By Andy Schotz
President, Washington, D.C., Pro chapter, SPJ
The newest D.C. Pro Hall of Famers were inducted on June 15 at the new venue for the chapter's annual awards dinner.
After many years at the National Press Club, we celebrated past and present journalism this year at Maggiano's Little Italy restaurant in Washington. About 150 people were there for a tasty, plentiful, family-style meal.
I heard nothing but good feedback from people about the food, the price (we cut ticket prices by 25 percent from last year), the atmosphere and the ease of getting there. If you were there, I'd like to hear what you think, too. My e-mail address is LawnGyland@aol.com.
We're already looking ahead to next year.
For those who weren't there, here are highlights of this year's dinner, including honorees and the people who introduced them:
Bohannon
Jim Bohannon made a smooth transition from MC to honoree – in the same evening – as he was the first Hall of Fame inductee this year.
Bart Tessler, the senior vice president for news and talk at Westwood One, called Bohannon "the hardest working man in radio."
He's no Larry King, Tessler quipped — Bohannon has been married only twice.
Bohannon, host of the nationally aired "The Jim Bohannon Show and "America in the Morning," spoke proudly of his "Pickle Power" button. Years ago, after learning about National Pickle Week, Bohannon – a 37-year SPJ member – figured Freedom of Information deserves at least one day. In 1979, he submitted the idea to SPJ and it was accepted.
Bohannon recalled fun, eclectic moments of his news career, which included covering the Beatles and astronauts. He once swatted Raisa Gorbachev – whose husband, Mikhail, was the Soviet president in 1990 and 1991 – in the head with a microphone.
His advice to journalists in the crowd was to treat your career seriously, but don't put it ahead of family and friends.
Limpert
D.C. Pro Hall of Famer William Raspberry, a retired Washington Post columnist, praised Jack Limpert as someone who wants to get it right.
"He knows Washington is families, not just institutions," Raspberry said.
Limpert edited Washingtonian magazine for more than 40 years when he left the job last fall. He's now an editor at large.
One of his early lessons, he said, was: "Whatever you do, don't screw up the livestock report." Know what's important to your readers and cover it well, he said.
An editor's job is to help reporters get that story right, but not do it for them, he said.
"Every morning, remind yourself that writers are more important than editors," Limpert said.
Looking back on his career with Washingtonian, he said, "It's been the best 40 years a law school dropout has ever had."
Elfin
Under Mel Elfin, Newsweek went from a third-rate magazine to the best, said Eleanor Clift, who worked for him.
"He was an exacting boss" who schooled her in the best traditions of journalism, said Clift, a Newsweek contributing editor.
Elfin kept his comments concise.
He recalled being summoned to talk to President Lyndon Baines Johnson over something Newsweek printed. When will you print a retraction?, the President wanted to know. In the next issue?
No, we stand by our story, Elfin said.
The dispute faded away. "Politicians don't remember as much as they think they remember," he said.
On his Hall of Fame honor, Elfin said, "Thanks for letting a newsmagazine guy in."
Cochran
When Frank Mankiewicz became the president of National Public Radio, he said, he wanted a strong person to work with him.
"Imagine you're the chairman of a huge sociology department," he said, describing NPR, "at a second-rate state college, where everyone is up for tenure."
He turned to Barbara Cochran, a former managing editor of The Washington Star. He said it was her idea to create "Morning Edition," which became a terrific success.
Cochran said life was different for women when she started in journalism. They had few job opportunities and couldn't have lunch with the men at the Press Club.
Now, public affairs journalism is threatened by financial pressures, she said. Through the explosion of digital media, journalists can be bypassed.
Cochran, who also worked in broadcast journalism and who was president of the Radio-Television News Directors Association for 12 years, reminded the crowd how important it is to fight for First Amendment rights.
"Democracy can't function without an informed citizenry," she said.
Kopen Katcef
This year's Distinguished Service Award went to Sue Kopen Katcef, a lecturer at the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
She is the corresponding secretary of the D.C. Pro chapter board and has been active in the Maryland Pro chapter. She serves on SPJ's national board as a campus adviser at large and advises the University of Maryland student chapter.
In introducing Kopen Katcef, 2008 DSA recipient and D.C. Pro board membr Bill McCloskey read aloud many of Kopen Katcef's achievements. "You getting the whole distinguished service thing here?," he quipped to the crowd.
Kopen Katcef credited her husband and son for their support as she busies herself in journalism work and advocacy. She also thanked her late parents for not questioning her career path.
Passion is a "great intangible" for journalists, she said. While working with students, "it's my enthusiasm that I try to give to them," she said.
Dateline Awards
There were 178 entries in the D.C. Pro chapter's annual Dateline Awards for journalism excellence.
Washingtonian magazine had 18 finalists, the most of any news organization. The Hill was next with 11 and WTOP had seven.
The Robert D.G. Lewis Watchdog Award went to John Pekkanen of Washingtonian. The award, which carries a $1,000 prize, honors work that "best exemplifies journalism aimed at protecting the public from abuses by those who would betray the public trust." Pekkanen wrote about problems with the D.C. 911 system.
The chapter was pleased to introduce and give prizes in two new categories: best online news/features and best blog.
Also at the dinner:
- The 2010-11 chapter officers and board members were sworn in by Region 2 Director Brian Eckert. I will serve another term (my third) as president. Julie Asher will remain vice president, Amy Fickling will continue as treasurer, Sue Kopen Katcef will remain corresponding secretary and Ben Shlesinger again will serve as recording secretary. The rest of the board will be Bill McCloskey, Steve Taylor, Bob Becker, Paul Byers, Tim Ebner, Garth Hogan and Bob Webb, the past president.
- We recognized the two area college students who received Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of Washington, D.C., scholarships. Tea Hadzic, a student at George Mason University, and Lauren French, a student at The George Washington University, each received a $4,000 scholarship.
- We recognized Erin McDonough, a recent graduate of Bishop O'Connell High School in Arlington, Va., who won the D.C. Pro high school essay contest on the importance of free and independent news media. Erin went on to win the contest at the national level, receiving a $1,000 scholarship.