Media Watch Committee Meeting 11/7

Note: The next Media Watch Committee meeting of the Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists will be 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 at The Philadelphia Tribune located at 520 S. 16th St. between Lombard and South streets. For more information please contact Johann Calhoun at (215) 292-8568 or calhoun.philly@gmail.com

PABJ Media Watch presents "Monitoring Hollywood" on April 23rd @ Temple Univ.'s Tuttleman Center

PABJ's Media Watch Committee
and the Temple Association of Black Journalists present:

Monitoring Hollywood

An interactive presentation and analysis on how Hollywood exploits African-Americans in film.

Moderated by Khalid Patterson and Fredrick Gooding Jr.
of The Minority Reporter.

Presentation is from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Thursday, April 23 on Temple University's main campus inside Auditorium 103 of the Tuttleman Center, 1210 W. Berks St. (Next to Paley Library).

The event is free and open to the general public. For more information and directions, contact Johann Calhoun at (215) 292-8568 or Brittany Diggs at (215) 847-3670 or e-mail at calhoun.philly@gmail.com or bdiggs@temple.edu

There will be a question and answer segment after the presentation. Refreshments will be served. Financial donations are welcomed!

Sponsored by Avenging The Ancestors Coalition (ATAC).

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.