Washington journalists examine losses other than jobs
In the wake of layoffs at Washington state’s largest newspaper, the Seattle Times, and the potential sale and closing of its competition, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Western Washington Chapter in January gathered to discuss the changing industry and its effects on the public.
Nearly 40 journalists gathered from across the region to examine the downturn and the shifting media landscape. Other than newsroom jobs, the group brainstormed other potential consequences, including losses in democracy, open government, timely and thorough news coverage, and checks and balances against big business and taxpayer-funded institutions.
Press Club of Long Island proud of new Web site
The Press Club of Long Island recently launched its new Web site. The site provides a more user-friendly way to stay informed about PCLI news and events, and features videos, including clips from the chapter’s 2008 Holiday Show, photos, Twitter updates and more. The chapter is using the self-hosted WordPress platform and professional theme for the site, which is a blog-based format becoming more popular among professional and collegiate chapter Web sites.
Arizona chapter holds meetings in historic memorial site
The Valley of the Sun (Phoenix) Chapter board has begun holding its meetings in the board room of the historic Phoenix hotel, in whose parking lot Arizona Republic reporter Don Bolles was killed in a 1976 car bombing.
Recently renovated, the Clarendon Hotel was where one of Bolles’ informants, John Harvey Adamson, lured the reporter to meet him on June 2, 1976. According to court records, while Bolles waited inside, Adamson attached a bomb to the underside of Bolles’ car. When Adamson failed to show for the appointment, Bolles returned to his car, and Adamson detonated the bomb.
Before the board’s first meeting at the hotel on Jan. 12, members briefly gathered in the parking lot at the spot where Bolles’ car exploded. The hotel’s main lobby and hallways contain several enlarged photographs of Bolles’ car, which is now housed at the Newseum in Washington, D.C.
The Clarendon Hotel will also be the site of the opening night reception of this year’s Region 11 Spring Conference at the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication in downtown Phoenix.
Clevelanders exploring transition to public relations in face of cuts
The Cleveland Pro Chapter recently sponsored
“Careers Beyond the Newsroom,” a workshop to explore jobs in communication-related fields to offset downsizing in northern Ohio media outlets. More than 50 people attended the Saturday morning session to hear job-hunting advice on preparing résumés, networking, interviewing and other tips from placement specialists Doug Levin from the Torch Group and Kelly Blazek from Eaton marketing communications and producer of the Cleveland Communications Job Bank. Former reporters Maryanne Sharkey and Mike Conway also explained how they transferred their journalism skills into positions in public relations.
