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PEOPLE & PLACES
The Balcom Agency won Best of Show and the most overall awards at the 2013
American Advertising Federation – Fort Worth awards gala Feb. 22. Balcom took overall Best of Show for its “Comfort and Joy” retail/in-store sales campaign for Justin Boots, as well as print Best of Show
for a Chippewa boots history brochure. The agency finished the night with two
Best of Show, 13 Gold, eight Silver and 18 Bronze — 41 ADDY Awards. The American Advertising Federation conducts the ADDYs through
200 local ad clubs in 15 districts. It is the world’s largest advertising competition with nearly 50,000 submissions annually. Local
Gold ADDY winners advance to regional district competition. ...
Gigi Westerman, APR, and Sandra Brodnicki, APR, are finalists in the annual PR News Nonprofit PR Awards for their work
with Catholic Charities Fort Worth and United Way of Tarrant County on a
financial education rebranding effort. The award salutes the top nonprofit PR
campaigns of the year, the smartest communications initiatives and the people
behind them. Winners will be celebrated at a luncheon March 11 at the National
Press Club in Washington, D.C. Westerman is president of Strategic Image, a
consulting firm that specializes in branding, public relations, integrated
communications and presentation training. Brodnicki is president of Brodnicki
Public Relations, focusing on branding, key message development, strategic
marketing communications and public relations strategy. ...
Alcon has joined TCU’s student-driven agency, Roxo, as a corporate partner. As part of the program, a
TCU senior campaigns class is developing four campaigns to drive awareness and
education in support of Alcon’s Kids Vision for Life philanthropic initiative. Four competing teams will
present their ideas this spring, and in the fall Roxo will implement the
campaign Alcon selects.
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GET A JOB
Jetstream Public Relations in Plano seeks a full-time copywriter to support
high-tech B2B clients. Candidates should have 7-plus years developing content
for websites, brochures, marketing campaigns and/or trade shows. Experience in
health care technology, software and telecommunications is a plus. E-mail résumé and any other materials to careers@jetstreampr.com. ...
The Odessa American seeks an experienced general assignments reporter who can
blend feature and news writing with online duties. Strength in social media and
in telling great stories are pluses. Submit résumé and references to ldennis@oaoa.com. ...
Yahoo! Contributor Network is looking for freelance sportswriters to write about
MLB teams on Yahoo! Sports. Performance pay for blog-style coverage of one team
(and the Texas Rangers are available). Must have a Yahoo! Contributor Network
account to qualify. Info here. ...
Townsquare Media is hiring a managing editor in Odessa, Lufkin and San Angelo to
oversee the editorial operations of the company’s local radio station websites. Candidates must have at least five years online
editorial experience and the ability to nurture a strong editorial voice. Apply
at journalismjobs.com, job ID 1364081. Include résumé, cover letter and links to writing/editing clips with application. ...
The San Antonio Express-News seeks an editorial writer, preferably a seasoned
journalist with experience in reporting or opinion writing, at least a bachelor’s degree and the ability to grasp complex public policy issues and develop
sharp, reasoned positions. Some editing and proofing are required. Send résumé and clips to editorial page editor Bruce Davidson at bdavidson@express-news.net. ...
Greenleaf Book Group seeks an experienced developmental book editor who has
solid credits with major trade or independent publishers in nonfiction,
business and self-help genres. Position is located in the Austin area. Send
cover letter, résumé and list of publishing credits to jobs@greenleafbookgroup.com with the subject line “Developmental Editor.”
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NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS
SPJ ... Anntoinette Moore, UT Health Science Center at Tyler ... Jim Domke, freelance
PRSA ... Whitney Vandiver, North Central Texas Council of Governments
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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Chris Smith, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
Do you have what it takes to be a communications professional? Long hours, too
many meetings, e-mails, phone calls, desk work and unnerving presentations may
earn you a paycheck (always a good thing) or eventually a pat on the back via
an e-mail you saved for posterity. But what else? What about professional
acknowledgment for that portfolio you’re constantly nurturing for the next big promotion?
Do yourself a favor: Get some street cred and earn recognition from your peers
where it really counts. Enter the Worthys, an annual awards program with
entries reviewed and judged by communications professionals in another state.
Maybe you’re like I was for years, always putting off entering a competition until the
deadline passed. Took too much time. The boss probably wouldn’t do $75 for the entry. I’d already proven myself. Sound familiar?
As a PRSA board member, though, I felt an obligation to support our first
competition and accordingly found an hour to grab just one thing I did in 2011
and enter. Thanks to the guidelines written by PRSA fellow Carolyn Bobo, APR, my entry was organized and thought-out. I had done due diligence as a
board member and maybe learned something. Then I won. Just one entry in one
category, and now I could show clients/potential clients that my work had merit
beyond what the résumé showed. My peers had deemed it so.
Board members Gigi Westerman, APR, and Sandra Brodnicki, APR, are firm believers in entering competitions. Their entry “Money School,” a financial education program offered by two prominent local nonprofits, earned
the inaugural 2012 Worthy Best of Show. Gigi says she gained from the
self-reflection required to package a compelling entry: “You have to cut to the chase and explain what you did and why you did it clearly
and concisely.”
Membership VP Richie Escovedo adds: “It’s a smart way to see where your materials might be lacking or where there are
areas for improvement. The recognition is great, but the analysis is also a
worthy endeavor.” No pun intended.
Convinced? Good. Time to look back at your 2012 accomplishments and enter. Now. The deadline is right around the corner, March 8.
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Can this possibly be the 10th year? FW SPJ’s First Amendment Awards and Scholarship Dinner will be Friday, April 19, at
Cacharel in Arlington. Go here to tell us you’re coming and here to relive old times. ...
Investigative Reporters & Editors is accepting applications through March 15 from journalists who earn
their living as freelancers. Fellowships of $1,000 will assist the fellows in
conducting an investigative project. Proposals will be judged on breadth,
significance and potential impact. Proposals dealing with whistleblowers,
business ethics or privacy issues will receive priority. Projects must be
published or aired primarily in U.S. outlets. Info here or from Alan Lynes at alan@ire.org. ...
Caught my eye. 2012 the warmest year on record in Texas. ... The unexpected beauty of car-free city streets (video). ... Volcano power plan gets U.S. go-ahead. ... Thin-film solar power to be sold for less than coal power in New Mexico. ... Researchers unveil emissions-free method of extracting energy from coal. ... Wind power now Spain’s top electricity source. ... FDA approves world’s first bionic eye. ... Analysts say renewable energy cheaper than new fossil fuels in Australia. ... New e-bike trades the chain for an alternator. ... Mat cools buildings by letting their roofs sweat. ... DIY Solar Pocket Factory machine can print a solar panel every 15 seconds. ... The battery of the future might run on sugar. ... V3Solar puts a fresh spin on PV efficiency.
Closing words: “If it’s true your life flashes past your eyes before you die, then it is also the
truth that your life rushes forth when you are ready to start to truly be
alive.” — author Amy Hempel ... “Adventure is just poor planning.” — the practical and meticulous explorer Roald Amundsen, who in 1911 led the first team of humans to reach the South Pole
the LaRocque Family catalog ...
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