eChaser: December 2012 / p3

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GET A JOB

The UNT Mayborn School of Journalism seeks a broadcast news lecturer. Info here. ... The city of Mesquite seeks a consultant with experience in content management to review written speeches and remarks to the public and city professional associations. Contact communications and marketing manager Wayne Larson, APR, wlarson@cityofmesquite.com, 972-329-8319. ...

The Dallas Morning News is hiring a newsroom data specialist to gather and analyze data with a focus on quick-hit investigations and watchdog stories. Must have at least three years of journalism experience (preferably at a metro paper), including open records requests and negotiating for data. E- résumé to dlanthrop@dallasnews.com. ... The Jewish Community Center of Dallas seeks a graphic/web designer. Requirements include at least three years with an agency or in-house creative department; proficiency in HTML, CSS, Javascript, wireframes, cross-browser and cross-platform, Quark, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, WinZip and Microsoft Office; and “sophisticated clean design aesthetic with a portfolio demonstrating strong typography, design and layout skills.” Info here. ...

The Houston Press has an immediate opening for a managing editor (and a little experience in food writing wouldn’t hurt). E- cover letter, résumé and clips to hp-managing-editor@villagevoicemedia.com. ... The Dallas Observer needs a music editor to oversee coverage of the local music scene, work the DC9 at Night music blog and assign, write for and edit the print music section. E- cover letter, résumé and clips to dallas-music-editor@villagevoicemedia.com. ...

The Corpus Christi Caller-Times has an opening for a business reporter. Applicants must have at least two years of daily newspaper experience or internships at daily newspapers combined. A business background and Spanish fluency are a plus, as is having computer-assisted reporting skills. E- résumé, cover letter, work samples and references to city editor Bro Krift, kriftb@caller.com. ... North Texas Public Broadcasting is hiring a full-time reporter/blogger to cover education and/or health, science and technology. Requirements include at least three years in journalism (online experience preferred) and comfort with posting a variety of digital media, including images, audio, video and animation. E- résumé to resume@kera.org. ...

Southlake magazine needs a managing editor to manage, write and edit print and web content. Bachelor's degree in journalism or other communications field is required, as well as a minimum of three years in communication fields. Info here. ... The Oakland Tribune has an opening for an experienced education reporter to write enterprise stories, daily news and blog about the 36,000-student Oakland Unified School District. E- cover letter, résumé and at least three clips to managing editor Pamela Turntine at pturntine@bayareanewsgroup.com.

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NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS

SPJ ... Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe, Denton Record-Chronicle

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Allyson Cross, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

Wow, how a year flies by. And what a year! As your new president I set three goals: implement an awards program to highlight the outstanding work done by our chapter members and local PR professionals; provide involvement opportunities beyond our monthly luncheons; enlist and educate chapter members for future leadership. I’m happy to report that we achieved all three.

We hosted the inaugural Worthy Awards competition with much success. We offered opportunities for engagement through judging activities, mixers, SIG meetings and community service. And a fabulous leadership team is in place and already preparing for an amazing 2013.

Let me thank each of you for your contributions in 2012. You serve in so many roles — board members, committee chairs, committee members, volunteers, mentors, SIG members, chapter members. Each is vital to continued our success.

I’ve learned so many things this year, especially the incredible talent that is available for public relations in our area. By focusing on our future, continuing to build tomorrow’s leaders, investing in professional development and continuing education, and upholding the highest ethical standards, we will advance the profession, our chapter and ourselves.

Thank you, again, for your trust and support. It has been a pleasure to take this journey with you.

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OVER & OUT

John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ

Are young people disconnected from the traditional concept of news? If so, what are the implications for news organizations? National’s online radio program, “Studio SPJ,” will explore the topic in a 30-minute conversation with UT Austin j-prof Paula Poindexter on Friday, Dec. 7, at 11 a.m. She will offer insight into which factors will determine whether the U.S. will be a society of news consumers who value being informed or a nation accepting news illiteracy. Poindexter is the author of “Millennials, News, and Social Media: Is News Engagement a Thing of the Past?” and has started two programs on the subject — mynews@school, a news-in-the-classroom effort to educate middle school and high school students about journalism, and “Millennial Generation & News” on Facebook for young adults. SPJ San Antonio is sponsoring this “Studio SPJ” installment; tune in live and ask questions, or it will be available as a podcast. Poindexter will be the keynote speaker at the Region 8 Conference in San Antonio, May 3-4. ...

Come one, come all. Any member of a professional communicators group — think PRSA, IABC, NAHJ, to name three — may now eat at a Fort Worth SPJ regular meeting — think Joe T. Garcia’s — at the SPJ member rate. Saves the eater $8. “We’re having some great programs,” said chapter president Robert Francis. “If we can make it easier for our colleagues to attend, let’s do it.” Good move. Let’s. ...

This newsletter debuted in August 1999. It went color and added advertising in January 2002. A major format upgrade happened in January 2008. Along the way, 300 written comments have been received, 284 positive, six sort of negative. (Some people save stamps and ceramic roosters; I save e-mails.) The very best of the eChaser positives, from patriot/conservationist/conscience of IABC Claude Crowley, hit last month: “It is a bright spot in my life, satisfying to the mind and eye. It’s very valuable to me as my backache, age and inactivity keep me from participating in meetings and events and rubbing shoulders with my colleagues as I used to do. It’s a colorful, newsy and creative window for me into what’s going on in the profession. Thank you especially for your Closing Words. I enjoy the heck out of them.” Mr. Crowley, if you like it, it must be good. And that helps my backache.

Caught my eye. Obama mentions climate change but says the wrong things. ... Secretary of state candidate has financial stake in tar sands companies. ... Sea levels rising 60 percent faster than expected. ... Making the case for resilient design. ... Where the stimulus money went: new buildings, clean energy, infrastructure. ... The end of winter, and other horrifying new global warming projections. ... Yale survey: Americans increasingly believe climate change driving extreme weather. ... How climate change increased the intensity of Hurricane Sandy. ... How wetlands and green roofs could help protect NYC from future storms. ... It’s time for the green cloak to come off of natural gas. ... VLK transforms Fort Worth warehouse into green iProspect office. ... Vancouver first city to pave streets with recycled plastic. ... Germany set to export more energy than ever despite nuclear phase-out. ... Pacific Tokelau Island chain world’s first solar-powered nation. ... Holy Grail of fuel? Scientists make synthetic gas from air and water. ... Billionaire Larry Ellison envisions Hawaii’s Lanai Island as solar-powered paradise. ... World’s largest community-owned solar project launches in England. ... How technology can help beat the heat without crippling the grid. ... Will falling renewable energy costs do in fracking? ... Spray-on lithium-ion batteries can turn any surface into a battery. ... Pro-fracking university studies funded by natural gas industry. ... Worm composting soaks up heavy metals, remediates waste.

Closing words: “I have never been lost, but I will admit to being confused for several weeks.” — frontiersman Daniel Boone ... “Compassion is not weakness, and concern for the unfortunate is not socialism.” — Hubert Humphrey ... “That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history.” — Aldous Huxley ... “The show doesn’t go on because it’s ready; it goes on because it’s 11:30.” — “Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels ... “If I’d written the truth I knew for the past 10 years, about 600 people — including me — would be rotting in prison cells from Rio to Seattle today. Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism.” — Hunter S. Thompson to Rolling Stone in 1973