ASBPE Washington, D.C. Chapter

Aug. 12: 2011 Central-Southeastern Region/National Azbee Awards Luncheon

2011-08-09T15:43:00.003-04:00

Save the afternoon of Friday, August 12, for the presentation of ASBPE's 2010 Central-Southeastern Region and National Awards of Excellence. We'll see the winning entries, give out the awards, and hear the story behind the story about two award-winning articles.

Meeting Details

When: Friday, Aug. 12, 2011 from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Where:

National Association of Realtors
500 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

How to attend: To reserve your place, send payment (credit card or check payable to ASBPE) by Aug. 5 with a completed reservation form (8K PDF) to the contact listed on the form.

Cost: $20 for ASBPE members; $25 for nonmembers.

Regional Azbee Awards Banquet: Aug. 12, 2011

2011-07-01T14:15:00.003-04:00

A luncheon banquet will be held to honor the Central/Southeast Region winners of the Azbee Awards at the offices of the National Association of Realtors in D.C.:

National Association of Realtors
500 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001-2020

More information will be posted as details become available.

Questions? Contact Steven Roll at b2beditor AT gmail.com.

Harnessing the Power of the Generation Y

2011-03-11T00:11:00.005-05:00

UPDATE: MEETING CANCELED, 3/22/11.

Participation trophies, helicopter parents, and Facebook status updates are among the things that the new generation of workers entering the editorial market place is known for.

Like the journalists who preceded them, Gen Y workers bring a unique set of perspectives and values to the workplace. In some cases, Gen Y has already set the tone for the future (e.g., Facebook's Mark Zuckerman).

In a time defined by rapid technological change, a Gen Y worker can fast become a valued member of an editorial team.

These so-called "digital natives," who came of age in a world that communicates via texting, Facebook and Twitter, often have an understanding of how to maximize a publication's presence on these social media platforms — a skill that often eludes their elders.

But harnessing these skills and coordinating them with the talents of other editorial team members requires time and patience.Watching over these new hires too closely will likely stifle their creativity. Giving them too much freedom could result in a social-media fiasco.

Please join your DC ASBPE colleagues for a lunchtime session on Harnessing the Power of Gen Y.

When: Friday, March 25, 2011 from 12:30 to 2pm

Where:

National Association of Realtors
500 New Jersey Avenue
N.W., Washington D.C. 20001

RSVP: To Steven Roll by March 18th at b2beditor@gmail.com

Cost: $15 members/$25 for nonmembers. A box lunch will be provided.

Paul Albergo, managing editor at BNA and adjunct journalism professor at American University, will discuss:

how seeing the workplace through the eyes of a Gen Y worker can trigger innovation and set the stage for future success the skills that members of Gen Y are not learning in college or graduate schools;
clues to look for when culling "paper tigers" from the resume pile;
why it's more important than ever to teach the fundamentals of journalism and good writing practices;
and practical solutions for encouraging enterprise and creativity, while limiting the impact of "rookie mistakes."

2010 Central-Southeast Region/National Azbee Awards Banquet

2010-07-23T18:34:00.004-04:00

Winners of the Central-Southeast region Print Azbee awards — and national winners from magazines based in that region — will be honored at a banquet in Washington, D.C. on Aug. 20.

Event details:

Date: Friday, August 20, 2010

Time: 12:00 noon to 2:00 p.m.

Location:

National Association of Realtors
500 New Jersey Ave.
Washington, D.C.

Cost: $15 for members $20 for nonmembers

To RSVP: Please complete and fax this form (60K Word doc) to 703-341-1625, attn: Steven Roll by Friday, Aug. 13.

ASBPE-DC Event: Oct. 30: Web Video How-To Basics for B2B Editors

2009-10-27T14:23:00.003-04:00

B2B editors' job descriptions are expanding well beyond writing and reporting, and it's no longer uncommon the find journalists tweeting, podcasting, photographing, and videotaping. For many editors, these technologies are unfamiliar territory, yet most have little guidance to meet managers' high expectations. ASBPE-DC's latest workshop--Web Video How-To Basics for B2B Editors--addresses the most-demanding of these new tasks in a comprehensive, hands-on format designed to give you the tools and the confidence to master this growing reader resource. You will learn the basics of how to make videos, including:

how to use inexpensive video editing and upload to the Web, via an on-site demo

how to write scripts, including judging the length of your video and how to time pictures and text

tricks for viewer-friendly videotaping, including holding the camera, managing the audio, and putting your subject at ease

when to use which format (on-site interview, studio interview)

how to select topics

what not to do

Speakers Rob Freedman, senior editor of Realtor Magazine, and Jean Dimeo, an editorial director at Hanley Wood Business Media, have both recently made the crossover to multimedia journalism and will offer their been-there, lived-through-that experience so you can learn their lessons--and avoid their mistakes.

Event details:

Date: Friday, October 30, 2009

Time: 8:30 a.m. Continental breakfast/networking

9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Workshop

Location: National Association of Realtors

500 New Jersey Ave, Washington, D.C.

(walking distance from Union Station Metro)

Cost: $10 for members, $20 for non-members

RSVP: Email Katy Tomasulo at asbpedckaty@gmail.com for a registration form by Weds, Oct. 28.

Questions? Contact Katy Tomasulo at 202-736-3303 or asbpedckaty@gmail.com

About Rob Freedman

Robert Freedman is Senior Editor of Realtor Magazine, published by the National Association of Realtors in Washington, D.C., and past president of ASBPE and the ASBPE Educational Foundation. He is involved in all aspects of multimedia publishing and produces weekly Realtor Magazine news videos. Robert is the author or editor of several books on business communications, including Journalism That Matters (Marion Street Press) and Best Practices of the Business Press (Kendall-Hunt).

About Jean Dimeo

Jean Dimeo is Editorial Director for Building Products magazine and ebuild.com, and is Chief Editor, Online for EcoHome magazine, each published by Hanley Wood, LLC in Washington, D.C. In addition to traditional print and online editorial responsibilities, she has taken on the role of producing weekly product videos for her Web sites and coordinates efforts for on-site videos at trade shows. Prior to joining Hanley Wood in 1992, Jean was a business and real estate reporter and copy editor for several newspapers, including the Dallas Times Herald. She has appeared on HGTV home improvement shows and has been quoted as a building products expert in metropolitan newspapers.

Free Admission to Central-Southeast Regional Azbees Ceremony, July 15

2009-07-09T07:26:00.005-04:00

Save the evening of Wednesday, July 15, for the presentation of ASBPE’s 2009 Central-Southeast regional Awards of Excellence. The awards ceremony will take place in Washington, D.C., kicking off the ASBPE National Editorial Conference. This event is free of charge, so come join us and bring your staff!

Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Location:

Washington Marriott
1221 22nd Street NW
Washington, DC 20037
Maps and transportation information

Cost: None

To RSVP: email asbpedckaty@gmail.com

ASBPE Author to Appear in D.C.

2009-01-05T16:20:00.004-05:00

Join ASBPE Immediate Past President Roy Harris for two special events in D.C. celebrating service journalism through his book "Pulitzer's Gold: Behind the Prize for Public Service Journalism." Released in 2008, "Pulitzer's Gold" explores the story behind the story, tracing the 90-year history of the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Friday, Jan. 9, 6 p.m.: Book reading/signing

Reiter's Book Store, 20th & K

Wine and appetizers

Saturday, Jan. 10, 2:30 p.m.

Newseum, Knight Studio, Level 3

Roy will join The Washington Post's Dana Priest and Anne Hull to discuss how the two reporters uncovered their Pulitzer-winning story on deplorable conditions at Walter Reed Medical Center.

Upcoming Webinar: A B2B Journalist's Guide to Creating the Next New-Media Resource

2008-11-06T13:20:00.005-05:00

Join ASBPE for our latest Webinar: A B2B Journalist's Guide to Creating the Next New-Media Resource

Date: Monday, November 17th
Time: 1 pm EST
Duration: 60 minutes
Location: Your computer

Webinar Overview
The advent of the Internet has made it easier and less costly than ever for writers and editors to connect with a niche audience. It also has dramatically increased the value of their skills, enabling smart writers and editors to reach millions of people, as well as make money doing so, without the backing of a large media company.

During a 60-minute Webinar brought to you by ASBPE, you'll learn from Harry McCracken, the former editor-in-chief of PC World who has since founded the personal technology blog Technologizer, and Joe Pulizzi, founder and chief content officer of the search community site Junta42, how to:

develop an effective marketing strategy to promote your content
identify, and participate in, on-line conversations that can help draw audiences to your work
use social networking Web sites to reach out to on-line communities who are likely to value your expertise
leverage the power of "free"
build successful permission-based marketing initiatives

How to register: Register online here. Shortly after you register, you will receive a confirmation of your registration by e-mail that will include the dial-in number and access code.

Charge: This Webinar is $10.00 for all ASBPE members and $35.00 for non-members.

About the Moderator
JOE FLEISCHER has more than 12 years of experience as a writer and editor covering a wide range of topics related to customer care. He is a sought-after speaker and moderator at leading customer care events. He has developed and moderated numerous conference sessions, workshops and Webcasts, with the aim of helping companies to improve their communication with customers.

With Brendan Read, Mr. Fleischer is the co-author of the book "The Complete Guide to Customer Support."

About the Presenters
HARRY MCCRACKEN is the founder and editor of Technologizer, a Web site and community about personal technology that reaches 400,000 unique visitors a month.

Prior to launching Technologizer in July 2008, he served as editor-in-chief of PC World, the world's largest computing magazine, and its Web site, from 2003 to 2008. McCracken earned American Business Media's Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity in 2008. He was named to Folio: magazine's Folio:40 list of media movers and shakers in 2008, and was one of min Magazine's 21 Most Intriguing People in 2008. McCracken's PC World editorials won American Business Media's Jesse H. Neal award in 2008.

He has appeared as a technology expert on ABC, the BBC, CBS, NBC, the History Channel, and many other TV and radio outlets, and has written for Family Circle, Popular Science, Slate, USA Today and other publications.

JOE PULIZZI, a thought leader, speaker, writer and evangelist for content marketing and custom publishing, is founder and chief content officer for Junta42, a content marketing and custom publishing on-line resource, helping businesses of all sizes learn how to create valuable, relevant and compelling content.

Voted American Business Media's "Custom Media Innovator of the Year," Joe is also president of Z Squared Media LLC, a content marketing consulting firm for marketers and publishers. In addition, Joe is co-author of the book "Get Content. Get Customers.," which helps teach businesses why and how to create their own compelling content to drive their businesses.

Congratulations ASBPE Central-Southeast Azbee Winners!

2008-07-21T10:48:00.003-04:00

Members of ASBPE's Central-Southeast region gathered July 17 for the annual ASBPE Central-Southeast Regional Awards banquet. During the event, attendees had the opportunity to mingle with fellow award winners and hear from guest speaker Tom Temin, veteran B2B editor and current host of Federal News Radio's morning drive-time program. And of course, we announced the awards for all of the region's Azbee finalists.

Thanks to all who attended and special thanks to the event's sponsor, The Fund for American Studies.

Central-Southeast Azbee Winners:

EDITORIAL
Case History Under 80,000

Bronze
"Blowing up the business plan"
Smart Business Columbus
Nancy Byron

Silver
"A Hall of Fame Homer"
The Big Picture
Gregory Sharpless, Kacey King, Peggy Middendorf, Clare Baker, Jaxon Cook

Gold
"Here's the Church, and Here are the People"
Rejuvenate
Regina McGee, Kate Burton, Karen Hoots, Chris Collinson, Laura Moss

Case History 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Library of Congress"
Government Computer News
William Jackson

Silver
"The New American Home 2007"
Builder
Rich Binsacca, Denise Dersin, Edwin Malstrom, Deborah Leopold, Boyce Thompson

Gold
"The Luxury of Time"
Builder
Jenny Sullivan, Nigel F. Maynard, Denise Dersin, Edwin Malstrom, Deborah Leopold

Editorial/Editor's Letter Under 80,000

Bronze
"Paris Hilton - 23 Days; BP Officials - 0" and "Making Your 'Neighborhood' a Positive Place"
Occupational Hazards
Sandy Smith

Silver
"No Detail Too Small," and "The Greener Side of Golf"
Golf Course Industry
John Walsh

Gold
"Viewpoint"
Quality Assurance and Food Safety
Dan Moreland

Editorial/Editor's Letter 80,000 or more

Bronze
"First Word"
Remodeling
Sal Alfano

Silver
"Just In Time"
IndustryWeek
David Blanchard

Gold
"Editor's Notes"
Builder
Denise Dersin

Feature Article Under 80,000

Bronze
"Changing face of propane"
LP Gas Magazine
Jennifer Webb, Patrick Hyland, Kim Traum

Bronze
"The Invisible Wall"
T+D
Michael Laff

Silver
"The Rise of the RN"
Architect Magazine
Ned Cramer, Amanda Kolson Hurley

Gold CSE
"After the Storm"
residential architect
residential architect Staff

Feature Article 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Back From the Brink"
Remodeling
Stacey Freed, Sal Alfano, Ingrid Bush

Silver
"To Roth or Not to Roth"
Journal of Accountancy
Paul Bonner, Delton Chesser, Charles Davis, Timothy Thomasson, Randi Grant

Gold
"Building Stability"
Military Officer
Military Officer Staff

How-To Article Under 80,000

Bronze
"Web Marketing 102"
Replacement Contractor
Jim Cory, Ingrid Bush

Silver
"What Are Your Weaknesses?"
Security Management
John Wagley

Gold
"Reinventing a Classic"
Developer
Alison Rice, Edito; Cati O'Keefe, Managing Editor; Rachel Z. Azoff, Associate Editor

How-To Article 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Dealing With Death"
Physicians Practice
Robert Redling

Silver
"Trade Secrets: Crunch Time"
Builder
Pat Curry, Steve Zurier, Denise Dersin, Evan Potler, Deborah Leopold

Gold
80,000 or more
"Command Performance"
Builder
Rich Binsacca, Denise Dersin, Evan Potler, Deborah Leopold, Boyce Thompson

Individual/Organization Profile Under 80,000

Bronze
"Urban Groundbreakers"
Multifamily Executive
Shabnam Mogharabi, Editor; Kate Herman, Managing Editor; Chris Wood, Senior Editor

Silver
"Custom Builder of the Year"
Custom Home
Bruce D. Snider, Leslie Ensor, Jennifer Goodman

Gold
"Sixth Sense"
Multifamily Executive
Shabnam Mogharabi, Editor; Kate Herman, Managing Editor; Rachel Z. Azoff, Associate Editor

Individual/Organization Profile 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Sweeter the Second Time"
Physicians Practice
Laurie Hyland Robertson

Silver
"HR at the Summit"
HR Magazine
Bill Roberts

Gold
"Cathedral Builder"
Remodeling
Leah Thayer, Sal Alfano, Ingrid Bush

News Analysis/Investigative Under 80,000

Gold
"The Writing's On the Wall"
Success In Home Care
Sara Jackson

News Analysis/Investigative 80,000 or more

Gold
"Wi-Fi to the Rescue"
Government Computer News
Trudy Walsh

Original Research Under 80,000

Bronze
"Top 100 Growers"
Greenhouse Grower
Sara Tambascio, Patrick Brickman

Silver
"WHZ SO VN?"
MOVE
Melissa Ferrari, Katelyn Wyszynski, Jason King, Stefan Lonce

Gold
"Keep Your Promises"
ProSales
Andy Carlo

Original Research 80,000 or more

Bronze
"IndustryWeek 500 / IndustryWeek 50"
IndustryWeek
Traci Purdum, David Blanchard

Silver CSE
"2007 Remodeling Business Benchmarking Survey"
Remodeling
Hayden Alfano, Sal Alfano, Ingrid Bush

Gold
"You Be the Judge"
Physicians Practice
Pamela L. Moore, PhD

Regular Column, Contributed Under 80,000

Bronze
"Circular File"
Waste Age
Chaz Miller, Steven Averett, Stephen Ursery, Chris Carlson, Deanna Hart

Silver
"The Business of Life"
Smart Business Atlanta
Jim Huling

Gold
"The New Bull Connors"
Youth Today
Mike Males

Regular Column, Contributed 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Berke on Safety"
Machine Design
Lanny Berke, Jessica Shapiro

Silver
"Shawn McCadden"
Remodeling
Shawn McCadden, Leah Thayer, Sal Alfano, Ingrid Bush

Gold
"Silicon Jack"
Latin Trade
Jack Epstein

Regular Column, Staff Written Under 80,000

Bronze
"Straight Talk" and "Fond Farewell"
ProSales
Chris Wood

Silver
"Pork Potpourri"
Youth Today
Bill Treanor

Gold
"Experts" and "Someday, Soon?"
Florida Trend
Mark R. Howard

Regular Department Under 80,000

Bronze
"Making the Rounds"
Today's Medical Developments
Kelsey Higginbotham

Silver
"Apartment Life"
Multifamily Executive
Shabnam Mogharabi, Editor; Kate Herman, Managing Editor; Chris Wood, Senior Editor; Les Shaver, Senior Editor

Gold
"Above the Fold"
PRESSTIME
PRESSTIME Staff

Regular Department 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Market Watch"
Remodeling
Hayden Alfano, Sal Alfano, Ingrid Bush

Silver
"Benchmark"
Remodeling
Sal Alfano, Judith Miller, Alan Hanbury Jr., Ingrid Bush

Gold
"History Lesson"
Civil Engineering
Brett Hansen

Special Section Under 80,000

Bronze
"Unwrapping the Final Rule"
HomeCare
Gail Walker, Susanne Hopkins, James Faucett, David Mitchell

Silver
"State of the Industry"
PCT Magazine
PCT Staff

Gold
"Homeland Security Report Card"
HSToday
David Silverberg

Special Section 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Financing"
Remodeling
Sal Alfano, Charlie Wardell, Ingrid Bush

Silver
"The Cutting Edge of Defense IT"
Government Computer News
Kevin McCaney, Wilson Dizard III, Kathleen Hickey, John Rendleman, Joab Jackson

Gold
"Green Remodeling"
Remodeling
Sal Alfano, Alice Bumgarner, Ingrid Bush

Technical Article Under 80,000

Bronze
"Decoding the Digital Picture"
Security Management
Laura Spadanuta

Silver
"Turning thoughts into action"
Medical Design
Victoria Reitz

Gold
"New Chemical Solutions"
Security Management
Matthew Harwood

Technical Article 80,000 or more

Bronze CSE
"Grand Inspiration"
Civil Engineering
Robert L. Reid

Silver
"Tower of Power"
Civil Engineering
Gonzalo García-Sobrinos; Ignasi Salvador-Villà, ICCP; Jesús Serradilla-Echarri

Gold
"High-Performance Art"
Builder
Nigel F. Maynard, Denise Dersin, Edwin Malstrom, Deborah Leopold, Boyce Thompson

DESIGN

Feature Article Design Under 80,000

Bronze
"After the Storm"
residential architect
Judy H. Neighbor, Various photographers and illustrators

Silver
"Gray Matters"
Florida Trend
Gary Bernloehr, Jason Morton, Jeffrey Camp

Gold
"A Serviceable Icon"
Architect Magazine
Aubrey Altmann, Ned Cramer, Jason Fulford, Amanda Kolson Hurley, Marcy Ryan

Feature Article Design 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Sky Watcher"
Civil Engineering
Jan Hilton

Silver
"Trade Secrets: Crunch Time"
Builder
Evan Potler, Denise Dersin

Gold
"Home Improvement Financing"
Remodeling
Judy Neighbor, Mary Endres, David Plunkert

Front Cover - Computer Generated Under 80,000

Bronze
"Clearing the Air"
Waste Age
David Mitchell, Stephen Ursery, Steven Averett, Deanna Hart

Silver
"Money Ball"
Florida Trend
Gary Bernloehr, Jason Morton

Gold
"Greener Pastures"
Building Products
Evan Potler, Allison Levy

Front Cover - Computer Generated 80,000 or more

Bronze
"2007 Business Benchmarking Survey"
Remodeling
Judy Neighbor, Anders Wenngren

Silver
"October 2007 cover"
American City & County
Bill Wolpin, Wes Clark, Lindsay Isaacs, Edward Brock, Deanna Hart

Gold
"The Cutting Edge of Defense IT"
Government Computer News
Jeff Langkau

Front Cover - Photo Under 80,000

Bronze
"Bright Spots"
Florida Trend
Gary Bernloehr, Jason Morton, Jeffrey Camp

Silver
"Out-of-Home Makes a Splash"
The Big Picture
Gregory Sharpless, Peggy Middendorf, Jaxon Cook, Clare Baker, Angela Prues

Gold
"Portrait of a Broken Lake"
Florida Trend
Gary Bernloehr, Jason Morton, Jeffrey Camp

Front Cover - Photo 80,000 or more

Bronze
"November 2007"
Civil Engineering
Jan Hilton

Silver
"August 2007"
Civil Engineering
Jan Hilton

Gold
"January 2007"
Civil Engineering
Jan Hilton

Opening Page/Spread - Computer Generated Under 80,000

Bronze
"Outlook 2008"
Landscape Management
Carrie Parkhill

Silver
"A Serious Crush"
Construction & Demolition Recycling Magazine
Jennifer Pies

Gold
"Bid Adieu To Bidding Blues"
PCT
Andrea Vagas

Opening Page/Spread - Computer Generated 80,000 or more

Bronze CSE
"Well served"
American City & County
Bill Wolpin, Wes Clark, Lindsay Isaacs, Edward Brock, Deanna Hart

Silver
"When Will It End?"
Builder
Evan Potler, Denise Dersin

Gold
"Midnight Run"
Builder
Evan Potler, Denise Dersin

Opening Page/Spread - Photo Under 80,000
Bronze
"Meet the Bloggers"
Architect Magazine
Braulio Agnese, Aubrey Altmann, Stewart Ferebb, Gideon Fink Shapiro, Marcy Ryan

Silver
"Growing Green"
Real Estate Portfolio
Kevin Hambel, The Magazine Group, National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts

Gold
"A Mod, Mod World"
Multifamily Executive
Shabnam Mogharabi, Editor; Susan Morrison, Art Director; Kate Herman, Managing Editor; Melissa Goldweitz, Graphic Designer; Jill Waldbieser, Contributor

Opening Page/Spread - Photo 80,000 or more

Bronze
"Passionate Pursuits"
Builder
Evan Potler, Denise Dersin

Silver
"Taking the Lead"
Civil Engineering
Jan Hilton

Gold
"Tower of Power"
Civil Engineering
Jan Hilton

Register Now for the Azbee Central/Southeast Regional Awards Banquet

2008-06-11T18:41:00.008-04:00

Once again, the Washington, DC chapter will be hosting the Azbee Awards Banquet for the Central/Southeast Region. Join us on July 17 as we recognize the region's award-winning journalists and enjoy an evening of networking, food, and fun.

In addition to the awards program, keynote speaker and veteran journalist Tom Temin will discuss new media and the opportunities it creates for B2B editors.

Temin hosts the Federal News Radio morning drive-time program. He has 30 years experience in journalism, mostly in technology markets, including serving as editor in chief of Government Computer News and Washington Technology magazines, both of which were regular winners of national reporting awards. Temin is now a communications and publishing consultant. Before joining Federal News Radio AM 1050 daily on air, Temin wrote--and will continue to write--a weekly column for FederalNewsRadio.com on government IT and acquisition topics. He's been a regular call-in guest on "The Federal Drive."

Event details:
Thursday, July 17
Cocktail/networking reception: 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Dinner, awards, guest speaker: 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Location:
Tivoli Restaurant
1700 N. Moore St.
Arlington, VA
(Located directly above the Rosslyn Metro Station; complimentary parking also available.)

Cost:
$65 for ASBPE members; $75 for non-members
Buy a whole table (8-9 attendees) and receive the member rate for all!

RSVP by July 3!
Email Katy Tomasulo at asbpedckaty@gmail.com to register. (Advance payment required; a registration form will be sent upon receipt of email.)

Questions? Contact Katy at asbpedckaty@gmail.com or call 202-736-3303.

Exclusive, Complimentary Newseum Tour for ASBPE Members

2008-06-09T15:03:00.004-04:00

Mark your calendars for Thursday, June 26, when ASBPE's DC Chapter will host a free, exclusive two-hour guided "Talk & Tour" of the Newseum, which re-opened in downtown Washington on April 11. The Newseum is the world's first interactive museum of news and has received critical acclaim for its exhibits and programs.

From 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., we will view gallery exhibits on First Amendment rights, 9/11, the Berlin Wall, Pulitzer Prize photographs, and more.

Prior to the tour portion of the event, there will be a talk covering world press freedoms and a Q&A given by veteran broadcast journalist and Newseum Special Programs Director John Milewski. Milewski has extensive experience in moderating and interviewing, producing public affairs television programming and documentaries, and working with educators from around the world to create educational opportunities for students and adults. Currently he also is an instructor for Penn State University, where he teaches a course on politics and media.

Prior to joining the Newseum, for 20 years Milewski served as executive producer, managing editor, and host/moderator of Close Up on C-SPAN, one of the longest running news and public policy discussion programs in cable television history. In 2006, he served as interim producer of After Words, the flagship program of C-SPAN's Book TV lineup.

Over the years he has worked with high school and college students and teachers from South Central LA to Moscow, and from Indian reservations to Pacific Island U.S. territories. He has covered everything from presidential elections and Space Shuttle launches to the fall of the Berlin Wall. He has interviewed leaders of youth gangs and leaders of nations and has covered every presidential election since 1988, producing and hosting programs from every Republican and Democratic nominating convention since then. Most recently he covered the Democratic debate at Drexel University and the Republican debate at the University of Miami for the Newseum.

This private "Talk & Tour" promises to be informative and stimulating, as we discuss the issues journalists face every day.

Following the event there will be an optional informal happy hour at nearby 701 Pennsylvania Ave Restaurant and Bar for those interested (attendees will be responsible for their own food and drinks).

Event details:
Thursday, June 26, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Location:
The Newseum
555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Enter through the C Street Group Entrance
The Newseum is located near several Metro stops. Click here for directions.

Fees:
This is a free event exclusively for ASBPE members (a $20 value). Space is extremely limited and pre-registration is required. First come, first reserved. If you are not currently an ASBPE member but would like to be, head to www.asbpe.org and click on "Join ASBPE"; new members are welcome to register for this event.

RSVP by Friday, June 20:
To register, email Katy Tomasulo at asbpedckaty@gmail.com with your name, company, title, phone number, and email address. Because space is limited, please register only if you are certain you can attend.

Questions:
Contact Katy Tomasulo at asbpedckaty@gmail.com.

Webinar: Taking Your Webcasts to the Next Level

2008-03-10T14:04:00.004-04:00

From boosting readership and ad dollars to raising brand awareness, learn how B-to-B publications are gaining a competitive edge through webinars.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Want to know what it takes to successfully produce compelling—and profitable—webinars for your trade magazine? Join the American Society of Business Publication Editors for a webinar on Friday, March 21, to get the inside scoop from top experts at Nielsen Business Media and InXpo.

You'll Learn How to…
• pick a compelling topic and present it for maximum impact.

• involve print and online staff editors in content development and presentation of webinars.

• manage the "church-state" divide and address common ethical issues when conducting webinars.

• package and market online events for potential viewers and sponsors.

• leverage webinars for related editorial content, including virtual trade shows, podcasts and e-newsletters.

Meeting Details
When: Friday, March 21, 1 p.m. to 2: p.m. EDT.

Where: Your computer. A Web conference dial-in number and access code is required, and will be provided to registrants in a subsequent e-mail.

How to attend: To reserve your place, contact Steve Roll by March 17 at b2beditor@gmail.com. Questions may be directed to Steve at 703-341-5926. You may also RSVP online at www.asbpe.org.

Charge: $10 for ASBPE members, $35 for non-members.

Learn more about the speakers after the jump.

About the Presenters
KRISTIN BEAULIEU is the Vice President of Client Services at InXpo, a leading provider of virtual online communities and trade shows. She works with leading publishers such as Nielsen, The Wall Street Journal, CMP, IDG, Ziff Davis Enterprise, and others to strategize their event businesses. Kristin was formerly the Vice President of Digital Events for the Consumer Small Business Division of Ziff Davis Media. She managed two online event divisions for Ziff Davis: eSeminars and PCMagCast. eSeminars was launched in 2000 and grew steadily to become a highly profitable division of Ziff Davis with year-over-year exponential growth in revenue and events. In January 2006, PCMagCast was launched as the dedicated online event division of PC Magazine.

PCMagCast received both Gold and Bronze 2006 Folio Fame Awards for "Best Online Events of the Year" for its "Security and Mobility Virtual Tradeshow" and the webcast "Selecting and Setting up an HDTV Set." Additionally, eSeminars received the 2005 Folio Fame Gold Award for "Best Online Event" for its Security Solutions Tradeshow "Protect Yourself Against Attacks."

ELLIOT MARKOWITZ is Editorial Director of Nielsen Business Media Webcasts and Virtual Events and is responsible for the content of all Web seminars across Nielsen's publications and brands. He is also Editorial Director of Nielsen's Small Business Resource Center and Mediajobmarket.com.

Previously, Markowitz was Editorial Director of Ziff Davis Media eSeminars, where he helped build the company's eSeminar business and launched its award-winning Virtual Tradeshow concept. Markowitz is an 18-year publishing veteran. Before Ziff Davis, he was Editor of Hotel Business magazine and HotelJournal. Before that he was Editor-in-Chief of CRM Magazine and the destinationCRM.com Web site and related live events. Before CRM Magazine, he was Business Editor at TechTV, responsible for helping to manage the TV station's Web site as well as conducting live on-air interviews with key industry executives.

Markowitz also spent 11 years with CMP Media's award-winning weekly newspaper Computer Reseller News (CRN), where he held many key editorial positions including News Editor, Business Editor, and Senior Executive Editor. In 1999 he was named Editor of CRN, responsible for the entire editorial operation of the newspaper and in charge of coordinating its redesign and re-launch in June 2000. While at CRN Markowitz initiated many key alliances, including the Industry Hall of Fame event in Las Vegas and the annual CRN/Raymond James Conference. Early in his career Markowitz was a news reporter on Long Island for the Massapequa Post.

One Week Left to Enter the Tabbies

2008-02-26T18:07:00.003-05:00

Entries for the Tabbies, the international awards program held by Trade Association Business Publications International (TABPI) are due March 5. The competition is open to trade, association, and business magazines published at least four times a year.

Categories include:
Design
Feature Design
Front Cover
Front Cover, Illustration
Front Cover, Photograph
Front Cover, Special Issue
Opening Page or Spread
Table of Contents

Editorial
Best Single Issue
Department
Editor’s Column
Feature Article
Focus/Profile Article
How-To Article
News Coverage
Regular Column
Single News Article
Special Section
Technical Article

Online
Best b2b Website
Online Feature

Click here for more details and entry instructions.

What You Missed: Video on B2B Web Sites

2008-02-25T16:41:00.003-05:00

by Christopher M. Wright

"People don't read anymore." That's right. Video is the future.
Here’s what you missed at ASBPE-DC’s panel discussion "Implementing Video on B2B Web Sites" on February 20:

Patrick Mirza, Online Multimedia Producer for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), said the day is coming when editors will have to think about slicing up coverage of a story and using the right tool for each aspect. Where a print piece can tell you how high a building is in feet, only a video clip can sweep the location and show you how imposing the structure really is. Likewise, video gets you closer to sources, communicating richer information through facial expressions, reactions to questions, etc.

If you had been there, you also would have learned how to go beyond simple "talking heads" to broadcast-style interviews with voiceovers and cutaways to referenced materials.

For Jeff Langkau, Creative Director for 1105 Media (Government Computer News, Federal Computer Week, etc.), the future is already here. The online version of a story, complete with video clips, is now the primary focus of editorial meetings and the print magazines are secondary. Preparation includes writing scripts, drawing up storyboards with camera angles and transitions, and planning out slideshows, Google Maps, etc. for the story's Web page. In short, what to invest in a story and how to maximize the return, i.e., increasing the number of news items that can be extracted from a single newsgathering effort.

The audience also heard from Jeff how to minimize expensive studio time and other costs.

During the Q&A, participants shared ideas on how to get started, where to look for case studies, and the relative merits and demerits of various video-editing software packages.

Don't miss out! Head to ASBPE DC's future workshops for great information and good company, all for a nominal cost and at a convenient downtown location. See you next time!

Mr. Wright is a freelance writer, ASBPE-DC Board Member, and winner of ASBPE Regional Bronze. He specializes in investment and technology topics for national and international clients. [www.sinewaveinvestor.com ]

Upcoming ASBPE DC Event: Implementing Video On B2B Web Sites

2008-02-11T12:16:00.000-05:00

Please join the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) and your colleagues in the trade and association press for a Wed., Feb. 20, panel discussion on Web video.

With the push of Web 2.0 and readers clamoring for fresh, relevant multimedia content, more and more B2B publications are making video a prominent feature on their Web sites. But the technology has left some editors wondering how to get started and what exactly to post. If you count yourself among the confused, join the Washington, DC chapter of ASBPE for our latest workshop, "Implementing Video On B2B Web Sites," in which our panel of experts will examine the following questions:

--Why should I use video on my magazine's Web site?
--How do I decide what to put on the Web and what types of formats work best?
--What topics or subject matters are most appropriate for Web video?
--How should editorial staff be involved with Web video?
--What are the basic steps I should take once I've decided to post a video?
--How should video fit into my magazine's overall efforts and future plans?

Panelists:
--Jeff Langkau, Creative Director, 1105 Media, publisher of Government Computer News, Federal Computer Week, Washington Technology, Defense Systems, and Government Health IT. Jeff is responsible for the look and feel of all print and online products, and last year assumed responsibility for multimedia products. Jeff manages a staff of Web production managers, Web designers, print designers, and copy editors.

--Patrick Mirza, Online Multimedia Producer for the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). In January 2007, Patrick started up his organization's multimedia program from scratch, including developing a strategy for multimedia, purchasing equipment, setting up procedures and workflows, creating collaborative processes for working with text editors, converting video for the Web, and producing videos. His entire previous 18-year career was in print publishing, where he worked as an editor on magazines and newsletters; prior to moving into multimedia, he served as the managing editor and editor of SHRM's flagship magazine for 10 years.

Event details:
Wednesday, February 20, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Boxed lunch provided

Location:
American Public Power Association (Please note new address!)
1875 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Suite 1200
Washington, DC 20009
(Near the DuPont Circle Metro)

Fee:
$18 for members
$23 for nonmembers

**Nonmembers: Join ASBPE during registration and receive free admission to this event!

RSVP by Feb. 18
For a registration form, contact Katy Tomasulo at asbpedckaty@gmail.com.

What You Missed: Get Your Book Idea Published

2008-02-07T10:48:00.001-05:00

By Christopher M. Wright

Here’s what you missed at ASBPE-DC’s special event "Get Your Book Idea Published" on Jan. 30:

Rob Freedman's most recent book is "How to Make Real Money in Second Life" (McGraw-Hill, 2007). Senior editor at Realtor magazine and a past president of ASBPE National, Rob said the first thing business book publishers want to know is why your book will sell. Consequently, they don't care how well you write as much as they want to see a business plan identifying the core strength of the book, which audiences will care, and how the book will find its way into their hands. Publishers gave him long lists of questions and it was from these that he crafted his book proposal.

Those in attendance also heard from Rob how best to leverage their personal ties to increase sales.

Roy Harris, senior editor at CFO magazine and immediate past president of ASBPE National, described three things that are important when trying to publish a scholarly work. For "Pulitzer's Gold" (University of Missouri Press 2008), Roy: 1) rejected advice that he needed to prepare a 100-page proposal and instead gave prospects a previously published chapter-length presentation; 2) learned that university presses are not interested in selling a lot of copies up front but are focused on whether a proposed book will have a long shelf life; and 3) showed commitment bordering on obsession, which impressed his editor.

If you had been with us, you also would have learned how Roy got his book into bookstores and promoted it on radio talk shows.

Sarah Davies, children's and young adult literary agent for The Greenhouse Literary Agency, puts together writers and publishers of similar bent and passion. Among her Top Ten Tips for children's writers: No. 2—Don't be derivative. No. 6—Work to develop a unique voice (she wants her hair to stand up). No. 9—Tap into emotions; it's what keeps readers reading.

Audience members also learned how to handle auctions and agents who charge reading fees.

For a few more insights, check out Magnificent Publications' coverage of the event.

Better still, don't miss out next time! The DC chapter will be hosting its next event, "Implementing Video on B2B Web Sites" on Wednesday, Feb. 20, at noon near DuPont Circle. Stay tuned for further details or email asbpedckaty@gmail.com. See you next time!

Mr. Wright is a freelance writer, ASBPE DC Board Member, and winner of ASBPE Regional Bronze. He specializes in investment and technology topics for national and international clients. (www.sinewaveinvestor.com)

ASBPE DC Event: Get Your Book Idea Published

2008-01-23T16:11:00.000-05:00

Have you been mulling an idea for a book? As veteran business and association publication editors and writers, you're well placed to translate complex topics into high-interest reading for a wide audience. In an exclusive event by the D.C. chapter of the American Society of Business Publication Editors, meet with two recently published authors and a literary agent for a relaxed discussion on what it takes to turn your ideas into book deals today.

1. Working with scholarly book publishers:
Roy J. Harris Jr., author, Pulitzer's Gold (University of Missouri Press: 2008)
Roy also is senior editor at CFO Magazine in Boston, published by the Economist Group, and is immediate past president of ASBPE National.

2. Working with business book publishers:
Robert Freedman, author, How to Make Real Money in Second Life (McGraw-Hill: 2008) and editor, Broker to Broker (John A. Wylie & Sons: 2006)
Rob also is senior editor at Realtor Magazine in Washington, published by the National Association of Realtors, and is a past president of ASBPE national.

3. Working with children's and young adult book publishers:
Sarah Davies, literary agent, Greenhouse Literary (London and Washington, D.C.)

Event Details:
Date: Wednesday, Jan. 30
Time: 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Place: Tabard Inn, 1739 N St., N.W. (two blocks from Dupont Circle Metro, on the red line)
Fee: $10 (includes appetizers)

Attendance is limited to 15.
RSVP by COB Monday, Jan. 28.

To RSVP, contact Katy Tomasulo, president, D.C. ASBPE: asbpedckaty@gmail.com.

Enter ASBPE's Azbee Awards of Excellence

2008-01-02T16:15:00.000-05:00

'Tis the season--awards season, that is.

The deadline for ASBPE's Azbee Awards of Excellence is Feb. 15. We've made it easier than ever to enter this year with a new Web-based entry system that allows you to enter most editorial and digital categories completely electronically--including uploading files. For those categories still requiring hard-copy entries (all design categories, magazine of the year, and a few others), you can still submit entry information and pay online all at one time. For more details on the entry process, download the entry brochure and instructions from ASBPE's home page.

While you're there, be sure to download ASBPE's latest member benefit--the ASBPE Tip Sheet. In our first Tip Sheet, award-winning B2B editors provide tips and tricks for winning more awards--from the planning stages through the entry process.

Good luck!

Editorial Winners Tell All!

2007-12-10T09:41:00.000-05:00

Join ASBPE for a FREE webinar this Friday when editorial directors at leading B2B pubs give the low-down on why you should enter—and how to prepare for—the 2008 Azbee Awards of Excellence.

Want to know what it takes to nab an “Azbee” award in 2008 and what the honor can mean for your publication—and for your career? Join ASBPE for a webinar on Friday, December 14, to get the inside scoop from top editors at Hanley Wood and IDG, both of which garnered numerous editorial and design awards in 2007.

What You’ll Learn:
• How and why the editors chose the articles they entered

• What the awards have meant to the winners’ careers and to their publications

• How to build award potential into the articles you write and edit

• How to apply the standards of editorial competitions to your day-to-day work

Meeting Details
When: Friday, December 14, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST.

Where: Your computer. A web conference dial-in number and access code is required, and will be provided to registrants in a subsequent e-mail.

How to attend: To reserve your place, register online at www.asbpe.org.

Charge: This promotional webinar is free for all ASBPE members and non-members.

About the Presenters
DON TENNANT is vice president and editorial director of Computerworld and InfoWorld. Since joining Computerworld in 2000, Don has held several positions, including editor-in-chief. He previously spent eight years as editor-in-chief of the Hong Kong edition of Computerworld. Don was presented with the 2007 Timothy White Award for Editorial Integrity by American Business Media, and he is a recipient of the prestigious Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for editorial excellence in news coverage. His weekly editorial column won national gold awards from ASBPE in 2006 and 2007, and a national gold award from Trade, Association and Business Publications International (TABPI) in 2006. Under his leadership, Computerworld has won dozens of editorial awards, including ASBPE’s Magazine of the Year Award in 2004 and 2006.

BOYCE THOMPSON is the editorial director of the Builder, Multifamily, and Technology groups of magazines published by Hanley Wood, LLC. He also directs the company’s editorial council. In addition to Builder, Thompson serves as editorial director of Big Builder, Multifamily Executive, Digital Home, ProAV, Developer, Affordable Housing Finance and Apartment Finance Today magazines. He manages an editorial franchise that includes 10 conferences, house plan sales, eight websites, and two show homes. Thompson has 27 years of experience writing and editing articles about home building, architecture, and retailing. He is the founding editor of several Hanley Wood titles, including Prosales, Residential Architect, Big Builder, Digital Home, and Developer. He also assisted in the creation of several other company titles, including Building Products, Custom Home, Kitchen & Bath, and Builder’s Best Home Designs, serving as both an editor and a writer.

What You Missed

2007-11-29T16:54:00.000-05:00

By Christopher Wright

Here's a sampling of what you missed at ASBPE-DC's luncheon seminar "The Great Debate: Is Telecommuting Right for Your Editorial Operation?" on October 24th:

Joe Haas, managing editor for CD Publications in Silver Spring, Md., laid out a case against telecommuting. He said good things happen when colleagues confer in the workplace, yielding synergies that can't be replicated electronically. "I happen to believe in the value of collegiality," he said. Haas described his experience when his company tried allowing some employees to telecommute part-time.

On the opposite end of the debate, David Silverberg, editor of HS Today, relies on a network of reporters and production assistants spanning the globe. He's never met some of them in person. All work is conducted by email and .pdf files. There's no office, and that's the way Silverberg likes it. "All offices, and especially newsrooms, are evil, inefficient, and costly," he said, backing up his provocative assertion with several particulars.

Don't telecommuters have too many distractions at home? Silverberg believes the opposite is true.

June Fletcher, real estate reporter for the Wall Street Journal (and Silverberg's wife), has been working remotely for 13 years. She spoke of how her employer allows telecommuting for reporters who have proven themselves, and how it can be used to retain the best people. She also spoke candidly of the downsides and how it's not for everyone.

For a few more insights, check out Magnificent Publications' coverage of the event and be sure to read David Silverberg's article on this topic in the November/December issue of the ASBPE newsletter, arriving in your mailbox soon.

Better still, don't miss out next time! Head to ASBPE DC's future workshops for great information, good food, and good company, all for a nominal cost and at a convenient downtown location. See you next time.

Mr. Wright is a freelance writer, D.C. ASBPE Board Member, and winner of
ASBPE Regional Bronze. He specializes in investment and technology topics
for national and international clients. www.sinewaveinvestor.com

The Great Debate: Is Telecommuting Right for Your Editorial Operation?

2007-10-09T14:35:00.000-04:00

Please join the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) and your colleagues in the trade and association press for a Wed., Oct. 24, panel discussion on the pros and cons of telecommuting.

Forget PC vs. Mac. One of the greatest debates among B2B execs and editors is whether to allow editors to telecommute, whether they live an hour away or across the country. Detractors say it interferes with day-to-day business operations; supporters believe it's a way to retain talented employees and save on overhead. So who's right?

Decide for yourself at the latest lunch workshop from the American Society of Business Publication Editors, D.C. chapter: Is Telecommuting Right for Your Editorial Operation? Our panel of industry veterans will weigh in on the whys and why-nots of working outside the office, with contrasting viewpoints from a staunch opponent and an equally staunch proponent.

Plus: If you're ready to consider telecommuting for you or your employees, this session will provide tips and tools for implementing a work-at-home policy, managing remote staff, and being an effective telecommuter.

Panelists:
--Joe Haas, managing editor, CD Publications, Silver Spring, Md.

--Jaimy Ford, editorial director, Briefings Publishing Group, Richmond, Va.

--David Silverberg, editor, HSToday, Vienna, Va.

--June Fletcher, reporter, The Wall Street Journal, Vienna, Va.

Event Details:

Wednesday, October 24, 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Boxed lunch provided

Location:
American Public Power Association
2301 M St. NW
3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20037
(Near DuPont Circle and Foggy Bottom Metro stations)

$18 for members
$23 for nonmembers

**Non-members: Join ASBPE during registration and receive free admission to this event!

RSVP by Oct. 18
To register: See attached form.
Questions? Contact Katy Tomasulo at asbpedckaty@gmail.com.

Business Editors Need to Get a Life

2007-07-27T16:39:00.000-04:00

by Christopher M. Wright

Should business editors pay attention to a make-believe computer world where animal and fantasy characters adorn themselves in cool clothing and hang out in virtual dance clubs? To hear banquet presenters Rob Freedman and Dave Levinson tell it, half the Fortune 500 thinks so.

Love it or hate it, the virtual world Second Life provoked strong reactions from the audience at ASBPE's Central South-East Region Awards Banquet held July 12, 2007 in Washington, D.C. Comments ranged from profound skepticism ['you guys are way ahead of yourselves'] to appreciation for 'the best program the chapter has ever put on.'

Freedman is a past national president of ASBPE and an editor at Realtor Magazine (National Association of Realtors). His forthcoming book, Second Life Business Strategies, will be published by McGraw-Hill. Levinson, formerly of AOL, is CEO of Cranial Tap in Round Hill, Va., a full-service virtual world development firm which builds locations in Second Life for business clients.

Second Life was created in 2003 by Linden Lab (San Francisco) and is accessed by a special browser downloadable for free from the Second Life website [www.secondlife.com]. Second Life residents create an avatar (virtual person) which they move around the world trying to meet other avatars. "And then they try and ..., you have to use your imagination here...", Freedman said, provoking laughter. A lot of virtual business is built up around this activity - buying clothes and real estate, going out to virtual concerts, etc. "In order to develop a relationship, your avatar has to look good, so you've got to buy a lot of clothes, you've got to have a cool pad, and you've got to furnish it with cool stuff," he said. You can make these things with the 3-D modeling tools provided. "Or you can hire someone like Dave [Levinson] to do that for you to get that professional look," Freedman said.

But it's not all fun and games for IBM, GM, H&R Block, Coldwell Banker, and other big businesses that have established a presence in Second Life. "They're interested in using the platform to promote their business," Freedman said. Strategies vary - Starwood Hotels built a facsimile of its latest hotel design in Second Life and adopted many of the suggestions avatars made for changing the rooms and amenities. Universities and other organizations are using Second Life as a meeting place and teaching tool. As an alternative to conference calls in the real world, avatars enter virtual conference rooms and watch PowerPoint or video presentations in Second Life. Participants pay better attention, Freedman said, because they're not as tempted to multitask as they do during conference calls.

Business and editorial use will only expand as the technology evolves, Freedman said, so business editors need to pay attention. It will become possible for a homebuilder magazine to sponsor a virtual workshop on building techniques for its readers in Second Life, demonstrating with hands-on material how to install solar panels on a roof, for example.

Second Life is growing by leaps and bounds, Levinson said. There were 30,000 registered users in June 2005, 2.26 million at the end of 2006, and more than 8 million by July 2007. The site's success is due in part to the fact that the make-believe economy is based on the real-world economy, he said. Second Life residents pay for virtual goods and services with 'Linden Dollars' which are convertible into real U.S. currency under a floating exchange rate. Virtual clothing currently accounts for 40 percent of total expenditures in Second Life, he said. The remainder is spent in virtual shopping malls and island resorts, or on construction, virtual sex services, weapons, and art, among other items.

"Second Life is the first indication that the mass consumer market is interested in virtual worlds," Levinson said. Real estate agents and other business professionals are making all or part of their real-world livelihood serving customers in Second Life. "Some entrepreneurial users generate a six-figure income based on the objects they create and sell," he said.

"Cranial Tap believes that this space represents what is next for online entertainment, socialization, and business opportunity," Levinson said. Apparently, so do NBC, Fox, and Sony, among the media-related firms that have set up shop in Second Life. "They all understand that consumer adoption of this space is important, if not revolutionary," he said.

While some big companies use Second Life to promote their brand, others sell virtual reproductions of their real-world offerings. There are also interactive movie sets, virtual banks that pay interest, virtual stock exchanges with IPOs and daily trading, in-world interviews for real-life positions, and a virtual military base that facilitates interaction between family members separated by war. "Their characters can meet in a visual way, hug, and dance," Levinson said.

Three-quarters of the user base is outside the U.S. Europe and Brazil are heavily represented. "Appeal is absolutely global," Levinson said. A translation tool allows speakers of the 12 most common languages to communicate in real-time with each other. Second Life is a "a platform where humanity from different places on earth can interact in ways never before possible and, to me, that's amazing," Levinson said.

In the Q&A session that followed, it was brought out that there are other virtual worlds (Google may get into the act), and some are more reality-based. Fantasy or reality, each will draw a different types of user.

The subject of sabotage in Second Life was raised. Interlopers sometimes place objects on someone else's land in Second Life but, Levinson said, the problem can be minimized if the owners utilize the permissions settings in the software to prevent unauthorized construction. It's also possible to restrict your space, keep it private, and only let in who you want. Second Life is not lawless territory, Levinson said, and breaking real-world laws will get you into trouble.

One editor indicated that it's taken years just for his readers to become accustomed to visiting his magazine's Web portal. It's unrealistic to expect them to immerse themselves in a virtual world. But, as Rob Freedman argued - and here's the point for editors - Second Life is a way to reach a younger audience. Look ahead ten years when the video game generation comes of age. Your younger readers "will be totally acclimated to virtual environments," Freedman said. Not only that, an audience member piped in, they will require a different context than previous generations, such as a virtual world, before they will even be willing to take in new content from you. The technology is not going away, it was argued.

Mr. Wright is a freelance writer, D.C. ASBPE Board Member, and winner of ASBPE Regional Bronze. He specializes in investment and technology topics for national and international clients. [www.sinewaveinvestor.com]

# # #

ASBPE Central South-East Region Awards Banquet

2007-06-12T18:02:00.000-04:00

Join your colleagues in the business and association press for cocktails and dinner at the Hotel Tabard Inn on Thursday, July 12 at 6 pm.

Reward yourself for a job well done,

see which publications in our area are producing award-winning work, and

hear a fascinating key note address about the next breakthrough in business communications.

DETAILS:

GUEST SPEAKERS: Dave Levinson, CEO, Cranial Tap, Round Hill, Va.
Rob Freedman, author of forthcoming book Second Life Business Strategies (McGraw-Hill).

TOPIC: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SECOND LIFE - THE VIRTUAL WORLD THAT IS FAST BECOMING THE NEXT MARKETPLACE FOR BUSINESS, CONSUMERS, AND NONPROFIT GROUPS.

The online virtual world of Second Life is home to dozens of Fortune 500 companies and hundreds of other major companies and nonprofit organizations.

Are the companies and organizations you cover the next to migrate to this fast-growing 3-D world?

Hear from highly regarded Second Life developer Dave Levinsion about the ways executives are charting entirely new business models to leverage this key social media platform. Also, learn how your publication can leverage Second Life as a new communication channel to your readers from Robert Freedman, past ASBPE president and author of the forthcoming book, Second Life Business Strategies (McGraw-Hill).

DATE: Thursday, July 12, 2007
TIME: 6:00 p.m.: cocktails
6:30 p.m: Dinner, speaker and awards.

COST: ASBPE members: $65 per person
Nonmembers: $75 per person

Book a whole table (max. 9 people), and everyone gets the membership rate!

Rooms at the Tabard Inn range from $94 to $250. Call the Hotel Tabard Inn at (202) 785-1277 for more details.

THE RSVP DEADLINE IS JULY 2. BUT WE HAVE MORE WINNERS THAN SEATS, SO RSVP ASAP!

For further information, call him at 202-833-7242 or e-mail him at b2beditor@gmail.com.

Banquet tickets may be paid for by check or by Visa, Mastercard, or American Express.

LOCATION:

Hotel Tabard Inn
1739 N Street, N.W.
Washington, DC
(202) 785-1277
Valet Parking
Just a few blocks from the Dupont Circle Metro.

Effective Web-Based Information Sources

2007-05-25T17:10:00.000-04:00

By Chris Wright
--Freelance Writer and ASBPE-DC Chapter Board Member

The information sources I'm using in my B2B work are
changing and I'm wondering whether other ASBPE members are
having similar experiences.

I'm finding Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) a good first step
to learn about a new topic, personality, or company. It's a
good shortcut - you get a coherent view more quickly than
fumbling around in Google hits. It's not authoritative,
admittedly, but useful as a starting point.

Google has a blog search (
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&client=news or
link from Google News). I'm finding blogs useful for tapping
into industry 'buzz' and up-to-the-minute opposing views
from industry participants on topics I'm covering.

Then there's audio and video search. With more of the
world's information going multimedia, I predict this will
become increasingly important with the passage of time. I
use Podzinger (www.podzinger.com) and YouTube (search from
Podzinger). I don't know how they do it, but they pull
keywords out of audio and video files.

Reaction? Other new sources? Tips?

-

DC ASBPE Webinar: Uncovering Scoops With Basic Financial Analysis Techniques

2007-04-20T17:43:00.000-04:00

Stock analysts do it…so can you! Join the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE) for a Webinar on how to uncover corporate scoops using basic financial analysis techniques. Leading the Webinar will be Steve Ross, editor of Broadband Properties magazine and professor at the Harvard Extension. Ross, who has also taught at Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism, has a gift for making financial theories seem simple.

Among other things, you'll learn:

why a company's stock price does not tell the whole story,
factors to consider when writing about the financial viability or competence of a particular company,
a simple formula for calculating whether a company is likely to remain as a going concern in the short term, and
how to spot signs of financial foul play.

Meeting Details:

Event Hosts: ASBPE's Atlanta, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C. chapters

When: Thursday, May 10 from 1:00 to 2:30 pm EST

Where: Your desktop phone. An audio conference dial-in
number and access code.

How to attend: The cost of the Webinar is $25.00. To reserve your place, e-mail DC ASBPE President Steve Roll at b2beditor @ gmail.com.

Podcasts for Work and Play

2007-03-15T17:43:00.000-04:00

By Katy Tomasulo
D.C. ASBPE Vice-President and Treasurer
Managing Editor of Pro Sales and Tools of the Trade magazines.

If you haven’t discovered the world of Podcasts yet, you’re missing out on volumes of new and useful—and free—information.

While you’re commuting to work on the subway, road-tripping to grandma’s, or mopping the kitchen floor, you can educate and entertain yourself hands-free. Learn a new language (I’m hooked on “Coffee Break Spanish”), catch up on the day’s news (try “New York Times Front Page”), learn factoids about sports, entertainment, or science (such as “Scientific American 60-Second Science”), or have a chuckle (such as “The Onion Radio News”).

And no editor should be without the lessons of “Grammar Girl,” whose concise, easy-to-follow Podcasts address common pitfalls and more challenging language conundrums to help you navigate the thats and whiches and the whos and whoms of daily life. Podcasts are easy to get; simply download iTunes , click on Podcasts, and start browsing and downloading (you don’t need an iPod). Podcast Alley also has a great directory.

But Podcasts aren’t just for your personal use. Many consumer and B2B pubs are finding Podcasts to be a great extension of their brand and a new way to provide readers with fresh content.

Last week, DC ASBPE hosted a workshop by Craig Webb, my boss and editor of ProSales magazine, about how to get started making your own Podcasts. Turns out, it’s not as hard as you might think. After an initial investment in some basic recording equipment and a little bit of time familiarizing yourself with software such as Audacity or GarageBand, Podcasts are cheap and easy to produce.

Once you learn how, you can create and process a five-minute Podcast in about 30 minutes. The tougher part is providing the appropriate content. Make sure you keep it short (preferably 15 minutes or less), use an engaging speaker (though they do not necessarily have to be broadcast-journalism trained), and choose topics that are appropriate for the medium, such as on-site coverage of trade shows or an interview with an interesting industry expert.

There are a number of resources to help you get started, including instructional information on iTunes itself and any number of Web sites, such as Podcasting News.

Producing Effective Podcasts for Your B2B or Association Publication

2007-02-06T13:50:00.000-05:00

Trade Pub. Editor to Demonstrate, Share Tips for
Making Your Next Podcast a Screaming Success

From NPR newscasts to parenting tips to science factoids, the Podcasting
phenomenon is bringing information to our ears at a rapid pace. Just like
blogs, the frenzy around podcasting is growing, making many of us wonder,
can--and should--we be using this tool in B2B? You bet!

Consumer magazines are already putting the technology to work, and some trade and association pubs are starting to follow.

Isn't time you learned how to produce a podcast?

Podcasting is an inexpensive, easy way to reach your readers in a medium that's timely, compact, and quick. Getting started requires little more than downloading and getting familiar with some new software, investing in a microphone, and determining how your publication can best reach your readers through their ears instead of their eyes.

In this workshop, Craig Webb, editor of ProSales magazine, will show you:

how and when it’s appropriate to use podcasting,

the elements that make up a good podcast, and

the tools you’ll need to get started.

Invest in yourself by taking the minimal amount of time necessary to learn this important technology. This session will help you to acquire a marketable skill. It will also add another tool to your arsenal for differentiating your publication from the competition.

Event Details:

Tuesday, March 6
12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Boxed lunch provided

$20 for members
$25 for nonmembers

RSVP by Feb. 27 to DC ASBPE Chapter President, Steve Roll by e-mailing him at b2beditor@gmail.com.

Location:
American Public Power Association
2301 M St. NW
Washington, DC 20037
(Near DuPont Circle and Foggy Bottom Metro stations)

Online Productivity Tips for B2B Editors

2007-01-26T17:02:00.000-05:00

Use these free and easy Internet applications to turbocharge your productivity in 2007.

Firefox Web Browser. Firefox is an open-source Web browser, meaning anyone can add features to it. The result is an endless stream of clever “extensions” that make this browser a pleasure to use. Some major advantages are that it:

blocks pop-up adds,

allows you to open multiple browser frames,

has built-in spell checking for Web-based e-mail,

automatically restores your session if your computer shuts down unexpectedly, and

features a google search engine that is built right into the browser interface.

Find out more about Firefox here.

Gmail. Google’s version of e-mail offers several innovative features. Until recently, Gmail was only available to those who received an invitation from a Gmail user. Now, Gmail is also available to those who can sign up for it with their cell phone. Gmail is great because it:

offers virtually unlimited storage space for e-mails,

has an innovative labeling system that allows you to tag and archive e-mails in an organized manner, and

automatically recognizes and inserts the e-mail address of anyone who you’ve previously contacted via Gmail.

Gmail also is coordinated with Google’s online calendar. Once you schedule an event or deadline on the calendar, it will automatically e-mail you a reminder a week in advance. You can also share access to the calendar with others. I have my calendar set up so only I see my work-related entries, but my wife and I both can see our family stuff.

Google documents and spreadsheets allow you to store documents in a place that you can access anywhere. Like the calendar, you can invite others to collaborate with you. This can be more efficient than e-mailing the same document back and forth.

Find our more about Gmail here.

If you’d like a Gmail invite leave a comment on the blog asking for one, and I’ll send it to you ASAP.

RSS Feed Readers. Don’t let the technical sounding name keep you from using this handy tool. “RSS” stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” An RSS feed reader is like an e-mail account that automatically notifies you when a particular Web site or blog has new content. This saves you from having to keep checking Web sites or blogs everyday.

It is especially helpful for monitoring the content of blogs, which many times are not updated on a regular basis. You can use an RSS Feed Reader for less obvious things to, like keeping track of the new movies that are available on Netflix.

To find out more about the Bloglines RSS feed reader click here.

Del.icio.us. Think of Del.icio.us as your online filing cabinet. It allows you to create an account where you can “bookmark” and store online articles. For example, if I’m researching vacations to Central America and see a good article in the New York Times, I can save it in my Del.icio.us account by clicking on a button installed on my Web browser. You can organize the articles you save by creating labels.

Del.icio.us also keeps a running list of the “most bookmarked” articles.

Find out more about Del.icio.us here.

Blogs. The perception is that most blogs feature the controversial opinions of unknown people. But there are many blogs out there that offer an almost unlimited source of practical information. A great example of a worthwhile blog is http://www.lifehacker.com/. It is mostly devoted tips for increasing productivity such as helpful computer shortcuts. An interesting B2B blog is http://paulconley.blogspot.com/. A marketing blog that I like is http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/

The Numbers Tell the Story

2006-12-19T18:16:00.000-05:00

by Christopher M. Wright

Mr. Wright is a D.C. ASBPE Board Member and freelance writer
specializing in business and technology topics for national
and international clients. [www.sinewaveinvestor.com]

Using Excel to calculate corporate financial ratios was the
focus of ASBPE's first-ever teleseminar on December 14,
2006, jointly sponsored by ASBPE's New York and Washington,
D.C. chapters. The presenter was Steve Ross, author of 19
books and a former associate professor at the Columbia
University Graduate School of Journalism. Ross currently
edits Broadband Properties (www.bbpmag.com) and teaches
business writing at the Harvard Extension.

Two additional sessions on how to analyze company financial
statements are planned for January and February 2007 (dates
TBA). Plans call for a DVD of the sessions to be sold
through the ASBPE website.

During the first session, Ross walked the participants
through a pre-populated Excel spreadsheet containing 1987
profit and sales figures for 15 large US companies.
Participants, who received the spreadsheet and explanatory
material in advance, calculated key business indicators,
with Ross providing step-by-step instructions how to enter
formulas and display results. At the end, participants had a
ready-made spreadsheet for use in assessing companies they
select.

The key business indicators included profit margin, earnings
per share, price-earnings ratio, and return on investment
(ROI). "Sales is a bit of a slippery number," Ross said.
"Profits is also a slippery number." Sales includes more
than product revenue. "It's also the profits and losses
[IBM] made on currency fluctuations and buying and selling
assets," he said.

As for profits, "are they the same numbers that are reported
to the tax people? No, they are not. Can you see what they
report to the Internal Revenue Service? No, you can't," Ross
said. Profits divided by sales gives you the company's
profit margin, he explained.

Ross then moved into calculating the total worth of a
company's stock, which he termed 'market value'. "Here is
where the misreporting happens," Ross said. Just because
IBM's stock was worth $68 billion (in 1987) doesn't mean
that somebody could buy the entire company for that amount.
"That's impossible because, what would happen as soon as
they started buying shares?," Ross asked. "The share price
would go up, the market value would increase."

After calculating earnings per share (EPS), Ross discussed
the price-earnings (PE) ratio, which is the price of one
share of a company's stock divided by the company's earnings
per share. The PE ratio is "perhaps, next to profits and
profit margin, really the most important key to finding a
story," Ross said. "The higher the price-earnings ratio, the
higher the expectations of the stock that it's going to do
well in the future and expectations are always a story. Find
out why such expectations are happening - is it hype or is
it real?"

He then contrasted General Electric with a PE of 18.8 (in
1987) with Ford at 4.8. The market was predicting a better
future for GE than Ford and was right in that case, but is
not always infallible. The old AT&T had an average PE in
1987, signaling average investor expectations, but the
company steadily declined until its progeny SBC
Communications moved to take it over in 2005.

There is no PE if the company is losing money, Ross said. In
that case, the PE is generally shown as 'n/a' or 'n/c' (not
applicable or not calculable). "You're not supposed to be
able to calculate a price-earnings ratio when there are no
earnings," Ross said. That sometimes happens when the
company "takes a haircut," i.e., when the company knows it
will lose money in a particular quarter, it will sometimes
pack all the bad news and possible writedowns from
money-losing activities into one quarter since the stock
price is going to take a hit anyway. Investors recognize
this is being done and mute their reaction accordingly. The
point for journalists, Ross said, is not to write wild
stories (about Ford, for example) about how the company is
close to bankruptcy when noncash writedowns don't threaten
the company's viability as a going concern.

Return on investment is another key profitability indicator,
the inverse of the PE ratio. "It's what you earn divided by
the price," Ross said. This earnings yield is not the same
as cash dividends or dividend yield, he noted. "Remember,
most of the money [the company] is using to reinvest and
grow the company. Only a little bit comes back in your
dividend," he said.

Ross next showed how Excel can calculate the average profit
margin for an entire group of companies. If a company's
margin is below the average, journalists can look for
explanations as to why the company compares unfavorably to
others - tougher competition? government regulation?
supply-demand imbalance affecting the price for the
company's products? Oil companies tend to be doing better
today than they were in 1987, Ross said, because oil
supplies are tighter now relative to demand than they were
at that time. "The demand is far higher," he said.

Ross wound up the presentation by showing how journalists
can sort the information in the spreadsheet (from highest to
lowest PE, for example) and generate corresponding charts
that can be exported to photo editing software or web pages.

# # #

I Hate You, Don't Leave Me: Do's and Don'ts in the Editorial/PR Relationship

2006-12-07T16:04:00.000-05:00

by Christopher M. Wright
Mr. Wright is a D.C. ASBPE Board Member and freelance writer specializing in business and technology topics for national and international clients. www.sinewaveinvestor.com

The 'love-hate' relationship between trade pub editors and public relations professionals was the subject of a panel presentation jointly sponsored by ASBPE's D.C. chapter and the Public Relations Society held November 1st in Washington, D.C.

Panel moderator Robert Freedman, senior editor at Realtor Magazine (National Association of Realtors) and former ASBPE national president, captured the ambivalence by observing "when the relationship works, it works very well. The negative side can impede on the editor's productivity."

Freedman's team gets inundated with press releases, but finds only two out of a thousand received every week in any way useful. The ones selected are not printed verbatim but form the basis for stories meeting previously established editorial needs. In what he termed an increasing problem, he now gets several calls a day from PR reps who keep hounding him despite assurances he will be back in touch if he needs anything else.

The key to getting exposure, Freedman said, is to be helpful. He cited the example of a real estate company in Seattle that often makes the magazine's 'most influential' list because its PR rep is so effective - requests for certain types of sources to interview are filled with multiple names within a day. The sources have been briefed and are ready for his call. Story ideas are pitched only very selectively. "Because they're so helpful to us, they end up getting a lot of ink in the magazine," Freedman said.

Lisa Throckmorton, senior vice president of the hi-tech PR firm SheaHedges Group in McLean, Virginia, said the onus is on PR reps to truly understand the target publication - How often is the magazine published? What is the audience? Is it an association magazine or independent? How thin is the editorial team spread? Does the magazine contain mostly news items or feature articles?

Beyond the basics, figure out what the editor needs and can use. Only then can you effectively pitch content. Maybe that big industry merger is totally irrelevant to your target. 'Technology' might be on the editorial calendar, but it's PR's job to be smart about what type of story and what level of detail the editor wants. Is it laying out the entire return on investment case for a new application or just 'ten tips' for deciding on a software package? When you pitch a story, provide sources beyond the company you represent - industry analysts, competitors, thought leaders, etc.

All of this should be in the context of a continuing relationship, not a quick hit. "Building that relationship should be at the core of any trade press, media relations effort," Throckmorton said. One way to do that is to share analyst findings and industry reports with the editor with no expectation a story will result.
Think beyond the news release, she said. A lot of her targeted publications benefit more from contributed articles from industry experts, so she spends a lot of her time developing article abstracts. Moreover, the landscape is changing because of blogs and wiki's. "For a lot of trade press, the news release is somewhat obsolete," she said.

Gina Veazey, former editor at the National Association of Convenience Stores and now director of communications for the American Industrial Hygiene Association, picked up on the point about understanding the publication: "We might write an article about M&A activity, but we're never going to write about the fact that [a particular store] is for sale on Paradise Road in Las Vegas." You need to have realistic expectations about what press releases will fly, Veazey said. Putting out a new brochure, updating a website, hiring an intern - these things are not news.

How to improve your odds - Veazey appreciates pitches to topics already on her editorial calendar. "It makes my life easier," she said. Be proactive; ask when the next editorial calendar will be constructed and be ready with calendar suggestions.

Take the time to educate new editors about the industry for the sake of relationship-building. "Become a valued resource," Veazey said. "Provide reliable, thoughtful insight." Create news - studies and white papers generate stories. Be sensitive about the publication's competitive position and be honest if a pitch is not exclusive.

Here's what not to do - Don't call up and complain because your client wasn't included in a story. It's not an editor's job to survey the entire industry, she said. Above all, don't try to exert influence by virtue of the fact that your client is an advertiser in the magazine or buys a booth at the trade show every year. "That's a death sentence in my estimation," Veazey said.
Shane Boyd, vice president of corporate communications for Travelers Insurance, also stressed the importance of an ongoing dialogue and finding out what the editor needs. The relationship is already in trouble if the first time you meet is to pitch a story, he said.

One way to develop meaningful content is to make executives and other experts available for background briefings. Be sure to select the right source, he said giving the example of how a claims adjuster would have been a better pick for a compelling story after Hurricane Katrina than the company CFO.

Don't be afraid to say no, Boyd said. If your client is not the best source for a story, say so. This will be good for the long term relationship. Grow the relationship and the articles will come, he said.

In the Q&A that followed, Throckmorton picked up on the point of providing experts. She set up a tour at one of her client companies, arranging for a senior technology person to walk the editors through the company's operations. Six stories resulted from that tour when her only expectation had been relationship-building.

Regarding new media, some editors are getting into podcasts and video streaming, so you should find out whether your target publications would appreciate audio or video press releases. If the magazine's website runs a blog, read it and pitch accordingly.

Other tips -
* show interest; read the magazine
* regularly read the writers who are the most important to you
* ask 'what are you working on, how can I help you?'
* remember the Golden Rule
# # #

Change Agents: Trade Pubs Making a Difference

2006-11-08T11:12:00.000-05:00

Mr. Wright is a D.C. ASBPE Board Member and freelance writer specializing in business and technology topics for national and international clients. [www.sinewaveinvestor.com]

Journalism That Matters, ASBPE's book on high-impact
articles, was the focus of an ASBPE chapter panel
presentation in Washington, D.C. on October 12, 2006. The
book (available on Amazon.com) features case studies built
around industry-changing articles from English-language
business publications around the world (US, UK, Canada,
Australia, etc.).

The panel was moderated by Steve Roll, editor with BNA. Roll, who is D.C.
ASBPE's chapter president, and co-editor of the book, said
he is struck by his encounters with award-winning editors
who are proud of "not so much the award, but the change that
[their] piece triggered within a particular industry." He
said that the book contains both investigative pieces and
'elephant-in-the-room' stories where biz pubs are the first
to tackle large industry problems.

The four panelists summarized their case studies which
appear in the book. John Gannon, senior editor with BNA's
Right-to-Know Planning Guide, discussed his coverage of
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) which are supposed to
warn of dangers posed by the use of chemicals in the
workplace. He noticed that problems with the sheets kept
cropping up in Chemical Safety Board reports where faulty
information had caused explosions and even deaths. "Can you
imagine if you go to the store and you buy medication, and
two times out of six if you follow the directions you end up
in the hospital or dead?," Gannon asked rhetorically.

Gannon tried to get answers from OSHA and EPA. "OSHA acted
so strange about it, I figured there must be something
here," he said. He eventually turned to plaintiffs' lawyers
and victims families for big pieces of the story. After he
started reporting on the issue, a Senate hearing was held
and a professional association called for corrective action.

Patience Wait, senior writer for PostNewsweek Tech Media's
Government Computer News, followed up on a tip about a
deputy CIO in the then two-month old Department of Homeland
Security who claimed a doctorate degree on her resume from
what subsequent investigation revealed was a diploma mill.
The only requirements for the degree were two short papers.
The school granted credit hours for 'life experience' to
cover all course requirements. Upon graduation, the school
provided a transcript listing specific courses but giving no
indication they were all waived. Wait found that it is a
criminal offense in Oregon to claim a degree from the school
in question (and others listed on a state website) on any
job application, public or private, in the state.

She broke the story online to scoop other reporters who were
beginning to sniff around. "Three days later," she said, "I
got another email from another person saying 'didn't you
know that she claims that all three of her degrees come from
the same school?'" National media picked up the story and
congressional hearings were held. The woman in question went
on paid leave and ultimately resigned.

Jeanne LaBella, vice president of publishing for the
American Public Power Association, published a six-part
series about electricity pricing in her magazine in 2004.
Most of APPA's members are electric utilities that are owned
and operated by municipal governments. Historically,
utilities would allocate costs and set rates according to
the size of the customer. If a town had a large industrial
plant that consumed 60 percent of the power, then 60 percent
of overhead and facilities (lines, substations, etc.) was
allocated to that customer.

APPA's chief economist advocated a different pricing scheme
based on whether power was being consumed during peak or
off-peak hours. Think of " how a hotel is priced," LaBella
said. "If you go to the beach in the summer, you're going to
pay one price for your hotel room. If you go to the beach in
the winter, you're going to pay a much lower price. The same
concept should be applied to electricity." Letting prices
fluctuate with demand would signal customers when to back
off from heavy consumption.

This was heresy in the industry, LaBella said. Reader
reaction was strong and she got many requests for extra
copies of the magazine so readers could pass it around to
their colleagues. "Ultimately, the series led to the
formation of a group of utilities from across the nation who
started looking very seriously at the ways that they would
redesign electric rates to come closer to the kinds of
things that [the economist] was advocating in his article,"
LaBella said.

Molly Moses, editor/reporter with BNA's Transfer Pricing
Report, started hearing in 2004 that Canadian tax
authorities were taking outrageous positions in transfer tax
negotiations. At issue were tax liabilities arising from
imputed cross-border 'sales' of goods and services between
parent and subsidiary corporations.

Moses found that company sources were reluctant to speak.
"Nobody wanted to go on the record with this because they
all have cases and they don't want to poison the
negotiations," she said. She got around the problem by
talking to a knowledgeable source at a trade association
which represented the companies involved. "She could just go
off on this issue without repercussions to any one company,"
Moses said.

After the story was published, "what was really gratifying
was I could tell that it had an impact [because] cases
started to move after that," Moses said. Not only did
negotiations start to go smoother, but new understandings
were reached among the parties as to how to resolve
disputes.

Much of the question-and-answer session that followed
revolved around getting past public relations departments
who are sometimes overzealous gatekeepers. Patience Wait
suggested trying to talk to the source at a public event.
Another tactic: "You come in unobtrusively directly to the
person that you want to talk with, and get them to agree
that, if public affairs signs off on it, they'll talk to
you," Wait said. You may find that the source will give you
clues off the record and is willing to go on the record if
public affairs clears it.

John Gannon said these techniques would not work at OSHA
where every staff member is well-trained not to speak to the
media under any circumstances without public affairs'
approval. He used a different tactic after an OSHA public
affairs officer didn't answer his questions and kept
stringing him along. "I eventually had enough stuff that she
either didn't know [or] couldn't find out that I sent her an
email ... and said that when my story comes out, I'm going
to do a sidebar about all the things that you don't know. I
think that's going to be very interesting to my readers,"
Gannon said. Cooperation improved immediately thereafter.
Threaten early, Gannon advises, don't let it drag on for two
months like it did in this case.

# # #

Getting Down to Business: Working With Public Relations Professionals

2006-10-17T17:34:00.000-04:00

Love ’em or hate ’em, we need public relations pros as much as they need us. Sure, they bombard you with phone calls while you’re on deadline and flood your e-mail with attachments. But they also secure key interviews, keep you up to date on industry news, and can come through with an image in a pinch.

So instead of groaning every time the phone rings, why not find a better way to work with PR professionals? ASBPE and the Public Relations Society of America are teaming up to do just that through a panel discussion Nov. 1 that will bring together PR pros and business publication editors to reveal tips and techniques for developing working relationships that are a win-win for the editor and the PR professional.

This is your chance to ask questions of PR people and gain a better understanding of how they target the media--and how you can help PR pros do a better job of targeting and working with editors in your industry. You’ll also have the opportunity to make your own suggestions to PR attendees about the best ways to contact B2B editors.

This unique event will give Washington-area business editors and PR pros a rare opportunity to network and share best practices that will benefit all communications professionals.

Panelists:
--Shane Boyd, VP of corporate communications, Travelers Insurance
--Robert Freedman, senior editor, Realtor magazine, National Association of Realtors
--Lisa Throckmorton, senior VP, SheaHedges Group
--Gina Veazey, editor, The NACS Magazine, National Association of Convenience Stores

Event Details:

Wednesday, November 1
12:00-12:30 p.m.: Registration, lunch, and networking
12:30-1:45 p.m.: Panel presentation/Q&A

Location: National Education Association
1201 16th St., NW
Washington, DC 20036
(Near McPherson Square and Farragut North Metro stations)

Lunch is provided

$35 for members
$45 for nonmembers

Online registration is now available at:
http://www.prsa-ncc.org/index.php?option=com_events&task=view_detail&agid=128&year=2006&month=11&day=01&Itemid=63

DC ASBPE BLOG-- SPECIAL OFFER: THE FIRST 20 PEOPLE TO SUBSCRIBE TO DC ASBPE'S BLOG BY NOV 1 WILL RECIEVE A G-MAIL INVITE. WHAT IS A G-MAIL INVITE? IT'S AN INVITATION TO USE THE BEST AND MOST EXCLUSIVE E-MAIL SYSTEM IN THE WORLD! HOP ON INTERNET 2.0 BEFORE IT LEAVES THE STATION: SIGN UP FOR A BLOG, GET G-MAIL.

For questions, contact Steven Roll, D.C. ASBPE Chapter President at b2beditor@gmail.com or call him at (202) 833-7242.

DC ASBPE Oct. Event: Crafting High-Impact Stories

2006-09-22T09:39:00.000-04:00

Writing and Editing High-Impact Stories: Transform Your
Beat Into a Catalyst for Change That Subscribers Can't
Afford to Ignore.

Find out why, as a journalist covering a specialty area, you are uniquely qualified to shed light on crucial but arcane developments that typically receive little or no coverage in the consumer press and yet have implications that extend far beyond industry insiders.

Join your colleagues in the trade and association press for a lunch-time panel presentation on Thurs., Oct. 12, at BNA in Washington, D.C.

Each of the panelists was directly involved in breaking a story that triggered a major event such as a congressional inquiry on chemical safety, an international tax treaty, or the Department of Homeland Security’s dismissal of a high-ranking official after it was disclosed that she held a bogus doctorate degree.

The panelists' work is featured in ASBPE’s new book, Journalism That Matters: How Business-to-Business Editors Change the Industries They Cover. The book includes 17 stories of change-making journalism by trade and association publication editors. Click here for more information about the book.

Isn’t it time you became a change agent for the industry you cover?

Attendees will learn how to:

* find government or industry practices that are in serious need of reform,

* identify and encourage input from well-placed sources,

* get beyond public relations gate keepers,

* frame the story so that it will have the maximum impact for subscribers,

* write follow up stories on the same issue,

* publicize your high-impact story to potential BNA prospects and the mainstream press, and

* identify possible awards for your article that are offered by various journalism related organizations.

Panelists:

* Thomas Temin, senior vice president, editorial, for Postweek Tech Media in Washington, D.C.

* John Gannon, senior editor with BNA in Washington, D.C.

* Molly Moses, reporter with BNA in Washington, D.C.

* Jeanne LaBella, vice president, publishing for the American Public Power Association in Washington, D.C.

The moderating the panel discussion will be Steve Roll, D.C. ASBPE chapter president, and co-editor of Journalism That Matters.

Event Details:

Thursday, October 12
1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
BNA
231 25th St., N.W.
(Near Foggy Bottom Metro)

Box Lunch Provided

$15 for members
$20 for nonmembers

RSVP to Steven Roll, D.C. ASBPE Chapter President by October 10 at sroll AT bna.com (use the "@" instead of "AT") or call him at (202) 833-7242.

Affordable b2b Magazine Critique Service

2006-09-06T14:39:00.000-04:00

Trade Association Business Publication International (TABPI) is offering a reasonably priced critique service that will allow you to put your magazine in the hands of some of the most respected editors working in b2b journalism today and benefit from their colleague-to-colleague analysis of what you and your staff are doing right and what you could be doing better.

Give yourself objective, outside analyses that can show the decision makers in your organization how to take your content to the next level. With TABPI's Magazine Critique Service (MCS), you'll get detailed feedback on specific editorial and design aspects of your publication.

• Improve your publication
• Stay ahead of the competition
• Increase readership
• Keep your staff on track

Click here to learn more.

How to Build Internet Presence and Boost Print Products

2006-08-31T09:38:00.000-04:00

Rick Babson, online business editor for the Kansas City Star and other panelists at a recent Kansas City ASBPE chapter event offered several specific suggestions for building Web content that will draw attention to your existing print publications.

Here is one of the ideas: Offer digital replicas of your print publications. "Weekly magazines are victims of the post office," one panelist said, adding that international readers will appreciate receiving the digital version in a timely manner. Plus, you can track how it is read. Find a vendor that helps with digital replicas.

Read all of the suggestions on KC ASBPE's Blog.

Call for Judges: 2007 Azbees

2006-08-11T15:54:00.000-04:00

Aug. 31 is deadline to apply to be a judge.

Want the inside scoop on how to win an Azbee Award? Be a judge.

ASBPE is looking for people who are interested in judging the 28th annual Azbees. We’re seeking qualified judges in all categories—editorial, design, web, and newsletter.

Click HERE for the criteria that judges must meet.

Click HERE for the form that you must fill out and send ASBPE.

Trade journalists as investigative reporters?

2006-08-07T11:11:00.000-04:00

Book examines major government and industry changes driven by tough reporting in the business-to-business and association press

John Gannon in 2001 was just getting familiar with his new beat covering the chemical industry when he stumbled on an alarming fact: one-third of the first six chemical accidents investigated by a little-known federal body, the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, involved faulty chemical data sheets. Chemical manufacturers are required by law to fill out these sheets—instructions on how to handle industrial chemicals safely—but the Board’s findings suggested the federal government was exercising little oversight over how the companies complied with the law. The results were headline-making accidents like the explosion at the Morton International plant in Paterson, N.J., in 1998 and the 2001 Bethlehem Steel Mill fire in Chesterson, Ind. Intrigued, Gannon dug into the matter and wrote about his findings in a hard-hitting piece in the Daily Report for Executives, published by the Washington, D.C.-based Bureau of National Affairs. The piece caught the eye of a leading national industrial safety advocate and, within months, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration had developed a plan for improving the accuracy of the sheets.

“By rolling up his sleeves and pushing OSHA for answers to his questions, Gannon demonstrated how effective the business-to-business press can be in driving concrete change in government and industry,” says Robert Freedman, co-editor of a book on business-to-business journalism released in June that details stories like Gannon’s. Freedman is immediate past president of the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE), a professional association of trade journalists.

Journalism That Matters: How Business-to-Business Editors Change the Industries They Cover (Marion Street Press, Oak Park, Ill.: ISBN: 1933338083) looks at 17 stories of change-making journalism by trade and association publication editors. Among them:

* How the U.S. Department of Defense came clean on weaknesses in its computer network after a report by Federal Computer Week.

* How federal agencies stepped up their verification of job applicants after Government Computer News uncovered egregious resume padding by a top U.S. Department of Homeland Security IT official.

* How London-based Legal Business shook up the tradition-bound U.K. judicial system by exposing broad discontent among lawyers with one of the country’s most important courts.

“We selected stories from a wide range of business-to-business and association publications to showcase the power of trade journalism,” says Steven Roll, co-editor of the book and president of the Washington, D.C., chapter of ASBPE. “We include pieces from traditional trade magazines and tabloids, newsletters, association publications, peer-reviewed association journals, and publications that sit in the nexus between trade and the consumer publications, like PC World.”

The book is designed as a compilation of best practices for professional editors, but it’s also a window into the world of business reporting for journalism students. “It may wake up some journalism professors to inspire young students to join the trade press,” Don Ranly, professor emeritus, Missouri School of Journalism, says in the book’s foreword.

The book is set to make waves. Its case studies are by editors who are members of, or have had their work recognized by, ASBPE, which in early 2005 spearheaded a panel discussion with the Society of Professional Journalists and the Society of National Association Publications at the National Press Club to look at the ways interest groups blur the lines between advocacy and journalism. The panel, which was broadcast on C-SPAN-2, took aim at the inadequate disclosure of publication ownership by some interest groups.

Some of the book case studies are also by editors who have had their work recognized by Trade Association and Business Publications International, which hosts an international awards program for trade journalists.

“We’re showing that trade journalism is journalism that matters,” says Freedman. “Trade editors are changing the face of the industries they cover by running stories that shake up the status quo and lead to innovation.”

“The book also shows the dynamic role trade publications play as the forums through which industry leaders debate issues and drive change,” says Roll. “The book makes clear that editors who know how to shape these forums create an environment that attracts the kind of issue exploration that leads to change.”

The book is currently available for sale at: http://www.marionstreetpress.com/JTMhome.html

Meeting recap: Speaking her mind

2006-07-29T01:32:00.000-04:00

Deborah Howell, Ombudsman for the Washington Post, explains how she handles reader complaints.

by Christopher M. Wright

"You're never going to get it a hundred percent right. Nobody gets it right all the time," Deborah Howell, ombudsman for the Washington Post, told the audience at the ASBPE Washington, D.C., chapter regional awards banquet on July 13, 2006.

The event was sponsored by the Institute on Political Journalism, which has been bringing undergraduate journalism students to the nation's capital for intensive internships every summer for the past two decades. Students attend classes and receive professional hands-on training at major news organizations such as Business Week, CBS News, and The Chicago Tribune, as well as business publications including The Bureau of National Affairs Inc.

As ombudsman, Howell addresses reader complaints regarding biased reporting, misrepresentations, and factual errors.

"My job is to be an Inspector General," Howell said. Some complaints are valid, some are not. With her judgment informed by a long career as a reporter, she calls them as she sees them, which sometimes puts her in the position of telling Post reporters and editors that "large hunks" of their stories are completely wrong. "Have I met some resentment? Yes, and all ombudsmen I think do," she said.

One editor refers to her as his "very own special prosecutor." Still, most staffers are open to hearing what she has to say, she said.

Many of the complaints she receives are about politics -- liberals and conservatives both thinking the Post is in the other's camp, for example. "It's just a given, that they see things in a story that are not there," she said. Other complaints run the gamut, from Middle East coverage to the use of foreign phrases. Not all complaints are political.

Some readers were steamed that a Post fashion writer revealed part of the ending of the TV reality show Project Runway. In that instance, she came down on the side of the readers. "People hate that. They do not want to know. ... I don't blame them, really," she said.

However, "if I think the complaint is baseless, I'll say so," she said. She routinely tells readers to go see the editor about the general angle of Post coverage or provocative opinions on the editorial page. "[D.C. Mayor] Tony Williams' press secretary has wanted to meet with me 20 times because he doesn't like the way Tony Williams is covered in the Post. ... That's just not my job," she said.

If she does find a journalistic problem, she handles it internally or writes about it in her regular column in the newspaper. In one column, she criticized Bob Woodward (of Watergate fame) for the way he handled his involvement in the Valerie Plame CIA outing affair. "I wrote a column that was, 'Bob, you don't do that,'" she said.

Pursuing something internally first means engaging relevant staffers in an informal off-the-record conversation to make them feel comfortable. Then she invites them to be quoted in her column if the situation warrants "That usually works very well," she said. Depending on the circumstances, some matters are handled confidentially, "If I'm going to have a really tough talk with somebody, I do not do it for the whole world to see," she said. "That's something I do behind closed doors."

If staff is uncooperative, she takes another tack. On a military recruiting story, "the reporter and the editor blew me off. So I re-reported the story on my own," she said.

Sometimes complaints come from inside the paper as, for example, when some staff thought the Post had underplayed the al-Zarqawi story. She will take valid complaints from staff to the appropriate editor. However, she said, "if I think it's not a legitimate complaint, I will give them the old, 'Sweetheart, I've been in this business a lot longer [than you] and I gotta tell ya ...'" She also writes a weekly internal newsletter to staff, and is sure to include compliments from readers about what the Post is doing right.

Howell doesn't always get it right herself. She talked about her own column in which she mistakenly stated that lobbying scandal figure Jack Abramoff had personally given money to both parties. "They had to shut down the Post website because the comments were nothing like I've ever seen in my life," she said. "They were so obscene, sexist, I was just floored. ... The venom out there was much greater than anything I had ever experienced in my 40 years in journalism." Post chairman Don Graham jokingly told her he might have to hang her in front of the building. "It was quite an education for me," she said, coming away with a renewed appreciation about the importance of being precise.

In her own flap, she publicly confessed error, something she said should be routine in any journalistic enterprise. The Post runs factual corrections on page two in every issue.

But she expressed admiration for journalists who go a step beyond. "I love [columnist] David Broder's end-of-the-year column," she said, "which is always the same thing: 'Here are the biggest mistakes I made in this past year' -- and he lists them, how he made them, and apologizes. That is class."

Mr. Wright is a D.C. ASBPE Board Member and freelance writer specializing in business and technology topics for national and international clients. [www.sinewaveinvestor.com]

ASBPE Central-Southeast Region Award Winners

2006-07-16T16:04:00.000-04:00

On July 13, business editors, art directors, and others gathered for our annual award ceremony at the Tabard Inn and heard from the ombudsman for The Washington Post, Deborah Howell. Howell discussed the current ethical issues confronting journalists and the crucial role that she believes that the press plays in ensuring democracy.

Attendees mingled over cocktails and dinner in a formal, but relaxed setting, and got a look at the winning work from trade and business publications from the Central-Southeast region. That region includes publications based in:

the District of Columbia,
Florida,
Georgia,
Maryland,
North Carolina,
Ohio,
South Carolina,
Virginia, and
West Virginia.

Here is the list of the winners.

Read summaries of previous ASBPE-DC events

2006-05-25T16:55:00.000-04:00

The numbers tell the story
Find out how to use Excel to analyze corporate financial data with these tips from ASBPE's first-ever webinar.

I hate you, don't leave me:
Do's and don'ts in the editorial/PR relationship
Editors and public relations pros exchanged tips on how to best deal with one another at a panel presentation jointly sponsored by ASBPE's D.C. chapter and the Public Relations Society of America.

Change agents: Trade pubs making a difference
Four panelists summarized their case studies from the ASBPE book Journalism That Matters, which details the reporting behind high-impact articles from B2B publications.

Speaking her mind
Deborah Howell, Ombudsman for the Washington Post, explains how she handles reader complaints.

e-Newsletters that work
Done right, e-newsletters are highly effective; done wrong, they're an irritant to your readers. Here's how to make yours one of the good ones.

Standing up for what's right
Most business-to-business publications report the news. A few become catalysts for change in the industries they cover.

Steal this magazine!
That's literally what people are doing with startup HSToday.The editors' goal: Make the content so good readers can't keep their hands off it.

Are interest groups blurring media lines?
D.C. ASBPE cohosts event examining ethical considerations arising from growth of interest-group media.

Meeting recap: e-Newsletters that work

2006-05-25T12:22:00.000-04:00

You get one shot with an e-newsletter. If readers don't like the first one, they'll never open another.

by Christopher M. Wright

This is the view of John Butterfield, editorial director for Hanley Wood e-Media, who took part in a D.C. ASBPE panel presentation May 11, 2006, in Washington, D.C. The other panelists were Mike Frost, senior manager of online content and production, and Margaret Clark, manager of workplace law content, both from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).

Not all organizations approach e-newsletters the same way, Butterfield said. Some use them as an exclusive source of news that readers cannot obtain anywhere else. Others, like Hanley Wood, use them to drive traffic to websites or print publications. Butterfield has also seen editors take the middle route: alerting readers to news found elsewhere, accompanied by the editor's take on recent industry developments.

In Butterfield's case, Hanley Wood has several magazines and extensive websites with tens of thousands of pages and hundreds of constantly refreshing news items. His e-newsletters have no original content, serving instead to alert and link readers to top stories elsewhere in the manner of a newspaper "World Briefs" column. The emphasis is on news that readers can use to run their businesses more efficiently or profitably, or stay on top of what the competition is doing. Readers have the option to print a digest. Butterfield also includes some limited industry statistics and tells readers that Hanley Wood has a lot more industry research available for sale.

SHRM also endeavors to drive traffic to its website, Frost said. E-newsletters have replaced print versions and generate revenue from advertising. Frost sells 15 ad spots among eight different e-newsletters. These are fixed placements, not web-style cost-per-impression ads that disappear after a certain number of impressions is reached.

SHRM's e-newsletters continue to evolve, Clark said. She has retreated from running long articles and full abstracts, choosing instead to leverage other content. Items are more teaser-like now without being coy, the equivalent of a full lead paragraph. Because readers often print them out, SHRM's e-newsletters still contain nuggets of useful information, such as lists of requirements found in new laws. Her e-newsletters run about 1,500 words in length. She gets the most click-throughs to the website from a weekly news quiz, links to link pages (e.g., workplace smoking sites), and regulatory deadline calendars.

SHRM uses a web-based third-party newsletter solution (GetActive -- www.getactive.com; see also Sparklist -- www.sparklist.com), a turnkey product covering subscriptions, uploading, and content management. Frost likes having a vendor look after technology issues so he can concentrate on content. He sends out about 1.5 million e-newsletters a month for which GetActive charges around $10,000.

Third-party solutions have other benefits as well. They are good for managing relationships with organization members and can replace listservs, one audience participant said. For Frost, GetActive has opened up new possibilities for advertising because it can segment readers by state or other descriptor. Organizations can send basically the same newsletter to different states leading with local news and carrying ads from local law firms, for example.

How do you know if your e-newsletter is working for you? To Butterfield, the most important metrics are the click-through rate and the open rate. He wants to know how many times readers click on links to go to articles and how many readers open the newsletter in the first place. The latter is more important to him because ads are not seen unless the newsletter is opened. Invisible one-pixel graphics call the server to send an image, enabling the system to count how many recipients open their newsletters. There is no way to tell whether recipients open a pure text newsletter, Butterfield said.

The renewal rate is important to SHRM. If readers request the newsletter, it is significant how many decide not to renew their subscriptions. Still other metrics are found in reports from the third-party vendor, including unsubscribes, forwards, and delivery failures in absolute numbers and percentage terms.

The panel also warned editors that the CAN-SPAM Act might apply to e-newsletters, especially ones that contain advertising.

Providing a meaningful point of contact to respond to delete requests is one requirement of the law. Frost is not set up to administer his list of over 200,000 names himself and relies on the third-party vendor to do so. He also advised reviewing your organization's privacy statement to determine whether anyone is being contacted in violation of your stated policies.

Butterfield advised editors to go beyond an auto-unsubscribe link in the text. The best approach is to have readers opt-in, not opt-out, he said. That way, nobody gets email unless they request it.

Other tips from the panel:

Spam filters are making it more difficult to get unsolicited newsletters through to potential readers.
Boost circulation by advertising the newsletter in other association publications, linking to a click-to-subscribe page from articles in the website, distributing flyers at conferences, and including a forward-to-a-friend link with a click-to-subscribe button in the newsletter itself .
Consider alternatives such as podcasts and RSS feeds.
Readers can get fatigued if too many departments send out a constant barrage of newsletters. Consider establishing a news desk or other coordinator, using the coordination features in the third-party solution, or sending departmental news alerts referring readers to an integrated upcoming newsletter for more detail.

Wright is a D.C. ASBPE Board Member and freelance writer specializing in business and technology topics for national and international clients.For more about Wright, visit www.sinewaveinvestor.com

ASBPE DC Officers

2006-05-01T16:30:00.003-04:00

President

Katy Tomasulo, Managing Editor
Pro Sales
Tools of the Trade
Hanley Wood Magazines
One Thomas Circle NW, Suite 600
Washington, DC 20005
(202) 736-3303
ktomasulo AT hanleywood.com

Board Members

Robert Freedman, Senior Editor
Realtor Magazine
National Association of Realtors
500 New Jersey Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001-2020
(202) 383-1012
Fax: (202) 383-1231
rfreedman AT realtors.org

Jeanne W. LaBella, Vice President, Publishing
American Public Power Association
2301 M Street NW
Washington, DC 20037-1484
(202) 467-2948
jlabella AT appanet.org

Steven Roll, Senior State Tax Law Editor
State Tax Report
BNA Tax Management Inc.
1801 S. Bell Street
Arlington, Virginia 22202
(703) 341-5926
b2beditor AT gmail.com

Michelle Vanderhoff, Editor & Project Manager
American Physical Therapy Association
1111 N. Fairfax Street
Alexandria VA 22314-1488
(703) 706-3191
michellevanderhoff AT apta.org

Meeting recap: Standing up for what’s right

2005-10-18T10:47:00.000-04:00

Most business-to-business publications report the news. A few become catalysts for change in the industries they cover.
by Christopher M. Wright

Business editors got a sneak preview of ASBPE's book project on high-impact business articles at a D.C. ASBPE panel presentation held September 15, 2005, in Washington, D.C. As described by Rob Freedman, editor for the National Association of Realtors and ASBPE national past president, the book will feature case studies built around articles that drove changes in industry practices selected from English-language business publications around the world (the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, etc.).

The event was sponsored by PR Newswire (http://www.prnewswire.com/). Media relations manager J.P. Fielder told the audience about three services his organization offers to business editors free of charge.

Tom Temin, senior vice president, PostNewsweek Tech Media, publisher of Government Computer News and other business publications, led off the discussion with two stories that made a difference. The first, in 2003, was based on a tip about a deputy CIO in the Department of Homeland Security who claimed on her resume to have master's and Ph.D. degrees from Hamilton University. With help from a professor who maintains a database on diploma mills, Temin's reporters learned that the school was headquartered in an abandoned motel in Wisconsin and awarded degrees based on “life experience.” The story, which made TV news, led to changes in how the government checks credentials on resumes, Temin said.

The other story cost Temin a friend. Stephen O'Keeffe formed the Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) Exchange to bring public and private experts together to discuss computer security. The fee for private industry participants was a "shockingly high" $75,000, Temin said. It smelled like “pay-to-play,” in contravention of ethics rules that regulate access to government officials, Temin said. When O'Keeffe, whom Temin knew personally, got wind of the story, he called Temin and Temin's boss to try to kill it. PostNewsweek refused, citing its longstanding culture of not interfering with editorial. After the story was published, all the sponsors withdrew and the Exchange collapsed. The case was mentioned at a professional seminar as an example of what not to do.

Next up were Mimi Laver and Claire Sandt, who talked about their eight-part series in the late 1990s for an American Bar Association publication highlighting deficiencies in the performance of contractor attorneys who represent child welfare agencies in neglect cases. The series, based on site visits to all 50 states and Puerto Rico, showed how some kids were being returned to unsuitable homes because of inadequate representation. The articles led to the creation of a working group to write tougher standards which the ABA eventually adopted. The improved standards cover such matters as how to hire attorneys, what their duties should be, and how to hold them accountable. Some agencies have gone to their state legislatures to request additional funding to implement some of the improvements, Laver said. One state put the standards right in its contract, meaning attorneys don't get paid and don't get rehired if their performance is not up to snuff. While an internal brainstorming group shaped each installment, in hindsight Sandt would have conducted a preliminary survey with the attorneys and Laver would have gotten early input from readers to sharpen editorial direction.

Rounding out the panel was John Gannon, senior editor, with BNA Inc. in Washington, D.C., whose continuing coverage of industrial accidents arising from faulty safety information about hazardous chemicals is still shaking up federal regulators and the private sector. Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) are supposed to specify, among other things, whether workers should wear gloves or respirators and what they should do in case of fire. MSDSs have been required since the passage of the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act after the Bhopal incident but are often incorrect, leading to explosions and deaths in the workplace.

Gannon found OSHA officials reluctant to talk about the matter, so he went to injured workers, plaintiff's attorneys, occupational physicians, cancer experts, and union representatives to get the story. One father whose son was killed in a workplace accident was very willing to help and went on to confront OSHA in public meetings. Gannon's colleagues at BNA, who report on various legal and regulatory topics, were also good resources. After Gannon began reporting on the issue, a Senate hearing was held and a professional association continues to call for corrective action.

Mr. Wright is a D.C. ASBPE Board Member and freelance writer specializing in business and technology topics for national and international clients. [www.sinewaveinvestor.com]

Steal this magazine!

2005-06-29T10:47:00.000-04:00

That’s literally what people are doing with startup HSToday.
The editors’ goal: Make the content’s so good readers can’t keep their hands off it.

by Christopher M. Wright
"It's been a bit of a tough slog," David Silverberg, keynote speaker and editor of the one year-old startup homeland security magazine HSToday told the audience at the ASBPE Washington, D.C. chapter regional awards banquet on June 11, 2005.

HSToday's David Silverberg

The event was sponsored by PR Newswire. Media relations manager J.P. Fielder told the audience about three services his organization offers to business editors free of charge. Editors can establish a profile and receive targeted press releases, just those the editor deems relevant. ProfNet is PR Newswire's network of professional sources who are available for quotes and further assistance on stories. PR Newswire also has a photos and logos database containing high-resolution images that business publications can use without paying a fee.

Startup HSToday covers a new subject where readers need specialized information they can't get from the general media. The subject matter calls for objective, accurate reporting, editor Silverberg said. It's not true there's a terrorist under every bush or that the government can't do anything right, he said. Specialized publications like HSToday play a vital role, he said. Readers rely on them more than a mass audience depends on the general media, he said.
How will he know when HSToday has succeeded? Tongue firmly in cheek, Silverberg proposed four tests for declaring any trade publication a success:

Do people steal the magazine?
Do they miss their subway stop because they're so absorbed in what they're reading?
Can they read the magazine through an entire cross-country flight without getting bored?
Do they take it into the bathroom with them?

Silverberg already has some indication HSToday is successfully engaging readers, regaling the audience with stories about a Virginia legislator who stole a copy from a local sheriff and an official in the Department of Homeland Security who pilfered one from a colleague's office.

"The reader is all too often the forgotten one in the equation," Silverberg said. This is especially true, he said, in startup operations where financial pressures tempt editors into taking shortcuts, accommodating advertisers who make editorial demands, and otherwise sacrificing quality. HSToday's founders all came from a collective bad experience in this regard and were determined to do it right and pursue excellence in all areas. Advertisers select magazines on reader value, so shortcuts destroy a publication's long term viability, Silverberg said. Quality editorial will bring in advertising revenue, he said.

He joined ASBPE, he said, in part because the awards program promotes editorial excellence and raise the standards of the profession.

Mr. Wright is a D.C. ASBPE Board Member and freelance writer specializing in business and technology topics for national and international clients. [www.sinewaveinvestor.com]

Meeting recap: Are interest groups blurring media lines?

2005-03-01T01:38:00.000-05:00

D.C. ASBPE cohosts event examining ethical considerations arising from growth of interest-group media.

National Press Club, January 12, 2005
By Steven Roll, D.C. ASBPE Chapter President

Editor’s note: The event was sparked in large part by this Dec. 6, 2004 story in The Washington Post.

Did community newspaper publisher Brian Timpone cross an ethical line by failing to disclose to the readers of the Madison County Record that his publication was financed by a business trade group with a pro-tort-reform agenda?

That was the question that moderator Robert Freedman, ASBPE president, posed to Timpone and others on a panel at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., that was carried live on the C-SPAN2 television network.

The panelists’ candid responses, given under the glare of camera lights, only seemed to harden their opinions — and the opinions of the attendees in the filled-to-capacity meeting room.

To Peter Banks, president of the Society of National Association Publications, Timpone’s decision not to disclose that his publication was financed by the Chamber of Commerce violated the trust that must exist between a publication and its readers.

Timpone explained he opted not to disclose that the Madison County Record was affiliated with the Chamber of Commerce because he feared that the public would not give his publication a chance. He added that, as publisher, he has control over the publication’s content and does not discuss story ideas with the Chamber of Commerce. “We cover every civil case that is filed in the courthouse in Madison County in which the damages are over $50,000,” Timpone said. He added that “people in Madison County like the paper and trust it.”

But to Willie Schatz of the Society of Professional Journalists, Timpone’s explanation did not pass muster. “You needed to trust your readers more,” Schatz said. He said that there can be no compromise on the issue of disclosure. “It would have been more ethical if the Madison County Record disclosed its relationship with the Chamber up front.”

Timpone countered the criticism by asking why his publication should be subject to a disclosure requirement that is not applied to other media outlets. A former newscaster, Timpone, said that for years the objectivity of news programs on CBS and NBC have been taken for granted despite his belief that both NBC’s Katie Couric and CBS’s Dan Rather are extremely liberal.

Other panelists pointed out that there is no disclosure within the pages of the Washington Times that the publication is owned by Rev. Sung Young Moon, who many believe has a conservative agenda.

Timpone said it was the “bias” shown by his hometown newspaper, the St. Louis Post Dispatch, in giving scant coverage of the booming civil litigation awards in Madison County that created a void he believes his publication is filling. “We are breaking more stories on civil litigation than the St. Louis Post Dispatch does now.”

Interest-group supported media, such as the Madison County Record, can provide a useful filter for news consumers who have a particular viewpoint, Ken Deutsch, executive vice president of Issue Dynamics, Inc., in Washington, D.C., said. The public relations executive explained that he believes people are now overwhelmed with information and are looking for editors to serve as gatekeepers of the information they receive. He noted that people often want to hear information from a certain organization. “Folks who watch FOX news know what they are getting — conservatives,” Deutsch said.

But for Patrick Chisholm, a columnist for Christian Science Monitor Online, the rise of interest-group driven media represents a troubling trend towards further polarization within American media. To Chisholm, three factors are fueling the trend:

Producing news publications has never been easier with the rise of low-cost technologies such as Internet-based blogs.
Conservatives continue to feel that they are not given a fair shot in the media.
Campaign finance reform has significantly limited the options of interest groups trying to get their message out — and not just during elections.

While describing some of the ethical concerns raised by the rise of interest-group–driven media came easily to the panelists, they had a difficult time trying to think of a means of resolving the issue. Timpone and SPJ’s Schatz were united in their opposition the government regulation of journalists. Timpone went a step further by disputing the notion that journalists need special training. “If you look back in history, some of the greatest reporters never went to college at all,” he said.

For Timpone the bottom line is the quality of the publication. “Who owns the publication isn’t an indication of its quality,” Timpone said.

Agreeing that a publication’s survival is generally determined by market forces, the Christian Science Monitor’s Chisholm hoped that someday a market would arise for balanced news coverage.

The panel was hosted by the D.C. chapter of ASBPE, the Society of National Association Publications, and the D.C. Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.