CHICAGO HEADLINE CLUB
Board of Directors meeting
June 6, 2021
President Madhu Krishnamurthy called the meeting to order at 9 a.m. Also present via Zoom: Howard Dubin, Greg Karp, Flynn McRoberts, Christine Wolf, Robert Elder, Ash-har Quraishi, Alejandra Cancino, Blair Chavez, Maya Dukmasova, Amanda Vinicky, Taylor Moore, Suzanne McBride, Mike Ewing, and Susan S. Stevens.
Minutes of the May meeting were approved as sent by Susan.
President’s report: Madhu presented the slate for 2021-22 that she and Amanda put together. It is:
Officers
Amanda Vinicky, WTTW, President, president@headlineclub.org
Mike Ewing, WGN-TV, VP of Membership, membership@headlineclub.org
Matt Kiefer, WBEZ, VP of FOIA, foia@headlineclub.org
VP of Programming, programming@headlineclub.org
Gregory Karp, NerdWallet, Treasurer, treasurer@headlineclub.org
Susan S. Stevens, freelancer, Secretary, secretary@headlineclub.org
Madhu Krishnamurthy, Daily Herald, president ex-officio, salaamnamaste623@gmail.com
Webmaster, webmaster@headlineclub.org
Members whose terms end in 2022:
Maya Dukmasova, Chicago Reader, FOIAFest Bootcamp
Alejandra Cancino, BGA
Nader Issa, Chicago Sun-Times, FOIAFest Bootcamp
Taylor Moore, International Women’s Media Foundation
Tahman Bradley, WGN-TV
Howard Dubin, Manufacturers News
Ash-Har Quraishi, The E.W. Scripps Company
Raza Siddiqui, WMAQ Channel 5 Chicago
Suzanne McBride, Columbia College
Jason Martin, DePaul University
Michael Limon, Loyola University
Christine Wolf, freelancer
Blair Chavis, ABA Journal
Robert K. Elder, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, former president
New members whose terms end in 2023:
Catherine Larkin, clarkin4@bloomberg.net, Bloomberg News
Olivia Obineme, olivia.i.obineme@gmail.com – BGA
Adam Rhodes, arhodes@chicagoreader.com, Chicago Reader
Nona Tepper, nonatppr@gmail.com, Crain Communications/Modern Healthcare
Stacey Wescott, swescott@chicagotribune.com, Chicago Tribune
We’ll have a membership vote by email. New board will be seated July 1.
Programming VP still uncertain. Boot camp will be handled by Maya and Nader Issa.
Committee/future board hopefuls: We have a list of 11 candidates who can serve on various committees and potentially become board members down the road. Amanda urges committee chairs to choose vice-chairs among these people, and Madhu concurs.
Lisagor: Kathy Catrambone is bowing out as coordinator after a decade. The board will seek bids for a replacement. Board extends its huge thanks to Kathy, and will provide a $500 bonus.
Kathy suggests we get a new graphic artist and create a new look for the program book, plus bid out the printing and plaque-making. Madhu will ask Kathy to put together a memo to help the next coordinator.
Programs: Taylor’s committee has drafted honorarium models for panelists, moderators, trainers and keynote speakers. Everyone take a look and respond with comments. We’ll probably do an e-vote.
We will not have a June program.
We will have a summer planning meeting for the board. Mike has graciously agreed to host in his yard. Date to be determined.
Foundation: President Molly McDonough emailed that it has chosen a Brownlee Scholarship winner, in addition to the two intern grant recipients. PR will follow shortly.
Reciprocal judging: Madhu said on behalf of Tahman Bradley: Finish soon. Deadline is Sunday midnight.
Madhu filed the annual report with SPJ.
Treasurer’s report: Greg said the CHC bank balance is $90,223 and the foundation has $73,158. We have a credit of about $5,000 with SPJ HQs because fewer than half the people we offered free memberships took us up on it. Greg will ask for a refund.
Board agreed we will not issue a statement criticizing the mayor for offering interviews to only journalists of color. We will work on an overall statement about our commitment to diversity and urge newsroom leaders to take heed.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan S. Stevens, secretary