Hoosier State Press Association - The Indiana Publisher
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/68926
June 7, 2012 Encourage Hoosiers to do their civic duty A know many of you are thank- ful for a temporary break from the constant barrage of negative television ads. It was an especially bru- bout a month has passed since Indiana's primary election. I tal primary season. But the break will be short as the main event is already heat- ing up. No matter how disgusted News Biz By Greg Morris to find their polling place. The ad offered an citizens were with the pro- cess, it's important to remind them that they can't stick their head in the sand and not participate. They can't be so jaded and, frankly, sometimes down- right depressed, about all the dysfunction and lack of agreement on anything in government that they fail to go to the polls and vote. A few days ago, Secretary agree with them are the enemy. Politics isn't just a dif- ference of opinion to be discussed in a civil manner but some sort of personal betrayal. It's all very per- sonal now. Remember when Ted advance look at the soon to be announced "Get Out the Vote" newspaper cam- paign made possible by your Hoosier State Press Association Foundation. Several versions will be made available to HSPA member newspapers leading up to the November election. The ads developed in Kennedy could give a blis- tering speech on the U.S. Senate floor and rake the Republicans over the coals in no uncertain terms and then put his arm around his Republican counterpart and ask him to go have a beer later that evening? They worked things out. Unfortunately those days of State Connie Lawson released voter participation results from the Indiana pri- mary election. I'm confident many of you reported these sobering sta- tistics. Only 22 percent of Indiana's registered voters voted May 8. That's about 957,000 peo- ple out of 4.4 million poten- tial statewide voters. Statewide primary voter turnout was 40 percent in 2008 and 21 percent in 2004. County by county results the coming months will be geared to the general election and contain more specific information for November. But the message will be con- sistent – VOTE! Look for more information on this endeavor coming soon and please, please run these ads leading up to the general election in November. Editorials encouraging appear to be gone. We're heading for a day, and we may already be there, when the only way to get elected is to be an extrem- ist on the right or the left with no tolerance for middle ground and compromise. Any politician who tries citizens to get off the side- lines and be civically engaged would be extremely beneficial as well. As you hopefully already for the 2012 primary election are available here: in.gov/ apps/sos/primary/sos_ primary12. I know I'm preaching to the choir, but we have to get Hoosiers more engaged. Newspapers must take the lead in the effort to improve civic engagement. It is our civic responsibility. The week of the primary, know, this effort ties in with HSPA Foundation's partner- ship with the Indiana Civic Health Index to measure Hoosiers' commitment to civic engagement, political knowledge, community ser- vice and understanding of the First Amendment. The Indiana Bar Founda- tion and other groups also participated. In closing this month, I Indianapolis Business Journal ran one of the HSPA Foundation ads encouraging voter turnout. The main message deliv- hope you'll allow me a few editorial comments related to the civic engagement discus- sion. I want to offer some ered in that ad is to "Speak Up – Vote," and readers are directed to IndianaVoters.com thoughts about our tolerance of other people and their opinions that don't happen to agree with our own. It seems people are of the belief that others who don't to work earnestly with both parties to accomplish a task is in no man's land today as far as electability is con- cerned. It's very dangerous ground. The extremists on both sides seem to be getting all the attention. Everything I'm hear- ing is that if you think Washington is dysfunctional now, you haven't seen any- thing yet. It's only going to get worse. As a result, everybody needs to be part of a respectful dis- cussion on how to get us out of this mess. The ultimate expression of News in brief Institute is accepting registrations for a sports journalism workshop June 17-18 in St. Louis. "Sports Journalism: Staying on top in the digital age" will begin at 8 p.m. Sunday, June 17, and conclude at 4 p.m. Monday, June 18, at the Sheraton St. Louis City Center Hotel & Suites. Sessions will include Learn about sports coverage The Mid-America Press room" and "Sports writers in the digital age: How do you do it all – writing for print, online, mobile, covering it live while get- ting audio, video, chats, in-game reports and Twitter?" Registration is $50 for the first staffer and $40 for each additional staffer. The rate at the Shera- "Getting the most out of your beat: How to develop sources while keeping them at arm's length," "Covering the big story: Big stories come no mat- ter what size your news- Page 3 ton for attendees is $109 for suite-size rooms. Registration includes a Sunday evening reception and continental breakfast and lunch Monday. To register, send an email to jmryan@eiu.edu. have received Better Newspaper Contest entry information from HSPA Foundation. The contest period cov- ers content published from July 1, 2011, to June 30, 2012. The Foundation must Enter newspaper contest now Member papers should www.betterbnc.com. Editorial staff members should mark their calen- dars for Saturday, Dec. 1, for the annual Newsroom Seminar and Better Newspaper Contest Awards Luncheon. The event will again receive all electronically submitted and mail-in entries by 5 p.m. Friday, July 27. The rules brochure newspapers received includes detailed expla- nations for entering the contest through be at the Indianapolis Marriott North. More information on the News- room Seminar will follow in the fall. If you did not receive your Better Newspaper Contest packet by mail, call HSPA Foundation at (317) 803-4772. our opinion is offered when we go to the polls and vote. So as leaders of our respec- State University will cover the summer Olympics in London as part of an immersive learning program. Through the project tive communities, let's set a civil tone and get out the vote this November! Thanks in advance for your participation and support. Greg Morris, HSPA board of directors president, is presi dent of IBJ Media and publisher of Indianapolis Business Journal. Young journalists cover Olympics Students from Ball more than 40 students from eight disciplines will provide coverage of the games during the summer and in London from July 23 to Aug. 15. Students will gain career experience in journalism, telecommu- nications, photojournal- ism, public relations and graphic design. "We first thought we would bring five or six reporters to London for a small media trip," said Ryan Sparrow, head adviser for the proj- ect, dubbed BSU at the Games. "The trip exploded to a group of about 40 students from journalism to telecommunications to public relations." Students spent the 2012 spring academic semes- ter preparing for the trip, operating as a news agency. Work is published at www.bsuatthegames.com, which will be updated with feature stories, pho- tographs and blog posts this summer. named Communicator of Achievement. Garmel retired as the theater crit- ic of The Indianapolis Star in 2002, following a 41-year career in arts jour- nalism. Garmel will compete Club of Indiana recently presented several awards at its May luncheon. Marion Garmel was Q&A on media Steve Key, HSPA's executive director and general counsel (left), discusses lobbying efforts of the press association and the difficulties in defining journalist bloggers with Jordanian journalist Eyad Jaghbeer with recipients from other affiliates at a national convention in September. Julie Slaymaker won the Kate Milner Rabb (right) and Salah Alfaqeer, who served as an inter- preter. Jaghbeer is staying in Indianapolis to learn English. He said there are about 300 news blog sites and only about 30 newspapers in Jordan. Press club presents awards The Woman's Press Award for 2012. The award is bestowed for achievement in journalism and exceptional service to the organization. Slaymaker was cited for spearheading the cam- paign to have Kate Milner Rabb, a former Woman's Press Club of Indiana president (1929-1931), inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame this April. Slaymaker, a freelance writer and former broad- caster, won the Rabb award twice before. Send promotions, announcements, staff changes and other corporate news to mtuley@hspa.com.