September/October 1998

Ohio News Photographer Page 2 News Photographer September/October 1998 NPPA Television Airborne seminar lands in Columbus ONPAOhio News Photographers Association The 1998 Airborne TV Seminar is c Working smarter as a team - before you poised for takeoff with stops in Columbus, leave the station, while you're in the field Ohio on December 4th and 5th and and while you're putting all together. Board Chairman Bob DeMay Charlotte, North Carolina on Sunday, c The NPPA Editor of the Year will offer tips Phone (330) 747-1471 December 6th. on what the Team can do to help an editor do "Making the TeamWork" is the theme. justice to your work. E-mail [email protected] Both photographers and reporters are c You'll hear insights about "writing with encouraged to attend this program, offered pictures." Marrying words and pictures to by the National Press Photographers make memorable stories. President Ed Suba, Jr. Foundation. c Pictures and sound as writing tools. Headliners include: Jonathan Malat - c Doing it all - what do photographers need Phone (800) 777-9477 NPPA Television Photographer of the Year to know? What do reporters need to know. E-mail not yet from KARE-TV in Minneapolis; Inge Gill - c Critiques of your work - suggestions for NPPA Editor of the Year from KCNC-TV in improving your stories for both reporters Denver; Kim Riemland (Reporter/anchor and photographers. Vice president (Still) Lisa Dutton KOMO-TV) and her husband Tim Griffis Bring your favorite reporter. Any (photojournalist KOMO-TV; Boyd Huppert, reporter accompanied by a photographer Phone (419) 724-6143 Reporter, from KARE-TV in Minneapolis. who is an NPPA member will be charged the E-mail not yet Online Registration is available at: $35 NPPA membership registration rate. http://sunsite.unc.edu/nppa/tv/air98/98%20 Also, stations sending more than five people Reg_form.htm to the workshop will only be charged $30 Vice president (TV) Ron Strah Steve Sweitzer, seminar chairman and per person. Everyone's welcome. We offer past NPPA president writes: "TeamWork" is the same deal to editors, news directors, pro- Phone (216) 431-8888 the name of the game in TV news today - ducers or anyone else working in TV news. photographers and reporters working togeth- This workshop is about keeping the E-mail [email protected] er to make "GREAT TV." commitment, making deadlines and moving The 1998 Airborne TV Seminar will up in excellence. Learn new tricks, get your offer something for everyone. There will be batteries recharged and make new friends. Secretary David I. Andersen sessions for the Team, as well as break out Join us for a day to remember. Phone (216) 999-4156 sessions just for photographers and just for For more information contact the local reporters. And we won't ignore the folks chairman for the event, Tim Moushey at E-mail [email protected] interested in working as "one person bands." WBNS-TV in Columbus at (614) 460-3700. Among the highlights: Treasurer Kimberly Barth Phone (800) 777-9471 Pulitzer Publishing Co. to E-mail [email protected] purchase Troy Daily News Ohio News Photographer Pulitzer Publishing Company has of more than 11,000,daily and 13,000 Published by the Ohio News announced that it has reached an agreement Sunday. Photographers Association, Inc. in principle to purchase the Troy Daily News The Troy Daily News was acquired by and its Sunday publication, the Miami R. George Kuser in 1955. He retired in 1995 Valley Sunday News, in Troy, Ohio. and for the past three years the company has Terms of the tentative agreement were retained its independent ownership through Editor Bob DeMay not disclosed. The deal, subject to entry into Kuser family trusts, several local sharehold- a definitive acquisition agreement, is expect- ers and an ESOP (Employee Stock Phone (330) 448-6274 ed to close in early fall, at which time the Ownership Plan). E-mail [email protected] Troy Daily News and related publications "The decision to sell the paper was a would become part of the Pulitzer difficult one," said Joel H. Walker, president Community Newspapers group. and publisher of the Troy Daily News. "We Address letters to the editor at: Michael E. Pulitzer, chairman and chief kept the torch of independent ownership executive officer of Pulitzer, said, "This burning for a long time. "But things change, 1538 Cullinan Ave. acquisition would be an excellent fit with the and to keep pace with that change, you Masury, Ohio 44438 small to medium-sized market strategy we sometimes have to make decisions you intend to follow as we grow our new stand- would rather not have to make," he added. alone publishing company, Pulitzer Inc. "But when you do have to make the tough The Troy Daily News is the primary choices, you try to make the best choices. ONPA Online advertising medium in southern Miami And we feel we've done that with Pulitzer. http://www.ohio.net/~onpa/ County and, with its Miami Valley Weekly, "The company is highly respected in offers the only total market coverage for all our industry, knows the community newspa- of Miami County and most of Shelby per business because it owns several other Webmaster Mark A. Duncan County to the north. Revenues were approx- dailies like ours, and has the financial imately $7 million in 1997, including rev- strength to carry on the journalistic excel- Phone (216) 771-2172 enues from its commercial printing opera- lence we feel we've developed here over the tion. years." E-mail [email protected] The Troy Daily News, has a circulation

September/October 1998 Ohio News Photographer Page 3

On the move In pursuit of Big Mac Susan Zake is the new Director of Photography at The Beacon Journal in Akron Mark McGwire single handily put enue and $600,000 circulation revenue the news media across the country into and poster sales within the span of a replacing Michael Good who has left the paper to overdrive during September in his pur- few days from special sections, extras pursue freelance work in the Seattle, WA area. suit of the single season home run and soaring single-copy sales. The prof- Zake had been working as the assignment editor record held by the late Roger Maris. it was not without planning but also The pursuit of recording history required lots of last-minute improvisa- at the paper. kept many very busy, made others lots tion. The Plain Dealer has filled three openings on of money and had still others breathing Initial plans called for special cov- the photography staff. New to the staff is John a sigh of relief. erage of each homer after McGwire got Kuntz who many may remember from his days On the busy side was Amy to 50 and a special edition if he reached Sancetta of the . She 62. As interest built, another edition working in the area years ago with his was one of six members of the AP team was added for homer number 61. father Ron Kuntz at UPI. that followed McGwire for ten games On Labor Day when McGwire hit Larry Hamel-Lambert will move from his and witnessed homers 58-62 and 66-70. number 61 in the first inning, there was position as night picture editor at the PD and As Sancetta tells it, “Every time plenty of time for the Post-Dispatch to the guy came to the plate, you absolute- get a special edition to the return to the staff as a photographer. ly knew he was going to hit a home run. before the game ended, because much Also on board is Marvin Fong who had been It was really a rush.” of the material was already in the can. working at the Dayton Daily News. Her position was between the bag By the day of the record breaker, Joining the staff in Dayton is Lisa Powell who at third and the left field wall. “It made plans for the special were being revised for a good picture of his swing and fol- upward every several hours. had been working in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. low through since he almost always hit "The scene at the stadium was such NPPA Region 4 Director Greg Peters has left his home runs to left field. Even when that we could not get the papers off of his position at to become he didn't hit a homer, he seemed to give the vans to the hawkers," said Egger. us good pictures,” Sancetta said. "We sold them right out of the vans. Director of Photography at The State in Columbia, Her favorite moment was Then it was like a fire following fuel. SC. McGwire's joyous run around the bases The crowds followed us right down- Aimee Obidzinski, has left her position at after breaking Maris' record by hitting town to the paper, and we found our- The Vindicator and has moved to Middletown and number 62 on Sept. 8. selves selling directly out of the lobby." “I love that he was so caught up in The sighs of relief came from the is currently freelancing. She rejoins her husband the moment that he missed first base media in who were glad that David Colabine who had recently left WYTV-TV and had to be pointed back to it by the the scene in St Louis did not play out in in Youngstown to join the staff at WKRC-TV in first base coach-it as a moment we see their town which was McGwire’s next Cincinnati. again and again in Little League or t- stop in pursuit of history. ball games when the coach grabs the “It’s one thing to plan for a playoff Julie Venetti joins the staff at The Repository exuberant hitter by the sleeve and series that you know is coming,” said in Canton. She had been working at The News makes him touch first on the way Cincinnati Enquirer photographer Journal in Mansfield. Jim Zemko, who had been around the bases,” said Sancetta Mike Snyder, “but having the record working as an intern in Mansfield, has been hired “In professional sports today with dropped on your doorstep is totally dif- all the money and sponsors and ferent ball game,” he added. as a staff photographer at The Star Beacon in yuck,we rarely see such moments of The Enquirer planned from the Ashtabula. pure, unadulterated joy. I will never for- start of the season when Pete Rose Bob Christy has been promoted to the posi- get the feeling,” she added. broke Ty Cobb’s all time hit record. On the making lots of money side That was a luxury they didn’t have this tion of photo editor at The Times Reporter in New of the home run chase, the big winner time around although plans were in Philadelphia. Christy replaces Jon Conklin who was the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. When place for both special and live sections left the paper to work as a commercial photogra- McGwire hit number 62, he broke a should the record be broken in pher. Pat Burk has been promoted to a full time record and handed a $1 million bonus Cincinnati. to the paper. “We never will know how good staff position at the paper after stringing for the "I feel like he hit the ball, and we our plan was this time around,” said paper for several years. caught it," said Post-Dispatch vice pres- Snyder, who seemed quite happy not to Mark Rogers is now Photo Editor at The ident and general manager Terrance know the answer. (Pottstown, PA) Mercury News leaving his position Egger. McGwire's feat helped the paper capture more than $300,000 in ad rev- at The Independent in Massillon. ONPA Television vice president Ron Strah is now the operations manager at WKYC-TV in Cleveland. Strah had worked the last six years as On the cover a photographer at WJW-TV in Cleveland. David Polcyn, of The (Mansfield) News After spending the past ten years at WCMH- Journal, won first place feature single in TV in Columbus, Tim Moushey has moved across June with his close up shot of a rescued town to WBNS-TV. cat that was caught in a storm drain. Connie Jones, photographer at WFMJ-TV in Youngstown has left the station to become Project Inside Manager for the Business & Media Archives of the AP TV Winners ...... 4 Mahoning Valley. Also leaving the station are Tom Hubbard ...... 5 Rochelle Wysinger who has moved to WPGH-TV Board meeting ...... 7 in and Eric Zurchur who has moved to Clip winners ...... 8 cross town rival WYTV-TV.

Page 4 Ohio News Photographer September/October 1998 Ohio AP Broadcasters award winners LARGE TV MEDIUM TV SMALL TV Outstanding News Operation Outstanding News Operation Outstanding News Operation 1st: Stuart Zanger, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, 2nd: 1st: WDTN-TV, Dayton, 2nd: WHIO-TV, Dayton 1st: WYTV, Youngstown WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, HM: WCMH- HM: WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.Va. 2nd: Gary Brown, WTOV, Steubenville TV,Columbus Best Regularly Scheduled Newscast Best Regularly Scheduled News Best Regularly Scheduled News 1st: WDTN-TV, Dayton, 2nd: WHIO-TV, Dayton 1st: WYTV, Youngstown, 2nd: WKBN, 1st: WCMH-TV, Columbus, 2nd: WLWT-TV, Best Spot News Youngstown, HM: Gary Brown and Beverly Cincinnati HM: Amy Seng and Scott Diener, 1st: WHIO-TV, Dayton, “Severe Storms”, 2nd: Ragan, WTOV, Steubenville WCPO-TV, Cincinnati; WBNS-TV, Columbus Paul Bukta and Charlie Soto, WTVG-TV, Best Spot News Coverage Best Spot News Toledo,”Car in River”, HM: Tara DeFrancesco 1st: Steve Chenevey and Dave Colabine, 1st: WBNS-TV, Columbus, “Georgia Pacific and Marvin Taylor, WTVG-TV, Toledo, WYTV, Youngstown, “YFD Rescue”, 2nd (tie) Explosion”, 2nd: WCMH-TV, Columbus, “Suicide/Officer Down” Michelle Nicks, Ron Martin and Tim Dale, “Escaped Prisoner”, HM: WCMH-TV, Columbus, Best Continuing Coverage WFMJ, Youngstown, “Standoff”, Kimberly Boles “Georgia Pacific Explosion” 1st: WDTN-TV, Dayton, “Looking for Cody and and Dave Colabine, WYTV, Youngstown, Best Continuing Coverage India”, 2nd: WHIO-TV, Dayton, “Missing Without “Mathews Strike Morning”, HM’s:Gordon Loesch 1st: Tom Merriman and Bill Shell, WEWS-TV, a Trace”, HM: Doug Korstanje and Mike Huff, and Thom Russo, WKBN, Youngstown, Cleveland, “Kids in Crisis”, 2nd: WKRC-TV, WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.Va., “The Volgares “Explosion”, Gary Brown, WTOV, Steubenville, Cincinnati, “The Flood of ‘97” HM: WCMH-TV, Case.” “Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Strike Settlement” Columbus, ``March Floods” Best Investigative Reporting Best Continuing Coverage Best Investigative Reporting 1st: Laure Quinlivan and Jeff Keene, WCPO-TV, 1st: WHIO-TV, Dayton, “City Cell Phone Abuse”, 1st: Joe Bell, WKBN, Youngstown, “Water Cincinnati, “Las Vegas Junket”, 2nd: Paul Adrian 2nd: Sarah Lieu, WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.Va., Weirdness”, 2nd: WTOV, Steubenville, and Chris Kettler, WBNS-TV, Columbus, “EMTs “The Bus Stops Here”, HM: Dave Bohman and “Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Strike” with DUIs”, HM: Deborah Cole and Pat Story, Peter Bour, WDTN-TV, Dayton, “Background Best Investigative Reporting WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, “School Bus Drivers” Checks” 1st: Joe Bell, WKBN, Youngstown, “Con-Man Best Enterprise Reporting Best Enterprise Dentist” 1st: Tom Meyer, WOIO-TV, Cleveland, “Airport 1st: Paul Moses and Peter Bour, WDTN-TV, Best Enterprise Reporting security”, 2nd: Hagit Limor and Michael Benedic, Dayton, “Who’s Watching?”, 2nd: (tie) Paul 1st: Kimberly Boles and Robert Turner, WYTV, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, “McQueen Execution” Herdtner, WHIO-TV, Dayton, “Quick Turn” Jean Youngstown, “Second Time Around”, 2nd: Laura 3rd: Tom Meyer, WOIO-TV, Cleveland, “County Mackin, WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.Va., “Get Out Steele and Mike Petrucci, WFMJ-TV, Patronage” Alive”, HM: Peter Bour and Sara Underwood, Youngstown, “Road Rage”, HM: Ron Martin, Best Documentary WDTN-TV, Dayton, “DUI Trouble” WFMJ-TV, Youngstown, “Winter at Sea World” No first or second place Best Documentary Best Documentary HM: Michael Briddell and Tim Jenkins, WOIO- 1st: Rebecca Fondessy and Phil Drechsler, 1st: Eric Minor and Gary Brown, WTOV, TV, Cleveland, “Camp Turnaround” WTOL-TV, Toledo, “Operation Smile”, HM: Brian Steubenville, “Teen Pregnancy” Best Feature Story or Series Hamrick, WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.Va. “Project Best Feature Story or Series 1st: Mark Spain, Ali Ghanbari, WJW-TV, Harvest ‘97” 1st: WYTV, Youngstown, “Senior Salute”, 2nd: Cleveland “Christmas on the Outside.”, 2nd: Best Feature Story or Series Susan De Leo and Vince Shivers, WFMJ-TV, Chuck Strickler, Chuck Kelso, WBNS-TV, 1st: Jean Mackin and Jason Wilson, WOWK-TV, Youngstown, “Archery”, HM: WYTV, Columbus “Barbershop Boys”, HM: Kit Andrews, Huntington, W.Va., “Bump in the Night”, 2nd: Youngstown, “Buying for Baby” Alan Guile, WKRC-TV, Cincinnati “Furman WHIO-TV, Dayton, “Day of Infamy”, HM: Dick Outstanding Sports Operation Adoption.” Berry and Steve France, WTOL-TV, Toledo, “Life 1st: Bill Phillips and Don Sloan, WTOV, Outstanding Sports Operation on the Islands” Steubvenville, 2nd: WYTV, Youngstown 1st: WBNS-TV, Columbus, 2nd: WLWT-TV, Outstanding Sports Operation Best Regularly Scheduled Sports Cincinnati 1st: No first place awarded, 2nd: WTOL-TV, 1st: WYTV, Youngstown, 2nd: Scott Nolte, Best Regularly Scheduled Sports Toledo WTRF-TV, Wheeling, W.Va. 1st: WBNS-TV, Columbus, “First and Ten”, 2nd: Best Regularly Scheduled Sports Best Use of Photography WCMH-TV, Columbus, “Football Friday Night” 1st: WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.Va. 1st: Vince Shivers, WFMJ-TV, Youngstown, Best use of Photography Best Use of Photography “Tabloid”, 2nd: Ron Martin, WFMJ-TV, 1st: Christopher A. Hursh, WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, 1st: Paul Kwapich, WTOL-TV, Toledo, “Walleye Youngstown, “Winter at Sea World” “A City in Mourning”, 2nd: Robert Busby, Jr., Run”, 2nd: Brian Hamrick and Dave Ruth, Third: Bob Turner, WYTV, Youngstown, “Nursing WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, “Emily’s Violin”, HM: Ali WOWK-TV, Huntington, W.Va., “Crime Line” in the ‘90s” Ghanbari, WJW-TV, Cleveland “Christmas on Outstanding Weather Operation Outstanding Weather Operation the Outside” 1st: WHIO-TV, Dayton, 2nd: Carl Nichols and 1st: Kevin Carter and Gary Brown, WTOV, Outstanding Weather Operation Brian Davis, WDTN-TV, Dayton, HM: WOWK- Steubenville, 2nd: WYTV, Youngstown 1st: WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, 2nd: WBNS-TV, TV, Huntington, W.Va. Best Regularly Scheduled Weather Columbus Best Regularly Scheduled Weather 1st: WYTV, Youngstown, 2nd: Kevin Carter and Best Regularly Scheduled Weather 1st: WHIO-TV, Dayton, 2nd: Carl Nichols and Gary Brown, WTOV, Steubenville, HM: John 1st: Tim Hedrick, WKRC-TV, Cincinnati, 2nd: Kathy Ellis, WDTN-TV, Dayton, HM: WOWK-TV, Domenick, WTRF, Wheeling, W.VA. WBNS-TV, Columbus, HM: David Fraser, Huntington, W.Va. Best Reporter WLWT-TV, Cincinnati Best Reporter 1st: Kimberly Boles, WYTV, Youngstown, 2nd: Best Reporter 1st: Paul Herdtner, WHIO-TV, Dayton, 2nd: Joe Bell, WKBN, Youngstown, HM: Steve 1st: Chuck Strickler, WBNS-TV, Columbus, 2nd: Kathy Hart, WDTN-TV, Dayton, HM: Paul Chenevey, WYTV, Youngstown Kurt Ludlow, WBNS-TV, Columbus, HM: Lisa Moses, WDTN-TV, Dayton Best Photographer Kick, WBNS-TV, Columbus Best Photographer 1st: David Colabine, WYTV, Youngstown., 2nd: Best Photographer 1st: Eric Anderson, WNWO-TV, Toledo, 2nd: Vince Shivers, WFMJ, Youngstown., HM: Nick 1st: Tim Moushey, WCMH-TV, Columbus, 2nd: Larry Moore, Jr., WHIO-TV, Dayton, HM: Steve Rich, WYTV, Youngstown. Chris Kettler, WBNS-TV, Columbus, 3rd: Ali France, WTOL-TV, Toledo Best Producer Ghanbari, WJW-TV, Cleveland Best Producer 1st: Marty Oravec, WYTV, Youngstown., 2nd: Best Producer 1st: Karen Layton, WDTN-TV, Dayton, “1997 Tiffany Patterson, WFMJ, Youngstown 1st: Angie Dorr, WLWT-TV, Cincinnati, “1997 U.S. Air and Trade Show”, 2nd: Derek Rowles, Flooding”, 2nd: Ted Wilson, WKRC-TV, WTVG-TV, Toledo, “Snow Track” Cincinnati, “Comair Crash”, HM: Amy Seng, WCPO-TV, Cincinnati, “Comair Crash” September/October 1998 Ohio News Photographer Page 5

The newspaper photojournalism assignment Better Assignments Is Not the Answer process magnifies the weakness of everyone involved. We started this article to plan better photo assign- Reporters design photo coverage. Photographers must ments, but that's divisive thinking. We've got to think repair non-visual ideas. Information that should be beyond "news" and "features." You can snicker, but let's shared is isolated call them "cultural reports." They use words, pictures Every time a reporter and photographer spend an and graphic presentation. ("Package" would be a good hour together in a car going to an assignment, they word, but its false promise has brought it into dis invent a new newspaper. Let's try some of these ideas. favor.) Don't skim this article. Read each point like you read "We" and "they" are powerful and destructive assembly instructions packed with self-assemble toys or words in the newsroom. We need equally powerful new furniture. Read a point and reflect before going on. words and new working methods to overcome this. Start the group activities with a discussion. Forget The current definition of news and how it's cov- news, forget procedure. ered worked when the initial dynamic came from the Forget handy concepts, invent new ones. Allow newsroom. That is, the newsroom decided, without out- yourself to do your own interior thinking while cooper- side prompting, what was important. That dynamic has ating with the group. Introduce your interior thinking Tom Hubbard left the newsroom. when the time is right. What do you find interesting or The newsroom is now led by the nose by anyone confounding in this world? Does the group share your with a cause or a product. Clever people have figured curiosity? out what the newsroom is looking for. They write a Later, your participation will differentiate. Right script and allow journalists to find it. In May 1998, now, you are equally exploring a fresh way to come up is getting tons of free publicity by with content. Make it a rule that each must contribute to News Ideas for inventing a story a day about fights on his show. News other's ideas and all must be receptive to any new ideas. has become a reaction to someone else's script. As you invent new ways, you are adjusting your inter- Photojournalism Lets Try Something Different personal and organizational relationships. Be open. Today This article outlines a chance for a small group of Reflect and discuss. You are off the deadline clock. journalists to write their own script, from concept to Continue one of those reporter/photographer car content. You may be ready to try it. A better system conversations. Talk about subjects, people, places or must go beyond tinkering. In the spirit of the modern concepts. Ask, what can we collectively add to under- Part 2 organization, everyone involved should be in on photo standing of these subjects? When do key reporter assignments from the beginning. Everyone will widen moments happen? When do photographer moments their subject repertory beyond news and features. happen? The assignment system is weak because it's linear. Try Lots Of Approaches Everyone contributes a part, but no one looks at the At some point, concentrate on likely options for whole assignment, from concept to publication. Let's stories. Don't just find another approach and work it to make it a with everyone involved in planning at death. You will achieve a new synthesis based on your the same time. We will form this small group to exper- thinking and the particulars of the assignment you imentally assignments that integrate words and design. On the scene, you are inventing but you are photos. An editor, reporter, photographer and display applying ideas you collectively devised during prepara- Tom Hubbard is a tion. Experiment with some new techniques as you editor will get together. Each contributes their expert- tackle each new report. guest columnist for ise, to add to but not detract from the others. The Digital Journalist™ I suggest everyone abandon some of their style, or These people come together as equals searching do the opposite. If you carefully compose, shoot so a web site by Dirck for new ways. Beware, don't invent a new system if you quickly you can't compose. Both techniques are valid. Halstead, where this are just going to bring old habits to it. Pretend you are Expand your repertory. Convince yourself temporarily inventing the very first story assignment. This is not a story first appeared that style is just a convenient way to gather clichés. lock-step plan. It's a plan to complement each other's This is risk but it's a more humanistic, organic and is used with per- thinking. You each engage in multi-mode thinking. Drop Ego Protection way, than shorthand-news gathering techniques. A style mission. The site is predictability. You need style to fall back on, but you address is: Leave your ego back in the newsroom where it's a necessary body armor. Enter these meetings with less need less as the subject becomes important to you. http://dirckhalstead.org ego protection and follow through when you work your Important because of discovered concepts, not impor- stories in the field. Find what's out there, not convenient tant because thousands are already watching. It's easy coverage your ego invents. If journalism is getting easy, to find the action at a football or baseball game. It's not you may be forcing everything into a convenient pattern easy to arrive at a concept that explains the popularity you repeat for each story. of two such opposite sports. This is not a touchy feely group, but if you trust In this project, each person contributes, the group each other, you can present ideas before they are fully contributes. Take time to consider when individuals formed. Ordinarily, meetings are boring because they working alone contributes best and when group syner- alternate between bluster and target practice. Take a gy takes over. These individual versus group dynamics chance. have always affected journalists. It helps to bring them Throw Something Out BEFORE You Know All the out, consider them and understand them. Have period- Answers ic meetings to exchange progress reports. Get feedback Regular newsroom transactions should be genuine from the group. meetings of colleagues. In practice, they are The photo assignment is a many part transaction. defensive/critical confrontations. Discussions are Communication specialists know it's difficult for two masked with a polite veneer but the defensive/critical is people to communicate very well, even face to face. obvious. If the story is invented mutually by this group, The chances of a photo assignment holding its integri- the defensive/critical phrase is avoided. Editors are usu- ty through originator, editor, photographer, layout edi- ally looking for zingers in pictures. Life is not that sim- tor are nil. Each step tends to mutilate the previous step. ple.Here, you can show more and sell it because the group has invested in invested in the work of each CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 member. Page 6 Ohio News Photographer September/October 1998 Odds ‘n ends Golf turned into a contact sport for sev- when a man approached and asked if he Dutton didn’t know was that two winners eral of our members this summer. worked for the station. When he said yes, are named. One for papers over 100,00 cir- Lonnie Timmons III of The Plain the man pulled him from the vehicle and culation which she did win and one for Dealer was hit in the face with a pair of began punching him. those under 100,000 won by Crippen. binoculars by a spectator at the World Three passers-by pulled the assailant Lots less confusion on the television Series of Golf in Akron. Seems the golf fan off Petrucci. Michael Collins of Youngstown side where Ali Ghambari of WJW-TV was wanted to see more of the action and less was charged with assault. Collins told named Best TV Videographer in Ohio by of Lonnie’s back. police that, “voices from the station’s satel- the organization. Also on the hit list at the WSOG was lite dishes told him to do it.” It seems former ONPA member Jason Rueter’s photographer Ron Kuntz who He was order to undergo a mental Cohn, now freelancing in the Pittsburgh incurred the wrath of Tiger Woods’ caddy evaluation and has since been released area, had a rather unforgettable experience Fluff when his camera malfunctioned. The from jail. Police now are unable to find during a recent Steelers game at Three caddy told Kuntz, “If you don’t know how to Collins to pursue the matter. Rivers Stadium. shoot golf you shouldn’t be out here.” Lisa Dutton of The Blade was recent- Someone closed the rest room door on The Vindicator’s Aimee Obidzinski ly detained while taking pictures of a local Cohn in the pre-game photo room. Problem was physically assaulted by the tourna- jail from the parking lot. An officer was, there is no knob on the inside to open ment director at the LPGA Giant Eagle approached her and told Dutton, “you could the door. Classic held near Warren. get shot for that.” She was detained before He was not alone however and had The altercation occurred while the situation was resolved. The newspaper the chance to spend some quality time with Obidzinski was waiting in the wings at the is considering legal action. several members of the armed forces 18th green shadowing Se Ri Pak who had Dutton had some anxious moments before being set free. finished play. Pak won the tournament upon her arrival at the recent Ohio PSJ Ohio still photographers as making a when Dottie Pepper missed a 3 foot putt on awards program at the Rock and Roll Hall turn-around in the NPPA Region 4 clip con- the final hole. of Fame in Cleveland. test this year. No Ohio photographers Obidzinski was pushed twice by the Seems there was some confusion over placed in the top ten final standings last director and escorted from the green by who was the winner of the organization’s year. police under orders from him. The incident Best Photographer in Ohio competition. As of this writing four of the top ten are is now under investigation by a local police Dutton was under the impression by ONPA members. They are led by Matt department. SPJ that she was the winner. Upon arriving Detrich of The Beacon Journal in second, Michael Petrucci, photographer at she saw a printed program for the evening trailing leader J Kyle Keener by just 18 WFMJ-TV in Youngstown was treated for with a picture taken by Bruce Crippen of points. Scott Heckel of The Repository is injuries at a local hospital after being beat- on the cover proclaim- in 6th while Marshall Gorby from The en in the parking lot outside the TV station. ing him as the winner. Springfield News-Sun and David Richard He was getting into a company vehicle There really was no confusion. What of The Morning Journal are tied for 10th. Abandon Your Style newsroom to have a little controversy on home turf. When you final- As the photojournalists in this experiment, try shooting more ly succeed, your job will be to train the rest of the newsroom. free form, with abandon. You can risk this because you did your Actually, the newsroom process filters out too much of the out- thinking with the group. It's kind of like loading psychic energy into side world. Newsrooms have missed the flowering of an entirely new a flywheel. You draw upon it effortlessly when shooting. You will management philosophy devised to meet the information economy. achieve a new synthesis between you and the subject, based on being Newsroom management is fairly close to that of Caesar's army. Take creatively prepared. heart, controversy is a prelude to genuine new thinking. Those who This is mutually achieved creativity, not directed photography. It fight new ideas are the best prospects to implement them. is a synthesis of you and the subject, rising out of the group. If you use this plan to form an elite group, you are missing its Creativity needs stimulus to accomplish. spirit. Help train others, even if it's for selfish reasons. If you persuade The group helps everyone. The group con- others, you will be a pioneer in a better way. If you become an elite siders form, process and content in due group, others will figure out a way to destroy the group. Tom course. Adapt A Role That Fits Today As a photojournalist, your new work This new assignment system will essentially redefine the roles of Hubbard will be given ample consideration beyond, "I participants. This may be traumatic, but these roles were designed like it," or "I need it," or "Go away." But, long before today's information world. Present roles are an antiquat- • continued you can expect creative reversals. You are ed, unrealistic mesh with today's world. raising the bar beyond spitting out familiar The photojournalist's role was defined when newspaper photog- examples of your style. Soon, your work raphers were not educated to news. They were mostly self-taught will reach a higher style. Renew the cycle and start over. You don't photographers, not photojournalists. They knew how to operate the have to renew your cliches, because you have a continuing source of camera like a mechanic knows tools. These early photographers need- new subjects and subject treatments. ed direction on content. Today, photojournalists are college trained You will end with the purist form of creativity, because imagina- journalists. They are more than camera mechanics, they are journal- tion will become recognized as a legitimate news gathering tool. This ists. They must be allowed to use their training. doesn't have to be a leap. The group will quietly, in small ways, intro- Actually, the reporter's job and the photojournalist's job were duce new ideas. The newsroom can't accommodate leaps. Leaps wear defined at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when workers out. Leapers get tired and give up. This is a small group, a mutual were ignorant farmers. Work was segmented, allowing a minimally move. trained person to function. Today, knowledge workers want to be It's a weakness of journalism that style and content are repeated involved in every phase. Journalists are crying for inclusion every endlessly. This new procedure depends on finding new content with- time they cite "they" for ruining their stories or photos. in the routine world, not with jazzing up personal style. As you work “They” Is “Us” with the group, new style will evolve from synthesis of group discus- To paraphrase Pogo, let "they" become "us." It's the way the world is sion and new content. If you are lucky, you could invent a new style going. Journalists see this change when they roam their community. that may last a generation. The secret is to remain open to adding Neighborhood groups are part of the urban decision making process. new elements and abandoning worn out elements of this new style. Industrial workers work in small, democratic groups. Some journal- The Old Way May Be Safe But There’s No Future In It ists wonder, why doesn't this happen in the newsroom? It's ironic that Your group may draw some snide remarks. That's the mark of the very entity that chronicles change is so resistant to non-technolog- something new. Journalists cover controversy all the time, but they ical change. have little tolerance for it in newsroom procedures. It won't wreck the © Tom Hubbard, 1998

September/October 1998 Ohio News Photographer Page 7 Board approves contest rule changes

The Ohio News Photographers the rules. television and still speakers for the conven- Association board of directors met in the bal- The still contest deadline will be tion which will be held April 9th & 10th. cony of President Ed Suba’s theatre in Akron January 30 and judging will probably take SMALLSREED ESTATE -- ONPA founding on September 27th. Officers attending were place February 12-13 in Columbus. In a member George Smallsreed who passed Bob DeMay, Suba and Kimberly Barth. change from previous years the portfolio cat- away in May left the bulk of his estate to The bulk of the meeting involved rule egory will now be part of the open judging ONPA. An estate sale was held recently to changes for the annual television and still and be the last category judged on Saturday. liquidate personal property. contests and the selection of ONPA merchan- The Ohio Understanding Award, picture The sale grossed approximately $20,000 dise that will be offered for sale. usage and picture story categories will be a which included the sale of an SUV owned There are rules changes in both the TV closed judging on Friday as done previously. Smallsreed. The remaining property will be and still contest this year. Television contest The board has urged Detrich to have the sold at auction as soon as possible after chairman Josh White from WCMH-TV in judges wired with microphones to make the which time Smallsreed’s Pickerington home Columbus submitted a written proposal of contest judging as educational as possible for will be listed with a real estate agent. rules after consulting with TV Vice president the membership. Attorney William Clark handling Ron Strah. This years contest will be the first for Smallsreed’s will estimates the estate should TELEVISION CHANGES -- There are two student members to compete for the title of be settled in four to five months. major changes in the television contest. The Student Photographer of the Year. This port- ONPA will receive the interest on the first is the elimination of the sports photogra- folio competition will be judged separately principal of the estate for 21 years after pher of the year category. The second which from the general contest and the Larry which time it will be turned over to ONPA. was approved by the board at the convention Fullerton Photojournalism Scholarship. MEMBERSHIP DRIVE -- Treasurer in Cincinnati requires all individuals entering Student portfolios must contain at least Kimberly Barth reported that 17 new mem- be members of ONPA which previously was one picture story, one news picture, pictures bers have joined the organization this year not a requirement for television members. from at east two other categories and be lim- and qualify to have their registration fees Categories for this years contest include, ited to ten entries. Students must also be waived for the 1999 convention in Dayton. spot news, general news, general sports, members to enter the competition. This offer is for first time members and news feature, sports feature, in depth, person- ONPA MERCHANDISE -- Ed Suba pre- individuals who have not been a member for ality profile, team entry, editing, photogra- sented samples of ONPA t-shirts, sweatshirts five years. This membership drive offer pher of the year and station of the year. and hats that will be offered for sale to pro- remains in effect only through December and The open judging will be held at mote ONPA. includes student members. WCMH-TV in Columbus. Television mem- A quantity of each has been ordered OFFICER STEPS DOWN -- Television vice bers have requested that the judging be held with the hope of having at least a limited president Ron Strah submitted a letter of res- in March so as not to conflict with the amount or merchandise available at the ignation to the board. Strah has recently February sweeps. Every effort will be made NPPA Flying Short Course. A full selection stepped from behind the camera and is now to accommodate the members wishes. The will be available at the Dayton convention the operations manager at WKYC-TV in exact date and rules will be published in the next spring. Cleveland. next newsletter. 99 CONVENTION -- Convention co-chairs Although no longer a photographer ON THE STILL SIDE -- Still contest chair- Marshall Gorby and Bill Garlow have been in Strah says he will do his best to promote pho- man Matt Detrich met with the board to dis- contact with Bob DeMay and report continu- tography and the ONPA in his new position. cuss rule changes for this year. Much of the ing progress in planning next years conven- The board offers is congratulations to discussion here centered around people who tion. Ron in his new position and its thanks for his do not follow the rules. Some of the more The two recently met with the manage- years of service to ONPA. The board will common blunders cited by Detrich included, ment at the Fairborn Holiday Inn to look over name a replacement to serve the remainder of failure to submit the entry fee with the slides, the facilities. The hotel has just finished a Ron’s term at the next meeting. entries arriving postage due, missing release major renovation and have excellent facilities NEXT UP -- The board plans to meet forms and combining categories on slide to suit our needs. The hotel is offering con- again sometime in December to continue sheets. vention goers a free shuttle to a near-by shop- planning for the year end contest and annual Stricter compliance was suggested as ping mall. convention. the only way people would learn to follow The committee is still finalizing both

Moving? Oops In the last issue of Ohio Notify ONPA Treasurer News Photographer cred- it for the 1st place feature Kimberly Barth photo in April was incor- The Beacon Journal rectly given to Matt 44 E. Exchange St. Detrich of The Beacon Journal. Akron, OH 44328 The winning photo, at 1-800-777-9477 right, was taken by Matthew Hovis of The Medina Gazette. The editor regrets the Visit error although Detrich said he would gladly take ONPA Online the points. http://www.ohio.net/~onpa/ Sorry Matt, both of you.

Page 8 Ohio News Photographer September/October 1998 Contest Rules Clip Winners Photos must be entered in the month published. A photo can be entered only after its initial publication MAY WINNERS and can be entered only once. NEWS Sort clips by category - News, Sports, Feature, 1st -- Rachael Rice, The (Mansfield) News Journal, 2nd - Tim Revell, The Feature Picture Story. Clip each category together. Columbus Dispatch, 3rd - Marshall Gorby, The Springfield News Sun. HM’s Note that there is no category for general news or Glen Hartong, ; Marshall Gorby, The Springfield News illustrations. Entries in these categories should Sun; Morris Weintraub, The (Warren) Tribune Chronicle. entered in News or Feature. SPORTS Remove your name and affiliation from the front of 1st - Gary Green, The (Warren) Tribune Chronicle, 2nd - Michael Blair, The the clip. Affix a label with your name, publication, (Lake County) News Herald, 3rd - Bob DeMay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator. address, category and date of publication on the back. HM’s - Mike Munden, The Columbus Dispatch; David Polcyn, The (Mansfield) Include a separate sheet of paper with your name, News Journal. address and total number of clips entered. FEATURE SINGLE Layouts are judged as a single entry but single pic- 1st - Matt Detrich, The Beacon Journal, 2nd - David Polcyn, The (Mansfield) tures from a layout can be entered also. You must sub- News Journal, 3rd - Ken Blaze. HM’s - Bill Kennedy, The Plain Dealer; Tim mit another clip of the single image from the layout in Revell, The Columbus Dispatch; Eustacio Humphrey, Dayton Daily News. this case. FEATURE STORY Wire service photographers and stringers may 1st - Jan Underwood, Dayton Daily News, 2nd - Matt Detrich, The Beacon enter prints but they must be signed on the back by a Journal, 3rd - Douglass Oster, The (Medina County) Gazette. HM’s - Tim supervisor noting they had been transmitted. Revell, The Columbus Dispatch; Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch; Lisa Each entrant is limited to a total of nine clips per Finger, The Columbus Dispatch. month. The clip contest is open to all ONPA members JUDGES in good standing who live or work in Ohio during the Lisa Bul, Gary Higgins, Tom Tajima, Fred Field and Jacqueline Marque of The month entered. The ONPA clip contest is not affiliated Quincy (Mass) Patriot Ledger. with the NPPA Region 4 clip contest. Mail clips by the 7th of the month following publication to: JUNE WINNERS Scott Shaw The Plain Dealer NEWS 1801 Superior Ave. 1st - Gus Chan, The Plain Dealer, 2nd - Allan Detrich, Block News Alliance, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 3rd - Jeffrey Camarati, The (Lorain) Morning Journal. HM’s - Michael Balash, The (Canton) Repository; Michael Blair, The (Lake County) News Herald. SPORTS 1st - David Richard, The (Lorain) Morning Journal, 2nd - Bob DeMay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator, 3rd - Gary Green, The (Warren) Tribune Chronicle. Point Standings HM’s - Phil Long, Freelance for The Plain Dealer; David Richard, The (Lorain) 1. Matt Detrich, The Beacon Journal 254 Morning Journal. 2. Ken Love, The Beacon Journal 244 FEATURE SINGLE 3. David Richard, The Morning Journal 210 1st - David Polcyn, The (Mansfield) News Journal, 2nd - Fred Squillante, The 4. Gary Green, The Tribune Chronicle 174 Columbus Dispatch, 3rd - Bob DeMay, The (Youngstown) Vindicator. HM’s - 5. Karen Schiely, The Beacon Journal 166 Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer; Mandi Wright, The (Medina County) Gazette. 6. David Polcyn, The News Journal 160 FEATURE STORY 7. Scott Heckel, The Repository 154 1st - Karen Schiely, The Beacon Journal, 2nd - Allan Detrich, Block News 8. Douglass Oster, The Gazette 148 Alliance, 3rd - Gary Green, The Tribune Chronicle. HM’s - David Allan 9. Marshall Gorby, Springfield News-Sun 120 Sturman, The Marion Star; David Richard, The (Lorain) Morning Journal. 10. Mike Munden, The Columbus Dispatch 118 JUDGES 11. Bob DeMay, The Vindicator 112 Jim Sanchez, Photo Editor; Bill Warren & Kelly Burdick, Staff Photographers of 12. Tim Revell, The Columbus Dispatch 104 the Ithaca (NY) Journal. 13. Eric Albrecht, The Columbus Dispatch 102 Steven Herppich, Cincinnati Enquirer JULY WINNERS 15. R. Michael Semple, The Tribune Chronicle 100 16. Michael Blair, The News-Herald 94 NEWS Eustacio Humphrey, Dayton Daily News 1st - Chris DeVito, The Lima News, 2nd - Michael Balash, The (Canton) 18. Chris Russell, The Columbus Dispatch 92 Repository, 3rd - Mandi Wright, The (Medina) Gazette. 19. Ken Blaze, The News Herald 84 SPORTS Alan Detrich, Block News Alliance 1st - Gary Green, The (Warren) Tribune Chronicle, 2nd - David Richard, The Steven Rosenberg, The Tribune Chronicle (Lorain) Morning Journal, 3rd - R. Michael Semple, The (Warren) Tribune Mandi Wright, The Gazette Chronicle. 23. Joy Parker, CNS This Week 82 FEATURE SINGLE 24. Rachel Rice, Port Clinton Times Herald 72 1st - Mike Elicson, Freelande for The Columbus Dispatch, 2nd - Scott Shaw, 25. David Allan Sturman, The Marion Star 70 The Plain Dealer, 3rd - Mandi Wright, The (Medina) Gazette. 26. E.L Hubbard, Hamilton Journal-News 64 FEATURE STORY Scott Shaw, The Plain Dealer 1st - Matt Detrich, The Beacon Journal, 2nd - Karen Schiely, The Beacon 28. Michael Balash, The Repository 54 Journal, 3rd - Karen Schiely, The Beacon Journal Mike Elicson, Freelance JUDGES Matthew Hovis, The Gazette Michael McMullean, Karen Focht, Dave Darnell, Robert Cohen, Staff Fred Squillante, The Columbus Dispatch Photographers at the Memphis Commercial Appeal.

September/October 1998 Ohio News Photographer Page 9

Left: Jan Underwood of The Dayton Daily News photographed the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company’s per- formance at the Kennedy Center. The picture story placed first in May.

Below A dying mans wife is anointed after he was baptized by a hospital chaplain. The single photo from a picture story by Matt Detrich of The Beacon Journal won first place in fea- ture in May.

Rachel Rice of The News Journal won first place in news for her pho- Gary Green of The Tribune Chronicle cap- tograph from tured the reaction of a golfer in a charity golf Special Olympics. tournament after missing his putt. The clip placed first in sports in May.

Page 10 Ohio News Photographer September/October 1998

Above: A mother chains the refrigerator in her home so that her five year old daughter cannot get at the food. Her daughter suffers from an eating disorder that makes her crave food. The story by Karen Schiely of The Beacon Journal placed first in June. Right: A play at second capturing a ballet- like Omar Vizquel by David Richard of The Morning Journal placed first in sports in June.

A not guilty verdict drew an emotional response in a courtroom scene captured by Gus Chan of The Plain Dealer. The picture placed first in news in June.

September/October 1998 Ohio News Photographer Page 11

Left: An accident scene provided Chris DeVito, of The Lima News with all the ele- ments needed to take first place in news for July.

Below: Gary Green, of The Tribune- Chronicle placed first in sports in July with his photo of LPGA golfer Dottie Pepper’s reaction to a birdie putt.

Above: Freelancer Mike Elicson, placed first in feature in July with a hot weather photo that appeared in The Columbus Dispatch.

Right: A Camp Quality companion provides a safe place to sleep for a cancer camper. The photo story by The Beacon Journal’s Matt Detrich placed first in July.

Ohio News Photographer Bob DeMay -- Editor 1538 Cullinan Ave. Masury, Ohio 44438