By Betsy Russell There’s a lot going on at the Idaho Press Club right now, from our upcoming fall conference (see page 1) to First Amendment victories to website upgrades, to all the planning for upcoming scholarship awards, the annual awards contest, and our gala spring awards banquet, which this year will be held May 3, 2014 at the Boise Centre. Meantime, many of your Press Club board members have been busy judging journalism contests from other states, in preparation for swaps in which those state press clubs will help with the judging … [Read more...]
A sketch artist’s challenge: Capturing courtroom drama in images
October 10, 2013 by
By Jamie Grey Zella Strickland has never turned on a computer. The only one ever in her home was for her husband to use, and after some frustration was quickly discarded on the curb with a sign that said “FREE”. In that spirit, it’s fitting that even with almost every reporter toting a laptop and smartphone, Strickland is one of the necessities of Idaho courtroom reporting that hasn’t changed: A sketch artist. In cases where cameras aren’t allowed, such as in federal court, Strickland can sometimes be seen in the front row of … [Read more...]
IPC Fall Conference: Tools and Tips Getting newsroom smart with the latest smartphones
October 10, 2013 by
By Todd Dvorak BOISE - It’s no secret so much more is expected of reporters. Attending a press conference anymore isn’t just about asking the right questions, gathering the facts and pithy quotes and filing a story for the website, broadcast or print edition. These days, our jobs and expectations are also about making sharp and clear photos or shooting web-ready video with those brand new iPhones, Samsung Galaxy’s or the latest Android devices. It all sounds great when your editor hands you this amazing new technology - along … [Read more...]
High-profile and active roles: Women in Idaho journalism defy national stats
October 10, 2013 by
By Melissa Davlin The statistics paint a bleak picture for female newshounds. According to the Women’s Media Center, women make up only 36.9 percent of newspaper staff in all positions, and male bylines outnumbered female bylines three to one in front-page presidential coverage in 2012. But the Idaho Press Club -- which boasts women in both its executive director and president positions -- spoke to female reporters and editors to get their take. The consensus: Women play high-profile and active roles in Idaho journalism. The … [Read more...]
Meet your IPC: Seth Ashley, Assistant Professor, Department of Communications, Boise State University
October 10, 2013 by
Interviewed by Todd Dvorak Interviewer’s Intro: Granted I’m speaking for the entire Southwest Chapter Board here, but I think it’s safe to say we were just minutes into our most recent planning meeting when we all wondered the same thing: Why did we wait so long to bring Seth Ashley into the fold? Seth is the newest member of the Southwest Chapter Board and we’re pleased to have him. I’m confident he’ll bring a fresh perspective, one that’s essential to journalism in Idaho and abroad but one that too often gets lost among those … [Read more...]
Live blog from court
October 10, 2013 by
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill issued an order in the recent high-profile St. Luke’s/St. Alphonsus hospital lawsuit permitting live blogging from the courtroom. The judge’s decision, made on his own initiative after checking with counsel for both sides, followed inquiries from reporters about computer use. Winmill agreed to permit live blogging from court, as long as there was no audio or video recording or photography; cameras aren’t allowed in federal court. In most cases, computer use in federal courtrooms to date has been allowed … [Read more...]
MEDIA MOVES
October 10, 2013 by
TELEVISION IDAHO FALLS/POCATELLO KIFI Bre Clark, reporter, joins the station from Houston, TX. She is a graduate of the University of Houston. Caleb James, former reporter, accepted a job at KOB, Albuquerque, NM. Stephanie Hale-Lopez, another reporter, moved to the Northeast with her husband. KPVI Dani Beckstrom is a new weekend reporter/anchor/weather caster. She comes from BYU. Deanne Coffin is a new part-time reporter. She comes from ISU. Bill Kotowski has been promoted from a part-time to a full-time reporter. Summer Joy, a … [Read more...]
Idaho media coalition reunites in fight for openness in private prison lawsuit
July 31, 2013 by
By Todd Dvorak BOISE - For the second consecutive year, a broad coalition of Idaho news organizations has joined together in a fight for openness. This time, the focus of the battle is a lawsuit in federal court pitting a group of inmates against the state’s only private prison contractor, the Corrections Corporation of America. The case was filed last year and the inmates allege, among other things, that a pattern of understaffing and mismanagement at the prison has created a reality where gangs to run the lockup. Ultimately, that … [Read more...]
Idaho lawyer who won landmark case dies at 85 – Derr’s work advanced gender equality
July 31, 2013 by
By John Miller BOISE (AP) – Allen Derr, an Idaho lawyer who won a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling to bolster anti-discrimination protections for women, died June 10 in Boise. He was 85. Derr, a longtime and highly valued board member of the Idaho Press Club, grew up in North Idaho, graduated from Clark Fork High School in 1947, and then earned bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Idaho. On Nov. 22, 1971, the Supreme Court justices issued their Reed vs. Reed decision, holding states cannot discriminate against people … [Read more...]
President’s Column: Idaho Press Club is still a screaming deal…
July 31, 2013 by
By Betsy Russell Twenty-five years ago, in 1988, the annual dues to join the Idaho Press Club was $25. The cost this year, until July 1? Also $25. Though it’s decades later and costs have gone way up. So now, after long resisting it, the Idaho Press Club board has decided to raise annual dues by $5 on July 1, to $30. It’s a modest increase that’s still a screaming deal; most press associations charge much higher dues, often more than double that amount. The Press Club is funded solely by membership dues and contest entry fees. Yet we … [Read more...]
Don Watkins Memorial Scholarship winners announced
July 31, 2013 by
By Melissa McGrath Every year, the Idaho Press Club awards $2,000 or more in scholarships to working journalists and future journalists. It’s all a part of the Don Watkins Memorial Scholarship Program. We gather applications from across the state and award a $1,500 scholarship to one Idaho high school graduate who is currently pursuing his or her career in journalism or communications in college. We also award a $500 Mid-Career Scholarship to any Press Club member who will use the money toward a project or professional development … [Read more...]
Meet your IPC: Melissa Davlin
July 31, 2013 by
Name: Melissa Davlin Job (past and present): Former reporter at the Times-News in Twin Falls; currently freelancing and writing about Idaho politics at melissadavlin.wordpress.com Press Club position: Print representative, Idaho Press Club state board; just started this spring Education: BA, General Studies, University of Idaho Tell us about your family: My mom and dad live in Meridian, and I have two younger brothers who live in Nampa. My husband, Nate Poppino, and I just moved to … [Read more...]
MEDIA MOVES
July 31, 2013 by
PRINT MOSCOW-PULLMAN DAILY NEWS Holly Bowen moves from Whitman County reporter to the news copy desk and editorial board. She replaces Elizabeth Rudd, who moved to the Lewiston Tribune. Lindsey Treffry, a 2013 graduate of the University of Idaho, is the new 360 reporter replacing Alan Solan, who resigned to write freelance. Meredith Metsker, a 2013 graduate of the University of Idaho, moved to full time and is covering Washington education. Bill McKee, a 2013 graduate of Washington State University, is the new Whitman County reporter. … [Read more...]
Download the Spring 2013 Communicator
May 1, 2013 by
Download a PDF copy of the Communicator here. … [Read more...]
