By Bette Pore Community journalists have a tremendous opportunity to effect social change. That was the message Maxine Moul, Nebraska state director of USDA Rural Development, shared with Nebraska Press Women at the organization’s spring conven- tion May 1 at the Cornhusker Hotel in Lincoln. “The written word is so incredibly powerful, whether you’re putting it on the Internet or in a community newspaper,” Moul said. A former member of NPW, she told of her years of com- munity journalism experience, beginning at the Sioux City (Iowa) Journal and then expanding when, in 1971, she and her husband bought the Syracuse Journal Democrat. They quickly learned that getting personally involved in community service yielded very valuable results. “It helped us sell ads, subscrip- tions. It spurred the community to support us in personal issues and as a newspaper,” Moul said. In Syracuse, she said, her com- munity involvement gave her a view of poverty that she had not had before. That was when she built a commitment to work for good rural housing. She has continued that commitment in the decades since then, including her focus on rural development in the 1990s when she served Nebraska as lieutenant gov- ernor. While in office, she worked to establish the Commission on Rural Development. “That was the most impor- tant thing I did,” Moul said. Out of that commission came the establishment of the Nebraska Community Foundation in 1993. She said the foundation provided the state a different approach – making decisions at the local level. She urged the foundation to set a goal of raising $25 million by 2000 and in 2010, she said, $96 million has been invested in rural Nebraska by almost 40,000 people. “That’s the power of social change – getting people involved in their communities," Moul said. “If I leave any legacy to this state, it will be the Community Foundation.” She has no plans to run for public office again, but she is con- tinuing her commitment to rural development through her USDA position. “I am extremely fortunate to be involved with USDA Rural Development,” she said. “We’re doing a very effective job of bring- ing lots of dollars into the state. It’s a joy to go into communities and see what people are doing to create jobs and make their communities better.” ■ Summer 2010 www.nebraskapresswomen.org NPW NEWSeLETTER Moul: Written Word Incredibly Powerful Maxine Moul. Lori Potter
Transcript
By Bette Pore
Community journalists havea tremendous opportunity toeffect social change.
That was the messageMaxine Moul, Nebraska statedirector of USDA RuralDevelopment, shared withNebraska Press Women at theorganization’s spring conven-tion May 1 at the CornhuskerHotel in Lincoln.
“The written word is soincredibly powerful, whetheryou’re putting it on the Internetor in a community newspaper,”Moul said.
A former member of NPW,she told of her years of com-munity journalism experience,beginning at the Sioux City(Iowa) Journal and thenexpanding when, in 1971, sheand her husband bought theSyracuse Journal Democrat.
They quickly learned that gettingpersonally involved in communityservice yielded very valuableresults.
“It helped us sell ads, subscrip-tions. It spurred the community tosupport us in personal issues and asa newspaper,” Moul said.
In Syracuse, she said, her com-munity involvement gave her a viewof poverty that she had not had
before. That was when she built a commitment to work for good ruralhousing. She has continued thatcommitment in the decades sincethen, including her focus on ruraldevelopment in the 1990s when sheserved Nebraska as lieutenant gov-ernor.
While in office, she worked toestablish the Commission on RuralDevelopment.
“That was the most impor-tant thing I did,” Moul said.Out of that commission camethe establishment of theNebraska CommunityFoundation in 1993. She saidthe foundation provided thestate a different approach –making decisions at the locallevel.
She urged the foundation toset a goal of raising $25 millionby 2000 and in 2010, she said,$96 million has been investedin rural Nebraska by almost40,000 people.
“That’s the power of socialchange – getting peopleinvolved in their communities,"Moul said.
“If I leave any legacy to thisstate, it will be the CommunityFoundation.”
She has no plans to run forpublic office again, but she is con-tinuing her commitment to ruraldevelopment through her USDAposition.
“I am extremely fortunate to beinvolved with USDA RuralDevelopment,” she said. “We’redoing a very effective job of bring-ing lots of dollars into the state. It’sa joy to go into communities andsee what people are doing to createjobs and make their communitiesbetter.” ■
Summer 2010 www.nebraskapresswomen.org
NPW NEWSeLETTERMoul: Written Word Incredibly Powerful
Maxine Moul.
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Summer UpdateBy Ruth Brown, president
COA Nominations DueJuly 1 is the deadline for state
COA nominations. All nomineesmust be living members in goodstanding for at least two years inboth NPW and National Federationof Press Women (NFPW). A previ-ous nominee can be nominatedagain, provided she or he has notbeen honored as the NFPW’s COAwinner. The current state NPWpresident may not be nominated.
The Nebraska COA is selectedby current members who previous-ly were honored as state COAs.Selection criteria for both state andnational COA includes exceptionalachievement in the communicationfield, service to the organizationand service to the community.
Send nominations to CherylAlberts Irwin, 3274 Merrill St.,Lincoln, NE 68503.
Fall in Red CloudThe next COA will be
announced at the fall convention,so plan a road trip to Red Cloud onSaturday, Oct. 9 to see CatherCountry! (Officers and boardmembers will meet Friday night,Oct. 8, at The Palace Lounge.)
Fall convention will be held inthe beautifully restored 1885 OperaHouse, which figured prominentlyin the life of author Willa Cather.Sessions include learning what theWilla Cather Foundation has doneand continues to do to preserve andpromote understanding and appre-ciation of the life, time, setting andwork of the Pulitzer Prize winningauthor.
In addition, convention coordi-nator Lynne Ahlers is lining up his-torical tours and great food!
Spring ConventionThanks to all who helped with
the spring convention in Lincoln,and thanks to all who attended.Members came from all corners ofthe state, including Bushnell (nearthe western border of thePanhandle), Ogallala, Alliance,Bassett, North Platte, Holdrege,Kearney, Hastings, Grand Island,Sutton, Fullerton, Milford,Norfolk, Wayne, Omaha andLincoln.
Thanks also to the NebraskaFarm Bureau, Nebraska Lottery,Nebraska Press Association andDonald Burge, M.D., for theirsponsorships that helped defrayvarious costs of the convention.
Beel ScholarshipThe very first Marianne Beel
Scholarship was awarded thisspring to a high school senior fromMullen with a strong interest inphotography. This culminates sev-eral years of planning and coordi-nation with the Beel family.Special thanks to Judy Nelson,Lori Potter and to ScholarshipChair Barb Batie for making ithappen.
NPW continues to seek ways toadd to the Beel Scholarship fundso that the award can be madeannually in perpetuity. Work isunderway to develop a line ofproducts that feature Marianne’sphotographs of the Sandhills onnotecards, postcards, T-shirts andbags.
Women Journalists Hall of FameElsewhere in this newsletter,
you will see guidelines for theNebraska Women Journalists’ Hallof Fame. They were approved dur-ing the spring convention businessmeeting. Now I would like to find a sponsor; it should be a businesswith statewide presence that has an
appreciation of women and the journalism profession. Please e-mail me with your ideas:[email protected]
The first Hall of Fame hon-oree(s) will be announced at thefall 2011 convention, which will beheld in conjunction with theNFPW convention in Omaha/Council Bluffs on Sept. 8-10,2011.
Lots of EntriesEntries in the Professional
Communications Contest totaled213 (up from 198 last year), thanksto Barb Micek and Betty Pore whocoordinated that contest, exchang-ing entries with South Dakota forjudging.
Entries in the High SchoolCommunications Contest totaled254 (up from 190 last year).Thanks to Mary Pierce who coor-dinated it, sending information andentry forms by e-mail, thus savingmailing costs.
Also thanks to members whoentered the professional contest,and to members who judged pro-fessional and/or high schoolentries. ■
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
2 NPW NEWSeLETTER
Ruth Brown
By Mary Pierce
While it may appear newssources have all gone cyber, tradi-tional forms of media, includingnewspaper, still play a vital role inproviding information.
This news was delivered not viae-mail or Twitter, or read online butwas presented live by professionalsduring the Nebraska Press Women’sspring convention, held May 1 inthe Cornhusker Hotel at Lincoln.
The “Opportunities Online” panelincluded Steve Smith, the Universityof Nebraska–Lincoln Office ofCommunication national news edi-tor, and Valerie Jones, a digital mar-keting and media strategy consult-ant.
Rita Brhel, an online publicationscoordinator, moderated the paneldiscussion.
Brhel asked the panel about theopportunities available to those whohave spent their careers in tradition-al media outlets.
“The opportunities are there,there’s just no unique formula thatyou can punch in,” said Smith, whoworked at five different newspapersduring the course of 15 years beforeaccepting his present job. “It’s thereframing of what you do as jour-nalists.”
Smith said journalists need tochange their mindset and “get overthe threshold” of the digital forms ofcommunication and shift to provid-ing news across the platforms.
“But some folks are mortared in,”Smith said, acknowledging the chal-lenge.
Jones said the consumer and tech-nology now drive news.
“Those two things are meeting insuch a way and creating chal-lenges,” Jones said.
Consumers have many choices onnews sources and are picking andchoosing the information they want.
Jones said the traditional mediaoften has the mindset of “we knowwhat people should want.” Yet, con-sumers can easily bypass what thenews industry thinks is news andfind information from a variety ofother sources.
The challenge is getting qualitynews and information to people in aconvenient way.
“You need to think about provid-ing that in a different way,” Jonessaid.
Whether through websites thatallow readers to interact, social net-work sites and/or the immediate“Twitter” medium, another chal-lenge may be staying on top of thetechnology, which is constantlychanging.
Jones said she is not recommend-ing people walk away from the printmarket but part of the market has tobe devoted to the “new stuff.”
“You need to deliver news in anew way and work on capturing the
audience,” Jones said. “Twitter,Facebook; you have to try newthings and see what works.”
Brhel asked the panel to discusshow different populations have dif-ferent needs and how to “cutthrough the clutter.”
Smith said it is important to iden-tify the specific target audience.
“The town square has movedaway from the bell ringing ‘here ye,here ye,’” Smith said. “Find youraudience and focus on where theyare.”
Jones said the medium usedshould be targeted to a specific audi-ence and used appropriately.
“Devote yourself to interactingand having a dialogue. That’s a dif-ferent mindset than the traditionaljournalist,” Jones said.
Smith said the sources for infor-mation now are varied and seeming-ly endless.
continued on page 5
Summer 2010 3
Digital Era Offers New Opportunities
Steve Smith and Valerie Jones discussed online opportunities for journalists.
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By Lori Potter
Expanded use of videos onnewspaper and magazine websitesis requiring photojournalists toshoot both still and video images.
Although some compositionconsiderations are the same,including framing and attention towhat is going on in the back-ground, the University ofNebraska–Lincoln’s BruceMitchell described for NebraskaPress Women members someimportant technical differences.
“You sorta have to get out of thehome video mentality when youstart shooting for real,” saidMitchell, a UNL advertising lecturerand former ad agency videographer.
That means staying away frompoint-and-shoot cameras. “The lensis the biggest thing. The lens inthose flip cameras that look like aphone is not good,” he said.
It’s also critical to use a tripod(with a level) for video because anycamera movement will be seen.That’s unlike still photography inwhich “just a slice of time” usuallycan be caught by a shutter that isfast enough to freeze the image.
The movement issue with videoalso means a photographer shouldavoid panning and zooming.
“Do not zoom,” Mitchell said.“Just let the action happen in frontof the camera,” allowing more leadtime at events involving movingpeople or objects.
If a closer shot is needed, stopthe camera, adjust the zoom andstart recording again, he advised.If a camera must be hand-held, thephotographer should take the roleof human tripod. Hold the camerawith two hands, put your elbowsagainst your body and cameraagainst your cheek, spread yourlegs wide and bend your knees,and take a deep breath beforeshooting.
Mitchell said to move closerrather than magnifying an imagebecause it also will magnify handmovements.
“You always want to recordmore than you’re gonna use,” headded.
Mitchell’s other video tipsincluded:
– Don’t try to edit on the cam-era. Leave it up to the editor tofinalize and organize images.
– Don’t place the subject in theexact center of the frame.
– Use tilting, unusual angles orother disconcerting views sparingly.
– For interviews, don’t get tootight or crop into a head. “Whenyou can see the pores on their skin,that’s way too tight,” Mitchell said.
– Provide “looking room” to theside of the frame toward which theperson is looking.
– Never have a person lookdirectly at the camera unless he orshe is supposed to talk to an audi-ence. Set up the shot as if there is aconversation between the reporterand subject, and the camera is abystander.
– Be sure the angle still allowsyou to see both of the subject’seyes. If the side angle is too severe,it becomes a “talking ear” profile.
– An off-camera reporter shouldbe eye level with the subject andjust to the side of the camera.
– Check the surroundings, par-ticularly what’s in the background.Get the subject as far away fromthe background as possible so thatit goes out of focus and isn’t dis-tracting. Watch for reflections andshadows.
– Avoid using the camera micro-phone because it picks up too muchbackground noise. A hand-held micshould be held 6-8 inches away andat a 45-degree angle. Better yet, usea wireless mic that can be putinside a shirt as protection fromwind and background noise.
– For outside lighting, avoidputting someone in the shade withbright sunshine in the background.Get the sun over the reporter’sshoulder and sunlight on the sub-ject’s cheek farthest from the cam-era. Reflectors or artificial lightscan be used inside or outside to fillin dark areas and make shadowsless harsh.
– When telling a story withaction sequences, be sure the shotsmake sense and follow most peo-ple's “continuity rules.”
– Any change in direction mustbe clear. For example, the basicshot for TV coverage of footballand basketball games always isfrom the same side of the field orcourt so that viewers don’t get con-fused about which direction a teamis going. ■
4 NPW NEWSeLETTER
Mitchell Offers Video Tips For Photojournalists
Videographer Bruce Mitchell gave tips on shooting video images.
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By Cheryl Alberts Irwin
Journalists, your profession ischanging. And so are audiencesand your relationships with them.
Michelle Carr Hassler, assistantto the dean and lecturer in theUniversity of Nebraska–LincolnCollege of Journalism and MassCommunications, shared insightsfrom a recent Carnegie-Knightsummit on the future of journalismduring the Nebraska Press Womenconvention luncheon in LincolnMay 1.
Journalists increasingly arebecoming entrepreneurs and build-ing their own brands – contrary tothe traditional school of thought.As such, Hassler said journalistsmust study and understand thebusiness of news and stay on topof trends.
Social mediums increasinglyinfluence news and its delivery, asmore people are willing to connectand share.
“It’s hard work and it takes time
and effort,” Hassler said.Students and journalists need to
learn how to create an audience,then engage it – not necessarily asexperts, but respected for develop-
ing expertise and credibility, shesaid.
Flexibility is Hassler’s bestadvice, because no longer do jour-nalists start out at small newspa-pers, radio or television stations,and work their way up.
“Now the path is a little moreerratic – just feeling the way as wego.”
UNL is part of the Carnegie-Knight Initiative for the Future ofJournalism Education, whichfocuses on preparing future medialeaders to be analytical thinkersand clear writers and communica-tors, armed with an in-depth under-standing of the context and com-plexity of today’s issues.
One of the initiative’s programsis News21, in which nearly 100 ofthe nation’s top journalism studentsreport on issues and turn those sto-ries into innovative multimediaprojects.
For more information, seehttp://www.facebook.com/news21or News21.com. ■
Summer 2010 5
Social Media Increasingly Influencing News
Michelle Carr Hassler.
Digital Eracontinued from page 3
“But there’s still a market forobjective professional journalism.Shine through your profession andpeople will still come,” he said.
Jones said education would bekey in people being able to sort outtheir own news from the multiplesources to which they now haveaccess.
“We need to be teaching kids inhigh school and college to questionthe sources,” Jones said. “If thestory sounds fishy to you, find outwho provided the information.”
Jones said people also need to betaught how to use online resources,
particularly when dissecting e-mailsand online content.
“That’s the only hope we have,”she said.
Smith said not to fear the digitalinflux of information but to embraceit and utilize bloggers, people whoprovide commentary or news on aspecific topic.
“Don’t fear the waters, bringthem in. If they’re out there blog-ging, bring them in. Bring themunder your banner,” he said.
Smith encouraged journalists toutilize the research abilities of blog-gers and have them become aninteractive part of a story.
“They’re valuable and very well-read. The days of them getting
chuckled at by the mainstreammedia are gone. Clearly, they are abig part of the discussion,” he said.
Smith said how much interactiona newspaper wants to have with itsreaders can vary: from taking photosand providing coverage of youthsports to bloggers providingresearch for a major story.
“Use your audience and havethem contribute. They want to throwin their two cents,” Smith said.
Smith said change is tough, as isletting go of control.
“We’ve always told people whatnews is, and we controlled it. It’sreally quite liberating to put it outthere and let people decide,” he said. ■
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A staff writer for the NanceCounty Journal in Fullerton wonthe 2009 Nebraska Press WomenCommunications Contest. Awardsweresented May 1 at NPW’s springconvention at the CornhuskerHotel in Lincoln.
Barbara A. Micek of Fullertonwon first place in the MarianneBeel Sweepstakes Awards. Secondplace went to Lori Potter of theKearney Hub. Mary Pierce of theKeith County News in Ogallalaplaced third.
Micek’s awards included ninefirst places, in photo essay non-daily newspaper, feature story non-daily newspaper, specialarticles/food, editorial non-dailynewspaper, news reporting non-daily newspaper, specialarticles/religion, specialarticles/hobby-craft, page layoutnon-daily newspaper and captionwriting.
Potter received nine first places,in photographer/writer, photogra-phy on web/single photo, photoessay daily newspaper, news photodaily newspaper, personalcolumns/general, columns/humor-ous, special articles/travel, specialarticles/agriculture and enterprisereporting.
Pierce’s awards included fourfirst place awards in personalityprofile, special articles/science-energy, single pages regularly edit-ed by entrant/lifestyle or entertain-ment non-daily newspaper, andnews photography non-daily news-paper.
A total of 61 first-place entriesin the state competition haveadvanced to the NationalFederation of Press WomenContest, with those awards to bepresented in August in Chicago.
Following are the NPW contestaward winners:
L. Lynne Ahlers, Red Cloud: First in edi-torial non-daily newspaper, and honorablemention in personal columns/general.Cheryl Alberts Irwin, Lincoln: First inpublications regularly edited byentrant/newsletters, and newsletter four-color.Barb Batie, Lexington: First incolumns/informational, columns/special-ized; second in editorial non-daily news-paper, feature story non-daily newspaper;third in personal columns/general; honor-able mention in special articles/agricul-ture.Lois Brunnert, Wisner: Third in featurestory non-daily newspaper.Deb Carpenter-Nolting, Bushnell: Third incolumns/specialized.Carla Chance, Cedar Creek: First inposter campaign, brochure four-color,print campaign institutional or series, printmedia advertising retail product or serv-ice, original graphics; second in specialarticles/advertorials, publications regularlyedited by entrant/newsletters, publicationfor general or specialized circulation,website edited by entrant, trade or maga-zine color ad display/institutional orimage, single sheet poster; third in featurestory/general publication; honorable men-tion in headline writing, specialarticles/business. Jennifer Chick, Kearney: First in featurephoto/daily newspaper, writing for theweb/feature article; second in newsletterfour-color, feature story/general publica-tion, special articles/business, special arti-cles/food; third in feature story/dailynewspaper, special articles/agriculture,
special articles/travel, sports photo/dailynewspaper; honorable mention in continu-ing coverage, special articles/health, spe-cial articles/history.Lori Clinch, North Platte: Second incolumns/humorous.Andrea Cranford, Lincoln: first in maga-zine four-color, writing for the web/onlinenewsletters, magapaper/tabloid four-color.Mary Pat Finn-Hoag, Norfolk: second inphotographer/writer, and feature photodaily newspaper.Betsy Friedrich, Kearney: First in specialarticles/planet earth, special articles/edu-cation; third in continuing coverage; hon-orable mention in feature story/dailynewspaper, special articles/arts and enter-tainment, special articles/travel.Sara Giboney, Kearney: First in specialseries, news reporting/daily newspaper;second in special articles/education, spe-cial articles/health-fitness; third in newsphoto/daily newspaper, specialarticles/travel, special articles/social issue.Terri Hahn, Osceola: First in singlepages regularly edited by entrant/lifestyleor entertainment daily newspaper, singlepages edited by entrant other than lifestyledaily newspaper, page layout daily news-paper, headline writing; second in sectionedited by entrant daily newspaper.Sharron Hollen, North Platte First in spe-cial articles/social issue, specialarticles/history, special articles/health-fit-ness; second in special articles/arts-enter-tainment, special articles/government-pol-itics, special articles/hobby-craft; honor-able mention in news reporting dailynewspaper.
NPW COMMUNICATIONS CONTEST RESULTS
6 NPW NEWSeLETTER
Pierce, Micek and Potter claimed the Marianne Beel Sweepstakes Awards.
Amber Medina, Hastings: Second inmagapaper/tabloid four-color; third inmagazine four-color. Delores Meister, West Point: Third inspecial articles/science; honorable men-tion in personality profile. Glennis Nagel, Kearney: First in newsrelease/single release, feature story/ gener-al publication; second in magazine four-color.Judy Nelson, Lincoln: First in newsletterfour-color, and publications regularly edit-ed by entrant/newsletters.Bette Pore, Grand Island: First in publi-cations regularly edited by entrant dailynewspaper; second in single pages editedby entrant other than lifestyle daily news-paper, page layout daily newspaper; thirdin headline writing, and section edited byentrant daily newspaper.Kim Schmidt, Kearney: First in featurestory daily newspaper, continuing cover-age; third in news reporting daily newspa-per.Emily Springer McCreery, North Platte:First in sports photo daily newspaper, sec-tion edited by entrant daily newspaper;second in sections/supplements edited byentrant daily newspaper, photo essay dailynewspaper, special articles/sports, inves-tigative reporting; third in single pagesedited by entrant other than lifestyle dailynewspaper, page layout daily newspaper;honorable mention news photo dailynewspaper, feature photo daily newspaper.Nancy Swarts, Milford: First in featurephoto non-daily newspaper, website editedby entrant; second in publications regular-ly edited by entrant non-daily; third innews reporting non-daily newspaper, per-sonality profile, page layout non-dailynewspaper; honorable mention in headlinewriting. Sherry Thompson, Omaha: Second inspecial articles/social issue; third in web-site edited by entrant, publications regu-larly edited by entrant/newsletters; honor-able mention in special articles/businessRuth Raymond Thone, Lincoln: First ineditorial/opinion daily newspaper, creativeverse; second in columns/specialized,columns/informational; third incolumns/humorous.Diane Wetzel, North Platte: First ininvestigative reporting, specialarticles/business, special articles/arts-entertainment, special articles/govern-ment-politics, special articles/advertorials;second in news reporting daily newspaper,continuing coverage, special articles/agri-culture, personal columns/general; honor-able mention in special articles/socialissue. ■
The work of students attendingNebraska high schools was show-cased during the 2009 NebraskaPress Women High SchoolCommunications Competition.
Results were announced May 1during the Nebraska PressWomen’s spring convention in theCornhusker Hotel at Lincoln. Students from 14 schools enteredwork completed during 2009 in thecontest, which included 254 entriesin 17 different categories, fromwriting to photography to video.
Omaha Westside students cap-tured first place in seven of the 17categories. Other schools with sub-missions that placed first includePapillion LaVista South HighSchool, with three first-placeentries; Milliard West and BellevueHigh School, two apiece; andHastings and North Platte HighSchool, one apiece.
First place entries were forward-ed to the National Federation ofPress Women’s High SchoolCommunications Contest.
Complete results are as follows:
Division 1 results (Class A schools):Bellevue West High School – KiraNorthrop and Kaitlyn Klein, first, graph-ics; Christopher Nelson, first, review;Olivia Cunningham, third, opinion;Samantha Churchill, honorable mention,feature photo and review; and KaitlynKlein, honorable mention, review.Blair High School – Joey Gentzler, sec-ond, graphics, and third, double-truck lay-out; Michael Blaha, second, single-pagelayout; and Nate Barnhill, third, graphics.Grand Island High School – SarahMirza, second, columns; and BrandonPfeifer, third, review. Hastings High School – BethanySchmidt, first, double-truck layout; AnnieDillman, second, editorial; MichaelBeahm, second, opinion; MikaelaNewlun, second, single-page layout andhonorable mention, feature story.Lincoln Southwest – Will Folsom, sec-ond, cartooning; Connor Stange, second,sports story; and Kaley Cook, third,columns.Marian High School – Hailey Konnath,third, editorial; Ann Brudney, third, car-tooning; and Jacqueline Alvine, honorablemention, single-page layout.Millard West – Hannah Bargman, first,feature photo; Molly Christenson, first,sports photo; Jessica Goltl, second, fea-
continued on page 8
NPW High School Contest winners who attended spring convention include (leftto right): Amy McConnell, Emily Barnes, Ryan Daly, Kira Northrup, Chris Nelsonand Kaitlyn Klein.
High School Winners Announced
Summer 2010 7
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ture photo; Lindsay McCoy, second,sports photo; Josephine Orsi, third, featurephoto; Natalie Ketzler, third, sports photo;and Liz Brown, honorable mention, sportsphoto.North Platte High School – BrettSchmidt, first, opinion. Omaha Westside – Jenny Shehan, first,editorial; Julius Fredrick, first, cartooning;Mary Susman, first, news story; CaraWilwerding, first, sports story; OliviaBabe, first, video feature story; LeaRendell, first, columns; Ali Tomek, sec-ond, news story; Grace Lyden, second,feature story; Sidney Peterson, second,video news story; Claire Pedersen, sec-ond, video feature story; Jesse Milliken,second, video sports story; Lizzie Davis,second, reviews; Hannah Gill, third, newsstory; Cara Wilwerding, third, featurestory; Sarah Nelson, third, video newsstory; Shanley Reynolds, third, videonews story; Lauren Florea, third, single-page layout; and Shelby Pieper, honorablemention, news story.Papillion LaVista South High School –Emily Barnes and Amy McConnell, first,feature story; Rebecca Conrad and KarlySorys, first, video news story; EmilyBarnes, Ryan Daly and Joseph Fabian,first, video sports story; Amy McConnell,first, single-page layout; Carley Thomas,third, sports story; Brittany Suthard andEmily Kuklinski, third, video featurestory; Emily Parish and Carley Thomas,third, video sports story; Amy McConnell,honorable mention, editorial; Ryan Dalyand Emily Parish, honorable mention,video news story; and Rebecca Conradand Gretchen Pille, honorable mention,video feature story.Division 2 results (Class B, C, D):Broken Bow High School – TravisConnely, first, opinion; Emily Smallcomb,first, news story, second, sports story,third, columns; Justin Mattox, first, fea-ture story, third, sports story; JeremyHunt, first, environment and review;Patrick Wright, first, sports story; andNiclas Gottmann, second, columns.Crete – Jessalyn Holdcraft, second, newsstory; third, news story; honorable men-tion, feature, and honorable mention,news story.Loup City High School – Casey Wilson,third, feature story.Rock County High School – EmilySybrant, first, columns, and second, fea-ture story. ■
By Barb Bierman Batie
Courtney Baum, a 2010 graduateof Mullen High School, has beennamed the first recipient of theMarianne Beel MemorialScholarship.
Given in memory of long-timeNebraska Press Women memberMarianne Beel of Valentine, thefirst scholarship went to aSandhills student as Beel loved theSandhills and shared that lovethrough her writing and photogra-phy. Her column, “Sand In MyShoes,” was much beloved byreaders of the North PlatteTelegraph for many years.
Baum and her family moved toMullen several years ago and sheimmediately began to be involvedin her new community and school.She participated in volleyball andgolf during high school, was inone-act, speech and did flags fortwo years with the marching band. She’s a National Honor Societymember, went to state speech con-test, was in 4-H and is active in herchurch, St. Mary’s Catholic.
Her interest in photographyled her to provide photos to the
local newspaper, take senior pic-tures for some of her fellow class-mates and work on the schoolyearbook.
In an essay written as part of herscholarship application, Baumwrote, “In rural Nebraska onecould sit outside on the porch anytime of the day or night and beaudience to nature playing its tune.How fun would it be to hear crick-ets chirping, birds singing or cowsmooing? ... For me right now liv-ing in rural Nebraska is like a littlepiece of heaven on earth.”
We wish Courtney all the best asshe pursues studies this fall at aNashville, Tenn., photographyschool. ■
8 NPW NEWSeLETTER
Mullen Graduate First Recipient of Marianne Beel Memorial Scholarship
Courtney Baum.
Andrea Cranford presented the NPW Memorial Scholarship to UNL junior JamieKlein and the Excellence in Media Scholarship to UNL sophomore ErinStarkebaum at spring convention.
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May 1, 2010 Lincoln NE
President Ruth Brown called the meet-ing to order at 9:01 a.m.
Treasurer’s Report was presented bySherry Thompson. Total assets are$29,496.29. Judy Nelson moved that thereport be accepted and filed. Second byAndrea Cranford. Passed.
Minutes were presented by LynMessersmith. Andrea Cranford moved toaccept, with a second by MarthaStoddard. Passed.
President’s Report: Ruth Brown. A planning meeting for the 2011
NFPW convention in Council Bluffs willbe held in the hospitality room (322) at4:00. Anyone interested in helping isencouraged to come.
Sponsors for today’s convention areNebraska Farm Bureau, Nebraska PressAssociation, Nebraska Lottery, andDonald E. Burge, M. D.
Members are encouraged to participatein the Facebook page.
Lincoln Press Women will be meetingquarterly, to network and socialize. Ruthsuggested other towns with several mem-bers might want to organize their owngroups.
NPW Archives will be housed at theNebraska Historical Society as soon asthey are ready to accept the material.Gwen Lindberg is our new Historian.
Communications Contest: Barb Micekand Bette Pore.
213 entries were received from 29members. 61 first place entries will go onto NFPW. Judging was traded with SouthDakota Press Women, who sent us 24entries. Balance is $330 with $915 duefrom the first-place winners. The revenuefunds the Excellence in MediaScholarship.
High School Communications Contest:Mary Pierce.
14 schools contributed 254 entries.There are 17 categories, including video.Larger schools are in Division 1 andDivision 2 includes smaller ones.Mailings were discontinued this year tosave money, and all communication wasby e-mail.
Communicator of Achievement: CherylAlberts Irwin.
This is NPW’s highest honor and the
winner goes on to compete at the NationalConvention in the fall. Martha Stoddardwas introduced as this year’sCommunicator of Achievement. Ballotsfor 2010 nominees were passed, and crite-ria explained. Deadline for receiving nom-inations is July 1.
Historian: Gwen Lindberg. Absent.
Legislative First Amendment: DianeWetzel. Absent.
Ruth listed the newspapers and newlet-ters that we know published the articlethat Diane wrote for Sunshine Week.There are likely some of which we aren’taware.
Membership: Jan Treffer-Thompson.Absent.
There are 22 state affiliate members, 41NFPW members, and 1 student member,totaling 64 members. Welcome given tonew members present.
Member Services: Lori Potter. Several items are on the table for sale,
and members are encouraged to shop.
Newsletter: Andrea Cranford. Volunteers are needed to cover the
events of this convention for the newslet-ter, which has a June 1 deadline.
NPW Scholarship: Barb Batie. Absent. College scholarship winners will be at
today’s luncheon. Jamie Klein will be pre-sented with the $500 MemorialScholarship which is funded by intereston scholarship account investments frommemorial donations. Erin Starkebaumreceives the $300 Excellence in MediaScholarship, which is funded by the pro-fessional communications contest. Thenew Marianne Beel Scholarship will go toCourtney Baum of Mullen High School.She plans to study photography.
Mary Pat Finn-Hoag passed cards formembers to sign, to be mailed to JoanBurney and Evelyn Aufdenkamp.
NFPW 2011 Convention: StephanieGeery-Zink.
Anyone interested in helping plan theconvention which will be co-hosted byNebraska and Iowa, is asked to come tothe hospitality room at 4:00. Everyone isinvited to help. Speakers and sponsors areneeded.
Old Business: 2010 Fall Convention will be in Red
Cloud on October 7-8 with Lynne Ahlerscoordinating.
Lyn Messersmith and Sandy Bensonextended an invitation to the Spring 2011Convention at Halsey 4-H camp. Bringown linens, as the accommodations arebunk beds in cabins.
Barb Micek and Lori Potter reportedon the NFPW Board meeting inAlbuquerque. Membership remains stablewith renewals encouraged. Chicago willhost the 2010 NFPW Convention andwork is progressing on our invitation tobe presented at that time.
New Business:Judy moved that the board will support
a committee to determine vendors andproducts to be used as fundraisers for theBeel Memorial Scholarship, and have thecommittee move forward on spending.Andrea seconded. Sherry said $500 is setaside for this. Passed. Committee mem-bers are Judy, Lori, and Ruth.
Ruth explained guidelines for theWomen Journalist’s Hall of Fame, andasked for comments and suggestions.Discussion was held on whether candi-dates should include living or deceasedmembers or possibly one of each. Alsomentioned were sponsorship and a placeto display the awards. Stephanie moved toapprove the guidelines and that nomina-tions stay active for one year past the yearof nomination. Second by Mary Pat.Passed.
Mary Pierce asked for suggestions onwhether to combine divisions for the HighSchool Communications Contest, or keeplarge and small schools separate.Discussion on how combining wouldaffect competition. Asked for a show ofhands on keeping separate divisions.Passed.
Nominating committee for Fall slate ofofficers is Judy Nelson, Andrea Cranfordand Glennis Nagel. Stephanie moved toapprove the committee, seconded byMartha. Passed.
Motion to adjourn by Stephanie, sec-onded by Barb Micek. Passed. Meetingadjourned at 10:05.
Respectfully submittedLyn Messersmith
NPW MEMBERSHIP MEETING MINUTES
Summer 2010 9
Nebraska Women Journalists’ Hall of Fame
The purpose of this new Hall of Fame is to recognize working women journalists who maynever have become the newspaper publisher, the broadcast station manager, or the adagency president. But through talent, initiative, intelligence and stamina, each made a dif-ference for the profession, for her community and for those who followed in her footsteps.
Guidelines
1. Persons may be nominated by the general public.
2. Nominee may be living or dead.
3. Nominee may come from any facet of the journalism profession: broadcast, print oronline, news or advertising, public relations, or any other aspect of journalism.
4. Must have a Nebraska background by birth or work experience, having spent a signifi-cant amount of her professional career in Nebraska.
5. Must have attained a position of prominence in her field.
6. Will be judged on a) contributions to the profession, b) achievements within the profes-sion, c) service to her communities: local as well as state and/or regional/national.“Communities” refers to both the community in which she lives and works as well as to herprofessional community, whatever that may be.
7. Nominator must include compelling reasons why this woman should be selected.
8. Nomination must be accompanied by two letters of support, each of which addresses atleast one of the criteria in #6.
9. Nomination will stay active for one year past the year of the nomination.
Selection Process
Nominations should be received by the NPW vice president at least two months prior tothe anticipated announcement. Nomination forms will be available at www.nebraskapresswomen.org
Final selection will be made by the NPW Board of Directors.
The first recipient will be announced at the 2011 NFPW/NPW meeting in Council Bluffs,Iowa. Succeeding recipients will be announced annually at the NPW’s spring convention.
The Nebraska Women Journalists’ Hall of Fame will be housed at the UNL College ofJournalism and Mass Communications.
10 NPW NEWSeLETTER
Summer 2010 11
Nebraska Press Women 2010 Achievement Award Nomination
The Communicator of Achievement Award is the highest honor bestowed by NebraskaPress Women and the National Federation of Press Women upon their outstanding mem-bers.
NPW members are invited to fill out the application below to honor an NPW member.Nominees should have exceptional achievement in the communications field (60 percentof consideration), service to NPW/NFPW (20 percent) and to their community (20 per-cent). Please provide sufficient information as to why your nominee should be selected.Names will be placed on a ballot to be voted upon by past Nebraska COAs, with the recip-ient being named at fall convention.
The candidate must be in good standing and be a member for at least two years in NPWand NFPW. Nominees stay on the ballot for three years and after that are removed, soeven if someone has been nominated before, if you wish to see her name on the ballot,resubmit it.
Nebraska’s honored COA will be in competition for the award at the national level. TheNFPW winner and the runner-up will be announced at the COA award banquet duringNFPW’s annual conference. Each state affiliate’s nominee is introduced at the banquetand featured in NFPW’s AGENDA newsletter prior to the conference.
Nominee name:
Address and/or professional position:
Professional achievement (60 percent):
Contributions to NPW/NFPW (20 percent):
Contributions to community (20 percent):
Your name (requested, but optional):
Please return by July 1, 2010 to Cheryl Alberts Irwin, 3274 Merrill St., Lincoln, NE 68503,or email to [email protected]. Phone: (402) 464-7955.
Ineligible: Joan Burney, 1993 NFPW COA recipient; Ruth Brown, current president.
Past recipients: Norma Carpenter, Velma Price, Helen Green, Lilas Thomas, Lilly Frels, Marianne Beel,Wilma Crumley, Lois Lambley, Judy Nelson, Marj Marlette, Judy Johnson, Vicki Miller, Jill Claflin, Mary AnnBlackledge, Karyn Stansbery, Evelyn Aufdenkamp, Lori Potter, Gwen Lindberg, Sue Fitzgerald, AndreaCranford, Mary Crawford, Mary Pat Finn-Hoag, Barb Batie, Dorothy Fryer, Glennis Nagel, Cheryl AlbertsIrwin, Ruth Brown, Barbara Micek, Martha Stoddard.
NPW MEMBER NEWS
Spring 2010 11
By Sara Giboney
Two notebooks are filledwith my feverishly writtennotes. Over a thousand pho-tos are saved on my laptop.
I documented everymoment of two amazingweeks I spent travelingthroughout Israel learningabout the culture, the peopleand the history and tastingthe food.
I left for Israel May 24with 28 University ofNebraska at Kearney stu-dents, faculty and Kearneycommunity members. MahaYounes, a social work pro-fessor at UNK, led the trip.We learned about povertyand domestic violence issuesfrom professors at HaifaUniversity, we visited Druzevillages near Haifa and spenttime in the German Colonyin Haifa.
A representative from Isha L'Isha, a national grassroots feministorganization, spoke to us abouthuman trafficking and prostitutionin the country. We toured Megiddo,the Armageddon battlefield wherearcheologists have unearthed 20levels of civilization.
We took a boat ride on the Seaof Galilee, tasted wine in Cana,learned about life on a kibbutz,rafted in the Jordan River, floatedin the Dead Sea, toured the NegevDesert, went on camel rides andhad dinner at a Bedouin village,learned about healthcare in Israelat the Hadassah Ein KeremMedical Center in Jerusalem andvisited with the Consulate Generalof the United States.
We toured the Knesset, theIsraeli Parliament, went to YadVashem, the Holocaust Museum,met with Palestinian refugees attheir camp in Bethlehem and visitedholy sites throughout the country.
I ate homemade yogurt,hummus, fresh baked pitasand falafel nearly everyday. Iadored the food and wantedto bring it all home with me.I settled for purchasing acookbook and I will soonattempt to recreate the dishesI loved in Israel.
The Kearney Hub allowedme to write a travel blogabout my trip. “Passport toIsrael: Sara Giboney’s TravelBlog” was featured on theKearney Hub website duringmy trip.
Every evening I siftedthrough my notes and photosand reported what we hadexperienced that day.
The blog generated nearly3,800 page views and nearly2,000 of those were uniquevisitors, meaning people whohave never been to kearney-hub.com before.
The trip was truly lifechanging. I’m so grateful I wasable to learn about the complexissues the country faces first-handand document the experience.
View the blog atkhpsites.com/blogs/passport/. ■
Giboney Accompanies UNK Group to Israel
Sara Giboney
Welcome New Members!
NPW/NFPW:Heather James, reporter, North Platte Telegraph, 308-536-4734,[email protected]. Home: 10598 S. Miller SchoolRoad, North Platte, NE 69101, 308-660-3637. (2010)Whitney Pandil-Eaton, freelance writer. Omaha, NE, 402-210-9419, [email protected].
The Nebraska Press Women Newsletter is published and sent electronically four times a year. Please send e-mail address updates andmember news to newsletter editor Andrea Cranford at [email protected] or [email protected]. You may alsosend a printed version to Andrea at 2554 Kessler Blvd., Lincoln, NE 68502.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Aug. 26-28: National Federation of Press Women Convention, Chicago.
Oct. 8-9: NPW Fall Convention, Red Cloud. That’s Willa Cather country!
Nov. 15: Winter NEWSeLETTER copy deadline
Dec. 1: Winter NEWSeLETTER sent electronically
April 29-30, 2011: NPW Spring Convention, Halsey.
Sept. 8-10, 2011: National Federation of Press Women Conference atHarrah’s in Council Bluffs. Co-hosted by NPW and IPW!
The NPW crew at spring convention in Lincoln.
NPW BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PresidentRuth Brown
Vice PresidentEmily Springer McCleery
SecretaryLyn Messersmith
TreasurerSherry Thompson
Past PresidentStephanie Geery-Zink
Communicator ofAchievementCheryl Alberts Irwin
Communications ContestBette Pore, Barb Micek
High School ContestMary Pierce
HistorianGwen Lindberg
Legislative/First AmendmentDiane Wetzel
Membership Jan Thompson
Member ServicesLori Potter
Newsletter Andrea Cranford
ParliamentarianJudy Nelson
Public RelationsDoreen Pfost
ScholarshipBarb Batie
www.nebraskapresswomen.org
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UNL’s Trina Creighton introduced herdocumentary, “The AcademicAchievement Gap: We Do Better WhenWe Know Better.”
Communicator of Achievement MarthaStoddard will represent NPW atnational convention.
