eChaser: December 2011 / p2

Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas update: The Department of Justice dodged a showdown with Congress when it withdrew a proposal that would have allowed the agency to deny that some governmental records exist, even when they do. The idea was first proposed in 1987 by the attorney general under President Ronald Reagan. ... The Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2011, filed as H.R. 3071, would allow the current or former president to block the release of any information he believes should remain private. Ironically, this resembles an order issued by former President George W. Bush “severely limiting public access to his presidential records,” which President Obama almost immediately rejected upon taking office in early 2001. ... Has the government been electronically spying on you without your knowledge? U.S Magistrate Judge Stephen Smith of the Southern District of Texas has reviewed more than 4,200 cases in his Houston courtroom where “secret orders (were used) to obtain e-mail, cellphone and other digital information without search warrants” of private U.S. citizens. “We diminish our legitimacy when we do things under a blanket of secrecy,” Smith says. So when might this blanket of secrecy be lifted so you can learn if you were the target of a government probe? Never. The majority of the secret orders of the past have been sealed — indefinitely.

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PEOPLE & PLACES

First, an economic downtown. Then competition from digital media. Then plummeting ad revenues. Then layoffs. Somebody, write a song! Donna Darovich did just that, debuted it at SPJ’s summer party, and now ”The Journalism Blues” is on the record at the Texas Center for Community Journalism website, soulfully rendered by the South Moudy Blues, a faculty blues band from the TCU Schieffer School of Journalism. “We wanted a blues song that really reflected some of the dilemmas of today’s community journalist,” j-prof/booking agent Tommy Thomason blogs. “The song talks about everything from competition with Craigslist and Patch to the problems many longtime journalists have in adapting to a digital world. It’s the real-world journalism blues, pure and simple.” Thomason adds: “Got the journalism blues? We’ve got your song.” ...

WFAA reporter and Fort Worth SPJ board member Jason Whitely has won a Lone Star Emmy for a series of business reports on new wireless technology. ...

The College Media Association, the nation’s largest organization for college media, has named theshorthorn.com, the online version of the UTA newspaper, the best designed college newspaper website in the U.S. In recent judging, a Shorthorn sports page also took first in the design category. ...

The Balcom Agency has again been included in Print magazine’s annual recognition of outstanding design. The December 2011 issue features Balcom’s ad for CASA of Tarrant County. Balcom is working with the agency to increase recruitment of volunteer advocates to speak up for abused and neglected children. Print ads complement a recent web site redesign. Balcom senior art director Holly Aguilar designed the campaign. ...

The Barnett Shale division of Chesapeake Energy Corp. climbed to No. 5 in The Dallas Morning News Top 100 Places to Work in 2011 and was the only business in Tarrant County to make the top-five list in the “Best Large Companies” category. Chesapeake was No. 8 on the list last year.

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GET A JOB

The Killeen Daily Herald seeks an online editor. Info here.

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NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS

SPJ ... Mike Kerr, Star-Telegram ... Shelly Borders, the Writing Depot ... Laura Lambeth ... Sarah Angle

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