Chicago Headline Club Board meeting
Feb. 11, 2011
At Bloomberg News headquarters in Chicago
Start: 9:15 a.m.
In attendance: Sue Stevens, Beth Konrad, George Garties, Flynn McRoberts, Tony Noce, Ken Davis, Suzanne McBride, Amy Lee, Kristen Schorsch, Randi Belisomo, Kathy Catrambone, Aimee DeBat, Howard Dubin, Rummana Hussain.
The SPJ Region 4 and 5 Conference is April 1-2 in Erlanger, Kentucky. Sue Stevens, as well as Beth Konrad and some of her students at Loyola University Chicago, plan to attend.
Beth Konrad provided an update on the public access survey for journalists. About 100 journalists have responded so far. Beth said she needs help spreading the word to make sure journalists fill the survey out. Amy Lee said she’d do a phone bank with Beth, and the club will continue to publicize the survey through e-blasts.
Jon Seidel, via Sue Stevens, provided an update on the Web site. A contract with Gary Kopycinski, owner of eNews Park Forest, has been approved and would be signed the following weekend. For $60 a month, Kopycinski will update security on the site and back up files. He is expected to work for about an hour a month.
The January minutes were unanimously approved.
Howard Dubin said the club has received more than $10,000 in checks for the Peter Lisagor Awards entries, and $14,000 in credit card payments still have to be processed.
Kathy Catrambone provided an update on the Lisagor Award banquet on May 6 at Hotel Allegro in downtown Chicago. The club received a total of 574 entries, which is 80 more than last year. Kathy, Amy Lee and Sue Stevens made phone calls. Tony Noce said he has received a good response in Watchdog award entries.
Lifetime Achievement Award nominees also are being considered at this time.
Ken Davis reported that he’s contacted the Chicago Tribune about a social media workshop and is awaiting a response.
The board approved $1,500 in Watchdog funding for ChicagoTalks.org, run by Columbia College Chicago. Board member Suzanne McBride, a co-founder and co-publisher of the site, abstained.
Randi Belisomo said three students have submitted applications for Chicago Headline Club Foundation internship scholarships. She will push hard next month to get more students. The application deadline is April 22.
The board discussed the Society of Professional Journalists’ decision to retire the Helen Thomas Award after Thomas made remarks about Jews in Palestine, and whether the decision process should have been more transparent.
Kathy thanked everyone who helped sort the Lisagor Award entries.
Adjourned at 10:25 a.m.
— Secretary Kristen Schorsch