January 2006 - Tennessee Press Association

No. 7
JANUARY 2006
Vol. 69
Winter Convention,
Drive-In Training
will ‘have it all’
BY ELENORA E. EDWARDS
Managing editor
M
Baldwin
Bowles
Bredesen
Brewer
Dougherty
Flanagan
Fryar
Gibson
Heller
Hollow
Hufford
McCormack
DETAILS
Business, politics and training—
they’re all on the agenda of the TPA 2006
Press Institute and Winter Convention.
The Winter Convention Committee
has taken an already good thing and
tweaked it with an eye to making it
the best ever.
The convention will begin early the
afternoon of Wednesday, Feb. 8, and
conclude at 4:30 pm. Friday, Feb. 10, with
all features taking place at the Sheraton
Nashville Downtown, 623 Union St.
The detailed schedule is printed on
Page 4 of The Tennessee Press.
Newspapers have only a few days
to qualify for the early registration
discount at the hotel—the deadline is
Friday, Jan. 13. The discount rate is
$119 per night. One can reach the hotel
at 1-800-447-9825.
Jay Albrecht, publisher of The Covington Leader and chairman of the
convention committee, commented on
the significance of the meeting: “The
Press Institute and Winter Convention
has long been our organization’s best
What: 2006 TPA Press Institute
and Winter Convention
When: Wednesday-Friday,Feb. 8-10
Where: Sheraton Nashville
Downtown, 1-800-447-9825
Deadline: Friday, Jan. 13
meeting of the year. Not only is it a perfect opportunity to see colleagues from
around the state, but it will certainly be
one of our best group training sessions
of the year as well. We will have many
exciting training options during the
2006 Friday Drive-In Training event,
and we will have a large number of legislators on hand for our very important
annual Legislative Reception.
“If you’re looking for a large bang for
your buck, this is the meeting to attend.
I hope to see everyone in Nashville this
February.”
Wednesday morning, the Tennessee
Coalition for Open Government, an
SEE CONVENTION, PAGE 3
Legislature has taken up ‘secrecy’ again and again
With apologies to Yogi Berra, it’s “deja vu all
over again.”
Forty-one years ago, a group of distinguished
national and state journalists, including the
president of TPA, stood before a joint meeting of
the House and Senate judiciary committees. They
asked that the Tennessee General Assembly end the
practice of secret committee meetings and secret
votes. That was March 9, 1965.
The Freedom of Information Center at the University of Missouri reported that 28 states had open
meetings laws on the books by 1965.
Nine years later, on Feb. 21, 1974, Gov. Winfield
Dunn signed Tennessee’s first open meetings law.
The issue of secrecy in the legislature will be the
topic of discussion again in the state legislature in
early January. Lawmakers are expected to debate
whether to adopt a “sunshine law” especially for
the General Assembly or whether to add the legislature to the 31-year-old “Sunshine Law.” That
will be part of a special session on government
ethics reform.
The “déjà vu” feeling comes from the knowledge
that every time there has been a scandal or discussion of ethics reform there is talk of the govern-
INSIDE
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
HINES
2
6
ment promising to loosen up on its
campaign by TPA officials and a series of
control of the information flow. In
hearings across the state. Many thought
1965, reporters were being thrown
the problem solved when the legislature
out of meetings where legislative
adopted this language as a preamble to
committees were talking about
the state Open Meetings Act:
regulating lobbying activities in the
“The General Assembly hereby deGeneral Assembly. In 1974, there was
clares it to be the policy of this State
the Watergate scandal. In Tennessee,
that the formation of public policy and
while the legislature was passing
decisions is public business and shall
the “Sunshine Law,” members also TENNESSEE
not be conducted in secret.”
were discussing campaign finance
Wrong. At the end of the second secreporting and disclosure.
tion appeared these words: “except as
COALITION
The context for the current debate
provided by the Constitution of Tennesover “sunshine” is best explained FOR OPEN
see.” There was no explanation for why
in the final report of Gov. Phil GOVERNMENT types of meetings would be included in
Bredesen’s Ethics Advisory Group.
“except.” Insiders knew what it meant,
Under the subhead of “Openness,” Frank Gibson
but it was 27 years before the public unthe distinguished panel wrote: “Sederstood. No one could tell the legislature
crecy in government destroys public
what to do except the legislature.
confidence. Freely available information with the
Battle begins
means for all persons to obtain it easily serves as
Some open government advocates said the “sunan effective constraint on personal temptation, shine” law was needed as much to curtail problems
conflicts of interest, and unequal power.”
of closed city council and school board meetings
Passage of the “Sunshine Law” early in the sec- as it was state legislature, but it was a “culture of
ond half of the 88th General Assembly followed a secrecy” on Capitol Hill in Nashville that led to the
HENNINGER
TPS AWARD
6
9
NIE CURRENTS
FOI NEWS
10
11
FOUST
SLIMP
13
15
first skirmish in 1965.
The legislature had rules back then that
permitted committees to retreat to “executive session” at the first hint of controversy.
Sometimes it was only the actual vote on the
controversy that was closed. And, in many
cases, the committees didn’t even have to vote
on whether to go behind closed doors.
On Jan. 21, 1965, the Senate Judiciary Committee went into closed session “in order that
SEE GIBSON, PAGE 3
Gibson is executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government. One
can contact him at [email protected]; (615)
202-2685; or TCOG, P. O. Box 22248, Nashville, Tenn. 37202. For more information on
Tennessee’s government access laws and
a list of Sunshine Law problems reported in
Tennessee newspapers over the past three
years, go to www.tcog.info.
IN CONTACT
Phone: (865) 584-5761
Fax: (865) 558-8687
Online: www.tnpress.com
The Tennessee Press
2
(USPS 616-460)
Published monthly by the
TENNESSEE PRESS SERVICE, INC.
for the
TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION, INC.
435 Montbrook Lane
Knoxville, Tennessee 37919
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The Tennessee Press is printed by The Standard Banner, Jefferson City.
Greg M. Sherrill.....................................................Editor
Elenora E. Edwards.............................Managing Editor
Robyn Gentile..........................Production Coordinator
Angelique Dunn...............................................Assistant
20
Member
06
Tennessee Press Association
The Tennessee Press
is printed on recycled paper
and is recyclable.
www.tnpress.com
OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION
TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION
Steve Lake, Pulaski Citizen/The Giles Free Press................................President
Henry Stokes, The Commercial Appeal, Memphis.....................Vice President
Pauline Sherrer, Crossville Chronicle..........................................Vice President
Bill Willliams, The Paris Post-Intelligencer...........................................Treasurer
Greg M. Sherrill, Knoxville....................................................Executive Director
DIRECTORS
Keith Wilson, Kingsport Times-News...................................................District 1
Kevin Burcham, The News-Herald, Lenoir City....................................District 2
Tom Overton III, Advocate and Democrat, Sweetwater......................District 3
Bill Shuster, Herald-Citizen, Cookeville................................................District 4
Dennis Stanley, Smithville Review.......................................................District 5
Clint Brewer, The Lebanon Democrat...................................................District 6
Hulon Dunn, Lewis County Herald, Hohenwald..................................District 7
Dennis Richardson, Carroll County News-Leader, Huntingdon.........District 8
Victor Parkins, The Milan Mirror-Exchange...........................................District 9
Jay Albrecht, The Covington Leader....................................................District 10
Mike Fishman, Citizen Tribune, Morristown...........................................At large
TENNESSEE PRESS SERVICE
Bob Parkins, The Milan Mirror-Exchange.............................................President
Dale C. Gentry, The Standard Banner, Jefferson City.................Vice President
W. R. (Ron) Fryar, Southern Standard, McMinnville.............................Director
Mike Pirtle, The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro.............................Director
Pauline Sherrer, Crossville Chronicle.....................................................Director
Michael Williams, The Paris Post-Intelligencer......................................Director
Greg M. Sherrill............................................................Executive Vice President
TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION
W.R. (Ron) Fryar, Southern Standard, McMinnville...........................President
Larry K. Smith, LaFollette.............................................................Vice President
Richard L. Hollow, Knoxville....................................................General Counsel
Greg M. Sherrill....................................................................Secretary-Treasurer
CONTACT THE MANAGING EDITOR
TPAers with suggestions, questions or comments about items inTheTennessee
Press are welcome to contact the managing editor. Call Elenora E. Edwards,
(865) 457-5459; send a note to P.O. Box 502, Clinton, TN 37717-0502; or e-mail
[email protected]. The February issue deadline is Jan. 9.
JANUARY 2006
Mail your registration now
Feast your eyes! Slap yo’ momma! It’s here! The
To follow is a U.S. Senatorial Forum, also co-sponmoment we’ve all been awaiting! Our 2006 Press
sored by AP, and it appears all candidates—Harold
Institute and Winter Convention!
Ford Jr., Rosalind Kurita, Van Hilleary, Ed Bryant
Truly the heart and soul of the Tennessee Press
and Bob Corker—will be on hand. Clint Brewer,
Association is this annual pilgrimage of state
editor of The Lebanon Democrat, will moderate
newspaper owners, publishers and staff (visit our
as candidates seek to fill the highly-contested
Knoxville headquarters and observe the many
seat vacated by Bill Frist, who chose not to seek
framed pictures of yore). If you make no other
re-election.
event this year, please join us Wednesday through
Taking center stage as the main event once more is
Friday, Feb. 8-10, in Nashville. Tell your boss you
our annual Governor’s Banquet, slated for Thursday
yearn and ache to go; then follow it with you’re sure YOUR
evening. It’s been a very busy and interesting past
it will make him (or her) money in the long run, PRESIDING year for the governor and state politics in general
honest! It is time well invested, as the association
and, too, what TPA is trying to accomplish there in
and its constituents need and have much to gain REPORTER regard to improvements to open meetings and the
from each other alike; and if you’re a newcomer,
Sunshine Law. I don’t believe anyone will want to
there’s no better time to jump in and collectively Steve Lake
miss what he has to say.
see what we’re all about.
Drive-In Training on Friday is a day no card-carrying
Chairman Jay Albrecht, publisher of The Covington member of the press would dare neglect, a golden opportuLeader, has provided most of the following information. nity to receive ridiculously low-cost training from some of
He and his committee are in the midst of orchestrating an the best in their fields, covering categories in legal, design,
outstanding program.
photography, electronic media, editorial and a hands-on
Wednesday afternoon will see TPA, TPS and TPAF board computer lab. There will also be sessions tailored for
meetings, open to all members of the association. What better publishers and other key managers, such as the state’s best
way to see what’s going on within? The evening will feature ideas in circulation and advertising and an overall look
the annual Legislative Reception, returning once more to at challenges facing newspapers in today’s environment.
the Legislative Terrace of the Sheraton hotel where recent
A continental breakfast Friday morning will feature a
history has noted stellar showings of our state legislators. session on Scholastic Journalism and NIE Programs to get
This, too, comes at a critical time as we enter into a very things moving in the right direction. Lunch will highlight
important General Assembly dealing with ethics and many John Seigenthaler, who served The Tennessean for 43 years
other issues pertinent to our industry.
and retired as the newspaper’s editor, publisher and chief
Thursday kicks off with a joint Associated Press-TPA executive officer in 1991. Seigenthaler also was the foundLegislative Planning Session likely featuring Gov. Phil ing editorial director for USA Today upon its inception
Bredesen, Lt. Gov. John Wilder, Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, and in 1982. He helped form the First Amendment Center at
possibly majority or minority leaders from the House and Vanderbilt and still serves the mission of that center today.
the Senate. This session will consist of these key legislators
Mail that registration in right now—right now while you’re
sharing their plans and agenda items with us as they prepare thinking about it. Aw shucks, just do it because you want to
for the General Assembly. Should be a great opportunity to help your TPA president look good (need all the help I can
hear first-hand some of what to expect during the coming get). Look forward to seeing you in Nashville.
session.
STEVE LAKE is publisher of the Pulaski Citizen.
Williamson Herald
begins publication
Business people in Franklin have
launched a newspaper, The Williamson
Herald, with offices on Main St. in that
city. The first edition was published
Dec. 15.
According to an article in The City
Paper, Nashville, Mindy Tate, former
executive editor of The Review Appeal, Franklin, will serve as editor and
publisher. Debbie Antista is advertising
manager and Angel Gresham is circulation manager. Williamson County
Newspaper Corp. is the company, and
founding partners are Jim Cross, Paul
Pratt Jr. and Roger Waynick.
Publication of The Review Appeal
was discontinued after it was bought
by Gannett Corp., owner of The Tennessean, Nashville, and other Middle
Tennessee publications. The Tennessean has included a Review Appeal
section one day a week.
Governor sets session
Gov. Phil Bredesen on Dec. 19 called
the Tennessee Legislature into a special
session, beginning Jan. 10, to consider
a joint committee’s ethics reform bill,
which it adopted Nov. 16.
WORTH REPEATING
Don’t mess with public’s trust
The City of Lexington now has a new
governing body with installation of the
Mayor and Board of Aldermen. Along
with the change of Board members,
there is also usually a shift in the power
struggles.
Oftentimes these changes seem to
bring about communications between
individual members that circumvent
the state’s “Sunshine Law.” This law
is very specific about public business.
All public business (with only a few
exceptions) should be conducted in
public. Not just the final decisions, but
also any discussions between decisionmakers.
Some argue this is just not feasible
and that such discussions are not the
public’s business! But that is exactly
the idea behind the passage of the
“Sunshine Law.”
Any time an elected official discusses
public business, it is your business and
your tax dollars that they are discussing.
This includes committees or individual
conversations between two or more
members of a public group that can
deliberate toward a decision.
Of course the passage of the “Sunshine Law” was supported by the
Tennessee Press Association and its
president, the late W.T. Franklin Jr. This
group was instrumental in the wording
and passages of legislation.
But, the law was not designed to make
life easier for newspaper people; it was
to protect the public. The law does not
say “you have to call the media”; it
says there must be “adequate public
notice.”
Members of the news media seemed
to be charged with the duty of policing public officials under the law.
But the general public should take
this responsibility also. Remember it
is illegal for a few public officials to
discuss your government’s business
at clandestine gatherings or even by
electronic means.
As citizens of the City of Lexington,
we have placed our trust in this group
of city officials. We now trust that they
conduct our business in a straightforward and public manner.
(Lexington Progress, Oct. 5, 2005)
The Tennessee Press
JANUARY 2006
3
CONVENTION: Will ‘have it all’
FROM PAGE ONE
organization associated with TPA, will
meet. In the early afternoon, the TPA
Government Relations Committee and
the Freedom of Information Committee
will meet. After that, the TPA Board
of Directors will hold a meeting, and
it will be followed by a TPA business
session and a TPA Foundation Board
of Trustees meeting.
Later, a Legislative Reception will
be held on the Legislative Terrace. All
members of the Tennessee General
Assembly, as well as a number of staff
members and Capitol Hill principals,
are invited. After that, TPAers will have
dinner on their own.
The political scene will be the focus
on Thursday. The first event will be a
Legislative Planning Session sponsored
by the Associated Press and TPA. It will
focus on issues being considered by
the Tennessee General Assembly. Gov.
Phil Bredesen, House Speaker Jimmy
Naifeh, Lt. Gov. John Wilder, along with
other leaders, have been invited. Adam
Yeomans, AP Tennessee bureau chief,
will moderate.
He said, “The AP conducts similar sessions across the nation to bring together
newspaper and broadcast journalists
to discuss upcoming sessions. The
governor and key legislative leaders
are invited to discuss their plans for
the upcoming regular session and what
they see as the most critical issues facing the state.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for
many newsroom leaders who normally
do not cover the Capitol on a daily basis
to hear directly from top lawmakers.”
On the schedule for early afternoon
will be a U.S. Senatorial Candidate
Forum. Guests will be people seeking
the seat to be vacated by Bill Frist.
Candidates will get the chance to present their positions on various issues
and take questions from attendees.
Clint Brewer, managing editor of
The Lebanon Democrat, will serve as
moderator.
Later on Thursday afternoon, the TPA
Nominating Committee will meet.
That night, TPA will hold a reception,
and it will be followed by a banquet and
an address by Gov. Bredesen. Later,
TPAers will gather for the President’s
Dessert Reception.
All day Friday will be devoted to
training. It will begin with a session
on scholastic journalism and the Newspapers in Education program. Leaders
will be Homer Hall, Vanderbilt Univer-
McCormick
Pirtle
sity, Nashville; Bonnie Hufford, UT,
Knoxville; Dianne Bragg, University of
Memphis; and Lu Shep Baldwin, NIE coordinator for Jones Media, Athens. The
session will focus on the importance of
involving journalism in the schools and
how to implement programs.
A meeting of the Newspapers in
Education Committee, chairman of
which is Tom Overton, publisher of
the Monroe County Advocate and
Democrat, Sweetwater, will be held in
the morning.
Drive-In Training will involve four
tracks—design, legal, management
and photography—in the morning and
five—editorial, electronic media, management, InDesign and Photoshop—in
the afternoon.
At Friday lunch, John Seigenthaler,
founder of the First Amendment Center
at Vanderbilt University in Nashville,
will speak. A veteran of 43 years at
The Tennessean, he retired in 1991 as
GIBSON: Legislature has taken up ‘secrecy’ again, again
FROM PAGE TWO
members might vote on the bill designed to control legislative lobbying.”
Bill Kovach, one of The Tennessean’s Capitol Hill political
reporters, told Editor John Seigenthaler that the practice
of secret meetings was already starting, Seigenthaler and
the paper’s publisher instructed staff members assigned to
the legislature to protest the closed meetings.
Reporters and photographers were told to refuse to leave
when the “executive session” rule was invoked, but they were
instructed to leave if asked to by a sergeant-at-arms.
On Feb. 3, another committee met to discuss something
called “the little Hatch Act,” a measure to regulate political
activities of state employees. The legislation was discussed
openly in the Senate Local Government Committee, but
when it came time to vote, one member asked to invoke the
rule before the vote.
Kovach and Knoxville New-Sentinel reporter Dana Ford
Thomas objected and refused to leave. When a sergeant-atarms could not be found to remove them, the committee
adjourned in frustration.
The next day, the Senate voted to ban Tennessean reporters
from the Senate floor until Publisher Amon Carter Evans
agreed in writing to instruct his reporters to “abide by the
rules of this body.” When Kovach arrived the next day, he
was stopped at the Senate door and told he would have to
cover the proceedings from the balcony.
That led to a lawsuit, putting Tennessee’s legislature in the
national media spotlight. Editor & Publisher and Publishers’ Auxiliary reported that some of the state’s newspapers
criticized The Tennessean’s methods in what the legislature’s
leadership called “defiance.”
On Feb. 22, a federal judge in Nashville dissolved the ban
as an unconstitutional prior restraint and “a dangerous step
toward press control and censorship.” If the Tennessean
publisher agreed to the terms in the Senate resolution, it
could be forced to abide by every demand of leadership.
Battle continues
On March 9, the House and Senate judiciary committees
heard from a panel of experts and media representatives,
including J.R. Wiggins, editor of The Washington Post,
and Eugene D. Rutland, tri-state editor of The Commercial
Appeal and president of TPA.
Wiggins discussed the history of government secrecy in
England, where the House of Commons met in secret so the
monarch would not know what they were discussing, and in
the American colonies, whose assemblies were secret because
they didn’t want the royal governor to know what they were
talking about. That lasted in Massachusetts until in 1767 when
the House learned that Samuel Adams, the House clerk, was
discovered sending copies of resolutions in advance to the
home of the royal governor in England.
But, Rutland, speaking for the 151-member TPA, was blunter.
“Gentlemen, the press feels that you can eliminate any shadow
of suspicion of your activities and raise your image in the
mind of the people by simply declaring that all the public’s
business will be conducted in open meetings.”
At another point he noted that “Only in cases where the
security of the state is involved does the press of Tennessee
feel that there is ever a need for an executive session to handle
the public’s business. There are few, if any, such cases involved
in state business.
“Legislators are not so naïve as to think that the electorate
is not aware of what goes on at executive sessions–they know
that deals are made–but they don’t know who made them,”
Rutland said. “We feel that what the people don’t know will
hurt them.”
Members of the General Assembly, with five of its current
or former members under indictment for taking bribes on
business pending before it, now sees how the “culture of
secrecy” hurts them.
When the state Court of Appeals made it official in 2001 that
the “sunshine” law only applied to the legislature if it wanted
it to, original sponsors said there was no question that the
intent at the time was to include the legislature in the bill.
Several warts have been found in the statute in the almost 32
years it has been on the books. Perhaps the General Assembly
will try to fix all of them this time around.
FRANK GIBSON is executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and a member of TPA’s Freedom of
Information Committee. One can reach him at (615) 202-2685 or
by e-mail, [email protected]. For a list of suspected “sunshine
law” violations in Tennessee since 2003, go to the Headlines
section of www.tcog.info.
Seigenthaler
Slimp
editor, publisher and chief executive
officer. His career has included serving
as founding editorial director of USA
Today and as administrative assistant
to U.S. Attorney Gen. Robert F. Kennedy. His work now involves efforts to
protect and preserve First Amendment
freedoms.
The following are descriptions of the
Friday training tracks:
DESIGN
Design theory—Presented by Ray
Wong, professor at Middle Tennessee
State University, Murfreesboro. He
will share the latest proven principals
of page layout and design.
Design critique—Wong. He will
comment on the design of pages from
Tennessee newspapers and make suggestions for improvements.
MANAGEMENT 101
State’s best advertising ideas—Laura Dougherty, advertising director of
The Paris Post-Intelligencer and TPA
Advertising Committee chairman. The
topic will be the best advertising ideas
from across the state compiled by the
committee.
State’s best circulation ideas—
Keith McCormick, circulation director
of the Herald-Citizen, Cookeville, and
TPA Circulation Committee chairman. The best circulation ideas will
be presented.
Equipment/software review—Kevin Slimp, TPS technology director. He
will present an overview of the latest
computer equipment and software.
MANAGEMENT 201
Challenges facing newspapers—
Ron Fryar, senior vice president of
operations for American Hometown
Publishing, Nashville. This session
will involve a discussion of challenges
facing newspapers in the economy,
business costs, labor market, climate
of competition today.
Wong
Yeomans
LEGAL
Tennessee’s open government
laws—Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open
Government, Nashville, will speak on
open meetings, public records, open
courts and cameras in the courtroom as
well as the shielding of news sources.
Libel and privacy—Rick Hollow of
Hollow and Hollow, Knoxville, TPA legal
counsel. He will explain the ins and
outs of libel and privacy issues to help
newspapers stay out of court.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Back to the basics—Rob Heller, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He will
offer technical and creative pointers for
making strong photographs.
Roundtable on best practices—
Larry McCormack, photographer, The
Tennessean, Nashville. McCormack
and Heller will lead a group discussion
on what to do when shooting difficult
subjects, community journalism and
how to serve a community through
photography storytelling.
Equipment review—An equipment
vendor will display several different
digital cameras.
ELECTRONIC MEDIA
Blogs and newspapers—Mike McCloud, president of MMA Creative,
and Mike Kopp, vice president of MMA
Creative, Cookeville, will talk about
what blogging means to the newspaper
industry.
Web site strategies—Several of the
state’s best Web sites will be featured,
as well as elements that make them
notable.
EDITORIAL
Ethics in reporting—Dorothy
Bowles, UT, Knoxville, and Kent Flanagan, MTSU, Murfreesboro. The need for
adherence to ethical principles for reSEE CONVENTION, PAGE 4
Bredesen receives national education award
Gov. Phil Bredesen recently received
the Gift of Reading Award from Reading Is Fundamental, a national literacy
organization, for his efforts to promote
early childhood education and reading
in Tennessee.
“My number one priority as governor
is providing the best possible education
for our children,” Bredesen said. “And
the best investment we can make as
a state is to ensure that Tennessee’s
children have the tools they need to
succeed in school and in life.
“Every citizen plays a role in this vital
public service. I want to thank Dolly
Parton for helping to give Tennessee’s
children a love of reading, and I also
want to congratulate my fellow honorees and Reading is Fundamental for
their work to promote education across
our nation.”
Bredesen received the award at a
ceremony in Washington, where he
was honored for his voluntary pre-K
program and his Books From Birth
initiative. Bredesen launched the preK plan in the fall with the opening of
300 new pre-K classrooms in 106 school
districts.
Bredesen in May 2004 established the
Governor’s Books From Birth Foundation to make recording artist Dolly
Parton’s early reading program, Imagination Library, a statewide initiative
in Tennessee. Children in 72 counties
receive a new book every month at no
cost to Tennessee families through the
program. The Tennessee Press Association is a partner in this program.
The Tennessee Press
4
JANUARY 2006
CONVENTION: Winter meeting, Drive-In Training will ‘have it all’
FROM PAGE 3
porters and editors will be discussed.
AP style—Bonnie Hufford, UT, Knoxville. A review of the basics of the AP
Stylebook to make one’s job easier and
for producing a better newspaper.
Roundtable on covering local issues—Mike Pirtle, managing editor of
The Daily News Journal, Murfreesboro.
Participants will share ideas and experiences and learn about issues editorial
staff members face regularly.
TECHNOLOGY
InDesign: The Next Step—Kevin
Slimp, TPS technology director. This
session will cover tools many InDesign
users have not had time to learn, such
as Nested Styles, Placing Photos in Text,
Working With Scripts and more.
Photoshop CS and CS2 Tips and
Tricks—Slimp. He will teach the use of
newer color adjustment tools, as well as
the editing of Camera Raw photos.
Bredesen, the 48th governor of Tennessee, took office Jan. 18, 2003 with a
promise to “focus energy on real results
by leaving behind predictable and stale
political debates.”
During his first year in office, he
brought a new level of candor, openness
February 8-10, 2006, Sheraton Nashville Downtown Hotel
Tennessee Press Association - The University of Tennessee
20 Press Institute &
06 Winter Convention
Wednesday, February 8:
6:00 p.m. Reception
10:00 a.m. Tennessee Coalition for Open
Government meeting
7:00 p.m. Banquet and Governor’s
Address
12:00 p.m. Technology Committee
meeting
9:00 p.m. President’s Dessert
Reception
12:30 p.m. TPA Registration Opens
1:00 p.m. Government Relations
Committee and Freedom of
Information Committee joint
meeting
2:00 p.m. Tennessee Press Association
Board of Directors
*TPA Business Session
*Tennessee Press Association Foundation
Board of Trustees meeting
(*meeting will begin when
preceding meeting ends)
5:30 p.m. Legislative Reception
7:30 p.m. Evening on your own
Thursday, February 9:
9:00 a.m. Legislative Planning Session
1:30 p.m. U.S. Senatorial Candidate
Forum
4:00 p.m. TPA Nominating Committee
meeting
Friday, February 10:
“Drive-In Training”
sponsored by Tennessee Press Association
Foundation
8:00 a.m. Scholastic Journalism /
N.I.E.
9:15 a.m. Drive-In Training Morning
Tracks:
Design Track
Legal Track
Management 101 Track
Photography Track
HIGHLIGHTS
• Gov. Bredesen’s
address at banquet
• Senatorial Candidate
Forum
• Legislative Planning
Session
• Legislative Reception
• InDesign Computer Lab
• Re-vamped Drive-In
Training for Staff
10:00 a.m. N.I.E. Committee meeting
12:15 p.m. Lunch
Speaker: John Seigenthaler
1:45 p.m. Drive-In Training Afternoon Tracks:
Editorial Track
Electronic Media Track
Management 201 Track
Technology Track—InDesign Computer Lab
3:15 p.m. Technology Track—Photoshop Tips and Tricks
4:30 p.m. Convention adjourns
DEADLINES
HOTEL
RESERVATIONS:
Friday, January 13
TPA EARLY REGISTRATION DISCOUNT:
Friday, January 13
CANCELLATIONS:
Friday, February 3
FEATURING: “Drive-In Training”
Take a look at this comprehensive and cost-effective training program and put it to use for your staff.
Program details and registration at www.tnpress.com
and accountability to state government.
In one of his first acts as governor,
Bredesen opened the door to administrative budget hearings, allowing
taxpayers to see for the first time the
decisions that are made on how their
money is spent. His first three executive
orders established the toughest ethics
rules in the history of Tennessee’s
executive branch. He managed the
state through a fiscal crisis without
raising taxes or cutting funding for
education.
In years two and three, Bredesen
pushed measures to improve education,
including raising teacher pay above
the Southeastern average and expanding Tennessee’s pre-kindergarten
program. He worked with the General
Assembly to reform Tennessee’s workers’ compensation system and invest in
retraining programs to help laid-off employees develop new skills. He launched
Tennessee’s war on methamphetamine
abuse by focusing on treatment, prevention and public awareness as well
as enhanced criminal penalties and
resources for law enforcement.
Bredesen took control of TennCare,
the state’s financially troubled Medicaid-expansion program, by preserving
full enrollment for children and pursuing innovative care and disease-management initiatives.
Bredesen served as mayor of Nashville from 1991 to 1999. He invested
nearly $500 million to build new schools
and hire new teachers. He developed a
state-of-the-art library system, oversaw
downtown redevelopment, expanded
the city’s park system and drove down
the crime rate. Under his leadership,
Nashville saw record economic growth
by recruiting high-quality jobs and
companies. Bredesen brought two professional sports teams to Nashville: the
NFL’s Tennessee Titans and the NHL’s
Nashville Predators.
Before entering public service,
Bredesen was a healthcare entrepreneur. He drafted a business plan at the
kitchen table that led to the creation in
1980 of HealthAmerica Corp., a Nashville-based healthcare management
company that eventually grew to more
than 6,000 employees and traded on the
New York Stock Exchange. He sold the
company in 1986.
Bredesen is a founding member of
Nashville’s Table, a nonprofit group
that collects discarded food from restaurants and distributes it to the homeless
population. He founded the Land Trust
for Tennessee, a nonprofit organization
that works statewide to preserve open
space and traditional family farms.
Conte is founder and president of You
Have the Power ... Know How to Use
It, a nonprofit organization dedicated
to raising awareness about crime and
justice issues.
Bredesen, who grew up in rural
Shortsville, N.Y., moved to Nashville
in 1975. He earned a bachelor’s degree
in physics from Harvard University. He
is an avid hunter and outdoorsman, a
licensed pilot and enjoys painting as
a hobby. He and Conte have one son,
Ben.
The Tennessee Press
JANUARY 2006
TPA: I remember when...
BY LARRY K. SMITH
Publisher emeritus
The LaFollette Press
I look back at many
warm friendships
and interesting
experiences over
more than 30 years
with the Tennessee
Press Association
and its sister
organizations, TPS
Smith
and TPAF.
Golfing in a bonechilling gale with fellow TPS board
members on the Gulf Coast, climbing
the ancient Mayan pyramid at Chichen
Itza, Mexico, a famous fishing trip out
of Panama City when Jack Fishman’s
“biggest fish of the day” turned out to
be the boat’s propeller—all are worthy
of retelling. And they add flavor to the
continuing privilege of participating in
organizations that have done much for
the newspapers—and their readers—in
Tennessee.
But let me tell you about another
experience. This was during my term
as TPA president in 1977-78. Then-Secretary-Manager Glenn McNeil had arranged for his boyhood friend Admiral
Maurice Wiesner, commander-in-chief
of All Pacific Forces (CINCPAC), to take
a small group of Tennessee newspapermen along with him as he visited part
of his command area.
We joined the admiral and his wife
on his military plane, starting at Pearl
Harbor after witnessing the change of
command ceremonies for the commander of the Pacific Fleet. The trip took us
to South Korea, Japan, the Philippines
(twice), Bangkok and Guam.
The admiral had both military and
diplomatic responsibilities, and at each
stop, we watched as high level government officials met the plane with pomp
and ceremony.
We enjoyed detailed briefings by the
highest level military and diplomatic officials at each stop, and the information
I gained provided material for a series
of full-page stories in the LaFollette
Press when I returned home.
In South Korea we donned flak jackets
and helmets and drove in a convoy to
the northernmost American guardpost
to look out over the demilitarized zone
(DMZ) into North Korea. Live mines lay
out before us, and military patrols still
went out every night. It hadn’t been long
before we arrived that North Korean
soldiers had attacked and killed a small
group of American soldiers..
Later we visited the peace village
of Panmunjom that straddled the
demarcation line between North and
South Korea. A blue line ran through
the village, entered one particular
building, ran across its floor, up and
along the length of a table, down the
other side and out through the wall and
down the street.
From the South Korean side we
looked at North Korean soldiers taking our pictures from an impressive
three-story building that stood opposite
South Korea’s Peace Pavilion. From
the end, however, we could see that the
North Korean building was only about
eight or 10 feet deep. It apparently was
used as barracks for the North Korean
soldiers.
As we were escorted inside the building where peace talks were still being
held, we were told we could freely step
across the blue line and actually be in
North Korea. “But don’t go out the door
on that side,” one of our soldier-guides
told us. “If they capture you, there’s
nothing we can do.”
Our escorts carefully blocked the
doors leading to the north.
Later, we flew by helicopter to the
center of the peninsula and took a
short walk down into a North Korean
invasion tunnel that had only recently
been discovered. It was wide enough
that three fully armed soldiers could
come through it abreast. Rails had been
laid to haul out the rocks.
We walked deep into the mountain to
where the tunnel had been plugged at
the physical demarcation between the
two Koreas. There, one soldier was on
guard. His only companions were a
couple of canaries and goldfish swimming in a bowl.
A thick window was centered in the
plug, and sensors poked into enemy
territory. Floodlights beamed into the
distance. What were the sensors for? we
asked. “Classified,” we were told curtly
by our usually talkative escorts.
Our first visit to the Philippines was
to Clark Air Base. And from there
we took a Philippine navy ship out
to Corregidor, a small rocky island
strategically located at the mouth of
Manila Bay. It was from there that
Gen. Douglas MacArthur evacuated
to Australia, vowing “I shall return”
as Japanese army approached during
World War II.
The island still stands as a museum
of the horrific fighting in the Pacific.
Everything was left just as it was at the
end of the war. Military vehicles lie in
various stages of destruction. Bombedout buildings are being overrun by the
jungle. At the highest point a huge gun
that was never fired in anger—it was
aimed in the wrong direction to be used
against the invading Japanese forces.
Our guide told us his father had been
killed on the last day of fighting before
the island was surrendered.
That evening we flew back to Manila
on a military helicopter and watched
the sun set behind the rocky Bataan
Peninsula, scene of the infamous
Bataan death march. Three soldiers
from Campbell County were part of
that march. Two survived.
As we walked down a sidewalk with
our military escort at Clark Air Base,
the ever-curious McNeil asked what
he was carrying. It looked like a cross
between a telephone handset and a
walkie-talkie.
The soldier said it was a wireless telephone. That was almost 30 years ago!
McNeil was skeptical but accepted the
offer to try it. In a few minutes, he was
talking to his wife back in Knoxville.
It wasn’t all serious stuff, however.
In Bangkok, McNeil suggested we take
a walk before dinner at our hotel.
We walked along incredibly crowded
streets filled with orange-clad Buddhist
priests, purposeful business people and
shoppers. The streets were gridlocked
with cars, their horns blaring. There
were incredible contrasts, shops offering expensive silks and jewelry next to
open garbage dumps. The smells were
unbelievable.
I suspect McNeil had done some
research because he suggested that
we walk along a certain street, take
a left through an alleyway, then take
another left back to the hotel. That was
fine with me.
But when we turned into the alleyway
I realized that we had entered Bangkok’s
legendary massage district. Pictures
of scantily clad women were posted in
darkened windows. Men stood in dark
doorways beckoning us in.
A greasy looking Thai jumped toward
me and scurried to keep up as I walked
a little faster. McNeil slowed down to
enjoy my discomfort.
The Thai stuck a greasy looking
laminated “menu” of his wares under
my nose. “Come on in,” he urged. “You
no like, you no pay. Only place in town
that uses vitamin C soap.”
I shook him off, and he finally dropped
back to keep pace with McNeil.
And, realizing what he had done to me,
I let them pass and walked behind, anxious to see how McNeil would handle
the sales pitch.
The Thai went through the same
spiel, reaching the menu higher as
McNeil walked regally erect, his head
held high.
“Come on in,” he urged. “You no like,
you no pay. Only place in town that uses
vitamin C soap.”
“Sorry,” McNeil replied. “I never use
anything but vitamin A soap.”
And with that the dejected little Thai
crawled back to his dark hole in the wall
of massage shops. And we returned
to our hotel and joined the others for
dinner.
Your turn—share your memories
Won’t you share your favorite TPA
memories through The Tennessee
Press and www.tnpress.com? Tell your
colleagues your earliest memory—or
the weirdest or funniest or most
touching.
We’ll print them, as we can, in future
issues of The Tennessee Press.
One can submit his or her story by
sending it to [email protected] or
ATTN.: TPA Memory, Tennessee Press
Association, 435 Montbrook Lane,
Knoxville, Tenn. 37919, or by faxing it
to (865) 558-8687. Robyn Gentile, member
services manager, will pass them on to
the Tennessee Press managing editor.
5
OBITUARIES
John Burgess Jr.
Retired from Appeal
John Owen Burgess Jr., retired
employee of The Commercial Appeal,
Memphis, died of pancreatic cancer
Nov. 30 at his home in Memphis.
The son of Owen and Doris Burgess
of Brownsville, he grew up around the
newspaper business. His parents owned
the Brownsville States-Graphic, and
Owen Burgess served as president of
the Tennessee Press Association. At the
States-Graphic he handled a variety of
duties while a student at Haywood High
School. He conducted interviews, wrote
stories and shot photographs, whatever
was required. Around town he was almost as well known as his pet dog, Elvis,
a town mascot. After graduation from
high school Burgess attended Memphis
State University. While a student there,
he worked as a copy clerk with The
Commercial Appeal. Over the years he
held numerous jobs at the newspaper,
including national sales representative for the travel section, marketing
photographer and, most recently, editor
of the newspaper’s monthly Casino
magazine, a special publication cover-
ing gaming in Tunica, Miss. Burgess
retired from The Commercial Appeal
in September.
Over the years he followed numerous
other pursuits, with an emphasis on
music. He was a guitar player, drummer and songwriter and was active in
such local bands as the Wampus Cats,
Bobby Lawson & Smokehouse, the
Reba Russell Band, The Whup Brothers and The Kirk Smithhart Band. His
other interests included golf, fishing
and photography.
During the 1990s Burgess was a performer in the Gridiron Show. He also
appeared, starred in or wrote various
scripts for several Memphis Advertising
Federation Ad Follies. Earlier this year,
he received the Jeff Piselli Media Support Award from the Tunica Convention
and Visitors Bureau for working closely
with public relations representatives to
increase interest in the Tunica area.
He was an Episcopalian and served
as an acolyte.
Burgess leaves his wife, Elizabeth
(Liz) Hall Burgess of Memphis, to whom
he had been married almost 18 years; a
son, John O. (Jack) Burgess III of Bells;
and his mother, Doris Rogers Burgess
of Brownsville.
Clarksville remembers Souza,
photographer 54 years
BY DAVID R. ROSS
The Leaf-Chronicle, Clarksville
W.J. Souza’s colorful life as a newspaper and police photographer who
chronicled countless events in the
Clarksville region for more than a
half-century was celebrated Sunday by
about 70 friends, admirers and family
members.
Wilford Joseph (W.J.) Souza Sr., died
Aug. 7, 2005 at age 84. A memorial service
and reception were held (Dec. 4) at the
Customs House Museum and Cultural
Center honoring Souza’s life and work,
which included the taking and careful
processing of untold thousands of
black-and-white photographs of Clarksville’s people, places and events.
Souza worked as chief photographer at The Leaf-Chronicle from 1949
to 1983 and then became the City of
Clarksville’s official photographer
until retirement from that position in
2003. He worked extensively with the
Clarksville Police Department, Montgomery County Sheriff ’s Department
and Tennessee Highway Patrol.
Souza’s sons, Wilford (Bubby) Souza
Jr. and Kevin Souza, who now live in
San Francisco, were special guests at
the ceremony.
Kevin Souza, the younger son, said
his father and mother, Martha, were
quite a team. The Souzas were married
41 years.
“My father never was the same after
the death of my mother in 2001. I don’t
know that I ever heard my mother call
him anything but ‘Souza,’ as did most
of you here today,” he said.
Several of those who knew Souza best
shared stories and anecdotes about
the man whose black and white photos
published in The Leaf-Chronicle from
1949 to 1983 helped tell the stories of
Clarksville’s citizens during the era
when the small Tennessee town grew
into one of the state’s major cities.
“He probably took more photographs
of people and events in Clarksville
than any other person…,” said Gene
Washer, president and publisher of The
Leaf-Chronicle.
One of the first people Washer met at
the paper when he came to work in 1963
was W.J. Souza. Washer said he soon
learned that Souza was one of the best
news photographers in the country.
“Life is like a flashbulb, flashing in a
brief moment of time,” Washer said.
“In the scope of time, the flashes that
W.J. made are forever reflected in the
thousands of people he photographed
and touched in other ways.”
Olen Bryant, a professor of art at
Austin Peay State University and
renowned artist in his own right, said
he didn’t know Souza personally but
always admired his work.
“His attention to detail was marvelous, and his photos were monumental,”
Bryant said. “I admired his work very
much and that’s why I wanted to come
today.”
A California native, Souza originally
came to Clarksville after enlisting with
the U.S. Army during World War II and
was trained at then-Camp Campbell.
He returned to Clarksville, which he
SEE SOUZA, PAGE 7
The Tennessee Press
6
Newspaper staffs identify aims
FORESIGHT
2006
JANUARY
2: TPA offices closed
13: Deadline for registering for
the Press Institute and Winter Convention
FEBRUARY
3: Ideas Contest deadline
8-10: UT-TPA Press Institute
and Winter Convention,
Nashville
10-15: Southern Classified
Advertising Managers Association Conference, River
View Plaza Hotel, Mobile,
Ala.
17: State Press Contests deadline
MARCH
2: Read Across America Day
6-10: Sunshine Week
6-10: NIE Week. Theme, Information Literacy
8-11: NNA Government Affairs
Conference, Wyndham
Washington Hotel, Washington, D.C.
16: National Freedom of Information Conference, Arlington, Va.
23-25: SNPA and TNIE NIE/
Literacy Conference, Dallas,
Texas
APRIL
2-4: NAA Annual Conference,
The Fairmont, Chicago
6-8: TPA Advertising/Circulation Conference, Paris Landing State Park
30-May 3: Southern Circulation
Managers Association, Chattanooga
MAY
1: Law Day
JUNE
14-17: AAEC Annual Conference, Embassy Suites Hotel,
Denver, Colo.
15-17: 8th Great Obituary Writers’ Conference, Plaza Hotel,
Las Vegas, N.M.
14-16: TPA 137th Annual
Summer Convention, Chattanooga Choo Choo
SEPTEMBER
8: International Literacy Day
OCTOBER
1-7: National Newspaper Week
11-14: NNA 120th Annual
Convention & Trade Show,
The Renaissance Hotel, Oklahoma City, Okla.
JANUARY 2006
EDITOR’s NOTE: Randy Hines was
joined by Dave Kaszuba in the
writing of this month’s column.
We know. Tennessee newspaper
editors and reporters are too busy to
find time for silly New Year’s resolutions. You have your hands full with
tomorrow’s deadline, never mind thinking about what you’ll be doing the next
365 days, right?
We’re not about to let you off the hook
that easily. In hopes that you might
entertain at least one resolution—no
matter how quickly it might fall by
the wayside—we offer possible New
Year’s pledges for 2006. They run the
gamut, from earnest suggestions you
might adopt in the name of improved
journalistic practice, to ridiculous
proposals meant just for fun. Take them
to heart, or take them with a grain of
salt. Here they are:
•Read—or reread—All the President’s
Men. What better way to recharge your
journalistic batteries for the year
ahead? Read about Woodward and
Bernstein and rediscover why you
were drawn to the profession in the
first place: because newspapers really
can make a difference, even in the face
of the highest political power.
•Update those old column photos. Who
do you think you’re fooling? You’re
not 29 anymore. Your lifestyles editor
no longer weighs 115 pounds. And
Secure an anonymous interthe sports guy hasn’t had a
view with an illegal fireworks
mustache since 1999. (Heck,he
dealer. Interview folks who
doesn’t even have hair on his
won’t dare go within a mile
head anymore.) So do you and
of the mall on Black Friday
your colleagues a favor by
or who dismiss the tradition
lobbying for new head-andof gift-giving altogether.
shoulder shots to grace those
•Read—or reread—The Elecolumns.
ments of Style. Just because
•Be nice to a PR person.
and
Not.
PRESSING we deal with commas
dangling modifiers on a daily
•Spring a newsroom staffer
basis doesn’t mean we’re not
from the “doghouse.” Every ISSUES
prone to forget or overlook
newspaper has at least one:
a less-than-inspiring staffer Randy Hines some important grammatical
lessons. A refresher is in order.
whose inconsistent perforThe late Pulitzer Prize-winmance has relegated him or her
to the doghouse, covering low-profile ning sports columnist Red Smith said
assignments or editing filler copy. that reading the Strunk and White clasMaybe it’s time to give that person sic was an annual rite for him. If it was
good enough for Red Smith. . .
another shot.
•Pay your freelancers promptly. Hey,
•Review carefully the Associated
Press Stylebook. And it wouldn’t hurt editors, you don’t waste any time in
if you had the latest version of the filing that expense report when you get
back from covering a big out-of-town
journalist’s bible.
•Resist the same-old, same-old. Every story. So do right by your freelancers
year it’s the same: Super Bowl Sunday and file their check requests promptly,
brings the obligatory story about too. Good freelancers are hard to come
where local fans will watch the “big by. Don’t give them reason to seek other
game.” July Fourth means it’s time to outlets that will turn around those
revisit firework safety tips. The day paychecks more quickly.
•Be more diligent about newspaper
after Thanksgiving brings a Page One
story about shoppers descending on the contests. Don’t wait until the last minute
mall in search of bargains. And on and to begin collecting submissions for the
on it goes. Why not go off the board this annual awards contests sponsored by
year? Profile the football widows who Tennessee’s press association or some
can’t wait for the Super Bowl to be over. national organization. Instead, keep
track of those top stories and layouts
on a daily or weekly basis. It will make
it a lot easier to go back and find the
tearsheets when the contest deadline
approaches.
Last-second trips to Knoxville can
get tense. Plus, it will save you from
overlooking a particularly worthy entry
amid the dozens and dozens of other
stories and deadlines that have come
and gone since you churned out that
forgotten gem.
•Talk to a college journalism class.
Check the Web site of a local college to
find the name of a journalism prof, then
call to ask whether she might be interested in having you address her class.
You’ll get to tell some war stories while
also injecting a “real world” perspective
into the classroom. We rarely say no to
such offers. And who knows? You may
enjoy it so much that you decide to
pursue an adjunct gig, teaching a class
once or twice a week.
•Switch to decaf. Yeah, right.
DAVE KASZUBA, a former reporter,
teaches journalism and other communications classes along with RANDY
HINES at Susquehanna University. Their
address is 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove, Pa. 17870. Dave can be reached
at [email protected]. Hines, former
Tennessee educator, can be reached at
[email protected].
A top 15 for community newspapers
ism.
It’s an excerpt from the book
A community newspaper is
“Community Journalism” by
not just a smaller version of a
Jock Lauterer. I urge you to
big-city paper.
read this closely. Actually, I
Regardless of who you’ve
believe you’ll enjoy it. More on
been told owns your newspaper,
Lauterer follows the excerpt.
your paper’s true owner is the
15 Things community newscommunity.
paper people should know: By
The doors of your newsroom
Jock Lauterer
should be just as open as the
With apologies to David BY
doors of the homes, offices and
Letterman, here’s my Top 10
meeting rooms of the people
List for community journal- DESIGN
you expect to cover.
ists—with several bonus
points thrown in for anyone Ed Henninger The purpose of your paper
is to serve your community—
who could use some affirmapure and simple.
tion and a chuckle.
Your mantra is “Local, local, local,”
Whether you know it—or like it—or
not, you’re doing community journal- followed by “All stories are local.”
Your job title is only a beginning. Don’t
take it too literally.
You don’t have to wait until you get to
Washington Post, Sports Illustrated
the
A 2006 paperback by TPA columnist Randy Hines
or National Geographic to do your best
work. You can do it now.
You may not get rich but your psychic
pay will be enormous.
Small is beautiful. Believe it—don’t
it away.
wish
visitors
welcome
truly
*
If you want your church to:
Everybody has/is a story.
* design effective ads
Every story will lead to another story.
* catch a vision for growth
It’s all connected. Just pay attention
* use communication audits
* write good news releases
and trust.
The “middle of nowhere” is the center
of someone else’s universe.
Order your copy today for $10.95
When journalists say: “There’s noth-
As a consultant who works quite often
with community newspapers, I enjoy
the privilege of occasionally visiting
their offices. And when I do, there’s
sometimes a surprise waiting for me.
When I worked on the redesign of The
Natchez Democrat recently, I ran into
something I knew I had to share with
you. I found it pinned to the bulletin
board in the office of The Democrat’s
editor.
The following has nothing to do with
design—and yet is has everything to do
with design. That’s because it has to do
with how we think about community
journalism—and design is the visual
statement of who we are and what we
are as community journalists.
Columnist has not
granted permission
for inclusion in our
online version of The
Tennessee Press.
Feeling at Home in God’s Family
Send check to: Randy Hines
37 Woodlynn Drive
Selinsgrove PA 17870
ing going on
here,” they’re
really telling
you about the
space between
their ears.
Jayson Blair
wouldn’t have
lasted a week
at a decent community newspaper.
Jock Lauterer is lecturer in journalism at the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and founding director
of the Carolina Community Media
Project at the university’s School of
Journalism and Mass Communication.
He was founding coeditor-publisher of
two award-winning North Carolina
community newspapers. His book, Community Journalism, Relentlessly Local,
is published by The University of North
Carolina Press. ISBN 0-8078-5629-0. The
Third Edition has not yet been released,
but may be ordered now.
EDWARD F. HENNINGER is an
independent newspaper consultant and
the Director of OMNIA Consulting. Offering design consultation, redesigns, staff
training, workshops. One can reach him
at (803) 327-3322 or edh@edhenninger.
com. On the Web: www.edhenninger.
com.
The Tennessee Press
JANUARY 2006
Souza: Clarksville photographer
FROM PAGE 5
adopted as his hometown.
Mike Bowers, a retired Tennessee
Bureau of Investigation agent who also
served as a Tennessee state trooper and
as a Montgomery County deputy, said
law enforcement in the Clarksville
area never had a greater friend than
W.J. Souza.
“I never did it and don’t know any
officer who actually did, but when something like a wreck, accident or murder
occurred, we in law enforcement were
accused of calling Souza first and then
calling the ambulance because he’d
always be on the scene and was usually
was one of the first to arrive, day or
night,” Bowers said.
Don Birdwell, a retired Federal
Bureau of Investigation special agent
who worked in Clarksville, said Souza’s
photographs were used extensively to
help prosecutors make cases.
Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jim
Charlet, a former co-worker of Souza’s
at The Leaf-Chronicle and whose family
once owned the newspaper, said Souza
was like a surrogate father to him.
“I learned a great deal from W.J. Souza,
as did many others,” Charlet said.
Joel Plummer, former Montgomery
County sheriff, Tennessee commissioner of safety and Montgomery
County executive, said Souza was well
known by all Tennessee governors, law
enforcement officers at all levels and
citizens from all walks of life.
Also attending the ceremony was
Beatrice Carney, a long-time friend of
the Souza’s who took care of their two
sons on weekdays while the parents
worked.
“W.J. worked at the paper and Martha
worked at B.F. Goodrich, and I helped
raise those boys,” she said. “They
worked very hard and loved each other
and their sons a great deal. I was very
happy to be a part of their family.”
Robert Smith, the Leaf Chronicle’s
current chief photographer, was hired
23 years ago when Souza retired from
the paper.
“I’ve often been asked, ‘Did you
replace Souza?’ No one could replace
Souza,” Smith said.
Pastor Jimmy Terry, of Clarksville’s
Tabernacle Baptist Church, said he
came to know Souza when he first
arrived here in 1979. They became
especially close in recent years.
“I asked him one day if he knew Jesus
Christ as his personal savior, and he
said ‘Yes, of course, preacher,’ and I
said, ‘OK, then everything’s all right,’”
Terry said.
One of Souza’s most famous photos
was of Olympic gold medalist Wilma
Rudolph as she was riding in a convertible automobile during a parade in her
honor in her hometown of Clarksville
after winning three gold medals in the
1960 Rome Olympics.
Terry told how the Olympic hero returned to Clarksville later to help open
the Tabernacle Baptist Church.
“W.J. and Wilma just got off to themselves and talked and talked. They
had quite a bit of catching up to do,”
Terry said.
Wilford (Bubby) Souza Jr. said he
knew his father was watching the day’s
ceremony. “I want to tell him I love him
very much,” Bubby Souza said.
(Dec. 5, 2005)
REWRITES
JANUARY 1956
JANUARY 1981
The Claiborne Progress repeated
its win of two years before as the
nation’s best National Newspaper Week
promoter, and Tennessee added a fifth
straight year of top recognition.
James W. Crawford, The DemocratUnion, Lawrenceburg, was serving as
chairman of the TPA Nominating Committee and a member of the Advertising
Promotion Committee.
Work was under way on a secondstory addition to the Cleveland Daily
Banner’s building. It was to include
a mail and carriers’ room and a conveyor system to move papers from the
pressroom.
Coleman A. Harwell, editor of The
Nashville Tennessean, was elected
secretary of the Associated Press
Managing Editors at a convention in
Colorado Springs, Colo. In addition, The
Chattanooga Times and the Nashville
Banner were among 77 newspapers
across the nation cited for exceptional
news coverage.
New TPA President Charles S.
Rooks called 1955 “probably the best
year American newspapers have
ever known,” with advertising being
abundant.
Sessions on budgeting, stress
management and how to use census
data were planned for the 1981 Winter
Convention and Press Institute.
Scott Brown, associate editor of the
Courier-Chronicle, Humboldt, was
named managing editor of The Crockett
Times, Alamo.
The Gatlinburg Press and Sevier
County News-Record didn’t miss an
issue after their printing plant was
destroyed by fire on Dec. 11. The papers
were printed at The Maryville-Alcoa
Daily Times at first and then The
Newport Plain Talk.
Marie Anthony Wathen, editor and
publisher of The Collierville Herald,
broke her hip in July 1980. Since then
the near-centenarian had been living
and working in a room behind the
office of the 100-year-old newspaper in
downtown Collierville.
Newspapers were expecting three
postal hikes during 1981, the first in
March.
A superior performance award
was presented the East Tennessee
Professional Chapter of the Society of
Professional Journal at the 71st annual
national SPJ convention.
7
‘Thankful for’ list is long this year
BY JIM CHARLET
Brentwood
I’m thankful for
the first streaks
of dawn and deep
e a rl y m o r n i n g
breaths taken before other people
have stirred.
I’m thankful for
barbecue with a lot
Charlet
of “hot stuff.”
I’m thankful for
sentiment and how it makes me feel
with that lump in my throat.
I’m thankful for the sound of shoe
leather smacking a football, and that
the Vanderbilt Commodores have
reminded us of what a “good day at
Neyland Stadium” is all about.
I’m thankful for Skitch Henderson
and how reading about his death recalled his jumping music for Johnny
Carson’s Tonight Show.
I’m thankful for Nissan’s decision to
bring its headquarters to Tennessee
and for its past commitments to be a
“good corporate citizen.”
I’m thankful for chocolate chip and
banana pancakes for breakfast. The
girls get the chips.
I’m thankful for what the task of raking leaves on a November morning does
for rejuvenating the value of solitude
and quiet thought.
I’m thankful for homemade chili,
and City Cornbread, and wine with
dinner.
I’m thankful for Terry and Anne,
Jackie and John, and how a death in
the family provides a new chance to
appreciate really good neighbors.
I’m thankful for Gov. (Phil) Bredesen’s
budget hearings, and how Lydia Lenker
has removed the intrigue of an ordinary
citizen attending each one.
I’m thankful for all our male and female soldiers and airmen, and how their
answer to the “call to duty” reminds us
what price liberty extracts.
I’m thankful for cousins Harry and
Milly, for their love and fellowship,
and that he asked me to write his
obituary.
I’m thankful for “Tennessee Waltz”
and its shocking reminder that integrity in government is a rightful citizen
expectation of those elected to serve,
and we should be ashamed it’s necessary to call in the FBI for “refresher
course” training.
I’m thankful for Marie Riggins, my
high school civics teacher, who on
her 100th birthday unhesitatingly reminded everyone of what’s important
in government today.
I’m thankful for the Tennessee Press
Association Foundation, and the chance
it provides a trustee to contribute
something really neat for journalism
again.
I’m thankful for W.J. Souza and how
he used the camera to tell Life’s Story
of his neighbors, and the lessons he left
us about loyalty and reliability.
I’m thankful for our constitutions,
both state and national. They identify
government’s required missions, and
omit the frills. We should also.
I’m thankful for my family, and how
each knows when I’m flying blind but
trying to do right, and how they respectfully roll their eyes at my stories about
“Days of Old.”
I’m thankful for narrow-minded
people, and for what their laziness can
do for thought.
I’m thankful I’m a sentimental sap
who enjoys stained glass windows,
silent prayer, organ music, and a dog’s
cold nose and big brown eyes.
I’m thankful for Ricky Skaggs, Dave
Brubeck, Natalie Cole, Elton John,
Neil Diamond, Alan Jackson, Martina
McBride and the performances of these
musical icons shared with my family.
I’m thankful for the basic training
recollections provided by rolled T-shirts
and underwear, and the amazement this
gives others when packing bags.
I’m thankful for TV’s West Wing and
the memories it provides of the frauds
once known in government and military
service.
It teaches more of “what not to do”
than “what should be done.”
I’m thankful for old ladies because
they prove every day that growing
old doesn’t necessarily mean a loss
of beauty.
I’m thankful for George Clooney’s
new movie, “Good Night and Good
Luck,” and the reminders it provides
about meanness in America’s news
media and government. The movie
ends too soon.
I’m thankful for my wife and children,
for the most important thing I ever
did in life was to become a husband
and father.
I’m thankful for Granny, and the
grandparent times she shared with our
children, and that all of us were there
when she died.
I’m thankful for loyalty, commitment,
and fidelity, and that I was taught how
each fits with duty.
I’m thankful for those who read this
each year and find their own Something
To Be Thankful For.
(The Tennessean, Nashville,
Nov. 24, 2005)
MU center receives $1.7 million grant
The Freedom of Information Center
at the University of Missouri School of
Journalism is receiving a $1.7 million
grant from the John S. and James L.
Knight Foundation to make room for
a professional advocacy group that has
been headquartered in Dallas.
The National Freedom of Information
Coalition will be housed in theNational
Freedom of Information Center at the
journalism school in Columbia.
The coalition will also use some of the
grant to upgrade its Web site at www.
nfoic.org, which lists state groups and
provides a host of other information.
Founded in 1992, the NFOIC supports
First Amendment issues and accessible
government organizations and works
to protect public access to information through the education of media
professionals, attorneys, academics
and citizens.
Established in 1958, the FOI Center
serves the public and the news media on
questions regarding access to govern-
ment documents and information.
It houses a collection of more than one
million articles and documents about
access to information at the federal,
state and local levels in addition to a
wide collection of online documents
accessible through its Web site, www.
foi.missouri.edu.
The John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation has distributed nearly $250
million in journalism grants over the
past 50 years.
NAA to combine convention, Nexpo in April
The windy city will play host to
the 2006 Newspaper Association of
America Annual Convention—the
event where senior level newspaper
professionals network and share ideas,
gain insight into current and future
issues and learn ready-to-implement
and practical solutions.
The event is set April 2 through 4 at
The Fairmont in Chicago.
For the first time, NEXPO® will be
held at the same time so attendees can
visit the industry’s largest technology
and operations exposition and conference. NEXPO® registration is included
in convention registration.
Early Bird registration rates will be in
effect through Feb. 24; thereafter, noted
rates will increase by $100 (excluding
the spouse/guest rate).
One can make a hotel reservation by
calling the NAA Housing Bureau at
1-800-974-9786; mention NAA to receive
the discounted group rate of $236 (single
or double occupancy). Early Bird registration rates are as follows: $790 for
NAA members; $3,160 for nonmembers;
$920 for international; and $325 for a
spouse/guest.
Further details about the program will
be provided as April nears.
8
The Tennessee Press
JANUARY 2006
The Tennessee Press
JANUARY 2006
9
Jeanie Bell gets reader incentive award
ELENORA E. EDWARDS | TPS
Kathy Hensley, a three-year employee of Tennessee Press Service, left, was presented the Employee of the Year
Award Dec. 13 by Greg Sherrill, TPS executive vice president. Right, Jeanie Bell received a silver coin from a
client of the Clipping Bureau.
Hensley named TPS Employee of the Year
Tennessee Press Association and
Tennessee Press Service staff members
gathered Dec. 13 for a luncheon and to
recognize the efforts of an employee.
Kathy Hensley, who has worked
for TPS for three years, was named
employee of the year. Greg Sherrill,
executive director, presented her a gift
certificate and a plaque, which reads,
“For working well with others and being
a team player.”
Hensley said, “I was very proud and
honored to receive the TPS Employee
of the Year Award. I really enjoy working for TPS. It has been a great three
years.”
Sherrill commented, “Employees
of Tennessee Press Service recently
chose Kathy Hensley as the 2005 TPS
Employee of the Year. By secret ballot,
the 19 employees of the service selected
Kathy as the one they believe contrib-
Jeanie Bell, a reader in the Tennessee
Press Service Clipping Bureau, got a
surprise Dec. 13 when TPA employees
gathered for a Christmas celebration.
Beth Elliott, Clipping Bureau manager, presented her a 2004 American
Eagle silver coin.
It came from Rick Meyer, a product
safety investigator with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Elliott explained that Meyer dropped
by the office in June to discuss the
commission’s clipping account. The
Consumer Product Safety Commission
(CPSC) wants the TPS readers to clip articles involving injuries and accidents
associated with consumer products.
The clips are collected, analyzed for
investigation (if appropriate) by the
CPSC and made available for use by
the Clearinghouse and CPSC anaysts
Elliott explained.
“Every week, we recorded which
reader sent clips and how many. Jeanie
Bell sent the most acceptable clips, 46,
from June to November 30, the end of
our fiscal year,” Elliott said.
DEADLINE
for the February issue
of The Tennessee Press
is Jan. 9.
Send your news to
[email protected].
uted the most to the overall operation
of the company and for being a true
team player.
“Kathy has been employed with
TPS since October 2002 as accounting
services representative. She handles
accounts payable functions which
include newspaper payments, vendor
payments, processing expense reports
and helping with special projects such
as TPA dues billing and the Institute of
Newspaper Technology.”
Hensley’s supervisor, Controller
Laurie Alford, said, “Kathy sets an
example every day with her great
attitude and work ethic. She is a true
asset to all three companies [including
TPA Foundation].”
Comments from the ballots of Kathy’s
peers included the following:
“Kathy is a team person willing to
help out in any department.”
“A wonderful co-worker, a wonderful
mother, a wonderful accounts-payable
guru!”
Past employee of the year awards went
to Kevin Slimp, TPS technology director, in 2004; Pam Corley, senior print
media buyer, in 2003; and Beth Elliott,
network advertising coordinator and
Clipping Bureau manager, in 2002.
Who’s working for you
On the job: Since Jan. 1, 2003. “I love it. Our advertising department is like one big family. We work together as a team.
That’s what makes us such a strong department.”
Family: Parents, Marty and Merrill Taylor, and a younger
brother, Rocky. She is originally from South Knoxville and
lives in that area now.
Career: Graduated from West High School. Was assistant
director of a private preschool for 20 years and also has
worked in catering.
JACKIE ROBERSON
Tearsheet coordinator
TV: She’s a soap opera freak; tapes them to watch when she
can. “Don’t mess with me when I’m watching my soaps.”
Movies: Doesn’t do movies--waits until films come out
on DVD.
Reading: Would like to slow down and be able to read
more. Likes Dean Koontz books, mysteries, and thrillers.
Recreation: Likes to play with her dogs, a male shitzu,
Butler, and a female Jack Russell terrier, Lilly.
Vacation: “I live on the beach from daylight to dark. I
like the St. Walton-Destin, Fla. area.”
Would retire to: “I’d like to get a Winnebago and
travel.”
The Tennessee Press
10
JANUARY 2006
Importance of standards-based NIE curriculum
There are many successful Newspapers In Education programs throughout
the state of Tennessee. NIE programs
are offering teachers a valuable teaching tool—the newspaper. NIE coordinators are providing teachers with
mulitple NIE curriculum materials
for all subject areas. However, as these
programs continue to develop and
expand across Tennessee, there exists
a need for the development of an NIE
curriculum that is correlated to the
Tennessee Department of Education’s
state curriculum and endorsed by our
state press association. This curriculum would enhance all NIE programs
and would encourage more teachers to
participate.
Teachers often view NIE as an “addon” program or something extra to
teach. A standards-based NIE curricu-
lum would allow teachers
other state, would be asked
to easily incorporate NIE
to provide guidance for the
activities with what they are
NIE committee and the paralready required to teach.
ticipating teachers. A target
In November 2005, the
date for the initial phase
Tennessee Press Associaof this project is August
tion Board of Directors
2006. This curriculum would
endorsed a proposal to initibe generic, in that it would
ate this curriculum project.
work for any NIE program. It
There is also funding availcould be presented to teachable to help with its cost. An NIE
ers at NIE workshops.
NIE committee would be orA Tennessee Department
ganized and would meet on a CURRENTS of Education representative
regular basis. This commithas suggested that fourth
tee would decide whether to Lu Shep Baldwin and fifth grade levels be
purchase a curriculum or
targeted first, because readcreate one. Teachers would
ership habits are being established
be asked to help with the correlation or by this age. It also was suggested that
linking of the NIE activities. In addi- the language arts area be developed
tion, an experienced NIE coordinator, first. This would involve not only readwho has accomplished this task in an- ing skills, but also writing skills.
Much research has been conducted on
the effectiveness of a standards-based
NIE curriculum used by teachers on
a consistent basis. Students score
significantly higher on stardardized
tests. This NIE curriculum guide would
be a companion document for teachers’
use along with their state curriculum.
There will be an NIE meeting at 10
a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, in Nashville during
TPA’s winter meeting. I hope someone
from every newspaper will make plans
to attend this meeting and become a
participant in this important project.
Please contact me if you have further
questions.
LU SHEP BALDWIN is NIE coordinator for Jones Media, Greeneville. She is
based in Athens. One can contact her at
[email protected].
NIE managers to benefit from SNPA-TNIE conference
Two of the best
Newspapers In Education (NIE) conferences in the country
are joining forces in
the spring to offer
the latest ideas for
creating and managing dynamic NIE
Baldwin
programs. Southern
Newspaper Publishers Association and Texas Newspapers
In Education will sponsor an NIE/Literacy Conference March 23 through 25
in Dallas, Texas.
Participating in one of the sessions
will be Ralph Baldwin, publisher of The
Daily Post-Athenian, Athens.
NIE pros and newly-named directors will find the conference sessions
information-filled and motivating,
SNPA states. Conference sessions will
include the following:
•Where are we going with NIE? A
conversation among three industry
experts, Baldwin; Hunter George,
The Birmingham (Ala.) News; and
Gretchen Letterman, St. Petersburg
(Fla.) Times.
•The ABC’s of NIE, a session designed
for new NIE staff.
•Nontraditional NIE programs,
ethics, funding and ideas to take a
successful program to new heights.
This session is designed for veteran
NIE staff.
•Educational trends—What’s hot,
What’s next?
•How to find and request school
funding
•The constitution and other civic
matters
•Fun break—How to get teachers to
attend NIE workshops
•Community partnerships
•Why sponsors sponsor
•Tapping into community foundation
funds
•Best practices breakouts
•NIE standards—What’s new with
the Audit Bureau of Circulations and
Certified Audit of Circulations
•Cross-platform NIE programs
•“Make and take” teacher workshop
activities
One can save with early-bird rates by
registering no later than Jan. 31.
One can find a preliminary program, a
faxable registration form and information about the SNPA 2006 NIE/Literacy
Contest at www.snpa.org.
NAA smaller
newspaper
meetings set
Newspapers are facing urgent new
challenges from rapidly changing technology. To help them do that, the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association
Board of Directors has directed staff to
create more “face-to-face” opportunities
at SNPA meetings for newspaper executives and their suppliers.
One of these is the Smaller Newspapers/Readership/Circulation Conference, which is scheduled March 12
through 15 in Charlotte, N.C.
SNPA has moved the annual Workshop
for Smaller Newspapers from traditional fall dates to March 12-13 and is
merging it into the SNPA Readership
Conference March 13-14 and the SNPA
Circulation Conference March 14-15.
NNA’s GA Conference
scheduled for March
Be on the lookout for information
about the 2005 NNA Government Affairs
Conference. The 45th annual event will
be held Wednesday through Saturday,
March 8-11. The official hotel is the
Wyndham Washington.
The conference is an opportunity to
visit one’s congressman and senators,
get a taste of the nation’s capital, visit
the embassies of other nations and be
briefed by government officials and
career staff members from various
levels.
Details on registration and making
reservations will be posted soon on
www.nna.org.
SNPA taking entries in NIE/Literacy Contest; categories added
Southern Newspaper Publishers Association has begun accepting entries
for the 2006 Newspapers In Education/
Literacy Awards Contest.
This year’s contest includes several
new categories, as well as a special
award honoring the memory of David
Pego, who died in June 2005 and was
a national leader for NIE. Pego was a
retired educational services director
of the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman.
New categories in this year’s NIE/
Literacy Awards program includethe
following:
•David Pego “Pay It Forward” Award.
When NIE professionals speak of Pego,
they talk about his generosity of spirit.
He did not give to get something back.
A thank you was plenty for him. The
world is often political, competitive and
threatening. He embodied something
different, an alternative approach, no
doubt borne of his Indian upbringing
and his knowledge of all our vulnerability (whether we acknowledge it
or not).
•Best Use of Material Promoting the
Study of the Constitution
•Best Statewide NIE/Literacy Project.
For projects conducted by press associations or statewide NIE groups. One
doesn’t have to be a member of SNPA
to enter this category.
NIE vendors are invited to enter
their products in the Best New Commercial or Vendor Product category.
One doesn’t have to be a member of
SNPA to enter this category. All other
categories (except the two mentioned
above) are open only to members of
SNPA or Texas NIE.
The SNPA Foundation’s NIE and
Literacy Awards recognize outstanding
programs produced by SNPA member
newspapers to promote literacy, literacy
awareness and Newspapers In Education. Entries, which must have been
published or conducted in 2005, should
be submitted in the single category that
it best represents.
This year’s contest also is open to
daily and weekly members of Texas
Newspapers In Education, in appreciation to TNIE for hosting a joint
NIE/Literacy Conference.
The awards contest is designed to
recognize excellence and to facilitate
the sharing of ideas and best practices
among participating newspapers. Winning contest entries will be featured on
the SNPA Web site after the NIE/Literacy Conference in March.
Entries (with the exception of the Best
Editorial and Best of the Best categories) will be divided into the following
daily circulation categories: 25,000
and under (plus all weekly members
of TNIE); 25,001-75,000; 75,001-150,000;
and over 150,000. All entries for Best
Editorial will be judged together.
In addition to the awards categories
listed below, one Best of the Best grand
prize will be awarded. There will be no
circulation categories or themes for
the grand prize. All entries that place
first in any of the categories will be
considered for the Best of the Best
prize of $500. The cash prize will be
paid directly to the individual listed
as “contact name” on the entry, not
to the newspaper. If more than one
person is listed as the contact name,
the cash award will be divided among
those listed.
Categories are listed below.
•Writing Award: Best Editorial (single
article or series)
•Best Original In-Paper Content for
NIE or Literacy
•Best Community Service Project
•Best Use of Electronic Technology
•Best Revenue-Development Idea
•Best Teacher Training
•Best NIE or Literacy Promotion
•Best Original Curriculum
•Best Use of Material Promoting the
Study of the Constitution
•Best NIE/Literacy Idea
•Best Statewide NIE/Literacy Project
– for projects conducted by press associations or statewide NIE groups. You
do not have to be a member of SNPA to
enter this category.
•David Pego “Pay It Forward”
Award
•Best New Commercial or Vendor
Product for NIE – Three awards will be
presented, for best new commercial or
vendor product for elementary schools,
middle schools, and high schools.
•Writing Award: Best Editorial (single
article or series)
•Best Original In-Paper Content for
NIE or Literacy
•Best Community Service Project
•Best Use of Electronic Technology
•Best Revenue-Development Idea
•Best Teacher Training
•Best NIE or Literacy Promotion
•Best Original Curriculum
•Best Use of Material Promoting the
Study of the Constitution
•Best NIE/Literacy Idea
•Best Statewide NIE/Literacy Project
•Best New Commercial or Vendor
Product for NIE
•Grand Prize -- Best of the Best!
•Best Editorial
•Best Original In-Paper Content for
NIE or Literacy
•Best Community Service Project
•Best Use of Electronic Technology
•Best Revenue-Development Idea
•Best Teacher Training
•Best Marketing Tool for NIE/Literacy
•Best Original Curriculum
•Best Use of NIE Election Promotion
or Project
•Best NIE/Literacy Idea
•Do the Right Thing
•Best New Commercial or Vendor
Product for NIE/Literacy
Full details about all contest categories and entry forms are available on the
SNPA Web site, www.snpa.org..
NOTICE
The TPA NIE/Literacy
Committee will meet at 10
a.m. Friday, Feb. 10, during
the TPA Press Institute
and Winter Convention in
Nashville. Tom Overton,
chairman, will preside.
The
Tennessee
Press
The
Tennessee
Press
JANUARY 2006
JANUARY 2006
11 7
‘Thankful
is long this year
The crime of speaking
ill of for’
yourlistbetters
Souza: Clarksville photographer
FROM PAGE 5
“W.J. worked at the paper and Martha
worked at B.F. Goodrich, and I helped
has removed the intrigue of an ordinary who enjoys stained glass windows
BY JIM CHARLET
In adopted
17th Century
it was a capital offense
on hisshe
Websaid.
page, the
professor
of 600
such cases
intimidate
other
citizens,
as hisEngland,
hometown.
raise professor
those boys,”
“They
prayer,
organ
music,journaland a dog’s
attending
each one.They silence orsilent
Brentwood documentationcitizen
even to
imagine
the death
of the
king. Equally
complained
Greeley
police,
who then
that reached theI’m
appeals
courtforlevel
andand
commentators
who may
facts oreyes.
opinions
Mike
Bowers,
a retired
Tennessee
worked
very hard to
and
loved each
other
and have
big brown
thankful
all ourists
male
fe- cold nose
harsh
punishment
awaited those
wentsons
to Mink’s
from 1797 through
There
no to
share
about those
of for
criminal
Bureau
of Investigation
agentwho
who criticized
also and their
a greathome
deal. Iand
wasconfi
veryscatedI’m thankful for
I’maccused
thankful
Ricky libel.
Skaggs, Dave
male1996.
soldiers
andis
airmen,
and
how their
theirserved
rulers.as a Tennessee state trooper and happythe
computer
byfamily.”
the student and
way to know how
many
times
put us
defendants
at a distinct
to be
a part ofused
their
Brubeck,
Natalie disadvantage
Cole, Elton in
John
answer
to the
“calldurto duty”They
reminds
the first streaks
Inas
today’s
America, we
have discarded
the ideaRobert
his mother.
Shortly
a federal
ing that period
American
citizens
court, where theyNeil
face,
not the individual
allegedly
a Montgomery
County
deputy, said
Smith, the
Leafthereafter,
Chronicle’s
Diamond,
Alan Jackson,
Martina
what
price liberty
extracts.
of dawn and deep
of royal
infallibility, but
thereClarksville
remain in our
judge
issued
a restraining
order
preventwere threatenedI’m
withthankful
criminal-libel
defamed,
government
as prosecutor
andofthe
law enforcement
in the
current
chief
photographer,
was
hired
and the
performances
these
for cousins
Harry but
andthe McBride
e a rl y m o r n i n g
law vestiges
of that
English
policy
toward
ing ago
the district
attorney
from
threatenprosecution, or
howformany
as underwriter.
area never
had early
a greater
friend
than
23 years
when Souza
retired
from
musical icons shared with my family.
Milly,
theirtimes
love andtaxpayer
fellowship,
breaths taken bespeaking
ill of our betters. And though the act of
ing Mink with the criminal-libel law.
charges were fiand
led then
comes toI’m
public
discourse,
thebasic
threat
of
W.J. Souza.
the paper.
thankful
for the
training
that dropped,
he askedorme toWhen
writeit his
fore other people
criticism
may not
capital
offense,
Mink’s
to theyou
Colorado
how many casesobituary.
were dismissed after criminal prosecution
for speaking
ourby
minds
as
“I never
didbeita and
don’t
knowit certainly
any
“I’ve
oftenlegal
beenchallenge
asked, ‘Did
recollections
provided
rolledisT-shirts
have stirred.
can offi
be acer
criminal
one indid,
more
states. replace
lawSouza?’
will be No
heard
next
year in theI’mINSIDE
reaching court. I’m thankful for “Tennessee
chillingWaltz”
as the prosecution
itself,
whenthis
who actually
butthan
when20someoneearly
could
replace
and underwear,
andespecially
the amazement
thankful for
Inthing
fact, such
are dusted
off and
applied with
10th
U.S. Circuit
Lisby’s report
listed
23 states,reminder
the there
other,gives
moreothers
democratic,
remedies
like laws
a wreck,
accident
or murder
Souza,”
Smith
said. Court of Appeals. barbecue with a lot
when packing
bags.for
and
its shocking
thatare
integTHE
Charlet
alarming
regularity
nation that prides
there
have been three
District of Columbia
and the Virgin
defamatory
comments.
occurred,
we in for
lawaenforcement
wereitself Pastor•Since
Jimmy2002,
Terry,
of Clarksville’s
I’m thankful for TV’s West Wing and
rity in government
is a rightful
citizen
of “hot stuff.”
on settling
over speech
in civil
different
criminal-libel
inI’mFIRST
Islands as having
criminal-libel
Rather
than tapping
into an offi
cial connection
to
accuseddifferences
of calling Souza
first and
thencourt
Tabernacle
Baptist
Church,prosecutions
said he
the memories
it provides
of the frauds
expectation
of those elected
to serve,
thankful for
rather
than criminal
court–with
the government
twoSouza
of them
involving
newspastatutes
still on
thewebooks.
bring
citizens
who feel they
calling
the ambulance
because
he’d cameKansas,
to know
when
he first
once known
in government
andhave
military
and
shouldInbeaddiashamed
it’scharges,
neces- private
sentiment and how it makes
me feel
as impartial
than
prosecutor.
pershere
and criticism
of public
officials.with AMENDMENT
tion to criminalizing
defamation
been
defamed should
go to civil court, where they
always bereferee
on the rather
scene and
was
usually arrived
in 1979. They
became
service.
sary to call
in the FBI for
“refresher
that lump in my throat.
The
latest
to run
afoul ofday
a criminal•In close
2003,inthe
Utahyears.
Supreme CourtI’m thankful for the sound
of the
living, course”
many oftraining.
these laws not only get to air their
grievances
but“what
may receive
was
oneAmerican
of the first
to arrive,
or especially
recent
It teaches
more of
not to do”
of shoe
libelnight,”
law is Juan
Mata,
who was sentenced to a year“I asked
struck
down
an 1878
criminalize
of thefor
dead
damage
to their
reputations.
Paulsmacking
McMasters
Bowers
said.
him
one day
if hecriminal-libel
knew Jesus stat“what
should
be done.”Rather
I’m thankful
Mariecompensation
Riggins, my forthan
leather
a football,
and that defamation
in jail Don
last month
in a New
Although
a case
involving
theand
prosecution
or of financial
than throw
their critics
in jail, public
officials
should
Birdwell,
a Mexico
retiredcourt.
Federal
Christute
asinhis
personal
savior,
he the Vanderbilt Commodores
I’m thankful
for old
ladies
because
high schoolinsurance
civics teacher,
who on
have institutions,
the judge
suspended
the prisonspecial
sentence,
Mata was
of a high
school student
whoand
hadIposted
companies
corporations.
Some
engage them
Bureau
of Investigation
agent
said ‘Yes,
of course,
preacher,’
they prove every day that growing
100th birthday
unhesitatingly
re-in debate.
reminded us of what a “good
day at andher
ordered
pay $114
in court costs
and
perform 50
disparaging
remarks about
his principal
and fellow
include
name-calling or minded
“fightingeveryone
words” and
long as criminal-libel
lawsnecessarily
remain on the
books,
whoto
worked
in Clarksville,
said
Souza’s
said, ‘OK,
then everything’s
all right,’”
old doesn’t
mean
a loss
of what’sAsimportant
Neyland
Stadium”
is all about.
hours
of community
accusations
of fornication
or lack of chastity
photographs
wereservice.
used extensively to Terrystudents
said. on his Web page. But a 1973 criminal-libel
beauty.that enlivens democracy,
in government
today. the discourse andofdissent
I’m thankful for
Skitch Henderson
What
was Mata’s
remainsmost
on the
books photos
in Utah. and how readingasabout
criminal
ensuresPress
government
and preserves
of Souza’s
famous
helpexactly
prosecutors
makecrime?
cases. After an argu-Onelaw
I’maccountability
thankful for George
Clooney’s
I’m thankful for the Tennessee
his offenses.
death rement with
police
traffic Lt.
stopCol.
in November
1964,
the U.S.
Supreme
Court
such lawsAssociation
insist thatFoundation,
they are and
individual
libertynew
remains
in danger.
Olympic
goldwhen
medalist
Wilma
Retired
U.S.over
Aira Force
Jim was of •Since
movie,
“Good Night and Good
the chance
called
his rejumpingDefenders
music forofJohnny
2002,Charlet,
Mata began
picketing
the police
station in
versed
a criminal-libel
Louisiana,
and government
traces and
its origins
to the English
a former
co-worker
of Souza’s
Rudolph
as she
was riding in aconviction
convert- in
the reminders
it provides
it provides
a trustee to Criminal
contributelibelLuck,”
Carson’s
Tonightneeded
Show. to ensure public order
Farmington,
carrying signs
one officer
there haveduring
been a77
threatened
If those
rationales
ever had any
validity,
monarchy’s
Council
and the Court
of the Star
at The Leaf-Chronicle
andaccusing
whose family
ible automobile
parade
in her criminal-libel
meanness
in America’s
news
really
neat for
journalismPrivyabout
I’m thankful forstability.
Nissan’s
decision
to something
of being
liar. Later,
called for said
an investigation
in the
States, bring
according
to they no to
longer
do. Instead,
criminal-libel laws Chamber. To havemedia
it stilland
lurking
in the lawsThe
of the
onceaowned
the he
newspaper,
Souza honorprosecutions
in her hometown
of United
Clarksville
government.
movie
again.
its headquarters
Tennessee
of the
cer.a In
December
2004,tohe
filed a civil
a 2003 study
themedals
Media in
Law
Center.
are a pernicious
assault
our
First AmendUnited
States
grievous
affront to our democratic
wasoffi
like
surrogate
father
him.
after winning
threebygold
theResource
too soon.
thankful
for W.J. Souza
and
how is aends
and for
its past commitments
to be
a onI’m
lawsuit
claiminga great
harassment
byW.J.
the Souza,
officer. Two
More than
65 percent of these cases targeted
speech ment
principles.
“I learned
deal from
1960 Rome
Olympics.
I’m thankful for my wife and children
he used the camera to telltraditions.
Life’s Story
“good corporate
citizen.”
months
later,
theothers,”
local prosecutor
charged himTerry
about
offiOlympic
cials or issues
of public
invitechip
comparison
to insult
laws drawn
as did
many
Charlet said.
toldpublic
how the
hero rehis neighbors,
andtothe lessons he left for the most important thing I ever
I’mconcern,
thankful for They
chocolate
and of
with criminal
libel, harassment
and stalking. turned
the
stated.later
In most
cases,
prosecutions
protect
despots inThe
other parts
of the
world.
PAUL K. McMASTERS
is First
Joel Plummer,
former Montgomery
toreport
Clarksville
to help
open
did in life
wasAmendment
to becomeoma husband
us about
loyalty
and reliability.
banana were
pancakes
for breakfast.
Such
prosecutions
not as uncommon
based on complaints
from law enforcement
offithe
cerschips.They allow local authorities
search homes
budsman at the First
Center, 1101 Wilson
County
sheriff, are
Tennessee
commis-as we
the Tabernacle
Baptist Church.
andAmendment
father.
I’m tothankful
for our constitutions,
girls get
would
like toofthink.
and
cials.
seize
and toboth
arrest
andand
jailnational.
those They
Blvd., identify
Arlington, Va. 22209.
Web: www.fi
rstamend-and the
sioner
safety and Montgomery
“W.J.
andelected
Wilmaoffi
just
got off to themI’m thankful
for Granny,
state
I’m thankful forand
what
theproperty
task of rak•After
University
of Northern
Colorado
student
study
of criminal
Gregory
accused–before
in court to required
defend missions,
mentcenter.org.
[email protected].
County
executive,
said Souza
was well
selves In
anda separate
talked and
talked.
They libel,
grandparent
times she shared with our
government’s
and E-mail:
ing leaves
on a November
morningthey
doesappear
Thomas
Mink
posted
a doctored
photo of
Lisbya at
StateupUniversity
reported
the their
words.
known
by all
Tennessee
governors,
lawa UNC
had quite
bitGeorgia
of catching
to do,” for
children, and that all of us were there
rejuvenating
the value
of solitude omit the frills. We should also.
enforcement officers at all levels and Terry said.
I’m thankful for my family, and how when she died.
and quiet thought.
citizens from all walks of life.
Wilford (Bubby) Souza Jr. said he
I’m thankful for loyalty, commitment
I’m thankful for homemade chili, each knows when I’m flying blind but
Also attending the ceremony was knew his father was watching the day’s and City Cornbread, and wine with trying to do right, and how they respect- and fidelity, and that I was taught how
Beatrice Carney, a long-time friend of ceremony. “I want to tell him I love him dinner.
fully roll their eyes at my stories about each fits with duty.
The
Information
be sentBubby
to Charles
Davis,
theNational
Souza’sFreedom
who tookofcare
of their twoals should
very much,”
Souza
said.ExI’m thankful for those who read this
I’m thankful for Terry and Anne, “Days of Old.”
today.
Maxwell, president
of LWV challenge
The
League
Women
Coalition
(NFOIC)
is seeking
NFOIC
sons on
weekdays
while nominathe parentsecutive Director,(Dec.
5,Headquarters,
2005)
each year
and find their own Something
I’mJ.thankful
for narrow-minded
Jackie
andofJohn,
andVoters
how a(LWV)
death insaid Kay
in Government:
Looking
United
States.
“Thetheir
government
launched
“Openness
Gov- toof the
tions
for its Open Government Hall University of Missouri, 133 Neff Hall, on Nov.
worked.
To Be Thankful
For.
people,
and
for what
laziness can Openness
the 21
family
provides
a newinchance
for
the
Sunshine
is
an
outgrowth
of
is
becoming
less
open
and
more
secreLooking
for
the
Sunshine,”
of Fame.
Columbia, Mo. 65211; phone, (573) 882- ernment:
(The Tennessean, Nashville,
do for thought.
appreciate really good neighbors.
completed
thethankful
name of I’m
homeland
security sapthe League’s recently
a project
to broaden
awareness
Posted on the Society of Environmen- 5736; e-mail, [email protected].
Nov. 24,
2005) project
a sentimental
I’m thankful
forpublic
Gov. (Phil)
Bredesen’stive inI’m
REWRITES
about
the issues
involved
in,Lydia
and Lenker
the at a time when many feel that greater “Local Voices: Citizen Conversations
tal Journalists’
Tip Sheet, the award
budget
hearings,
and how
threats related to, accountability and accountability is needed. Openness in About Civil Liberties and Secure
notice seeks nominees at the state and
Government will bring to light these Communities,” an initiative that
transparency in government.
local level from
government,
JANUARY
1956media,
JANUARY 1981
The annual National Freedom of
“Finding out how the government concerns and allow citizens to discuss examined the public’s views about the
non-profits, the legal profession or other
relationship between civil liberties and
Conference
will be heldstress
all is serving the public has always been this important topic.”
areas involving
public access
to governThe Claiborne
Progress
repeatedInformation
Sessions
on budgeting,
March 16 at theand
Freedom
in somewhat difficult, and in a post-9/11
The League will develop educational homeland security.
mentitsinformation
andyears
meetings.
win of two
before as theday management
how toForum
use census
“Our findings from the Local Voices
Va. planned
Look for for
details
at www.
materials about federal, state and local
even greater,”
The
deadline
nominations
is Jan.
nation’s
bestfor
National
Newspaper
WeekArlington,
data were
the 1981
Winterage, these
The challenges
Freedom ofare
Information
Center nfoic.org, which lists state groups and ment documents and information.
pointed to public concerns about
laws concerning citizen access, the project
15. Cover
lettersand
andTennessee
supportingadded
materipromoter,
a fifthfreedomforum.org.
Convention and Press Institute.
It houses a collection of more than one
at the University of Missouri School of provides a host of other information.
a
lack
of openness in government, a
extent
and
types
of
threats
to
these
laws
straight year of top recognition.
Scott Brown, associate editor of the Journalism is receiving a $1.7 million
Founded in 1992, the NFOIC supports million articles and documents about
by citizens for greater transparhave occurred in recent years and desire
James W. Crawford, The Democrat- Courier-Chronicle, Humboldt, was grant from the John S. and James L.thatFirst
Amendment issues and accessible access to information at the federal
at all levels of government and
on the increasing levels of informa- encystate
Union, Lawrenceburg, was serving as named managing editor of The Crockett Knight Foundation to make room fordatagovernment
and local levels in addition to a
organizations and works
for public input and involvetion being put off-limits since 9-11. These a desire
chairman of the TPA Nominating Com- Times, Alamo.
a professional advocacy group that has to protect public access to informa- wide collection of online documents
said Maxwell. “While looking
easy-to-use reference materials will be ment,”
mittee and a member of the Advertising
The Gatlinburg Press and Sevier been headquartered in Dallas.
tion through the education of media accessible through its Web site, www
to continue our efforts on this topic, we
available for all Leagues to use.
Promotion Committee.
County News-Record didn’t miss an
The National Freedom of Information professionals, attorneys, academics foi.missouri.edu.
more familiar with the ongoing
League also will fund at least became
Work was under way on a second- issue after their printing plant was Coalition will be housed in theNational The
The John S. and James L. Knight
and citizens.
and efforts of journalists in
and local Leagues to hold concerns
story addition to the Cleveland Daily destroyed by fire on Dec. 11. The papers Freedom of Information Center at the10 state
Established in 1958, the FOI Center Foundation has distributed nearly $250
this
same
area. We believe that this
community
forums
during
Sunshine
Banner’s building. It was to include were printed at The Maryville-Alcoa journalism school in Columbia.
serves the public and the news media on million in journalism grants over the
in conjunction with Sunshine
Week 2006 (March 12-18), and the project,
a mail and carriers’ room and a con- Daily Times at first and then The
The coalition will also use some of the questions regarding access to govern- past 50 years.
LWV and national partners will hold Week 2006, will contribute to the goal of
veyor system to move papers from the Newport Plain Talk.
grant to upgrade its Web site at www.
a “Sunshine Week kickoff event in more openness in government, for the
pressroom.
Marie Anthony Wathen, editor and
Washington, D.C. Sunshine Week is benefit of the American public.”
Coleman A. Harwell, editor of The publisher of The Collierville Herald,
The League of Women Voters Educasponsored by journalism groups, media
Nashville Tennessean, was elected broke her hip in July 1980. Since then
tion
Fund is receiving funding for this
companies,
open-government
and
First
secretary of the Associated Press the near-centenarian had been living
Amendment advocates, librarians and project from the John S. and James L.
Managing Editors at a convention in and working in a room behind the
The windy city will play host to held at the same time so attendees can calling the NAA Housing Bureau at
across the country, with the Knight Foundation, which promotes
Colorado Springs, Colo. In addition, The office of the 100-year-old newspaper in the 2006 Newspaper Association ofeducators
visit the industry’s largest technology 1-800-974-9786; mention NAA to receive
goal of stimulating public discussion excellence in journalism worldwide
Chattanooga Times and the Nashville downtown Collierville.
America Annual Convention—the and operations exposition and confer- the discounted group rate of $236 (single
why open government is impor- and invests in the vitality of 26 U.S.
Banner were among 77 newspapers
Newspapers were expecting three event where senior level newspaperabout
ence. NEXPO® registration is included or double occupancy). Early Bird reg
everyone and why it is under communities.
across the nation cited for exceptional postal hikes during 1981, the first in professionals network and share ideas,tantintoconvention
registration.
istration rates are as follows: $790 for
news coverage.
March.
Early Bird registration rates will be in NAA members; $3,160 for nonmembers
gain insight into current and future
New TPA President Charles S.
A superior performance award issues and learn ready-to-implement effect through Feb. 24; thereafter, noted $920 for international; and $325 for a
Do not lean
Rooks called 1955 “probably the best was presented the East Tennessee and practical solutions.
rates will increase by $100 (excluding spouse/guest.
year American newspapers have Professional Chapter of the Society of
not force a leave Further
on the newsroom
floor.”
the spouse/guestmay
rate).
details about
the program will
The event is set April 2 through 4 at “[G]overnment
ever known,” with advertising being Professional Journal at the 71st annual The Fairmont in Chicago.
newspaper
to make
print copy
which,
in its by be provided as April
Byron
R. White
One can
a hotel
reservation
nears.
abundant.
national SPJ convention.
Supreme Court justice, 1974
For the first time, NEXPO® will bejournalistic discretion, it chooses to
NFOIC seeks open government heroes
FOI Conference set
LWV unveils Openness in Government project
MU center receives $1.7 million grant
NAA to combine convention, Nexpo in April
The Tennessee Press
12
JANUARY 2006
Looking ahead to Sunshine Week March 12-18
By nearly any measure, the first national Sunshine Week was a fantastic
success.
Hundreds of news organizations
generated thousands of articles, commentary, graphics, cartoons, public
forums and more, all of which advanced
discussions about the importance
of open government and freedom of
information. Many open government
organizations and civic groups marked
the week as well. A list of many of the
participants is at www.sunshineweek.
org.
Newspapers and broadcasters profiled local heroes, who fought for the
knowledge that makes their communities safer and stronger. News media
audited local officials’ compliance with
open-government laws. People were
educated about what public information is available and how they could get
it. Community-wide discussion forums
opened dialogues about the importance
of sunshine in government. People who
have improved public accessibility
were lauded.
The Buffalo News created a Sunshine
Week open government poster, printed
below, based on artwork designed for
the newspaper’s Sunshine Week 2005
special coverage. (Go to the Toolkit
TPA Associate Members
2006
Abitibi Consolidated
Akins/Crisp Public Strategies
American Color
American Profile/Publishing Group of America
BellSouth
Bondware, Inc.
Bowater America
Dye, Van Mol & Lawrence
Dynaric, Inc.
Hollow and Hollow, LLC
Signature Offset
King & Ballow
Life Care Centers of America
Metro Creative Graphics, Inc.
MMA Creative
PowerOne Media
Rightway Business Services
Rowlett Advertising Service
Russell Printing Options
Southern Insurance Specialists
SP Newsprint Sales Co.
Sprint
W.D. Stone & Associates
Tennessee Dept. of Tourist Development
Tennessee Education Association
Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
Tennessee National Guard
Tennessee State Employees Association
Tennessee Valley Authority
The Zinser Law Firm
Complimentary associate members
Associated Press—Brentwood
Austin Peay State University—Clarksville
Carson Newman College—Jefferson City
Cleveland State Community College
East Tennessee State University—Johnson City
Middle Tennessee State University—Murfreesboro
Murray State University—Murray, Ky.
The Only Voice
Tennessee Technological University—Cookeville
Union University—Jackson
The University of Memphis
The University of Tennessee—Knoxville
The University of Tennessee—Martin
Volunteer State Community College—Gallatin
Western Kentucky University—Bowling Green, Ky.
section of www.sunshineweek.org to
find a downloadable version.)
Perhaps most important, people were
reminded that they have the right to
information.
In many cases, lawmakers took notice.
Legislation that would have restricted
the flow of information was withdrawn.
Several governors and state legislatures
issued Sunshine Week proclamations.
Legislation was introduced in both the
U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to improve public access to information held by the government.
Keeping this momentum going is
vital as the nation moves forward to
Sunshine Week 2006, which will be
observed March 12-18.
This can be done by keeping the
discussion alive, fighting for access
to meetings and records, reporting aggressively about attempts to shut them
down, and celebrating transparency
when one finds it.
The ‘Your Right to Know’ logo (above)
can be attached to any story, in print or
online, about open government. The series of print ads developed for Sunshine
Week can be used all year.
The Sunshine Week Web site will
be regularly updated with FOI News,
reports and other materials for par-
ticipants and others interested in open
government. The Sunshine Week Committee also would like to hear people’s
thoughts about Sunshine Week 2005
and what can be done to make 2006 even
bigger and better.
Maintaining open government in
the face of ever-increasing efforts
toward secrecy is a core tenet of this
democracy. Newspapers’ ongoing
support for Sunshine Week and their
continuing fight for transparency helps
ensure government accountability and
responsibility.
Associated Press President and Chief
Executive Officer Tom Curley put it
succinctly in a recent speech when
he quoted the late Sen. Daniel Patrick
Moynihan: “Secrecy is for losers.”
Sunshine Week 2006 expands push for open government
After the extraordinary success of
the first nationwide Sunshine Week last
March, the John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation in Miami has awarded a
second, larger grant to the American
Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE)
to implement and expand the open
government initiative next spring.
Sunshine Week 2006 will be held
March 12-18.
“This is great news,” said Rick Rodriguez, ASNE president and executive
editor of The Sacramento (Calif.) Bee.
“The response to Sunshine Week last
year far exceeded our expectations, and
this Knight Foundation grant will allow
us to continue to remind our readers
how critical open government is to
our democracy. The timing couldn’t be
better as we seem to be fighting more
and more battles on the local, state and
national fronts to keep the public’s
business open.”
The $200,000 grant will fund operations, coordination, print and online
materials development and other
tools for participants in the weeklong
discussion about the importance of
open government to local communities,
states and the nation.
Sunshine Week 2005 received support from more than 750 newspapers
large and small, broadcasters, Web
sites, nonprofit organizations, state
press associations, open government
coalitions and advocates, journalism
schools, civic groups and others. In
addition, 11 governors and three state
legislatures issued proclamations in
support of Sunshine Week and open
government.
“We were absolutely bowled over
by the response to Sunshine Week
2005, not only in the sheer volume of
participation, but also in the depth
and creativity of materials produced
and their impact on the public and
lawmakers,” said Andy Alexander,
chairman of the ASNE Freedom of
Information Committee and chief of
Cox Newspapers’ Washington bureau.
“The Knight grant will help us to grow
with new opportunities and partnerships for 2006.”
Sunshine Week 2005 participants
produced a variety of materials including news and feature stories and
series; editorials and opinion columns;
editorial and strip cartoons; special
sections and presentations; graphics
and illustrations; special Web pages and
online resources; and public forums,
workshops and community events. Examples of the variety of work produced
for Sunshine Week 2005 will be available
in a hard copy book and on the Sunshine
Week Web site.
“Sunshine Week showed us that a
majority of Americans are truly concerned about government secrecy,”
said Eric Newton, Knight’s director of
journalism initiatives. “But more work
is needed. This project will build on the
success of the first national Sunshine
Week by expanding it to Internet,
broadcast and student media.”
The John S. and James L. Knight
Foundation promotes excellence in
journalism worldwide and invests in
the vitality of 26 U.S. communities.
For more information about the Knight
Foundation, go to www.knightfdn.org.
Sunshine Week is a national initiative
to open a dialogue about the importance
of open government and freedom of information. Spearheaded by ASNE with
a grant from the John S. and James L.
Knight Foundation, the effort expands
on the Sunshine Sunday concept begun
in Florida in 2002 and since observed
in several states.
The Tennessee Press
JANUARY 2006
Can your ads pass inspection?
I selected a tie in a department store and took
2. The illustration. Obviously, some ads don’t have
it to the cash register. The sales person held it up
illustrations (just like some shirts don’t have collars).
and frowned. “See that thread hanging out about
But for the ones that do, this is a key element.
an eighth of an inch? That’s a defect in a prime
An illustration is defined as “a picture or diagram
target area.”
that helps make something clear or attractive.”
I took a closer look. “I’d better find another tie.”
This could lead us to say that an illustration in an
As we walked to the tie display, he explained. “I used
ad–whether it’s a photograph or a drawing–has two
to work in the garment manufacturing industry. For
purposes: 1) to attract attention, and 2) to clarify
the inspection process, each piece of clothing has
the headline.
designated target areas. In a shirt, for example, the
3. The body copy. Whether it’s long or short, the
number one area is the v-shape that extends from
copy should continue the theme that is introduced in
each side of the collar to the point where a jacket
the headline. And it should be set in a readable font,
is buttoned. If I’m remembering correctly, the rest
against a clean background. Reverses (light text on a
of the front is area number two, the sleeves are John Foust
dark background) should never pass inspection.
number three, the sides are number four, and the
4. The logo. Here, the most common flaw occurs
back is number five. The higher the ranking, the
when an advertiser uses a logo for a headline. Cerhigher the inspection standards.
tainly, the name of a business can be included in a headline.
“For a tie,” he continued, “the number one area is in the But the logo–by itself–is not a headline.
front, below the knot. You probably wouldn’t mind a picked
In most cases, the logo should appear below the copy. This
thread in the back, but it’s bad when it’s right up front.”
creates a logical sequence: 1) here’s what our widget can do
Hmm. If we were to apply this concept of target areas to for you, and 2) here’s where you can buy one.
advertising, let’s see how the rankings would look.
Pass inspection in all four areas – and your ads will be
1. The headline. This is the most important part of an ad. dressed for success.
© Copyright 2005 by John Foust. All rights reserved.
It’s a well known fact that for every 10 people who read an ad’s
headline, only two will read the rest of the copy. That means
JOHN FOUST conducts on-site and video training for newsthe headline outranks everything else by 80 to 20 percent.
Consider news articles. You can read just the headlines paper advertising departments. His three new video programs
–and nothing else–and get an idea of what’s going on in are designed to help ad managers conduct in-house training for
those stories. If you can’t say the same for an ad’s headline, their sales teams. For information, one can contact John Foust
at P.O. Box 97606, Raleigh, N.C. 27624; jfoust@mindspring.
it’s time for a rewrite.
As you’re writing, remember that people buy benefits – not com; or (919) 848-2401.
unsubstantiated claims and exaggerations.
Postal rates
change Jan. 8
New postal rates will go into effect
Jan. 8, following a vote by the United
States Postal Service (USPS) governors
Nov. 14 to accept a recommendation by
the Postal Rate Commission.
Local paid circulation newspapers using within-county rates will enjoy some
mitigation of rising rates in first-class
and Enhanced Carrier Route mail-the
other two principal subclasses used
by newspapers. Because of a statutory
cap on the amount within-county can
be charged for postal overhead costs,
the within-county rates will decline
for most mailers.
The net result will be an increase to
a 39 cent first-class stamp and an average increase of 5.4 percent in other
commercial rates. The new rates will
raise about $3.1 billion in new revenues
for the USPS. That amount equals the
required payment of USPS into an
escrow account required by Congress
in 2003 to replace contributions to the
Civil Service Retirement System.
At the time of passage, members of
Congress widely assumed that by 2006,
the payment would be superseded by
new action of Congress to release the
funds. However, the soaring federal
budget deficit and policy disputes coming from the Bush White House on the
direction of postal reform has resulted
in legislation that would forgive the payments being bottled up in the Senate.
Postmaster General Jack Potter has
said he expects another increase will
be needed in 2007.
Craigslist founder talks online journalism program
Craig Newmark, founder of www.
craigslist.com, told those at a forum
in England that he plans to “launch a
major online journalism project.”
He implied Web technology would
be used to let readers decide what the
major news stories should be.
(Minnesota NA Bulletin)
13
Media General announces internships
Media General will offer post-graduate internships in four of its converged
markets. The program will give college
graduates the opportunity to develop
the skills required in today’s transforming newsrooms while working for nine
months as multimedia journalists.
Graduates selected for the program
will work in one of four markets where
Media General owns a television station, a newspaper and a Web site. They
will spend time at each property in
the market to obtain a wide range of
experience and will primarily produce
content that will be presented on more
than one platform.
The four markets to which interns will
be assigned in 2006 are the following:
•Tampa, Fla.—The Tampa Tribune,
WFLA-TV and www.tbo.com
•Bristol, Va.-Johnson City, Tenn.—
Bristol Herald Courier, WJHL-TV and
www.tricities.com
•Florence-Myrtle Beach, SC—(Florence) Morning News, WBTW-TV and
affiliated Web sites
•Lynchburg-Roanoke-Danville, Va.—
The (Lynchburg) News & Advance, the
Danville Register & Bee, WSLS-TV and
affiliated Web sites
The internships are open to recipients
of bachelor’s or master’s degrees within
the past 12 months. Application deadline
for the 2006 internship is March 1.
For details, one can visit www.mediageneral.com/careers.
Media site to blend traditional, blogs
A new media Web site will seek to
blend traditional journalism with
the freeform commentary developed
through the emerging Web format
known as blo gs. Some 70 Web
journalists have agreed to participate
in Open Source Media (OSM).
It will link to individual blog postings
and highlight the best contributions,
chosen by OSM editors, in a special
section.
The ad-supported OSM also will carry
news feeds from Newstex, which in turn
receives stories from the Associated
Press, Knight-Ridder/Tribune News
Service and other traditional media.
According to the Pew Internet and
American Life Project, about 9 percent
of adult Internet users in the U.S. have
created their own blogs, and about 25
percent read them. The audience tends
to be more influential: blog postings can
affect what news organizations cover or
politicians discuss.
OSM was founded in 2004 as Pajamas
Media, a play on bloggers’ ability to
opine from home at all hours. It has
raised $3.5 million from venture
capitalists. It is on the Web at www.
pajamasmedia.com.
Tennessee Press
Service handled this
much advertising for
TPA member newspapers:
November 2005: $651,017
Year* as of Nov. 30: $6,499,257
*The Tennessee Press Service, Inc., scal year runs Dec. 1 through Nov. 30.
Plante Ink
Bruce Plante
Editorial Cartoonist
for the Chattanooga Times Free Press
|
Past president
of the Association
of American Editorial Cartoonists
Chattanooga Times Free Press
P.O. 1447/400 E. 11th St.
Chattanooga, TN 37403
423-757-6588 or (cell) 423-316-7174
The Tennessee Press
14
JANUARY 2006
What a Difference a Page Makes
Tennessee Press Association Foundation Five-Year Capital Campaign
What a difference you make!
Pledges to the Tennessee Press Association Foundation’s “What a Difference a Page
Makes” Capital Campaign received in 2005. Thank you for making a difference.
City
Newspaper
Ardmore
Athens
Bolivar
Brownsville
Camden
Carthage
Clarksville
Cleveland
Cookeville
Covington
Dayton
Dover
Fayetteville
Greeneville
Henderson
Hohenwald
Huntingdon
Jamestown
Jefferson City
Johnson City
Kingsport
Lebanon
Your Community Shopper
The Daily Post-Athenian
The Bolivar Bulletin-Times
The States-Graphic
The Camden Chronicle
Carthage Courier
The Leaf-Chronicle
Cleveland Daily Banner
Herald-Citizen
The Covington Leader
The Herald-News
The Stewart-Houston Times
Elk Valley Times
The Greeneville Sun
Chester County Independent
Lewis County Herald
Carroll County News-Leader
Fentress Courier
The Standard Banner
Johnson City Press
Kingsport Times-News
The Lebanon Democrat
Associates & Other Companies:
Jones Media
Lakeway Publishers
Republic Newspapers
Rowlett Advertising
City
Lenoir City
Lewisburg
Lexington
Linden
Manchester
McKenzie
Milan
Morristown
Newport
Paris
Pulaski
Rogersville
Savannah
Selmer
Sparta
Sweetwater
Tracy City
Tullahoma
Union City
Waverly
Winchester
Endowment as of 11/30/04*
Pledges received in 2005
Endowment as of 11/30/05**
Newspaper
The News-Herald
Lewisburg Tribune/Marshall Gazette
The Lexington Progress
Buffalo River Review
Manchester Times
The McKenzie Banner
The Milan Mirror-Exchange
Citizen Tribune
Newport Plain Talk
Paris Post-Intelligencer
Pulaski Citizen-Press
The Rogersville Review
The Courier
Independent-Appeal
The Expositor
Monroe County Advocate
Grundy County Herald
The Tullahoma News
Union City Daily Messenger
The News-Democrat
The Herald-Chronicle
$594,789
$48,645
$801,618
*Endowment at 11/30/04 invested in new building
*Includes the net value of TPAF-owned building
TPAF needs your organization’s support to reach its $1 Million five-year goal.
Remember, giving to TPAF allows TPAF to give back to you!
The Tennessee Press Association Foundation was established in 1976. Among its activities are projects that:
• Advance First Amendment Freedoms
• Provide Continuing Education
Opportunities for Working Journalists
• Document Tennessee Newspaper History
• Promote Literacy
• Strengthen Journalism Education at the
High School and Collegiate Levels
2005 Projects Included:
• Sponsor of Drive-In Training for journalists at the Press Institute & Winter Convention
• Providing a mobile computer lab for hands-on training throughout the state
• Institute of Newspaper Technology scholarships for TPA member newspapers
• Funding of the TPA Legal Hotline
JANUARY
2006 2006
JANUARY
TheThe
Tennessee
Press
Tennessee
Press
15
CONVENTION:
it all’for newspaper training
Exciting
futureWillin‘have
store
3
HOW TO CONTACT US
Tennessee Press Association
to discuss upcoming sessions. The
FROM PAGE ONE
governor and key legislative leaders
flow when work- sequences of photos into easy-to-manBY KEVIN SLIMP
Mail: 435 Montbrook Lane,
organization
associated
ing with these age Stacks based on the time interval
TPS technology
director with TPA, will are invited to discuss their plans for
Knoxville, TN 37919
meet. In the early afternoon, the TPA the upcoming regular session and what
files. “Until now, between exposures.
Our Government
friends at ARelations Committee and they see as the most critical issues facRAW files have
In an industry first, Aperture allows
Phone: (865) 584-5761
Freedom of Information Committee ing the state.
Lowlythe
Apprentice
taken so long to photographers to navigate through enMcCormickwork with,”Pirtle
Seigenthaler
Slimp
Wong
Yeomans
“It’s an excellent opportunity for
will meet.
After that, the TPA Board
Production
(ALAP)
said tire projects
in a full-screen workspace
Fax: (865) 558-8687
of Directors
have been
coming will hold a meeting, and many newsroom leaders who normally
Heinz Kluetmeir, that can be extended to span multiple
editor,
andworkspace
chief executive LEGAL
Bonnie Hufford,
it will
followed by a TPA business do not cover the Capitol on a daily basis sity, Nashville;renowned
up with
goodbe
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Thepublisher
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open government
officer. His
career
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Web:Tennessee’s
www.tnpress.com
Bragg,
Universitytiles
of multiple
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for years.
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photo
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images
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On
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Lu
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NIE
coof
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“friends” because
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tor of (name)@tnpress.com
the Tennessee Coalition for Open
TodayLoupe
and as
administrative
assistant E-mail:
Athens. The
Later, proda Legislative Reception will will be a U.S. Senatorial Candidate ordinator for Jones
they create
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about AperAperture’s
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and
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protect
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First
Amendment
alphabetically:
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tools in
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Tennessee
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Ron Fryar, senior vice president of EDITORIAL
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Bowles,
UT, Knoxville,
and Kent FlanaPublishing,
Nashville.
This
session
Mail:
435 Montbrook
Lane,
activities of state employees. The legislation was discussed At abusiness
will be conducted in open meetings.”
single-user
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will
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Knoxville,
TN
37919
openly in the Senate Local Government Committee, but
price Atofanother
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adherence to ethical principles for refacing
newspapers
in
the
economy,
when it came time to vote, one member asked to invoke the
security
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(US)/$479
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business costs, labor market, climate Phone: (865) 584-5761
rule before the vote.
feel that
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Fax: (865)
SEE558-8687
CONVENTION, PAGE 4
Kovach and Knoxville New-Sentinel reporter Dana Ford
public’s business. There are few, if any, such cases involved of competition today.
less the
expensive
--Thomas objected and refused to leave. When a sergeant-atstateother
business.
than inmost
arms could not be found to remove them, the committee
“Legislators
imposition
appli- are not so naïve as to think that the electorate
134 Heady Drive
adjourned in frustration.
is notand
aware
cations,
it’s of what goes on at executive sessions–they know
Nashville, TN 37205
The next day, the Senate voted to ban Tennessean reporters
are made–but they don’t know who made them,”
very that
easydeals
to use.
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our nation.”
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Phil
Bredesen
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Rutland
said. “We feel that what the people don’t know will
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Bredesen
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hurt them.”
a fully-functional
Fax:
(615)
356-3915
ceremony
in Washington, where he
ing
Is
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national
literacy
rules of this body.” When Kovach arrived the next day, he
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to or former members under indictment for taking bribes on organization, for his efforts to promote was honored for his voluntary pre-K
at www.alap.com.
www.tnpress.com
program
and his Books From Birth
markscover
and registration
marks
for indithe proceedings
from
the balcony.
business
pending before it, now sees how the “culture of early childhood education and reading Web:
Apple announces editing
software
initiative. Bredesen launched the prein Tennessee.
vidual objects
That ledontopages.
a lawsuit, putting Tennessee’s
legislature in the
secrecy” hurts them.
for professional
photographers
in the fall Press
with the opening of
“My number one priority as governor K planTennessee
InPrint
- I love
this spotlight.
one. In Print
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national
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the state Court of Appeals made it official in 2001 that
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Apple
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“sunshine” law only applied to the legislature if it wanted is providing the best possible education 300
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anchildren,”
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to “And districts.
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export The
as an
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other Announced
criticized
Tennessean’s
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in late November,
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thewas
professional
photographer.
in May 2004
established the
the best investment we can make as Mail:Bredesen
file format.
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the same
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called “defi
ance.”area ture is built to lure the professional
intent at the time
to include the
legislature in the bill.
Knoxville,
TN
37919
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Books
From
Birth Foundaa
state
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to
ensure
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of an InDesign
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dissolved the
Several
warts have been found in the statute in the almost 32
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the
General
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Kevin
Slimp
Phone:
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584-5761
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colleague
Apple this week
filltome
Friday, February 10 • Nashville
“Every citizen plays a role in this vital nation Library, a statewide initiative
tively publisher
adjust the agreed
positiontoand
the rotation
terms in the
resolution,
it release. Rob
in Senate
concerning
the new
558-8687
in (865)
Tennessee.
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wantInDesign
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abide
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FRANK GIBSON
is executive
director
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CoaliSchoeben,
Apple’s vice president
of
InDesign:
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Next Step—this
computer
lab class
will cover
toolsImany
intuitive palette.
Battle continues
tion
for Open Government
and ahad
member
of learn.
TPA’s Freedom
applications marking, said,
“Aperture
users haven’t
time to
(Space isoflimited)Parton for helping to give Tennessee’s receive a new book every month at no
children a love of reading, and I also cost to Tennessee families through the
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9, the
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Senateisjudiciary
committees
Information
One can reach him at (615) 202-2685 or
to professional
photography
whatCommittee.
Photoshop CS & CS2 Tips and Tricks—learn to want
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correction toolsmy
availTennessee Press Associato congratulate
fellow hon- program. The
for modifying
the attributes
a selected
Read
heard from
a panel ofof experts
and media
representatives,
by e-mail, [email protected].
For
a
list
of
suspected
“sunshine
Final Cut
Pro is to filmmaking.”
able in CS and CS2 versions and editing of Camera
Rawand
photos.
tion is
a partner in Press
this program.
orees
Reading
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objectincluding
or group. Options
to
modify
size,
J.R. Wiggins, editor of The
Washington
Post,
law”inviolations
Built
with the RAW
file format
mind, in Tennessee since 2003, go to the Headlines
Tennessee
Drive-In
Training.education across
their work
to promote
placement,
stroke,D.
angle,
fill, text
wrapeditor
and Eugene
Rutland,
tri-state
of The Commercial
sectionworkof www.tcog.info. Classes offered as part of TPA Winter Convention
Aperture
promises a quicker
GIBSON: Legislature has taken up ‘secrecy’ again, again
Bredesen receives national education award
See www.tnpress.com for registration information.
—then pass it on!
The Tennessee Press
16
JANUARY 2006
AP releases policy on news values
The Associated Press (AP) has adopted
a comprehensive set of policies on
standards and practices in journalism,
guiding everything from the use of
anonymous sources to quotations and
datelines.
The statement, produced over the past
year by leaders of AP’s news departments, constitutes the most detailed and
thorough enunciation of news values
and principles in the organization’s
157-year history. “We believe it does an
excellent job of setting forth the core
beliefs and standards that govern the
men and women of the AP...,” said Vice
President Mike Silverman. The statement is at www.ap.org/pages/about/
whatsnew/wn_112905.html.
1
1
Editors, reporters
and ad staff members,
heads up!
Yesterday would’ve been a good day
to begin reserving copies
of editorial matter, photos and ads
that might be entered
in the
2006 UT-TPA State Press Contests.
If you didn’t do that, how about today?
The deadline for entry
is coming in less than
two months—Feb. 17!
Ad and circulation
staff members,
heads up!
Yesterday would’ve been a good day
to begin reserving copies
of ad and circulation materials
that might be entered in the
Advertising/Circulation Ideas Contest.
If you didn’t do that, how about today?
The deadline for entry
HAS BEEN CHANGED
and now is in about
one month—Feb. 3!
Bruce Plante’s contribution to Black Ink Monday
Editorial cartoonists observe Black Ink Monday
Since Ben Franklin and colonial
times, the editorial cartoon has been
one of the most visible and popular
parts of the daily paper. However,
recent changes within the newspaper
industry have placed this American
institution at risk.
Over the last 20 years, the number
of cartoonists on the staff of daily
newspapers nationwide has been cut
in half. In the last month alone, the
Tribune Co. (owner of the Chicago
Tribune, Los Angeles Times and a
half-dozen other prominent papers),
has forced out well-known and awardwinning cartoonists at the LA Times
and Baltimore Sun, eliminating their
positions entirely.
So, editorial cartoonists on Monday,
Dec. 12, responded to these cuts in the
best way they know how—by throwing ink.
Dozens of editorial cartoonists banded together for “Black Ink Monday,”
unleashing their biting commentary
on the current state of affairs in the
newspaper business, with a specific
emphasis on corporate downsizing.
These cartoons are posted on editorialcartoonists.com (home of the
Association of American Editorial
Cartoonists) and ran in various papers
across the country. The AAEC intended
to use the protest to draw attention, not
just to the loss of individual jobs, but
the wholesale weakening of the daily
newspaper.
In an open letter to Tribune Chief
Executive Officer Dennis FitzSimons,
AAEC President Clay Bennett recently
wrote: “There are few journalists in
a newsroom who can define the tone
and identity of a publication like an
editorial cartoonist does. By discarding
those who make a newspaper unique,
you rob it of its character. By robbing
a newspaper of its character, you steal
its spirit.”
Bennett and several other cartoonists
decided it was time to make a stand with
Black Ink Monday. The cartoons will be
NOTE
Three of the four largest
newspapers in Tennessee
employ editorial cartoonists: Chattanooga Times Free
Press, Bruce Plante; News
Sentinel, Knoxville, Charlie
Daniel; and The Commercial
Appeal, Memphis, Bill Day.
published at editorialcartoonists.com
on Monday, Dec. 12, 2005.
For more information on Black Ink
Monday or the Association of American
Editorial Cartoonists, one can contact
Clay Bennett, Christian Science Monitor, at [email protected], or
Bruce Plante, Chattanooga Times
Free Press, at bplante@timesfreepress.
com.
Ramirez laid off by the Los Angeles Times
BY AL CROSS
Institute for Rural Journalism
and Community Issues
Lexington, Ky.
The nation’s top conservative cartoonist has lost his job as the Los Angeles
Times announced that it was laying
off Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist
Michael Ramirez. The Times also laid
off liberal columnist Robert Scheer.
Before moving to the Times, Ramirez
was the cartoonist at The Commercial
Appeal, Memphis, for seven years,
and that is where he won the Pulitzer
Prize in 1994.
Ramirez is likely the most widely
syndicated cartoonist who is sold individually and not in a package service.
He’s known for brilliant drawings and
a consistently strong conservative
point of view that was a stark contrast
to the liberal editorial pages at the LA
Times. The Times quotes Ramirez as
saying, “I can’t help but think it’s also
a philosophical parting of ways.” He
said he also believed his removal was
partly due to budgetary concerns, as
well as a desire to change the look of
the editorial pages.”
Observers say they expect that the
Times will not hire a replacement for
Ramirez. The Chicago Tribune, which
owns the Times, has not hired a staff
editorial cartoonist in recent years
since the death of their Pulitzer Prize
winner, Jeff MacNelly.
The Los Angeles Times also recently
cancelled their subscriptions to syndicated editorial cartoons, keeping
subscriptions to only three liberal
cartoonists, Ted Rall, Jeff Danziger
and Tom Toles. They are expected
to commission occasional cartoon
illustrations and have been buying
exclusive freelance cartoons from a
variety of freelancers, including Mr.
Fish (Dwayne Booth).
This is the latest in a series of
shakeups at the Times, including the
recent layoff of Michael Kinsley. The
Times has a rich tradition of editorial
cartoonists that comes to an end with
Ramirez. The former cartoonist, threetime Pulitzer Prize winner Paul Conrad,
took early retirement and continues to
draw in syndication.
A given
“One has to accept that democracy
cannot function without the media.”
Nelson Mandela
African National Congress, 1993