unplanned, completely unintentional and inconsistent with assurances we had
about the content of the performance.” The network, CBS, said it had no advance knowledge of the stunt, and the
president of Viacom, owner of CBS, proffered his regrets. Jackson's
representative said Timberlake “was supposed to pull away the rubber bustier to reveal a red lace bra; the
garment collapsed and her breast was accidentally revealed.”
Then came the complaints. FCC chairman Michael Powell wasted no time baring his thoughts, calling the incident "a new low for
prime-time television” and ordering an investigation. He would later fine CBS a record $550,000.
Conservatives (Phyllis Schlafly, the Parents Television Council), liberals (Spike Lee, salon.com) and the NFL commissioner also voiced outrage, proving that while
politics makes for strange bedfellows, so does, well, nudity.
Jackson issued a video apology, which CBS reportedly forced her to do. She
exonerated MTV, CBS and the NFL, claimed it was an accident and added, “I am really sorry if I offended anyone. That was truly not my intention.”
Next came the lawyers. Three days after the Super Bowl, a Tennessee man brought
a class action lawsuit against Jackson and Timberlake, and America Online
demanded a refund of its sponsorship money (the last time anyone ever noticed
what AOL did). Three months later, a Utah lawyer sued Viacom for falsely
implying that the show would be appropriate for his children; apparently, he
had no concerns about letting them watch 300-pound men inflict pain on each
other.
“Janet Jackson” became the most searched internet term in 2004 and 2005, and in 2007 her name
was added to Guinness’ world records as the most searched term in internet history. Tivo, meanwhile,
reported that the scene was replayed at a phenomenal rate. "The audience
measurement guys have never seen anything like it,” a spokesman said. “The audience reaction charts looked like an electrocardiogram.” Jewelry stores and piercing studios reported a surge in nipple shield sales.
Jackson’s PR headaches escalated. She was to be a presenter at the Grammy Awards the
next week, but the invitation was withdrawn. MTV canceled plans to make a
documentary on the making of the Super Bowl halftime show; Viacom, CBS, MTV and
other media conglomerates banned Jackson’s music and videos from many of their formats. Perhaps most painful, Jackson had
to withdraw from a film commitment to portray Lena Horne.
Even Walt Disney World removed a statue previously on display of Mickey Mouse
wearing one of Jackson’s Rhythm Nation-style outfits.
This tale is already longer than most halftimes, but stay with us because,
incredibly, the full PR story had yet to play out. In the weeks that followed,
a second backlash developed, with various writers suggesting that the first
backlash had been intentionally overblown. Conservatives, they said, sought to
distract Americans from such unpleasantries as the Iraq war. Jackson herself
floated this theory, noting, "It was just perfect timing to take people's focus
off of other things.”
Timberlake, you may have noticed, has been absent from this account, and for
good reason: He was absent from the backlash. Even though he was the one to rip
the clothing, Jackson took far more criticism. In fact, Timberlake initially
laughed off the controversy, telling one publication, “We love giving you all something to talk about.”
As further evidence of the double standard, Timberlake did not have to make a
video apology, he was not blacklisted, and he was permitted to both appear and perform at the Grammys, where he briefly apologized and said the situation was
unintentional. He also released a statement that included the term “wardrobe malfunction.” Today the phrase is part of the lexicon and found in many online dictionaries.
After all the fury, the story actually has a happy ending. Jackson’s CDs enjoyed strong sales and led to Grammy nominations, and an appeals court
threw out the fine on CBS. Timberlake went on to become a superstar, and he
eventually acknowledged that he could have done more to support Jackson,
saying, "I think that America's harsher on women.”
Even FCC chairman Powell said Jackson got a raw deal compared to Timberlake. He
also admitted that everything had been overblown, saying he had to present the “best version of outrage that I could put on.”
And finally, there is the story of Jawed Karim. Like so many others, Karim wanted to see the clip of the show but was
frustrated by how difficult it was to find on the internet. So he and a
colleague devised a better way to search for videos. Maybe you’ve heard of it — YouTube.
It’s easy now for us to feel good about how things worked out. But it’s worth considering what a stressful situation this must have been, and not only
for Jackson but for everyone involved. And it’s a good example of why it is important to have a great PR pro at your side;
someone who’s willing to give you the shirt off his back — and tell you to keep yours on.
=======================================================
Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas update: In the latest attempt to keep states from publicly releasing information about
crude oil trains, Kansas City Southern argues that the disclosures could
facilitate insider trading. Other railroads have tried to block the release of
oil train information by saying it would pose a security risk or compromise
trade secrets. Details. ... One of the first acts of the newly sworn-in Texas Senate was a vote to end
an almost 70-year tradition intended to encourage compromise among its 31
members. Now the approval of only 19 senators instead of 21 will be required to
bring legislation to the floor for debate. The change, passed on a vote of
20-10, has the practical effect of allowing Republicans to consider a bill
without a single vote from one of the chamber’s 11 Democrats. Details. ... Gov. Greg Abbott has changed a controversial policy put in place by former Gov. Rick Perry to delete e-mails every seven days, extending the period to 30 days. Abbott
also created a position in his office to handle all open records requests. A
spokeswoman said both moves reflect the governor’s commitment to transparency, a pledge he made often on the campaign trail. Details. The pledge did not initially apply to the question of who bankrolled the $4.5
million inauguration ceremonies. A spokesman said Jan. 28 that the contribution
list was near-ready and would be released “soon.” In a departure from previous inaugurations, the Abbott administration said it
would not release the donor list until after the Jan. 20 festivities. Info here. ... A bill from a powerful state senator aims to make police departments at
private universities subject to the same public records law that applies to
other law enforcement agencies. The measure from Sen. John Whitmire, a Houston Democrat who chairs the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, would
specify that campus police departments are governmental bodies even if they are
at a private institution. The Texas Public Information Act now shields private
university police departments from releasing certain records that other
taxpayer-funded agencies would have to make public. Details.
=======================================================
PEOPLE & PLACES
Greater Fort Worth PRSA member Rosalynn Vasquez has been named manager of Hispanic marketing for The Power Group, a marketing
communications company based in Dallas.
=======================================================
GET A JOB
Suburban Newspapers, a chain of weekly papers in White Settlement, Benbrook,
River Oaks and Lake Worth-Eagle Mountain-Saginaw (family-owned since 1958),
seeks a managing editor to run the show. The former ME is retiring after 40
years. It's four days a week, pay negotiable. E- bo@suburban-newspapers.com. ... Sally Beauty Holdings, the world's largest wholesale and retail
distributor of beauty supplies, seeks a junior copywriter. Company headquarters
is five minutes north of Lake Lewisville off I35E. Info. ... Success magazine, based in the Fort Worth-Dallas area, has an opening for
associate editor. E- Rich Reecer at rreecer@novationco.com. ... The Tyler Morning Telegraph seeks a copy editor/page designer. Send cover
letter, résumé and work samples to editor Allison Pollan at 410 W. Erwin St., Tyler 75702, or apollan@tylerpaper.com. New graduates are welcome to apply. Experience with Quark or InDesign,
Photoshop and page design is important. Web links to online résumes are welcome. Info. ... The National Benevolent Association, a ministry of the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ), seeks a marketing director. Send cover letter and résumé by Feb. 20. Info. ... The Star-Telegram seeks a customer retention specialist. Requirements
include 3-5 years of customer service and collection calling experience, with
3-5 years of outbound sales experience preferred. Send résumé to Rita Scroggins, rscroggins@star-telegram.com.
=======================================================
NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS
SPJ ... Eva Parks, KXAS-TV
=======================================================
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Michelle Clark, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
Our chapter is off to a strong start this year, and I’d like to thank our board members and committee chairs for the time and effort
they all put toward making our first luncheon program a success, and toward
laying a solid foundation for continued meaningful activities for our members.
I’m especially proud of the program this month, “Media Panel: State of the Newsroom,” featuring four highly respected members of our local print, digital and
broadcast media. Our members consistently report that understanding the state
of the newsroom is of key importance, and this opportunity to hear the
challenges and triumphs of our local media is one I believe will benefit us
all.
Advances in communications technology and the evolving journalism landscape have
greatly changed the day-to-day practice of media relations. Opportunities like
these should increase our ability to collaborate with the journalists in our
area to tell the stories most vital to our community.
This luncheon reached registration capacity quickly, but if you weren't able to
register, never fear. Because of the enthusiastic response, we’ll follow up with more programming involving our local media later in the year.
Hope to see you at an event soon!
-----
OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Take that! And that!
Applications for all EIJ15 scholarships are due by May 12. Contact associate
executive director Chris Vachon at cvachon@spj.org. • Terry Harper Memorial Scholarships: Terry Harper died in 2009 after a two-year battle with brain cancer. In honor of his efforts
to improve SPJ and the journalism community, the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation
established a memorial fund following his death. It now covers expenses for
four SPJ members to attend the annual convention. • Diversity Leadership Fellows Program: Strengthening SPJ's diversity efforts is
more important than ever. The diversity fellows program brings fellowship
recipients to the convention to begin a year-long immersion, with the goal of
increased participation on national committees and ultimately the board of
directors. • Robert D.G. Lewis First Amendment Award: From the generosity of the
Lewis family, the award is given each year to a student SPJ member who has
demonstrated outstanding service to the First Amendment through journalism. The
award helps a student attend to convention. Info here and here and here. ...
The European Journalism Centre in the Netherlands is justifiably proud of its
Verification Handbook, a groundbreaking resource for journalists and aid
providers, offering step-by-step guidelines on how to deal with user-generated
content during emergencies. The free handbook showcases the expertise of the
world's top news editors and crowdsourcing experts from the BBC, Storyful, ABC,
Poynter, GigaOm, Digital First Media and the Qatar Foundation's Computing
Research Institute. More here.
Caught my eye. New methane regulations ignore 90% of oil & gas industry emissions. ... 10 cities aiming for 100 percent clean energy. ... Giant Galapagos tortoise rebound from 15 individuals to over 1000. ... The U.S. could easily power itself 100x over with just solar power!. ... New treeless, inkless paper could save entire forests of trees. ... Austin to get 55% of its power from renewables by 2025. ... Bigger than the LED revolution. ... Poop power: Microsoft data center goes completely off grid. ... Restaurants move beyond local and organic, get serious about carbon. ... Kelp: like kale, plus ecosystem benefits. ... Mass die-offs of birds, fish and marine invertebrates increasing.
Closing words: "Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." — James Thurber ... "A successful book is not made of what is in it, but of what is left out of
it" — Mark Twain ... "Any monkey in a story had better be a dead monkey." — Amarillo-born author and satirist George Saunders