eChaser: December 2011 / p3

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Carol Murray, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

Even though Greater Fort Worth PRSA’s 25th anniversary event was weeks ago, I’m still grinning from ear to ear. Turnout was terrific. We saw many former presidents and familiar faces from the past. Recollections were poignant and amusing. The facilities were excellent. Mike Price was the perfect master of ceremonies. Door prizes were aplenty. We received super sponsorship from Chesapeake, Tarrant County College, Summit Press, the Balcom Agency, Concussion and WineStyles.

And then there was the performance by Four Day Weekend. I’m proud to say I belong to an organization that works and plays with equal vigor and is willing to poke a little fun at its profession. Nonstop laughter ensued for an hour, particularly when “Marc Flake and the Pillow Man” took the stage. (I can’t really explain the skit; use your imagination.) Kudos to Marc and everyone who was singled out for being good sports.

I’d like to thank the 25th anniversary committee, the entire GFW PRSA 2011 Board and all GFW PRSA members for making my term as president this year both momentous and memorable. And I’d especially like to thank our charter members who didn’t want to drive to Dallas back in 1986 for making this all possible! Happy holidays and see you Dec. 14 at Joe T.’s!

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OVER & OUT

John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ

Postmark deadline is Jan. 31 to apply for a 2012 Hillman Prize. The annual $5,000 awards are for excellence in journalism in service of the common good. Categories include book, newspaper, magazine, broadcast, photojournalism, web journalism and opinion journalism. Eligible work must have been published or released in 2011. Winners will be announced in April. ...

Did you know that SPJ has a fund to help journalists facing legal attacks on their rights to seek and report the truth? The Legal Defense Fund was created to support litigation that enforces public access to government records and proceedings. ...

SPJ has joined an amicus brief in support of the Texas Open Meetings Act. Several Texas city officials are challenging the law, asserting that it suppresses their free speech. In fact, it does not suppress the content of public officials’ speech, only the time, manner and place of that speech — restrictions that are widely used and constitutionally sound. When open meetings laws have been challenged across the country, they have been upheld. ...

SPJ Freelance Committee member and Los Angeles-based writer Bruce Shutan shared a list of hot freelancing websites on one of SPJ’s blogs, ”The Independent Journalist.” A smattering of his thoughts: Editorial Freelancers Association. Ever wonder what to charge for writing or editing? This group has prepared a handy table with some suggested pricing. Examples include $1 to $2 a word or $50 to $100 an hour for writing, $40 to $65 an hour for substantive copyediting, $25 to $50 an hour for researching, and $3 to $5 a page for transcribing interviews from audio files. ... WritersWeekly. This popular destination has been described as a free weekly marketing “e-mag for writers that features new paying markets and freelance job listings,” as well as the world’s “highest-circulation freelance writing ezine.” ... Freelance Success. The website bills itself as “an engaging community of independent professional writers and editors based in all 50 states and about 15 foreign countries,” with more than 80% of whom writing for newsstand magazines. Also featured is a forum that enables scribes to post questions and get advice from fellow freelancers.

Caught my eye (numerous links here and in the previous paragraph did not make it to this web page, and I don’t know why, and I apologize; if your curiosity exceeds all human tolerance, most of these headlines were pulled verbatim from the source and can be found by Googling). Fact check: the health care myths in GOP campaign. ... Judicial Watch obtains documents detailing secret Department of Justice transparency workshop. ... Presidential hopefuls offer little to choose from on transparency. ... Obama’s compromises on the environment are as destructive as Bush’s ignorance. ... Why the world needs better science journalism. ... Obama delays Keystone XL decision for 12-18 months. ... Airdrop design pulls water from air. ... The Romenesko saga. ... ’The hypocrisy here is jaw-dropping’: Perry doesn’t practice what he preaches. ... And now, a rewritable, bendy and electricity-free e-paper. ... Common sugars could be used to capture carbon emissions at their source. ... College grads stuck between high costs and falling wages. ... Global warming is killing chocolate. ... New tricks for old malls: Goodbye, Circuit City and Old Navy, hello, gun ranges, aquariums and go-carts. ... What next for the International Space Station? ... California creates two new classes of corporation to empower social entrepreneurs. ... Flying wing prototype takes wind power to new heights. ... Reusable piza pan could keep billions of cardboard boxes out of landfills every year. ... Endangered dolphins almost extinct. ... Bike power turns invasive plants into paper in Ghana. ... Wave power for Africa. … Sustainable farming and livelihoods take root. ... Scientist seals himself in box to prove importance of plants. ... CBS reporter says White House official cursed at her over story. ... Perry officials spark revolt after doctoring environment report. ... Could a new shipping route through the Arctic reduce global emissions? ... Scientists discover virus that kills all grades of breast cancer ‘within seven days.’ ... Climate change jeopardizes the world’s water infrastructure. ... Lead climate change skeptic scientist admits global warming is real. ... Meet the zero-energy robot that can walk just like a human. ... Pavegen tiles harvest energy from footsteps. ... Asia pays watery price for overdevelopment. ... How climate change could impact computer hardware. ... Comfort shoes with embedded GPS to keep track of Alzheimer’s patients. ... Social project uses pop bottles to provide indoor lighting for the poor.

Closing words: “It would be equivalent to a golfer hiring a man to make his putts for him.” — “Peanuts” crator Charles Schulz on why he did all of the art and lettering on each strip, refusing to hire an inker ... “I’d rather learn from one bird how to sing than teach ten thousand stars how not to dance.” — poet e.e. cummings

Closing words II: “If God did not exist, man would have to invent him.” — Voltaire, who also said, “As long as people believe in absurdities, they will continue to commit atrocities.” ... “I would like to paint the way a bird sings.” — Claude Monet ... “I thought the play was frightful but I saw it under particularly unfortunate circumstances. The curtain was up.” — playwright George S. Kaufman ... “Who loves not woman, wine and song remains a fool his whole life long.” — Martin Luther

Closing words III, milestone division: “When that white driver stepped back toward us, when he waved his hand and ordered us up and out of our seats, I felt a determination cover my body like a quilt on a winter night. When he saw me still sitting, he asked if I was going to stand up, and I said, ‘No, I’m not.’ And he said, ‘Well, if you don’t stand up, I’m going to have to call the police and have you arrested.’ I said, ‘You may do that.’ ” — Rosa Parks recalling the turning-point day, Dec. 1, 1955, that she refused to relinquish her seat on a Birmingham, Ala., bus to a white passenger