A Dallas Press Club board member sends this defense of the organization. The member, Michael Patterson, is not a journalist, but does PR for a law firm. Tom Stewart is the person described in Tim’s earlier post re his conversation with Paul Kix. I’d say the damage is way past the time for spin.
I know you’re blogging extensively about the brouhaha over the 2006 Katie Awards, but I encourage you to take some time out of your day on Friday to see first-hand the valuable contribution the Press Club is making to the journalism community. (See below for the program information.)
Beyond the mess that is the Katie Awards, the Press Club has been and continues to be a good organization filled with many good, well-intentioned people. Virtually every professional organization, heck every business, makes mistakes from which they can either grow or fold. As a board member who is committed to seeing the club through this turmoil, I share your your cynicism and am absolutely aghast by all that has transpired. However, the Press Club has much more to offer and I encourage you to make every effort to see for yourself.
Having said all of that, I don’t want to minimize how important the Katie Awards are to the Press Club’s identity. More importantly, they represent something significant to our community — and I think it would be a tragic loss to see that come to an end.
I have great respect for my fellow board members and believe that we all share a very real desire to see the Press Club of Dallas past this most unfortunate event.
If that’s not invitation enough, Tom Stewart, president of the Press Club, will make himself available – on the record – following the program.
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Friday, April 20, 2007
The Women’s Museum, Gathering Area and Auditorium
10:00 a.m. to Noon (lunch provided)Beyond the Police Blotter: News Coverage of America’s Least Understood Crime – Domestic ViolenceNews reporters are the nation’s primary source of information about domestic violence yet daily deadlines could result in journalists missing the bigger story.
Come to a special briefing at The Press Club of Dallas to hear and talk with a panel of law enforcement and journalism professionals with special knowledge of domestic violence. Leaders of local organizations that help the survivors of domestic violence will also be available for discussions, as will a domestic violence survivor who made the decision to tell her story to reporters.
- Tips for improving a breaking domestic violence story
- Strategies for finding and interviewing survivors
- Ideas for taking the story to the next level
- Experts with valuable background information and statistics
- Sources to call when you need someone fast
- Suggestions for developing related stories
Panelists for the News Conference will include:
- Rita Henley Jensen, editor and founder, Women’s eNews
- Anne Crews, Vice President, Mary Kay Inc.; Board Member, National Network to End Domestic Violence; Member U.S. Department of Justice National
- Advisory Commission on Violence against Women
- Cindy Dyer, director of Family Violence Unit, Dallas County District Attorney’s office
- A domestic violence survivor
Moderator:
- Dr. Elba Garcia, Member of Dallas City Council, chairwoman of City of Dallas Domestic Violence Task Force
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