SPJ members named Nieman Fellows
The 68th class of Nieman Fellows at Harvard University includes two SPJ members: Chris Cobler, editor of the Greeley (Colo.) Tribune, and Mary Curtis, executive features editor and columnist at The Charlotte Observer. Cobler will study how a community newspaper can use the Web to guide new and younger readers back to the paper. Curtis will examine the sociological, historical and economic forces that have limited the role of minorities in the fine arts in the United States. Established in 1938, the Nieman program is the oldest mid-career fellowship for journalists in the world.
Dupes named senior editor
Bill Dupes, an employee in the publications department of the Amputee Coalition of America, has been promoted to senior editor.
Dupes joined the ACA in 2002 as an information specialist in the National Limb Loss Information Center and was promoted to associate editor in 2003 and to senior editor in February.
The bulk of his professional experience has been in technical writing and editing environmental studies for the Air Force. He received his bachelor’s degree in audiology and speech pathology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
Kees memorial scheduled
A memorial to celebrate the life and pioneering work of former national volunteer and past chapter president Beverly Kees will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 18 at the University of Minnesota.
Those interested in attending should contact Amy Berger at aberger@umn.edu.
Son, late father author book
Mark Stuart Ellison and his late father, Eli Ellison, have co-authored the novel Dear Mom, Dad & Ethel: World War II through the Eyes of a Radio Man (iUniverse, Oct. 2004), based on the elder Ellison’s experiences in the 327th Fighter Control Squadron in Western Europe from 1943 to 1945.
SMU honors Levenson
Stan Levenson, a public relations leader who began his career in Dallas nearly 40 years ago, recently received the first Legendary Communicator Award presented by the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Division of Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts.
“Stan Levenson is a legend. He understands that messages must resonate to be effective,” says Dr. Rita Kirk, chair of the CCPA Division. “There are too many clients who want press attention but don’t think about what makes their message worthy. Stan does.”
Former executive vice president of Bozell & Jacobs, Inc., Levenson co-founded the advertising and public relations firm of Levenson, Levenson & Hill in 1984. In 2004, Levenson Public Relations merged with Brinker Communications to form Levenson & Brinker Public Relations. Levenson currently serves as the company’s chief executive officer.
Cross named director of rural institute
Al Cross has been named director of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues at the University of Kentucky. Cross, who served as interim director for the previous nine months, was chosen following a national search.
“Al Cross has been tireless in promoting the Institute and establishing important connections within and outside UK,” said Beth E. Barnes, director of the UK School of Journalism and Telecommunications. “While there were a number of impressive external candidates in the applicant pool, Al’s professional journalism credentials and vision for the Institute put him at the top of the list.”
Cross will join the school’s journalism full-time faculty as part of his appointment.
Baez joins Ocala Star-Banner
Vanessa Baez was recently hired by The Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner, a sister paper to The New York Times Regional Group, as a sportswriter.
Woodress releases book
Retired Ball State University journalism professor Fred A. Woodress is the author or a recently published book of plays, Slave or Free and 11 Other Problem-solving Plays, co-authored with his wife, Anne Blackmon Woodress. Included in the book and reprinted from Best One Act Plays, is Fred’s WWII play “Impasse,” which a New York Times reviewer called “a war play of superior quality.”
Bean honored
Freelance writer Joseph Bean was recently honored as Small Business Journalist of the Year for Maui County in Hawaii. The award was given by the U.S. Small Business Administration. In addition to the SBA award, Bean also was presented with trophies by the Maui Chamber of Commerce, the Hawaii Chamber of Commerce and Bank of Hawaii.
Copley gives $2 million
To support literacy efforts and jump-start a $50 million fundraising drive, San Diego Union-Tribune Publisher David C. Copley pledged $2 million toward a new downtown library.
With the new library project expected to cost about $149 million, the city is attempting to secure at least one-third of the funding through private donations. Prior to Copley’s donation, the fundraising campaign had netted a single $1 million contribution from the Hervey Family Foundation in January.
Copley’s mother, the late Union-Tribune Publisher Helen K. Copley, had been an advocate for literacy and reading programs throughout San Diego. As a co-founder of the San Diego Council on Literacy, Helen assisted the council in increasing public awareness of literacy needs and services and supporting cooperative efforts among literacy programs in the county.
Journalists Helping Journalists
Five journalists in the Philippines are accepting donations and consignments at a bookstore they opened to help their colleagues.
Profits go to families of journalists who are killed — 13 were slain in the Philippines last year — and to help journalists who are threatened. The money is channeled through a fund administered by the National Union of Journalists in the Philippines.
One of the organizers, Carlos Conde, is secretary-general of the union.
“I came up with the idea when I realized that, as a journalist from a poor country, I could hardly afford new books.”
For more information, contact carlosconde@gmail.com. Books can be sent to National Union of Journalists of the Philippines, 105-A Scout Castor St., Quezon City 1103 Metro Manila, Philippines.
Zarbin pens sixth book
Earl Zarbin, retired reporter and editor of The Arizona Republic, recently wrote and published his sixth book, Let the Record Show … Gila River Indian Reservation Water Rights and the Central Arizona Project.
