Chicago Headline Club meeting minutes
Dec. 10, 2010 at Bloomberg News in Chicago
In attendance: Sue Stevens, Aimee DeBat, George Garties, Hilary Fosdal, Ken Davis, Kristen Schorsch, Steve Edwards, Beth Konrad, Brian Pitts, Steve Franklin, Diane Monk McClelland (Chicago Headline Club Foundation president)
By phone: Jon Seidel, Howard Dubin, Rummana Hussein, Suzanne McBride, Randi Belisomo
Start: 9:01 a.m.
November meeting minutes were approved with a correction Steve Franklin helped Beth Konrad with the access survey.
Sue Stevens reported that 1,900 Peter Lisagor award entry forms will be mailed next week. The club already has received inquiries about the entry forms. Executive director Kathy Catrambone is working on a marketing timeline to promote the banquet scheduled for May.
Jon provided an update about the web site. The front-page rotator is back up, eblasts have been restored and he asked for fresh content for the site. He also provided a memo with more details.
Howard provided a treasurer’s report. The club didn’t receive any new income in the last month. The Chicago Headline Club Foundation has paid UIC nearly $25,000 out of the $40,000 grant for the access survey and has contributed $6,250 to a new student scholarship honoring Les Brownlee.
Beth reported that a final draft of the access survey has been presented. The survey consists of questions about access to information. Two focus groups that provided anecdotes about their access issues helped form the questions. Steve Franklin provided input on the ethnic media. Two interns are helping with the survey.
Beth and Hilary talked about the need to brand the access survey to market it well. The board also discussed when it should have a town hall meeting to present and discuss the results of the access survey.
Diane Monk McClelland talked about the history of the Foundation and how the Foundation board makes decisions about spending money and developing programs, including student scholarships.
Ken Davis discussed an upcoming panel that will update reporters about new campaign finance laws and how they’ll impact municipal elections.
The board discussed the possibility of hosting or pairing up with another organization on a Chicago mayoral candidate forum. Steve Franklin suggested introducing ethnic media outlets to mayoral campaigns or maintaining a list of forums to help their coverage.
Sue Stevens said the new Chicago police media credentials may be issued next month.
A new person applied for Scribe Aide money, which goes to unemployed or underemployed journalists.
Hilary provided a membership update. The club has 242 members, which has remained about the same for the last six months.
Steve Franklin said a neighborhood event in Austin he and Suzanne McBride organized was well attended with about 30 people. The event is scheduled to take place again in April in Albany Park. Suzanne thanked Steve for his help and said an Austin Talks reporter covered the event.
Meeting adjourned at 10:21 a.m.
— Secretary Kristen Schorsch
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