The Quill articles from October 2006

The Quill archives from October 2006

Be involved, get more out of your membership: volunteering a few extra hours each year can lead to lasting, personal rewards.(FROM THE PRESIDENT)
October 1, 2006... I'm a big believer that journalists must do more for the improvement and protection of journalism than what it takes for them to collect their paychecks. That, in part, is why I am a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. And...

If Famous Journalists Became Honest Rappers ...(OFF BEAT)
October 1, 2006... The staff at Quill typically prefers original content. But we are smart enough to know when we simply can't compete. Because of that, we bring you a few samples of "if Famous Journalists Became Honest Rappers," written by Norman Solomon of...

How some media outlets might handle the end of the world.(OFF BEAT)
October 1, 2006... * USA Today: WE'RE DEAD. * Wall Street Journal: Dow Jones Plummets as World Ends. * National Enquirer: O.J. and Nicole, Together Again. * Inc. Magazine: 10 Ways You Can Profit From the Apocalypse. * Rolling Stone: The...

Hot Off The Press.(new books for journalists)(Buyers guide)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... "Hot Off The Press" highlights recently released books that are aimed at hot media issues and helping journalists improve their skills. JOURNALISM THAT MATTERS "Journalism That Matters: How Business-to-Business Editors Change the...

Students' work gets statewide exposure thanks to SPJ adviser.(Member Profile)(Society of Professional Journalists member Maryann Lazarski works with Wisconsin Broadcasters Association to promote student journalists' work)
October 1, 2006... After moving from the newsroom to the classroom, broadcast journalist and teacher Maryann Lazarski wanted to extend the scope of her students' learning laboratory. Her target: the entire state of Wisconsin. Lazarski, faculty adviser...

L.A. Times writer wins Pulliam editorial fellowship.(REPORT)(Karin Klein of Los Angeles Times Syndicate awarded)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Staff Report Karin Klein, an editorial writer for the Los Angeles Times, is the 2006 recipient of the Eugene C. Pulliam Fellowship for Editorial Writing presented annually by the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of the Society of Professional...

SPJ to offer ethics in journalism week grants.(SPJ NEWS)(Society of Professional Journalists)
October 1, 2006... To encourage the practice of Ethics in Journalism Week, $1,000 grants are available to chapters for ethics programming. The grant is made possible through a generous donation from the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation. One grant is available for...

California journalism students to be protected.(SPJ NEWS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 2581 authored by House Speaker Pro-Tem Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/Daly City, Aug. 28. The bill makes California the first state in the nation to specifically prohibit censorship of...

Journalist Wolf released on bail, then sent back.(SPJ NEWS)(Josh Wolf)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... California independent video journalist Josh Wolf was released on bail Aug. 31 after spending a month in federal prison. However, an appeals court sided with the lower court's decision, saying Wolf was in contempt of court. On Sept. 20, Wolf...

Bosley reinstated at Ocean County Community College.(SPJ NEWS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Ocean County Community College board of trustees in New Jersey voted unanimously Aug. 28 to reinstate Professor Karen Bosley as the college's longtime newspaper adviser. Last year, SPJ assigned a task force to examine Bosley's dismissal...

Missouri reporters face misdemeanor charges.(SPJ NEWS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Sara Sheffield and Cliff Erwin of KYTV in Springfield, Mo., appeared in the Henry County Courthouse in Springfield on Sept. 5 on misdemeanor charges stemming from KYTV's attempts to cover a breaking news story of a collapsed building this...

New SDX Foundation board ready for new year.(REPORT)(Sigma Delta Chi Foundation)
October 1, 2006... A new year begins for the Sigma Delta Chi Foundation, the fundraising and educational arm of SPJ. The foundation elected new directors, each with considerable experience in journalism and some with service to the Society as past national...

Graduate's documentary featured in SPJ program.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Society of Professional Journalists)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... University of Missouri students and the public were invited to showings of "At Highest Risk: Maternal Health Care in the High Peruvian Andes," Sept. 6-7. The 45-minute documentary, researched and directed by 2003 MU journalism graduate...

USA Today discusses intricacies of newspapers.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Collegiate Readership Program that provides free USA Today, New York Times and Newsday issues to students at more than 400 college campuses was slated to host a panel discussion Oct. 3 on the campus of the State University of New York at...

Arkansas Chapter members put on show.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Society of Professional Journalists)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Members of the Northwest Arkansas Pro Chapter were scheduled to perform sketches, songs and spoofs Oct. 6-7. Proceeds were set to benefit scholarships and other programs for SPJ, the Fayetteville branch of the American Association of...

State shield law topic of Connecticut Pro Event.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Society of Professional Journalists)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... SPJ's Connecticut Pro Chapter, the Connecticut Council on Freedom of Information, Connecticut Foundation for Open Government and Quinnipiac University hosted "Making the Connecticut Shield Law Work For You" on Sept. 27. Lucy Daglish,...

Inland pro chapter sponsors Journalism Day.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Conference news)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... High school and college students with interests in pursuing careers in journalism were scheduled to hear from a number of area journalists during Inland Empire Journalism Day on Sept. 30. Sponsored by the California Newspaper Publishers...

Freedom celebrated with Banned Books.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Conference news)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The University of Toledo Student SPJ Chapter, the UT Honors Program, the Independent Collegian and the UT Carlson Library sponsored the ninth annual Banned Books Week Vigil on the college's campus Sept. 28. During the daylong...

Chapter stages 'eat free or live free' event.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Conference news)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Constitution Day was Sept. 18, and students at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton along with the South Florida Pro Chapter co-sponsored the first-ever First Amendment Free Food Festival. During the daylong event, a section of the...

NorCal Chapter to honor bay area journalists.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... San Francisco Chronicle reporters Lance Williams and Mark Fainaru-Wada and freelance journalist Josh Wolf have been named Journalists of the Year by the Northern California Pro Chapter for upholding the principles of a free and independent...

Louisville Por hosts new media panel.(CHAPTER NEWS)(Conference news)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Louisville Pro Chapter hosted "Breaking News: How the Web is changing Louisville's newsrooms" on Sept. 14. The public forum examined how the Internet is altering the way people get their news and discussed how Kentucky's two largest...

SPJ members inducted into Hall of Fame.(PEOPLE/PLACES)
October 1, 2006... The Women's Press Club of New York State Inc. celebrated its 40th anniversary in May by inducting two of its founders--both SPJ members--into the club's Hall of Honor. They are freelance writers Kate Reinert Fleisher of Horseheads, N.Y., and...

Natz leaves WTHR, heads to New York.(PEOPLE/PLACES)(Jacques Natz)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Jacques Natz, former news director for Indianapolis-based WTHR-TV Channel 13, left the station on Sept. 15 to become director of digital content for Hearst-Argyle Television Inc. in New York. In his new position, Natz will be charged with...

Performing songwriter adds Taylor as editor.(PEOPLE/PLACES)(Rick Taylor appointed at Performing Songwriter)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... SPJ member Rick Taylor has joined Performing Songwriter magazine as man aging editor. Based in Nashville, Tenn., he will oversee editorial operations. Taylor most recently was group managing editor for American Media's Country Weekly and...

Obits.(PEOPLE/PLACES)(Edley Wilbur Cox died )(Obituary)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Longtime SPJ member Edley Wilbur Cox, 85, died Aug. 3 in Dallas. Born into a newspaper family, Cox enrolled in John Tarleton College in Stephenville, Texas at the age of 15. He later transferred to the University of Texas at Austin where he...

First principle of journalism.
October 1, 2006... A ACT WITH URGENCY "Get it right and make it relevant, lively and concise."--Alan Miller, managing editor/news, Columbus Dispatch B BE PROFESSIONAL "A courteous journalist will get far more information than the blustering,...

Ten: Quill poses 10 questions to people with some of the coolest jobs in journalism.(Interview)
October 1, 2006... dana priest National Security Reporter, The Washington Post In April, Dana Priest received the Pulitzer Prize for beat reporting for a body of work that includes the revelation of secret CIA "black" sites in Eastern Europe for holding...

Ball of fire: SPJ's new president aims to raise awareness about changing face of journalism.(CONVENTION ROUNDUP)(Peter Jennings)(Society of Professional Journalists)
October 1, 2006... News anchor Peter Jennings inspired many of today's journalists to enter the field. But for an adolescent Christine Tatum, the new SPI President, it wasn't Jennings' award-winning reports that caught her eye. "I thought he was so...

'Conscience of SPJ': Brown named Wells Key winner.(CONVENTION ROUNDUP)(Society of Professional Journalists)(Fred Brown)
October 1, 2006... Journalist Fred Brown, known for his humility, dapper fashion sense and peerless ethical standards, was named the 2006 Wells Memorial Key honoree Aug. 26 during the 2006 SPJ Convention & National Journalism Conference. The Wells Key...

Brewer wins heated president-elect race: delegates vote down one-man, one-vote proposal.(CONVENTION ROUNDUP)(Clint Brewer)
October 1, 2006... SPJ's new president-elect, Clint Brewer, said after his election Aug. 26 that he plans to use the office to help make the organization a better advocate and resource for the average journalist. "We need to explain the relevancy of our...

Quest for credibility: leader of blogging association tours country in hopes of bringing legitimacy to craft.(CONVENTION ROUNDUP)(Robert Cox, Media Bloggers Association)
October 1, 2006... Robert Cox, founder and president of the Media Bloggers Association, has been on a mission to get journalists opinions about the blogosphere. "Anytime I can get in front of people who work in journalism, I want them aware of what (the...

2006 SPJ award winners.(CONVENTION ROUNDUP)(Society of Professional Journalists)(Awards list)
October 1, 2006... GENERAL AWARDS Wells Memorial Key Fred Winfield Brown Jr. Fellows of the Society Ben Bagdikian Sandy Close Reginald Stuart Helen Thomas Award for Lifetime Achievement Stan Chambers Eugene S. Pulliam First Amendment...

By the numbers.(Society of Professional Journalists' convention)(Conference news)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... 918 The number of people who attended the 2006 SPJ Convention. 224 The number of attendees who were students. 620 The number of steps from the front door of the Hyatt Regency Chicago, where the convention was held, to the front door...

New Republic editor suspended for blog.(ETHICS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A senior editor at The New Republic was suspended and his blog was shut down when it was discovered he had been anonymously attacking readers who criticized his posts, The New York Times reported Sept. 4. The suspended editor, Lee Siegel,...

FCC queries TV stations on video news releases.(ETHICS)(Federal Communications Commission)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Washington Post reported Aug. 15 that 77 TV broadcasters have received letters from the FCC concerning whether "video news releases"--video press releases that sometimes are aired and presented as news reports--had been properly labeled....

Plagiarism complaint leads to dismissal.(ETHICS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A Salt Lake Tribune higher-education reporter was dismissed after she allegedly plagiarized material from the University of Utah's student newspaper, the Tribune reported Aug. 28. According to the story, passages in a piece written by...

Judge orders probe of leak to CBS.(FOI)
October 1, 2006... A Justice Department probe into how CBS News learned two years ago about an FBI investigation into a pro-Israel lobbying group has been ordered by Federal Judge Thomas Ellis III, the New York Sun reported Aug. 22. The order was issued in...

Court rules recipients of leaks may be prosecuted.(FOI)(unauthorized receipt and disclosure of classified information)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A federal court has ruled that even private citizens without security clearances can be prosecuted for unauthorized receipt and disclosure of classified information, Secrecy News reported Aug. 10. The ruling by Judge Thomas Ellis III denied a...

Court: public employees' personal e-mail private.(FOI)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The Arizona Court of Appeals in Tucson has ruled that government employees' private e-mails that are sent from publicly owned computers are not subject to Arizona's public disclosure laws, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press...

Google warns media: stop using name as a verb.(ODDS & ENDS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... The California-based search-engine giant Google is becoming so concerned about trademark violation that it has sent letters to media organizations warning them against using its name as a verb, All Headline News reported Aug. 15. ...

Errant e-mail puts secrets in media's lap.(ODDS & ENDS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... A "law-enforcement-sensitive" information alert on terrorist activity stamped repeatedly "Do NOT release to the public or media" was sent out by the Pima County Sheriff's Department to nearly every media organization in southern Arizona, the...

Dallas paper uses footnotes in print.(ODDS & ENDS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2006... Footnoting in certain newspaper articles has been occasionally used online, but rarely in print. The Dallas Morning News, however, recently embraced the idea in a big way, Editor & Publisher reported Aug. 22. "Mary Ellen's will: The...

It's up to you to create your own inspiration.(QUILL TOOLBOX: GENERATION "J")
October 1, 2006... when was the last time you were inspired? If you can t remember then perhaps it's time to create your own inspiring environment. Being a journalist is hard work, especially with deadlines, pressing bosses and the demand to learn and then...

Ethical debates heat up with JonBenet Fever.(QUILL TOOLBOX: ETHICS)
October 1, 2006... We just had another media explosion in my neck of the woods. A relapse of JonBenet Fever was triggered by a pathetic pedophile who said he murdered the 6-year-old beauty queen 10 years ago. It seems that he really thought he did, but...

The art of access: getting public records through the power of persuasion.(QUILL TOOLBOX: FOI)
October 1, 2006... You're on deadline, and you need a public document. The government clerk eyes you suspiciously and snarls "no," and while you might sue the agency later, for now you would just like to get the record and get out. Don't go mental. Get...

Getting a good quote doesn't guarantee a good story.(QUILL TOOLBOX: NARRATIVE WRITING)
October 1, 2006... From the moment a student walls into a journal-ism class in college, he's told to worship at the altar of the quote. The quote, it seems, is all that matters. The indoctrination continues after graduation, at the first paper where the...

Operate smarter: resell your work.(QUILL TOOLBOX: FREELANCE)
October 1, 2006... The phrase "work smarter, not harder" is a cliche. But never is it more true than in the world of freelance writing. With a limited number of hours in a week, the need to be self-motivated and the financial necessity to reach as many...

Inclusion beyond political correctness.(QUILL TOOLBOX: DIVERSITY)(Bosnia-Herzegovina)
October 1, 2006... In Bosnia-Herzegovina, inclusion isn't an ideal. It's essential. Ten years after the 1992-95 war, citizens still struggle with the painful aftermath of inter-ethnic hatred. Journalists risk their lives when they challenge the status qua. ...

10 tips for turning your career dreams into reality.(QUILL TOOLBOX: CAREER)
October 1, 2006... Few things excite me like the chance to teach about turning dreams into reality. Add the opportunity to talk one on one with dreamers, and I have the makings of a perfect day. I had the chance to do both at the 2006 SPJ Convention & National...

Overwriting can be the death of a good story.(QUILL TOOLBOX: WORDS/LANGUAGE)
October 1, 2006... A Popular and engaging showcase of bad writing is the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, described by its sponsors as "a whimsical literary competition that challenges entrants to compose the opening sentence to the worst of all possible novels."...

News organizations get creative to cover Castro-less Cuba.(QUILL TOOLBOX: GLOBAL)(Fidel Castro )
October 1, 2006... The evening of Monday, July 31, a hospitalized Fidel Castro handed over control of Cuba to his brother. It was the biggest news, out of Cuba in a decade: Fidel Castro, America s arch enemy, was stepping down after 47 years in power, longer...

'Horn of Africa' world's leading jailer of journalists.(QUILL TOOLBOX: GLOBAL)
October 1, 2006... The Committee to Protect Journalists calls it "the world's leading jailer of journalists." Reporters Without Borders (RSF) proclaims, "Africa's youngest country is still the continent's largest prison for journalists." The International...

Everyday people: unsung heroes make great subjects.(QUILL TOOLBOX: NEWS GEMS)
October 1, 2006... I love reading tales of ordinary people doing extraordinary things. These stories aren't about the politicians, tycoons and entertainers who usually grab the headlines. Instead, they show us how nonfamous folks like us handle life's ups and...