NewsBreak September 2007 - Vol. 19, No. 1

Editors’ Note: DPA NewsBreak editors Mary Leah Christmas and Katherine Ward are pleased to announce that the November 2006 issue of NEWSBREAK, Your DPA Community Newsletter, received a national first-place award for electronic newsletters in the 2007 NFPW Communications Contest.

In This Issue:

• From the President: Gaining Perspective from the Journey

• DPA Sparkles in National Communications Contest

• Delaware High School Students Receive National Journalism Honors

• The Beanie Baby Soldier: A Mother's Memories

• First Amendment Matters:  Fight for Open Government Continues

• WordPlay . . . for Wordsmiths

• Spotlight: Rob Tornoe – Political Cartooning Is Serious Business

• Focus on Freelancing: Working for Free – Pros and Cons

• “Stories Worth Repeating” — Sharon Moore Presents Two-part Program

• What’s Killing Me Now?

• DPA Welcomes New Members

• DPA Media Mavens & Mavericks

• The Every-Last-Member Challenge

• DPA Reports on the Common Wealth Awards

• NFPW Online Job Bank

• Calendar of Events

From the President: Gaining Perspective from the Journey

NFPW and DPA Mark Milestones in 2007

by Beth Miller

If life looks a bit blurry through your windshield these days, maybe it’s time to slow down or pull over and think differently about the trip for a little while.

Anniversaries—if you take time to notice them—can be wonderful milestones that help you see things from a different, often surprising, perspective.

My Dad was big on anniversaries, birthdays, anything that brought people together for a good time and some chat. It gave him a chance to catch up with folks, tell his old jokes and just enjoy the journey. So when he turned 80 in 2002, we threw him a big ol’ party. We made a DVD slideshow of old photos, invited several hundred of his favorite people and beckoned the family from hither and yon. He had a blast—and so did we. He died in the early morning hours of his 81st birthday, and we have looked back at that big 80th birthday party often—glad we made it happen.

Not all anniversaries are pleasant, of course. I turn 50 this year, for example—a milestone I was glad to be reaching until I remembered what doctors recommend to 50-year-olds: Colonoscopies! Yikes!

Delaware Press Association has found much better ways to mark its 30th anniversary. Our annual awards banquet was enriched by the presence of many charter members—including keynote speaker Gloria Galloway—and a display of documents and photos from our past.

Our celebration continues in Richmond, Virginia, this month, when the National Federation of Press Women, with whom we are affiliated, marks its 70th anniversary at the annual Communications Conference. Virginia, you might recall, is celebrating its 400th anniversary this year, so the conference will be thick with historic significance!

Delaware Press Association will have a fine presence in Richmond, with a display table showcasing our history and a strong cheering section for one of the nation’s best communicators bar none—DPA’s 2007 Communicator of Achievement, Katherine Ward, our executive director.

The National Communicator of Achievement will be named in Richmond, and other awards will be given—including 18 national first-place awards to DPA winners!

In addition to tours of historic Richmond, the conference, hosted by Virginia Press Women, has a comprehensive menu of speakers and workshops, with three tracks of interest: writing, public relations and life skills.

Those who have been to NFPW conferences tell me they are rich with opportunities to develop professional skills, network with other communicators and just enjoy each other’s company without the usual pressures and distractions of life.

The theme this year is “Still Making History,” and the conference will recognize the strides women have made in journalism as well as the debut of a national “cyber museum” on Women in Journalism (see www.nwhm.org for more on that).

It’s not too late to register for the NFPW conference, which is September 20–22 at the Richmond Marriott. I just did it by downloading the registration form at www.virginiapresswomen.org/nfpw-07, where you’ll also find more information about the schedule.

A 30th anniversary, a 70th anniversary, a 400th anniversary—it’s a big year to be in Richmond.

But whether you join us there or for other DPA events in the coming year, we hope you’ll join us! We need your ideas, your energy, your talents, your humor!

Hope to see you soon!

Beth Miller is a reporter for The News Journal. Contact Beth at bmiller@delawareonline.com.

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DPA Sparkles in NFPW Communications Contest

Members Garner 38 National Awards

by Annie Nefosky and Jean Hull Herman, DPA Contest Co-directors

Delaware Press Association shines once again in this year’s national communications contest sponsored by the National Federation of Press Women.

Of the 84 first-place entries in DPA’s 2007 Communications Contest, 65 competed in the NFPW competition. That’s a record!

DPA members took first place in 18 categories, second place in 13 categories, third place in 5 categories, and 2 DPA entries received honorable mentions. That’s nearly double the number of awards DPA members picked up at the national level last year! The awards will be presented during NFPW’s annual conference, “Still Making History,” to be held September 20–22 in Richmond, Virginia. Congratulations to all who participated in the DPA and the NFPW contests. The results of both contests are available through the Award Winners link in the contest section of the DPA Web site.

A lot of behind-the-scenes work went into putting together DPA’s 2007 Communications Contest: designing the call for entries, assigning judges, recording the 272 entries, labeling them, mailing them to judges, sorting through the results and then preparing the program booklet and organizing the contest presentation for DPA’s annual meeting. It’s a lot of work! And it would not have been possible without the help of several dedicated members of Delaware Press Association.

We’d like to extend our sincere gratitude to Contest Manager Claudia Young, Contest Data Manager Dick Young and DPA Executive Director Katherine Ward. The hours they put into this year’s contest are far too many to count, and their organization, motivation and devotion are what helped make the contest a success.

Contact DPA Contest Co-director Annie Nefosky at annienefosky@clearchannel.com.
Contact DPA Contest Co-director Jean Hull Herman at jherman007@aol.com.

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Delaware High School Students Receive National Journalism Honors

by Barbara Roewe, 2007 High School Communications Contest Director

Two Delaware high school students, Kai Andersen and Megan Kissig, are national award winners in NFPW’s 2007 High School Communications Contest. Their entries, co-sponsored by DPA and The News Journal, won third place and honorable mention awards, respectively, at the national level.

Kai Andersen, of Milford High School, took third place in the Sports Story category for his article titled, "Coach Carter Motivates, Educates Players." The story originally appeared in Milford High School's newspaper, The Jolly Roger.

Megan Kissig, of The Charter School of Wilmington, received an honorable mention in the highly competitive News category for her story titled, "Sick Infect Others." The article originally appeared in The Charter School’s newspaper, The Blue Streak.

We continued the DPA tradition of presenting a portfolio of copies of all winning First State contest entries to each Delaware adviser and student who attends the awards luncheon for use as a tool in their journalism classes. Special thanks go to Gloria Galloway for producing the portfolios this year.

Kathy Canavan, journalism adviser for The Blue Streak, wrote to say, “What a wonderful program you and the DPA members run. I know what it did for [one boy’s] confidence, and as a new teacher I’m beginning to see how it works for all the Charter students.” She added, “One girl, in particular, said nary a word all year, but she lightened up and actually smiled when she heard she was going to the awards luncheon at The News Journal.”

Contact DPA Student Activities VP Barbara Roewe at bcroewe@aol.com.

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The Beanie Baby Soldier: A Mother’s Memories

by Larry Mendte

On the door of her Newark, Delaware, condo hangs a picture of her dead son. He is dressed in fatigues, red hair still evident through the military cut, and the hint of a smile. The picture simply says, "Corporal Stephen McGowan." The young soldier’s image is but the opening to a much bigger memorial that you know will last until the day Bobbie McGowan breathes her last breath.

Inside there is a glass case with the clothes and boots that Stephen was wearing when his body fell from the Humvee that was hurled 100 feet into the air by a powerful bomb buried in a dirt road near Ramadi. Nothing has been cleaned. The sand from Iraq is still on the boots.

Photographs of Stephen at every age and in every mood fill each wall, each shelf and every inch of the refrigerator door. The second bedroom is still kept just for Stephen. But in truth, all five rooms are his. Memories consume the condo. And grief still consumes Bobbie McGowan.

This is life after the flag is taken from the coffin, folded and then given to a mother who isn't quite sure what to do with it . . . or with the rest of her life. Death from war always comes with collateral damage at home—a nation of the walking wounded from the emotional toll of war.

What I have described here you will only glimpse in the television feature that recently won an NFPW award. For that story of Stephen McGowan and his life is a story of hope. He was known as the Beanie Baby soldier for beginning the tradition—continued to this day in his honor—of giving out the small stuffed animals to Iraqi children. The hope is that children who go to bed tonight with a small cuddly toy from the heart of Stephen McGowan will not hate Americans. That is his gift to us. The gift of hope for the next generation.

But with that gift came sacrifice. My fear is that it is a sacrifice too great for Bobbie to bear.

So as you hear about my televised report of hope, understand that it comes at a cost of profound grief. And every time you hear about another death in Iraq, understand that there are many more lives taken, lives like Bobbie McGowan's.

She now exists only in memories of her son. If you ever visit her home in Newark, you'll know what I mean before you even knock on the door.

Click here to see Larry’s award-winning prepared television report “The Legacy of the Beanie Baby Soldier” and the photo essay prepared by Cpl. Stephen McGowan in Iraq.

Larry Mendte, who anchors CBS 3’s Eyewitness News at 6 and 11 p.m., has received 70 Regional Emmy Awards and was inducted into the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia’s Hall of Fame in 2006. Contact Larry at Mendte@kyw.com.

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First Amendment Matters

Legislative Session Ends but Fight for Open Government Continues

by Patrick Mairs

When the members of Delaware’s 144th General Assembly return to Dover to finish the two-year legislative session in January, Legislative Hall will remain closed.

Yes, lawmakers will still meet in the building. Reporters will be able to monitor the progress of legislation. But much of the political process will still take place behind closed doors and away from the scrutiny of the media and the public as a whole.

Hope for change in the way business is done in Dover was piqued earlier this year by the introduction of a package of bills to open up closed-door committee meetings. While some legislation has passed the state house, senate leadership is lukewarm to the idea of opening up committee meetings where the all-important money bills are hammered out.

There is a slim chance that the issue could be raised again in January, but only overwhelming public concern will force legislative leadership to make a change. Otherwise, there is little incentive for lawmakers to take serious action.

As the 2008 campaign approaches, it should be part of our responsibility as Delaware journalists to raise open government as a campaign issue. If lawmakers see unlocking the doors of Legislative Hall as a key issue in returning to Dover, we may see progress in making “the Delaware Way” more transparent.

Patrick Mairs is Dover bureau chief for WHYY’s Delaware Tonight and the DPA First Amendment officer. Please e-mail ideas for exploring issues related to freedoms of the press and speech to Patrick at pmairs@whyy.org.

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WordPlay . . . for Wordsmiths

by Bob Yearick

Department of Redundancy

I was reminded the other day of our penchant for using redundant or unnecessary words. An Out & About intern submitted copy describing an event involving “seven different countries.” Of course they’re different—so why use the word?

I’m convinced this tendency to bloviate is growing. Phrases like “added bonus,” “added plus,” “important key,” “big key” and my favorite, “upside potential” (not exclusive anymore to sports reporters, commentators and coaches, it seems) abound.

Here are some phrases we all hear almost every day, along with their shortened (and less redundant) versions:

At the other extreme are those (including an otherwise nearly grammatically flawless local talk-show host) who eliminate the word “from” in the phrase “graduate from college.” So many people seem to just “graduate college,” whatever that means.

Send your pet peeves, suggestions and questions for WordPlay to: allwriter@comcast.net.

And remember: Always write right—and tight.

Contact WordPlay columnist Bob Yearick at allwriter@comcast.net.

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Political cartoonist Rob Tornoe’s George Bush is a beady-eyed, Dumbo-eared figure with an upper lip that looks like it’s hiding a boomerang inside. It’s good for a quick laugh, but beyond the trademark silly renderings every political cartoonist aims to create, Tornoe believes a good cartoon reaches beyond visual gags.

By day, Rob is the Web designer for Community Publications, Inc., publisher of five weekly papers serving the suburbs of Wilmington. By night, he sheds his high-tech garb and takes to the drafting table, where he cranks out five cartoons every week for papers in New Jersey, Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania.

“Political cartoons are a powerful tool because they help frame and sharpen the debate by simplifying an issue to its most poignant core,” Rob says.

Take the Walter Reed Army Medical Center scandal. The Washington Post investigative reporting team headed by Dana Priest broke the story. Soon after, the nation’s media were reporting it as well. But it wasn’t until days later, when cartoonists started weighing in with strong visuals and points of view, that the public became offended and vocal, he says.

Market research has shown more than 90 percent of people who read newspapers hit the editorial page for the cartoons.

Why is that? Because they are easy to consume in our time-crunched, media-saturated lives, and they instantly reach something visceral in us, Rob says. Unlike reporters who wear the mantle of objectivity, political cartoonists depend on their own opinions to make pieces that inform and incite.

“Think of a cartoonist as a visual columnist,” he says.

But despite the popularity of cartoons, staff cartoonists are often the first to go when newsroom budgets tighten.

Rob has been successful in New Jersey—building a following by posting his cartoons on his blog, tornoe.blogspot.com, which currently is ranked the 9th most influential in the state by BlogNetNews New Jersey.

A confessed political junkie, Rob constantly scans scores of newspapers, Web sites and blogs, keeping current and looking for fodder.

Sometimes he targets the news industry itself. When the Tribune Co., including the flagship Chicago Tribune, was the focus of a bidding war just before it announced an $8.2 billion buyout in early April, Rob penned a water-fountain wit making the droll aside: “Maybe we should just put it on eBay.”

Rob says Delaware could benefit greatly from an increase in edgy political cartooning. “Despite a national reputation for congenial politics, there are things going on in Delaware, everything from riots at the Christiana Mall, to prison and state psych ward scandals, to open government issues,” he says.

On local issues, a good cartoon can motivate citizens to get involved in public discourse, he adds. So while a big-eared Bush may be an easy mark, finding a pressing local theme almost always has potential for greater real-world effect.

The Newark, Del., resident, who has been a DPA member since 2006, is the editorial cartoonist for the PoliticsNJ.com Web site, The Press of Atlantic City and NJBiz, a business newspaper distributed throughout New Jersey. A Member of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists, the Society of Professional Journalists and a graduate of the prestigious Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art in Dover, N.J., Rob also contributes political cartoons to The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Daily Record, The New Jersey Herald and several weekly newspapers throughout New Jersey and Delaware.

Q & A with Rob:

Are your cartoons politically slanted?

“As a political cartoonist, you have to be an equal opportunity offender. Put it this way: If some prominent political figure makes a racist remark, I might do a cartoon on the subject. But if the coverage surrounding the remark was overblown, the cartoon might be about that instead. The decision depends on my opinion of the event, not my political leanings.”

Have you ever worried about vendetta?

"So far, no death threats. But I do get the gamut of responses from 'you were dead on' to 'you're an uninformed hack' and even the occasional 'you’re a liberal fanatic.' If it is effective, though, a cartoon inflames, educates and sparks debate.”

The most hate mail he’s received on a cartoon was for this four-panel vignette. The first three panels all say, “I support my president.” The last says, “He supported his president.”

“There is an obvious surface meaning,” Rob says, “but the cartoon was deeper than a bare-faced criticism of the war.”

On deadlines

"Political cartoonists face the same deadline pressure as reporters. You can’t dink around creating the perfect drawing, because news is constantly changing. Besides, the immediacy of the style is part of a cartoon’s effectiveness."

Who is your favorite political cartoonist and why?

"Mike Luckovich of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. His cartoons are the perfect example of using humor to make a point. Others I admire are Michael Ramirez of Investor’s Business Daily, Jimmy Margulies of The Bergen Record, Jim Borgman of The Enquirer [Cincinnati], Steven Breen of The San Diego Union-Tribune and Tom Toles of The Washington Post."

Being funny on command

"Today’s editors expect a political cartoon to be funny, and I usually use humor to make my point, but it’s not a requirement. If a cartoon evokes a reaction on some level, it’s successful. Humor is just one way to do that."


Contact Andrea Miller, staff reporter for Community Publications, at andrea.miller@hotmail.com.
Contact Rob Tornoe at rob@boltcomics.com.

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Focus on Freelancing

Working for Free – Pros and Cons

by Lise Monty

Editor’s note: This is the second article of a 4-part series on freelancing.

Should writers do pro bono work to establish themselves? One passionate freelancer who responded to the survey on freelance work conducted by the National Federation of Press Women last spring said: “No, never, never, never.” Humor worked well for another who warned: “Girls who give it away get no respect.” Many felt differently. Almost 60 percent said they had worked without pay to establish credentials. If you’re trying to break into a new market, it’s not a bad idea to consider ways to “show your stuff” without monetary compensation.

In addition to publishing credits and clips, new writers willing to write for free can build valuable skills, develop their writing style and voice, and master interviewing techniques, said one established writer. “Had I not offered grant-writing services gratis, I would not be the effective and successful grant writer I am today.”

It can work for you or against you, one writer observed. On the upside, yes, it may get your foot in the door, but on the downside, it may convey to the publisher or editor that you don't have enough confidence in yourself or your work to insist that it is worthy of payment.

One respondent bemoaned the negative effect this has on other freelancers. “If some are working for $0, that makes it more difficult for the rest of us to make a living. I realize that some people are simply writing because they enjoy it and may be retired or not need the income. However, it still makes it difficult for those of us needing the income.” Another said it was OK at first. “But clarify the arrangement as temporary, set limits and then move on once you've got clips. If the client won't pay you after 2 or 3 stories, drop the client. Let someone else get screwed over!”

Beginners were advised to research the Internet, The Writer’s Market and other writers’ publications for leads on who is open to beginning writers. Be sure you know what is generally acceptable for submission. Have an experienced friend or colleague read your copy for substance, grammar and flow.

Another respondent offered this advice when it comes to writing and getting paid: “Continue to learn. Subscribe to good online newsletters and a couple of good magazines for writers . . . and write, write, write. Money is important, but it isn’t everything.”

Three years ago freelance writer Lise Monty retired after ten years as external affairs manager for the Delaware Art Museum. While at the helm of Delaware Today from 1987 to 1994, she won several prestigious national awards for the magazine’s “general excellence.” Lise was the first female Bureau Chief for Fairchild Publications in its Boston Bureau and worked as Tokyo correspondent for Women’s Wear Daily. She is the author of Images of Delaware and Wilmington: on the Move, coffee-table books featuring photographs by Mike Biggs. Lise chaired the pre- and post-conference tours committee for the NFPW/DPA “Brave New Media World” conference held in Delaware in 2003 and was named Delaware Press Association’s 2003 Communicator of Achievement.

Contact Lise Monty at montyleary@aol.com.

Look for the next article in the Focus on Freelancing series, “Freelance Doesn't Have to Mean Being Paid Late: Suggestions for Getting Paid in a Timely Fashion,” in the November 2007 NewsBreak.

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“Stories Worth Repeating” . . . and You're Invited!

DPA Member Sharon Moore Presents Two-part Program

Sharon Moore invites you to join a celebration of people, places and special times through the premier performance of "Stories Worth Repeating: Families’, Friends’ and Neighbors’ Lives." The two-part program begins at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 21, in Room 105 of the University of Delaware’s Arsht Hall, 2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington.

Sharon will read stories of individuals’ struggles, challenges and successes that inspire—which she composed from interviews with community members. A display of tee-shirt or memory quilts, photos and scrapbooks will accompany the readings. Reception immediately afterward.

Taken together, Sharon’s stories are a kaleidoscope of the changing shapes and patterns of life in and around the City of Wilmington over the last 50 years. One of the vignettes resonates with the bravado of young girls who played ball in the busy streets because the city park fifteen feet from their front doors was segregated. They won the 1959 softball tournament championship anyway. Another brims with the generosity of a retired educator who, for the last 25 years, has grown and given away bountiful harvests from the gardens he has tended at Bellevue Park for the sheer joy of it.

Some of the stories are suffused with the uncertainty and agony of young love and with the hilarious tension between a woman with an agenda in her head and a man with a remote control in his hand. Others are tinged with irony: one woman is bemused that her long-ago neighbor, “the legendary Judy Johnson who left the ‘hood’ to play Negro League ball, once could not even enter the field at Second and Clayton that today is named after him.”

You will be enchanted as bright young women find strength in numbers and surpass others’ expectations of their athletic ability and their academic prowess. You will get to know Aunt Martha, a no-nonsense elderly relative who shows up for a funeral and takes charge in a laid-back household. And you may come to believe in miracles as you hear the story of a woman who thinks of herself as the little poor girl from Jersey but became counsel for the DuPont Company and is now chair of the Delaware Public Service Commission.

Participants are invited to return to the same space on Tuesday, September 25, at 7:00 p.m., for part two, "Create Your Own." Sharon says, “Each of us has a story to tell, and there are interesting ways to capture them.” After a presentation on writing stories, by award-winning author Ed Okonowicz, participants can attend either a session on tee-shirt quilts or scrapbook basics.

The two-part program, which is free and open to the public, is funded in part by an opportunity grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts. It also has support from the Neighborhood House, the Delaware Humanities Forum, the Historical Society of Delaware, and UD’s Office of Women’s Affairs.

Call 302-831-8063 to reserve your space.

Sharon Moore is a freelance writer. Contact Sharon at jaynshaye@comcast.net.

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What’s Killing Me Now?

How the Media Influence Consumer Health Decisions

By Allan Loudell, DPA Programs VP

Day after day, listening to news about public health and safety issues—the ills of Big Tobacco, HIV/AIDS, West Nile virus, drunk driving—and watching commercials touting strategies or products for their prevention or cure (many of which carry risky side effects), you’re probably questioning the chances for your own survival, if not the survival of the human species.

On Monday, October 15, Shari Short, an expert in the area of social marketing and health communications and the Social Marketing Manager at Aloysius Butler and Clark in Wilmington, will allay some of those fears in a talk titled “What's Killing Me Now? How the Media Influence Consumer Health Decisions.”

Shari will tell us about “social marketing,” a term that is used in the healthcare industry now more than ever. But what exactly is it? Is it the same as social networking? Is it a fancy word for focus groups? It’s neither. Born out of public health, social marketing effectively targets and changes behavior through its use of media influences and program development. This unique type of marketing has been used to increase cancer-screening rates, stop smoking and get more people to vote and to recycle.

In other words, social marketing brings about “audience behavior change.” How does it work? Having helped public health departments and nonprofit healthcare organizations meet their goals for making inroads in critical areas such as tobacco use, colorectal cancer, HIV/AIDS, highway safety and radon, Shari will discuss the role of media and its critical influence on the target audience’s decision-making throughout the continuum of the behavior-change process.

Shari has extensive experience in the field of public health and healthcare strategic and program planning and in disease prevention at the community, state and federal level. A recipient of the Centers for Disease Control Price Fellowship for HIV/AIDS Prevention, she is skilled at translating research into practice with specific focus on media influence, cultural competency, health literacy and their relationship to behavior change and positive health outcomes.

A former standup comedian, Shari has been the opening act for performers such as Shawn Colvin and Sandra Bernhard. She earned a B.F.A. in cinema studies from New York University Tisch School of the Arts and received an M.A. in developmental psychology from Columbia University Teachers College.

Please join us at Klondike Kate's, 158 E. Main Street, Newark, at 6:00 p.m. for food, drinks and networking with your DPA friends. The program starts at 7:15 p.m. The cost (pay at door) is $10, non-members $12. To make a reservation, send your name, guests’ names, and a phone number to DelawarePress@aol.com. If you have questions, please call Allan Loudell at 302-478-2700 x 161.

Allan Loudell anchors the "WDEL Delaware News at Noon" & the "WDEL Delaware Afternoon News." Contact Allan at aloudell@wdel.com.

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DPA Welcomes New Members

DPA extends a warm welcome to all of our new members. A number of them joined because of the 2007 DPA Communications Contest and went on to win awards in the statewide and national competitions.

Mellany Armstrong – marmstrong@wdel.com
Reporter/Anchor, 1150-AM WDEL News Talk Radio

Shaun Bailey – sbailey@delawareestuary.org
Marketing and Communications Specialist, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary

Ellen Barrosse – ellen.barrosse@synchrogenix.com
CEO/President, Synchrogenix Information Strategies

robin brown – rbrown@delawareonline.com
Reporter, The News Journal

Nate Chessher – nate.chessher@synchrogenix.com
IT Manager, Synchrogenix Information Strategies, Inc.

Jeffrey Cox – jdcox@wilmingt.gannett.com
Presentation Editor, The News Journal

Nina DeVoe – nina.devoe@state.de.us
Community Relations Officer, Delaware Commission for Women

Mary Constance Evering – maryevering@msn.com
Freelance medical writer (pharmaceutical industry)

Roxane Ferguson – rferguson@diamondtechnologies.com
Director of Marketing, Diamond Technologies, Inc.

Kim Green – kim.green@synchrogenix.com
Writer, Synchrogenix Information Strategies

Victor Greto – vgreto@delawareonline.com
Reporter, The News Journal

W. Todd Harra – toddharra@mccreryfuneralhome.com
Author and short-story writer

Liz Harrod – lharrod@delawareonline.com
Editor, weekly Delaware Health section; monthly Delaware Parent magazine, The News Journal

Kate Hocker – kathr9n@gmail.com
Designer

Elizabeth Horsey – elizabeth.horsey@synchrogenix.com
Writer, Synchrogenix Information Strategies

Randy "Allan" Krakower – randykrakower@clearchannel.com
Reporter/Anchor, 1450 WILM NewsRadio

Suzanne Loudermilk – sloudermilk@delawareonline.com
Editor, quarterly Signature Brandywine; “She said . . . ” blogger, The News Journal

Mai Ly – maily@wilmingt.gannett.com
Presentation Editor, The News Journal

Barry MacMonegle – bmacmonegle@yahoo.com
Immagine Studios (full service event production and all aspects of the audio/visual industry)

Larry Mendte – Mendte@aol.com
Evening News Anchor,  CBS 3 TV Philadelphia

Teresa Messmore – tmessmore@delmnh.org
Manager of Marketing and Communications, Delaware Museum of Natural History

Akinwale Ojomo – editor@ebomag.com
Publisher, EboMagazine

John Sadak – johnsadak@yahoo.com
Director of Broadcasting/Media Relations, WBR Wilmington Blue Rocks Radio

Adam Taylor – ataylor@delawareonline.com
Reporter, The News Journal

Cathleen G. Welsh – welsh.bobandcathy@verizon.net
Retired reading specialist/English teacher, New Castle County schools and textbook author

Read about many of these new members in the DPA Media Mavens & Mavericks column.

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DPA Media Mavens & Mavericks

Talk Amongst Yourselves

You’ll want to bookmark the newly updated DPA Membership Directory, now available online in the Members’ Area of the DPA Web site. You can say goodbye to the old directory, shown here, because you will be able to download and print the new version. Please remember that the directory is for the exclusive use of DPA members

You will need to sign in with the DPA username and password in order to access this information. If you are unsure of the username / password, send a request to DelawarePress@aol.com with "Password" in the subject line. Now you can stay in touch with all of your media colleagues—or read the directory just to see who's who.

The DPA Media Mavens column contains information about the personal and professional achievements of our members. Names of new DPA members featured in this column are starred.

Please send any information about your honors, achievements and awards to news@delawarepressassociation.org by the 1st of any month (note new deadline) for publication in the next issue.

DPA members featured in this issue:

Shaun Bailey *
Kim Burdick
Patrick Canfield
Lora Englehart
Mary Constance Evering *
Roxane Ferguson *
Mark Fowser
Bridget Gillespie-Paverd
W. Todd Harra *
Patricia Lake
Teresa Black Messmore *
Lise Monty
Christine O'Donnell / Maria Hess
Mary Lou Ponsell
John Sadak *
Crabmeat Thompson
Ann Marie van den Hurk
Cathleen Welsh *

• New DPA member Shaun Bailey is marketing and communications specialist for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary. He recently helped facilitate a six-page feature article in the debut issue of Edible Jersey magazine regarding the Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Project. As part of this public relations campaign, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary also was working to send a chef to the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans, August 4–5, to prepare and promote Delaware Bay oysters on behalf of the State of Delaware and the Delaware Bay Oyster Restoration Task Force. Click this link for more about Shaun and his work at the Partnership.
Contact Shaun Bailey at sbailey@delawareestuary.org.

• Kim Burdick recently was elected chairman of the Delaware Humanities Forum’s Council. DHF offers small grants for humanities-based public programs related to such fields as history, current events, archaeology and literature to Delaware non-profits. To download grant application forms and see more information, please visit www.dhf.org.

Kim, who continues to serve as the national chairman of W3R-USA's friends group, says, “The Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R), dedicated to the story of the long walk by thousands of French and American Revolutionary War soldiers to Yorktown, Virginia, from Newport, Rhode Island, in 1780-1782, is slated to become a National Historic Trail. Senate Bill 686 and the House version HR 1286 are expected to pass Congress this session. Those of you living or working along the 685-mile-long route will want to check out the website and the blog.  In Delaware, this route follows the Philadelphia Pike, Maryland Avenue/Newport Pike, and Old Baltimore Pike."
Contact Kim Burdick at KimRBurdick@aol.com.

• A retired music teacher, professional musician and longtime baseball fan, Patrick Canfield is the author of ten books, six of which have been published. Three of Pat’s books recently have rolled off the presses and are available. Lillian, set in the Philadelphia area, is the story of “a passionate love affair, murder, and the famous Pottsville heist." Decision, set in World War II, is about a Wilmington resident going AWOL after having been cautioned, "If you come back to camp after your furlough, certain members of your squad plan to kill you."

Pat says The Counterfeit Lefty, his latest title, "recounts how Jimmy Coyle struggles with his new life based on lies and deception. Coyle, alias Tommy Dorrman, a Philadelphia boy raised in a family of limited means and education, becomes one of the outstanding pitchers in the American League. Only three people knew the secret of the real Jimmy Coyle and his route to athletic success, wealth, and outstanding war record." Further information about Pat’s books, as well as his biography, may be found on his Web site, www.patrickcanfield.com.
Contact Patrick Canfield at pmcanfield@verizon.net.

• Lora Englehart, public relations coordinator for the Brandywine River Museum, recently answered one of RealSimple magazine's monthly calls for reader response to various questions. "I've never had anything to contribute to the magazine's monthly question," she says, "until they asked readers to share their 'worst fashion moment.' There was no hesitation. I will never forget the disaster of the ‘paper dress of 1966’!" Read about Lora's fashion disaster in the September issue of RealSimple.
Contact Lora Englehart at lenglehart@aol.com.

• New member Mary Constance Evering has been enjoying life as an independent contractor since January. She currently is working for a clinical research organization (CRO) in Ellicott City, Md., as a medical writer. The focus of the work is pharmaceutical research and development. Mary plans to expand her client base and explore other medical writing opportunities in the coming months.
Contact Mary Evering at maryevering@msn.com.

• New member Roxane Ferguson is responsible for coordinating internal and external communication vehicles and marketing collateral for Diamond Technologies, Inc., as well as preparing for trade shows and events. Diamond Technologies recently was commended by Delaware Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn for the work the company did in creating the Delaware Insurance Commission’s rate-shopper website tool. Roxane is pursuing a master’s degree at Wilmington College and is also a licensed real estate agent.
Contact Roxane Ferguson at rferguson@diamondtechnologies.com.

• Instead of reporting the news, WILM NewsRadio anchor and program director Mark Fowser was concerned he would become the news, during a recent trip to Peru.

"The otherwise outstanding trip included Machu Picchu (one week before it became one of the 'new seven wonders of the world'), Cusco, Lima and small towns and villages. However,” he explained, “an extension to Lake Titicaca, more than 12,000 feet above sea level, was interrupted by a labor dispute. Protesters associated with a mineworkers' strike rolled small rocks, boulders and logs into the roadway. Because local guides received indications that these obstacles were being removed in the nighttime hours, we took a gamble, boarding a bus with pillows and blankets prepared for an all-night trip toward Lake Titicaca.

“About four hours into the trip, our concern increased when we encountered rocks in the roadway and spotted bonfires in the distance. The guides tried to negotiate our way through, but that only served to agitate the group, which unknown to us had decided to continue the protest all night long. We heard some chanting, and dozens of people started coming toward the bus. We were 'convinced' to turn around.

“Later came word that labor strikes and discord were likely to increase, and 23 hours and three flights later we touched down on U.S. soil on the 4th of July. I wish to stress that Peru is for the most part a breathtaking, friendly place to visit with excellent cuisine and affordable prices, but make sure you are thoroughly briefed on the potential for disruption."
Contact Mark Fowser at markfowser@clearchannel.com.

• Bridget Gillespie-Paverd moved into her new office at 1214 A Old Lancaster Pike, Suite 1, Hockessin, in late July 2007. Built circa 1876, the charming building was once a small apartment block and is now zoned a commercial business building (sketch at right by noted Delaware artist Nancy Sawin). “We love being in Hockessin,” says Bridget, “and I don’t miss the schlep to our Philly office one bit!”
Contact Bridget Gillespie-Paverd at bridget@bgpublicity.com.

• New DPA member W. Todd Harra is a novelist. His first book, The Voiceless Song, came out in August 2006 and is available in Wilmington- and Rehoboth Beach-area bookstores and at all major online retailers. He currently is working with his agent to publish a second novel, Friends of the Family, and is writing a third.

Todd also works as a mortician for McCrery Funeral Home in Wilmington. He will be featured on the cover of the 2008 edition of the mortician’s calendar, “Men of Mortuaries.” The calendar will be unveiled in October and will benefit the KAMMCARES Foundation, a charitable organization providing assistance for those being treated for breast cancer. For more details go to www.menofmortuaries.com.
Contact Todd Harra at toddharra@mccreryfuneralhome.com.

• With a newly minted Master of Arts degree, Patricia Lake and two partners have established a company that publishes a magazine and posts a complementary Web site to promote green living, including product information, DIY projects and personalities who make green living a reality. Another project Pat has initiated is a journaling workshop for female inmates at Baylor Correctional Institute. She is also a substitute English teacher in Cecil County, Maryland.
Contact Pat Lake at plake1@earthlink.net.

• Teresa Black Messmore joined the Delaware Museum of Natural History in the spring of 2007 as Manager of Marketing and Communications. She serves as editor of the Museum’s new Discovery magazine and handles media planning, public relations and promotional efforts. She began in public relations as an intern in the American Museum of Natural History’s community and government relations office while she was an anthropology major at NYU. Teresa went on to earn a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and has worked in development, newspaper reporting and communications from New York to California.
Contact Teresa Messmore at tbmessmore@gmail.com.

• Lise Monty reports that "after almost four years of work, the Area One Rotary clubs of Wilmington opened the new Can-Do playground off of Weldin Road in the Alapocas Run State Park. It's a special playground designed for children with disabilities as well as for fully able kids. We raised $489,000 and have a dramatic entryway 'sign' by Arden artist Rick Rothrock." Responsible for publicizing the project, Lise was pleased that the opening of the playground received such excellent coverage in the local media. Further information about the Can-Do playground may be found at http://candoplayground.org/index.php.
Contact Lise Monty at montyleary@aol.com.

• Public relations specialist and conservative political pundit Christine O'Donnell was featured in the August 2007 Delaware Today. Her profile was one of a select few to appear in "The Great Delaware Who's Who of Hot" by Maria Hess. DT's short list of highly accomplished singles included a mayor, a police chief, a real estate developer and several other high-energy hotties from the First State. Whether she is appearing on ABC's "Politically Incorrect" or running for U.S. Senate, Christine is quite the dynamo. Hess advises, "Weenies beware!"
Contact Christine O'Donnell at monki87@yahoo.com.
Contact Maria Hess at mhess@delawaretoday.com.

• A member of the Delaware Astronomical Society, Mary Lou Ponsell recently wrote and produced a 20-page booklet commemorating the society’s 50th Anniversary. The booklet has a 4-color cover and a center spread of 4 pages with photographs. The contents include a history of the founding, a list of presidents, profiles of six notable presidents, lists of recipients of the Society’s two major awards and a compilation of parallel events in the history of astronomy and aerospace from 1956 to 2006.

Her second publication, “Genealogy of Sarah Augusta Livingston and Philip Minis, Married 1836,” is a work of genealogy and history created on behalf of late friend Caroline Augusta B. Hostetter, a descendent of the Livingston family of New York’s Hudson River Valley and New York City. The founder of the American family, Robert Livingston, a Scot, emigrated to Albany in 1673, where he worked in business and government. He and his wife, Alida Scuyler Van Rensselaer, owned 160,000 acres on the Hudson River, known as “Livingston Manor,” which exists today. Their descendants are notable in American history and their achievements well documented. Mary Lou used Family Tree Maker to compile the genealogy of 14 generations, complete with extensive biographical notes. A copy has been deposited with the Livingston Research Library at Clermont in Tivoli, N.Y.
Contact Mary Lou Ponsell at mlponsell@aol.com.

• Perhaps best known as the "Voice of the Blue Rocks," John Sadak announces all 140 regular-season Blue Rocks games, both home and away, and any playoff games. As director of broadcasting/media relations, he is author and editor of the team's annual media guide, its daily game notes, a majority of the Web site content and all of the press releases. He is a sales representative for the marketing opportunities at the ballpark through the team.

Now entering his fourth season announcing University of Delaware women's basketball, John also fills in as the studio host and as the sidelines reporter for Blue Hen football and as the play-by-play announcer of UD men's hoops. He was the play-by-play announcer for Princeton University women's basketball the last three seasons and recently was offered—and accepted—the play-by-play position for Princeton men's basketball. He notes, "This is a freelance job that doesn’t compromise or interfere with my Blue Rocks work. The Ivy League plays its conference games on Fridays and Saturdays, while the Colonial Athletic Association plays its conference games on Thursdays and Sundays." As if that weren't enough to keep any sports broadcaster busy, John fills in on Princeton men's ice hockey play-by-play and as the public-address announcer for a variety of Tigers sports including lacrosse, sprint football and field hockey.

"Next,” he says, “I would love to do some freelance TV games in the baseball off-season, specifically college football/basketball. I'm also interested in acquiring a regular college football radio play-by-play job."
Contact John Sadak at johnsadak@yahoo.com.

• The irrepressible Crabmeat Thompson, a folksinger/songwriter who "never eats more than he can lift" yet never met a challenge he didn't enjoy, lets us know he has "one funny gig coming up on October 1. The Delaware Division of the Arts, who awarded me a Fellowship this year (DPA Media Mavens & Mavericks, April 2007), is hosting an Arts Summit at Dover Downs. As if art and slot machines weren't a strange enough combo, they have asked me to somehow present the Budget Impact Survey in a more entertaining manner. Somebody at their meeting said I was just the guy. Believe it or not (and you will if you know me), I am REALLY up for this." For info about all of Crab's coming adventures, including his melodious interpretation of the budget document, check the Crab Calendar at www.crabmeat.net/calendar.html.
Contact Crabmeat Thompson at crabmeat@crabmeat.net.

• DPA received word in July that Ann Marie van den Hurk would be moving to Lexington, Kentucky, on August 1. Her husband accepted a position as a professor at the University of Kentucky's College of Design. "He is realizing one of his career dreams," Ann Marie says, and "this gives me an opportunity to be home full-time with our son Martin and become a consultant. Consulting will be hard since no one knows me, but all I can do is succeed." Her many accomplishments while Vice President, Marketing & Advocacy for the Chesapeake Bay Girl Scout Council—and awards from DPA and NFPW—attest to her positive attitude and well-founded abilities. Ann Marie invites you to stay in touch either via her website www.vandenhurkpr.com or her new e-mail address below.
Contact Ann Marie van den Hurk at ann@vandenhurkpr.com.

• New member Cathleen Welsh is a former reading specialist and English teacher in New Castle County schools. She also was involved in the writing of several textbooks for Simon and Schuster. Today Cathy writes and delivers homilies as part of a religious service she and others provide to those in the health center at Stonegates Retirement Community in Greenville. Another literary effort is writing the dialogue for travelogues she and her husband present at the Academy of Lifelong Learning, at a church, and for several social groups.
Contact Cathy Welsh at welsh.bobandcathy@verizon.net.

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The Every-Last-Member Challenge

by Mary Leah Christmas

When NewsBreak transitioned to an electronic format, we styled the relaunched publication as "Your DPA Community Newsletter." With one cycle's worth of issues now under our collective belt, some statistics are worth noting.

Ninety-nine members have been mentioned at least once in the first four issues of our national award-winning e-newsletter. That's remarkable when one realizes our membership count is about 150. Almost two-thirds of our DPA community appeared in the e-newsletter in its first year, with an average of 25 members per issue. Things already are looking up for the 2007–2008 cycle. This, the first issue of Volume 19, adds 30 new names to the running total.

Using 150 members as a benchmark, there are therefore—at least theoretically—only 21 DPA members yet to take a bow. This example may be merely symbolic, but it serves to make a point: If your name has not yet appeared in NewsBreak, don't be left out! Drop us a line for Media Mavens or perhaps propose an article about your particular area of professional expertise. We would like every member of our DPA community to have an opportunity to get involved.

Contact Mary Leah Christmas, DPA NewsBreak Editor at news@delawarepressassociation.org.

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DPA Reports on the Common Wealth Awards

Dramatic Arts, Government, Mass Communications

Editor's Note: The Common Wealth Awards—presented annually by PNC Bank during a special ceremony at the Hotel du Pont in Wilmington—honor distinguished service to humanity in the fields of literature, pubic service, science and invention, sociology, government, dramatic arts, and mass communications. This year's recipients, sharing a prize of $200,000, were Sidney Poitier, Academy Award-winning actor, for Dramatic Arts; Aleksander Kwasniewski, former two-term president of the Republic of Poland, for Government; Cokie Roberts, veteran broadcast journalist and best-selling author, for Mass Communications; and Ian McEwan, award-winning British novelist, short-story and screen writer, for Literature. We received reports from three DPA members who attended the press conference.

Sidney Poitier: Cinematic Trailblazer

by Roy Podorson

Sidney Poitier resisted Hollywood’s racial stereotypes, opened doors for new generations of artists and became the first African American to win the Academy Award for best actor for his performance in the 1963 film, Lilies of the Field. Having read that his father was a poor tomato farmer who arrived with his family in Florida from Cat Island in the Bahamas, I asked, “What was it about your family life that turned you into an individual who developed such a craft and became a cinematic trailblazer? And do you plan on making any more films?”

Mr. Poitier replied: “Yes, my father was a poor tomato farmer, but my family life was very enthusiastic. They went to Florida to sell tomatoes, and that’s where I was born—three weeks premature—because my mother’s water broke.

“My family moved back to Cat Island, and they’d take me out in the water and throw me off the boat. I learned to swim in three weeks. Ethics, morals and strong family ties is what I got from my father. That essence was my foundation, and it stayed with me throughout my life. It taught me to think for myself and act quickly.

“When my father moved the family to the capital, Nassau, I was 11. There I first encountered cinema and decided to become an actor.”

At 16, Poitier moved to New York. With $3 in his pocket, he slept in a bus terminal and was arrested for vagrancy. Soon after he found work as a dishwasher in a restaurant in Queens. “One evening, after work,” Poitier said, “a Jewish waiter came over to me as I was sitting at a table in the corner with a newspaper. When he asked me ‘What’s new in the news?’ I told him ‘I’m not reading the news. I’m teaching myself how to read.’ Every night for three months he sat down with me for about an hour and a half to teach me how to read, and then we just parted. I never got his name.”

On continuing to make films, Mr. Poitier said, “I’ve been in 55 of them, and at this age you’re not as sharp—you miss a beat.” Not from what I saw.

Aleksander Kwasniewski: Former President of Poland

by Marion Rechsteiner

Aleksander Kwasniewski was president of the People's Republic of Poland from 1995 to 2005. Co-founder of Poland's Social Democratic Party and co-author of his country's new constitution, he became one of most influential leaders in Eastern Europe as he guided his country from Communism to Democracy.

Kwasniewski not only reconciled relations with Germans, Lithuanians, Jews and Ukranians, but he also built a better economy for Poland, which was necessary for his country to become a member of the international community. Poland joined NATO in 1999 and the European Union in 2004. Kwasniewski continues to represent Poland in many countries.

He gladly answered questions about Poland's future at the press conference, and when asked about Pope John Paul II, he said the Polish Pope “was among the most important personalities of the twentieth century, bringing East and West together.”

Cokie Roberts: Journalist, Author, Fan of Sam Donaldson

by Bob Yearick

The late broadcast legend David Brinkley once stated: “Cokie Roberts knows Congress better than any member and 10 times better than I do.”

Little wonder. Roberts’ father, Hale Boggs, was the leader of the House, and her mother, Lindy Boggs, succeeded him in Congress after he was killed in a 1973 plane crash. Cokie has spent 30 years on the ABC and NPR airwaves, analyzing not only Congress but presidents, vice presidents and national issues.

On the war in Iraq: “This is truly the first TV war,” with “embedded” TV crews and print journalists virtually living with the troops. “This changes everything for the better. And showing the faces and names of those killed in the war is absolutely the right thing to do. This is a cause this country has committed them to, and other than the military, the rest of the country has no commitment to this war. The President missed an opportunity when he didn’t call on the country to make some sort of sacrifice for the war.”

On pursuing journalism as a career: “I would advise students not to major in journalism. Get a good liberal arts education. We can teach you the mechanics of reporting. But do volunteer with the school newspaper or the local radio station.”

On the influence of the World Wide Web: “The accessibility of the media to a broader public is great. The negative is that people don’t know what they don’t know, because they go to what they’re interested in. If all you read is Biker’s News then that’s all you know.”

On Congress: “The Democrats have the Senate now, so they no longer have that excuse. They’ve made a lot of promises. It’s definitely time for them to start cooperating with the Republicans and with each other” and delivering on those promises.

On the controversy over the firing of Don Imus by CBS Radio: “It created a serious conversation in the African-American community about the hip-hop culture. That was its one satisfactory effect.”

On her colleague, the acerbic, sometimes confrontational Sam Donaldson: “He’s a wonderful, delightful human being. But the term ‘Silent Sam’ definitely does not apply to him.”

Contact Roy Podorson, AVP Senior Art Director, Bank of America at rpodorson@iglide.net.
Contact freelance writer Marion Rechsteiner at mrechs@aol.com.
Contact freelance writer/editor Bob Yearick at allwriter@comcast.net.

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Nationwide Online Job Bank

Media opportunities are all around us! Be sure to check out the new NFPW Job Bank for the latest job postings—in all fields of communications—nationwide. You’ll find everything from entry-level positions to those for experienced pros. Just go to www.nfpw.org and click on the Job Bank button at the top of the screen. As the Job Bank is in the Members Only area of the site, you must sign in with the NFPW username and password, as given in the July 2007 NFPW E-Letter. Can’t find the password info or the newsletter? Write to DelawarePress@aol.com and ask for the NFPW password and username.

Know of a job opening that would be of interest to fellow members? Send the information to NFPW Webmaster Jane Lee at jane@janeleecomm.com as well as to DPA Executive Director Katherine Ward at DelawarePress@aol.com.

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Calendar of Events

SEPTEMBER

09 Jack of Clubs at the Newark Film Festival. According to Film Brothers Productions producer/director Gordon DelGiorno (see Spotlight article, April 2007), "In case you or your friends didn't see Jack of Clubs or want to catch it again, there will be a Sunday matinee at the Newark Film Festival on September 9 at Noon. There are many other great movies in this popular festival, running from September 6 – 9, Cinema Center Newark, 411 Newark Shopping Center on Main Street Newark.”  Go to www.newarkfilm.com for the full schedule and to buy tickets.

13 Poetry At The Beach: H.A. Maxson, Wendy Ingersoll, and Russ Endo, 7 p.m., South Coastal Library, 43 Kent Avenue, Bethany Beach, 302-732-3879. Poetry At The Beach is a reading series now entering its second year. The program is sponsored by the South Coastal Library (Bethany Beach), Rehoboth Beach Public Library, and the Lewes Public Library, and funded in part by the Delaware Division of the Arts. Event is free of charge.

20–22 NFPW/VPW “Still Making History” Communications Conference & NFPW 70th Anniversary Celebration. Richmond Marriott Hotel, Richmond, Va. For full info and to register, visit nfpw.org/conference.htm.

21 "Stories Worth Repeating: Families’, Friends’ and Neighbors’ Lives," Arsht Hall, room 105, University of Delaware, 2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, 7 p.m. The first in a two-part program. DPA member Sharon Moore will read stories she composed from community interviews. A display of tee-shirt or memory quilts, photos and scrapbooks accompanies the readings. This event is funded in part by an opportunity grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, with support from the Neighborhood House, the Delaware Humanities Forum, the Historical Society of Delaware and the Office of Women’s Affairs at the University of Delaware. Reception immediately following.

25 "Stories Worth Repeating: Families’, Friends’ and Neighbors’ Lives," Arsht Hall, room 105, University of Delaware, 2700 Pennsylvania Avenue, Wilmington, 7 p.m. The second in a two-part program. DPA member Sharon Moore returns to host a session entitled, "Create Your Own." After a presentation on writing stories, by author Ed Okonowicz, participants can select either a session on tee-shirt quilts or scrapbook basics. This event is funded in part by an opportunity grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, with support from the Neighborhood House, the Delaware Humanities Forum, the Historical Society of Delaware and the Office of Women’s Affairs at the University of Delaware.

27 Disney Keys to Excellence, Drexel University's LeBow College of Business, Philadelphia, Pa., 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. "Join the local business community for an incredible day of learning, insight, and inspiration. This is a rare opportunity to take an inside look at the 'business behind the magic' from Disney insiders and apply proven principles to your business." Participation is limited, so register today. For more information, call 877-544-2384.

28 The Philadelphia 2007 Direct Marketing Symposium, Direct Marketing Education Foundation & Philadelphia AMA, Bartley Hall, Villanova University, Villanova, Pa. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. "Is accountability missing from your marketing curriculum? You can fill in the missing piece at this year's Philadelphia Direct Marketing Symposium, a valuable educational event designed exclusively for top marketing, advertising and communications professors. There is a strong need within America's colleges and universities to educate future marketers on the growth and importance of accountability and Return on Investment in today's corporate world." For more information, visit www.dm-edu.com.

28 Winter submission deadline for fiction/art/poetry of the Delaware Valley. Philadelphia Stories, a non-profit literary magazine and companion Web site publishes writing and artwork from Pa.-N.J.-Del. and provides it to the general public free of charge. They are looking for original fiction, essays, poetry, creative non-fiction, art and photography from artists who either live in this region or were originally from the area. For more information, please visit www.philadelphiastories.org.

OCTOBER

01 IMPACT: Delaware Arts - featuring Crabmeat Thompson, Dover Downs, Dover, Del.
2007 Arts Summit. For further information, see www.crabmeat.net/calendar.html.

15 DPA general meeting: "What’s Killing Me Now? How the Media Influence Consumer Health Decisions." Shari Short, an expert in social marketing and health communications, will talk about the role of the media in influencing consumer healthcare decisions. Networking and light fare 6 p.m.; program 7:15 p.m. Klondike Kate's, 158 E. Main Street, Newark. Click for full story and details. 

20–23 2007 PRSA International Conference, Philadelphia Public Relations Society of America, Philadelphia, Pa. Keynote speaker: Tim Russert, managing editor and moderator of "Meet the Press," and political analyst for "NBC Nightly News" and "Today." The conference promises to be "the most enlightening and rewarding public relations event of the year. Featuring more than 100 comprehensive Professional Development sessions led by top industry experts, our stellar lineup of influential and engaging speakers offers a full spectrum of strategies and techniques." Register by September 7, 2007, and save $200! For more information, visit www.prsa.org/conf2007.

22 Philadelphia Speakers Series: George Will, Pulitzer Prize-winning political columnist, 8 p.m., Kimmel Center, Philadelphia. Sponsored by Widener University and the Kimmel Center. For further information or to order tickets, see www.philadelphiaspeakersseries.org/will.htm.

NOVEMBER

03 Delaware Book Festival, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., rain or shine, in front of Legislative Hall in Dover. Meet more than 35 nationally recognized authors and illustrators; learn how to write poetry, create a blog, and get published; discover how to repair and appraise books; children can see favorite storybook characters and create fun crafts. For more information, see http://debookfestival.lib.de.us/festival/BookFest2007.htm.

07 DPA Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Methodist Country House (Stirling Conference Room), 4830 Kennett Pike, Wilmington.

26 Philadelphia Speakers Series: Christiane Amanpour, CNN's Chief International Correspondent, 8 p.m., Kimmel Center, Philadelphia. Sponsored by Widener University and the Kimmel Center. For further information or to order tickets, see www.philadelphiaspeakersseries.org/amanpour.htm.

DECEMBER

08 Ninth Annual John Milton Memorial Celebration of Poets and Poetry, John Milton & Co. Book Shop, Milton, Del. This year’s event includes the awarding of the Fifth Annual Dogfish Head Poetry Prize for a chapbook written by a Delmarva poet. Contact DPA member Jamie Brown, the event’s founder, at johnmiltonandco@earthlink.net for further information.

15 Spring 2008 submission deadline for fiction/art/poetry of the Delaware Valley. Philadelphia Stories, a non-profit literary magazine and companion Web site publishes writing and artwork from Pa.-N.J.-Del. and provides it to the general public free of charge. They are looking for original fiction, essays, poetry, creative non-fiction, art and photography from artists who either live in this region or were originally from the area. For more information, please visit www.philadelphiastories.org.

Send information for the Calendar of Events to news@delawarepressassociation.org.

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NewsBreak is the official newsletter of Delaware Press Association.

Mary Leah Christmas, Editor
Katherine Ward, Copy editor/Layout

Submit editorial content to:
news@delawarepressassociation.org

Copy deadline for next newsletter: October 1, 2007

Contact Us:
Katherine Ward, Executive Director
Delaware Press Association

email: delawarepress@aol.com
phone: 302-655-2175
web: www.delawarepressassociation.org
 

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