Salute to a good place to eat

It' not often that I blog about favorite places to eat, but right up there at the top of my list is Chick-Fil-A.

It's always good, hot, affordable and delicious.

And you get service with a smile.

Always.

McDonald's or Wendy's don't come close to competing with Chick-Fil-A.

So here's to the good, hard-working, service-minded, friendly "there to please you" people and scrumptious food that you'll find at your neighborhood Chick-Fil-A.

Eat more chicken.

Truly.

Story on Katie Couric for Pub Aux

(Got the following piece published in the January 2009 edition of Publishers' Auxiliary)

By Larry Timbs
Special to Publishers’ Auxiliary

If you’re working in the community newspaper business, you’ve no doubt confronted the word “sacrifice” a lot lately.

But be thankful that you yourself haven’t yet become the “sacrifice” (or perhaps more accurately, the “sacrificial lamb”) at your newspaper in a gloomy economy that’s teetering between recession and depression.

We all know, for example, that in this slumping funk of an economy these are tough, worrisome times for America’s newspapers. Too many advertisers, fearful about making ends meet, have pulled their ads from the hometown paper. Compounding the newspaper ad revenue decline: Web sites like Craigslist.com and walmart.com will run classified ads at no charge.

The result: Big newspaper companies like Gannett and McClatchy keep on keeping on, but not without laying off, in various waves throughout 2008, up to 20 percent of their workforce.

(America’s smaller newspapers (hometown weeklies or dailies under 50K circulation) are faring better, with many reporting slight circulation gains or modest retail ad growth. But putting out a profitable paper in such a stagnant, gloomy economy is challenging even the best publishers.)

You hope, in the midst of all this economic downturn, that you’re a valued employee who has at least a semblance of job security as a reporter, editor, copyeditor, page designer or whatever at your hometown paper.

But what if your employer asked you to sacrifice—as in take a pay cut to continue doing what you do every day?

What if it were put to you something along the lines of: “Well, if everyone in the newsroom agrees to keep working for say 10 percent less than they’re now getting paid, everyone can keep his or her job. That way, no one will get laid off or be terminated.”

What would you do, Mr. or Mrs. Reporter, Page Designer, Photographer, Copyeditor or Editor?

That question came to mind when the university where I work recently announced that in spring 2009 semester, everyone—from the president on down to professors to groundskeepers and janitors--will be furloughed for nine days. That means, for journalism faculty, we all essentially do the same amount of work next semester—teach the same number of classes, with the same or even more students, read and evaluate the usual number of papers, write and present the same number of lectures and workshops, generate the same appropriate amount of scholarship or research as in semesters past.

We’re all being “furloughed” because of the weak South Carolina economy, tied to projected declining state revenue —which helps fund universities like Winthrop.

Some prognosticators put the unemployment rate in South Carolina at 14 percent by summer 2009.

Everyone at Winthrop is being furloughed for those nine days so that everyone can keep his or her job.

So, like many of you in the newspaper business already know or will know, I’m familiar with sacrifice.

But what about someone like Katie Couric? What does she know—really and truly—about giving up for the greater good?

If, like me, you recently watched the CBS Evening News, you witnessed Couric, the first woman anchor in network news history, hammering Ron Gettelfinger in a one-on-one interview about the fate of the U.S. auto industry.

Gettelfinger, once a chassis line repairman at a Ford plant in Louisville and now the president of the United Auto Workers Union (which has a million-plus members), got grilled (and then some) by Couric.

Couric intimated, from the tone of her questioning, that because the UAW hadn’t made sufficient concessions, the U.S. Senate rejected a $14 billion bailout package for the Big Three (GM, Ford and Chrysler) auto makers.

Here’s an excerpt from that interview:

Couric (with a scowl): The perception, Mr. Gettelfinger, is that this bailout bill fell apart because your union would rather see the auto companies go under than take a pay cut. True or false?

Gettelfinger: That’s totally false, Katie.

Couric (unrelenting): UAW members average 42 paid days off a year, including five weeks of vacation and 17 holidays. Do you think, Mr. Gettelfinger, that this may seem excessive in light of current economic conditions and the condition of the U.S. auto industry right now?

Gettelfinger responded, saying he’d like to compare that amount of time off to what the Congress of the United States gets, but he respectfully declined to go there. He went on to say that UAW members had already made tremendous sacrifices, and they would be willing to sacrifice more—if only given the opportunity in continued talks with the federal government.

He also cautioned Couric to keep in mind that if the U.S. auto industry goes bankrupt, it will quickly dissolve, meaning the Big Three will no longer exist. That would lead to the dark scenario of hundreds of thousands of additional Americans losing their jobs.

Okay, we’ve heard all this again and again in the news—point being that if the U.S. auto industry collapses, we’ll go from deepening recession to worsening depression, the likes of which we haven’t seen since the era of FDR.

What we haven’t been attuned to is the idea of an obscenely well paid media celebrity (Couric) harping about “sacrifice” to a former auto factory repair man.

The irony of the network anchor bearing down on Gettelfinger about economic sacrifice is that Couric gets paid $15 million a year. Her predecessors at CBS, Dan Rather and Walter Cronkite (both with far more journalism experience) earned much less.

If Couric does 260 broadcasts a year, according to one blogger, that works out to $50,000 per half hour news show.

(Actually, subtracting the commercials, Couric is only on the air for about 20 minutes each weekday night, and I’ve noticed on numerous weekday nights she’s got a substitute anchor.)

All this hasn’t gone unnoticed in the blogosphere:

“No question (K)ronkite is getting a stomach ache, and (Edward R.) Morrow is turning,” griped one Couric critic.

Another wrote (and it’s posted to CBS News’ credit, on CBSnews.com): “I did not appreciate Katie Couric’s look of disgust while interviewing Mr. Gettelfinger, or the accusations that the UAW is the reason the Auto Makers are in trouble . . . Katie, if the auto workers are so overpaid, would you work for an equivalent wage?”

I doubt Katie Couric, who took over the CBS News anchor chair in September 2006, is sacrificing as much as those UAW members.

And I seriously doubt that she’s even begun to make the kinds of sacrifices undertaken or seriously being contemplated today by many in the community newspaper business.

Ditto for the kinds of belt tightening and sacrifices now afflicting journalism education.

Let’s see—wonder if I can get a sub professor for me during those nine furlough days next semester?

Larry Timbs is an associate professor in the Department of Mass Communication at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C. He’s also faculty adviser to the student weekly newspaper at Winthrop.

Pee in the news

Well what will NASA think of next?

Just read an interesting piece in the Charlotte Observer about the space shuttle Endeavor and its seven astronauts. Endeavor and its crew returned safely to Edwards Air Force Base in California after a 16-day trip working on the international space station.

Ok, yawn, you say.

But get this. One of the things the astronauts did up there (or maybe it's over there) was haul and install equipment that will convert astronauts' urine to water.

You got it. We're talking about recycling human pee into drinkable, clean water.

The idea is that if we go back to the moon or to Mars or beyond, it'll be too expensive to lug water. Best to recycle human pee and make it life-sustaining.

It's going to happen, folks.

Pee into drinkable water.

Whaddya think about that?

What's today's college student like?

Well, she ain't like your grandma's college student.

She sends maybe more than a thousand text messages a month.

She doesn't like to read books, but reads thousands of Web pages every year.

Quite a challenge if you're a college professor (from the olden days) and you're trying to reach digital babies.

Click on the hotlink video above and enjoy. I discovered this video, courtesy of Professor Keith Benson at Winthrop University.

Turn your sound up.

Shift happens

Did you know that "Shift happens"?

Yes, that's what I meant to say: "Shift happens."

Man, does it ever.

Our big old blue planet, and everyone on it, is really changing.

Example: 100 percent of the college graduates in India can speak English.

Another example: By the time a member of the current generation of college students in America reaches her 38th birthday, she will have held 10-14 different jobs.

Click on the hotlink headline above to watch this intriguing, powerful video.

(And turn your sound up.)

Hats off to the Golden Corral

Ate a delicious FREE dinner last night at the Golden Corral restaurant in Rock Hill. The good folks there (at 1031 Anderson Road) must have fed more than a thousand hungry veterans--at no charge.

Great that the Golden Corral recognizes that but for veterans there would be no Rock Hill, no restaurants, no USA.

Thanks, Golden Corral.

Loved the steak, chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, salad, iced tea and dessert (carrot cake). More than I should have eaten but couldn't resist.

Sign me,

Larry Timbs
Vietnam era USAF veteran

Beautiful and mind-bending

Just found this video from Guy Reel, a colleague of mine in the mass comm. dept. at Winthrop.

Who's the fairest of them all?

Click on the hotlink headline above to watch the video.

Enjoy but pay attention. It's a fast track.

Remember Paul Lindemann and that DUI charge?

Here's a story I got published in the Nov. edition of Publishers' Auxiliary--a trade publication serving members of the National Newspaper Association. I wrote the story several weeks ago.

By Larry Timbs

Special to Publishers’ Auxiliary



If you’re a public official in York County, S.C., and police subject you to a sobriety test, you risk having your hometown newspaper post the embarrassing police video of the test on the paper’s Web site. Plus, readers will read extensively in the newspaper about the police video and where they can find the link.


That’s a lesson learned by York County Councilman Paul Lindemann—subjected several weeks ago in Columbia, S.C., to a sobriety test immediately preceding his arrest and handcuffing by a patrol officer.


The officer’s dashboard camera video was obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by the 35,000-circulation Herald in Rock Hill, S.C. 
And The Herald, a McClatchy-owned daily newspaper serving York, Lancaster and Chester counties in South Carolina, has served notice of where to access the video on the Web in front page stories written by reporter Matt Garfield.


Garfield has reported—and the police video corroborates this—that Lindemann didn’t make a favorable impression when he took the sobriety test. The public official is shown at night in mid-July on camera, with the police officer who directed him to pull his car off the road.

Lindemann slurs his words, struggles to say the alphabet, and has a tough time counting backwards from 32.


Up for re-election in November, Lindemann is fighting the DUI charge and requesting a jury trial—which may not occur till after the election.


Meanwhile, the incriminating video, as of this writing (in late September), could be found on The Herald’s Web site at http://www.heraldonline.com or at http://www.heraldonline.com/includes/vmix/player.php?ID=2198486&GENRES=00001643


Is the video news? Or does it, as the SPJ Code of Ethics advises newspapers NOT do, pander to the “public’s lurid curiosity”?


It’s definitely news, according to Herald editor Paul Osmundson, and that made it an easy call for the newspaper to post the video on its Web site.


“I see this as kind of a norm these days as to what newspapers are doing,” Osmundson said. “He’s a public official county councilman who’s asking for voters to re-elect him…I see it (putting the video online) as a no brainer.”


But Herald readers need not think that their hometown newspaper would necessarily post a police sobriety test video of them online. 
Whether to post or not post, Osmundson said, would be determined by the newsworthiness of the video.


“If there’s an incident, an arrest, an event that we think is newsworthy and there’s video of the event available to us, we’d certainly consider putting it online,” he said. “Would we automatically do it with each one? No. We’re not automatically going to go out and get the video and put it online. . . All DUI arrests are not newsworthy. This one was because of the person involved.”


A contrite Lindemann (whose name registered 677,000 hits on Google in late September) seems determined to stay the course in his bid for re-election.


Interviewed by Herald reporter Garfield for a Sept. 20 story, the 29-year-old Lindemann, a real estate investor, predicted he’d come out okay on the DUI charge and that he would be re-elected to office in November. “You’re the only person that ever asks me about it (the charge),” Lindemann is quoted as saying in Garfield’s story.


In a letter, published in The Herald on Sept. 23, Lindemann pledges to the public that he has “learned from my mistakes and will strive to represent you and continue to make this district even stronger.” He also writes in that letter that his bond with his wife and family have been strengthened; that he deeply appreciates all the calls, letters, emails and prayers of support; and that he’s sorry for letting anyone down.

Lindemann wrote in a Sept. 24 email, responding to a request for a comment for this story: “The press is relentless and I am boggled by the press coverage…I am really working to make a difference in York County but that never gets reported!”


What has gotten reported, on The Herald’s “Local Talk” forum Web site, are sentiments of readers, who, almost to a person, vent their anger against Lindemann.


“Paul Lindemann is in denial and needs to get help,” one reader posted. “It is not something that is easy to face, nor “(ex)cept, nor admit. . . (T)he next time he is out on the road driving drunk again…God forbid he hits one of us, or even worse one of our children…”


Wrote another person: “(M)y daughter was killed in York county by two underage drunk drivers & the three ADULTS that provided the alcohol. . . Well Paul Lindemann, I’m going to help expose your obvious alcohol problem. (T)his is no longer going to be only known to people in SC. I have about 18,000 readers nationwide that are about to get to know all about you & how you put everyone at risk as you drink & drive.”


“Can I please see a show of hands,” asked another reader who posted to The Herald’s Web site, “on how many of us just fell off the turnip truck? Cause it sure is the only way I’d be able to buy into this load of manure that’s currently being flung on us from Lindemann and his attorney…One must lead their life by example, and in this particular case if the example continues to be bad then one needs to have the courage to admit it, and seek the help that is needed. If this can not be done then it will be left up to the voting public to rectify the situation.”



News Professionals Support Herald’s Posting Of Video

Editors, reporters and others working on community newspapers back The Herald’s stance on the Lindemann story and video.


Dudley Brown, reporter for the 55,000-circulation Herald-Journal in Spartanburg, S.C., reasons that Lindemann’s public official status makes him fair game for the Herald’s posting of the police video. “(H)is arrest is newsworthy and items that help tell the story, such as the video, should be used,” Brown wrote in a blog post. “We, however, shouldn’t post such videos every time someone in our community is pulled over. But, a public official should be aware that any arrests will be reported and broadcast nowadays via television or the Internet.”


Max Heath, longtime (and now retired) vice president of Landmark Community Newspapers, Inc., based in Shelbyville, Ky., is the adult child of an alcoholic small town newspaperman.


About the Lindemann video, Heath wrote in an email: “I know the pain that can be caused by public sharing of something like this. However, as a former community group newspaper executive editor, I understand the argument for providing this type of information about a public official. It troubles me personally, though I see both sides.


“It’s too bad that YouTube was ever developed, in my view,” added Heath, now working as a postal consultant. “It lowers the public discourse.”


Likewise, Benjy Hamm, editorial director of Landmark Community Newspapers, Inc., notes that companies such as YouTube are not known for protecting privacy. That said, Hamm doesn’t have a problem with how The Herald treated the police video “because the incident involves a key public official. 


“Is the arrest newsworthy in that community? Of course,” Hamm said. “Does the video embarrass the public official? Probably. “But I’m not one to suggest the Internet or the newspaper is to blame for his embarrassment. Viewers can make their own judgments about what they see, and the court can do what’s necessary to ensure a fair trial.”


Lastly, a blogger with the handle “tiny cornbread”—self identified as a newspaper editor--wrote: “…I have no objection to posting this video. It’s uncomfortable and I wouldn’t want to be that councilman. Yet, this is a public official who is suspected of criminal activity, and activity that is potentially harmful to others. If the officer had let him go and he had driven off and run over someone, people would have howled outrage at the police, and justifiably so.


“This doesn’t equate to a guilty verdict by any means. It doesn’t help his (Lindemann’s) case but I think most educated people understand the criminal justice system well enough to recognize that there are nuances in play and that that person on tape could be them or a loved one. The privacy argument was erased when this possibly-intoxicated guy headed out on a public street where his car could have encountered yours or mine.”


Lindemann says he will keep keeping on...

York County, S.C., Councilman Paul Lindemann may not have been perceived as performing well on an alcohol sobriety test--captured on a police video and now being shown to a worldwide audience, thanks to his hometown newspaper.

But that doesn’t mean the 29-year-old Republican, elected to public office two years ago, plans to resign from office.

He has been charged, not convicted, he says, and he will continue his campaign for re-election in November. The York County native faces Democrat Marion Davenport and Green Party member Bryan Smith; both want to unseat him on the council.

“We’ve been focusing on the good things (being done by the York County Council,” said Lindemann in a phone interview on Oct. 1. “I’m showing up. I’m out campaigning her. I’m out-raising her…

“Things have been going exceedingly well,” Lindemann added. “I’m kind of like a duck. Things just roll off my back…”

He says The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, for whatever reason, chooses not to report the good work done by him and his fellow council members. Those positives include economic development for York County, meaning industry and jobs continue to flow at a good rate into one of South Carolina’s fastest growing counties, Lindemann said.

“The things that I do are overlooked,” Lindemann said. “It’s funny how they (the media, including The Herald), will murder me over a charge, but they won’t talk about any of the things we (the council) did for district one.

“The small things that we’ve done continuously have been overlooked.”

Lindemann says he wants it made clear, however, that he isn’t trying to justify his personal actions. “Right or wrong, my personal life is a lot different from how I conduct myself on the county council,” he said.

So how’s he dealing with The Herald’s coverage (including the paper’s posting of the police video link on its Web site)?

“It’s been interesting,” Lindemann said. “I’ve got a lot of people around the state emailing me asking me who at The Herald has it out for me. And they’ll say: ‘Gee, when do you think they’ll leave you alone?’”



Larry Timbs teaches journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., where he’s also faculty adviser to the weekly student newspaper, The Johnsonian.

Huge celebration for Obama

When CNN announced last night that Barack Obama had been elected 44th president of the United States, students at Thomson Cafeteria at Winthrop University (where I work), went wild.

Haven't seen that much joy in eons.

Click on the hotlink headline above to watch the YouTube video of the Winthrop happiness.

All the bull is now over

Just to commemorate the end of this very long (seemingly interminable) political season, note the 2,000 pounds of bull that accompanies this blog post.

I caught this guy resting near my father-in-law's barn in east Tennessee.

Question: Where does a bull do his thing?

Answer: Anywhere he wants to!

Seriously this bull gave me the evil eye. Didn't want to get too close.

He's a prize animal.

Ferocious.

Tenacious.

At ease with himself and the living things around him but nonetheless keeping all his senses open, just in case...

Just like a lot of those candidates in the 2008 election year.

What a year it was!

This bull represents a lot about what I feel.

Event Planning-from Beth

Reunion with Air Force buddies

It seems so long ago (and it was.)

Left the Philippines in 1969.

Gosh--39 years ago!

Last weekend, I reconnected with guys I served with in the U.S. Air Force in the Philippines: Mike Stegeman, Les Forester, Allen Canedy, Malcolm Harmless, Wylie E. Hunter, Tom Flynn, Tony D. Hill, Larry D. Durham Sr., Willie Wright, Clarence Graham, Jerry Latham, Dan Hannon, Bruce Tewell, Freddy Brace (and Mark Staley--with us in spirit).

We're older and slower.

Most of us are fatter.

Some of us, sad to say, are no longer around.

But the 15 who did make the trek to the reunion in Myrtle Beach, S.C., celebrated spending our years together in the Air Force (Vietnam era) at Clark Air Base or Wallace Air Station (both in the Philippines, but no longer there today, because the U.S. military pulled out of that country in the early 1990s, thanks to a volcanic eruption by Mount Pinatubo.

(Click on the hotlink in the headline for this blog post to see video of the explosive force of Mount Pinatubo.)

We hugged. Broke bread together. Swapped lies. Some of us got choked up with emotion. We reminisced about San Miguel beer, having fun, defending our country, and the beautiful (and I do mean BEAUTIFUL AND FRIENDLY) Filipinos.

Today, we are black and white, thin and fat, disabled and working, Yankees and Rebels and everything else. You name it. We're all over the board. But we basically love each other and cherish our U.S. Air Force memories from the late 1960s.

Some of us wondered if we'd make it or still be around for our next reunion--tentatively set for 2010 in Orlando, Fla.

I'll be there, God willing.

Malienation

"Malienation" (no, not "alienation") is an interesting way to describe what some of us men do when we try to communicate with or relate to the opposite sex.

Encountered this term today on the CBS Early Morning Show.

Seems it derives from a new book titled "Brocabulary: The New Manifesto of Dude Talk," by Daniel Maurer.

Read Maurer's book and you'll encounter words like: banguage, brommunication ("the art of communicating in a brophisticated manner, with or about your brothers") and brologue (having a dialogue with your bros).

Dude Talk.

Malienation.

What next?

What are you hard wired for?

Been reading an interesting book lately by televangelist and mega-church pastor Joel Osteen. Name of the book is: "Become A Better You."

One idea that seems entirely common sensical but frequently overlooked (by many of us out here in the universe who are struggling to find what it is that we're supposed to do or be about) is this: every one of us is a unique child of God, and, that said, each one of us has certain skills, talents, predispositions or gifts.

We all have our strengths.

We are HARD WIRED, as Osteen puts it in his book, to do certain things. When that skill or talent is part of our hard wire circuitry (implanted in our DNA), those things come easily and naturally, and we like to do them.

If we're not doing what we're hard wired to do, then we struggle, fight, wring our hands, scratch our heads, contantly find ourselves trying to climb uphill.

What are you hard wired to do?

Shame some of us never quite come to grips with answering that question--which might be one of life's most important and challenging puzzles (at least for some of us.)

Hats off to Haney and Mark

Two of my colleagues in the mass comm. department at Winthrop have recently completed a documentary (which will air on SC ETV tonight) about small town radio stations in South Carolina.

Haney Howell and Mark Nortz did a lot of research before boiling it all down to about a 28-minute documentary.

See it.

Listen to it.

Learn about where radio has been and where it might be headed.

Good job, Haney and Mark.

J-Lo shines in "Angel Eyes"

I had forgotten how much I like Jennifer Lopez.

If she's not the most beautiful woman in the world she's right up there.

Sensuous, smart, breathtakingly (you complete the rest of the sentence.)

Saw a 2001 movie "Angel Eyes" this weekend, starring J-Lo.

Go rent it if you haven't had the pleasure of watching this one. In it, J-Lo plays a Chicago police officer who falls in love with "Catch," a strange man who befriends her and who's unlike anyone she's ever met.

J-Lo can have anyone.

Instead, she pursues "Catch."

See the movie

Brief comments on 9/25/08 Johnsonian

Here's my take on the latest edition of The Johnsonian, student newspaper at Winthrop University.

If you drive and drink you'll be on police video

They say there's no more privacy in today's world.

Might be right.

Take the case of public official Paul Lindemann. He's a member of the York County, S.C., Council (key part of local government.) That means he holds elected office in York County.

Now he's in trouble.

Police stopped him in Columbia a few months ago and charged him with drunk driving.

After giving him a sobriety test, police arrested and handcuffed Mr. Lindemann and put him in a patrol car.

Police say he was "highly intoxicated."

Innocent until proven guilty, folks, and Lindemann has not yet gotten his day in court.

He's requested a trial.

Meanwhile, The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald filed a freedom of information request and got the police video of Lindemann's arrest. (He didn't do such a good job on the sobriety test.)

The video is now on the Internet (obviously).

More info. than we want to know?

Gossip?

Or legitimate news?

You be the judge. Click on the link in the headline above and watch. This could be you on camera. Or me. Or a member of our family.

Whaddya think about personal privacy, people?

Comments about The Johnsonian

This blog entry is for the staff of our student newspaper, The Johnsonian. (I'm faculty adviser to the newspaper.)

It's a video of my take on the Sept. 18 edition of the newspaper.

Becoming a brand

All you bloggers or Webby people out there--have you ever thought of your blog as helping develop you as a brand?

This might be something you haven't given much thought to, but how can your blogging help promote your "uniqueness" as a person or even as a writer or journalist?

We have our favorite brands of beer, bread, clothing, shoes...

What sort of brand are you--based on what someone might intuit from your blog?

One way you can become a brand (as a blogger) is through your photograph. Is your photo on your blog site?

Read more about this brand stuff from a guy presumably in the know about it. The link above will take you there.

Remembering Sept. 11, 2001

My friend, Brian Shaw, and his wife Tina, have created a video that they've posted to YouTube, commemorating 9/11.

Really good piece of work. Turn your sound up and click on the link above.

Great to be alive self video. Hope this works.

Shot a brief video of myself. New toy. Can't resist playing with it.

Story about the United Way of Charlotte

Here's material I wrote and which got published in the Sept. 2008 edition of Publishers' Auxiliary, a journalism trade publication that serves the National Newspaper Association.

It's about the United Way of Charlotte brouhaha.


By Larry Timbs

Special to Publishers’ Auxiliary

These are tough times for America’s newspapers, what with all the downsizing or so-called "right sizing" of newsrooms, declining newspaper revenues and profits, outsourcing of journalism and advertising and the countless predictions of gloom and doom awaiting just over the print journalism horizon.

And if you swallow all the depressing observations about newspapers, you’d think that readers are abandoning them like rats scurrying from a sinking ship.

But not so fast, all you journalism pessimists.

Consider, for example, what happened in late June at The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer.

For when The Observer ran a story about the 2007 annual salary of the president of Charlotte United Way, readers let the newspaper know that they were: one, yes, definitely out there; and two, thirsting for more information about a nonprofit organization that paid its president in Charlotte a whopping $1.2 million last year.

"The volume (of reader response) surprised me," said Observer reporter Kerry Hall, author of the June 25 story that fleshed out and provided context for the blockbuster United Way salary story first reported by the Observer’s news partner, WCNC-TV.

Hall’s piece described in detail how the top United Way executive in Charlotte had leveraged a compensation package that one head of a charity watchdog organization called "outrageous."

Her story drew on information from the Charlotte United Way’s tax filing--a public record–and from an interview with the chair of the board of directors of the United Way in Charlotte, who defended the local president’s salary as being commensurate with her outstanding work. Hall’s story also included a review of financial records of executives of United Ways in St. Louis and Atlanta (whose salaries were considerably lower than their counterpart in Charlotte) and an interview with a nonprofit charities consultant who wondered why the Charlotte president’s retirement benefits, accounting for a big part of her annual compensation in 2007, wasn’t spread out over more than one year.

Angry readers wrote on Charlotte.com, in response to the coverage, that they were shocked, miffed, hurt and tricked by an organization that for many years had extracted money from them.

"Does Gloria King (president of the Charlotte United Way) donate to the United Way?" asked one of them.

Wrote another: "...Screw this B/S organization; sure they’ve done some good for the community, but this is the last straw–paying this broad that kind of money is obscene."

"I will never, never again give my money to the United Way," another promised.

Others expressed similar outrage:

--"Let her (the Charlotte United Way president) contribute to her own damn retirement account like the rest of us."

–"No Way for United Way! I will donate my hard-earned money directly to a real non-profit charity organization that uses common sense and truly appreciates my monetary donation."

–"The well-oiled machine of corporate pressure to focus on the United Way will definitely be challenged now."

–"I’ve been put under the squeeze to "tithe" a portion of my meager paycheck to the UW at work. Good think I demurred; I’d hate to think I was funding someone’s $822K retirement account when I have almost nothing in my own!"

–"After reading this, anyone who gives a penny to the United Way is a fool. I am changing my contribution to ZERO today!"

For its part, the Observer on its June 27 opinion page declared that the Charlotte United Way’s $1.2 million executive compensation package "raised as many eyebrows in the Piedmont as a go-go dancer at a church picnic."

Reporter Hall, 37, said that she personally received about 100 emails and phone calls. It left her feeling good about what she does at the Observer, where she works on the business desk–focusing on the economy and workplace safety.

Readers hungered for more information about nonprofit organizations, Hall said.

"They wanted context and they wanted to know what other (nonprofits) were doing," she said.

Readers also told Hall, who noted the Charlotte United Way was difficult to deal with when she sought information, that they were aware of the current struggles of the newspaper industry. That said, readers implored her to continue with her coverage of nonprofits.

"That was reassuring," said Hall, with the Observer for the past five years. "It made me feel a little better about the future."

Spinoff United Way salary story at sister newspaper in Rock Hill, S.C.

One byproduct of Hall’s United Way coverage was a story by reporter Matt Garfield of the nearby (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald–a sister McClatchy newspaper of the Charlotte Observer.

Garfield’s June 29 Herald story noted that while the Charlotte United Way president got paid $1.2 million last year, the president of the United Way of York County, S.C. (circulation area for The Herald) earned only $65,625, plus $10,481 in retirement benefits in 2007, according to an audit. Garfield’s piece also noted that the six full-time employees and three part-time workers at the York County United Way were paid a total of $203,110, according to the audit.

His story in The Herald also noted that leaders of the United Way of York County feared a backlash in fund-raising from the intense public outrage over the widely seen as excessive United Way executive salary in Charlotte, which borders York County.

As did the Observer’s Hall, Garfield relied on documents and interviews to flesh out the story about a local nonprofit. But in his case, the reporting seemed to go easier, probably because the York County chapter wanted it made immediately clear that it was not affiliated with its Charlotte counterpart. No way did the York County chapter want its supporters or potential supporters to think its executive was overpaid.

"As far as the United Way salaries (in York County), it was very easy to get them," Garfield wrote in an email. "The United Way folks provided me with the records, because they w anted to show that they are not like the Charlotte office. They also wanted to show the salary ranges are very reasonable. They gave me some kind of federal document they are required to complete every year.. . The agency tries to be transparent as a way of maintaining trust of donors."

Larry Timbs teaches journalism at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., where he’s also faculty adviser to the university’s student newspaper, The Johnsonian.



STORY #2

By Larry Timbs

Special to Publishers’ Auxiliary

So what if you’re working at a small community weekly or daily newspaper without the staffing of a Charlotte Observer (290,000-circulation daily) or even of The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald (34,000-circulation daily), and you want to offer your readers coverage of a local nonprofit organization.

Should you give it a try, even if you have to go it alone?

Absolutely, according to reporter Kerry Hall of The Charlotte Observer who wrote in late June about the astonishingly high annual salary ($1.2 million for 2007) of the president of the Charlotte United Way.

"A small paper can do this," Hall said. "People are always interested in what their local nonprofits are doing, and this is not an investigative project that required a lot of time."

What it did require, she said, was examining tax form 990, which nonprofits are required to file and which reporters in some instances can access online.

Hall also did some good old fashioned shoe leather reporting–as in interviewing people at the United Way and asking them for more detail on the information they’re required to provide on tax forms.

Jay Bender, general counsel to the S.C. Press Association and many of its member newspapers since 1980, thinks that especially in instances where a nonprofit agency’s employee salaries seem overly large or shocking, the public should be kept informed.

"I do believe community papers should cover local nonprofit organizations, and I think members of the public would have an interest in the coverage," said Bender, Reid H. Montgomery FOI chair at the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communications. "Interest will be increased in those cases where it might appear that a disproportionate share of the collections goes to pay the salary of the chief.

"On the other side of the coin," Bender wrote via e-mail, "giving recognition to those nonprofits that do a good job of getting money back to the community will be helpful to citizens wishing to donate money."

Bender said that a good source of information about tax-exempt nonprofit organizations is IRS form 990, which a nonprofit is required to provide a reporter or anyone else upon request.

Doug Pardue, special assignments editor for the Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., said that even though nonprofits are required to make their IRS form 990 public–available for examination at their main offices–that often is not the reality, because some don’t know the law.

A reporter encountering trouble getting IRS form 990 from a nonprofit can get it from an online database called Guidestar (www.guidestar.org) which describes itself on its Web site as "the leading source of nonprofit information."

Some basic nonprofit financial information is readily available from Guidestar; more detailed or explicit information, such as the salaries of key players at the nonprofit, can be had for a fee.

"990s give the names of officers, salaries of key figures, income streams and expenses," Pardue noted in an email. "Salaries are a good thing to check out because sometimes non-profits give an awful lot to themselves. Some also give a lot of business to for-profit companies owned by family members or friends. You can also check with the Secretary of State in SC who maintains a list of non-profits who spend too much for administration and those that don’t."

John Robinson, editor of the News & Record in Greensboro, N.C., sees the salaries of executives or presidents of nonprofits as a "lightning rod for attention" for readers.

"When the salaries of chief executives are out of whack with what a "normal" person makes, that’s something people are interested in," said Robinson, editor of the News & Record since 1999.

He says that as a matter of routine the News & Record, about a 100,000-circulation daily, reports on the salaries of non-profit execs when they get hired and when they leave.

"We report their salaries because we can," Robinson wrote in an email. "That’s a bit flippant but by that I mean the salary is public. . . (P)eople deserve to know how the money at non-profits such as the United Way is spent. If I am going to give $100 to, say, the Red Cross, then I want to know how much of that is going to be spent helping people in need and how much is spent on administration.

"...Non-profits are big in this community," Robinson added. "Several of the foundations have been a key–probably the key–to helping determine the future of Greensboro. Various studies have shown that Greensboro has a higher than normal percentage of people who are generous givers to charity and non-profits such as the United Way. So, yes, I think people are interested in knowing where their donations go."

Stan:

After I emailed you my stories (on community newspapers and nonprofit organizations), Jerry Bellune sent me some good info. If possible, please add the following graphs to the end of my piece that concludes with the quote from John Robinson of the News & Record.

Here would be the new ending to my story #2 . (The graph, below, quoting Robinson, was in the original message/story I sent to you. The part about Jerry Bellune is new.)

"...Non-profits are big in this community," Robinson added. "Several of the foundations have been a key–probably the key–to helping determine the future of Greensboro. Various studies have shown that Greensboro has a higher than normal percentage of people who are generous givers to charity and non-profits such as the United Way. So, yes, I think people are interested in knowing where their donations go."

If readers don’t seem overly interested in nonprofits, they should be, because, as Jerry Bellune puts it: “All of us want to do our part but none of us want to be played for patsies by greedy fundraisers.”

Bellune, longtime (now retired) editor and owner of a respected weekly newspaper in Lexington, S.C., says it’s healthy for nonprofits if local newspapers keep a vigilant watch on them, reporting on both the good they do and how they spend their money “and what part of it goes to fundraising and administration.”

In some cases, according to Bellune, a nonprofit organization might receive money from U.S. grants or other tax-supported funds. If that’s the case, they’re susceptive to federal or state FOIA laws, and must release financial information to the press and public. If they balk, after an FOIA request, the newspaper can write about this.

“Give then an opportunity to tell why they refused or state that they refused to offer an explanation,” Bellune said. “Embarrassment helps. You’ll anger a few non-profit advocates but you’ll win respect in the community at large.”


Larry Timbs is a journalism professor at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C., where he’s also faculty adviser to the university’s student newspaper, The Johnsonian.

Astronomer finds black hole in his marriage

This just in--from the Onion Broadcasting System.

An astronomer has discovered why his marriage is on the rocks.

Turn up your sound and click on the above link.

Video of yours truly

This is interesting. First time I've tried to upload a video of myself. I held the camera and spoke into it. Bold experiement in multimedia blogging.

Where do they stand on the crucial issues?

Should Americans be allowed to own automatic weapons?

Should a woman be allowed to have the final say on whether she wants/needs to abort her baby?

Should American combat forces remain in Iraq--at least for the forseeable future?

Should college be the birthright of every American citizen?

Here's a Web site, apparently sponsored by an independent, neutral entity, that helps guide our thinking as voters.

Sarah Palin music video

Here's a borderline spicy video about Sarah Palin.

VP material or not?

You decide.

By the way (as an aside), remember John McCain and Paris Hilton?

McCain once said a few disparaging things about Barack Obama, comparing Obama's popularity to that of Ms. Hilton.

Here's a link to a Paris Hilton video about McCain.

McCain rolls the dice

You gotta give it to John McCain.

The guy has bravado, and you can see that by his choice for his VP running mate--44-yr.-old Sarah Palin.

Palin, governor of Alaska, is married and has five children (one of whom has Down's Syndrome.)

She's strong pro life, and as one of her Democratic critics noted: She has more experience fishing than she does in politics.

Her Democratic opponents will rail about her being an untested, unproven choice with zilch foreign policy experience.

Sarah Palin, you say?

A potential heartbeat away from the presidency (if McCain beats Obama)? Salmon fisherwoman Sarah Palin as commander in chief of America's armed forces?

A sidenote: The woman, at the very least, is good looking (as is Michelle Obama.)

So attractive that she once appeared on the cover of Vogue Magazine.

So much of a head-turner that a few years ago, bumper stickers screamed: "Alaska: Coldest State. Hottest Governor."

Question: Do looks count in a presidential election.

Answer: How could they NOT count??!

Do you agree with me?

Cobra sinks its fangs into Japanese man

Why would anyone keep 51 deadly snakes (among them cobras and mambas) in his flat in Tokyo?

It was bound to happen.

The flat's owner got bitten by one of his "pets" (presumably a cobra) and almost died.

I'm blogging about his because (especially if you've had me as an instructor in one of my journalism classes) "snakes" always rate at near the top of my list of most read about topics for journalists to report on.

Here's the stor--reported today by the Associated Press.

TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- A nearly fatal bite by a poisonous snake led to the arrest of a man Wednesday for keeping 51 deadly cobras and mambas in his Tokyo apartment without permission, police said.

Among the deadly cobras and mambas found in the apartment, one of the snakes was about six feet long.

Among the deadly cobras and mambas found in the apartment, one of the snakes was about six feet long.

The illicit collection was discovered when Nobukazu Kashiwagi called for an ambulance after being bitten on a finger by one of his snakes, a spokesman for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department said Wednesday on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.

Kashiwagi, aged 41, was trying to feed the snake when he was bitten in mid July. He was seriously ill in a Tokyo hospital for several weeks, but subsequently recovered. Police arrested Kashiwagi after he was discharged, the spokesman said.

Kashiwagi kept the deadly snakes without permission from the Tokyo metropolitan government, the police spokesman said.

Video footage by public broadcaster NHK showed the snake cases were piled up in his small apartment room. One of the snakes was about six feet long.

The police spokesman could not say where the snakes have been moved.

Erasing files from your hard drive

In case anyone might be interested, there's a Web site you can access to permanently delete all files from your hard drive. I'm told that even if you've trashed or deleted your files, they're still on your hard drive.


The Web site for permanently erasing files from your hard drive is:

http://www.easysystemcleaner.com/Securely_Delete_Files.html

(I have not used this, but I've read about it.)

Of course, do NOT erase or delete anything till you've made a backup of it that you can later retrieve from another disk or computer device.

State Point Pilot Web site

Here's an excellent newspaper Web site recommended to me by my friend Jock Lauterer at UNC-Chapel Hill. Small newspaper but innovative site.

Remember Ashley Alexander Dupre?

In case you've forgotten, Ashley Alexander Dupre was the woman that N.Y. (former and disgraced) Gov. Eliot Spitzer had an affair with.

She was practically a no-name before the Spitzer sex scandal hit the front pages and became the lead story on many national TV programs.

But then tens of millions of Americans suddenly learned about her--primarily through, of all things, her images and writings on Facebook.

Should Facebook material be fodder for the news media?

Or does a person's social networking Web site qualify as protected private material.

Sticky questions that my friend Doug Fisher recently blogged about. Doug, who works at the University of South Carolina School of Journalism and Mass Communication, came across a thought-provocative paper that deals specifically with all this.

Read about it in the headlined link above.

Hello to my top three students

Hi Heather, Casey and Taylor. Turn up your sound and click on the hotlink headline above to get a message from the old guy.

Power of blogging

I've been blogging for a few years now. No particular focus but I try to capture some of what's on my mind, what's in the media or what others are writing about on the Net. Also, blogging is a good way to reduce paperwork and scraps of paper. (And if you're like me, you sometimes fear you're getting buried in paper.) Have a bright idea (or at least a thought that you believe encapsulates a significant insight)? Blog about it. Find something interesting on the Net that you don't have time to get into at the moment but may want to revisit later? Make a note, concerning the link, on your blog.

Speaking of the Net and blogging, there's a group in Greensboro that's trying, through a blog, to help feed the homeless.

Quite a worthy cause. Check it out now.

Proof positive that the Internet can be put to positive use (notwithstanding the assertion, from John Grogan, NYT best-selling author of the book "Marley and Me," that the Net is a catalyst for the greatest waste of time in human history.)

Tribute to Vietnam era veterans

Okay, so if you were around and in the military during the Vietnam War, you're getting old. (Yours truly turned 60 a few weeks ago.)

But the experience of being in the USAF during the Vietnam era never leaves my mind.

Click on link above for a song that helps bring it all back.

Citizen journalism going strong in Greensboro

Citizen journalism is controversial but it's still very much alive. To that end, I ran across an interesting blog post by Greensboro News-Record editor John Robinson about something called "Cop Watch" in Guiliford County, N.C.

Watch the above video and let me know what you think. Is citizen journalism here to stay? An interesting but fleeting curiosity?

Cuil means knowledge

There's a brand new search engine out there called cuil (which means knowledge.) Works very differently from anything we've ever used. Take a look at it. I found a photo of my dog roadie and myself via cuil.

You can also read about cuil by clicking on the hotlink in this sentence.

Might be more powerful than Google.

My vita (as March 2010)

LAWRENCE C. TIMBS, JR.
1808-B Ebenezer Rd.
Rock Hill, S.C. 29732
Phone: 803-323-4533
TimbsL@Winthrop.edu
Blog: http://www.carolinamagic-carolinamagic.blogspot.com/


Vita Date: March 2010

POSITION: Associate Professor since 1993, Department of Mass Communication, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, S.C. 29733

EDUCATION:

1989 Ph.D. University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Iowa City, Iowa; title of dissertation: “Publisher Influence Outside the Newsroom: An Examination of the Power of the Chief Executive of the Press in the Local Community.”

1977 M.A. University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C.; (Journalism) title of thesis:“How South Carolina Legislators Perceive Coverage of State Government in the Weekly Press.”

1972 B.A. Christopher Newport College of the College of William and Mary (English), Newport News, Va.

EXPERIENCE:

1985-present Associate Professor, Department of Mass Communication, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, S.C. Tenured in May 1991. Promoted to associate professor in May 1993.

1981-1985 Half-time instructor and Ph.D. candidate, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa

1975-1981 Reporter, news editor, editor and general manager for newspapers owned by Landmark Community Newspapers, Inc., Shelbyville, Ky. Significant professional experience in reporting, writing, editing, photography, advertising, circulation, newspaper design and layout, and community newspaper management; winner of numerous writing awards in state press association contests.

1966-1969 Vietnam era veteran, U.S. Air Force, Aircraft control and warning, Texas, Mississippi, Virginia, Philippines (Honorable discharge)


RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Power of the press, community and civic journalism, journalism education, collegiate press, ethical and legal issues in mass communication, freedom of information, media technology, blogging, Web resources for journalists, newsroom diversity, intellectual property rights, travel journalism, press coverage of mental illness/mental health, on-line instruction, freelance writing.

COURSES TAUGHT AT WINTHROP UNIVERSITY:

Media Writing, News Editing, Feature Writing, Reporting Public Affairs, Law and Ethics, Academic Internship, Critical Issues Symposium, Community and Civic Journalism, Power of the Press (special topics course), Introduction to Mass Communication, Advertising Copy and Layout, Advertising Principles, Travel Writing, Publications Production, The Human Experience: Who Am I?

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIPS:

S.C. Press Association (Collegiate Division Committee)
Society of Professional Journalists (Freedom of Information Committee)
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
National Newspaper Association
S. C. Academy of Science
Carolinas Communication Association


PRESENTATIONS OF PROFESSIONAL PAPERS AND RESEARCH (2000-PRESENT):

Presenter, with Dr. Guy Reel and Mr. W.T. "Dub" Massey, of panel session titled "Civil Rights in the South: Local News Coverage of the Friendship Nine," at the AEJMC Southeast Colloquium, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, March 12, 2010.

Presenter of panel session titled "Social Media in the Teaching of Journalism and Communication" at the annual conference of the Carolina Communications Association, Wilmington, N.C., Sept. 25, 2009. (Dr. Guy Reel and integrated marketing communication majors Ryan Drumwright and Jai Jones helped in preparing this panel session.)

Invited speaker for Suicide Prevention Awareness Week at the Mountain Home Veterans Administration Medical Center in Johnson City, Tenn., Sept. 11, 2009. Title of 50-minute speech: "Out of the Depths and Shadows of Depression and Into the Sunlight: Reconnecting With Life."

Research presentation, with Dr. Guy Reel and Ms. Christy Mullins, at the Student Engagement, Excellence, & Development Conference, Winthrop University, Rock Hill, S.C., March 14, 2009. Title of presentation: "Campus Newspapers and Diverse Perpectives: Managing Tensions Through Campus Partnerships."

Research presentation, with Dr. Guy Reel, Ms. Judy Watts, Ms. Christy Mullins and Ms. India Richardson, at the Carolinas Communication Association Annual Conference, Columbia, S.C., Oct. 4, 2008. Title of presentation: "Cracking the Glass Ceiling: From Winthrop College (Where The White Flower Maidens of the South Once Came To Study Teaching, Homemaking and Agriculture) To Winthrop University in 2008 (Where Gender And Racial Diversity, Technology And New Media Thrive In A Mass Communication Department For The 21st Century)."

Research presentation, with Dr. Guy Reel and Ms. Gena Smith, at the Society of Professional Journalists Region 3 Conference at the University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C., March 28, 2008. Title of presentation: “Covering Students With Disabilities: A Case Study Project At Winthrop University.” (Also titled in SPJ Region 3 Spring Conference announcement as: “Specialty Reporting Case Study.”)

Research presentation, with Dr. Guy Reel, at the Annual Regional Conference of the Carolinas Communications Association, Boone, S.C., Sept. 29, 2007. Title of presentation: “Cyber Dissident Bloggers: Promoting Civil and Human Rights.”

Author of research paper, with Doug Fisher and Will Atkinson. Title: “How America’s Community Newspapers Handle (Or Don’t Handle) Their ‘Digital Attics’: An Investigation Into Ethical, Legal and Privacy Issues Emerging From Publications’ Web Archives.” Presented, with Doug Fisher, at the Newspapers and Community-Building Symposium XIII, National Newspaper Association Annual Convention, Norfolk, Va., September 27, 2007. Published and now available on the Web site of the Huck Boyd Center for Community Media-Kansas State University at: http://huckboyd.jmc.ksu.edu/symposium/XIII/Timbs,%20Larry%20-%20Digital%20Attics.pdf

Above paper also published in Grassroots Editor, Volume, 48, No. 4, Winter 2007, pp. 11-18.

Presentation of “Some Newspapers In America Are “Getting It”—Switching From News And Information As Lecture To conversation: Insights From Journalist Bloggers About What They Do, How They Do It and Why,” April 20, 2007, Research presented at the April 20, 2007, Annual Meeting of the South Academy of Science, Airport Campus of Midlands Technical College, Columbia, S.C. (Abstract of presentation published in the Bulletin of the South Carolina Academy of Science, Volume LXIX, 2007, pp. 119-120.)

Author of “Some Community Newspapers In America Are “Getting It”—From Information As Lecture to Information As Conversation: Insights From Journalist Bloggers About What They Do, How They Do It and Why,” published on the Web site of the Huck Boyd Center for Community Media, Kansas State University. http://huckboyd.jmc.ksu.edu/symposium/XII/. Also re-titled as “America’s Community Newspapers Go Digital: Insights From Journalist Bloggers Working in Hometown, America.” and presented at the Newspapers & Community Building Symposium XII, at the National Newspaper Association’s 120th Annual Convention & Trade Show, Oklahoma City, Okla., Oct. 12, 2006.

Presentation of “From Old Media to New Media: How Journalist Bloggers Are Changing America’s Newspapers And Transforming Themselves As Gatherers And Disseminators Of News,” (Research presented with Dr. Guy Reel.) The Carolinas Communications Association Annual Conference—“Communication, Culture and Common Ground,” Charleston, S.C., Sept. 15, 2006.

Author of "An Opinion Column, Anger, Resentment and the First Amendment: A Case Study in Freedom of the Press at Winthrop University," Presented at annual meeting of the South Carolina Academy of Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C. (Abstract of presentation published in the Bulletin of the South Carolina Academy of Science, Volume LXVIII, pp. 111-112, March 10, 2006.)

Presenter and author, with Judy Longshaw, of research titled “Keeping Your Sanity And Staying Positive(And Trying, Through Media Messages, To Convince Terrorists Not To Behead Your Kidnapped Brother): Lessons Learned By An Anxious Family Member Caught In The Middle Of An International Story,” presented to the spring 2005 convention of the South Carolina Academy of Science. Abstract of research published in Bulletin of the South Carolina Academy of Science, Volume LXVII, pp. 108-109.

Author, with Judy Longshaw, of professional research paper titled “A Beheading, A National Media Blitz, Hometown Grief, Suffering and Pain, And One Small Southern Newspaper”—presented to the Newspapers and Community-Building Symposium XI, at The National Newspaper Association’s 119th Annual Convention, Milwaukee, Wis., Sept. 30, 2005.

Author of refereed professional paper “When The Cop Said The All-American Boy Who Died Had Been Driving Under The Influence”: How One Small Southern Newspaper Responded To A Seeming “Disconnect” Between Its News Coverage Of That Death And Its Community”—presented to the Newspapers and Community-Building Symposium IX The National Newspaper Association’s 117th Annual Convention Kansas City, Mo., Sept. 24-27, 2003.

Author of refereed professional paper “I’m NOT crazy; I’m bipolar”: Why Newspapers Can’t Seem To Get It Right In Their Coverage of Mental Health Issues”—presented at the Hawaii International Conference on Social Sciences, Honolulu, Hawaii, June 2002.

Author of “From Hard-Hitting Investigative Journalism To Embracing Coverage Of Chicken Dinners, Schools, Church And Family: A Study Of A Veteran Community Journalist’s Self-Examination And Redefining His Approach To News”--presented at the Newspapers and Community-Building Symposium of the National NewspaperAssociation’s 115th Annual Convention & Trade Show, Louisville, Ky., October 2000.


OTHER WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS (2000-PRESENT):

Presenter of workshop session titled "Photoshop Principles" (Adobe Photoshop CS3) at Winthrop University High School Media, Theatre and Dance Workshop," Sept. 23, 2009. Also, co-presenter, with Dr. Guy Reel, of workshop session titled "Social Media: Beyond Facebook."

Presented, with Dr. Guy Reel, Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe InDesign CS# workshop session on behalf of the Winthrop chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. (Session attended by 25 people). March 10, 2009, Winthrop University.

Presented workshop on story ideas, “newspaper re-invention” and the responsibility and mission of The Johnsonian and The Roddey-McMillan at the Student Publications Workshop, Aug. 21, 2008, Winthrop University.

Created and presented session titled “Feature Writing” for the Winthrop University High School Media & Theatre Workshop, Sept. 24, 2008. Also co-led workshop session, with Dr. Guy Reel, titled “Publication Design.”

Presented workshop on First Amendment freedoms and the importance of print journalism for the faculty adviser (Cindy Koon) and staff of “S.P.I.N.,” the student newspaper at South Pointe High School in Rock Hill. Session included markup and critique of recent editions of “S.P.I.N.” Nov. 14, 2008.

Judge of SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards contest entries (Region 8) for the following categories: Editorial Cartooning; Sports Column Writing; Sports Writing. February 2009.

Judge, with Dr. Guy Reel, of the following categories in the Syracuse Press Club 2008 Print Media Contest: Portrait; Feature Photo; and Photo Illustration.

Newspaper team leader and design/writing coach (with Dr. Guy Reel) of Leadership York County. April 2, 2009.

Created and led or co-led workshop sessions on electronic page design software (InDesign); image manipulation software (Adobe Photoshop CS); headline writing; news writing; and story/picture packaging at the summer 2004, 2005 and 2006 ASNE High School Journalism Institute at Winthrop University.

Presenter of workshop titled “The Impact of The Johnsonian and the Roddey-McMillan Record on Winthrop University” to staffers and prospective staffers of student publications at Winthrop University, Aug. 19, 2004.

Presenter--with Dr. Guy Reel, Terry Plumb from The (Rock Hill) Herald, and Nicole Bell of The Charlotte Observer--of workshop, in connection with Black History Month, titled “Fairness of Coverage of African-Americans in High Profile News Stories,” Feb. 12, 2004.

Presenter--with Dr. Guy Reel, Andrew Skeritt from The (Rock Hill) Herald, and Roland Wilkerson from the Charlotte Observer--of workshop, in connection with Black History Month, titled “Working Harder and Smarter to Achieve Diversity in America’s Newspapers,” Feb. 10, 2003.

Presenter of problem-solving breakout session on “Quick and Dirty Journalism” to approximately 35 high school students at Winthrop Olde English Consortium Junior/Senior Scholarship Day, Oct. 15, 2003.

Presented workshop and authored worksheet on “How To Develop Your Listening Skills” for a target audience of elderly men and women at Shepherd’s Center of Rock Hill, S.C., April 14, 2003.

Author, by invitation of Allyn & Bacon, of extensive, detailed critical/constructive review of draft manuscript of 21st Century Feature Writing (textbook under development at Allyn & Bacon)—February 2003.

Author, by invitation of Allyn & Bacon, of extensive, detailed critical/constructive review of draft manuscript of Feature Writing for Newspapers and Magazines (Fourth Edition), by Edward Jay Friedlander and John Lee. (textbook under development at Allyn & Bacon)—February 2002.

Author of January 2003 grant proposal which resulted in the Winthrop University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists receiving a $500 grant from SPJ headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind., to help bring Washington Post investigative journalist Josh White to campus in April 2003. White was lead investigative reporter for the Post on the Washington, D.C., area sniper case that terrorized the nation late in 2002.

Principal author, with mass communication major and SPJ chapter vice president Alan Jenkins, of January 2002 grant proposal which resulted in the Winthrop University chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists receiving a $500 grant from SPJ headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind. Grant helped bring a Baltimore Sun feature writer and foreign correspondent (and former combat journalist in Afghanistan) to Winthrop’s campus as a guest lecturer for classes in mass communication and for a special evening campus-wide presentation.

Presented workshop on coverage of hard news to high school students and their teachers participating in the Winthrop Olde English Consortium Junior Scholars Day, March 13, 2001.


CREATIVE ENDEAVORS PUBLISHED IN JOURNALISM TRADE PUBLICATIONS—2000 TO
PRESENT:

March 3, 2010 "Big changes underway at The Herald," published on the South Carolina Press Association Web site (http://www.scpress.org/NewsStory1.html#timbs).

Nov. 2009 "Small SC weekly breaks big story," Publishers' Auxiliary, pp. 1, 28.

Nov. 2009 "Myrtle Beach Herald making its mark in journalism," South Carolina Press Association Web site (http://www.scpress.org), November 4, 2009.

Oct. 2009 "You have to be patient with those new hires," Publishers' Auxiliary, p. 27.

July 2009 "One passage ignites ethical firestorm for community paper," Publishers' Auxiliary, pp. 27-28.

April 2009 "Should top execs take pay cuts?" Published on the S.C. Press Association Web site. (http://www.scpress.org/), April 1, 2009.

March 2009 "1-page freebies bring in dollars," Publishers' Auxiliary, pp. 1, 15.

Jan. 2009 "Where is the real media sacrifice?" Publishers' Auxiliary, p 4.

Nov. 2008 "Newspaper web site shows video of councilman's DUI arrest," Publishers' Auxiliary, pp. 1, 24.

Sept. 2008 "Covering nonprofits can yield strong stories," Publishers' Auxiliary, pp. 1, 24.

April 2, 2008 “Don’t kid yourself: It ain’t over yet, Barack,” by Larry Timbs, Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 15.

Jan. 22, 2008 “Help restore Shoeless Joe Jackson’s reputation,” by Larry Timbs, published on the S.C. Press Association Web site. Same article by Larry Timbs published on the Web site of the (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal. Jan. 28, 2008. Also published in Publishers’ Auxiliary, Feb. 2008, p. 5, and in The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, Feb. 12, 2008, p. 4A.

December 2007 “Disability should be considered part of diversity,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 28.

Sept. 19, 2007 “S.C. Editors Sound Off On Michael Vick Coverage,” by Larry Timbs, published on the S.C. Press Association Web site . (Same article by Larry Timbs published on Sept. 23, 2007, by The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, pg. 3F, & in Publishers' Auxiliary, October 2007, p. 28.)

April 2007 “Will e-books replace the printed page?” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 1, 24.

April 2007 “Publisher strives for small-town feel in big daily paper,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 7-8.

December 2006 “Author says news clips great source for books,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 1, 24.

October 2006 “Metro bloggers on local level,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 8, 10.

August 2006 “Popular column works much like a blog for weekly,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 25.

July 2006 “Book details Vietnam war crimes case,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 1, 24.

February 2006 "Opinion column causes student uproar," Publishers' Auxiliary, pp. 1, 24.

January 2006 "An encounter to remember (and an Associated Press I.D., too)," Publishers' Auxiliary, p. 15.

Dec. 2005 “Uproar over column offers First Amendment lessons,” S.C. Press Association Bulletin, p. 11.

Oct. 2005 “”Same-sex ad stirs controversy for SC daily,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 1, 24.

May 2005 “Curiosity can help you make your mark,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 23.

May 2005 “Curiosity a reporter’s best asset,” Quill: A Magazine for the Professional Journalist,” p. 43.

Oct. 2004 “Ground Zero: Is it just a commercial opportunity now?” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 2, 5, 16.

January 2004 “Publisher proud of her career in community journalism,” Publishers’ Auxiliary,p. 28.

January 2004 “Retired SC publisher publishes book on London during WWII,” Publishers’ Auxiliary,p. 28.

July/Aug. 2003 “Storytelling key to good journalism,” The St. Louis Journalism Review, pp. 24-25.

July 2003 “Sources played a big part in sniper story,” Publishers’ Auxiliary,pp. 1, 24.

March 2003 “Black History Month deserves better coverage by newspapers,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 28.

Feb. 2003 “Finding diversity in small towns,” Quill Magazine, pp. 26-27.

Feb. 2003 “Stray outside your sandbox,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 15.

Dec. 2002 “SC paper faces ire of readers after story of teen’s death,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 28.

Nov. 2002 “Study: Journalists need to get smarter about mental health,” Publishers’ Auxiliary,p. 28.

Sept. 2002 “Bledsoe: Use storytelling to improve your paper’s readership,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 28.

April 2002 “Journalism is a wonderful business,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 28.

Feb. 2002 “Don’t let steak get turned into hamburger,” Publishers’ Auxiliary,p. 28.

Jan. 1, 2002 “Mental illness reporting deserves a human face,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 1-24.

Nov. 1, 2001 ‘Osama numbers’ hurting papers,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pp. 1-24.

Sept. 1, 2001 “Management decisi0ns can be tough for some to make,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, pg. 32.

July 2001 “Readers will trust papers that admit mistakes,” Publishers’ Auxiliary,pp. 1, 24.

March 5, 2001 “Diversity important for community papers,” Publishers’ Auxiliary,p. 5.

Jan. 8, 2001 “Once-explosive Fortenberry now calmer, wiser,” Publishers’ Auxiliary,pp. 1, 16.

Oct. 16, 2000 “Reduced to a clump of suffering miserable humanity,” Publishers’ Auxiliary, p. 13.


CREATIVE ENDEAVORS PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES—2000 TO PRESENT (ARTICLES ON JOURNALISTIC/MASS COMMUNICATION TOPICS):

Dec. 26, 2009 "Student paper shows democracy in action," The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 5A.

Sept. 19, 2009 "The Challenges of working with NeXters," The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 4A.

Jan. 3, 2009 "Couric was hypocritical," The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 6

June 15, 2006 “Authors: Worst Vietnam war crimes still go unnoticed,” The (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal, pp. C1.

May 28, 2006 “A crime uglier than My Lai?” The Charlotte Observer, p. 5E.

Dec. 24, 2005 “Winthrop journalists learn from controversy,” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 5A.

Aug. 31, 2005 “Chance interview inspired a career,” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 6A.

Oct. 10, 2004 “Loud music, T-shirts, tears: A moment at ground zero,” The Charlotte Observer, p. 9Y.

Oct. 6, 2004 “Charlotte anchor tells students she won’t pass judgment on Rather, CBS,” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 2B.

March 7, 2004 “Chepesiuk chronicles the rise and fall of pervasive and deadly Colombian drug cartel.” The (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal, p. C2.

Aug. 31, 2003 “Retired publisher writes about surviving WWII in London,” The (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal, p. C2.

July 20, 2003 “Wartime London with a local touch: Retired Fort Mill, S.C., publisher mines his memories for first novel,” The Charlotte Observer, p. 6H.

May 26, 2003 “Reporter haunted by grisly sniper story,” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 7A.

May 21, 2002 “Reporting abroad is no walk in the park,” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 5A.

May 15, 2002 “I’m not going down that road:” Charlotte journalist on risks in Afghanistan,” Creative Loafing, Charlotte, N.C.

March 28, 2002 “Local TV journalist: Media has power to change society,” The Charlotte Post.

March 21, 2002 “Charlotte newswoman inspires students,” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 6A.

April 15, 2001 “Journalists must earn readers’ trust,” Charlotte Observer, p. 8Y.

Feb. 24, 2001 “We’re in a ‘comeback culture’ that forgives, journalist says,” Charlotte Observer, Feb. 24, 2001, p. 3F.

Feb. 20, 2001 “U.S. journalists may be too comfortable,” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 5A.

Sept. 24, 2000 “Ex-Fort Mill, S.C., publisher tells of war to conquer stroke,”
Charlotte Observer, Sept. 24, 2000, p. 9F.


CREATIVE ENDEAVORS—FEATURE STORIES/OP-ED PIECES ON PLACES/PEOPLE/ISSUES/EVENTS (PUBLISHED IN NEWSPAPERS OR MAGAZINES—2000 TO PRESENT):

June 8, 2008 "Museum to open in famed slugger's home in Greenville's West End," (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal.

May 25, 2008 "Shoeless Joe's home will open as museum," The Charlotte Observer, p. 1I.

June 22, 2007 “Only one Bonds,” guest op-ed piece by Larry Timbs, published in The Chester News & Reporter, pg. 12, Chester, S.C

Winter 2005 “A SPECIAL TO QUILL,” South Carolina Academy of Science Newsletter, pp. 6-7.

Summer 2004 “Former Winthrop Student Visits Campus,” The (Winthrop University) Connection, p. 5

April 14-20, 2004 “Rembert Plans Her Return: County Commission candidate assesses her time on School Board,” Creative Loafing, pp. 15, 17, 20.

April 7, 2004 “Poet Conroy will read at alma mater,” The Charlotte Observer, pp. 1E, 5E.

Feb. 2, 2004 “Taking down Colombia’s Cali Cartel,” The Charlotte Observer, p. 19A.

Nov. 16, 2003 “Is ‘Bobcats’ a suitable name for basketball team?” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 2E.

Oct. 3, 2003 “Sylvia Theater: An intimate venue for music,” The (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal.

Feb. 20-26, 2003 “Activists: Look to make own mark for social change,” The Charlotte Post, p. 1A, 6A.

Sept. 19, 2002 “Twenty ways to drive your professor up the wall,” The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald, p. 6A.

Jan. 23, 2002 “More Than 400 Years Of Memories Under One Roof,” The (Mountain City, Tenn.) Tomahawk, pp. A-1, A-5.

Jan. 20, 2002 “Tidbits from celebrities, rearranged,” The Charlotte Observer, p. 9H.

Aug. 19, 2001 “All aboard Tweetsie, a ride back in time,” Charlotte Observer, pp. 1G, 7G.

Sept. 23, 2000 “Franklin Graham carries on gospel tradition his own way,”
Charlotte Observer, p. 47.


SERVICE/LEADERSHIP IN THE PROFESSIONAL JOURNALISM COMMUNITY (2000-Present):

Judge of SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards contest entries (Region 3) for the following categories: Editorial Cartooning; Sports Column Writing; Sports Writing. February 2008.

Writing, editing and design coach for The Roane County News in Roane County, Tenn. November 2007.

Writing, editing and design coach for The Lancaster News in Lancaster, S.C.. Summer 2004.

Creator and co-teacher (with Dr. Guy Reel) of new course, “Community Newspaper Practicum” (MCOM 495) taught in “C” session of summer school, 2007. Purpose of the course is to give a handful of our students, with advanced journalism skills, hands-on experience at an area community newspaper (providing them 15-20 clips for their portfolios). MCOM 495 is also designed to enhance the newspaper, giving the editor and his staff support (through the students’ work) in developing special projects or pages. (There’s no other course like this in South Carolina, to my knowledge).

Created and presented sessions, every year I've been at Winthrop, on one or more of the following topics (page design, editing, basic news writing, feature writing, editing, interviewing, Web writing, photo enhancement) ” for the Annual Winthrop University High School Media & Theatre Workshop.

Member/key player/planner/organizer (of collegiate newspaper competition, job fairs and conferences) on S.C. Press Association Collegiate Division Committee—2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008.

Newspaper group leader/coach—Annual Leadership York County, Media/Crisis Communication Day--early February each year.

Judge of SPJ Mark of Excellence Awards contest entries (Region 3) for the following categories: Online News Reporting; Sports Column Writing; Editorial Cartooning. February 2007.

Judge, at the invitation of the S.C. Press Association, of entries (Headline Writing, Feature Writing and Editorial Writing) for Georgia Press Association newspaper awards competition. Feb. 8, 2007.

Instructor and co-leader, with Professor Jock Lauterer of UNC-Chapel Hill, of two-hour workshop on journalistic ethics at the N.C. Press Association Newspaper Academy, co-sponsored and hosted by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, UNC-Chapel Hill, May 17, 2002.

Presented workshop on editing for about 70 editors, publishers and other news editorial employees of the Athens, Ga., based Community Newspapers, Inc. (CNI Managers Meeting, Cornelia, Ga., Sept. 22, 2001.)

Writing, photography and design coach for the Lexington County Chronicle, Lexington, S.C., Bennettsville, S.C., May 2001.

Writing, photography and design coach for the Marlboro Herald-Advocate, Bennettsville, S.C., Feb. 2001.


SELECTED PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY—2000 TO PRESENT:

S.C. Press Association Collegiate Meeting and Awards Presentation, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C., March 28, 2008. Workshop sessions on improving student journalist photography, writing and design skills; and on how to get that first job in journalism.

Society of Professional Journalists Region 3 Spring Conference, University of South Carolina, Columbia, S.C., March 28, 2008. Workshop sessions on new media challenges; preparing for tomorrow’s newsrooms; campus crime reporting; the changing political landscape and journalism; and the value of diversity in journalism.

S.C. Press Association Winter Meeting & Awards Presentation, Spartanburg, S.C., March 6-7, 2008. Workshops/presentations on building newspaper circulation, rethinking newspaper content, and community journalism in the 21st century.

ACES (American Copy Editors Society) workshop, Jan. 27, 2008. (Conducted at The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald. Sessions on news copy editing, sports copy editing, “separating the wheat from the chaff” in editing copy about politics and elections, and how the copy desk can help give readers the information they need in forms they can easily understand, and editing (or not editing) citizen blogs.

Carolinas Communication Association Annual Conference, Boone, N.C., Sept. 29, 2007. Workshop sessions on examining communication from the perspectives of culture and community; global issues in health communication; “great ideas” for teaching communication; case studies of communication in crisis situations; and a review of research on text messages, My Space and bloggers.

Newspapers and Community-Building Symposium XIII, the National Newspaper Association’s 121st Annual Convention, Norfolk, Va., Sept. 26-28, 2007. Workshop sessions on“great ideas” for growing advertising in community newspapers; connecting readers and advertisers with effective design; training background and needs of journalists at rural newspapers in the United States; recruiting students into community journalism; building community and the future; making ethical decisions in community and civic journalism; handling for newspaper Web archives.

Annual Convention of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication, Washington, D.C., August 2007. Workshop sessions on writing, editing, design, community and civic journalism, special targeted publications, ethics, law, and Web journalism.

S.C. Press Association Winter Meeting & Awards Presentation, Columbia, S.C., Feb. 23, 2007. Workshops/presentations on newspapers and the Internet, newspapers and political ads, and the future of the newspaper industry.

National Newspaper Association’s 120th Annual Convention & Trade Show, Oklahoma City, Oct. 11-14, 2006. Workshop sessions on niche publications, advertising and circulation development, newspaper management, postage, public notice, community building, digital archiving, photography and writing/editing.

Associated Collegiate Press 23rd Annual National College Newspaper & Yearbook Workshops, Aug. 3-Aug. 6, 2006, Washington, D.C. Workshop sessions and short courses on: advising student media; advertising, headline writing; copyediting; staff recruitment and development; newspaper design; new media (blogging) and Web-based journalism; news and feature writing; and First Amendment law.

Participated, along with three students (mass communication majors from Winthrop University), in the Society of Professional Journalists Southeast Regional Conference, University of Georgia, Athens, Ohio, April 7-8, 2006. Attended workshop sessions on blogging at community newspapers; freelance writing and media ethics.

Participated in six-hour Winthrop University Faculty Service Learning Institute--focusing on methods and models of integrating service learning into curricula; establishing community partnerships; facilitating critical reflection and evaluation; and resources for instructors who value this approach to teaching and learning. (May 9, 2006, Baruch Room, Joynes Hall, Winthrop University.)

Participant in numerous workshops, led by Keoni Everington, distance learning coordinator at Winthrop University, on how to use WebCT software to improve teaching and learning—2002, 2003 and 2004.

Participant in numerous workshops/sessions on writing, editing, photography, design, ethics, freedom of information, and technology—offered by the S.C. Press Association and the National Newspaper Association—1998-2008.

Judge, by invitation of the S.C. Press Association, of the General Excellence category in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Contest—May 2004.

Judge, at the invitation of Society of Professional Journalists headquarters in Indianapolis, Ind., of SPJ’s final round of essays (top 12 finalists) in national high school essay contest on “What a Free Media Means to America”—summer 2004.

Named co-Society of Professional Journalism Sunshine Chair for South Carolina, effective summer 2004. Currently represent South Carolina at SPJ’s annual national convention and on SPJ’s Freedom of Information Committee.

Participant, Media Credibility Roundtable, York Technical College—by invitation of The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald; roundtable sponsored by the Associated Press Managing Editors’ National Credibility Roundtables Project, June 2003.

Judge, by invitation of the S.C. Press Association, of editorial material, photos and page design in the Arizona Newspaper Association Contest—July 2003.

Participant in writing workshop taught at The (Rock Hill, S.C.) Herald by Marjie Lundstrom, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, senior editor/columnist and writing coach for The Sacramento Bee—Nov. 8, 2001.


SERVICE (2000 To Present):

●Guided faculty/student research on newspaper Web archives, spring 2007.
●Member of "Teaching Squares" program at Winthrop University (faculty peer review of evaluation and improvement of teaching and learning), fall 2006.
●Faculty adviser/coach to the newspaper group (comprised of local community leaders) during Media Day of Leadership York County
●Emphasis on multi-media writing (for print and for the Web) and hands-on, deep learning (life-long learning) in all my writing and editing courses at Winthrop (requiring students to immerse themselves in the campus and greater Rock Hill/York County community.
●Volunteer and newspaper coach for Rawlinson Road Middle School students at The Connection (after-school ministry for children)
●Winthrop University Service Learning Committee
●Resource contact person (for employees, interns and freelance writers) for The Lancaster (S.C.) News, the Chester (S.C.) News & Reporter, The (Rock Hill) Herald, The Charlotte Observer, The (Spartanburg, S.C.) Herald-Journal, the Fort Mill Times and the York & Clover Enquirer.
●Faculty academic adviser to 25-30 mass communication/journalism majors or pre-majors
●Key role in obtaining/screening/selecting Winthrop student entries for Annual Hearst Journalism Awards Program
●Consultant, guest speaker, critiquer, workshop presenter for student publications for high schools in York County, S.C.--Northwestern High School and Southe Pointe High School--and for Bessemer City High School in Bessemer City, N.C. Professional Resource for these English/journalism faculty and their students--2004-2008
●Regularly require service learning projects in a sampling of my mass communication courses each semester. Examples of service learning accomplished by my students: Veteran History Project--focusing on capturing the stories and memories, via audiotape and in writing, of U.S. military veterans (student work archived permanently at Dacus Library and indexed on the Library of Congress Web site); Special Olympics brochure redesign--focusing Winthrop students on improving and re-thinking targeted publications boosting Special Olympics (for those with mental disabilities)in York, Chester and Lancaster counties.
●Panelist representing Winthrop University student publications at a panel discussion (attended by more than 200 people) on First Amendment freedoms and the role of the student newspaper on a college campus, Nov. 10, 2005, Dinkins Auditorium, Winthrop University.
●Chair of Departmental Tenure and Promotion Committee for Haney Howell
●Member, Department of Mass Communication Diversity Policy Review Committee (in connection with helping create departmental self-study report for ACEJMC.)
●Primary writer and editor of Alumni Survey sent via the Web and U.S. mail to 400+ mass communication alumni for the years 2001-2007. Survey is part of the department’s ACEJMC 2008 self-study.
●Faculty adviser for The Johnsonian, Winthrop University’s campus newspaper
●Faculty consultant and coach for many students who work on the staff of the Roddey-McMillan Record
●Founder and faculty adviser of Winthrop University chapter of the Society Professional
Journalists
●Chair, Tenure and Promotion committees for Dr. Guy Reel.
●Member, Promotion Committee for Dr. Marilyn Sarow.
●Member, Promotion Committee for Dr. Padmini Patwardhan.
●Member, Tenure Committee for Dr. Padmini Patwardhan.
●Member, Mass Communication/Journalism Track Departmental Assessment Committee (with Dr. Guy Reel and Dr. Bill Click.) Spring 2007.
●Chair of Third-Year Review Committee for Marilyn Sarow; also member of her post-tenure review committee, 2006.
●Member, MCOM 205 Revision Committee (with Mark Nortz and Haney Howell), September 2006.
●Member, Senior Capstone Experience Committee (with Haney Howell, Guy Reel and Marilyn Sarow), Fall 2006.
● Chair, post-tenure review committee for Associate Haney Howell (Spring 2007).
●Member, pre-tenure review committee for Assistant Professor Padmini Patwardhan (Spring 2007).
●Mass Communication/Dacus Library acquisitions liaison
●Winthrop University Board of Student Publications
●President’s Task Force on Student Publications
●South Carolina Press Association (Collegiate Committee)
●Recipient of “Exemplary Single Service Project By A Group” award, by Winthrop University, for community service and service learning
●Key planner and coordinator of student recruiting and student interviewing (departmental) visits, over many years, by numerous newsroom executives
●American Society of Newspaper Editors (ASNE) grant proposal committee
●ASNE Selection, Recruitment and Planning committees for Winthrop University, 2004, 2005, 2006
●United Way coordinator and liaison for the Department of Mass Communication
●GNED 102 planning and preparation team (summer 2003)
●Volunteer and member, Allocations Committee, United Way of York County, S.C. (Spring 2009)
•Recipient of Presidential Citation for Community Service at the April 2009 awards ceremony for Winthrop faculty and staff (in connection with my support of the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project)