NewsBreak February 2008 - Vol. 19, No. 3

In This Issue:

• Behind the Scenes with Margaret Aitken: U.S. Senator Joe Biden’s (former) Press Secretary

• From the President: Put DPA on Your Map for 2008

• DLC / Wilmington University Literary Contest & 2nd Annual Writers' Conference

• Women’s History Month — March 2008

• First Amendment Matters: Spreading the Sunshine

• Strike up the Band for Barbara C. Roewe: DPA's "Noteworthy” COA for 2008

• WordPlay . . . for Wordsmiths

• Spotlight: Roxane Ferguson — Master of the Spinning Plates

• Focus on Freelancing: Intellectual Property and You

• DPA Welcomes New Members

• DPA Media Mavens & Mavericks

• Report from the Blog Bureau: Tara Lynn Johnson

• London Seduces Wilmington Publicist and Tortured Flemish Poet, Again

• Calendar of Events

Behind the Scenes with Margaret Aitken

U.S. Senator Joe Biden’s (former) Press Secretary

by Allan Loudell

Margaret Aitken, longtime Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Joe Biden, recently had completed a decade of service when she made the difficult decision to step down. She is, however, enjoying her new role as mother of a six-month-old son.

On February 13, Margaret will give the members of Delaware Press Association a unique, behind-the-scenes look at what it was like to handle thousands of media inquiries for the Senator on topics ranging from Iraq and Afghanistan, to judicial nominees, to domestic violence, to purely Delaware issues.

She will tell us how she helped book and prepare Senator Biden for his various interviews and TV appearances, including the Sunday morning news programs; the “Oprah Winfrey Show”; and the “Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” to mention a few.

One of her more unusual assignments: being the only press secretary to accompany a Congressional delegation to Asia. She handled media events in mainland China, Taiwan, Korea's DMZ and South Korea. She also traveled to several Middle-Eastern nations with Senator Biden and toured a refugee camp one mile from the Sudanese border.

Prior to working for Senator Biden, she was the public information officer for the State of Delaware's Department of Education and the Press Secretary for New Castle County Executive Dennis Greenhouse. Margaret Aitken is a lifelong Delawarean and 1991 Graduate of the University of Delaware.

Q & A to follow.

Please join us at Kid Shelleen's, 1801 W. 14th Street, Wilmington, at 6:30 p.m. for food, drinks and networking with your DPA friends. The program starts at 7:30 p.m.

Directions: From Pennsylvania Avenue (Route 52) heading south into Wilmington, turn left onto Union Street (if heading north out of the city, turn right onto Union). Go approximately half a block and turn right onto Liberia Street (if you reach the stop sign at 14th Street, you've gone too far). Liberia Street will take you straight into the parking lot. If the lot is full, there will be ample free parking on adjacent streets.

The cost (pay at the door) is $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

To make a reservation, send:

• Your name and the names of any guests

• A telephone number and/or e-mail address

to DelawarePress@aol.com.

See you on February 13th for a lively program and discussion.

For more info, contact Allan Loudell: 302-478-2700 or aloudell@wdel.com.

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From the President: Mapping Your Plans for 2008

Avenues to Explore with Delaware Press Association

by Beth Miller

While you’re mapping out your plans for 2008, I’d like to make a quick pitch for adding Delaware Press Association to your agenda.

It doesn’t matter what your talent is, how much experience you have or how much time you have available — DPA has a place for you! We would love to help you connect with us, develop your network of friends and colleagues, and provide opportunities to hone your skills and invest them wisely.

Consider some of the avenues open to you:

• A seat on the board. We always are looking for reliable, hard-working folks who share the mission of this association and want to help strengthen it by developing plans, organizing events and helping us extend our reach into our diverse community. We have journalists, public relations professionals, editors, freelance writers, broadcasters and others on the board. It’s the heart of DPA, and DPA works because this board works!

• A mentor to the young. We are committed to encouraging young communicators through our high school journalism contest, which recognizes outstanding work and offers helpful feedback for young writers and photographers. Our contest committee would love to hear from you if you’re interested in assisting with that effort.

• A word to the wise. We always need qualified writers and editors to help us judge the contest entries sent to us by press associations from around the country. Willing and reliable judges, who can offer substantive, meaningful commentary on the work they review, helps Delaware Press Association strengthen the craft of communications nationally.

• A willing hand. If you’re the kind who enjoys the nitty-gritty of setting up tables, sorting out name tags, working out logistics — we need you! For every DPA event, a zillion miscellaneous tasks must be done. Helping behind the scenes at such events is a great way to get to know the association and provide the kind of (wo)manpower that always is in short supply!

• An eye for detail. If you enjoy research and talking with like-minded folks, you can help DPA use its voice wisely by providing information on issues the association cares about and helping us connect with press associations around the nation. There is much to learn, much to sift through.

• A face in the crowd. If behind-the-scenes involvement isn’t your plan for 2008, I hope you’ll join us at the events we’re planning for this year. We have panel discussions, special speakers and several events to recognize the excellent work being done in communications around the state. We would love to see you, hear your views, let others know what you’re up to and do whatever we can to encourage excellence in your endeavors.

Add to this the enticingly low $20 annual dues and you have a fine professional bargain.

This year brings marvelous potential. It’s up to each of us to make the most of it!

I hope you’ll be one of the smiling faces in the crowd at Kid Shelleen’s on February 13 as we gather for some great networking, a bite to eat and a behind-the-scenes look at how Margaret Aitken served as press secretary to Joe Biden, a U.S. Senator and recent candidate for President of the United States.

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

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Delaware Literary Connection / Wilmington University
Literary Contest & 2nd Annual Writers' Conference

Women’s History Month Events – March 2008

by Nina I. DeVoe

There are lots of interesting and important events taking place in Delaware throughout March in honor of Women’s History Month. Organizations sponsoring some of this year’s notable events are the Delaware Commission for Women, the Delaware Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs, the Junior League of Wilmington, Wilmington Women in Business, the University of Delaware’s Office of Women’s Affairs and the YWCA.

Here’s an overview of some events you won’t want to miss:

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women

The Delaware Commission for Women provides leadership, advocacy and resources on issues affecting women in Delaware. DCW advocates for the equality of Delaware women in a way that fosters self-esteem and self-reliance among women of all ages by promoting political, economic, social, educational, personal and professional growth. Issue categories include: Civil Rights, Economic Empowerment, Work/Life, Women’s Health, Violence Prevention, and Recognition and Celebration.

The Hall of Fame of Delaware Women was founded in 1981 by DCW to recognize Delaware women of vision, courage and tenacity who have made significant contributions to their communities, to Delaware and to our nation. The annual March awards ceremony and reception is DCW’s premier event to recognize the enduring legacy of the nearly 100 members of the Hall of Fame and to induct new members.

This year’s Hall of Fame event will be held on the green of the Delaware State Visitor Center & Galleries / The Sewell C. Biggs Museum, opposite Legislative Hall in Dover. A festive, tented reception and ceremony will welcome Hall of Fame members, the 2008 honorees, guests and members of the press.

The 2008 honorees:

• Elizabeth Empson Battell - Commerce

• Renee Palmore Beaman - Health Care

• Grace Pierce-Beck - Environment

• Uma Chowdry - Science

• Christina Margaret McDermott - Law

• Evelyn Dickenson Swensson - Music

DCW has worked with the staff of the Division of Historic and Cultural Affairs, led by Beverly Laing, to create a special exhibit titled, “Delaware Women Leaders: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.” A number of outstanding Delaware women, including some of the Hall of Fame members, will be featured. A tour of the exhibit and the museum store will be a part of the agenda for the evening. In case of bad weather, the reception will be held nearby at the Public Archives building.

Hall of Fame of Delaware Women Award Ceremony and Reception
Delaware State Visitor Center & Galleries
406 Federal Street, Dover
Wednesday, March 12
Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: $40

For a ticket or for more information, please call the Delaware Commission for Women at 302-577-5287.

Delaware Women’s Conference

Each year since 1984, the Delaware Women's Conference has brought women together to learn, to network, to relax and to grow by offering diverse workshops, an inspirational speaker, various exhibitors, a women's art show and a safe place to share and to learn. The founding sponsors of the annual conference are the Junior League of Wilmington, Inc., the Delaware Commission for Women, the YWCA of New Castle County and Wilmington Women in Business, Inc.

This year’s Delaware Women's Conference will be held on Saturday, March 1, at Clayton Hall at the University of Delaware. The keynote speaker will be award-winning international journalist Mariane Pearl, whose coverage of women in countries across the continents of Europe, Asia, Africa and South America gives her a unique perspective and insight into this year’s conference theme: "Women Unite! No Borders, No Boundaries.” For further information and a complete list of conference organizers, activities and workshops, go to www.delawarewomen.org.

24th Annual Delaware Women’s Conference
John M. Clayton Hall Conference Center
University of Delaware
Route 896 North
Newark, Delaware
Saturday, March 1, 2008
8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Cost: $35

Keynote Speaker:
Mariane Pearl, award-winning international journalist and wife of kidnapped and slain American journalist Daniel Pearl.

More than 30 workshops will explore areas such as:

• Health & Well Being

• Personal Growth

• Business Protocol

• Controlling Your Money

• Focus on the Family

Four DPA members will be leading workshops:

• Jean Lamensdorf

• Laura Messinger / Lillian Shah

• Nancy Coale Zippe

Register online today! www.delawarewomen.org

2008 Impact Your Community Award

Do you know a woman who has made a difference in the lives of Delaware residents?

Is she a woman who is committed and focused on giving to the community and gaining from the experience?

The Delaware Women’s Conference 2008 Impact Your Community Award is a unique opportunity to recognize one woman who has made a significant contribution to the development and improvement of the Delaware community. For a nomination form, go to www.delawarewomen.org/DWC_2008_Award.doc.

Completed nomination forms are to be mailed or e-mailed to:

Delaware Women’s Conference
Attn: Impact Your Community Award
P.O. Box 7855
Newark, DE 19714-7855
or
delawarewomen@gmail.com

Nomination forms must be received no later than February 15, 2008.
 

Women’s History / Women’s Lives Film Series

Becki Fogerty, Manager and Program Head of the Office of Women’s Affairs at the University of Delaware, announces the “Women's History / Women's Lives” film series for 2008, for Tuesday evenings from February 26 through March 25.

Feb. 26 – Been Rich All My Life
Mar. 04 – Maquilapolis (City of Factories)
Mar. 11 – Transparent
Mar. 18 – I Had an Abortion
Mar. 25 – Girl Trouble

Following each film there will be a discussion led by a speaker with expertise in the film’s subject matter. The movies are free and open to the public and will be held at 7 p.m. in 004 Kirkbride Lecture Hall at the University. For further information about the programs, events, services, scholarships and awards available for women through UD’s OWA, call 302-831-8063 or visit www.udel.edu/OWA.

Nina DeVoe is the Community Relations Officer for the Delaware Commission for Women. Contact Nina at Nina.DeVoe@state.de.us.


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First Amendment Matters

Spreading the Sunshine

A Message from NFPW President Marsha Shuler

The New Year brings a message from NFPW President Marsha Shuler of Baton Rouge, La.

“President Bush, on December 31, signed the new Openness Promotes Effectiveness in our National Government Act of 2007. This is the Freedom of Information improvements act that so many of you worked on in 2005, 2006 and 2007. It will put in place many new tools to help people get their questions answered on time, and to find help through the maze of federal rules when they request a record from the federal government.

“We will work more on this in 2008 as the rules and regulations put this new law into operation.

“What a great way to start the New Year! Our thanks to all who helped. And please note: We hope to have a journalists' shield law in place before the year ends.”

To join the First Amendment Network (FAN) and receive e-mail alerts when action is needed, send your name and e-mail address to presswomen@aol.com and ask to be put on the FAN list. FAN membership is free to all NFPW members; $100 per year for non-members.
 

New DPA First Amendment Network Liaison

The New Year also brings DPA a new First Amendment officer: Micheline Boudreau, news director of “WHYY Delaware Tonight.” As a broadcasting professional, she knows first-hand the importance of open government in the practice of journalism.

Having been a producer at WBUR radio in Boston, Micheline then worked as a producer for WRNI Radio in Providence (both National Public Radio affiliates) before coming to WHYY in Wilmington in 2003. A DPA member since 2006, Micheline recently served on the Board as Events Coordinator. Now that we look forward to observing Sunshine Week 2008, we welcome Micheline in her new role as DPA's First Amendment Network liaison.

Contact Micheline Boudreau at mboudreau@whyy.org.
 

Don't Forget: Sunshine Week 2008 is March 16–22

NFPW is a sponsor of Sunshine Week, a national initiative to maintain a dialogue about the importance of open government and the freedom of information. Get involved by writing, lecturing, advocating and encouraging Open Government in state and local bodies. For more ideas, visit the Sunshine Week Web site.
 

National Freedom of Information Coalition's Annual Conference

From May 9–10, the National Freedom of Information Coalition's annual FOI Summit will be held in Philadelphia. Hosted by the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition and NFOIC, the organizers promise two full days of information sharing and fun. See the Calendar of Events for details.
 

Micheline Boudreau is the news director 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 Micheline at mboudreau@whyy.org.

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Strike Up the Band for Barbara C. Roewe

DPA's “Noteworthy” Communicator of Achievement for 2008

By Katherine Ward, 2007 DPA COA

Teacher, mentor, facilitator and musician, Barbara Clancy Roewe was named the 2008 Delaware Press Association Communicator of Achievement at DPA's Holiday Luncheon at the Delaware National Country Club in December. The announcement of the honor, in recognition of Barbara’s years of service to high school students, to the local community and to DPA, won a standing ovation from those gathered.

Barbara was an English teacher for 27 years and the award-winning journalism adviser at Alexis I. du Pont High School for 11 of those years. Barbara says, “Teaching journalism classes is where I realized my life's professional mission, which is summed up in the words of Kahlil Gibran: ‘The teacher, if indeed wise . . . leads the students to the thresholds of their own minds.’”

Barbara and DPA member Carol Kipp were the dynamic team that taught A.I.'s J1 and J2 courses. While Carol worked with the students on the finer points of layout and graphic design, Barbara helped them learn to analyze what made a news article good, to understand bias and how to run their newspaper as a successful business. She inspired her eager and capable students to use their computer skills and budding journalistic abilities to put out a well-written, great looking, thought-provoking newspaper.

“Those classes were a teacher's dream,” Barbara says. “I planted the seeds of critical thinking. The students fertilized those seeds and produced our school newspaper, Tiger Pause, which received top awards from Quill & Scroll, the Columbia Scholastic Press Association and Delaware Press Association. In 1993, I entered the DPA Communications Contest in the category of Faculty Adviser of a Student Publication. I took first-place honors and went on to win a national first-place award in the National Federation of Press Women's Communications Contest.”

Present at the luncheon were two of Barbara’s former journalism students, Bridin Johnson, editor-in-chief, and Jim Hunter Miller, features editor, of the award-winning school newspaper. A letter read from the paper’s former business manager, Steven Smigie, said, “Inspirational and a kind and generous person, Mrs. Roewe always sees the upside of an idea and understands how to make it work.”

Barbara received the Distinguished Service Award from the A.I. du Pont Parent Teacher Association, was twice nominated for Teacher of the Year in the Red Clay School District and was selected Teacher of the Year by the Wilmington Lions Club in 1990.

Although retired from the classroom, Barbara continues, as a volunteer, to work with young people and adults in many settings. She's a facilitator for YWCA-sponsored High School Study Circles at A. I. du Pont and Brandywine high schools to help youngsters explore race relations and how to achieve understanding and respect for one another. For that effort, she was named a YWCA Community Winner for the 2003 Jefferson Awards.

Barbara has been a Sunday School teacher at First Unitarian Church, has served on their Board of Trustees and was chair of the Social Justice Working Group. She has served as the music committee chair at First Unitarian, and she's also been on the board of directors of the Mid-Atlantic Chamber Music Society.

A talented musician herself, Barbara says, “When I was growing up, we had a piano that was the focal point of our small living room. My teenage brother played the saxophone and had a jazz band that rehearsed there. The piano player would hold me in his lap and let me, at age 4, touch the piano keys as he played. I studied classical music until I was 16. Many times my piano playing was my best means of communication. It opened doors for me. I played for family gatherings, for school programs, at USO shows for servicemen during World War II and for residents in nursing homes. It always has seemed to make people happy.”

Barbara took up a new instrument in her mid-60s, and she is now the trombone player for the New Castle County Community Band, for the Happy Rhinelanders German Band and for the University of Delaware's Academy of Lifelong Learning Concert Band. She is also the piano player for a number of musical groups, including the Upbeats Dixieland Band.

Today Barbara enjoys taking classes at the Academy of Lifelong Learning. She is also both the enthusiastic chairman of the Lecture Committee at Cokesbury Retirement Village, where she lines up interesting and informative programs every few weeks, and the Sing-a-long accompanist for Cokesbury's Health Center.

Barbara served as president of Delaware Press Association for 2 two-year terms — from 2000 to 2004 — and ably guided the organization through the years when the members worked to put together the “Brave New Media World” national communications conference, held in Wilmington in the fall of 2003.

For six years Barbara has been DPA's Vice President of Student Activities. She and Gloria Galloway, DPA's 1996 COA, annually run the First State High School Journalism Contest, co-sponsored by DPA and The News Journal. Barbara says, “Through the contest, open to all Delaware public and private schools, I continue to enjoy working with high school journalism students as well as with the journalism advisers. In one way or another, I always will be a teacher, a mentor and a facilitator.”

Report on the 2007 Holiday Luncheon and Book Signing

Eleven DPA authors and editors sold their books at a joint book signing during the social hour: Howard Berlin, Patrick Canfield, Jan Churchill, Jean Hull Herman, Lise Monty, Laura Messinger, Lillian Shah, Vanessa Nesbit, Katherine Ward, Bob Yearick and Nancy Coale Zippe. There were abundant choices — fiction, poetry, children’s literature, mysteries, memoirs, healthcare guidebooks, history, cookbooks and coffee-table photography books — at this Holiday Luncheon event that added extra sparkle to the day’s events.

Following the talk on “Commercial Air Travel: Navigating an Uncertain Future” by Tony Velocci, editor-in-chief of Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine, DPA’s 007 Communicator of Achievement, Katherine Ward, spoke about the 2008 COA, Barbara Roewe, and presented her with a framed award certificate and a beautiful mantel clock.

The annual Communicator of Achievement Award is the highest honor DPA bestows on its members. First and foremost, the COA award is given for a lifetime of achievement in the communications profession. And second, it recognizes exemplary service to the community and to humanity as well as to the profession, especially to DPA and the National Federation of Press Women.

The previous COA award recipients

Katherine Ward, 2007 Karen Galanaugh, 2006 Lynn Troy Maniscalco, 2005 Rita Katz Farrell, 2004 Lise Monty, 2003 Kay Wood Bailey, 2002 Allan R. Loudell, 2001 Mary Louise Ponsell, 1999 – 2000 Marion K. Rechsteiner, 1998 Sally Rinard, 1997 Gloria O. Galloway, 1996

(L–R: Standing: Lise Monty, Gloria Galloway, Allan Loudell, Katherine Ward, Mary Lou Ponsell.  Seated: Marion Kallfelz Rechsteiner, Barbara Roewe, Karen Galanaugh.)

Read the COA bios on the DPA Web site.

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WordPlay . . . for Wordsmiths

by Bob Yearick

New Year’s Resolution

With the onset of another year, let us resolve — once again — to get all references to the new year correct. So, it’s “Happy New Year,” as noted in the February 2007 WordPlay column, not “Happy New Year’s” or “Happy New Years.”

What brings this to mind is an article in a local — usually quite literate — publication. An interview with a Wilmington athlete included this question: “Spends New Years?” (Italics ours). Answer: “With a big party.”

The question, of course, referred to New Year’s Eve. We suppose “New Year’s” is acceptable as an abbreviated reference to December 31. But please — at least include the apostrophe. Otherwise, the question would seem to address all of the new years in the future.

No Compromise on Comprise

We recently heard someone say, “Forty-four homes comprise the housing development.” Many of us misuse “comprise,” forgetting that the whole comprises the parts. So it should be “The housing development comprises 44 homes.” Also to be avoided is “comprised of.”

In the example above, the speaker could have substituted “make up,” “constitute” or “compose” for “comprise.”

Best Buzzwords of 2007

Time recently published the “10 Best Buzzwords” of 2007. Number one was “cougar,” meaning “an older woman who romantically pursues younger men.”

A few of our favorites from the list:

#5 Colbert bump: n. similar to the Oprah effect on book sales, the brief jump in popularity political candidates experience after appearing on The Colbert Report. Note: Last year, Stephen Colbert’s show gave us the “new word of the year”: “truthiness” — a satirical term referring to the quality by which a person claims to know something intuitively, or “from the gut,” without regard to evidence, logic or facts — as in, say, weapons of mass destruction being located in Iraq.

#7 locavore: n. person who tries to eat only foods that are harvested locally.

#8 bacn: n. spam by request; e-mail the recipient has signed up to receive yet may never bother to read.

#10 freegan: n. anti-consumer, pro-recycling extremist who makes purchases only as a last resort.

Can’t wait to see what new words 2008 brings.

Meanwhile, 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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Spotlight: Roxane Elizabeth Angela Ferguson

Master of the Spinning Plates

Becoming a master of the spinning plates wasn’t a life goal for DPA member Roxane Ferguson, but thanks to a diverse 20-year career and active community involvement, she can spin with the best. She’s a wife and mom. She holds a fulltime job and goes to graduate school full time. And her community service includes: Middletown-Odessa Rotary Club secretary, director for Melaleuca and standing committee member of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce. That combination warrants the need for more than a little organizational management.

How does she do it? Smiling, she says, “I’ve been blessed with a wonderful network of family, friends and colleagues as well as some amazing career opportunities that have come my way.”

Roxane has had the opportunity to perfect her time management skills through some rewarding positions. Working in the banking and finance industry at Wachovia (formerly First Union Bank) for more than a decade as an Assistant Vice President and Communications Manager paved the way for dealing with change on a regular basis as mergers and acquisitions became the status quo in the ’90s. Transitioning into the real estate industry in 2002 as a Realtor for Ryan Homes provided a new perspective on finance and offered her the ability to work with Delaware residents aspiring to the American dream of home ownership.

Desiring to make a difference in the non-profit sector, Roxane served as the Director of Sales and Membership for the Delaware Better Business Bureau for two years. In that capacity she was able to advocate ethical business and advertising practices in working with consumers and business owners.

Now, as the Director of Marketing for Diamond Technologies, a local Information Technology consulting company, she facilitates all marketing and communication efforts and is a company liaison for Microsoft. Diamond Technologies partner Greg Ballance says, “What a tremendous impact Roxane has made for us here at DT! We’d been looking for the right person to lead our marketing initiatives. Roxane has done that and more—everything from developing our marketing campaigns, newsletters, Web site, press releases and client spotlights, to coordinating our events and the annual employee and client celebration at Brantwyn. She has an infectious, outgoing, energetic personality that is a pleasure to have in the company.”

Participation in the Middletown-Odessa Rotary Club allows Roxane to serve the community in which she lives. Of the Rotary literacy program that provides dictionaries to all third-grade students in the Appoquinimink School District, she says, “Watching children’s faces light up when we gave them their very own dictionaries was so rewarding and gave word power a whole new meaning!” Rotary President Cecelia Rozumalski adds, “Shortly after becoming a member, Roxane was appointed club secretary—a position critical for smooth operation of the club. Her ability to organize, stay on top of detail and write has resulted in great record keeping for our regional office, a boost in our fundraising ad sales and a newsletter for the club.”

In other community service, Roxane is a member of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce Professional Development Committee and a volunteer with the Girl Scouts. She offers her marketing expertise for the Middletown-Odessa-Townsend soccer program and is a director for the wellness company, Melaleuca. Memberships include the Alpha Chi National Honor Society and the Delaware Association of Realtors as well as DPA.

Roxane resides in Middletown with husband Kevin, daughter Alexis and son Zachery. While she has held many titles over the years, the one that means the most and allows her to give the most of herself is “Mom.” Her strong belief in lifelong learning is the catalyst for her educational endeavors. She says, “I want to be a role model for my children and show them that learning is timeless.” She is a magna cum laude graduate of Wesley College in Dover and, before long, she not only will be a master of the spinning plates but also will have earned a Master’s Degree in Organization Leadership at Wilmington University. It’s no surprise that Professor Sherry Scanlon says, “Roxane’s willingness to share her experiences and contribute to the class have helped to ensure the program’s success.”

Contact Roxane Ferguson at rferguson@diamondtechnologies.com.

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Focus on Freelancing: Intellectual Property and You

Before signing that big contract, check the small print

by Marion Kallfelz Rechsteiner, Esq.

Editor’s note: This is the fourth and final article of a 4-part series on freelancing and includes comments made by some of the respondents to the 2007 survey on freelance work conducted by the National Federation of Press Women.

Contract and copyright are two terms familiar to freelancers, but their legal significance goes much deeper than their everyday familiarity would suggest.

Coming to terms with Contracts

A contract is, of course, an enforceable agreement: a writer offers a story, article or profile to a publisher who accepts the offer of the freelancer's brainchild and, in return, proffers a legal document containing the details of payment and other matters. There are many "other matters" possible in this kind of contract, so you must read every word. The contract should state what each party to the document agrees to do, plus the means of recourse if print media publications don't pay the freelancer as agreed.

A word to the wise (this one from a sagacious NFPW member) sometimes is also the obvious: "If you don't know what you're signing, don't sign it! It's much better to show the contract to an intellectual property or media arts attorney" before the document is signed than to be seeking representation later for an impending legal dispute. There are a number of attorneys in Delaware who specialize in the areas of contracts and intellectual property. They can be found through the Martindale-Hubbell Lawyer Locator free of charge (where one can search by city/state and area of practice) or via the Lawyer Referral Service of the Delaware State Bar Association for a small fee that includes an initial consultation.

One expert in Delaware is Richard K. Herrmann*, a partner in the Morris James Intellectual Property Group. In addition to conducting a law practice that includes many complex forms of intellectual property litigation, commercial litigation and technology litigation, Herrmann teaches Electronic Discovery for the National Judicial College and for Widener University School of Law.

Because Herrmann does a lot of writing for legal publications, he looks at any contract as the lawyer that he is, striking out those clauses that are unacceptable to him. Freelancers should not hesitate to do the same. He cautions freelancers not to sell all rights to a publisher because the publisher can, in turn, sell the writer's work to another publication, radio, TV or to a Web site. His advice is echoed by a member of NPFW: “Make sure you keep the rights to your own work. And be aware that contracts almost always favor the publisher and thus may even contain a clause specifying that the publisher retains ‘rights to technology yet to be invented.’”

Remember, watching out for your rights is your responsibility. As an NFPW freelancer cautions, "Always request that your fee, word count and kill fee be specified. Carry your own professional liability insurance in case you are sued. Be scrupulously accurate and careful with each story so that you deliver what you've contracted for."

Comprehending the complexities of Copyrights

Another Delaware expert is Alan E. Garfield**, a professor at Widener University School of Law since 1986. He writes and teaches in the areas of Constitutional Law, Copyright and Contracts.

“Copyright,” he says, “applies as soon as a work is in fixed form, written down or stored in a computer.” He adds, “Even though copyright applies upon fixation, there are several advantages to registering a work, including possible access to attorney fees, if you ever have to litigate. It is prima facie evidence of validity of the copyright."

Garfield recommends a good overview of these and other issues in the Copyright Basics Circular available from the U.S. Copyright Office. "This circular,” he says, “is filled with helpful information, and this link will take you right to it: www.copyright.gov/circs/circ1.html.”

Recommended reading from your NFPW peers

Responses to a National Federation of Press Women survey on freelance work last spring included some pointers to print references and other sources:

• Everyone Wants My Job: the ABC's of Entertainment Writing. Written by an NFPW member from California, Diana Saenger, and available on Amazon.com.

• National Writers Union www.nwu.org. Defending writers' rights and economic interests.

• Writer's Market www.writersmarket.com from Writer's Digest Books.

• WritersWeekly e-zine www.writersweekly.com “has provided numerous articles on this topic (subscription is free) and also provides 'whispers and warnings' about unscrupulous publishers.”

* Named as one of Delaware's "Power Attorneys" by Delaware Today in November 2004, Richard Hermann also was selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 editions). He chairs the Delaware State Bar Association's Technology Committee and is former Chair of that Association's Computer Law Section.

** Alan Garfield received his Juris Doctorate from UCLA School of Law, where he was a member of the UCLA Law Review and the Order of the Coif. His articles have appeared in numerous journals including the Cornell Law Review, the Georgia Law Review, and the Columbia Business Law Review. He also has contributed Op-Eds to the Philadelphia Inquirer and The News Journal.

Marion Kallfelz Rechsteiner is an attorney-at-law, an award-winning journalist and freelancer and past president of Delaware Press Association. With an A.B. in communications and political science from Syracuse University, she became editor of a weekly newspaper at age 20. After earning an M.A. at Syracuse in the same fields, she worked for a daily newspaper. Marion received a J.D. from The Delaware Law School (now Widener) in 1987, and, in 1995, she was admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. An affiliate member of the Delaware State Bar Association, she writes for its publication, In Re. After serving on the committee that has updated three editions of the Legal Handbook for Older Delawareans, she was editor of The Chester County Elder Law Handbook and Resource Guide in 2007. Keenly interested in contracts, copyrights and intellectual property, she belongs to two committees of the Delaware Bar and two of the Chester County (Pa.) Bar.

The author would like to thank DPA member Mary Allen, Public Relations Officer, Widener University School of Law, for her assistance in the preparation of this article. Contact Mary Allen at mallen@mail.widener.edu.

Contact Marion Rechsteiner at mrechs@aol.com.

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DPA Welcomes New Members

DPA extends a warm welcome to each of our new members. Any new members whose contact information has not been included in the online DPA Membership Directory, please click here and ask for directions: DelawarePress@aol.com.

Jan Churchill – janflyo2@aol.com
Author

Irene Fick – irenefick@verizon.net
Principal, PBL Communications LLC

Catherine Kernen – catherine.kernen@comcast.net
President, Kernen Communications LLC

Anne L. McIntosh – AnneMcIntosh@comcast.net
Public Relations Consultant

Susan Oates – susan@oatescommunications.com
Principal, Oates Communications, LLC

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DPA Media Mavens & Mavericks

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 for publication in the next issue.

DPA members featured in this issue:

Shaun Bailey
Howard M. Berlin
Mary Leah Christmas
Jan Churchill *
Irene Fick *
Mindy C. Frankfurt
Bridget Gillespie-Paverd
Lynn Glaze
W. Todd Harra / Jesse Chadderdon
Jean Hull Herman
Jean Lamensdorf / Laura Messinger / Lillian Shah / Nancy Coale Zippe
Lynn Troy Maniscalco
Anne L. McIntosh *
Annie Nefosky
Roy Podorson
Ann Rydgren
Jerry “Crabmeat” Thompson

• Shaun Bailey, Marketing and Communications Specialist for the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, reports that sometime this spring the Partnership will be unveiling EcoDelaware.com, a new Web site promoting ecotourism events and destinations throughout the State of Delaware.

The mission of EcoDelaware.com will be to connect residents and travelers with the many places of ecological interest in the First State. In this way, the Partnership hopes to increase awareness, appreciation and, ultimately, environmental stewardship not only for the Delaware Bay, but also for Sussex County’s Inland Bays — two estuaries of national significance.
Contact Shaun Bailey at SBailey@DelawareEstuary.org.

• With the close of 2007, Howard M. Berlin finished the year having visited 12 countries and having had 24 pages added to his three-year-old passport by the U.S. Consulate in Frankfurt, all while tracking down stories for a magazine column he writes on numismatics. Only three days after signing books at the DPA Holiday Luncheon, Howard was jetting off to Europe again. He returned from Munich the day before Christmas. Then it was off to London, Cardiff and Paris in January, on to Jerusalem in February, to Berlin in March and to Copenhagen and Stockholm in April. For more on Howard's interests and travels, visit Howard's Web site at www.drberlin.com.
Contact Howard Berlin at w3hb@yahoo.com.

• The Delaware Book Festival in November was the site of a surprise reunion for DPA NewsBreak editor Mary Leah Christmas. There, she crossed paths with featured national author Carolyn Coman, the instructor for a fiction-writing workshop Mary Leah took in 1990 at the Harvard University Extension School. Coman is the author of a number of award-winning books for children and young adults. Mary Leah had taken the workshop in order to challenge herself, a “non-fiction, just-the-facts person who cringes at the thought of having to write such things as dialogue.” She was gratified to eke out a B+ for the class and found it to be a good experience — but, she says, she is still happy to leave fiction writing to the professionals.
Contact Mary Leah Christmas at dpanewsletter@yahoo.com.

• New member Jan Churchill published her latest book, From Delaware to Everywhere, the history of New Castle Army Air Base and New Castle County Airport, in September 2007. She received a grant from the Delaware Heritage Commission for the book. A commercial pilot, Jan has flown military airplanes in air shows, recreating aviation history for the public, as well as flying for airlines and for flight instruction. She has been writing for magazines and newspapers for many years in addition to publishing several books on military history and on Labrador Retrievers. She is an AKC-licensed dog-show judge and was inducted into the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame in its inaugural year, 2000. Jan currently is serving a second term on City Council for the City of New Castle. See her Web page at www.janchurchill.com.
Contact Jan Churchill at janflyo2@aol.com.

• New member Irene Fick recently retired from AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals after 18 years, most recently as Director of Corporate Community Alliances, where she managed the company's charitable giving and corporate volunteerism in the greater Delaware area. Her career in journalism and communications spans more than 35 years and includes serving as business editor of a Florida daily, features editor of the Chicago Sun-Times suburban edition, director of research for the International Association of Business Communicators, director of public relations for Lankenau Hospital, copy editor for Delaware Today and freelance writer and editor for a variety of publications. She has worked in Chicago, San Francisco, Tampa, Florida, Philadelphia and Delaware. Irene has received a number of awards for her journalism and communications work, including a Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America and publication awards from the Hospital Association of Pennsylvania.

She is the co-author of Making Ethical Choices in Cancer Care, published by the Central Pennsylvania Oncology Group and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, and she has also contributed to Delaware: First Place, a pictorial book about Delaware.

Currently, she owns PBL Communications LLC, which specializes in communications consulting, writing and editing.
Contact Irene Fick at irenefick@verizon.net.

• Mindy C. Frankfurt has just completed a B.A. in English literature at the University of Delaware. She previously earned a B.A. in communication at UD and, subsequently, was the Delaware Correspondent for TravelAge East magazine. Currently, she substitute teaches at Wilmington Friends School.
Contact Mindy Frankfurt at mindycf@UDel.Edu

• PR Specialist Bridget Gillespie-Paverd, president of BGP Publicity with offices in Hockessin and Philadelphia, gave a mixed media presentation, “Becoming Your Own Buzz Tycoon,” in the Leadership Action segment of the 2008 Ivy Leadership Summit at the University of Pennsylvania, February 2. The Summit brought together government, business, academic and humanitarian leaders to interact with student leaders from the Ivy League schools to strengthen leadership skills and discuss prominent issues. Enoch K. Arthur-Asmah, Summit Chairman, said Bridget’s “inspiring work elevating the visibility of controversial issues such as tobacco control, discrimination, education and air quality make her an excellent candidate to influence student leaders who wish to learn how to better position and present themselves. With her unique global experience and her no-nonsense modus operandi, our delegates stand to benefit a great deal from her presentation.” Bridget will be making a similar presentation at the American Lung Association National Conference in Dallas, Texas, on March 1.
Contact Bridget Gillespie-Paverd at bridget@bgpublicity.com.

• Lynn Glaze will be one of more than ten authors at “Reading Wonderland,” an outdoor book festival at Pike Creek Christian School on April 19. She will be promoting her book, Seasons of the Trail, a middle grade historical novel based on her great-grandmother's journey to California in a covered wagon in 1860. For more information about this free event, see the Calendar of Events.
Contact Lynn Glaze at harrylynnglaze@comcast.net.

• In December, “Mr. January,” a.k.a. W. Todd Harra, was voted one of the “10 most intriguing people of 2007" by Spark Weekly magazine for his appearance in the “Men of Mortuaries" 2008 pinup calendar, recently unveiled in Las Vegas. As noted in the September 2007 NewsBreak, the calendars are being sold to raise funds to benefit the KAMM CARES Foundation, a charitable organization providing assistance such as child care costs and groceries for those being treated for breast cancer.

In “Dead sexy: Local mortician poses for charity,” Community Publications staff reporter Jesse Chadderdon wrote, “Harra, who was not paid for the shoot, said . . . he hoped [the calendar] would help change the public’s perception of today’s undertaker” and attract younger people to his career.

Todd's first novel, The Voiceless Song, was published in 2006. He has three new books at varying stages of development. According to Todd’s new Web site, he has one finished manuscript, Friends of the Family, that he is trying to get published, and he is writing another work of historical fiction, The 7th Member. He says, “I have also started work on a totally different type of project for me: a collaborative work of short stories. It's entitled Confessions of a Funeral Director.” That book is scheduled for publication in 2009.
Contact Todd Harra at todd@wtoddharra.com.
Contact Jesse Chadderdon at jesse.chadderdon@communitypub.com.

• She’s done it again! Jean Hull Herman has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize for poetry (Best of the Small Presses), her second nomination in as many years. Her prior nomination was for “Thetis' Daughter” from Jerry Springer as Bulfinch, or Mythology Modernized. The latest is for her poem “Ray Charles, Honey!” from Starving for the Marvelous, a poetry collection that won first place for creative verse in NFPW's 2003 Communications Contest. Can a Pushcart Prize be far behind? Stay tuned to www.jeanhullherman.com for further developments.
Contact Jean Hull Herman at jherman007@aol.com.

• Several DPA members will be among the featured presenters at the Delaware Women's Conference on Saturday, March 1. Conference participants can select from: Jean Lamensdorf, sharing her “Top Tips to Be One of Life's Winners”; Laura Messinger and Lillian Shah, speaking on “Caretaking Smarts”; and Nancy Coale Zippe, offering her insights on “Learning to Love Yourself.” For further conference details, see the Calendar of Events.
Contact Jean Lamensdorf at jlamensdorf@comcast.net.
Contact Laura Messinger at laura.messinger@verizon.net.
Contact Lillian Shah at lillianshah@mac.com.
Contact Nancy Coale Zippe at nancyzippe@verizon.net.

• Award-winning freelance photographer Lynn Troy Maniscalco says, “Don't miss the 75th Annual Wilmington International Exhibition of Photography (WIEP) at Arsht Hall, on the University of Delaware’s Wilmington campus. Projected shows will be presented several times during the afternoon on Sunday, February 24, and Sunday, March 2, with print viewing from noon to 5 p.m. Nine judges from across the U.S. and Germany selected one-third of the slides, prints and electronic entries from about 30 countries in six photojournalism and pictorial categories.” The winning entries will remain on display throughout the intervening week. Free admission and parking.

When the secretary of the Photographic Society of America, from Spokane, Wash., was here last week to judge the WIEP, she awarded Lynn a PSA Gold Editorial Medallion, signifying an accumulation of an astounding 1000 editorial points for articles published in the PSA Journal. Points range from two for a short item to 40 for a cover story.
Contact Lynn Troy Maniscalco at LTMphoto@juno.com.

• After more than 30 years in corporate communications, public affairs, public relations, marketing and business management at DuPont, new member Anne L. McIntosh is enjoying retirement by indulging in additional passions of hers. She currently is working in sales, marketing and custom invitations at Artisans Gifts & Furniture, an upscale boutique in North Wilmington and serves on the boards of and is PR Chair at the Salvation Army of Delaware and Fresh Start Scholarship Foundation (the charitable arm of Wilmington Women in Business). She is pleased to report that both had signature events in November and had record results with the best PR ever — according to others! She does some consulting, travels, is committed to getting back into another love of hers, photography, and remains happily involved with family.
Contact Anne McIntosh at annemcintosh@comcast.net.

• Annie Nefosky, 2008 DPA Communications Contest co-director and morning news co-anchor and reporter for 1450 WILM NewsRadio, has been studying TV, Video & Production Design at Wilmington University. It didn't take that institution long to discover her other professional talents. As of September, Annie not only is continuing as a student, but she also is working as an adjunct instructor, teaching classes in Radio Production and Audio at the university's New Castle Campus. “This was a great opportunity,” says Annie. “I can share my enthusiasm for radio and encourage the students as they consider the field of broadcasting.”
Contact Annie Nefosky at annienefosky@yahoo.com.

• Former New York ad man Roy Podorson is up for the Presidential Award at Bank of America for donating more than 200 hours of his time in 2007. As senior art director, Roy designs credit cards and checks, but when he’s not working, he is volunteering or writing.

Apart from DPA, Roy is a new member of the New Castle County Chamber of Commerce, and he represents the City of Wilmington on the Public Advisory Committee for transportation in New Castle County and in Cecil County, Md. “You can hardly ever get this kind of volunteer work in New York,” he observes. “I have brought on new signage on I-95 and have proposed to DelDOT a future monorail system for Delaware in which translucent trains would run through a translucent tube at over 250 miles an hour on a magnetic strip and be totally silent.”

“I have written more than 15 kids' stories,” Roy adds, “none of which have been published yet, and am currently working on an autobiography: The Artist in the Kitchen’s Son.” Roy's father was an art director in New York and owned a large farm in Duchess County, N.Y., where he became the chef and cooked for 20 people, three times a day. “People like Waverley Root — a terrific writer — stayed at my dad's place back in the 1940s.”
Contact Roy Podorson at Roy.Podorson@bankofamerica.com.

• Longtime conservationist and past president of Delaware Audubon, Ann Rydgren, recently saw a major project through to completion with the launch of her envisioned "Delaware Birding Trail: Map and Guide to Birding Sites in Delaware." Ann is on the Advisory Committee for Delaware City Ecotourism and has been working with Delaware Audubon's partner, the Delmarva Ornithological Society, and with State and Federal agencies, on the "Delaware Birding Trail" publication.

The idea is one Ann has had for years, but it was a matter of timing and funding. All of that recently came together, thanks to nationally recognized Delaware birder and naturalist Jeffrey A. Gordon, a field editor for Bird Watcher's Digest. Ann says, “I do believe that this project was accomplished because the stars in the heavens were properly aligned. Although others on the Task Force — Andy Urquhart, Sally O'Byrne, Karen Bennett and Bill Stewart — were key to accomplishing this map, Jeff was the talent that pulled it all together and made it a reality.” In December, a copy of the folding, map-sized guide was presented to Governor Ruth Ann Minner, and a formal unveiling was held at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge. Those attending DPA's annual Holiday Luncheon in December received complimentary copies of the publication. The project also recently was featured in The News Journal. For information about where the free "Delaware Birding Trail" guides are available, see www.delawarebirdingtrail.org.
Contact Ann Rydgren at annrydgren@verizon.net.

• Peripatetic folksinger and freelancer, Jerry “Crabmeat” Thompson, cooling his heels in the warm sands of southern Florida, recently dropped a line to NewsBreak: “Happy New Year! My new album, Birthday Trampoline, is available on CD Baby. And isound.com published an article I wrote about online marketing. Me writing mucho here—there are 13,000 small islands about a block from our place, fish galore, and most people are in bed by 8.” Life doesn't get much better than that!
Contact Crabmeat Thompson at crabmeat@crabmeat.net

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Report from the Blog Bureau

DPA's Blog Bureau is Open for Business

“Report from the Blog Bureau,” a new feature for NewsBreak, will highlight the media-related blogs of DPA members and provide a forum for the diversity of voices within our ranks. If you write a blog — or are aware of another DPA member's blog — on some aspect of the field of communications, let us know. We will continue adding members' blogs to the list, and some of them — with the author’s permission, of course — will be excerpted in this column in future issues of NewsBreak.

You will find the Blog Bureau links at the end of the featured blog as well as contact information to submit a DPA member's media-related link for the Blog Bureau.

Tara Lynn Johnson — Freelancing Blog

Friday, January 4, 2008

Turned off

I shook my head as the images flickered on the giant-screen TV in the dealership service waiting room. Pop Tart's millionth plea for help was saturating the “news” channels.

In my college mass media and communications class many moons ago, we talked about the gatekeepers — the editors, writers and other journalists who decide what's news and what isn't. As they aired the footage (five times in one hour) of the Pop Tart being loaded into an ambulance, I contemplated what other news —local, national or world — they were sacrificing to show this apparently tantalizing footage over and over. And over. Surely, four or five things must have happened around the world that deserved mention.

But that would mean news people, especially broadcasters, would have to relinquish the new role they've given themselves: voyeurs and prognosticators. Instead of telling the truth and broadcasting items of interest that people should know (even if they don't know they need to know), they wait for the latest celebrity implosion and spend hour upon hour trying to guess what's going to happen next (instead of just waiting to see what happens and, you know, REPORTING it).

Even the political coverage isn't “news.” It's fortune-telling and things that don't necessarily have huge meaning are molded and shaped — twisted sometimes — until it seems that they do. Why not just give the results and let the people watching come to their own conclusions?

Of course, I'm asking this of media who hosted debates with the candidates and asked most of the questions of the “hot” ones. Every person on that stage should have been given a chance to answer every question. By not allowing that to happen, the media helped to determine who the front-runners were simply by giving them more airtime. Uh, hello. The media isn't supposed to make, shape or create the news.

Oh, what does choosing the next leader of the free world matter anyway when Pop Tart — who couldn't scream any louder for help if she had a microphoned megaphone on an amplifier formerly used at a KISS concert — dangles over the edge again and again?

Tell you what. I'll be more than happy to watch the news channels once more when the headlines revolve around something like: “This Just In: News Decides to Stop Catering to Ratings and People's Lowest Inclinations” and “Real News of Importance, Relevance and Matter Hits the Airwaves.”

Read more of Tara Lynn Johnson’s blogs at www.taralynnjohnson.com/news.html. Contact Tara at tara@taralynnjohnson.com.

The Blog Bureau

Chris Carl: On The Tee - WDEL
Chris Carl: About the WDEL News
Mark Fowser: WILM Personality Page
Tara Lynn Johnson: Freelancing Blog
Allan Krakower: WILM Personality Page
Allan Loudell: Eclectic Hobbies - WDEL
Allan Loudell: WDEL Blog
Larry Mendte: The Back Room (Politics) - CBS3
Annie Nefosky: WILM Personality Page
Crabmeat Thompson: Never Eat More Than You Can Lift
Rob Tornoe: The world of an editorial cartoonist
John Watson: WILM Personality Page

Send your blog link recommendations to: news@delawarepressassociation.org.

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London Seduces Wilmington Publicist and Tortured Flemish Poet, Again

by Bridget Gillespie Paverd

I love working and playing in London. My recent trip in December reinforced that love. The city is as glorious as ever! What I lost in currency (the dollar is no longer any fun), I made up for in erudition. Two-hour lunch breaks, filled with Guinness, Cornish pasties and awfully clever banter, are standard for most creative professionals in London. So is working until midnight. It was like a communications boot camp with an accent.

This trip I had a few mundane tasks to achieve, but my real reason for going was to meet with Europe’s favorite art critic, poet and columnist célèbre, Bernard Dewulf. This Belgian treasure had just launched his fourth book in 2007, a magnificent collection of art opinions and insights, taking the reader into the soul of the artist: Naderingen (Dutch for “Getting Closer”), published by Atlas. I wanted to assess its translation potential and marketability for the U.S.

Dewulf inhales art and artists. Nothing is contrived. His words are relevant. Every one of them. You cannot imagine the thrill of devouring the Tate Modern with commentary and insight from Dewulf. Many of the artists were known to him personally.

People in Europe adore Bernard Dewulf. His daily front-page column in De Morgan has made him a household name. He is modest, disciplined, an ardent socialist and very passionate about his work. For over 20 years he has steadfastly refused to go on TV — a publicist’s nightmare — which has fed the Dewulf mystery, made him more otherworldly, kept the curiosity alive and his work more widely read.

Bernard Dewulf and I have been close friends since our first meeting — as exchange students in Chicago 30 years ago. At 17, he had just lost his mother. He spoke Dutch. I spoke a similar dialect, Afrikaans. We agreed on very little, but our connection was undeniable. We have stayed close all this time.

Dewulf may be a prolific social essayist and respected art critic, but it is his poetry that truly resonates with his audience. His work has been translated into eight languages, including Farsi, French, English, German and Spanish. My favorite work is his series on his mother, “Moeder.” It makes me weep every time I read it.

If I do my job, Bernard Dewulf will be glaring back at us from Barnes & Noble window displays by next Christmas.

Read “Moeder” and other works by Bernard Dewulf.

Contact Bridget Gillespie Paverd at bridget@bgpublicity.com.

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Calendar of Events

FEBRUARY

05  6th Annual Super Bowl Smackdown: Brand vs. Beauty. Philadelphia AMA (American Marketing Association), 5:30 p.m. Dave & Buster’s, 325 N. Columbus Blvd., Pier 19, Philadelphia. $35 members; $50 non-members; $20 students. This year’s Smackdown pits Brand vs. Beauty in an all-out debate! Watch selected commercials from Super Bowl XLII, and listen as a panel of local Philly marketing experts debate branding, creativity and overall audience impact. Expect the banter and wit many have come to expect from this no-holds-barred marketing event. For more info: www.amaphilly.org/blog/news-events/2008-super-bowl-smackdown/.

09  Linked In: How to use it to better your job search or career management. Career Transitions, 9:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m., Strayer University, King of Prussia, Pa. Free. Plan to attend this informative session presented by Oliver Picher. For more info: www.mycareertransitions.com/careertransitions/gatherings.html.

10  Deadline for Delaware Literary Connection/Wilmington University Literary Contest. All entries must be postmarked by February 10, 2008. Board members of the Delaware Literary Connection and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter. For contest guidelines, contact Barbara Graybeg at GrayBEG@comcast.net.

13  “Behind the Scenes with . . . U.S. Senator Joe Biden's (former) Press Secretary.” Speaker: Margaret Aitken. Kid Shelleen's, 1801 W. 14th Street (14th and Scott), Wilmington. Networking, Light Fare and Cash Bar: 6:30 p.m. Program: 7:30 p.m. Cost: $10 members; $15 non-members. For more info, contact Allan Loudell: 302-478-2700 or aloudell@wdel.com.

13  Celebrity Crisis Communication Seminar. Philadelphia Black Public Relations Society. $25 members; $45 non-members; $10 Students. Time and location TBA. Stay tuned to www.pbprs.org/newsandevents.html for more details.

14  Influencing Your Audience: How to Craft Messages that Motivate People to Say “Yes.” International Association of Business Communicators – Philadelphia. 7:30 a.m. – 8 a.m. registration/breakfast; 8 – 9:30 a.m. program speaker. Desmond Hotel, One Liberty Blvd., Malvern, Pa. $40 members; $50 non-members (includes breakfast buffet). This is a joint program with NIRI Philadelphia. The speaker will be Ken O’Quinn, Writing Coach. Registration information posted at www.iabcphiladelphia.com/calendar/index.asp.

24  75th Wilmington International Exhibition of Photography at Arsht Hall on the University of Delaware’s Wilmington campus, with print viewing from noon to 5 p.m. and the projected images shown several times during the afternoon. Nine judges from across the U.S. and Germany selected one-third of the slides, prints and electronic entries from about 30 countries in six photojournalism and pictorial categories. Free admission and parking. (See also March 2.)

25  Philadelphia Speakers Series: Salman Rushdie, World-renowned Author of The Satanic Verses, 8 p.m., The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia. Sponsored by Widener University and The Kimmel Center. For more info or to order tickets: www.philadelphiaspeakersseries.org/rushdie.htm.

26  “Women's History/Women's Lives” film series. 7 p.m., 004 Kirkbride Lecture Hall, University of Delaware, Newark. Been Rich All My Life. Free and open to the public. Discussion follows film. For more info: 302-831-8063 or www.udel.edu/OWA/.

27  Luminaries, Gods and Lunatics of the Direct Marketing World. Philadelphia Direct Marketing Association, 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Maggiano's Little Italy, 205 Mall Blvd., King of Prussia, Pa. $45 members; $60 non-members. This will be a panel discussion, with panelists to be announced at a later date. For more info or to register: www.the-pdma.org.

MARCH

01  Delaware Women’s Conference. 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Clayton Hall, University of Delaware, Newark. Registration fee: $35. Keynote speaker: Mariane Pearl, author of A Mighty Heart and wife of slain journalist Daniel Pearl. Participants can select from a number sessions, including those presented by DPA members Jean Lamensdorf, Laura Messinger, Lillian Shah and Nancy Coale Zippe. For further information and for online registration, see www.delawarewomen.org.

01  Second Annual New Castle Writers' Conference. 9 a.m. – 4 p.m., Wilmington University, 3282 North DuPont Hwy., Dover (note change of venue). Co-sponsored by Delaware Literary Connection and Wilmington University, there will be workshops, panel discussions, a master class in writing and a master class in poetry. Free, but space is limited. For more info or to reserve a seat, contact Barbara Graybeg at GrayBEG@comcast.net.

02  75th Wilmington International Exhibition of Photography at Arsht Hall on the University of Delaware’s Wilmington campus, with print viewing from noon to 5 p.m. and the projected images shown several times during the afternoon. Nine judges from across the US and Germany selected one-third of the slides, prints and electronic entries from about 30 countries in six photojournalism and pictorial categories. Free admission and parking.

04  “Women's History/Women's Lives” film series. 7 p.m., 004 Kirkbride Lecture Hall, University of Delaware, Newark. Maquilapolis (City of Factories). Free and open to the public. Discussion follows film. For more info, call 302-831-8063 or visit www.udel.edu/OWA/.

06  ADDY Celebration 2008. Philadelphia Advertising Club, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m., Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia. Details TBA. For more info: www.phillyadclub.com.

08  Second Saturday Poets – Poetry reading by Cindy Savett, Philadelphia poet, author of Child in the Road. 5 p.m., Genelle's, 8th & Market streets, Wilmington. For more info: contact Joe Allen jopollen@hotmail.com or see the group’s Web site at www.2ndsaturdaypoets.com/sched2008.htm.

11  “Women's History/Women's Lives” film series. 7 p.m., 004 Kirkbride Lecture Hall, University of Delaware, Newark. Transparent. Free and open to the public. Discussion follows film. For more info: 302-831-8063 or www.udel.edu/OWA/.

12  Hall of Fame of Delaware Women Award Ceremony and Reception. 5:30 p.m., Delaware Visitor Center & Galleries, 406 Federal Street, Dover. Tickets: $40. For a ticket or for more info: Call the Delaware Commission for Women at 302-577-5287.

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

14–16  Writers at the Beach/Seaglass 2008. Atlantic Sands Hotel, Rehoboth Beach. Sponsored by the Rehoboth Beach Writers' Guild. For more info: www.writersatthebeach.com/index.html.

16–22  Sunshine Week. You have the right and the obligation to fight for freedom of information. Protect the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). For info and ideas: www.sunshineweek.org.

17  Summer 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 info: www.philadelphiastories.org.

18  “Women's History/Women's Lives” film series. 7 p.m., 004 Kirkbride Lecture Hall, University of Delaware. I Had an Abortion. Free and open to the public. Discussion follows film. For more info: 302-831-8063 or www.udel.edu/OWA/.

24  Philadelphia Speakers Series: Frank McCourt, Pulitzer Prize-winning Author of Angela's Ashes, 'Tis, and Teacher Man. 8 p.m., The Kimmel Center, Philadelphia. Sponsored by Widener University and The Kimmel Center. For more info or to order tickets: www.philadelphiaspeakersseries.org/mccourt.htm.

25  “Women's History/Women's Lives” film series. 7 p.m., 004 Kirkbride Lecture Hall, University of Delaware. Girl Trouble. Free and open to the public. Discussion follows film. For more info: 302-831-8063 or www.udel.edu/OWA/.

APRIL

12  Second Saturday Poets – Poetry reading by Wendy Ingersoll, author of River, Farm. 5 p.m., Genelle's, 8th & Market streets, Wilmington. For more info: contact Joe Allen jopollen@hotmail.com or see the group’s Web site at www.2ndsaturdaypoets.com/sched2008.htm.

18–19  Third Annual Delaware Christian Writers Conference. Word of Life Christian Center, Newark. Regular price for the two day event is $229. Sign up before Feb. 5 to save $50. Print out the registration form, write “special e-mail offer” and pay only $179 until Feb. 5 (does not include lodging). Conference Director John Riddle says, “Once again, we are holding our Writers Contest with over $1,000 in cash prizes being awarded on Friday evening after dinner. Also, we have a Young Writers Program that will take place on Sat., April 19. Please see our Web site for more info.” This year, Steven James, acclaimed author and one of the nation's most innovative storytellers, will be the keynote speaker.

19  Reading Wonderland, featuring Amelia Bedelia, for children of all ages. Pike Creek Christian School, 199 Polly Drummond Hill Road, Newark, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. In addition to face painting, games and costumes at the outdoor festival, there will be a number of children's book authors who will be reading from and signing copies of their books as well as answering questions. DPA member Lynn Glaze will be promoting her book, Seasons of the Trail, a middle grade historical novel based on her great-grandmother's journey to California in a covered wagon in 1860. Free and open to the public. For more info: www.pikecreekchristianschool.org.

29  DPA Communications Contest Awards Banquet & Annual Meeting. 5:30 p.m. social gathering; 6:30 p.m. dinner, awards presentations and annual meeting. University & Whist Club, 805 N. Broom Street, Wilmington. For more info: call 302-655-2175 or e-mail delawarepress@aol.com.

MAY

09-10  National Freedom of Information Coalition FOI Summit, hosted by the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition and NFOIC. Loews Philadelphia Hotel, 1200 Market St., Philadelphia, Pa. Two full days of information sharing—and even some fun—are being planned. Check back often at www.nfoic.org for updates

SEPTEMBER

09–13  NFPW/MNI Communications Conference. Idaho Falls, Idaho, doorway to Yellowstone Park and Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Pre-tour registration deadline is June 15. A formal registration form will soon be available on Media Network Idaho's Web page www.medianetworkidaho.com. Updates also will be posted at www.nfpw.org/conference.htm.

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
Mary E. Loewenstein-Anderson, Photo Editor

Submit editorial content to:
news@delawarepressassociation.org

Copy deadline for next newsletter: March 1, 2008

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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