Parent firm of Jersey Journal warns it may close

The parent company of The Jersey Journal says the Hudson County daily newspaper may cease publication in April if revenue does not improve.

Executives of the Evening Journal Association told newspaper employees Monday that April 13 would be the final publication day if revenue is not enough to support the paper's reduced expense plans.

The company says it may also discontinue publication of its weekly newspapers serving Bayonne, West Hudson and Secaucus.

In a statement quoted on The Jersey Journal Web site, Publisher Kendrick Ross said he is optimistic that a plan can be developed to save the daily and some of the weeklies, while positioning the company for growth as the economy rebounds.

Company executives did not immediately return telephone messages Monday.

The company announced Friday that Feb. 26 will be the final edition of its free Spanish-language weekly, El Nuevo Hudson.

-The Associated Press

More layoffs for Inquirer, Daily News

The management of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News informed the leadership of the Newspaper Guild Monday afternoon that it intends to eliminate 35 bargaining-unit jobs at the two papers effective Dec. 31, the Guild told members late Monday.
Meanwhile, Jim Hopkins' Gannett Blog, which is keeping track of layoffs at the Gannett Co., said Sunday its tally had risen to 1,904 newspaper jobs.
He also noted a column in the Shreveport (La.) Times by Alan English, executive editor, that began:
"What did we do wrong to lay off good people from their jobs before Christmas?"
In Philadelphia, "The layoffs as planned would come primarily from the newsrooms, specifically from the photo and graphic arts departments and the copy desk. The company also plans to cut six positions in advertising.
"Layoffs among management are also planned. The company would not say how many. Tomorrow, it will send letters to all 320-plus independent employees across the company asking for volunteers. If it does not get enough volunteers, the company said it will resort to forced layoffs of independents. Management cuts are assured in all departments.
The projected Guild layoffs are as follows:
At the Inquirer: seven photographers; two photo lab technicians; three photo editors; seven copy editors; three graphic artists.
At the Daily News: one photographer; four part-time copy editors; one full-time copy editor; one graphic artist.
"The company has indicated it will accept volunteers in any job category but is most interested in achieving the numbers in the categories outlined above. Volunteers in those targeted categories will be accepted and will save a fellow member . . ."

–Source: Richard Prince’s Journal-isms

Phila. veteran reporter Wilson passes

Kendall Wilson was a pioneer who spent more than 40 years in the field of communications.
He wore many hats, including utilizing his skills in public relations, as a marketing consultant and as an executive with chief editorial duties. But the hallmark of Wilson’s professional life was that of a revered journalist.
He died last month with many lamenting the industry would never again be the same without the decorated reporter whose common touch allowed him to reach many lives with the stroke of his pen and the ability to write the truth. He was 74.
“He had such a tremendous love for the work that he did throughout his life, which was journalism and just a wonderful, thoughtful, caring man and father,” said Kendra Thomas, his daughter.
Wilson worked as a senior writer with The Philadelphia Tribune for a duration that spanned two decades, focusing on civil rights, government, foreign affairs and politics.
In recent years he offered his talents on an array of articles. The company, along with former colleagues, heaped praise upon him.
“He was an excellent reporter who got to the truth and really cared about his community, definitely,” said Monique Oliver, president of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. “A lot of people report stuff but don’t necessarily take the community home with them. He was a part of the community and well respected. It’s a definite loss.”
Oliver further described Wilson’s presence, which she described as genuine. It was a characterization that those who recalled him fondly could write a book about.
Acel Moore, Associate Editor Emeritus at The Philadelphia Inquirer, found it to be a compliment of the highest order to be held in comparison with Wilson. The two knew each other for 40 years, reporting alongside each other at times. Moore could always judge the barometer of a story depending on whether or not Wilson had ink to spare.
“I remember him as a gentleman, a tough reporter, an honest man who was sincere and gracious and whose humility could mislead people,” he said. “He was very tenacious and he knew a story and I will always remember him … I will always respect and admire him.”

Phila. Tribune's Murray lauded by Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

"For the second year in a row, the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum is honoring a writer who embodies the pioneering spirit of Sam Lacy, a Hall of Fame sportswriter whose half-century of work for the black press beat the drum for equality in the sport," Justice B. Hill of MLB.com told fellow sportswriters on Monday. "The inaugural Lacy Award, in 2007, went posthumously to Larry Whiteside, a longtime baseball writer for The Boston Globe and a mentor to scores of Task Force members. This year the award goes to Chris Murray, who has written extensively about baseball for The Philadelphia Tribune, a weekly paper that targets the black community. Murray is one of a handful of black sportswriters in America who cover Major League Baseball regularly."

Phila. Inquirer's Long to handle desk consolidation

Philadelphia Inquirer managing editor Sandra Long has been named vice president of news operations for both the Inquirer and the Daily News. She will be responsible for all aspects of the recently announced consolidation of the photography, copy desk, editorial assistants and photo toning functions. Long is the highest ranking African-American woman in the newsroom. She began her journalism career at the Inquirer in 1984 as a reporter and then became a Neighbors editor, deputy Pennsylvania editor, assistant managing editor for finance and administration, associate managing editor for operations, deputy managing editor/news operations and managing editor.

PABJ Media Watch July 12 Seminar – "Blacks and Communications Law: What You Need to Know"

PABJ's Media Watch Committee’s first seminar “Blacks and Communications Law: What You Need to Know” is scheduled for 11 a.m., Saturday, July 12 in the African-American Studies Department of Temple University's Gladfelter Hall in the 8th Floor bubble room.

Acclaimed journalist and Temple professor Linn Washington is scheduled to be the instructor for the day. This is an open refresher course on Communications Law for all African-American journalists, public relations employees and others seeking enlightenment as well.

PABJ Media Watch Seminars were created as a professional development tool for African-American media employees in their everyday responsibilites at work and to help excercise those critical thinking skills journalists need to use in various settings at their respective jobs.

Driving directions to Gladfelter Hall: Coming from City Hall, take North Broad Street to Cecil B. Moore. Make a right on Cecil B. Moore. Take Cecil B. Moore to N. 11th St. Make a left on N. 11th St. Drive two blocks north until getting to Berks. Gladfelter is on the corner of N. 11th and Berks.

SEPTA directions: Take Broad Street line to Temple. Walk toward campus bell and library on Berks walk. Cross N. 12th Street. Gladfelter is on the left hand side.

Parking directions:
Lot 7: This is the most convenient lot to Gladfelter Hall. The entrance is on Norris Street, between 11th and 12th Sts. Gladfelter is the large modern structure that looms over the south end of the parking lot.

Lot 2 Visitor Parking: The main visitor parking lot is on Montgomery Avenue, between 12th and 13th Sts. When exiting the parking lot, walk east and make a left onto 12th and walk approximately half a block to Berks St. Gladfelter is the second of the two large modern structures connected by a walkway that appear to your right.

For more information contact Media Watch Chair Johann Calhoun at (215) 893-5741.

Philly station WYSP fires DJ over racist song

The host of a rock radio morning show in Philadelphia has been fired for airing a song that referred to African-Americans in slang terms that station management determined to be highly offensive, according to a statement released by station owner CBS Radio.
WYSP's “Kidd Chris” was terminated, along with his program director, as a result of complaints about the song called “Schwoogies,” which aired on the morning show on March 21st originally, and several times after that.
“What we fail to realize, particularly African Americans in the media, is that the fight for civil rights did not end in the ’60s,” said Denise Clay a vice-co chair of the Media Watch Committee for The Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists. “It just began there and if you’re going to make sure that people understand, no this isn’t cool and that there are certain things we’re not going to tolerate.”
On March 21 Lady Gosh sang her own version to the 1980 Blondie song “Call Me” on WYSP-FM, which is a local affiliate of CBS radio. Chris and others in the studio were heard in the background loudly encouraging her to belt out the following words.
It aired again on the public traded company’s affiliate between noon and 5 p.m. The following is an approximation of those lyrics.
“Coloreds steal your wallets,” the words said. “And coloreds have pink feet. Coloreds are loud and obnoxious when they watch movies. Sticky fingers what they are. Always try to jack my car. Schwoogies. Or shines, you can call them anything you like. Schwoogies. Watch out, jigs will rob you day or night. Schwoogies. Mookie doesn't like to work. Just rolls blunts all day long. But there's one job he can do: Hold a lantern on my lawn. If someone else has your watch on, you can bet it’s a mulignon. Shwoogies all around. The sambos, monkeys, knuckle draggers, so much brown, mandinko, Mr. Bojangles. I have no problem singing about the negros.”
CBS Radio also owns KYW Newsradio.
WYSP-FM issued the following statement:
"We found the song to be highly offensive and completely inappropriate for broadcast on our airwaves. When senior management of the station learned that it had been played, they took immediate steps to prevent it from ever appearing on the station again.
"At the same time, we launched an extensive internal investigation into the situation including a thorough review of the editorial controls and systems we have in place to prevent this type of content from airing. We instituted additional educational training for the station, and have taken appropriate disciplinary action, including termination of the individuals involved."
There was no immediate word on what programming would replace the Kidd Chris morning show on WYSP.