November/December 1998

KUDOS TO:

• The Naples Daily News received high praise at the recent Newspaper Association of America Marketing Conference. Peter Glenn, world-renown consumer advocate, author and merchandise branding expert, included what he called 10 great ideas from newspapers across the nation in his keynote address. Two were from the Daily News ­ the newspaper's marching band that makes promotional appearances and the promise to deliver a missed paper within 30 minutes.

CONGRATS

• Two corporate office staffers have daughters who play on teams that have won the Ohio Soccer Association for Youth state title for their age group. Congratulations to Robyn Hildal, whose twins Kelsey and Alix won in the under-age-8 category, and John Sherman, whose daughter Megen won in the under-age-10 category. Sherman coached his daughter's team to an undefeated season. To win the state titles, each team played in seven tournament games.

• Mel Helitzer, who teaches humor writing at the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, has written a musical intended for Broadway. "Oh, Jackie" is based on the life of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and explores the loving relationship that existed between the former First Lady and her father, "Black Jack" Bouvier. Athens audiences saw two workshop performances Dec. 15 and 16. Based on their reaction, Helitzer is editing the musical for full production in regional theaters. Already, Robert Goulet has expressed interest in playing "Black Jack." Helitzer, a former Madison Avenue advertising agency president, has written and produced three ABC network musicals and is the author of four books

MEA CULPA

"When we make mistakes, it's important to be open and honest about them, get all the facts out as quickly as possible and try to set the record straight. And to say we're sorry. We are."

­ Walter Isaacson, Time managing editor, quoted in Editor & Publisher

With these thoughts in mind:

• Joe Crankshaw of The Stuart News was not honored at a retirement party, as reported in the newsmaker section. He was honored at a party that celebrated his 40 years in the newspaper business. "I just don't want my friends out in the company to think I had folded my tent and gone away without saying good-bye," he said.

• In an update brief about The Commercial Appeal's revised TV book, Leanne Kleinmann was erroneously credited with doing work that was done by Charlotte Durham. Kleinmann promptly wrote to request a correction saying, "... we wouldn't have been able to pull off the conversion if it weren't for her."

LETTERS

From Ken Stewart, Cincinnati:

I've had a great ride on life's journey since my last days with Scripps in '84. The photo lab my wife Phyllis and I purchased and ran increased in size more than five times during our nine years of operation.

I could not have done that without the education I received at The CIncinnati Post and The Kentucky Post. While being employed by Scripps for more than 16 years, I learned just about everything I needed to know about management, budgets, customer service and meeting deadlines.

How to get the job done was learned by listening to, watching and working with the best in the business. And now that I have a "spell-checker" on my computer I can formally say "thank you."

From Frank Martin, Portland, Ore.:

I am a former employee (KUPL-AM/FM, Portland). I believe Scripps is truly one of the last examples of a media company run for the good of the community and its employees, as well as for the profit of its investors. I find it heartening and uplifting to know that such a media company still exists, and to be able to follow its internal news and dialogue through the company magazine.

All of its divisions are very well regarded by their peers in their particular area. In many ways, the Scripps name is synonymous with integrity. When my father was president of John Blair & Co. (national TV and radio reps, also newspaper insert publication), Scripps was one of their clients. I have followed HGTV since before its official debut and believe that it is one of the very, very few unassailably tasteful, positive, family-friendly, helpful, thoughtful, truly informative, well-produced, cable networks. Plus it produces almost all of its own programs ­ not only maintaining its high content standards, but increasing the number of positive jobs available in an industry more and more devoted to whatever is below the lowest common denominator.

In a sentence, "I am a big fan of Scripps."

PIECES OF THE PAST

50 YEARS AGO: Harry Truman was elected president Nov. 2, 1948, much to the surprise of the nation's press. Scripps' Washington Daily News quickly pitched its United Press story which began: "Thomas E. Dewey became President-elect today without having formally and finally made up his mind on a single Cabinet appointment..." John T. O'Rourke, Daily News editor, remade page one.