eChaser: November 2014 / p3

Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas update: A Temple resident who witnessed an accident Oct. 9 in which two men died said a Temple police officer threatened to take his cellphone away because he was taking photographs and video. Sean Ramirez said he stopped and started recording instead but the officer kept yelling at him. Ramirez said he was afraid when the officer threatened a second time to take his phone. According to federal rulings, people have the right to record officers in public places as they do their duties. Details. ... In an effort to protect the safety of officers and their families, Lubbock Police Department officials are moving away from a blanket policy of identifying officers involved in a shooting. Greg Stevens, Lubbock police assistant chief, said the decision was made after asking police officials from other Texas cities about their policies regarding identifying officers.“The leading answer was: We don’t identify the officer unless there is wrongdoing on the officer’s part, and of course then they do,” he said. Open government advocates believe the move goes against the principles of government transparency. Details.

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PEOPLE & PLACES

The College Media Association presented Eddye Gallagher, Tarrant County College’s longtime director of student publications, with its Distinguished Two-Year Newspaper Adviser of the Year award Oct. 30 at the national convention in Philadelphia. Her predecessor, Joe Norton, won the award in 1975. Gallagher has taught at TCC since 1970 and has directed the college’s student publications unit since 1999. Her staffs have won numerous national, regional and state awards. More importantly, she has seen a number of students go on to become successes in various media. ...

UT Arlington’s theshorthorn.com was named the top student news website in the country Nov. 2 at the College Media Association/Associated Collegiate Press Association's national convention in Philadelphia. The Best of Show honor was announced during the closing ceremony of the five-day conference, which drew about 2,500 student journalists from around the country. It is one of 13 national awards, including two other first places (best online ad, best social media presence) that The Shorthorn and UTA Student Publications received. News editor Rafael Sears, associate news editor Kenney Kost, sports editor Grant McKinley, design editor Laura Woodside and sports reporter Kevin Cushingberry Jr. represented the university at the convention. Skye Leung took second place in rate card from the Associated Collegiate Press. Cushingberry’s two-year newspaper, The Et Cetera at Eastfield College, received a Pacemaker, considered the highest award in student journalism, for publications produced under his leadership in 2013-14. Kost's two-year newspaper, The Collegian at Tarrant County College, was a Pacemaker finalist. In addition, Kost earned second place for two-year Reporter of the Year and fifth place in best diversity story for his work at The Collegian. ...

Fort Worth SPJ scholarships VP Gayle Reaves, editor of the Fort Worth Weekly, will take part in the 2014 Symposium on Emerging Issues, an outreach of the Women's Policy Forum of Tarrant County and the Women's Policy Forum Foundation, Nov. 14 at the City Club in downtown Fort Worth. Ann Beeson, executive director for the Center for Public Policy Priorities, will deliver the keynote address on "The Future of Texas and the Path to Opportunity." Three one-hour, repeating panel discussions will follow on technology, healthy communities and open government. Cost is $35 per person. Register here.

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GET A JOB

The Winchester Star, a 20,000-circulation daily in Winchester, Va., seeks a reporter to cover police and courts — breaking news, enterprise stories, web updates. Send cover letter, résumé and clips to managing editor Maria Montgomery at mmontgomery@winchesterstar.com. ... The Palestine Herald-Press needs a layout/news editor (mostly layout, strong in Quark and/or InDesign). Contact editor Nate Smith, 903-729-0281, @NateSmithPHP. ... Cover crime and courts in a hotbed of malfeasance, Muskogee, Okla. The Muskogee Phoenix wants 10 stories a week, video or photos, and social media skills. E- six clips (news, features), résumé and cover letter to echoate@muskogeephoenix.com. Recent graduates preferred. ... The Trentonian seeks a reporter to help cover greater Mercer County, New Jersey. Digital reporting deadlines and social media savvy required. E- résumé and samples of writing, photos and video to John Berry, jberry@trentonian.com.

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NEW AND RETURNING MEMBERS

SPJ ... Chelsea Henderson, The Port Arthur News

PRSA ... Decima Cooper, Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau

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PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

Richie Escovedo, Greater Fort Worth PRSA

When communication missteps occur, it's common to sit back, ridicule and say we're learning from the actions of others (read: case studies). But do you ever consider the individuals actually dealing with these challenges? Do you ever think about the professionals responsible for cleaning up PR messes? Real people constantly monitor public speech for misguided, incorrect or inflammatory statements. One always hopes for the best but must prepare senior leadership for the worst.

Among the reasons I remain a PRSA member is the opportunity to foster professional relationships. Some call this networking, but it goes deeper. Being connected to other professionals who have gone through similar communication challenges creates shared experience, understanding and encouragement. Can this be done outside of PRSA or any other professional organization? Of course it can. But in my experience, working alongside dedicated volunteers is the perfect way to ripen relationships.

People matter. Their stories matter. Yes, you can learn from the mistakes of others, but you can also learn from teaching and encouraging friends. My hope this year in PRSA is that not only have we provided quality programming to help with members' professional development and award-worthy work, but also moments for relationships.

And we're not finished. Just like people, Greater Fort Worth PRSA is a work in progress. I encourage each member to look for ways to plug in through volunteerism and to lean in, talk and listen to one another.

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STAYING CONNECTED

Tim Tune, IABC Fort Worth

What a fine session Robin McCasland, past chair of IABC international, did for us in October on global communication trends. Couldn’t have done it without Studios 121, which provided the venue and technical support for the presentation, which was webcast live. Student groups from Texas Wesleyan University and UT Arlington, as well as IABC chapter members in Orlando, Nashville, Minnesota and Los Angeles, participated online.

McCasland compiled key developments of interest to marketing, public relations and corporate communication professionals. She also offered numerous tips and tactics for taking advantage of trends.

To view the recorded webcast on demand, go here. Snazzy, huh? Share the link with others who might be interested and could benefit from this relevant communication insight and tips for action.

IABC Fort Worth thanks Studios 121, our host and production partner, for its support of the live webcast and video-on-demand service. We especially appreciate the hard work and creative energies of Will Raymond, Studio 121's vice president-technical services.

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OVER & OUT

John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ

Congratulations to SPJ Region 8 director and Tarrant County College student publications leader Eddye Gallagher on being recognized for all-purpose wonderfulness by the College Media Association. She’s GREAT, the CMA said. We knew that. ...

We keep losing our breweries, but the Christmas party, a.k.a. JPS Book Benefit and Splendiferous Gift Drawing, shall proceed with all due vigor unabated and top rated. First, Miller changed hands, and there went that delightful little museum/party room. Then Coors sold, and the party setting there likely is a warehouse now. It’s trying times like these that you need a Kay Pirtle. With a little help from Danny Jensen, she secured a handsome space in the “Glass Front” Building at UNT Health Science Center on Camp Bowie Boulevard. Slight increase in admission (to cover additional expenses), but otherwise it’s still everything you’ve come to know and love. Here’s the evite and RSVP. See you Wednesday, Dec. 3, at the party with the best cost to fun ratio in town!

Caught my eye. ‘We are running out of time’: New reports on greenhouse gas emissions. ... Kenya opens world’s largest single-turbine geothermal plant. ... Forget LEDs, this might be the future of lighting. ... World's first plane made from hemp flies high next year. ... Bee colony adapts to environmental impact by using plastic to build nests. ... Could humidity power join the list of renewable energy sources? ... Ocean acidification is kryptonite to all coral reefs — except one in the Western Pacific.

Closing words: "Clutter is the disease of American writing. We are a society strangling in unnecessary words, circular constructions, pompous frills and meaningless jargon." — author William Zinsser