Time Inc. layoffs hit mastheads hard
By KEITH J. KELLY
Last Updated: 11:37 PM, January 30, 2013
Posted: 11:27 PM, January 30, 2013
Time Inc., home to venerable titles such as Time, People and Sports Illustrated, began a steep round of layoffs yesterday that claimed just under 250 jobs at its New York headquarters.
CEO Laura Lang said she would slash a total of 500 jobs, or 6 percent of the global workforce, as the magazine publisher wrestles with falling print ad revenue.
The highest-profile editorial name to be pink-slipped yesterday was Health Editor-in-Chief Ellen Kunes. Clare McHugh, editor of the custom Walmart magazine All You, will do double duty for both titles.
Real Simple Publisher Sally Preston, who left Martha Stewart Living a little over a year ago, is out on the business side.
Time Inc. veteran Charles Kammerer, who was already doing double duty as group publisher of This Old House and Coastal Living, will jump to Real Simple as publisher. His old job will be filled by an associate publisher.
Meanwhile, People is looking for nine Newspaper Guild volunteers to step forward or it faces involuntary cuts. Time is cutting 12, including six from the guild.
The layoffs are part of Time Warner CEO Jeff Bewkes’s mandate to shave $100 million in costs from the hard-pressed publishing subsidiary.
The problem for Time Inc. and other publishers is that digital revenue — while growing rapidly — isn’t enough to offset the erosion of print advertising.
The company has had bigger cutbacks in terms of absolute numbers, but this latest round is the biggest as a percentage of the workforce.
“With the significant and ongoing changes in our industry, we must continue to transform our company into one that is leaner, more nimble and more innately multi-platform,” said Lang, who joined Time over a year ago from digital ad firm Digitas, where she was CEO.
Thursday, January 31, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Rupert Murdoch Apologizes
In light of our report on Murdoch the other night, I thought you might be interested in this story from today:
http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/standing-with-israel/16638-rupert-murdoch-apologizes-for-antisemitic-cartoon
http://www.charismamag.com/blogs/standing-with-israel/16638-rupert-murdoch-apologizes-for-antisemitic-cartoon
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Tips for Investigative Reporting
From newslab.org
Tips for investigative reporting
Posted by Deborah Potter on 11/20/12 • Categorized as Strategies,Video
Organized chaos. That’s how Lee Zurik of WVUE in New Orleans describes his work days. And no wonder. He anchors two prime time newscasts every night and also serves as the station’s chief investigative reporter. How does he manage to keep producing award-winning work?
We asked Zurik to share his strategies for finding and keeping track of stories while making the most of his limited time.
Request Records – Often
Most of my investigations are based on documents. It’s hard for anyone to factually find fault with something that has been put in writing – in a public document. So I spend at least a part of every week making requests and sorting through records I’ve received.
For me, it accomplishes two things. First, the more I look at records, the more I am able to tell when something doesn’t look right. When you see public entities that work well – that have a “clean” set of records – the problem agencies stick out.
Second, many times I will make a records request for some basic documents like salaries for all employees and then get an unsolicited call or letter telling me what I should be looking for. I guess word spreads when records requests are filed, and when employees hear someone is looking into their entity it is an impetus to call me.
I try to request all of my records electronically. It usually makes it easier for the agencies – they can send a simple email. And for me, it’s a helpful way to keep my records organized.
Know the Law
A few co-workers joke with me – “You play an attorney on TV.” I keep electronic files of relevant court cases and opinions from attorneys general. I also keep copies of all letters our attorney has written on our behalf. And I use them all – frequently.
When a public entity that doesn’t necessarily know the law rejects a records request, before I get any attorney involved, I fire off a letter myself – citing specific cases and opinions. Most of the time, I get access to the records and save our station the money an attorney would cost.
Look at hidden entities
Brett Shipp, a terrific reporter from WFAA, spoke at an IRE Conference two years ago about investigating obscure entities and agencies. That was possibly the best advice I have received. I have had the most success as an investigative reporter looking into those entities. The less sun that’s been shined, the more chance there is for abuse.
Let your investigations roll
The more I do this, the more I think the key to most strong investigations is that they don’t disappear after one story. While there are certainly examples otherwise, most strong investigations I see these days dig deeper than one story or two. I think that’s the key to significant journalism that leads to action.
It can be a challenge, because less news viewing means many of your viewers haven’t seen some of your past stories. A fine line exists between rehashing an entire story to update new viewers and telling a new story to loyal viewers. You don’t want to alienate either.
Maintain a Story Board
One thing that helps me stay organized is keeping a dry erase storyboard. I produce at least half a dozen stories every sweeps period and sprinkle in a few stories a month (most times more) out of sweeps. My board has each sweeps month and stories I have planned. So today, I have stories I am planning to do in November, February, and even May. Obviously these change, but it gives me a good idea of where I am. It also shows I consistently have multiple projects going at the same time. Some are short range and others much longer. Last May, we started airing a series of reports we called “Dirty Deeds.” That was a project we worked on for two years. We also aired a few stories in May on campaign spending. That research only took a few days.
Watch your peers
I try to spend a few minutes every week looking at other investigative reporters work from around the country. Twitter makes this easy. It gives me story ideas and shows me how to tell better stories. There are many great reporters around the country, but I never miss a story by Bob Segall (WTHR), Tony Kovaleski (KNTV), Stephen Stock (KNTV), Phil Williams (WTVF), Brett Shipp (WFAA), and Byron Harris (WFAA). All have their own style, but all are tremendous storytellers and investigative reporters.
Join IRE
And finally, if you’re not a member of IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) – join. That’s how I learned to be an investigative reporter. Until Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, I was a sports anchor. After the storm, my boss asked me to switch over to news. That has turned into the best decision of my career. I had some basic knowledge from my days as a student at Syracuse University, but no professional experience as an investigative news reporter. I basically taught myself with the resources on the website (tipsheets) and IRE journals.
Tips for investigative reporting
Posted by Deborah Potter on 11/20/12 • Categorized as Strategies,Video
Organized chaos. That’s how Lee Zurik of WVUE in New Orleans describes his work days. And no wonder. He anchors two prime time newscasts every night and also serves as the station’s chief investigative reporter. How does he manage to keep producing award-winning work?
We asked Zurik to share his strategies for finding and keeping track of stories while making the most of his limited time.
Request Records – Often
Most of my investigations are based on documents. It’s hard for anyone to factually find fault with something that has been put in writing – in a public document. So I spend at least a part of every week making requests and sorting through records I’ve received.
For me, it accomplishes two things. First, the more I look at records, the more I am able to tell when something doesn’t look right. When you see public entities that work well – that have a “clean” set of records – the problem agencies stick out.
Second, many times I will make a records request for some basic documents like salaries for all employees and then get an unsolicited call or letter telling me what I should be looking for. I guess word spreads when records requests are filed, and when employees hear someone is looking into their entity it is an impetus to call me.
I try to request all of my records electronically. It usually makes it easier for the agencies – they can send a simple email. And for me, it’s a helpful way to keep my records organized.
Know the Law
A few co-workers joke with me – “You play an attorney on TV.” I keep electronic files of relevant court cases and opinions from attorneys general. I also keep copies of all letters our attorney has written on our behalf. And I use them all – frequently.
When a public entity that doesn’t necessarily know the law rejects a records request, before I get any attorney involved, I fire off a letter myself – citing specific cases and opinions. Most of the time, I get access to the records and save our station the money an attorney would cost.
Look at hidden entities
Brett Shipp, a terrific reporter from WFAA, spoke at an IRE Conference two years ago about investigating obscure entities and agencies. That was possibly the best advice I have received. I have had the most success as an investigative reporter looking into those entities. The less sun that’s been shined, the more chance there is for abuse.
Let your investigations roll
The more I do this, the more I think the key to most strong investigations is that they don’t disappear after one story. While there are certainly examples otherwise, most strong investigations I see these days dig deeper than one story or two. I think that’s the key to significant journalism that leads to action.
It can be a challenge, because less news viewing means many of your viewers haven’t seen some of your past stories. A fine line exists between rehashing an entire story to update new viewers and telling a new story to loyal viewers. You don’t want to alienate either.
Maintain a Story Board
One thing that helps me stay organized is keeping a dry erase storyboard. I produce at least half a dozen stories every sweeps period and sprinkle in a few stories a month (most times more) out of sweeps. My board has each sweeps month and stories I have planned. So today, I have stories I am planning to do in November, February, and even May. Obviously these change, but it gives me a good idea of where I am. It also shows I consistently have multiple projects going at the same time. Some are short range and others much longer. Last May, we started airing a series of reports we called “Dirty Deeds.” That was a project we worked on for two years. We also aired a few stories in May on campaign spending. That research only took a few days.
Watch your peers
I try to spend a few minutes every week looking at other investigative reporters work from around the country. Twitter makes this easy. It gives me story ideas and shows me how to tell better stories. There are many great reporters around the country, but I never miss a story by Bob Segall (WTHR), Tony Kovaleski (KNTV), Stephen Stock (KNTV), Phil Williams (WTVF), Brett Shipp (WFAA), and Byron Harris (WFAA). All have their own style, but all are tremendous storytellers and investigative reporters.
Join IRE
And finally, if you’re not a member of IRE (Investigative Reporters and Editors) – join. That’s how I learned to be an investigative reporter. Until Hurricane Katrina in August of 2005, I was a sports anchor. After the storm, my boss asked me to switch over to news. That has turned into the best decision of my career. I had some basic knowledge from my days as a student at Syracuse University, but no professional experience as an investigative news reporter. I basically taught myself with the resources on the website (tipsheets) and IRE journals.
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Leasing Out Reporters' Desks?
From the Atlantic Wire:
Things aren't as bad as they used to be in the newspapers business, but they're not good either. Perpetually faced with declining ad revenue, several papers have become landlords recently to make ends meet. On Sunday night, The New York Times reported on the new trend of newspapers running tiny real estate business by leasing out abandoned areas of their offices. Those areas are, of course, abandoned because the papers have been slashing staff for the past few years and are realizing that those jobs just aren't going to come back. What's sort of funny about the otherwise sort of sad story is that, aside from the extra money, newspapers really like the fact that their offices feel busy again. "It makes us look like a tech company," said Shirley Leung, business editor at The Boston Globe. "That space represents the modern Globe."
Well yes, it appears that it does. The Times, which owns and has tried to sell The Globe, goes on to explain how The Globe headquarters have been made new again by publisher Christopher M. Mayer's decision to convert about 100 empty desks into an all-purpose area where local startups have set up shot and bands regularly perform. "You don't want to underutilize an asset," Mayer said. "I have a building here that we can use for a variety of things. Bringing bands in, bringing events here, it reminds us and folks in the community what we do." Which is produce a newspaper and now, evidently, operate a hip new co-working space.
Other papers are pulling the same trick. The Los Angeles Times, a struggling paper that recently appeared on Rupert Murdoch's radar as a possible acquisition, has been leasing out its empty office space not only to other companies but also to be used in film production. The offices that you see in Argo and Moneyball, for instances, are where LA Times reporters used to work. Their philosophy, like The Globe's, is an opportunistic one. Spokesperson Hillary Manning told The Times that converting their space into movie sets sometimes is an effort "to maximize the value of our real estate assets and diversify our revenue streams to best support The Times's core journalistic mission."
What's next? Selling off pieces of the company to power-crazy Mexican billionaires? Oh wait…
Things aren't as bad as they used to be in the newspapers business, but they're not good either. Perpetually faced with declining ad revenue, several papers have become landlords recently to make ends meet. On Sunday night, The New York Times reported on the new trend of newspapers running tiny real estate business by leasing out abandoned areas of their offices. Those areas are, of course, abandoned because the papers have been slashing staff for the past few years and are realizing that those jobs just aren't going to come back. What's sort of funny about the otherwise sort of sad story is that, aside from the extra money, newspapers really like the fact that their offices feel busy again. "It makes us look like a tech company," said Shirley Leung, business editor at The Boston Globe. "That space represents the modern Globe."
Well yes, it appears that it does. The Times, which owns and has tried to sell The Globe, goes on to explain how The Globe headquarters have been made new again by publisher Christopher M. Mayer's decision to convert about 100 empty desks into an all-purpose area where local startups have set up shot and bands regularly perform. "You don't want to underutilize an asset," Mayer said. "I have a building here that we can use for a variety of things. Bringing bands in, bringing events here, it reminds us and folks in the community what we do." Which is produce a newspaper and now, evidently, operate a hip new co-working space.
Other papers are pulling the same trick. The Los Angeles Times, a struggling paper that recently appeared on Rupert Murdoch's radar as a possible acquisition, has been leasing out its empty office space not only to other companies but also to be used in film production. The offices that you see in Argo and Moneyball, for instances, are where LA Times reporters used to work. Their philosophy, like The Globe's, is an opportunistic one. Spokesperson Hillary Manning told The Times that converting their space into movie sets sometimes is an effort "to maximize the value of our real estate assets and diversify our revenue streams to best support The Times's core journalistic mission."
What's next? Selling off pieces of the company to power-crazy Mexican billionaires? Oh wait…
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Florida Student Paper Suspended, Advisor Removed
Florida A&M student paper's publication suspended, adviser removed
January 9, 2013
FLORIDA — The student newspaper at Florida A&M university has been suspended from publishing, its adviser removed and its staff told they must reapply for their positions by the dean of FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication.
Editor Karl Etters learned of The Famuan’s suspension Monday, the first day of the spring semester, during a meeting with Dean Ann Kimbrough. A schoolwide email announcement of the suspension was made Tuesday morning.
"We are working to balance students' rights to a free press through this process while also ensuring that The Famuan has the proper support from the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication as it serves as a training unit for up and coming journalists," Kimbrough said in the email.
FAMU administrators declined to comment beyond a brief statement. The statement cites a libel lawsuit as one of the things that prompted the publication’s suspension. Last month, the paper was sued for defamation for an article it published following the hazing death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion.
The December 2011 article incorrectly stated that Keon Hollis, a fellow drum major, had been suspended in connection with Champion’s hazing death. No disciplinary action was taken against Hollis, according to a correction published by the paper in February 2012. The original article has been removed from the paper’s website.
Kimbrough, who took over as dean last August, said in an interview that she’s been told that the reporter who wrote the piece in question was not enrolled at the university, which is a requirement for working on student publications. She said the reporter said the information came from “reliable sources,” but that he wouldn’t identify who the sources were.
As a new dean, Kimbrough said she was already reviewing all of the student publications that operate through the journalism school when she learned of the lawsuit. She said she did research on the Student Press Law Center’s website and concluded that more training would be beneficial for students.
Kimbrough said she didn’t believe that pushing back the paper’s publication interfered with the students’ ability to make their own editorial decisions.
“The students do have the right to publish as they see fit,” she said, adding that because the paper is under the umbrella of the school of journalism and “not an independent separate organization,” that it was reasonable to ask them to undergo additional training.
Kimbrough said she could not comment on adviser Andrew Skerritt’s removal, which happened last Friday, because it was a personnel issue. She said it was unrelated to the lawsuit and that the timing was “just a coincidence.” The school’s statement doesn’t address Skerritt’s removal, either.
“The adviser’s situation was something that happened and occurred long before I arrived,” Kimbrough said. “It was something that I inherited. This removal was already to be.”
Skerritt, who has advised the paper for four-and-a-half years, declined to comment on the reasons he was given for his removal. He remains an assistant professor of journalism at the school.
“We want to do whatever we can to prepare our students to be the best journalists they can be,” Skerritt said. “I’m glad to have had the chance to do that.”
Staff have been told they will have to undergo training in media law and ethics, but Etters said most have already taken the journalism school’s media law class. In addition, he said they’ve been told some of the training will focus on more general journalism principles.
“To me it feels redundant,” Etters said. “That’s what we do every day.”
Etters said the staff didn’t learn they would have to reapply until Tuesday night, in a meeting with Kimbrough to contest the publication suspension. It’s not clear whether the requirement that staff reapply is connected with Kimbrough’s discovery that some previous staff were ineligible.
The paper hires new editors every semester, and Etters said the spring semester’s staff was hired in December just before winter break. He said the staff all plan to reapply.
Kimbrough said this is being required of staff because the hiring process was not properly completed in December. She said that she’s seen no paperwork regarding the hirings and that her decision to have students reapply was made so that there would be a “fair process to all.”
Kimbrough said she is trying to find an interim adviser and that other journalism school faculty will advise the paper until then. The paper will resume publishing on Jan. 30.
Etters said he was not sure whether he or other staff members will contest the suspension further, but says they are considering doing so.
By Sara Gregory, SPLC staff writer. Contact Gregory by email or at (703) 807-1904 ext. 125.
© 2013 Student Press Law Center
January 9, 2013
FLORIDA — The student newspaper at Florida A&M university has been suspended from publishing, its adviser removed and its staff told they must reapply for their positions by the dean of FAMU’s School of Journalism and Graphic Communication.
Editor Karl Etters learned of The Famuan’s suspension Monday, the first day of the spring semester, during a meeting with Dean Ann Kimbrough. A schoolwide email announcement of the suspension was made Tuesday morning.
"We are working to balance students' rights to a free press through this process while also ensuring that The Famuan has the proper support from the School of Journalism & Graphic Communication as it serves as a training unit for up and coming journalists," Kimbrough said in the email.
FAMU administrators declined to comment beyond a brief statement. The statement cites a libel lawsuit as one of the things that prompted the publication’s suspension. Last month, the paper was sued for defamation for an article it published following the hazing death of FAMU drum major Robert Champion.
The December 2011 article incorrectly stated that Keon Hollis, a fellow drum major, had been suspended in connection with Champion’s hazing death. No disciplinary action was taken against Hollis, according to a correction published by the paper in February 2012. The original article has been removed from the paper’s website.
Kimbrough, who took over as dean last August, said in an interview that she’s been told that the reporter who wrote the piece in question was not enrolled at the university, which is a requirement for working on student publications. She said the reporter said the information came from “reliable sources,” but that he wouldn’t identify who the sources were.
As a new dean, Kimbrough said she was already reviewing all of the student publications that operate through the journalism school when she learned of the lawsuit. She said she did research on the Student Press Law Center’s website and concluded that more training would be beneficial for students.
Kimbrough said she didn’t believe that pushing back the paper’s publication interfered with the students’ ability to make their own editorial decisions.
“The students do have the right to publish as they see fit,” she said, adding that because the paper is under the umbrella of the school of journalism and “not an independent separate organization,” that it was reasonable to ask them to undergo additional training.
Kimbrough said she could not comment on adviser Andrew Skerritt’s removal, which happened last Friday, because it was a personnel issue. She said it was unrelated to the lawsuit and that the timing was “just a coincidence.” The school’s statement doesn’t address Skerritt’s removal, either.
“The adviser’s situation was something that happened and occurred long before I arrived,” Kimbrough said. “It was something that I inherited. This removal was already to be.”
Skerritt, who has advised the paper for four-and-a-half years, declined to comment on the reasons he was given for his removal. He remains an assistant professor of journalism at the school.
“We want to do whatever we can to prepare our students to be the best journalists they can be,” Skerritt said. “I’m glad to have had the chance to do that.”
Staff have been told they will have to undergo training in media law and ethics, but Etters said most have already taken the journalism school’s media law class. In addition, he said they’ve been told some of the training will focus on more general journalism principles.
“To me it feels redundant,” Etters said. “That’s what we do every day.”
Etters said the staff didn’t learn they would have to reapply until Tuesday night, in a meeting with Kimbrough to contest the publication suspension. It’s not clear whether the requirement that staff reapply is connected with Kimbrough’s discovery that some previous staff were ineligible.
The paper hires new editors every semester, and Etters said the spring semester’s staff was hired in December just before winter break. He said the staff all plan to reapply.
Kimbrough said this is being required of staff because the hiring process was not properly completed in December. She said that she’s seen no paperwork regarding the hirings and that her decision to have students reapply was made so that there would be a “fair process to all.”
Kimbrough said she is trying to find an interim adviser and that other journalism school faculty will advise the paper until then. The paper will resume publishing on Jan. 30.
Etters said he was not sure whether he or other staff members will contest the suspension further, but says they are considering doing so.
By Sara Gregory, SPLC staff writer. Contact Gregory by email or at (703) 807-1904 ext. 125.
© 2013 Student Press Law Center
Stacey Page OKs Ridealong
Stacey Page at StaceyPageOnline has agreed to host any reporters who might wish to choose her for the shadow-a-reporter gig. Guaranteed to be entertaining!
Times-Union Ridealongs OKd
Times-Union editor Gary Gerard has OKd you to contact any of his reporters for the shadow-a-reporter assignment. I'll let you know whether Stacey Page gives the same approval.
100 of 900 Patch Sites Now Profitable
AOL Says One Out of Nine Patch Sites Profitable (SmartMoney) AOL CEO Tim Armstrong said Monday about 100 of the company's 900 Patch sites are now profitable, as the Internet media firm seeks to use its costly local online news network to help fuel an ongoing turnaround effort.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Journalists Using LinkedIn Social Media
Here is a start for seeing how one social media platform can help journlists: http://www.poynter.org/how-tos/newsgathering-storytelling/137926/10-ways-reporters-can-use-linkedin-to-find-sources-track-changes-at-companies/
Goeglein to Speak
Here's one of our "disgraced journalists" Former White House staffer to speak at seminary Brian Francisco | Washington editor Fort Wayne native Timothy Goeglein, a former aide to President George W. Bush, will speak Jan. 14 at Concordia Theological Seminary. Goeglein’s public forum is titled “Faith in the Halls of Power: Christianity and American Public Life.” It will be from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 7 of Loehe Hall, the seminary announced Tuesday. Goeglein is the author of “The Man in the Middle: An Inside Account of Faith and Politics in the George W. Bush Era.” He was the Bush administration’s liaison to religious and conservative groups before he resigned in 2008 upon his admission that he had plagiarized many columns he had written over several years for The News-Sentinel. Goeglein, a member of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, is vice president for external affairs for Focus on the Family, a Christian-based, socially conservative public policy organization. He lives in Washington, D.C.
Monday, January 7, 2013
AP Internships Available
Source: http://journalism.berkeley.edu/jobs/detail/14382/
Global News Intern – Multiple Locations
The Associated Press
Category: Newspapers-Wire Services
Location: New York
State: NY
Salary: Competitive
Work Schedule: Full Time
Description:
The Associated Press is offering paidjournalism internships for the summer 2013 in eight U.S. cities (including Atlanta,Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco andWashington, D.C.) and 10 international locations (including Jerusalem, Johannesburg, London, Mexico City, Moscow,New Delhi, Rome, Sao Paulo, Seoul and Tokyo).
The interns will contribute to AP’s text, video, photos and interactive report for 12 weeks this summer. Although a primary format should be declared – depending on interest and ability – the internships may provide experience and training in all four. Interns will attend and contribute to all-format editorial meetings. Assignments will be made by a trainer who will also provide performance appraisals during the course of the internship.
Interns will be expected to be fast thinkers and show creativity and strong news judgment. They should be strong storytellers who are able to recognize interesting news elements, suggest their own story ideas and angles and incorporate them in stories, video and still images. Interns should be comfortable interacting with a diverse group of co-workers and interview subjects.
Interns will be expected to keep up-to-date with news in the city or region and its relevance to national and international affairs. Responsibilities will include tracking down information,conducting interviews, monitoring social media, and covering breaking news stories, either by phone or going to the scene. Assignments may include covering general, sports, business or entertainment spot news or features.
Interns will contribute to the text news report – reporting and writing their own stories under the direct supervision of an editor. Editors will train interns on such areas as interview techniques, sourcing, databases and AP style. Interns will be expected to become familiar with - and abide by - the AP’s statement of values and principles governing ethics.
Staff photographers will superviseinterns on visual storytelling techniques. Where possible interns will accompanystaff photographers on assignments, assist with arrangements in the field, andshoot photos. Interns will be trained in the use of photo editing software –Photoshop and Photomechanic – as well as transmission. Training willinclude photojournalism ethics, especially on authenticity.
Interns will assist in the production of video stories,including non-linear editing and writing story summaries and scriptsfor broadcast. They will research and set up video news andfeature stories and occasionally join location shoots, or do their ownshooting, if they possess the required skills. Interns may alsoassist with content management and translations.
Interns willassist in creating interactive stories, told through multimedia elements suchas graphics, data visualizations, 3D animations, photos and videos. Internsshould be familiar with HTML and have knowledge about web standards. Internswill be trained how to transform complex concepts into immersive and visualstories that users can quickly understand.
The Associated Press is an Affirmative Action/EqualOpportunity Employer.
Experience:
· Applicants must be:
a) currentfull-time students within two years of earning an undergraduate degree
(juniors and seniors) or
b) currentfull-time graduate students or
c) students whograduated December 2012 or later.
· Must be able to showproof of legal authorization to participate in a 12-week internship in the assignedcountry prior to the start of the internship.
· Must have demonstratedproficiency speaking and writing in the English language and command of thelocal language of the assigned country.
· Good general knowledgeof U.S. and international affairs.
· Good writing skills and the ability to recognizegrammatical and factual errors.
· Relevant coursework orexperience in a cross-format environment (text, video, photos, interactive/graphics,etc.) is highly desirable.
· Knowledge of onlineand social media news venues.
· Highly organized andattentive to detail; able to multi-task and manage projects as assigned.
· Self-starter with theability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
Submission materials:
· A 300-word autobiographical essay on this topic:“The Associated Press seeks to recruit and retain a workforce that embodies awide range of talents, experiences, achievements and journalistic skills.Please describe the qualities and accomplishments you would bring to thecompany as an intern.”
· A resume and cover letter (please include yourprojected graduation date).
· Three to five examples of your work (links to a websiteof your clips, photos, multimedia work and video are preferred).
· Two letters of reference, one from a professoror faculty adviser on college/university letterhead and the second from a priorinternship or employer.
How To Apply:
DO NOT use the Apply Online button. Please copy and paste the following link into your browser address bar:
http://ap.contacthr.com/27300488
Web site: http://ap.contacthr.com/27300488
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Family Christian Stores Now Non-Profit
Family Christian Management Team Partners with Christian Businessmen to Acquire National Retailer
New Ownership Commits 100% of Profits to Faith-Based Charities
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH. – November 15, 2012 – Family Christian, the nation's largest Christian retail chain with 280 stores in 36 states, announced today that its management team has partnered with a group of Atlanta-based Christian businessmen to acquire the company from its private equity owners. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Under the new ownership, Family Christian's pledge is to contribute 100% of its profits to Christian causes and, specifically, ministries serving widows and orphans both in the U.S. and abroad. Family Christian has always been committed to providing resources for the Christian community, but the new ownership structure will allow the organization to not only equip Christians in their daily walk, but to increase the organization's impact by providing substantial financial support to faith-based causes.
"The management team and our investors are buying Family Christian because of our shared belief that the Company is uniquely positioned to be both a best-in-class Christian retailer and a significant source of financial support to help those in need,” said Cliff Bartow, President and CEO of Family Christian."While we have long been committed to giving to Christian causes, we felt called to multiply our impact. We have been on a journey for several years to find potential like-minded Christian owners who share our passion and calling, and believe it's the providence and sovereignty of God that we met and now partner with our new co-owners.”
The investment group is comprised of three Atlanta-based Christian businessmen, each of whom give substantially of their time, talent and treasure to Christian ministries, including several focused on orphan, foster care and adoption causes. Richard L. Jackson is the founder and CEO of Jackson Healthcare, the nation's third largest healthcare staffing company, and is deeply committed to bringing hope and opportunity into the lives of underserved children. Jackson serves in a number of ways including as the Chairman of FaithBridge Foster Care. Larry Powell is the president of Powell Family Enterprises, LLC, a private equity investment company and is actively involved in a number of ministries, including serving as Chairman of the Board of Generous Giving. Michael Kendrick has used his success in investment banking as a catalyst for founding, developing, and funding organizations dedicated to Christian service, including Blueprint for Life and Ministry Ventures, a non-profit organization dedicated to launching new ministries.
"Each of these men have been blessed with professional success and share a mutual calling to give back to help those in need. This alignment of business acumen and Christian calling led them to the collective decision to join with us to acquire Family Christian and move it from an organization that contributes 10% of its profits, to one that contributes 100% of its profits to faith-based charities and ministries,” said Bartow."It is the hope of all involved that this transition can be a model of Christian business and ministry excellence that can be replicated by other organizations that wish to use their business resources to maximize Kingdom impact.”
Family Christian reported that while its ownership structure and financial purpose has changed, there will be no impact on its core operations, stores or staff. The company has ambitious plans to grow its revenue and increase financial support for faith-based ministries around the world. This includes maintaining store update efforts and looking at new product assortments and resources to better meet the lifestyle needs of customers. Family Christian will continue to carry a wide assortment of Christian products ranging from Bibles, gifts and home décor to books, children's and family resources.
"We are excited about what this ownership change means for our customers, staff and vendor partners who join us in the ongoing Christian pursuit of putting faith into action,” said Bartow."In many ways, we are returning to our roots as a Christian family-owned business focused on making a significant impact in helping those in need. Since our founding in 1932, we have established a relationship of trust and safety with our customers, while enjoying a reputation for providing great service and quality products. We intend to continue to uphold the high level of retail excellence, while applying the full operational and financial resources of the Company for the benefit of widows, orphans and foster children and Christian charities – all for God's glory.”
William Blair & Company, LLC acted as exclusive financial advisor to the investors.
About Family Christian
Grand Rapids, Michigan-based Family Christian is the world's largest Christian specialty retailer with 280 stores in 36 states. With a vision to be a catalyst to help create families near and far, Family Christian offers a wide variety of faith-based resources, including Bibles, books, children's products, gifts, music and more, with the aim of helping any person find, grow, share and celebrate their faith in Jesus Christ. Family Christian's ministry and mission leaders inspire, equip, and enable people to reach out and help those in need and put the power of prayer into action. Family Christian's partnerships provide a wide range of options so everyone can get involved and our people help Christians put their faith into action. Learn more at www.familychristian.com.
Friday, January 4, 2013
Newspaper Hires Armed Guards
After outcry over map of gun permit holders, newspaper hires armed guards
By Brittany Brady, CNN
New York (CNN) -- The newspaper that published an online, interactive map of handgun permit holders in two suburban New York counties hired armed guards to protect its office after negative backlash from the map publication, according to a local police report.
The January 1 report from the Clarkstown police department in Rockland County confirms the presence of armed private security guards at the Journal News. The incident report stemmed from e-mail responses to the newspaper's online map.
The police statement says Caryn McBride, the paper's Rockland editor, reported "that she received an e-mail from an unknown subject who wrote that he wondered what (she) would get in her mail now."
"The e-mail was brief and did not contain any threats," the police report continues, adding that the officer who wrote it told McBride "the e-mail did not constitute an offense."
The report adds that a private company "is doing private security work on location at the Journal News ... (the company's) employees are armed and will be on site ... through at least January 2, 2013."
The Journal News did not immediately respond Wednesday when asked by CNN for comment.
The armed guards' presence at Journal News comes after gun-owning blogger Christopher Fountains posted the home addresses of newspaper staffers on his blog in response to the map, which was published online on December 22.
Fountains spoke to CNN's "Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien" last week to explain his reasoning behind the posting. "I felt they were using this (the interactive map showing gun permit-holders' addresses) to harass gun owners," Fountain said. "So I harassed them back."
Fountain posted the name, home address and phone numbers of the Journal News' publisher, editor, visual editor and several other staff members. Fountain told CNN's "Early Start" that he was offended by the newspaper's actions and "wondered how they would like it if their addresses were published."
The map, published by the Journal News, allows readers to zoom in on red dots that indicate which residents in Westchester and Rockland counties are licensed to own pistols or revolvers. Blue dots indicated permit holders who "have purchased a firearm or updated the information on a permit in the past five years."
The paper's publisher, Janet Hasson, president of the Journal News Media Group, defended the decision December 26 in a statement.
"One of our roles is to report publicly available information on timely issues, even when unpopular. We knew publication of the database (as well as the accompanying article providing context) would be controversial, but we felt sharing information about gun permits in our area was important in the aftermath of the Newtown shootings," she said, referring to the school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, in December.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
PR Specialist: One of 'Fastest Growing' Careers
'PR Specialist' Shaping Up as One of the Fastest Growing Careers
By Matthew Schwartz, PR News
President Obama returns to the nation’s capital on Thursday to meet with congressional leaders to try and avert the so-called “fiscal cliff,” or a series of tax increases and government spending cuts that are scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1.
The media narrative has been that if a deal can’t be reached, the U.S. could slide into another economic recession. Nevertheless, there may be a silver lining for people pursuing a career in public relations.
According to an article posted on Yahoo Education, ‘Public Relations Specialist’ ranked #5 among the “Eight Hot Careers to Watch in 2013.”
But the job opportunities in PR go well beyond the next 12 months. The article cites a Department of Labor study showing that employment for PR specialists is projected to grow by 23% between 2010 and 2020, with more than 58,000 job openings.
Laurence Shatkin, author of “Best Jobs for the 21st Century,” told Yahoo Education: “With instant access to social media, it is more important than ever for individuals and organizations to get professional help maintaining a positive public image…Specialists who work well with this new media are needed to build a reputation or save someone from scandal.”
Sure, the advent of social media has played into the ability among PR pros to cultivate relationships and build communities online and offline.
Yet there are other forces at work here, primarily the diminishing returns of “paid” media (read: advertising schedules) and the spike in “earned” media, which is a synonym for PR. The ability of companies of all stripes to produce and distribute their own media assets—with an assist by the PR department and/or PR agency—is another factor that’s driving the growth in PR jobs.
What’s more, in a 24/7/365 media environment CEOs and senior managers realize that they need to be as media savvy as possible. They need the guidance and cold-eyed advice that communications executives can provide on navigating the new norm.
For more information on potential gigs in PR, visit the PR News Job Center.
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