Alabama Media Professionals

As someone who has worked with my spouse in the same industry for years, this probably has special resonance for me. If Kurtz would have interviewed Dozier no matter who the publicist was, he may feel there is no problem. But part of being ethical in journalism is supposed to be about avoiding even the appearance of a conflict of interest. It’s a tough position to be in — I’m supposed to turn down a great interview just because my spouse happens to be the publicist?

– Deborah Lockridge

Having just gone to work part-time for Reuters, I am daily becoming more aware of the importance of neutrality in journalism. This doesn’t seem to meet the constraints of neutrality by which Mr. Kurtz should be operating. It looks instead like he did his wife’s client a solid with the interview.

Melinda Dickinson
copyedit@bellsouth.net
205-328-9115
205-475-2552

“A man who is always ready to believe what is told him will never do well.” - Gaius Petronius

The facts:

· Kimberly Dozier, a CBS journalist wounded in Iraq, is author of a memoir, Breathing the Fire, published by Meredith Books.

· Sheri Annis is a paid publicist for Dozier.

· Howard Kurtz, Annis’ husband, interviewed Dozier on his CNN show “Reliable Sources.”

The question: Was Kurtz’s action ethical?

We hope you can join us for the next meeting of Alabama Media Professionals, set for June 12th.

Watch our website for details…

http://www.numberway.com/–international white and yellow page phone listings.

http://www.switchboard.com– names and phone numbers for people and businesses in the United States

http://www.anywho.com–residential phone and business listings in the United States with limited reverse lookup

http://infospace.com–home and business phone listings, allows search for businesses or homes located near another address.

You always hear about the National Spelling Bee, but what about the National Math Bee? It’s here in Birmingham next week on May 2-3 at the McWane Science Center .

The United States is known for falling behind when it comes to math and sciences compared to other countries. And there has even been a push to get more girls interested in this field. This National Math Bee may be a way to get students more interested in math by making it fun at the same time.

The story behind the man who started the National Math Bee is really unique. Dr. David Vaillancourt started his program here as a study to earn his PH.D. The program began six years ago in Birmingham with local schools, but within three years became a national competition. The students compete throughout the school year online. So, for example, when students come here from Arizona , they’ve been competing with the other schools for months and have created intense “rivalries” with each other. List of schools coming are below. Dr. Vaillancourt has copyrighted his math programs that are used for this bee (it started off as a board game). The National Math Bee is also a 501-(3)(C). Although Dr. Vaillancourt now lives in Utah , he continues to organize the event here in Birmingham each year with the help of Virginia College .

Dr. Vaillancourt was also one of the early winners of a scholarship from Truett Cathy of Chick-Fil-A. They paid for his undergraduate tuition here at Samford University . He’s been friends with Cathy for nearly 33 years, and right now, Chick-Fil-A is the main corporate sponsor of the bee.

Please take a look at the website www.nationalmathbee.org. Here is the list of schools competing:
Aliceville Middle School - Aliceville , AL
Wenonah Elementary - Birmingham , AL
Clay Elementary - Clay, AL
South Choctaw Academy - Toxey , AL
Paine Intermediate - Trussville , AL
Benchmark School - Phoenix , AZ
Norwood Elementary - Norwood , CO
Boca Raton Christian Academy - Boca Raton , FL
Murray County Central West Elementary - Slayton , MN
Elgin Middle School - Elgin , OK
DaVinci Science Academy - Euless, TX (suburb of Ft. Worth )

Dear community friends-

I read this Birmingham News story today, and it reminded me, once again, =
that local food drives are not just for well-publicized major winter =
holidays. People are hungry 365 days a year, and this year the dismal =
economic picture has worsened an already difficult situation locally.

http://www.al.com/news/birminghamnews/index.ssf?/base/news/12066057172391=
50.xml&coll=3D2

We all want to help humanity in some way or another. We are all very, =
very well-meaning, and also very, very busy. Here is a way to actually =
do something to address a very specific need that is not terribly time =
consuming, simple to carry out, and can be done as an indivdual or as a =
group. Either way is just as effective in helping to restore health and =
dignity to our fellow human beings.

Ideas:

-Take a couple of grocery bags to work and leave them in a common area =
for non-perishable contributions.

-Have your children’s scout troop, sports team, class, religious group, =
or neighborhood gang collect food.

-Instead of the usual summer lemonade stand, have the kids set up a =
regular drop-off table and basket in their yard or driveway to collect =
items when they sell lemonade. They can publicize this with mailbox or =
front-door flyers throughout the neighborhood the week before they =
start. The flyers should be specific about what kinds of food they care =
collecting and who they will take it to. Eventually the neighbors will =
get the idea and carry a can of tuna around in the car, or in their =
fanny-packs during their runs.

-If you’re hosting any kind of celebratory get-together in which gifts =
are involved, request food donations in lieu of gifts.

-Pick an organization you like, and throw a couple of extra items in =
your grocery cart every time you shop. Drop off the food once a week, or =
every other week, or once a month. Make it a part of your regular errand =
running routine, like the library, cleaners, bakery, pet food store, =
bank, etc.

Do this now, while the trees are in bloom, and continue to do it through =
the dog days of summer. Don’t wait until autumn or winter. Give the food =
to the organziation of your choice- all the soup kitchens and shelters =
and food banks are in need, not just a few. They will all be most =
grateful for your efforts.

It’s our job as human beings to take care of each other in whatever way =
we can. Really.

Thanks for listening-
Julie Welden

Really interesting blog on Salon.com comparing “paper” newspapers to the online version.

http://machinist.salon.com/feature/2007/10/24/newspapers/index.html

Here’s a very interesting blog post from Folio: magazine about the ethics of Photoshopping magazine covers:
Photoshopping Mag Covers: How Much is Too Much? | Folio Magazine

In celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW), the National Women’s History Museum (NWHM), will launch Women with a Deadline: Female Printers, Publishers and Journalists from the Colonial Period to World War I, an online exhibit honoring women’s contributions to the printed word. The online exhibit can be viewed at www.nwhm.org.

The cyber exhibit is a result of a nine-month collaboration to celebrate women’s roles, as well as the 70th Year of NFPW. Noted women’s historian and NWHM Vice President for Programs, Doris Weatherford, was the curator for Women With a Deadline. Weatherford has authored and published books on women’s history for the last 20 years.

According to NWHM President Joan Wages, the history of the American press is linked on many levels to the history of American women. From the very first printer in the New World, Elizabeth Glover, to Mary Katherine Goddard, the first to publish the names of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, women played an important part in the press in Colonial times.

“In honor of these bold, intelligent and pioneering women, NFPW gladly joins with NWHM to focus on their groundbreaking achievements,” NFPW President Meg Hunt said. “Through the Civil War and the balance of the 1800s women journalists were on the forefront of reporting on and promoting the Progressive Era, which was the greatest period of positive social reform in our nation’s history.”

Wages added that during the 1898 Spanish-American War, women reporters scooped their male counterparts. One joined the Red Cross as a nurse, which allowed her to get to the frontlines first.

“NWHM honors the role press women have played in some of the greatest social reforms of history,” said Wages. “This exhibit will enlighten and inspire young women to bravely pursue their dreams as so many women journalists have done before them.”
NFPW is an organization of professional journalists and communicators. For 70 years, it has promoted the highest ethical standards in communications; provided professional development, youth programs and networking; and advocated for protection of First Amendment rights. NFPW is a member of the NWHM Coalition of 32 leading national women’s organizations representing over 8.5 million members who support the NWHM mission.
NWHM, founded in 1996, is a nonprofit educational institution dedicated to preserving, interpreting and celebrating the diverse historic contributions of women, and integrating this rich heritage fully into our nation’s history. Until legislation passes in Congress designating a permanent museum in Washington, D.C., the NWHM promotes women’s history through its temporary exhibits, special events, an award-winning CyberMuseum and online educational materials.