The Newsletter of the Radio-Television Journalism Division of AEJMC Vol. 41, No. 3 July 2002 Hoyt Named ‘02 Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Educator by BILL DAVIE Chair, DBJE Committee Professor Emeritus James L. Hoyt, former director of ing and nurturing them in their broadcast journalism ca- the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the reers. Jill Geisler of the Poynter Institute’s Leadership and University of Wisconsin, Madison, has been named the Management Program says “Jim Hoyt inspired a teenage Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Educator (DBJE) for girl to enter a field that was all but closed to women. Find 2002. This award is bestowed by a professor’s peers in rec- that hard to believe? Believe this: In 1972, I became presi- ognition of a record of excellence in electronic journalism dent of the UW campus chapter of SDX (Now SPJ)—and and mass media education. it was the first year that women were allowed to join what Professor Hoyt has specialized in television news, en- had been called a ‘professional journalism fraternity.’” joying a distinguished career both in the field and in the Said a network correspondent, “If not for Jim Hoyt, I academy. His professional journey has been highlighted by probably would be just another disillusioned lawyer. In- stints at NBC News in Washing- stead, I am a Correspondent for ton, D.C., where he worked as a ABC News and, most days, producer and editor, and later as Most importantly, he pretty happy about it,” wrote an advisor for “NBC Nightly Carla Wohl of ABC’s NewsOne. News with Tom Brokaw” and listened and he “Professor Hoyt is one of the “The Today Show.” most beloved teachers at UW- Professor Hoyt’s experience cared. Madison, and with good reason. at the local station level included --Erica Salkin His knowledge of broadcast work as a reporter at WTMJ-TV University of Wisconsin journalism is vast. More impor- in Milwaukee, and as an anchor tantly, he is able to effectively and producer at WHA-TV in communicate that knowledge Madison, Wisconsin. Professor Hoyt holds three degrees with students,” remarked Shannon Payette, reporter/an- from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning his chor for WKOW-TV in Madison. “Most importantly, he Ph.D. there in 1970. Indiana University hired him as an listened and he cared,” added Erica Salkin, associate stu- assistant professor in 1970, but three years later his alma dent services coordinator for UW’s School of Journalism mater brought him back to teach. He earned the rank of full and Mass Communication. professor in 1981, and served as the school’s director from Tom Bier, vice president/station manager of the CBS 1981-91. This year, he was elected professor emeritus. affiliate in Madison, WISC-TV, spoke of Hoyt’s influence In terms of scholarship, Hoyt joined with Ed Bliss to in his department. “As you know, Madison has one of the produce a major broadcast journalism textbook, Writing better journalism schools in the country but until Jim came News for Broadcast (Columbia University Press, 1994). along it was heavily print oriented. It was not an easy task Hoyt’s research agenda focused on the issue of cameras in getting the faculty to recognize the words “Broadcasting” the courtroom; he served on the state committee, which and “Journalism” are compatible. Jim had the vision, the proposed Wisconsin’s pioneering law allowing television diplomacy and all other skills to bring the school into the coverage of the state’s courts. electronic age.” Many of Hoyt’s letters of support come from former students, who speak convincingly of his record of inspir- please see DBJE, page 6 Off-site Archive Tour Planned in Miami One of the activities at the conven- by SUZANNE HUFFMAN tion in Miami will be an off-site tour RTVJ Division Head of the Florida Moving Image Archive. It’s time. Time to “Catch the Wave Details for our pre-convention It is one of the largest film and video to Miami Beach, Florida.” workshop, research paper sessions, archives of its kind in the country, with We’ve finalized plans for AEJMC’s DBJE social, and RTVJ panels are in more than 10 million feet of film and national convention meeting in Miami this newsletter. Look over the sched- thousands of hours of videotape. Steve Beach at the Fontainebleau Hilton Re- ule and make plans now to attend our Davidson, archive director, says the sort. A special booklet on the conven- sessions. We are working to build tour will provide an opportunity to see tion, including information about ho- membership in our division, so we ask the ongoing preservation activities and tel bookings and airline discounts, was you to invite your colleagues and stu- the technology utilized to maintain and mailed to you from AEJMC headquar- dents to attend RTVJ sessions at the make the footage accessible. ters in April. The information can also Miami convention. The tour is scheduled for Friday be accessed from the web site Thank you all for working with the morning, August 9, beginning at 9 a.m. (www.aejmc.org/convention/ officers to put together RTVJ’s part of The Archive is in the Miami-Dade Pub- index.html). Miami is a terrific conven- this convention. And thank you to the lic Library. Look for updates on the tion location and we hope to see all of officers for all your hard work. Now, RTVJ listserv, or check with RTVJ of- you “at the beach” soon. let’s get to the beach. ficers when you get to the convention. Cooler Convention Sites Hot Topic for AEJMC by LEE HOOD RTVJ Vice Head & Program Chair Miami in August? New Orleans in gas, San Diego, or Seattle. These sug- seeing and surroundings, low crime August? Phoenix…in August? gestions are based on several factors rate, and little or no smog. However, “You’ve got to be kidding” is not an the Council of Divisions identified as Upshaw warns there may be a down- uncommon response. I know many important, including room to have ev- side: “Hold the ’06 event in Portland people over the years have questioned erything at one hotel, if possible, and and nobody in AEJMC will EVER hold the selection of AEJMC conventions easy access to other amenities. Obvi- still for the Sunbelt in August again.” sites. This year, possibly for the first ously, a major reason the convention If Portland is the choice, we’ll have to time, the organization is opening the has been in many hot-weather cities is take our chances, Jim! site selection process to input from the lower cost. However, the Council of Thanks to all who shared their opin- AEJMC membership and is making the Divisions has urged that cost should be ions on site selection. I will pass along process more transparent than it’s been only one of the factors considered. your feedback to the Council of Divi- in the past. More than a dozen RTVJ members sions. If you would still like to com- Because sites have to be booked responded to my posting on the listserv ment, please send your input before several years in advance, the earliest in May, asking for feedback on the convention time to convention site not already identified possible sites. Several members ech- [email protected]. Watch for is 2006. That year’s site will be selected oed Bill Davie of Southern Louisiana, the results in Static after the conven- by the AEJMC executive committee in who wrote, “Two words of suggestion: tion. Miami, with input from the member- Cooler Climate.” Of the cities men- In the meantime, you can look for- ship through the Council of Divisions. tioned for 2006, Portland had the most ward to these convention sites after AEJMC’s Fred Williams, who does support on the listserv, followed by Miami: Kansas City in ’03, Toronto in the legwork on booking the conven- Denver and San Francisco. ’04, and San Antonio in ’05. The con- tions, identified several possible sites Portland comes highly recom- vention is scheduled for Washington, for 2006, when the convention is to be mended by past RTVJ division head D.C. in ‘07. in the western region: Los Angeles, Jim Upshaw of the University of Or- Keep checking for updates on the Portland, San Francisco, Salt Lake egon, who wrote that the city’s advan- RTVJ web site at www2.drury.edu/rtvj. City, Anaheim, Denver, Reno, Las Ve- tages include the climate, great sight- Static/July, 2002 -- page 2 Timely Topics, Timeless Themes Both Featured in Miami by LEE HOOD RTVJ Vice Head & Program Chair Media and terrorism will be a major theme at the AEJMC convention in Miami Aug. 7-10. In addition, the convention location in Miami inspired a number of sessions with a distinctly international flavor. We have many activities planned, from the pre-convention workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 6 to a panel on teaching interviewing skills (always a useful topic) on Saturday afternoon, Aug. 10. Josh Mankiewicz of Dateline NBC will be featured on the interviewing panel, so that’s definitely worth staying around for if you can. Tuesday, August 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. 6:45-8:15 p.m. Pre-Convention Workshop Teaching Session “Covering Crime: Does it Have to Bleed to Lead?” “Spanish Explosion: Career and Internship Opportunities RTVJ, Law, Newspaper, Entertainment Studies, Media in Spanish-Language Media” Management & Economics RTVJ, Internship & Careers Interest Group, International Wednesday, August 7 8:30-10 p.m. 8:15-9:45 a.m. DBJE Award and RTVJ Business Meeting Teaching Panel Off-site Celebration “Cable Outlets: Career Builder or Dead End?” Alexander Hotel RTVJ and Internship & Careers Interest Group 5225 Collins Ave.