eChaser: February 2015 / p3

=======================================================

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.

=======================================================

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