REMEMBERING WALTER CRONKITE

It didn’t take me all of two and a half hours sitting at Walter Cronkite’s memorial service Wednesday to learn that my career is somewhat muted  by the fact I never met the journalistic icon.

I, like so many of my generation, were drawn to journalism by the likes of Cronkite, John Chancellor, David Brinkley and Chet Huntley.  When I was pretty sure I wouldn’t be an astronaut and walk the moon like Cmdr. Buzz Aldrin, who, by the way, was on hand to eulogize Mr. Cronkite, I wanted to be a journalist.

The service may be one of the great moments of my 30 years as a newsman.  When I wasn’t laughing at stories like the time Mr. Cronkite refused to have his picture taken with the Big Three’s anchors -- Dan Rather, Peter Jennings and Tom Brokaw -- because that meant leaving his seat at the bar and walking away from his drink, I was shedding a tear for our loss. The service was a euphoric blend of happy memories and poignant testimonies to “the Most Trusted Man in America.”

 Make no mistake about it, those who knew Walter Cronkite, loved him. They respected him and they followed his example of pure, driven journalism that put a premium on accuracy, fairness and brevity.

“Just give the people the news. Be accurate and fair. That’s what they want,” he must have said enough times to chant it in his sleep.

 That’s  an amazing statement that still has a place within today’s context of high-speed, technologically driven delivery systems.

In President Barack Obama’s tribute to the CBS News anchor, he told the crowd about the time Mr. Cronkite, as a young reporter, lost his job because he dared pick up the phone to verify a fire at a local department store instead of rushing on the air to tell it. Obama suggested, rightfully so I believe, that even with the supernova brightness of technology and the light speed by which information is disseminated, that Mr. Cronkite would still do the journalistic right thing and take the time to verify the information, get it right and then report it.

Listening to the likes to Bob Schieffer, Andy Rooney, Katie Couric, Nick Clooney, Sir Howard Stringer and Brokaw tell their stories about Mr. Cronkite, I was comforted by the notion that the way I was taught to be a journalist, and how I now teach my students, is straight from the Cronkite book – people need to know what happened. Above all else, accuracy and fairness must exist. Journalism is a noble calling and you must honor it with these commitments, lest you lose the trust of the public and undermine your credibility.

As Obama said, Mr. Cronkite was the “most trusted man in American” not because it was a marketing tool or a gimmick to get viewers to tune into CBS News.  It was a title bestowed upon him by the people who matter the most – the American public.

His work is legendary and his commitment to journalistic excellence is second to none, so my respect for him didn’t need to grow as a result of this service. But, what did happen is I renewed my spirit and reaffirmed my respect for what it is I do – journalism. I have the great fortune of sharing this profession with Mr. Cronkite.

He set the bar for which we all reach and in the final analysis, that may be his greatest gift to journalism -- that we aspire to be as honorable and trusted as Mr. Cronkite.

I may never have met him, but that seems less important to me today because of what he meant to American journalism and his beloved public.

 I think you can trust me on this.

A call to membership

 As those of you who attended the convention last week will recall, I talked about a plan to turn our membership numbers around. While adding 1,000 people to our roll seems daunting in these most difficult of times, it will not be if many of us make an effort to reach out to journalists in this coming year and convince them to join our organization. I referred to it as my 10 percent plan. If one in every 10 members did this, we'd be back to numbers of almost two years ago. Maybe we need to modify it to a 15 percent plan. However we promote it, the message is the same -- SPJ has to stop the membership slide now.

Just days ago a new report shows we fell below 8,000 members for the first time in many, many years. We are wanting our numbers to be closer to 9,000. Heck, I can remember two years ago thinking we could easily push it to 10,000. Not such an easy task as times change. But the need for our organization hasn't. More than ever, SPJ has to prove it has relevance to displaced journalists, working journalists and college journalists. As a member you know it does. That's why it's vital for you to make efforts to bolster our membership.

It's not just about image, it's also about survival. SPJ draws more than a third of its operating budget from dues and as we fall below 8,000 members we run risks of budget deficits and program cutbacks. I don't want to see that happen and neither do you. That's why I wrote the letter below that was sent out to all chapter leaders this week making my pitch to them to make membership a priority.

I think you will agree that there is no better time than the present to start this turnaround.

Sept. 4, 2009

Dear Chapter Leaders:

As many of you are aware by now, one of my primary missions for the next year is to elevate our membership numbers by more than 1,000 journalists. This is an ambitious undertaking in tough economic times for the news industry and its employees.

I know this sounds wildly ambitious, but it isn’t that difficult of a task. Think of the number of journalists you come in contact with each day, week, and month -- on the job or in social settings. These are prime opportunities to sell SPJ. You know and understand the value of your SPJ membership. Now you need to use your best skills of persuasion and make others feel that same way. Don’t let a moment pass you this year that you can’t extol the virtues of belonging to the largest, oldest and most prestigious journalism organization in our country.

This is why I believe we can make this happen. Using a very conservative approach to membership recruiting, I strongly believe it is attainable with a simple 10 percent plan. That is, if only 10 percent of the membership reached out to one journalist in the next year and brought them into the fold, we’d be well on our way to reaching the level this organization aspires.

We are now entering a very crucial time in our membership year. Students are arriving back on campus and membership numbers tend to dip for us at the end of the calendar year. As you return from convention energized with new-found knowledge you obtained from professional development and you have that SPJ spring in your step, don’t hesitate sharing it with others.

Student and professional chapter leaders can plan events that attract new faces. What we know is people join SPJ for our virtues but stay for local events. So, it’s vital that chapter leaders work diligently in this area to assure that SPJ has relevance for these journalists.

The staff at headquarters stands ready to assist you. Our new membership chair Holly Fisher and her committee members are ready to help you attract new members, retain old ones and devise new strategies that will keep SPJ vibrant and powerful in the years to come.

Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance or share your successes with others. Together, starting today, we will turn the corner and grow in numbers and strength.

 Sincerely,

 Kevin Z. Smith
President

SPJ tries to help laid off journalists stay involved

The SPJ board on Saturday decided to offer a helping hand to existing members who have lost their jobs.

The organization will extend memberships for six months for certain people. To find out if you are eligbile, you must apply using this form.

This is a very difficult time for all journalists especially those who have been put out of work as the business struggles financially. This policy, which is good for one year, is intended to allow people in a difficult spot to continue their memberships while they look for their next job in journalism.

Weekend in Philly

The Region 1 spring conference is my next stop. I leave for Philadelphia Thursday morning. The conference at Temple University starts Friday and ends Saturday. I am looking forward to seeing the leaders from Region 1 again.

This conference and the Region 10 conference in Montana wraps up what has been a successful spring conference season.

SPJ board adds transitional membership, picks convention site

Here is a short recap of the SPJ board action from Saturday, April 18. Please feel free to share this at what spring conferences remain and with your chapters leaders and members.

 Budget:

The board approved a budget that spends about $1.6 million and projects a $30,000 surplus at the end of the year. We have added categories to the Mark of Excellence Awards in hopes of adding entries. Quill magazine will be printed six times instead of nine, saving about $40,000

We are also going to replace the roof at the headquarters in Indianapolis, sharing the cost with the SDX Foundation. Revenue projections are based on membership levels of 8,200. We are at 8,500 this week. Membership is about 32 percent of our revenue.

 New chapters

The board admitted five new chapters to the Society. This is very exciting. Please welcome Angelo State, Butler University, Harding University, Northern Kentucky University and Western Michigan University campus chapters.

Relief for laid off journalists

The board approved a six-month extension for existing members who have lost their jobs. The offer is good for the next year. This will help journalists who have been laid off to maintain their SPJ memberships while they transition to their next job. Quill will be sent digitally to members who apply for this option. Look for more details in the coming weeks.

 2010 Convention

We are going to Las Vegas. We had a successful convention their in 2005 and we plan to return in 2010. The convention will probably take place in early October. The board also considered New Orleans. Hotel rates are expected to be under $150 a night. The conference was originally schedule for New York in 2010 but the board rescinded that when it became clear travel and hotel costs would be too expensive for members.

2011 Convention

SPJ plans to pursue the concept of a joint convention with the Radio Television News Directors Association in 2011. Both organizations have a goal of creating a giant professional development conference that might some day include additional partners. The partnership provides the opportunity for more participants, better room and meal rates. It also ends the need to compete for speakers, fundraising and attendance with another large organization.

It is important to note that both organizations will keep any traditions they have in this new setup. We would still have the President’s Installation Dinner, the LDF auction and the Mark of Excellence Awards. Our business meetings would still be conducted.

The board rescinded its plan to have the convention in San Francisco in 2011 so it could work on a location that is suitable for both SPJ and RTNDA.

 Fairness Doctrine

The board took a position in opposition to the Fairness Doctrine. No bill exists but there has been discussion. The organization opposes government intervention in speech and journalism ethics. A number of people have been contacting us asking what our position is on this issue. We will post a statement on the web site next week. The Fairness Doctrine was originally put in place in 1949 and required anyone with a broadcasting license to provide both sides of any controversial issue. The FCC repealed it in 1987.

We believe that the Fairness Doctrine is an attempt to regulate speech.

Branding statement

The Public Outreach committee was asked to recommend a branding statement that can be used as a slogan internally and externally. The board approved the slogan, “Fighting for your right to know, one story at a time.”

This will complement and not replace the “Improving and Protecting Journalism” that is now being used. It will start gradually making its way onto our promotional materials during the next few weeks.

 Chapter reports

A recommendation to put before the delegates a plan to remove from the bylaws the annual report requirement was rejected. The regional directors are working on improving the current system to rate student and campus chapters.

 Shield law

SPJ has scheduled July 13-15 as its annual trip to Washington D.C. to talk to congress about issues important to journalists. More information will come out later on how board members and committee leaders can take part if they are interested.

Improved digital communications

The Digital Media Committee recommended SPJ improve its blog system, engage more in social networking opportunities and put all digital tools in one place on the web site. All of these things are in the process of happening in the next year.

Strategic plan

The board is still committed to the strategic plan approved in 2007. It met for about an hour Saturday to talk about the nest steps in meeting the goals of the plan.

Onto the next 100 years

Friday was a great day for SPJ. About 100 people from across the country gathered at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. to celebrate the 100th anniversary of SPJ. We had some great events. From Richard Tofel's discussion of his book on Barney Kilgore to the panel on the state of the news business to the inspiration and entertaining speech Jane Pauley delivered, it was a great day.

Here are my remarks before Friday night's dinner:

I’m sure if our 10 founders could be here today, they would be proud that SPJ is still strong, still supporting journalists and still improving and protecting journalism.

I’m sure they would be proud to see we are still defending the First Amendment, still standing for high ethical standards and still providing first rate professional development.

It is a great honor to be president of this great organization, on this historic day, during this historic year. It is a great honor to follow in the footsteps of the 10 young men who loved their craft so much that they created a fraternity on this campus, what is now SPJ, to assure that their profession would be here 100 years later.

It is a great honor to follow in the footsteps of many of you, past presidents who led this great organization. It’s a great honor to be here before those of you who have toiled on previous boards and committees or simply volunteered their time to first work on behalf of journalism but also on behalf of SPJ. Without your work, without your efforts without your talent, truth and your energy, we might not be here today celebrating a centennial birthday.

And here we are, 10 decades later - still strong as an organization even as our profession staggers and stumbles to survive a crippling recession, a more competitive market and a mistaken belief that the news is less credible.

We have been around for 100 years and we will soon tonight finish celebrating our birthday. But we have not completed our journey. We have not finished our job. There is still work to be done. We are not done telling stories, we are not done covering the news and we are not done playing our watchdog role that is so important to democracy.

SPJ will not stop. Not while people are still denied access to public records. SPJ will not stop. Not while reporters are still facing fines and subpoenas. SPJ will not stop. Not while the shield bill waits in Congress for passage. SPJ will not stop. Not while an American journalist from Fargo sits in an Iranian prison. SPJ will not stop, not now not ever.

Those of you in this room have played your part in fulfilling our mission. You played your part in living up to the great dream that Eugene C. Pulliam and his fellow founders had 100 years ago. They dreamed of an organization that would support their chosen craft.

The flame will go out on our birthday cake today. The flame cannot go out in our hearts, the flame cannot go out in our will, in our responsibility to do what those who came before us did. We must continue to follow their lead to improve and protect journalism.

This summer, we will expend all our energy and marshal all our volunteer power to pass a shield law through congress so no journalist has to spend one minute or one second in court or behind bars for doing their jobs. The SPJ founders would have wanted it that way.

This spring we will conduct nine town hall meetings throughout the country assuring the public that journalists are serious about high standards, about telling the truth, about being accountable.

The SPJ founders would have wanted it that way.

And the rest of this year, we will provide the best available training to journalists  so they  can do their jobs better and prepare themselves as the professional landscape shifts beneath them.  

The SPJ founders would have wanted it that way.

We have been here 100 years. And we will be here at least 100 more. Our work is not done. The SPJ founders would have wanted it that way.

To those of you here, thank you for your dedication and support of SPJ. Thank you for the work you have done that has helped SPJ thrive for 100 years. Thank you to all 9,000 members; Some who simply pay their dues and cheer from the side while others serve as a chapter presidents licking stamps and judging contests and doing the work that is SPJ.  Regardless of your level involvement, it is all vital to the success of SPJ. 

So our centennial celebration will soon end but our efforts will not.

The SPJ founders would have wanted it that way.

Watching the Centennial

Almost 100 people have registered to attend Friday's 100th anniversary event at DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind. Those who cannot be there can watch the Webcast live.

The first program for the Webcast starts at 3 p.m. EST. You can catch the events here.

Here is the schedule for the Centennial celebebration:

3-4:30 p.m. -  panel discussion

4:45-5:30 p.m. - anniversary ceremony

5:45-6:05 p.m. - opening remarks from President Dave Aeikens at dinner

7:30-8:30 p.m. - Jane Pauley keynote

This is a historic day for SPJ. I hope you and your chapter can be a part of it.

Board meeting April 18

The 23-member SPJ board of directors, which makes policy decisions for the organization, is schedule to meet Saturday, April 18 in Greencastle, Ind.

One of the things I have tried to do as president is make the board and executive board issues as accessible to the members as possible. You can see the agenda and the supporting documents here. It has gone out to board members, committee members and past leaders. It will be distributed in Leads Thursday.

Please take the time to look it at and if you have a question or comment please contact me or another board member.

We have a number of important issues to discuss including the 2009-2010 budget and the strategic plan.

Chapter leaders should examine the proposal to end the requirement for annual reports. The board can only vote to put this before the delegates who must decide if they want to change the bylaws. Feel free to discuss this issue with your regional director.

We are also considering a joint national convention in 2011 with the  Radio Television News Directors Association.

Our birthday is coming

After much anticipation, SPJ's 100th anniversary and the celebration that will recognize it out just days a way. I look forward to seeing many of you in Greencastle, Ind. Friday for what will be a terrific day.

We will be joined by Russ Pulliam, whose grandfather was one of the 10 DePauw University students who started SPJ in 1909. We will also do a roll call of past presidents who are in attendance Friday. We will have a panel discussion on journalism. We will remember our roots with a modified SPJ induction ceremony in Meharry Hall.

After dinner, Jane Pauley, a longtime SPJ member, will give he keynote address.

We have asked chapters to plan events around the 100th anniversary and send pictures that can be posted on the Web site. Members can watch the events on through a web cast or get updates through Twitter.

This is going to be a great week for SPJ!

Free Roxanna Saberi

We have been doing our best to remind Iran that journalism is not espionage. The situation of Roxana Saberi is getting ridiculous. First the freelance journalist is put in an Iranian prison and now she is charged with espionage. Her parents are rightfully upset. SPJ takes a keen interest in all cases in which journalists are in prisoned and sadly it is happening even in this country. That's why we are working to pass a Shield law.

Many journalism organizations are outraged by this and are doing what they can to help.

Roxana Saberi is from Fargo, N.D., a city SPJ leaders recently visited and a place where we have friends.

I urge the U.S. government to do what it can to get the Iranians to release Saberi immediately to her family. This has gone on long enough.

Visiting Region 11

I'm back from the Region 11 spring conference in Phoenix at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University's downtown campus.

The conference, hosted by the Valley of the Sun Pro Chapter, was excellent and the set up at the university was terrific. I got to visit with two former Minnesotan's. Tim McGuire, the former editor at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and Blake Morrison, who is a University of Minnesota graduate and former St. Paul Pioneer Press reporter. McGuire is at ASU, sharing his wisdom with future journalists. I sat through a terrific seminar he did on ethics and the changing news business. Morrison is deputy enterprise editor at USA Today.

It was also great to see the leaders of the chapters from Region 11. Cal State Fullerton and University of Luverne brought large contingents of students.

And I had breakfast with Mark Scarp, the longtime SPJ volunteer and former Regional director, who is between jobs and keeping busy as an associate faculty member at ASU.

It was also good to see leaders from LA, San Diego and Hawaii among other chpaters.

Good work in Region 11!

Remembering Don Bolles

The Clarendon Hotel in Phoenix was one of the featured hotels for the Region 11 spring conference. It also happens to be where Don Bolles, the former Arizona Republic investigative reporter, was killed by a bomb placed under his car.

The hotel has a bust of Bolles near the near the elevator. The hallway that leads to the lobby bathrooms and workout rooms have large framed photos of the scene not long after in happened.

Bolles death sparked outraged among journalists across the country who descended on Phoenix to finish Bolles's work. A message needed to be sent that you could not stop a story by killing a journalist. The work those reporters did won an SDX award.

By chance I met a man at the hotel named John "Dutch" Shultz, who says his production company is planning a play about Bolles. Ben Affleck also has a project in the works.

It is a tragic and interesting story and deserves to be told with grace and historical accuracy.

SPJ in the Hill blog

I got the chance to blog on The Hill newspaper's blog today. Someone from the paper called and asked if we could make a few comments about  the Shield law. We will never pass up the chance to talk about our top legislative priority. Here it is. 

Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act

The Congressman who one of the leaders with the Shield bill has another bill of great interest to journalists. U.S. Rep. Mike Pence, R-Ind., and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff have authored the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act.

The bill would:

highlight and promote the work and accomplishments of journalists and media organizations that promote freedom of opinion and expression worldwide; draw attention to the conditions in countries in which journalists are killed, imprisoned, kidnapped, threatened, or censored; offer protection for these individuals and media organizations by identifying to the inter8national community those countries where journalists are at the highest risk; and emphasize the significance of including freedom of the press as enshrined in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a factor in United States foreign policy.

Pence and Schiff are the co-chairman of the Caucus for Freedom of the Press. I must acknowledge that I had no idea there was such a caucus in Congress. Now that I know, God bless them. This bill is another effort SPJ will have to get behind.

The bill recognizes Pearl, the former Wall Street Journal reporter who was kidnapped and murdered by terrorists in Pakistan, just four months after the Sept.11attacks. The legislation will establish an annual state department report on the status of press freedom in every country in the world and create a grant program aimed at broadening and strengthening the independence of journalists and media organizations.