April 2003
MEETINGS
Next at IABC/Fort Worth ...
In Quest of Total Recall: Memories are Made of This
A man who once memorized a 28-digit number in 1 minute 15 seconds (a Guinness world record, and in front of a live Dallas studio audience yet) will discuss "Innovative Memory Techniques to Improve Your Productivity" at this month's IABC meeting. "What is amazing," memory expert Ron White says, "is not that I can do these things. It is amazing that I can teach anyone to do these things!"
White memorized the first seven chapters of Proverbs at the Christian Business Expo in 1996 and for the past decade has traveled nationwide teaching business professionals and students the value of a trained memory. He has delivered tailored workshops for General Motors, Microsoft, the Boy Scouts of America, Lexus, Coldwell Banker and Century 21, among others.
* Time, date: lunch 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, April 8
* Place: Petroleum Club, Carter-Burgess Plaza, 777 Main St., 39th floor
* Parking: $2.50 in parking garage at Seventh and Commerce streets (get ticket validated)
* Cost: $17 members, $22 nonmembers, $12 students
* RSVP by noon April 4: Julie Trowbridge at trowbridgeja@c-b.com
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Next at Greater Fort Worth PRSA ...
Putting It All Together:
Public Relations Meets Integrated Marketing
April 9 will belong to Dr. Tom Duncan and Dr. Sandra Moriarty as the University of Colorado married-to-each-other researchers conduct an integrated marketing communications (IMC) workshop that morning, then continue the theme as speakers at PRSA's monthly luncheon.
The workshop, sponsored by the TCU Journalism Department, the TCU Research and Creative Activities Fund, and Greater Fort Worth PRSA, will detail how to implement an IMC program; how PR, advertising and marketing practitioners can work together effectively; what public relations adds to IMC; and why integration drives brand relationships in a competitive marketplace.
Moriarty teaches in Colorado's IMC program and has co-authored nine books. Duncan, founder of the university's IMC graduate program, is also multipublished, and he and Moriarty have written one book together, "Driving Brand Value: Using Integrated Marketing to Manage Profitable Stakeholder Relationships."
* Time, date: seminar (continental breakfast will be served) 8-11:15 a.m., lunch 11:45 Wednesday, April 9
* Place: Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center, 2820 Stadium Drive across from the TCU student center
* Cost: for the seminar, $30 for PRSA, IABC, SPJ and Ad Club members, $35 nonmembers, $6 students; seminar and lunch combined, $50 members, $60 nonmembers, $17 students; luncheon only, $20 members, $23 nonmembers, $11 students
* RSVP by noon April 7: Glenda Thompson, (817) 877-5551, glendat@nawic.org
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Next at Fort Worth SPJ ...
Dinner to Honor Scholarship Winners
Dinner to Honor Scholarship Winners
A dozen outstanding university and high school students will be honored at Fort Worth SPJ's annual scholarship banquet April 12 at Ridglea Country Club. Around $10,000 will be handed out, much of it in the names of current and former leaders of the local journalism community -- Jack Tinsley, Staley and Beverly McBrayer, Joe Holstead, Lina Davis, Donna Darovich, Jerry Flemmons, and Al Panzera.
At press time, speaker arrangements were still being finalized. Also, the country club is quite serious about the number of dinners prepared. Attendees must RSVP to guarantee a meal.
* Date: Saturday, April 12
* Time: mingling 6 p.m., dinner 6:30
* Place: Ridglea Country Club, 3700 Bernie Anderson Blvd.
* Cost: $25
* Menu: breast of chicken cordon bleu with chef's choice vegetables and spring garden salad, Ridglea Black Forest cake, bread, tea, coffee; cash bar
* RSVP by April 10: Kay Pirtle at mkpirtle@yahoo.com
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STRAIGHT STUFF
From the department of "Public speaking or death? I'll take death," character and confidence coach Anita Vanetti will present "Podium Panic: Sharpening Your Presentation Skills" in a Chamber-sponsored breakfast Wednesday, April 30, at the Fort Worth Club, 777 Taylor St. A hit at the Chamber's media interview workshop last fall, Vanetti will teach how to communicate with confidence, regardless of the setting. Among the topics: how to overcome nervousness; how to determine what an audience really wants; the impact of "impression vs. perfection" to win business, whether it's with one customer or a crowd of 5,000; the best ways to stand, walk, look and talk. Vanetti, who's known for her "Ten Things to Say When You Don't Know What to Say," will also lead participants in role-playing and ad-lib sessions. The cost -- $75 Chamber members ($55 Gold Chamber), $110 nonmembers -- includes full breakfast, parking and materials. Call Andra Bennett, APR, at (817) 336-2491 ext. 265 for information or go to fortworthchamber.com. Phone-register at (817) 336-2491 ext. 275. ...
Deadline for both sponsor sign-up and entries is Friday, April 4, for the Bronze Quill competition, IABC/Fort Worth's annual showcase of communicator talent. Every entry in 16 categories -- special events/meetings, corporate identity program, writing, Web site, communication programs/campaigns, graphic design, magazines, photography, intranet, annual reports, best improved publication, one-time publications, direct mail campaigns, newsletters, advertising/public service announcements and e-newsletters -- earns a critique, and first-place winners carry off the redesigned Bronze Quill trophy. The awards luncheon will be Tuesday, June 10. Reach Bronze Quill chair Pam Fry at psf@freese.com or (817) 735-7424, or go to iabcfortworth.com/bronze_quill.html. ...
The husband-and-wife journalism juggernaut that is O.K. Carter and Donna Darovich will propel the "Publicity for Your Organization" UTA continuing education class from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 5. Darovich will teach the class, with oft-lauded columnist Carter and Emmy Award-winning reporter Jeff Crilley as speakers. Channel 4's Crilley will discuss how to get TV coverage and sign copies of his book, "Free Publicity." Carter will discuss print coverage, particularly in his paper, the Star-Telegram. To register, call (817) 272-2581. ...
SPJ national update: Support for Al-Jazeera, FOIA. SPJ asked the New York Stock Exchange to reconsider its decision to revoke Al-Jazeera's credentials. Officials of the Arab satellite station said they have covered the exchange for years and believe theirs is the only channel affected by the curbs. Exchange spokesman Ray Pellechia told the AP that "security reasons" dictated limiting the number of broadcast outlets at the lower Manhattan exchange to only those networks that focus on "responsible business coverage." Mac McKerral, national SPJ president-elect and editor of The Business Journal Serving Greater Tampa, said that "if the New York Stock Exchange wants to make a contribution to news coverage of all the issues the market touches, it needs to buy into treating all journalists fairly, regardless of who they work for or their country of origin." ... SPJ and more than 30 groups have signed a letter supporting an amendment to the 2002 law creating the Department of Homeland Security. The amendment, by Sens. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and Carl Levin, D-Mich., attempts to undo changes in the Freedom of Information Act wrought by the Homeland Security Act regarding "critical infrastructure" material that the private sector gives to the federal government. The law contains "ambiguous definitions that could unintentionally allow companies to keep broad categories of information secret," the letter states. Meanwhile, the signatures of Ben Bagdikian, former dean of the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism; retired New York Times columnist Tom Wicker, former FCC Commissioner Nicholas Johnson, author Studs Terkel and journalist-filmmaker Barbara Koeppell are among those on a March 4 open letter to major media editors and publishers warning that "this is no time for relying solely on official sources and their supporters."
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On a Street Where the West was Wild, Face Reader
Adds Nuance to 'Smile When You Say That, Pardner'
by Penny Cockerell
How does Barbara Walters get such great interviews? Why did the nickname "Slick Willie" stick to former President Bill Clinton, while President George W. Bush comes across to some as authentic?
It's all in the face, Mac Fulfer insists. Or specifically, characteristics of the face. "Your face is not an accident," Fulfer, a rapid-fire lawyer and former jury consultant-turned-full-time face reader, told a packed Longhorn Ballroom on March 13 at the Stockyards Hotel. "You made it the way it is."
The Russians in attendance ate it up. Equipped with a translator and a lively sense of humor, 10 visiting reporters, editors and publishers hooted and clapped as Fulfer picked out various facial characteristics among them and analyzed their meaning. A wide nose? Must belong to a protecter. Protruding ears? A sign of independence and nonconformity.
Low eyebrows? A tendency to interrupt, but only because if it doesn't get said, it may get forgotten. A ball on the tip of the nose? Something movie stars have, which must mean they appreciate art and beauty and can't stand routines. Staring? Indicates judgment.
Fulfer described a skeptic listener as someone whose bottom eyelids aren't rounded. Using right brain/left brain logic, he said that if the left eyelid is flat, that means the listener is suspicious of the speaker; if the right eyelid is flat, the listener doesn't believe what he's hearing. Walters' big "Bambi-style" eyelids, Fulfer noted, give her a natural charisma that prompts people to open up. Big eyelids have a high capacity for intimacy, he said, which might explain Walters' many interview coups.
On the issue of lying vs. telling the truth, Fulfer said the truth is something merely reported, while a lie must be thought out. It's all written on the face, he said, with two key indications of a lie being when someone looks away, then back, and when the person stalls, such as in taking a sip of water.
And what about Clinton and Bush? Fulfer acknowledged Clinton's smoothness but added: "There was always this feeling that he had one eye in the mirror, saying, 'How am I doing?' The instant you start thinking about yourself -- thinking, 'How do I look? How do I sound?' -- as soon as you do that, the dimmest bulb in the room will see you're not connected." Bush, on the other hand, may fumble at times but is believable because, as Fulfer put it, "nobody messes up that much."
This was Fulfer's second appearance at an SPJ meeting and followed a standing-room-only presentation at the SPJ National Convention in September. He is developing a program with UT Arlington researchers to spot terrorists using face-reading techniques.
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PEOPLE & PLACES
Baby daze! Rhys Davies Claassen was born Feb. 28 at 8:12 p.m., weighing 8 pounds 5 ounces. Proud parents are the Star-Telegram's Charlotte Huff and Jeff Claassen. ... Jennifer Hart of the proliferating Star-T design desk gave daughter Ellie an 8-pound 3-ounce baby brother, Ethan Russell Hart, at 5:05 p.m. March 6. ... The next day, the Star-T's Tina and Andy Clay welcomed Collin Lee Clay, weighing 9 pounds 8 ounces. He joins big sister Kristin in the Clay family.
Kudos & Contracts ... The LaChapelle Agency will spearhead marketing/PR for the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation's 2003 Games of Texas. Patterned after the Olympic Games and the U.S. Olympic Sports Festivals, the Games of Texas is the largest multi-sport event in the state and offers training for recreational athletes as well as Olympic hopefuls. Bedford, Euless, Hurst, Colleyville, Grapevine and North Richland Hills on July 24-27 will provide venues for state championships in baseball, bowling, boxing, disc golf, fencing, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, judo, sand volleyball, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and track and field.
Kudos & Contracts II ... Theresa Davis and Veronica Sopher received a Texas Public Relations Association Silver Best of Texas award for the JPS Health Network's 2002 Evening at the Academy Awards interactive press kit. Packaged in a vintage popcorn box, the press kit drew praise as an original and enticing read. ... Star-Telegram book editor Jeff Guinn's "Our Land Before We Die," about the Seminole Negro, won the Texas Book Award, beating out Robert Caro's latest LBJ book, for one. ... Star-T editorial writer Linda Campbell won a State Bar of Texas Gavel Award for columns she wrote last year addressing the flaws in Texas' method of electing judges. The bar called the columns "an outstanding journalistic example of fostering public understanding of our legal system.'' ... Star-T visualists Steve Wilson and Michael Currie, both graduates of the UTA hands-on newspaper program; Clif Bosler, Ralph Lauer and Matt Pinkney shared in four awards this spring given by the Society of Newspaper Design, including a Silver Medal for the 2002 Winter Olympics special section.
Kudos & Contracts III ... The Star-Telegram's Deanna Boyd took second place in the American Society of Newspaper Editors' contest for deadline news reporting. Her story, about the man who died after getting lodged in a car windshield, will be reprinted in an ASNE Best Newspaper Writing book. ... The Star-Telegram joins The Boston Globe and the Minneapolis Star Tribune as the only large-circulation papers to win the Associated Press Sports Editors' latest "Triple Crown" -- Top 10 daily, Sunday and special section. The S-T moved up a category to compete, and APSE historians believe this is the first time any paper has won a Triple Crown in a larger circulation category. This is the third consecutive year for the S-T to finish in the Top 10 for daily sections and the fifth year to make the Top 10 in at least one category.
Kudos & Contracts IV ... The UTA Shorthorn won a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver Crown in New York last month. This is the CSPA's second-highest award; only 13 college papers nationwide won it and the top award, the Gold Crown. Editor Beth Francesco and design editor Jessica Felkel represented the paper at the CSPA convention and brought home 17 individual awards representing their work and the work of David DeGrand, Missy Saunders, Jason Hoskins, Matt Slocum, Brock Rutter, Seth Schrock, Kevin Pieper, Cory Brady and Venkat Kathoju.
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GET A JOB
The Automotive Service Association seeks an ad sales rep. Compensation includes salary plus commission, with life insurance, medical, dental and 401(k) benefits. Knowing four-color production is helpful but not mandatory. Send a cover letter, resume and references to Vice President, Communications; Automotive Service Association; P.O. Box 929; Bedford, Texas 76095-0929. The ASA is a 12,000-member national association representing individuals who own independent auto service businesses. More at asashop.org/. ... Parker College of Chiropractic in Irving seeks a communications director. Bachelor's degree in PR or communications is required and a minimum of five years experience managing staff, budgets and agency relationships, plus proven results in placing news stories through established media contacts. Respond to Sandy Lockwood at slockwood@parkercc.edu.
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NEW MEMBERS
IABC ... Kim Wiemuth, Worldwide Flight Services; Ken Countess, Advance-PRS; Richard D. Maxwell, The T; Anise Mulkey, AmeriCredit; Tristin L. Hatcher; Chrissy Heinke, AmeriCredit; Cristine Lammers, Virtuoso
PRSA ... Jaime Walker, North Central Texas Council of Governments; David Cowley, Texas Bank; Adrienne Gaviglio, Pancho's Mexican Buffet; Mary Kay Glass, Cook Children's Health Care System; David Hogan, Abilene Christian University; Roxanne Martinez, American Heart Association; Laura Griffin; Maverick Advertising; Laura Steves, Lena Pope Home
SPJ ... UTA Shorthorn ex Sheila Taylor Wells, writer; Wendy Lyons Sunshine, Weathervane Communications; UTA Shorthorn ex Terry Wallace, Associated Press; Connie Roquemore, teacher of fine music
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COMINGS & GOINGS
Promotions ... at the S-T: Scott Mitchell to the Fort Worth copy desk as a deputy copy desk chief
Exits ... at the S-T: Sara Sprinkle, trading in her page-design computer for full-time motherhood, relocating with baby Shelby and husband Steve to Melbourne, Fla.
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READING MATTERS
I don't know who listed "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" as "good reading" in the March SPJ newsletter, but the book is crap and offers little pertinent information, which is probably why the public lapped it up and put it on the best-seller list. Author Robert Kiyosaki is a snake-oil salesman who used Amwayesque multimarketing principles to get rich telling others how to get rich. I swallowed the hype and bought the book several years ago, then realized that I had spent $15 for nothing, that Kiyosaki is a sham and his writing horrible and simplistic. Thanks for letting me rant. Jeff Prince
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"What Liberal Media?" /
Eric Alterman / Basic Books
Alterman is a media columnist for The Nation and MSNBC.com and has been a contributing editor to, or columnist for, Rolling Stone, Elle and Mother Jones. In "What Liberal Media?" he exposes what he calls the fallacy of the vast left-wing conspiracy. He says it's not individual journalists who determine what's seen and read, but the corporate news structure. This structure defines the current state of the media, one that Alterman says is more conservative than critics on the right like to admit. Armed with data that debunk the most inflammatory accusations and expose who controls the purse strings, "What Liberal Media?" should appeal to those outraged, confused or just plain disgusted at the stalemate over who the media serve.
"Front Lines and Deadlines: Perspectives on War Reporting" /
Freedom Forum
Though written two years ago, "Front Lines and Deadlines" provides a timely look at war journalism, the censorship, secrecy, media-military relations and the risks journalists take in combat zones. This free, downloadable edition in the Media Studies Journal series includes pieces by Judy C. Woodruff, Tom Gjelten, Jane Kirtley, Derald Everhart and Frank Aukofer and interviews with Peter Arnett, Frank Bolden, Walter Cronkite, Ed Bradley and Janine di Giovanni.
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RESOURCES
A Web site launched last year publishes the full contents of 47 periodicals from 1860-65. John Adler, 75, won the $50,000 Gettysburg College E-Lincoln Prize for compiling a collection worthy of the Library of Congress. A decade ago, Adler acquired an entire 1857-1916 span of Harper's Weekly, which he published by themes on his first site, HarpWeek.com. Soon HarpWeek was providing today's newspapers with contemporary coverage of Andrew Johnson's impeachment and trial (during President Clinton's Monica Lewinsky scandal) and nearly 500 universities and libraries with previously inaccessible primary-source documents. In March 2001, after going cross-country on search expeditions, Adler launched lincolnandthecivilwar.com. Fourteen institutions donated original material, and more than 40,000 pages of text and illustrations were scanned in high resolution. ...
Just as the Internet mobilized global protest to the war in Iraq seemingly overnight, it also is providing a platform for reporting. In an experiment in war coverage, some correspondents are filing updates on the Internet -- an editor-free zone, so far, of reactions in real time. Among early examples are Web logs ("blogs") run by Kevin Sites, a CNN reporter in northern Iraq, and by freelance journalist Christopher Albritton. Sites' site, kevinsites.net, is not sanctioned by CNN and at press time had been suspended but with promises to return. Albritton, a former reporter for the New York Daily News and Associated Press, is posting at back-to-iraq.com. "There's no editor," he says. "It's just me and the readers. I'm their man in Baghdad." Another blogger, the pseudonymous late-20s architecture student Salam Pax ("peace" in Arabic and Latin), vividly chronicles life in chaos from the citizen perspective. "We start counting the hours from the moment one of the news channels report that the B52s have left their airfield. It takes them around 6 hours to get to Iraq," reads an entry on his site, dearraed.blogspot.com. The wry Iraqi's online diary may be the only inside account of life in the capital as U.S. and British bombs rain down as regularly as the sun sets. His entry from 4:30 p.m. March 22: "As one of the buildings I really love went up in a huge explosion I was close to tears. Today my father and brother went out to see what happening in the city, they say that it does look that the hits were very precise but when the missiles and bombs explode they wreck havoc in the neighborhood where they fall. Houses near al-salam palace (where the minister Sahaf took journalist) have had all their windows broke, doors blown in and in one case a roof has caved in. I guess that is what is called 'collateral damage' and that makes it OK?"
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Roger Partridge, Greater Fort Worth PRSA
Please allow me to apologize to those who responded by e-mail for their luncheon reservation in March. The address in the eChaser was incorrect but obviously belongs to someone, as the e-mails did not bounce. Some of you arrived thinking you had a reservation and found that we had no record of it. We are extremely sorry for the inconvenience this caused. The board is working to improve the luncheon reservation system and will have an announcement of those improvements next month.
Thanks to the PR professionals who gathered at TCU's Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center to judge the entries from the Central Michigan PRSA chapter awards program. Marc Flake did a great job of organizing the entries and recruiting the judges. Thanks, Marc!
Two important events for our chapter will occur in April. From 8 to 11:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 9, at the Petroleum Club, we will host a professional development seminar on integrated marketing. Our chapter has partnered with TCU to bring in two noted speakers who will present a seminar in the morning and be our luncheon speakers at noon. Then on Friday, April 11, Carol Murray, APR, has organized a PR Mystery Tour for university PRSSA students. It is a fun approach to public relations for the students. Look for a story on the tour next month.
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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Patrick Grady, IABC/Fort Worth
Quick, name the speaker for this month's meeting. No fair peeking. Can't? That's the point. He's Fort Worth memory maven Ron White, master of the recall that will not stall, and he'll make you more capable in the time it takes to polish off that slice of Petroleum Club pie.
Ron has appeared on more than 35 radio programs in the United States and Canada discussing personal growth. In his full training session, which this isn't but you get the idea, participants learn how to give speeches without notes, hang on to names and faces, recall product knowledge and retain seminar information. It's a long list, but I can't remember it all.
One thing I can't forget -- don't want to -- is the Bronze Quill competition unfolding before us. See the story on p. 1 or go to our Web site, iabcfortworth.com/bronze_quill.html. Deadline is April 4.
See a pattern here? We give you tools to better compete in business and in life, then when you're really accomplished we recognize your best work. Behold the three v's of IABC/Fort Worth -- value, virtue and va-va-voom! Wait, five v's. Aw, who's counting? Better we count the days 'til Aprl 8 -- IABC Tuesday!
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OVER & OUT
John Dycus, Fort Worth SPJ
Do we need this reminder? Keep Star-Telegram reporter Dave Montgomery and photographer/UTA grad Tom Pennington and all of the people caught in the crosshairs of governments gone mad -- chroniclers, troops, noncombative Iraqis -- in your prayers. There was a suicide bombing in northeast Iraq -- a cameraman from Australia was killed -- Tom witnessed the event. Tom returned from Afghanistan with tales at once harrowing and eloquent, then re-upped for Iraq. Though dangerous, covering Afghanistan had a soldier of fortune feel, more what'll the Bedouins in the back room have than life or death. Iraq, I suspect, is abject terror. ...
Last call for the SPJ Region 8 conference and Investigative Reporters and Editors workshop April 4 and 5 in Norman, Okla. See geocities.com/oklahomaspj, or contact Sue Hinton, (405) 682-1611 ext. 7331 or spjregion8@netscape.net. ... Hat's off to Downtown Fort Worth Rotary for sponsoring those rowdy Russians who enlivened the SPJ March meeting and to the Star-Telegram, The Dallas Morning News, the Wise County Messenger, Fort Worth Business Press, WBAP Radio, TCU, Channel 11, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and the City of Fort Worth Public Information Department for holding sessions for them. Far from singing Crimea river, they appeared to have a grand time. If nothing else, they could've learned how to be a gracious host from Mary Dulle. ...
Frank Perkins' e-mails often come with extras hung off the main idea like a canteen riding low on a soldier's hip, which is another reason to engage Frank at every opportunity. Accompanying his write-up of a recent meeting was this: "And as we learned at Fort Benning, 'take one machine gun, leave the other at the line of departure for covering fire; hey-diddle-diddle right up the middle; reorganize on the objective, evacuate the wounded, redistribute ammo, bring up hot chow and be prepared to continue the attack on order!' " It's "Lord of the Rings" meets Gen. George S. Patton, with Frank as the White Wizard, riding a Sherman tank. ... Then there's Mike Wilie, new top dog at that "No Gusts, No Glory" ad agency on downtown's western edge, whom I've never met, but you have to like a guy sight unseen who rides motorcycles and collects period neon. ...
Welcome, new advertisers Barr Printing, the Abilene Christian University Optimist and the Fort Worth Business Press. Think we're being noticed? I do. ... Thanks, Jeff Prince, for those trenchant comments on "Rich Dad, Poor Dad." You really didn't like that book, did you? ... Thanks, also, Madeline Williams fan Daryl Wagoner for one more warm look back: "No paragraph could have done a better (and more accurate) job of capturing the essence of Madeline than did the opening paragraph of your March remembrance. I worked part time doing feature stories at the News Tribune for eight months in 1979 after graduate school. Mack and Madeline, as well as their newspaper office high up in the W.T. Waggoner Building, were all straight out of 'The Front Page' (including the birds on the ledges outside). Once Madeline set you straight about how to pronounce her name, you never forgot it! She was an original and, Helen Thomas notwithstanding, we're not likely to see the likes of her again anytime soon!" ...
Finally, there's this from Napoleon Bonaparte upon entering Cairo in 1798: "Peoples of Egypt, you will be told that I have come to destroy your religion. Do not believe it! Reply that I have come to restore your rights." And this from American newspaper columnist and satirist Ambrose Bierce (1842-1914), who disappeared in the Mexican Revolution: "War is God's way of teaching geography to Americans."