SPJ national update III: Twenty-nine-year-old reporter Valentín Valdés Espinosa was picked up by gunmen in two SUVs from the streets of downtown Saltillo,
Mexico, late at night Jan. 7. He was tortured, bound by his hands and feet, and
dumped at the Motel Marbella, where they shot him dead, according to state
investigators. Another reporter abducted with him was beaten and released. In
response, Valdés’ newspaper, Zócalo de Saltillo, will stop reporting on anything about organized crime,
according to a senior editor who asked to remain anonymous for his own safety.
The paper, he said, will not investigate the murder of its own reporter.
More here. ... Journalists’ use of social media Is surging, study finds.
SPJ national update IV: An international press freedom watchdog said 2009 saw a record number of
journalists killed, including the single worst massacre in the Philippines, as
well as an increase in journalists jailed, fueled by the crackdown in Iran.The
New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists said the massacre of 29
journalists and two media support workers in a politically motivated ambush in
the southern Philippines on Nov. 23 claimed more lives than any single event
since it started documenting attacks on the press 18 years ago.
More here. ... Reuters Yanks Story After White House Complaint. ... White House reporters are whining? No story there!
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PEOPLE & PLACES
Gary Morey, a former board member of Greater Fort Worth PRSA, died Feb. 21 after a
33-month battle with brain cancer. The obituary is here. ...
Fort Worth-based GCG Marketing has promoted Pat Gabriel to creative director and Kris Copeland to senior art director, while adding Alex Atkinson and Aaron Mullens as account services interns. Gabriel had been associate creative director, and
Copeland art director.
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GET A JOB
The Star-Telegram seeks a government affairs reporter for the Tarrant County/JPS
beat. Must have at least two years in hard news, preferably on a government or
political beat, plus a knowledge of finance and math and an ability to analyze
databases; a background in hospital issues would be helpful. Contact John Gravois at grav@star-telegram.com. ...
Ex-Marine Bill Vesterman served in Iraq and now runs the Montessori Country Day School in Flower Mound.
He’s doing a book about school choice, and he would like a writer’s help. Someone “young and hungry,” he’s thinking, who might not demand a lot of money. More from the Star-Telegram’s Chris Vaughn, who wrote a story about Vesterman in 2007.
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NEW MEMBERS
PRSA ... Jessica Brown, Texas Motor Speedway ... Christie Eskew, North Central Texas Council of Governments ... Amy Porter, Justin Brands
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Tom Burke, APR, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
Never mind that historic foot of snow on the ground, I still hit the
neighborhood convenience store to pay my weekly state income tax by buying a
lottery ticket. The clerk was all too perky. Must have been the weather. As he
handed me the potential winning numbers, he said, “Get lucky. Change our lives.”
Not sure I want to change my life. Enhance it, maybe, but changing it at this
stage of the game would be a bit drastic.
PR and communications professionals deal with change daily. Often we initiate
it. Other times, someone else does, and we’re the ones to make it work. Well, the winds of change are blowing at Greater
Fort Worth PRSA. The recession has caused us some minor headaches, one result
being that the chapter will no longer pay the parking for luncheon attendees
(although we did negotiate a garage rate of $2.50). But after this month that
won’t be an issue, because the Petroleum Club is renovating, and we’re shifting to Colonial Country Club. Fore!
So come enjoy our last meeting at the Petroleum Club on Wednesday, March 10, and
then recalibrate for Colonial, where the parking is free. The luncheon meetings
will stay the second Wednesday of the month except in April for our annual
Pro-Am Day. To be more convenient for TCU, UTA and Abilene Christian University
students, that meeting will be Friday, April 9.
Whew! That’s enough change for even the most seasoned public relations/communications
professional. By the way, the clerk didn’t give me any winning numbers. At least that’s one change I don’t have to worry about.
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Cheryl Hart, IABC Fort Worth
March Madness has nothing on IABC’s usual star-studded lineup.
First, our March luncheon should be a real treat. Robin McCasland, a former chapter president and a leading communications practitioner, will
share her perspectives on the state of communications in the Metroplex,
emphasizing specific professional practice issues, in what is sure to be a
lively discussion. That’s Tuesday, March 23, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. in our spacious, new room at the City
Club, 301 Commerce St. in downtown Fort Worth. Everyone is welcome.
March also means that we’re a month into taking entries for the Bronze Quill Awards competition, “2010: The Year We Make Contact With Excellence.” The June luncheon will showcase the finest in communications and marketing
materials that were produced in the area in 2009. This year’s luncheon also offers the opportunity to hear from a communications pro who
literally practices out of this world — NASA public affairs officer Josh Byerly.
Entry deadline is April 20. We have expanded the competition to 17 categories to
accommodate internal and external communicators and to recognize the growing
importance of social media. To review the categories and submit your entry, go
to iabcfortworth.com and click on the Call for Entries link. And if you’re looking for a way to get active with the chapter, consider joining the BQ
committee. Contact me at cheryl@hartmarketing.biz to explore ways you can share in the fun.
On a personal note, we wish our good friend Pam Huff a full recovery from the effects of a stroke she suffered last month. Lori De La Cruz took a book to Pam at the rehab facility and says what a difference a weekend
makes: “She looked great, and her speech is really improving!” Pam is going to Jacksonville, Fla., with her brother for a while but promises
to stay in touch. On behalf of the IABC Fort Worth family, her colleagues
through endeavors like the Lena Pope Home communications committee, and the
lives she has touched by her devotion to charitable activities, I want Pam to
know that she is in our prayers and that we look forward to welcoming her back.
God bless you, Pam.
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
You’ll want to hear U.S. Sen. John Cornyn discuss his involvement with major open-government initiatives and legislation
to improve access to information on how federal money is spent, Monday, March
15, at the downtown Tarrant County College Trinity River Campus. Ten dollars
buys you breakfast. E- Eddye Gallagher, eddye.gallagher@tccd.edu, and tell her you’re coming. ...
A double handful of “How to ... ” topics — “Thrive as a Community Newspaper,” with John Garrett, Community Impact Newspapers; “Protect Your Readers and Viewers,” Dave Lieber, Star-Telegram; “Revamp Your Paper to Suit Your Readers,” Vicki Gowler, The Idaho Statesman; “Know the Benefits of Nonprofit Journalism,” Jennifer Peebles, Texas Watchdog; Dave Garlock, UT Austin j-professor — are giving definition to the SPJ Region 8 Conference, March 5-6 in Austin.
Registration — $75 student, $85 professional, $95
non-student/nonprofessional — covers the sessions, snacks during the sessions and two meals (one Friday, one
Saturday). More here and here. E- Larry Dechant, dechantlarry@hotmail.com, with questions. ...
Application deadline is April 16 to be one of 12 student writers, photographers
and designers covering the SPJ National Convention, Oct. 3-6 in Las Vegas, for
The Working Press, the daily tabloid of the event. Those selected will receive
free registration and lodging at the conference hotel, the Planet Hollywood.
Click here for details and how to apply. More from Heather Porter at hporter@spj.org. ...
Now through March 31, SPJ members will receive a 50 percent discount on every
webinar in Poynter’s News University library. Shop from a list of more than 50 replays, including “Building a Twitter Strategy for Your Newsroom,” “Facebook for Journalists” and “Five Simple Ways to Write More Clearly.” To view the webinars, register at News University and use the code P50NNUW10.
More at info@newsu.org.
Closing words: “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free
people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” — Franklin Delano Roosevelt
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