November 2013 Newsletter of the Press Club of Cleveland
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Join Us on November 2013 Newsletter of The Press Club of Cleveland An inspiring Hall of Fame Michael E. Bennett President, The Press Club The newspaper indus- try is reinventing itself, media are transforming at a remarkable rate and journalists and other communications professionals are facing challenges no one signed up for when starting in the field – even if it was as recently as a decade ago. But for one evening, the external slings and arrows of outrageous fortune were New Journalism Hall of Fame inductees, from left: Mary Anne Sharkey, Jeff Darcy, Dee Perry, held at bay as more than 200 people cel- Violet Spevack, Paul Hoynes. More photos on page 7. ebrated all that is right in the profession – its people, their accomplishments and the Hall of Fame Class of 2013 inducted lessons they teach us for the future. More than 200 people honored the best Center, 127 Public Square, Cleveland: The Press Club of Cleveland inducted of the news profession on Nov. 14, 2013, • Jeff Darcy, Northeast Ohio Media Group five new members into the Cleveland at the Cleveland Journalism Hall of Fame • Paul Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Journalism Hall of Fame in a gala cer- and Chuck Heaton Award gala. Five lead- Group emony Nov. 14, 2013, at the Cleveland ers from print and broadcast media were • Dee Perry, WCPN, ideastream Marriott Downtown: Jeff Darcy, inducted into the hall during the event at • Mary Anne Sharkey, formerly The Plain Northeast Ohio Media Group; Paul the Cleveland Marriott Downtown at Key Dealer continued on page 3 > Hoynes, Northeast Ohio Media Group; Dee Perry, WCPN, ideastream; Mary Anne Sharkey, formerly The Plain Dealer; and Violet Spevack, Cleveland Jewish News. They joined their 166 predecessor inductees in serving as an example of the power of journalism done right. We also honored Jim McIntyre, who is now on WHK-AM 1420 after having The Press Club of Cleveland had a distinguished career at WDOK, as the sixth recipient of the Chuck Heaton Holiday Party & Annual Meeting Award, given to an individual who best Come meet and mingle with leaders in Cleveland journalism and communications. exemplifies the qualities of Hall of Fame reporter Chuck Heaton, a long-time December 11, 2013 sports writer and columnist at The Plain Dealer. 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Heaton, who passed away in February 2008, was known for his lifelong dedica- Nighttown, 12387 Cedar Rd., Cleveland Heights tion to journalism, his fairness, his con- cern for community and helping others. Appetizers & soft drinks • Cash Bar Heaton’s daughter, Patty, offered video- RSVP today: www.pressclubcleveland.com or 440-899-1222 taped greetings and thanks to the club for creating the award. Wear your ugly holiday sweater & be entered in our 2013 competition. Prizes will be awarded! Excitement and praise for the honor- Press Club Members $20 • Non-members $35 (join the Press Club and pay the member cost) continued on page 2 > 28022 Osborn Road Cleveland, Ohio 44140 | 440-899-1222 | Fax: 440.899.1010 | www.pressclubcleveland.com 2 The Press Club of Cleveland November 2013 The best deals are sometimes those NOT made By Laurie Mitchell, Certified Personnel Consultant This summer, I Truth be told, I like Bob, think he’s a ter- I had ever heard about. I was mortified received a call from rific professional and writer with excellent at Mr. COO’s lack of professionalism the CFO of a not-for- interpersonal skills and, in fact, I had vol- and undignified behavior. Furthermore, profit who had been untarily coached and encouraged him after why hadn’t the other two universally referred to me by the he had been fired until he landed a senior respected gentlemen put an end to such a top professional of role at a great company where he’s thriving. scene? Was the COO always so angry and another revered local I responded tactfully to Mr. COO that revengeful? Weren’t the CEO and CFO as institution at which I yes, I knew Bob and thought well of embarrassed as I? Didn’t they recognize had placed a dynamic, him but obviously the organization now what kind of message their colleague was branding maven CMO. required something else as the job descrip- shouting? I agreed to meet with him and his CEO tion had been completely rewritten and the As I left the meeting, the CEO shook and COO the next business day to discuss role reconfigured. my hand with both of his -- holding it a their need to hire a chief marketing officer. My answer set him off on a verbal ram- tad long, smiled very warmly, and said Walking into their conference room, page. He ranted nauseatingly about how some professional sweet-nothings. I I felt reasonably confident as I had suc- Bob was a wimp, lacked judgment, and so returned the niceties and momentarily cessfully completed many similar CMO on, focusing particularly on “Bob’s poor wondered if they were a sign I would be searches. As the four-way conversation presence.” While maintaining eye contact offered the opportunity to conduct the progressed, I thought the vibes were good, with the COO, I stole glances at the other search. the back and forth was informative, and I two who sat placidly with benign expres- My follow-up note was met with was answering their questions thoughtfully sions, neither once attempting to disrupt silence. I didn’t hear a word until can- and thoroughly. this painfully inappropriate character didates began telling me they had been Then, suddenly – out of the blue, the assassination. contacted by another search firm. God COO began interrogating me about their When I could tolerate not another outra- bless the recently announced new hire. organization’s former head of market- geous word, I interrupted his monologue He will probably need a lot of help from ing whom he had fired. He asked what I by saying that “Of course, I would pres- on high. thought of “Bob’s” business acumen and ent only candidates who have ‘boardroom his communications skills. How would I presence’ and a full complement of strate- Laurie Mitchell & Company, Inc. rate his professional demeanor and pres- gic marketing skills.” Marketing Communications ence? When was the last time I had seen Nearly a year earlier, what could unfail- Executive Search him in person? Did I like him? Would I ingly diplomatic Bob possibly have done [email protected] recommend him to another client? to deserve this outburst? Certainly nothing www.LaurieMitchellCompany.com PRESIDENT FROM PAGE 1 Laugh with Feagler and his Press Club friends ees flowed freely. And the honorees didn’t casts than live over-the-air DVD of tribute makes a great gift disappoint in their remarks, touching on broadcasts. But they will Did you miss The Press Club's all-star roast of Journal- challenges they faced, adversity they over- still serve their communities ism Hall of Famer Dick Feagler? Well, you can now replay came, trailblazing they accomplished and, with news, information and and relive the side-splitting hilarity of the Dick Feagler of course, humorous anecdotes gathered in opinion that remain no less Tribute and Roast on DVD. important to our democracy The 1-hour DVD makes a perfect gift for the holidays a lifetime of service … service, by the way, – or any occasion (or just buy one for yourself). It is avail- that they all continue to perform. now than in the days of able to Press Club members for $19.95, and to non-mem- Hall of Fame and Heaton honorees of Gutenberg’s press. bers for $24.95. the future may have more people read As Violet Spevack, who at The all-star roster of roasters includes: them online than in print, may have more 97 was the oldest inductee • David C. Barnett, WCPN-ideastream (his “Barnack” social media followers than TV viewers, but perhaps was the young- imitation is a must-see) or may have more listeners of their pod- est at heart, told the crowd, • Dan Coughlin, FOX 8 Friday Night Touchdown “The world is a troubled • Jim Donovan, WKYC Sports and Voice of the Cleveland Browns (who impersonates Feagler better than Feagler place and we journalists and does) our readers need each other • Bob Dyer, Columnist, The Akron Beacon Journal more than ever now.” • Linda Feagler, Ohio Magazine (Dick’s “much younger A publication of The Press Club of sister”) The Press Club of Cleveland Cleveland created the • Michael Heaton, The Plain Dealer Cleveland Journalism Hall of • Michael McIntyre, The Plain Dealer Editor Fame in 1981. Plaques hon- • Richard Osborne, Villa Angela - St. Joseph Lee Moran • Master of Ceremonies: Tom Meyrose, Managing Direc- oring Hall of Fame inductees [email protected] tor at Huntington Playhouse are displayed at Nighttown, To purchase the Dick Feagler Tribute and Roast on Associate Editor 12387 Cedar Road, DVD, visit http://pcclevelandfeaglerroast.eventbrite. Maryana Bradas Cleveland Heights, which com or call the Cleveland Press Club at 440-899-1222. serves as the club’s home. November 2013 The Press Club of Cleveland 3 “Serving and honoring communications professionals since 1887.” President: Michael E. Bennett Bennett Consulting 216/408-3874 [email protected] Immediate Past President: Ed Byers Medical Mutual of Ohio 216/687-2685 [email protected] Vice President: Pat Panchak IndustryWeek [email protected] Secretary & Treasurer: Carol Kovach Sun Newspapers 216/986-6060 [email protected] BOARD OF DiRectORS Jeff Bendix Medical Economics Magazine Margaret Bernstein The Plain Dealer John Betchkal FROM OUR HISTORY General Electric Retired Maryana Bradas Editor’s note: This is one in an ongoing News and The Cleveland Press.