Media Access Workshop 2007

Nearly 75 community members & journalists converged on the Philadelphia Daily News/Inquirer building this past May for our annual Media Access Workshop. Here are some memories of the day as shared by PABJ VP Print Sarah Glover:

PABJ VP Print Denise James and PABJ Member Kristin Holmes check-in guests upon arrival. Each participant recieves a "Media Survival Kit" including a media tip guide, pen, paper, and other "goodies".

Community leaders assembled, and ready for action!

FOX 29 Assistant News Director Leslie Tyler opens the day with reminding the audience that communicating with local newsrooms is not as daunting a challenge as it may seem. You just need the right tools to be effective.

Members of the Philadelphia Black Public Relations Society Kick-Off the first panel of the day, sharing invaluable PR details with the group.

PABJ Members Denise Clay of the Temple Times and Jason Harris of the Burlington County Courier anchor the Print Journalism panel.

PABJ Member (and past-President) Sherry Howard presents our Online Publishing Workshop

The Broadcast Journalism panel included: PABJ VP/Broadcast & 6ABC Reporter Denise James, 6ABC Public Affairs Director Linda Munich, NJN TV Producer Sia Nyorkor, CBS News National Desk Editor Jamal Benjamin, and NJN Radio Operations Manager Pharoh Cranston. The session was moderated by PABJ Secretary/FOX News Assignment Editor Manuel McDonnell-Smith.

Keynote Speaker Bilal Qayuum of Men United for a Better Philadelphia shares his own "insider" tips on effectively using media resources to spread your group's message.

PABJ VP/Broadcast Denise James, PABJ VP/Print Sarah Glover, and PABJ Secretary Manny Smith can only smile as good planning executes into a great event! Sarah chaired this year's Media Access Workshop committee.

More Banquet Memories

as shared through the photo lens of PABJ VP/Print Sarah Glover:

The Party Crowd: PABJ Members Pharoh Cranston, Sia Nyorkor, and Manny Smith. Also joined by Rashidah Smith.

PABJ Trailblazer Elmer Smith celebrates with family & friends.

PABJ Secretary Sarah Glover joins with NABJ Staffer Ryan Williams

PABJ VP Print Denise James and CBS News Anchor Russ Mitchell trade smiles (and story ideas)

FOX News Channel Assignment Editor Manny McDonnell-Smith chats up FOX 29's Leslie Tyler and Bill Vargus

PABJ Treasurer Leha Anderson Ryhens and PABJ Member Germaine Edwards greeted every guest upon arrival

CBS News Anchor Russ Mitchell poses with PABJ President Monique Oliver

Two of our favorite Philly Anchors attend the gala: CN8's Arthur Fennell (former NABJ President) and FOX 29's Dave Huddleston.

The NABJ Leadership Team shows it's support of PABJ's 2007 Banquet of Honors: PABJ VP Print/NABJ Secretary Sarah Glover, NABJ President Bryan Monroe, and PABJ/NABJ Parliamentarian Melanie Burney (also PABJ 2007 Journalist of the Year)

2007 Banquet Of Honors

On Saturday, June 9, 2007, PABJ held it's third Banquet of Honors, for those who missed the evening in person.....here a a few moments captured on film:

Journalist of the Year Melanie Burney poses with the evening's host, FOX 29's Sheinelle Jones

Community Service Award Recipient Orien Reid and Past NABJ President/CN8 Anchor Arthur Fennell pose for the cameras.

Mariska Bogle of The Philadelphia Tribune enjoys the crowd.

FOX 29 Anchor Joyce Evans chats with guests before the event.

Congressman Chaka Fattah, Trailblazer Elmer Smith, NBC 10 Anchor Renee Chenault Fattah and Vincent Hughes enjoy the reception before dinner.

Journalist of the Year Melanie Burney and guests Patricia Kelly (left) and Nancy Crocetto (right)

Coverage of the awards banquet was featured in Tuesday's Philadelphia Inquirer, more from Caroline Stewart here.

More photos from the 2007 Banquet of Honors:

The staff of the "original" WHAT-AM reunite for a special PABJ honor after the station was suddenly closed in a suprise sale earlier this year. The spirit of the African American community lives on!

The "City Avenue" Gang: WCAU-TV staffers Pete Kane and Edie Huggins pose with PABJ President Monique Oliver of WPVI-TV. Both stations are located across the street from each other on Philadelphia's City Avenue. Pete was honored with PABJ's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Former Philadelphia Tribune Reporter Paul Bennett addresses the crowd after recieving his Trailblazer honor.




Former Consumer Reporter Orien Reid accepts PABJ's Community Service honor with PABJ President Monique Oliver, and a representative from Alzheimer's International.

Journalist of the Year, Melanie Burney, accepts her honor after being introduced by fellow NABJ Board Member and Philadelphia Inquirer Staffer Sarah Glover

Scholarship Winner Lisa Short accepts her award from PABJ President Monique Oliver & PABJ Secretary/Scholarship Chair Manny Smith

New Daily News Publisher

Welcome Mark D. Frisby as the new publisher of the Philadelphia Daily News.
Mark is no stranger to the Daily News Staff, as he already has a place in the papers' building at 400 N. Broad Street. Soon after Brian Tierney and a consortium of local owners purchased the newspapers, Mark was hired from NJ's Courier-Post as Executive Vice President of production, labor, & purchasing. Frisby will retain his EVP title as he adds his new Daily News responsibilites.

Speaking to Daily News reporter Catherine Lucey, Frisby said "I think there probably wasn't much focus on the newspaper over the past decade," but added; "I'm looking forward to helping grow this piece of the business,"

More of Catherine's Article on philly.com

PABJ fights Breast Cancer

Near and dear to the hearts of many journalists...are our Mothers. Next to them, the female journalists in our lives.

PABJ joined thousands of Delaware Valley residents who lined Philadelphia's Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Mother's Day for the Susan B. Komen Race for the cure. This year, PABJ walked for a special reason. We proudly and humbly walked in honor of our friend and colleague ... Sandra Dawson Long .... A SURVIVOR!

Sandra, a Deputy Managing Editor at the Philadelphia Inquirer is a founding member of both PABJ & NABJ. She chronicled her battle with breast cancer on a philly.com blog. PABJ felt the best way to support Sandra through her battle would be to organize a team for the Komen walk. PABJ & NABJ Parliamentarian Melanie Burney took the charge, organizing the team, and raising over $1,300 dollars for the cause.

Enjoy the pictures from race day below, then follow the link to the full set.
If you have yet to contribute, the team website will accept gifts through June 1.


The team organized at the Inquirer Building before the Walk. Here's Sandra with PABJ members Sherry Howard and Deidre Childress. Deidre is running for NABJ Secretary.



GSABJ member Linda Waller Shockley even joined the PABJ group.


Sandra Joins PABJ/NABJ Parliamentarian/Walk Team Leader Melanie Burney and PABJ VP Print/NABJ Secretary Sarah Glover.



A group shot of the team before the took off on the 5K race.


Sherry Howard seems pumped for the walk....but undisclosed sources say she came in last.


The real meaning of our walk. We proudly and humbly walked in honor of our friend and colleague ... Sandra Dawson Long .... A SURVIVOR! We love you Sandra!