Newsletter of the Omaha Press Club
Volume 37 • Number 7 • July/August 2008
From the Press ClubPresident, Gary Willis:Renovation Progress
– Page 2 –
Omaha Press ClubReciprocal Club
Listing– Pages 4-5 –
Excellence inJournalism Award
Winners– Pages 7-8 –
Calendar ofEvents for the
Omaha Press Club– Back Page –
Come See UsAt the Castle!Until July 31, 2008
Joslyn Castle3902 Davenport St.
(just north of 40th & Dodge)
Lunch served daily(Monday through Friday)from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(RSVP to 345-8008 by 10 a.m.on the date requested)
Press Club Inducts Pioneers of Journalism In Hall of FameAnd Honors Winners of Excellence in Journalism Awards
Hall of Fame: Emcee Rob McCartney, Chair Judy Horan, Honoree WarrenBuffett, Awards Chair Daisy Hutzell-Rodman, Sponsor Steve Kline
See Story, Pages 6-8
Ahman Green Honored as Press Club’s 117th ‘Face’
Save the Date for Next‘Face on the Barroom Floor’
Save the Date:Sept. 26
The Simon Brothers — Fred, Alanand the late Steve Simon — will behonored as the Omaha Press Club’s next“Face on the Barroom Floor” on Thurs-day, Sept. 11.
Watch for more details in the Sep-tember Beyond -30- newsletter.
Join us on Friday, Sept. 26 as the PressClub celebrates the Rat Pack with a“Welcome Back to the Press Club”celebration. More details will beforthcoming from the Press Club’sMarketing & Membership Committee, sostay tuned!
Current NFL football player andformer Nebraska Cornhusker AhmanGreen was honored as the Omaha PressClub’s 117th “Face on the Barroom Floor”in a ceremony at the Scoular Buildingon Thursday, June 26.
Full coverage of the event willappear in the September Beyond -30-newsletter.
“Face” Caricature by Jim HoranPhoto by Steve Villamonte
Phot
o by
Gar
y W
illis
PAGE 2 JULY/AUGUST 2008
Fellowship • ScholarshipEducation
And the Best View in Town
2008-09 OPC OfficersGary Willis ................................. President
Union Pacific Railroad
Kay Kriss ............................ President-ElectNRG Media
Justin Mahoney ........................... TreasurerFirst National Bank of Omaha
Wendy Townley ........................... SecretaryUniversity of Nebraska at Omaha
Steve Kline ........................... Past PresidentLeslie Kline Lukas & Associates
Board of DirectorsDeborah Daley
Creighton University
Susan EusticeSalvation Army
Ashley HassebroekPaul J. Strawhecker Inc.
John HeastonThe Reader
Judy HoranHoran Communications
Cindy JonesFirst National Bank of Omaha
Kurt KeelerMorgan Stanley
Rob McCartneyKETV Channel 7
Dave Ogden, Ph.D.University of Nebraska at Omaha
Communications CommitteeSusan Eustice, co-chair .................. 898-5908Ashley Hassebroek ....................... 556-5785Judy Horan, co-chair .................... 397-6155Daisy Hutzell-Rodman ................... 444-1328Kay Kriss ................................... 689-7108Howard K. Marcus ........................ 444-1397Douglas N. Roesemann .................. 445-4670Don Summerside .......................... 556-5547Bridget Brooks ............................ 393-4600
Omaha Press Club FoundationDr. Eileen Wirth ........................... PresidentTom LaHood ......................... Vice-PresidentJohn Prescott ............................. SecretaryGreg Pflaum ............................... TreasurerHenry Cordes ......... Immediate Past PresidentChris Christen ................................TrusteeJames Denney ................................TrusteeDave Haberman .............................. TrusteeHoward K. Marcus ...........................Trustee
From the President: Renovation Progress
By Gary WillisOur stay at the Joslyn Castle is slowly
winding down. I sincerely hope that ev-eryone has taken advantage of the fan-tastic lunch buffet, a noon forum and theother restaurants that we established re-ciprocal arrangements with. I heard ravereviews for the Mother’s Day Buffet.
The Joslyn Castle was the temporaryhome of the Excellence in JournalismAwards banquet and the first Journalistsof Excellence Hall of Fame ceremony onMay 29. There were a lot of eyes to thesky due to the threatening weather, butthe precipitation held off until well afterthe event was over.
Past President Steve Kline, Wade Rod-man and company turned the Castle intoa sound and video studio that provided amonitor in each room for everyone to view.The Denver Press Club did an excellent jobin judging all the entries that were sub-mitted. The individuals selected for thefirst Hall of Fame are very deserving andwe thank them and their family membersfor accepting the honor. We are very grate-ful to Baird Holm and Leslie Kline Lucas &Associates for sponsoring the event.
Those that were fortunate enough toattend the Winemaker’s Dinner weretreated to an evening of gourmet diningcomplemented with tastefully selectedwines that accompanied each course. Theguest bartenders from South America
treated all present to a display of cock-tail-making artistry. They did things thehard way using a combination of jugglingand precise pouring (see photo, page 3).
Preparing a gourmet meal is difficultenough, but catering a meal of this cali-ber requires skill and artistry. SteveVillamonte and staff pulled off a “10” thatincluded everything from OystersRockefeller to Sexy Steak Diane.
Our original home is starting to re-semble a club again. Seeing the fireplacewith a wooden skirt (see below) and lotsof metal beams outlining the future wallsis a strange visual, but construction is onschedule. The drywall is up and we arelooking forward to our reopening Sept. 2.
The Marketing & Membership Commit-tee is planning a grand welcome back tothe club. Save the date: Friday, Sept. 26.I guarantee you will be pleasantly sur-prised to see that the Rat Pack is aliveand well and ready for a return.
Renovations to the Press Club are progressing nicely. View is to the south.Photos by Gary Willis
JULY/AUGUST 2008 PAGE 3
Press Club CommitteesCommunications CommitteeCo-Chairs: Susan Eustice and Judy Horan
Education CommitteeChair: Gary Kerr
Excellence in Journalism Awards CommitteeChair: Daisy Hutzell-Rodman
Executive CommitteeGary Willis, Steve Kline, Kay Kriss,Justin Mahoney and Wendy Townley
“Face on the Barroom Floor” CommitteeChair: Tom O’Connor
Hall of Fame CommitteeChair: Judy Horan
Marketing/Membership CommitteeChair: Ashley Hassebroek
Media Relations CommitteeChair: Steve Kline
Professional Development CommitteeChair: Howard K. Marcus
Restaurant CommitteeChair: Cindy Jones
OPC Foundation Representative to theBoard: Dave Ogden
Please make reservations24 hours in advance, if possible.
Would You Like to Advertise in This Newsletter?Call the Press Club Business Office at 345-8587 for ad rates.
A Note From the Executive DirectorBy Steve Villamonte
We had a good turnout at the castlefor the June wine tasting. The entertain-ment and the meal were applauded (seephoto, below). We will be planning ournext Winemaker’s Dinner during our grandopening month in September.
Grand Opening: Events are beingplanned by our marketing committee fora month-long succession of events com-memorating our return to the club.
One event that is being planned forFriday, Sept. 26 is a Casino/Las VegasNight with guest performers doing impres-sions of the Rat Pack. I am planning tosing a Dean Martin song by karaoke. Thisalone may be worth the cost of admis-sion. Anyone else whowould like to perform asong, please call KayKriss at 689-7108. Moredetails about the grand-opening events will bepublished in the Sep-tember newsletter.
Christine is startingplanning for OPC to hostour first-ever BridalShow on Sunday, Oct.26 from 10 a.m. to 3p.m at the club.
With just themonth of July left forour summer of lunchesat the Joslyn Castle, weare starting to look for-ward to our return tothe club. I have been
visiting the club a couple times a week toassess the construction and, so far, every-thing is on track for our return. I am alsoworking with the chef on the new menusfor both lunch and dinner. In the mean-time, please make a reservation and comevisit the Castle for lunch and enjoy aguided tour conducted by Christine.
We hope to see you at the JoslynCastle in July!
Contact Us!— Steve Villamonte
[email protected]— Jeanie Campbell
[email protected]— Christine Jones
Omaha Press Club Catering ServicesParties • Weddings • Catered Lunches
Call Christine at 345-8008 for detailsor visit www.omahapressclub.com for menus
Returning to the First National Bank Building on Sept. 2
Celebrate Your Special Dayat the ‘Top of Omaha’
The newly refurbishedOmaha Press Club will be available
for receptions andprenuptial dinners beginning
in September 2008.
The Omaha Press Club offersexpert assistance with food and
beverage selections, tablesettings, flowers and decorations,
rentals, music and more.
OPC members enjoy free room/clubrental with a food or beverageorder (up to a $1,200 value).
China, glassware and flatware areavailable for up to 220 guests.
Call Christine at 345-8008
Guest bartenders put on quite a show at the June Winemaker’s Dinner.Photo by Gary Willis
PAGE 4 JULY/AUGUST 2008
Clip-and-Save: How to Make ReservationsFor The Press Club at the Joslyn Castle
LUNCH RESERVATIONS– 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
(RSVP by 10 a.m. on the date requested)
Call 345-8008
For Lunches & Special EventsBetween April 1 and July 31, 2008
SPECIAL EVENT RESERVATIONSReservations recommended well in advance.An additional charge will apply for weekend
events. Inquire for details.Call Christine at 345-8008
Reciprocal RestaurantsVisit one of these participating restaurants
through Aug. 31 and receive a 10 percent dis-count by showing your OPC membership card.Sign the check with your name and OPC mem-ber number, and you will be billed on yourregular monthly OPC statement.Trovato’s 5013 Underwood Ave. 556-9505French Café 1017 Howard St. 341-3547Vivace 1110 Howard St. 342-2050Taste 10036 Elm St. 884-3175Le Voltaire 156th & Dodge 934-9374
Omaha Press Club Reciprocal Club ListARIZONAArizona Club201 North Central Ave., Ste.3700Phoenix, AZ 85004Ph: 602-253-1121Fax: [email protected]
CALIFORNIAGreater Los AngelesPress Club6464 Sunset Blvd., Ste. 806Hollywood, CA 90028Ph: 323-469-8180Fax: 323-469-8183
Kona Kai Club1551 Shelter Island Dr.San Diego, CA 92106Ph: 619-222-1800Fax: 619-221-8276
San Diego Press Club2454 Heritage Park RowSan Diego CA 92110Ph: 619-231-4340Fax: 619-501-9878www.sdpressclub.com
Press Club of San Francisco555 Post St.San Francisco, CA 94102Ph: 415-775-7800Fax: [email protected]
The Bellevue Club525 Bellevue Ave.Oakland, CA 94610-5096Ph: 510-451-1000Fax: 510-832-0219
The Los AngelesAthletic Club431 West 7th St.Los Angeles, CA 90014Ph: 213-625-2211Fax: [email protected]
Quail Lodge Resort & GolfClub8000 Valley Greens Dr.Carmel, CA 93030Ph: 831-624-2888Fax: 831-626-8481www.quaillodge.com
The Tower Club300 Esplande Dr., Ste. 1455Oxnard CA 93030Ph: 805-983-7777www.topatowerclub.com
University Club1332 Santa Barbara St.Santa Barbara, CA 93101Ph: [email protected]
COLORADODenver Press Club1330 Glenarm PlaceDenver, CO 80204Ph: 303-571-5260www.denverpressclub.org
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIAAmerican News Women’sClub1607 22nd St. NWWashington, DC 20008Ph: 202-332-6770
National Press Club529 14th St. NW, 13th FloorWashington, DC 20045Ph: [email protected]
FLORIDACity of the Palm Beaches11780 Hwy. 1, Ste. 600N. Palm Beach, FL 33408Ph: 561-775-3300
Collier Athletic Club71 Goodlette Rd.Naples, FL 34101Ph: 941-263-2566
Miami InternationalPress Club1800 N. Bayshore Dr.Miami FL 33132Ph: 305-373-1093
GEORGIAAtlanta Press Club34 Broad St. NWAtlanta, GA 30318Ph: 404-223-3734
City Club of Macon355 First St., 4th FloorMacon, GA 31201Ph: [email protected]
The Ashford Club400 Perimeter CenterTerrace, 10th FloorAtlanta, GA 30346Ph: [email protected]
IOWADes Moines Club666 Grand Ave.Des Moines, IA 50309Ph: 515-244-2177www.dmclub.com
Embassy Club801 Grand Ave., Ste. 400Des Moines, IA 50315Ph: 515-244-2582www.embassyclub.com
Council Bluffs Club4500 Piute St.Council Bluffs, IA 51501Ph: 712-366-0525
ILLINOISThe Decatur Club158 West PrairieDecatur, IL 62523Ph: [email protected]
INDIANAIndiana Press Club150 W. Market St.Indianapolis, IN 46204Ph: 317-676-7756
Summit Club110 W. Berry St., Ste. 2500Fort Wayne, IN 46802Ph: 219-424-5372
KANSASThe Petroleum Club of WichitaNations Bank Building100 N. Broadway, Ste. 900Wichita, KS 67202Ph: 316-262-6471
Top of the Tower534 S. Kansas Ave.Topeka, KS 66603Ph: 785-354-7746
KENTUCKYMetropolitan Club50 E. River Center Blvd.Covington, KY 41011Ph: 606-491-2400
LOUISIANAWorld Trade Centerof New Orleans2 Canal St., Ste. 2900New Orleans, LA 70130Ph: [email protected]
MASSACHUSETTSHarvard Club of Boston374 Commonwealth Ave.Boston, MA 02215Ph: 617-536-1260www.harvardclub.com
MICHIGANUniversity Club ofMichigan State University3435 Forest Rd.Lansing, MI 48909Ph: [email protected]
MINNESOTAMinneapolis Athletic Club615 Second Ave. SouthMinneapolis, MN 55402Ph: 612-843-4726
continued on page 5
JULY/AUGUST 2008 PAGE 5
Calhoun Beach Club2925 Dean ParkwayMinneapolis, MN 55416Ph: 927-9951
MISSOURIPress Club of Metropolitan St.Louis911 Washington Ave.St. Louis, MO 63101-1243Ph: 314-241-6397
The Kansas City Club918 Baltimore Ave.Kansas City, MO 64105Ph: 816-421-6789Fax: [email protected]
The University Club of MUUniversity of Missouri107 Reynolds Alumni Ctr.Columbia, MO 65211Ph: 573-882-2586Fax: 573-884-7831www.uclub-mu.org
MISSISSIPPIThe Great Southern Club1 Hancock Plz., 15th FloorGulfport, MS 39501Ph: 228-868-8619Fax: [email protected]
NEBRASKAField Club of Omaha3615 Woolworth Ave.Omaha, NE 68105Ph: 402-345-6343
Fremont Golf Club2710 N. Somers Ave.Box 647Fremont, NE 68026Ph: 402-721-6641
Lochland Country Club601 W. Lochland Rd.Hastings, NE 68901Ph: 402-462-4151
Oak Hills Country Club12325 Golfing Green Dr.Omaha, NE 68137Ph: 402-895-3636
Offutt Officers ClubPO Box 13417Offutt AFB, NE 68113Ph: 402-292-1560
The Champions Club13800 Eagle Run Dr.Omaha, NE 68164Ph: 402-498-8900
NEW JERSEYPark Avenue Club184 Park Ave.Florham Park, NJ 07932Ph: [email protected]
NEW MEXICOAlbuquerque Press ClubPO Box 644201 Highland Park Cir. SEAlbuquerque, NM 87103Ph: 505-243-8476
NEW YORKDowntown Athletic Club19 West St.New York, NY 10004Ph: 212-425-7000
Overseas Press Clubof America3 W. 51st St.New York, NY 10017Ph: 212-983-4655
NORTH CAROLINACardinal Club150 Fayetteville St. MallRaleigh, NC 27601Ph: [email protected]
Raintree Country Club8600 Raintree LaneCharlotte, NC 28277Ph: 704-542-8150
The Charlotte City Club121 W. Trade St., Ste. 3100Charlotte, NC 28202Ph: 704-334-4738www.charlottecityclub.com
The City of Gastonia532 S. New Hope Rd.Gastonia, NC 28054Ph: 704-865-1980
The University Club3100 Tower Blvd.,Ste. 1700Durham, NC 27707Ph: 919-493-8099
OHIOAkron City Club50 S. Main St., 12th FloorAkron, OH 44308Ph: [email protected]
Press Club of Cleveland28022 Osborn Rd.Cleveland, OH 44140Ph: 440-899-1222www.pressclubcleveland.com
Press Club of Toledo213 Eastgate Rd.Toledo, OH 43614Ph: 419-381-2100
OKLAHOMAThe Beacon Club210 Park Ave., Ste. 2940Oklahoma City, OK 73102Ph: [email protected]
The Summit15 W. 6th St.Tulsa, OK 74119Ph: 918-582-5243
Tulsa Press Club415 S. Boston Ave.Tulsa, OK 74103Ph: [email protected]
PENNSYLVANIAPress Club of WesternPennsylvania337 Fourth Ave.Pittsburgh, PA 15222Ph: 412-741-5727
University of Pittsburgh123 University PlacePittsburgh, PA 15213Ph: 412-621-1896
SOUTH CAROLINACity Club of Rock Hill140 E. Main St.Rock Hill, SC 29730Ph: 803-980-2525
TEXASPlaza ClubOne O’Connor Plaza12th FloorVictoria, TX 77901Ph: 512-578-1881
Press Club of Dallas400 N. Olive St.Dallas, TX 75201Ph: 214-740-9988
University Club at theGalleria13350 Dallas Parkway,Ste. 4000Dallas, TX 75240Ph: 972-239-0050
VIRGINIAThe Bull & Bear Club, Inc.901 E. Cary St.Richmond, VA 23218Ph: 804-649-8431www.bullandbear.com
The Harbor Club2100 Nations Bank CenterNorfolk, VA 23510Ph: 757-627-0671
The PiedmontWachovia Bank Bldg.9th & Main St., 20th FloorLynchburg, VA 24505Ph: [email protected]
WASHINGTONThe Harbor Club801 Second Ave., 15th Fl.Seattle, WA 98104Ph: 206-623-3532
The Harbor Club777 108 Ave. NE, 25th FloorBellevue, WA 98104Ph: 425-990-1050
The Tacoma Club1201 Pacific Ave., Ste. 1601Tacoma, WA 98402Ph: 253-272-3218
WISCONSINMadison ClubPO Box 4085 East Wilson St.Madison, WI 53701Ph: 608-259-0766
Milwaukee Press Club620 W. Fairfield Ct.Milwaukee, WI 53217Ph: 414-352-4642
Omaha Press Club Reciprocal Club Listcontinued from page 4
Please note: In order to use your reciprocal privileges during the club relocationand closing, you will need to have a current membership card. If you need to replaceyours, please call Jeanie at 345-8587.
To make a reservation at any of the reciprocal clubs listed on pages 4-5, callJeanie in the Omaha Press Club Business Office at 345-8587.
PAGE 6 JULY/AUGUST 2008
Journalism was not Warren Buffett’sfirst career choice. But he was part of ateam that won a Pulitzer Prize for localinvestigative reporting in 1973 — the firstPulitzer won by a weekly newspaper.
Buffett owned the Omaha Sun News-papers at the time. He tipped off publisherStan Lipsey to a story about Boys Townfinances and worked with Lipsey and edi-tor Paul N. Williams on the eight-page in-vestigative report. All three names are onthe award.
“That was one of the most excitingtimes of my life,” Buffett told emcee RobMcCartney as he accepted the OPC Jour-nalist of Excellence Hall of Fame award onMay 29 on behalf of the Sun.
All other Hall of Fame honorees wereinducted posthumously:• Three Pulitzer Prize winners, all fromthe Omaha World-Herald: PhotographerEarle “Buddy” Bunker (1944), editorHarvey Newbranch (1920) and publisherHenry Doorly, whose scrap metal drive dur-ing World War II won for public service.• Two newspaper founders: Gilbert M.Hitchcock, Omaha World-Herald (1885) andMildred D. Brown, Omaha Star (1938)• Three pioneers who helped “invent”local TV news: Floyd Kalber, KMTV; SteveMurphy, WOW-TV, and Rev. Roswell Will-iams, S.J., Creighton University.• The “Voice of the Huskers” for 45 sea-sons on KFAB and KOIL, Lyell Bremser.• Omaha TV’s first newscaster, Ray Clark.• Ed May Sr., whosefamily put KMTV on theair.• World-Herald pho-tographer John Savage.
Pioneer Journalists Are First Hall of Fame Inductees
Baird Holm LLP and Leslie Kline Lukas & Associates sponsored theJournalists of Excellence Hall of Fame. Inductees’ names will be enshrinedin the new Hall of History when the Omaha Press Club reopens in September.
Jim Clarkaccepted forhis father,Ray Clark.
Warren Buffett with MargueritaWashington, who accepted forher aunt, Mildred D. Brown.
Bette Bremser accepted for herhusband, Lyell Bremser
Cindy McGowan accepted for her great-grandfather, Gilbert Hitchcock, and grand-father Henry Doorly.
Photos by Gary Willis
Carrie and Ed May Jr. He acceptedfor his father, Ed May Sr.
Dr. Eileen Wirth and Rev. Roc O’ConnorS.J. of Creighton University accepted
for Rev. Roswell Williams S.J.
Chris Christen of the Omaha World-Heraldaccepted for Harvey Newbranch.
JULY/AUGUST 2008 PAGE 7
OPC Awards Honor Best in Print, Magazine, TV,Still Photography, Radio and Public Relations
The Omaha Press Club recognizedwinners of its Fourth Annual Excellencein Journalism awards contest in a cer-emony held on Thursday, May 29, 2008.Entries were accepted in the followingmedia: Television, Radio, Public Relations,Magazine and Print. Submissions werejudged by the Denver Press Club.
Awards were presented by event chairDaisy Hutzell-Rodman. Criteria for eachaward was outlined in the Call for Entriesform.
The winners were:
PRINT MEDIABest ColumnFirst place: Joel Stevens, the (Glenwood,IA) Opinion-Tribune (“The Family of ‘Im-migrating’ Circumstances”)Second place: Tim McMahon, Omaha Reader(“In the i Queue”)Honorable mention: Joel Stevens, the Opin-ion-Tribune (“My Pregnant Wife, the Ce-real Killer”)
Best Enterprise ReportingFirst place: Cory Zurowki, John Heaston,Andrew Norman, Omaha Reader (“Blood-letting: the Minard murder, the FBI andthe end of Omaha’s Black Panther Party.”)Second place: Oskar Garcia, The AssociatedPress (“Teacher Sex Abuse”)
Best Special SectionFirst place: Andrea Hoig, metroMagazine(The Event Book: the “Little Black Book”of Culture and Charity)
Second place: Andrea Hoig, metroMagazine(“Romancing the Years: AK-SAR-BEN CXI”)Honorable mention: Andrea Hoig,metroMagazine
Best Sports ColumnFirst place: Joe Foreman, the Opinion-Tri-bune (“Rosenblatt’s best days still ahead?”)
Best FeatureFirst place: Joel Stevens, the Opinion-Tri-bune (“An Animated Life”)Second place: Eric Olson, The AssociatedPress (“After Coaching and Congress,Osborne goes back to teaching”)Honorable mention: Oskar Garcia, TheAssociated Press (“Changing Prairie –Nebraska”)
PUBLIC RELATIONSBest Print NewsletterFirst place: Jon Brooks, Image BuildingCommunications (“Drippings”)Second place: Jon Brooks, Image BuildingCommunications (“In the Crease”)
Best Media Press KitFirst place: Andrea McMaster, The NebraskaMedical Center (“Frozen Elephant TrunkProcedure”)
Hutzell-Rodman with Andrea McMaster.
Hutzell-Rodman with David Bristow ofNebraska Life Magazine.
continued on page 8
Delores Murphy accepted for herhusband, Steve Murphy.
Jack Savage accepted for hisfather, John Savage.
Barbara Ann McKinnon accepted forher father, Earle “Buddy” Bunker.
More Photos from theOPC Hall of Fame
PAGE 8 JULY/AUGUST 2008
Best Brochure/Direct MailFirst place: Rev. David Korth, director; DonDoll, S.J., photographer; Pat Osborne, de-signer, St. Augustine Project (St. August-ine Indian Mission 2008 Calendar)
MAGAZINEBest ColumnFirst place: Brian O’Malley and Erik Tot-ten, Food & Spirits Magazine (“Local food”)Second place: Ron Samuelson, Food & Spir-its Magazine (“State of Omaha’s Restau-rant Scene: the Past, Present and Futureof Change”)
Best layout and designFirst place: Daake Design and photogra-pher Larry Larson, The Nebraska MedicalCenter (“One Thousand One – Summer/Fall 2007 Edition”)Second place: Brady Jones, UNL College ofJournalism (“Renovating the Republic”)Honorable mention: Rick Davis, editor;Sheila Swanson, associate editor; PamelaA. Vaughn, features editor, Creighton Uni-versity (“Creighton University Magazine”)
Best Cover DesignFirst place: Andrea Hoig, metroMagazine(“Dream Catcher”)Second place: Chris Kolberg, Matt Goddard,Matt Linder (“Food & Spirits Magazine”)Honorable mention: Brady Jones and TeresaPrince, UNL College of Journalism and MassCommunications (“Renovating the Republic”)
Best Feature StoryFirst place: David L. Bristow, Nebraska LifeMagazine (“Flight of the Explorer”)Second place: Nick Schinker, AndreaMcMaster, et al, The Nebraska Medical Cen-ter (“A Game of Life”)Honorable mention: Kyle Harpster, UNLCollege of Journalism & Mass Communi-cations (“From Tanks to Tourism”)
TELEVISIONBest Investigative ReportFirst place: Mike McKnight, WOWT (“He’sAlive”)Second place: Mike McKnight, WOWT(“Mudslide, Whose Fault Is It?”)
Best Spot NewsFirst place: Brian Mastre, Mike Plews, JimHinchik and staff, WOWT (“Von MaurMurders: The Shooter”)
Best Feature StoryFirst place: Taylor Wilson, KPTM (“ThreeLifesavers”)Second place: Brian Mastre, Mike Plews,WOWT (“The Gift”)Honorable mention: Taylor Wilson, KPTM(“Origami Artist”)
Best VideographyFirst place: Taylor Wilson, KPTM (“Coun-tryside Yacht”)
Best Public Service AnnouncementFirst place: Tom Floyd, Jim Underwood,Kelly Rush, Bill Kelly, NET Television(“Murder House Promotion”)
Best Public Affairs DocumentaryFirst place: Bill Kelly and Jim Underwood,NET Television (“Murder House”)Second place: Mike Tobias – Producer/Re-porter/Writer, Ray Meints – Videographer/Editor, NET Television (“On the Frontline:Nebraskans at War in Iraq”)Honorable mention: Jeremy Lipschultz andMichael Hilt, University of Nebraska atOmaha (“Inside Berkshire Hathaway”)
Best BlogFirst place: Bill Kelly, NET Television(“Edwards Trial Blog”)
RADIOBest NewscastFirst place: Karla James, KFAB (“4 p.m. News”)Second place: Rich Denison, KFABHonorable mention: Bill Jensen, KFAB
Press Club Honors Journalism Award Winners in May 29continued from page 7
Hutzell-Rodman with the Rev. Roc O’Connor,S.J., of Creighton, who accepted the awardfor Best Brochure/Direct Mail on behalf ofthe recipients.
Photos of Excellence in Journalism Awardwinners (pages 7-8) by Howard K. Marcus
Best Service to CommunityFirst place: KFAB News (“Von MaurShooting”)Second place: KFAB
The keynote speaker at the awardsdinner was Timothy Schaffert, the authorof three novels, most recently “Devils inthe Sugar Shop,” a New York Times BookReview Editors’ Choice. Omaha Press ClubPresident Gary Willis emceed the event.
A portion of the proceeds from theExcellence in Journalism awards isearmarked for college scholarships forjournalism students through the OmahaPress Club Foundation, a 501(c)3corporation. Last year, $1,000 was donatedto the Foundation on behalf of theExcellence in Journalism Awards.
The Call for Entries for the 2009Excellence in Journalism Awards will beissued in January 2009, with an awardsceremony set for Saturday, June 6, 2009.
CONTACT USOPC Office Staff
Executive Director .............. Steve VillamonteOPC Manager....................... Christine JonesAdministrative Manager ....... Jeanie CampbellE-mail ............. [email protected]
Office ........................................ 345-8587Fax ........................................... 345-0114Restaurant ................................. 345-8008Web Site ................www.omahapressclub.org
NewsletterBridget Brooks ................................ EditorOffice ........................................ 393-4600Fax ........................................... 393-4603E-mail ........................ [email protected]
Submissions for the September 2008 issueare due by Aug. 10, 2008.
SPECIAL THANKS TO TOM O’CONNOR AND CAROL SCHRADER
FOR ASSISTING THE COMMITTEE IN PROOFING THE NEWSLETTER
JULY/AUGUST 2008 PAGE 9
OPC Education Forum: Senator Welcomed by Standing Ovation
KETV Wins 10 o’clock in MayIn the May 2007 local TV ratings
period, KETV-7 and WOWT-6 were neck-and-neck with viewers ages 25-54 fortheir 10 p.m. newscasts. A year later,KETV has taken the No. 1 spot in thatcoveted demographic of adult TV view-ers.
In the May 2008 report from NielsenMedia Research, KETV had a 33 percentshare of TV viewers for its 10 p.m. news-cast, which was up from 26 percent lastyear. WOWT had a 23 percent share thisMay at 10 p.m., which was down from28 percent in May 2007.
Meanwhile, KMTV-3’s 10 p.m. news-cast dropped from a 10 percent share ofviewers ages 25 to 54 at 10 p.m. in May2007, to 9 percent this year at 10 p.m.
New Meteorologists Join WOWTRusty Lord, a graduate of Iowa
State University, joined the morningnewscast on WOWT-6 last month. He willbe the meteorologist on the NBCaffiliate’s weekday morning newscast.
Lord joins WOWT after working atKDLT-TV in Sioux Falls, S.D. While there,
Media Watchhe was awarded “Best Weathercast” bythe South Dakota Associated Press in2007. A native of western Iowa, Lord isan avid sports fan and enjoys playingand watching a wide variety of sports,according to his WOWT bio. Lord, it says,also is a huge fan of Husker football andloves watching the Iowa State Cyclonesplay college hoops.
Also joining the WOWT weather crewis Caitlin Ross, who will be on weekendmornings.
They replace meteorologist JeffJensen, whose contract was not re-newed, and Michael Born, who leftWOWT a few months ago for a non-broad-cast-related job in weather.
Said WOWT morning co-anchor JimSiedlecki of Born: “We will miss him(even the singing and dancing duringcommercials) on ‘Daybreak’ and we knowhe will miss all of the friends he has atWOWT and throughout Omaha.”— Jim Minge is the editor of the CityWeekly newspaper. He has also been theeditor of The Reader. He co-hosts a MediaWatch blog with Sean Weide atCityWeeklyMediaWatch.blogspot.com.
By Judy HoranIt was a first for the OPC Education
Noon Forum. State Sen. Ernie Chamberswas welcomed on June 19 by a standingovation, mostly by the white people hesays do not speak his language.
“I went to the legislature thinkingpeople would be brighter than they turnedout to be…When I got there, I had nothingbut contempt for the legislature. Becausewhite people run it. Everything is writtenfrom the standpoint of white people.”
One of his first acts when he enteredthe state capitol was to get the portraitsof Abraham Lincoln and George Washing-ton taken down. “George Washington wasa slave holder.”
The opinionated legislator shared histhoughts on the attempts by WardConnerly (“We call him ‘Uncle Tom’”) towipe out affirmative action. “His primaryaim is to protect the construction indus-
try. And he doesn’t say it applies towomen also.”
Chambers is a writer, a fighterand — starting Jan. 6, 2009 — un-employed. The term limits he foughtferociously are pushing him out ofhis legislative seat.
When asked what he plans todo after 38 years in the legislature,the 70-year-old senator would notcomment. “I have not made up mymind at this point.”
He says people are pressing himto run for the Learning CommitteeCouncil board. “They get the impres-sion that if I’m there, it will get donethe way it should be.”
He did enumerate what he is notgoing to do. “I will never: 1. pickcotton 2. run for city council 3. runfor county board 4. wear shortbritches.”
In considering what his last words inthe legislature might be, he said his ca-reer could be summed up in four words: “Idid my job.”
The OPC Noon Education Forum withSen. Chambers will be broadcast atnoon, July 14, on 91.5 KIOS-FMOmaha Public Radio.
State Sen. Ernie Chambers
Photo by Gary Willis
The Newsletter of the Omaha Press Club
Omaha Press Clubat the Joslyn Castle3902 Davenport StreetOmaha, NE 68106
EVENTS LISTINGMAY 1 – JULY 31, 2008Press Club Temporarily at Joslyn Castle
THURSDAY, JULY 3 • 5:30 P.M.Fourth of July Buffet at the Castle
AUG. 1-31, 2008OPC 2008 Summer Club Closing
TUESDAY, SEPT. 2, 2008OPC Reopens at First National Center
THURSDAY, SEPT. 11, 2008118th “Face on the Barroom Floor”:The Simon Brothers
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26, 2008Welcome Back to the Club PartyFeaturing The Rat Pack
PRSRT STDU.S. Postage
PAIDOmaha, NE
Permit No. 1114
Steve Villamonte with Florida State catcher Buster Posey, the 2008winner of the Dick Howser Trophy, presented by Whitney Bank.
Photo Courtesy ofMAW Photography