Convention Coverage Inside
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Summer 2018 THE EVOLUTIOn OF MEDIA HALL OF FAME InDUCTEES COnVEnTIOn COVERAGE COnTEST InSIDE NEWS WInnERS NOTES ABOUT MEMBERS PHOTOS & FUn Nebraska Press Women • Summer 2018 2_______________________________________________________________________________________ Lavigne: Make yourself a precious commodity LUANN SCHIINDLER from a former editor who reporter. the job at ESPN. After taking a high was now at ESPN,” Lavi- Her first push into data How will a piece of school journalism class, gne told spring conference journalism was taking a work be produced? Paula Lavigne felt she’d attendees. “They needed my look at test scores and how Is it a digital story? A found where she belonged. skill set.” scores vary, based on demo- TV piece that runs 10 to 12 The Gretna native dis- Lavigne had never writ- graphics. minutes? Is there a segment covered, through writing, ten a sports story. Never By the time she hit Dal- that can be trimmed for use she could affect change by worked in television. las, she’d established herself online? the words she placed on a “I had no desire to work as a strong writer. Perhaps there’s a radio page. in TV,” she said. She used demograph- interview option or a pro- At that moment, she But ... ics information to pull mo through social media was hooked. “Why the hell not? It together an article about campaigns or a brief for a After attending the was an opportunity I could neighborhoods where Snapchat channel. University of Nebraska’s not pass up.” residents were pushed into Lavigne said many J-school, Lavigne spent After 10 years with sub-prime loans. times, she crafts 10 or time as a reporter at the the media giant, Lavigne “We told the story 11 tweets covering main Des Moines Register, The shared two lessons learned before the housing crisis points of a story. Dallas Morning News on the job. hit.” “For a lot of people, that and The News-Tribune in First, Then may be the only thing they Tacoma. learn how ESPN came read about the story.” to stand calling and Lavigne said there’s As a reporter, Lavigne more sense of obligation to became interested in data out. Lavigne had “Make “to learn on promote your own work. journalism, where numer- “It’s vitally important ical data gathered from yourself a the fly.” precious Now, she now. To try to get your databases and other sources story to rise to top, you is used to produce a final commod- produces ity.” pieces for have to take an active role piece. within the organization to Fast forward 17-some Lavi- the station’s gne said Outside the promote it.” years, when sports giant Another way to branch ESPN knocked on Lavi- when she Lines and worked at E60. out is to capitalize on a gne’s door. unique skill set or back- “In 2008, I got a call the Daily “I have Nebras- great col- ground. kan, she leagues and “Take advantage of ev- NEBRASKA PRESS enjoyed incredible ery opportunity to expand WOMEN everything about it. producers. I wouldn’t have your skill set. You think I’m going to be a journalist, but Summer 2018 “It was an awesome been able to do it without time to be there. I thought them,” she said. you need to be able to do President: there was nothing more Switching to a differ- everything.” Sherry Thompson noble than being a print ent type of media forced Lavigne, along with ESPN.com senior writer Editor: journalist.” Lavigne to rethink what LuAnn Schindler The internet revolution- journalism means. Mark Schlabach, relied ized journalism. That’s her second piece on their skill sets to dig Contributors: Lavigne credited UNL of advice: “Branch out.” through mounds of data Barb Batie, Cheryl Alberts professor Matthew Waite “It (ESPN) forced me and locate sources willing Irwin, LuAnn Schindler, Sherry to speak about potential Thompson, Mary Pat Finn- for piquing her interest in not just to learn how to Hoag, Terri Hahn data journalism. write shorter. It’s forced sexual assault cases occur- ring at Baylor University, www.nebraskapresswomen.org She described the field me to write visually, to ask as a combination of data questions in a different located in Waco, Tex. Nebraska.Press.Women@ analysis and good old-fash- way.” The duo embarked on gmail.com ioned storytelling that takes She’s taken that men- a mission to unearth the readers beyond the anec- tality into her work with truth about a single ques- Nebraska Press Women, Inc., dotal aspect. ESPN.com. tion: How many times have is an affiliate of the National these suspects been named Federation of Press Women, “It includes information “I get the interview- a nationwide organization of far beyond interviews,” ee into that moment, to in sexual assault? professional women and men Lavigne said. get our sources to speak They requested police pursuing careers across the records for every person communications spectrum. In Des Moines, Lavigne visually.” worked as an education Branching out is part of ever named in sexual as- Nebraska_______________________________________________________________________________________ Press Women • Summer 2018 3 Sexual Assault Crisis.” The process and end News Notes result took a lot of time and Leta Powell Drake of grit. Lincoln, a longtime televi- And, it relied on a sion personality who por- combination of old and trays Calamity Kate, will be new journalism techniques the featured speaker at the - investigative and data Literary & Grange event at journalism. 1:30 p.m., Monday, July 9. One of the strongest Site is the Fire Hall at 101 messages Lavigne learned E. Main in Hadar, located from the investigative pro- several miles northwest of cess relates to culture and Norfolk. Another Nebraska important truths that are Press Women member, First clip • ESPN journalist Paula Lavigne shows the sometimes shuttered from Barb Micek of Fullerton, first assignment she completed as a high school jour- public view. will be the main presenter nalist, a treasure she found in her mother’s attic. Lavi- “We don’t spend at the September meeting. gne, a native of Gretna, encouraged NPW members to enough time teaching The editor of theNance branch out and make themselves stand out from the young men, ‘Don’t rape County Journal and book rest of the reporters in the room. women,’” Lavigne said. author will speak at 1:30 Photo by LuAnn Schindler Lavigne said the indus- p.m., Monday, Sept. 10, try is in a state of flux and at the Fire Hall. All are sault or violent crimes cases dirt. it is up to every journalist welcome! in Waco. “We found her,” to take a look at what isn’t Fellow NPW member According to Lavi- Lavigne said, referring to a working and find out what Mary Pat Finn-Hoag of gne, they scoured tens of case followed through the role we play in making Norfolk spoke on special thousands of records and investigation. journalism better. features she wrote over her databases. Lavigne’s and Schla- “It’s never been more more than 40-year career at The result? bach’s efforts resulted in the important to bulletproof the Norfolk Daily News on “We found a lot of hits book, “Violated: Exposing our message, to put out May 14. The Literary & that hadn’t been reported.” Rape at Baylor University facts,” Lavigne said. “I en- Grange Event (formerly And then, they hit pay Amid College Football’s courage all of you to stand known as the Hadar Cul- out and branch out.” ture Club) is coordinated by Charlotte Endorf of Hadar. She is a new NPW member. Nominees sought for Communicator of Achievement Dorothy Fryer, who had a more than 50-year Barb Bierman Batie current state president or a member who daily newspaper career, has NPW COA Director serves as National COA Director to be relocated to her native Although 2017 Communicator of nominated for the state honor. All nom- Norfolk after spending her Achievement Judy Nelson won’t travel to inees must be living members in good retirement years in Dav- the NFPW convention until September, standing for at least two years in NPW and enport, Iowa. She was the it is already time to solicit nominees for in NFPW. Keep in mind the COA scoring regional editor of the Fort Nebraska Press Women’s 2018 Communi- is based on professional achievements (60 Dodge Messenger for 20 cator of Achievement Award. percent), community service (20 percent) years, followed by a 32-year The Nebraska Communicator of and service to NPW/NFPW (20 percent). career as the city editor of Achievement is part of a national program With those criteria in mind, we are the Norfolk Daily News. She to honor communicators who not only asking for nominees for the 2018 NPW welcomes cards and visi- display exceptional achievement in the Communicator of Achievement. Please tors. Those who remember communication field, but also serve the submit nominations no later than Aug. 15 Fryer, the 2006 Nebraska organization and the community. to NPW COA Chair Barb Bierman Batie Press Women Communi- The state COA is announced annually at 43590 Rd. 761, Lexington, NE 68850 or cator of Achievement, may at the fall convention and she/he serves as email: [email protected]. contact her at The Mead- NPW’s nominee for the national honor. In addition to the nominee’s name, ows, 500 S. 18th St., Room A previous state COA can be nominated please submit a brief note on why you 401, Norfolk NE 68701. again provided she/he has not been the think she/he is deserving of the honor.