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Volume 33, No. 6 August 2008 QUOTE OF THE MONTH “The liberty of the Press is called the Palladium of Freedom, which means, in these days, the liberty of being deceived, swindled, and humbugged by the Press and paying hugely for the deception.” — Mark Twain, 1870 Visit the ISWNE’s Web site: www.iswne.org Published by the Institute of International Studies, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO A trade for all America, this Journalism By Bill Knight Today’s sports section, and the births and the late, great Carl deaths in countless newspapers of record Rowan or Molly from coast to coast. And ink made from soy- Ivins, Hunter S. I once heard now-retired newspaper colum- beans and newsprint that can soak up spills Thompson or nist William Raspberry talk about or be recycled, almost anywhere. Ruben Salazar. Journalism as a trade — reporting being as How could vital and hands-on as plumbing or wiring. There’s a man in Moline who remembers a story he read by a courthouse newswoman America produce The summer marked 32 years since inves- and relish the likes tigative reporter Don Bolles of the Arizona or a kid in Morton who clipped a human- interest piece by a man who took risks for of Randy Shilts Republic was killed in a Phoenix car bomb- and I.F. Stone, ing in the performance of his duties. readers. That’s Journalism. So is the sub- scriber calling for extra copies of the paper Vincent Chin and Acknowledging that (and Hall of Fame base- Margaret Bourke- ball announcer Ernie Harwell) — here’s a with something about a neighbor in the Food or Arts section. White? Or the First Bill Knight salute to Journalism. Amendment itself, Journalism is reporters teasing President It’s a retired teacher phoning the newsroom or SPJ or the Newspaper Guild. Bush at a White House dinner and a child with complaints about a typo on page C-6. And a grinning photojournalist giving a It’s Herblock cranking out classic editorial reading the funnies with a mom in White cartoons and Henry Stanley exploring Africa Hall, Ill. It’s the infamous newsroom bums high-five to a violinist or gymnast after a first solo or balance-beam routine. in search of Dr. Livingstone. It’s a race to a such as Jason Blair and Stephen Glass, sure, radio for an immediate report from a scene, but it’s also Sy Hersh, Helen Thomas and Journalism is “the first rough draft of histo- or someone standing in a hurricane for a many others who keep finding truth and ry,” it’s said, a spirited sprint to record facts weather forecast. Journalism also is the critic sharing it. and feelings. It’s also an art and a craft to lecturing a painter about perspective, and a A quiet guy clipping a friend’s obituary — seize moments. Many are noticed — hero- scientist trying to write a 600-word op-ed that’s Journalism. So is the pair of young ism or failure is seen, cheered or booed, and piece due tomorrow. Washington reporters churning out story hopefully understood. Some become num- bers; others memories. Journalism is jazz without music. Math after story until a President is shamed into without grades. Video games without vio- resigning. In Journalism, democracy grows. The only lence. It’s America, Journalism; an epic poem, a race that should matter is the race to dead- line. The creed is the AP Stylebook. Color is A woman out West can’t tell you the color of play, a nation’s portrait — remade every her husband’s eyes but she knows the Dow day. It’s the New York Times and a commu- something distinguishing a feature story or photo. Jones or the Consumer Price Index or her nity weekly. The color comics on Sunday, a favorite CD is up or down. That’s small-town paper’s uptown web site, USA Journalism is a foreign visitor asking about Journalism. So is the corporate-minded continued on page 3 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors President’sresident’s By Don Brod Reporteport St. Charles, Ill. Some thoughts on assuming office When I think back fondly of having the followed by Joyce Klug, 1979; Hazel Win-ee. But come on, let’s face it. If it’s not ISWNE Chain of Office placed around my Brannon Smith, 1981; Peggy Grossman, downright ugly, at least you must admit neck in June in Detroit by Jeremy Waltner, I 1984; Jeanne Tempest, 1987; Carol Wilcox, that Is-Win-ee does not flow trippingly from think about all those names engraved on sil- 1992; Ellen Albanese, 1993; Vickie Canfield the tongue. ver plates — names of the presidents that go Peters, 1995; Marcia Wood, 1996; Nancy Then at the banquet, as Gail Krabben and back to 1955. Slepicka, 2002; Donna Remer, 2003; and Lorine Stevens were presenting the first I know that you can go to our website Carol O’Leary, 2005. Brian Mazza Memorial Scholarship to Derek (www.iswne.org) and find the list of past Isn’t it interesting what you can glean from Kilbourn of Wainwright, Alberta, it was presidents. But I experience a certain satisfy- a necklace? mentioned that big brother Brian always ing, tactile feeling from holding the Chain pronounced our society’s acronym Ice-Wine! in my hands, thinking of the people who What a wonderful revelation! It sounded to bear (or bore) those names, and actually ***** me as if they said I-Swine, but the printed running my fingers over the letters. (Yes, I’ll transcript reveals that it was the much more probably have to polish those plates.) The wonderful Detroit conference delivered pleasing Ice-Wine. I find two presidents who served two terms by Donna Remer and her faithful sidekick Therefore, my first official action since being — Houstoun Waring, in 1955 and 1956 as Sandra George inspired this segment of my presented with the Chain of Office is to issue the organization was just getting started, inaugural column — but not in a way you this presidential proclamation: The pronun- and Elliott Freireich, in 1998 and 1999, dur- might expect. ciation of ISWNE shall henceforth be Ice- ing the time we were looking for a new We had entertaining and educational trips Wine. No more suggestion of pigs (I-Swine) headquarters. to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Reuther or the annoying little neighing noise that There are three father-son combinations. Library, the Ford Piquette Plant, and the horses make (Is-Win-ee). Just the cool, sooth- Landon Wills served in 1964, and Clyde General Motors Heritage Center. We had the ing sound of a refreshing beverage, perhaps Wills followed in 1991. Burt Freireich, 1968, interesting sessions co-sponsored by the being poured at an Ice-Wine conference. preceded the aforementioned Elliott. And Society of Professional Journalists. We had I know there will be strict constructionists Tim Waltner, 2000, prepared the way for the the always stimulating editorial critiques. who will declare that the president’s powers fellow who handed me the Chain, Jeremy But it was a remark at the Saturday night extend no further than presiding over meet- Waltner, 2007. banquet that sparks this presidential out- ings and writing a monthly column in the My regalia research even yields two hus- burst. newsletter. But I will argue that if the presi- band-wife combos. David Grossman held But first the backstory: All the while I was dent has the power to write monthly office in 1982 and was followed by Peggy executive secretary of the International columns, he has the power to make procla- Grossman two years later. Cary Stiff was Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors, those mations in those columns. Call them president in 1983, and his wife Carol Wilcox of us around Northern Illinois University penumbral powers. (Look it up.) was elected in 1992. pronounced the ISWNE abbreviation I- Anyway, what’s the worst that can happen There are four who did their journalism out- Swine. Some members did too, perhaps to me? I doubt that an angry horde will side the United States. David Burke, 2004, is because they heard headquarters people march on my house carrying torches and from Ireland, and there are three Canadians saying it. But the great majority then — and pitchforks. And if they do, I’ll just go to the — Robert Mossman, 1986, Jim MacNeill, practically everybody now — pronounces it door, smile, and say, “Ice-Wine, anyone?” 1988, and Brian Mazza, 1994. Is-Win-ee. Cheers. Finally, when Mary Jane Schneider (now I-Swine never caught on. Could it have been Don Brod can be contacted at Lentz) was elected in 1974, she became the because of a reluctance to be associated with [email protected]. first of a dozen female presidents. She was porkers? For whatever reason, it’s been Is- 2 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors A trade for all America, this Journalism from page 1 Newseum in Washington, D.C. And the ex- Idea to illustration. Pictures and stories to enough; “whaddaya got today?” And he reporter, still writing while circling the drain audiences’ eyes. wants decent wages — and deserves them. teaching at a college somewhere. It’s rain soaking the stoop where the paper Journalism is the newbie, too — the recent Journalism is continuity. A tip, then a lies dry in plastic. And lightning making the grad who goes from the Midwest to Texas source to verify. Desk to deadline to press radio crackle and the TV crawl with warn- on spec, just for an interview or tryout.