July 2001
BON VOYAGE, FRIENDS
Thirteen long-time Star-Telegram editorial/photo employees -- Betty Baird, Anita Baker, Carmelita Bevill, Dale Blackwell, Ashley Cheshire, Lou Hudson, Etta Hulme, Willis Knight, Scottie Lewis, Frank Pontari, Bob Stewart, Roger Summers and Bill Thompson -- accepted a retirement buyout and were honored with a reception June 27.
Punch flowed. Too, a few tears. Some of the workers will stay on part time. Most will not.
They represented 458 years in the newspaper business, 335 of them at the Star-Telegram.
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MEETINGS
Next at IABC ...
In Quest of Greatness: District 5 Member
of the Year Has a Plan for Fort Worth
Janet Allton can talk all day on the energy business, specifically the way it is approached by her employer, ONEOK in Tulsa. But she can elaborate just as easily on IABC, from which she has won numerous Bronze Quills and Silver Quills. The latter topic will take center stage this month when she outlines for IABC/Fort Worth what it can do to make an already great chapter second to none.
ONEOK is a diversified energy company, and Allton edits its flagship publication, ONEOK Quarterly. She also has experience in event planning, financial communications and training. A District 5 board member, last year she co-chaired the most successful District 5 conference ever. She was named Member of the Year for IABC/Tulsa and District 5.
* Time & date: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 10
* Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
* Cost: $17 members, $22 nonmembers, $12 students
* RSVP by noon July 6: Dan Frost at (817) 735-6157 or mailto:frostdg@c-b.com
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Next at PRSA ...
Olympics 2012 in Texas: It's Not Just About Dallas, but Then, It Never Was
The Web site and newspapers call it "Dallas 2012," but when you read the fine print it's clear that the campaign to host the Olympics in 2012 involves an effort by every community in North Texas, including Fort Worth. Brian Holland of the Dallas 2012 speakers bureau will share the latest news about the bid for the rings at the July 11 Greater Fort Worth PRSA meeting.
Holland will offer an insider's perspective on the site visit last month by a 10-member team from the U.S. Olympic Committee, which has been called the "final exam" before the committee makes its choice from eight cities by the end of the year. There's no better time than now to find out where the North Texas area stands in the bid for becoming home to the 2012 Olympics and what role public relations professionals will play.
* Time & date: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 11
* Place: Ridglea Country Club, 3700 Bernie Anderson Blvd., just off Camp Bowie Boulevard near Bryant Irvin
* Cost: $20 members, $23 nonmembers, $18 students; parking free
* RSVP by noon July 9: Elizabeth Eslick at mailto:elizabeth@stuartbacon.com; early reservations are urged, as space is limited
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Next at SPJ ...
All Wigged Out: On the 25th Anniversary
of the Murders at the Mansion, One Last Look Back
SPJ returns to yesteryear July 26 with an old-fashioned summertime beer bust, grape grope and rib gala, plus a trip back to the '70s for a fresh look at the Texas legal saga that won't die: the Cullen Davis murder case. It's the silver anniversary (yes, it's been 25 years!) of the massacre on Mockingbird Lane.
Headlining the program are Joe Shannon and Jack Strickland, the chief prosecutors, respectively, in the murder and murder-for-hire cases. Shannon recently returned to the Tarrant County DA's office, and Strickland is now a criminal defense attorney in Fort Worth.
Lee Elsesser, in 1976 the freshly appointed news director at WBAP-TV, now KXAS, will be on hand with some behind-the-scenes revelations on the news coverage and a video package with highlights of the case. Moderating the program and sharing a few of his bizarre stories will be Star-Telegram senior writer Mike Cochran, author of the definitive Davis book, "Texas vs. Davis.'' Cochran plans to provide a mystery guest or two, but he says not to expect Cullen -- unless he shows up dressed in black and wearing a woman's black wig.
Also expect all manner of barbecued delights prepared by Ronnie Holcomb, the Rib Wizard of the West. Recall that Holcomb cooked up a storm for previous special nights with Dan Jenkins, Tracy Rowlett and the first SPJ appearance of Randy Galloway and Dale Hansen. Meanwhile, the bar opens at 6 p.m. and closes when the cops or Cullen arrive ... whichever comes first.
* Date: Thursday, July 26
* Time: bar opens at 6 p.m., dinner 6:45, program when it feels right
* Place: University of North Texas Health Science Center, 3500 Camp Bowie Blvd. (southeast corner of the building, hone in on the flag pole)
* Cost: $15 SPJ members, $20 nonmembers, $10 students
* Menu: ribs, chicken, sausage and all the trimmings from the SPJ legend of larrupin', Ronnie Holcomb; tea, soft drinks, open bar (beer and wine)
* RSVP: (817) 877-1171 or mailto:doti1@aol.com
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STRAIGHT STUFF
SPJ members, expect ballots for officers and directors this month. ... PR pros, registration deadline is Aug. 6 for the fall universal accreditation exam; the test will be Sept. 14-23. Contact PRSA accreditation chair Carolyn Bobo, APR, at mailto:carolynbb@cookchildrens.org or (817) 885-4242. Get registration forms at http://prsa.org. ... How are changes in technology affecting the way PR pros do business? Mark those calendars for Aug. 8 as Greater Fort Worth PRSA takes a closer look at everything from on-line press centers to wireless technology to the new ways of the Web during a special professional development seminar beginning with the 11:30 luncheon meeting and lasting into the afternoon. Some of the top companies in North Texas will relate how they're developing tools and services that make it easier to communicate with all of their constituents, from the media to very targeted markets. Details next month. ...
PRSA national update: The 2001 International Conference Oct. 27-30 in Atlanta will feature 40 percent more professional development sessions, a reflection of PRSA members research conducted by the National Conference Committee. For an ongoing conference update, members should expect a letter from chair and CEO Kathleen L. Lewton, APR Fellow PRSA. Register online at http://prsa.org. ... The leadership rally June 8 and 9 in New York City drew 112 members from 70 chapters -- record attendance for the two-year-old program. ... Contact Genevieve DeLaurier at (212) 460.1408 or mailto:genevieve.delaurier@prsa.org for info on "Public Relations Programming: A Comprehensive Approach," July 16-17 in Chicago. Designed for PR pros with up to five years experience, the workshop will offer a hands-on overview, with each participant creating a public relations plan compatible with the business plan of his employing organization. ... A 60-minute interactive conference call July 11 will explore what changes in the food and beverage industry will mean for those who develop and sell these products. Contact Alison Calvello at (212) 460-1482 or mailto:alison.calvello@prsa.org. ...
SPJ national update: SPJ has sharply criticized a Florida circuit court declaring constitutional a new state law banning the release of autopsy photos and then refusing to allow the media to see them. "The law says a judge has to decide whether a media organization can see the photos, and that makes one man the judge, jury and editor," said SPJ president Ray Marcano, an assistant managing editor at the Dayton (Ohio) Daily News. "There is no thoughtful process in place that balances the public's right to know with the need for privacy." Enacted shortly after the death of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, the Earnhardt Family Protection Act makes it a felony for anyone except the victim's family or law enforcement officials to see autopsy photos except where a judge grants access to other parties for a "good cause." Previously, autopsy photographs were considered public record in Florida. The Orlando Sentinel, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, the Independent Florida Alligator and Web-site operator Michael Uribe all plan to appeal the ruling. SPJ has contributed a $1,000 Legal Defense Fund grant to the Alligator's legal effort. ... Other high-profile stands: In support of Kelly Campbell, a reporter for The Potomac News and Manassas Journal Messenger, who was arrested, handcuffed and charged with misdemeanor trespassing after Woodbridge (Va.) High School principal Karen Spillman abruptly ended an interview about a program in which students were sent home with baby ducks to see if the ducks would "imprint" on humans. Spillman allegedly told Campbell that she "knew what kind of story" she was going to write and had her forcibly removed. ... In support of efforts by The Wichita (Kan.) Eagle and Wichita's KWCH-TV to view public records in two quadruple homicide cases. SPJ is urging the Kansas Supreme Court to reverse a district court judge's decision to seal the records. ... In support of ethical reporting of the first family. SPJ asserts that coverage of the charges of alcohol violations by President Bush's daughters should not be sensationalized. "These are not serious crimes. ... These events do not mean journalists should now have a field day with all aspects of the Bush family's private lives," said Gary Hill, SPJ Ethics Committee co-chairman and director of investigations and special segments for KSTP-TV News in Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Lone Star FOI: 1 win, 1 loss. Among the 79 bills Gov. Rick Perry vetoed June 17 was legislation that would have closed access to some arrest records. The bill would have exempted from disclosure misdemeanor and felony cases in which a defendant admitted guilt and received deferred adjudication. Another vetoed bill would have repealed a 1999 law and reopened access to hospital complaints at the Texas Department of Health. Perry said information gathered in response to these complaints should remain confidential. Health department officials say the law restricts citizen access to almost all information about hospital violations, including those involving unusual deaths.
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Marty Haag Liked How It Was (and Still Could Be):
'Roll the Satellite Truck; You Can Always Call It Back!'
by Frank Perkins
Long-time newsman and Peabody Award winner Marty Haag thinks he knows what television news needs, and it's not all that exotic -- a return to precise beat reporting and reporters who write better. "Pictures are wonderful, but writing captures the moment," Haag told the Fort Worth SPJ pros June 18. "Most of us got into this business because we liked to write."
Haag retired from the A.H. Belo Corp. in October as senior vice president/news for the company's broadcast division, a post he assumed after 16 years as executive news director of Belo's flagship station, WFAA-TV, Channel 8. He is now the senior vice president for content and innovation at Audience Research and Development in Dallas.
He was presented the Peabody Award for lifetime achievement in journalism last month. Previous winners have included Edward R. Murrow, Chet Huntley, David Brinkley and Walter Cronkite.
"I would like to see less local news stories on crimes and more on trends," Haag said at the monthly chapter meeting. "Research shows that many local news viewers turn to other channels because the first six or seven minutes of the newscast dwell on crime and not what else happened in their area that day."
Haag also urged broadcasters to experiment in reporting the news, a situation he admitted was unlikely in an industry driven by ratings and consequently loathe to shun concepts with no ratings history. He learned that at Channel 8. "I wanted to try a new news show, and it didn't fly with senior management at all. I suggested it ought to be given a try and was told by a senior supervisor, 'No ratings, no money, no reason (for doing the show).' I think that speaks volumes about the status of broadcast journalism today."
Haag said his professional news motto is "do something, even if it's wrong." The idea is to react. "Roll the satellite truck -- you can always call it back!" he said. "Don't be afraid to listen to your instincts."
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PEOPLE & PLACES
"Chicken Soup for the Veteran's Soul" has published a column Frank Perkins did three years ago. Of several thousand World War II yarns submitted, his was among 90 or so selected. It tells of World War II fighter pilots who raised $300,000 to replace historically accurate stained glass windows in a 13th-century church that was damaged when they strafed a camouflaged German supply train in Remy, France, in August 1944. Here, let Frank tell it: "The train literally blew up in their faces, killing one of the pilots, Houston Braly Jr. of Brady, 400 (dumb!) Germans who sheltered UNDER the train to escape the machine gunning, and one Remy teen-ager, plus it unroofed most of the houses in the village. The pilots started raising the money in 1994 at their 50th reunion." Frank also wrote a piece on the incident that World War II Magazine published in 1998.
Kudos & Contracts ... A Cook Children's Health Care System program coordinated by Beth Solomon, APR, and Wendy Misfeldt received a Silver Anvil Award of Excellence at the annual PRSA Silver Anvil ceremony June 14 in New York City. The award was for the Peter Pan Birthday Club, a community relations outreach that helps children learn about philanthropy. The international contest, considered the Oscars of the PR industry, featured 736 entries, with 87 receiving awards. Other winners included Nike, the Department of the Army, and Procter and Gamble. ... The North Texas Clean Air Coalition has chosen InterStar Marketing & Public Relations to develop a public awareness campaign for cleaner air, featuring TV and radio spots and outdoor and transit signage.
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GET A JOB
TXU needs an advocacy support person (and, for that matter, a meter reader trainee). Reach Kathi Miller at (214) 812-4072 or mailto:kathi_miller@txu.com. ... A recruiter seeks a communications director for a company in the Twin Cities area. Bachelor's degree from an accredited college in a related discipline required, with specialized leadership training and demonstrated capability. Pay $88,200-$147,000. Contact Patti Yaritz at mailto:patti@dvstreet.com or (651) 224-0330 ext 206.
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COMINGS & GOINGS
Additions ... at Stuart Bacon Advertising-Public Relations: May UNT grad and two-ADDY winner Dustin Smith, junior art director ... Lisa Albert, public relations assistant account executive; a May TCU grad, she also volunteers as PR coordinator for Christ Chapel Bible Church ... May TCU grad Lindsay Kemper, advertising assistant account executive; a Marble Falls native, she is a member of Delta Sigma Pi international business fraternity ... at the Wise County Messenger: TCU junior and summer intern Melissa Christensen; she will be managing editor of The Daily Skiff this fall ... former Bastrop Daily Enterprise writer Lydia Tilbury Hair, joining the Messenger as a reporter ... at the S-T: Felicia Stills-Pinkney, wife of graphics guru Matt Pinkney, to the features copy desk ... and the hills are alive with S-T interns: UTA Shorthorn senior page designer Seth Shrock in design downtown ... LSU Daily Reveille associate managing editor Krystal Airs, a newspaper junkie since her Houston middle school days, Arlington ... Romina Kim, a former copy editor and reporter on the UofH Daily Cougar, Northeast ... recent Columbia grad Nicole Gull, Fort Worth Metro ... recent UT Austin grad Miguel Castro, business news ... recent Notre Dame grad Kathleen O'Brien, sports ... NT Daily senior photographer Mike Zamora, photo ... Howard U. junior Brandon Miller, features
Promotions ... Kathy Korge to senior vice president at InterStar Marketing & Public Relations, and Reba Henry to InterStar vice president ... at the S-T: Cathy Frisinger, creative editor of the Not Sports! and religion pages and winner this year of a national writing award for coverage of the Women's Museum in Dallas, to assistant features editor ... Marilyn Bailey, lead copy editor on the redesigned Sunday arts section, to features assistant copy chief ... in sports, Cody Bailey to senior deputy, Kevin Lyons to overseeing the NBA and colleges, Tom Johanningmeier to deputy over high schools and Dave Thomas to Northeast sports editor
Exits ... at the S-T (never a complete list anymore): all-purpose sports guy (Sunday sports editor, then night sports editor, then senior deputy) Mike Bambach, to Florida to be close to his ailing father ... 10-year copy desk veteran Cheryl Crayton, to teaching third-graders at Our Mother of Mercy School ... schools reporter Michelle Melendez, returning with her family to Albuquerque, where she hopes to start a charter school ... higher education reporter and Cliburn chronicler Crystal Yednak, taking a one-year internship at the Chicago Tribune ... social issues (homelessness, AIDS, poverty) reporter Yvette Craig, going to Mexico to learn Spanish and work on two children's books ... staff development editor Robbie Morganfield
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A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Mary Dulle, GFW PRSA
Summer has hit us, but not with the sledgehammer that fell last year. While the heat and humidity are nothing to scoff at, at least we started July with the whole month's worth of rain. This is generally a slower time for professional organizations, as folks are traveling or it's just too warm to get out, but your PRSA board is still hard at work, planning great meetings.
Here's good news from national to report -- the long-promised MemberNet section of the national Web page will go live this month. That means it will be easier to keep track of members and their contact information: All will now come from the local level. So if you change jobs or move, we'll be able to update the national database and you won't be lost in the system. And you won't risk membership termination due to lack of notification.
Special thanks to Wendy Krizmanic and PR Newswire for helping sponsor our May 15th anniversary party. This helped us hold down costs so we could have an extra special time. We appreciate their sponsorship and their support of our activities.
As it is hot, I'm keeping this short and sweet. Enjoy your summer, stay as cool as possible, visit glorious places (in person, through books and films or just in your imagination) and come to the meetings to enjoy your colleagues.
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PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
Cecilia Jacobs, IABC/Fort Worth
Bronze Quill recipients were announced at the June IABC meeting, and everyone was a winner. Sure, not everyone received a trophy or a certificate, but everyone who entered took home a sense of accomplishment and pride. That's what I call the "BIG WIN."
After all, it takes a lot of time to pull together an entry for Bronze Quill, and even more time and creativity to produce the original piece. As the chapter's new president, I heap a good many congratulations on this year's Bronze Quill winners and pray for a double portion of contestants for the next go-round.
It won't be easy to fill Arden Dufilho's shoes -- 'er, boots, in Texas. She did an outstanding job as president, doubling membership, expanding networking opportunities and improving the quality of our luncheon programs. I'm thankful that several of her board members are staying on to help me learn how to ride this animal while keeping my wits about me. Their expertise will come in handy -- sure a' shootin'.
Guess you're wondering why the cowboy lingo. It's part of my new image as IABC/Fort Worth trail boss. Truth is, I just finished a feature on the Fort Worth Herd, and once I get a pattern started, my train of thought is as hard to break as a bad bronc. Actually, I plan to attend the July luncheon gussied up as my true self -- a real Texas cowgirl. Might even pull on my Justins and show off my Stetson. Plans are to tell you how I almost lost my life while ridin' the range last week. My saddle straps came loose, and I was ... well, you'll have to come to the luncheon to hear the rest.
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Never mind, for a moment, the personal sadness over seeing an empty chair where your colleague used to sit. That's a profound body of knowledge, experience -- wisdom -- that just left the building on Seventh Street. Working the Kennedy assassination and Jack Ruby trial, Lyndon Johnson's inauguration, the John Connally milk money trial in Washington, the Sharpstown banking scandal and trial, the Martin Luther King assassination and funeral, several hurricanes, tornadoes and high-profile murder trials, one dog rape story, reams of obits, and chasing stripper Bubbles Cash around the Cotton Bowl in front of 60,000 football fans for an interview -- that's just the resume of one man, Roger Summers. Best surprise from the Star-Telegram retirees' party: It wasn't a wake. The anecdotal career recaps from editor Jim Witt were a nice touch. Best metaphor: "This is like clear-cutting a forest of the mature trees and leaving the saplings." Best line, from Mike Cochran on 43-year S-T f-stop icon Dale Blackwell: "My God, that's my copy boy who's retiring!" ...
Worth doing: Aficionados of Tarrant County history and/or barbecue, we'll save you a plate for the murders at the mansion retrospective July 26. Informative, entertaining -- guaranteed. ... Worth seeing and hearing: Partial and full-text transcripts, photographic images, and video and audio clips of the winners of the 2000 Sigma Delta Chi Awards are on display at a new online gallery, http://spj.org/awards/sdx/2000.