Jan. 11, 2012, San Mateo Daily Journal offices
PRESENT: Ed Remitz, Kristy Blackburn, Melissa McRobbie, Marshall Wilson, Antonia Ehlers, Laura Dudnick, Darryl Compton, Jon Mays, Dave Price. Absent: Peter Cleaveland.
The meeting was called to order at 6:40 p.m. by Marshall.
MINUTES: December minutes approved as submitted.
FINANCE AND MEMBERSHIPS: Darryl reported that we were in good shape for 2011. After paying our bills, we were still $1,600 in the black, compared to $13,000 in the red in 2010.
CONTEST CALL FOR ENTRIES: The deadline has been extended to Feb. 29, 2012. The board discussed reaching out to magazines, trade publications and radio stations to increase participation in those categories. Board members also discussed the how to handle the press release category. It was suggested that public relations officials will be asked to submit three entries. In addition, an annual report category might be added. After a lengthy discussion about the social media category, the board decided to add a new category, the best use of Twitter.
CONTEST BANQUET SPEAKERS: Antonia proposed two ideas – the husband/wife team of Manny and Michelle Fernandez, both of whom are reporters for The New York Times. Manny recently became The Times bureau chief of Texas and Oklahoma. Michelle did extensive coverage of the 911 aftermath.
Another idea was to invite Greg Vistica, author and former investigative journalist. He was a correspondent for Newsweek, a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine, a staff writer for The Washington Post, a staff producer for “60 Minutes II” and a military affairs writer for The San Diego Union-Tribune. He was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize for exposing Senator Bob Kerrey’s role in a Vietnam massacre. In addition, he won a George Polk award for breaking the Tailhook scandal, which led to historic reforms in the military.
POSSIBLE SEMINAR ON PUBLIC SAFETY REALIGNMENT: Board members discussed upcoming seminiars, including public safety realignment, an investigative reporting workshop and a workshop specifically designed for public information officers working with the press.
MEETING DATES AND TIMES: It was decided that Press Club Board meetings will remain as they are, at 6:30 p.m. on the second Wednesday of the month.
OTHER BUSINESS:
- • Marshall asked for support (reporters needed!) for a San Mateo County leadership forum on March 9.
- • Ed also asked for reporters and editors to speak to his journalism class at CSM.
- • The deadline for the High School Journalism Contest is March 31.
- • Ideas for the newsletter were discussed with Laura. This issue will include the holiday party, the wake for The Times and a profile on Micki Carter.
- • Kristi spoke about the JEA NSPA joint convention on Feb. 4.
- • A seat is vacant on the board. Board members discussed possible candidates.
- • They also brainstormed about possibly donating the old San Mateo Times sign to the San Mateo County Historical Museum.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:45 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Antonia Ehlers, Secretary