NABJ Seeks Entries for 2012 'Salute to Excellence' Awards

College Park, MD -- The National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) is now accepting entries for the 2012 Salute to Excellence Awards competition.  The NABJ Salute to Excellence Awards recognize exemplary coverage of people or issues in the African/African American Diaspora.

The competition is open to all professional journalists in print, broadcast, new media or photojournalism nationwide.

Only work originally published or broadcast during the judging period of January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011 is eligible for consideration. The deadline to submit entries is January 9, 2012.

Entries will be disqualified if they fail to follow the rules and eligibility requirements of their designated category.

Award winners will be announced at the 2012 NABJ Convention and Career Fair in New Orleans, Louisiana.

THE SCOOP: WOLO to welcome new co-anchor next week

When ABC Columbia viewers tune in for Monday night's newscasts, they will be greeted by a new face.  Chime In has learned that Eric Weisfeld is the new co-anchor at WOLO-TV replacing Daniel Seamans.  Weisfeld will join Alicia Barnes on the 6pm and 11pm newscasts.

Anchor/Reporter
Eric Weisfeld

According to a resume, posted on the Collective Talent website, Weisfeld is an award-winning anchor and reporter with 16 years of experience.  He last worked at WBBH-TV, the NBC affiliate in Fort Myers, Florida, where he was the morning anchor from 2007-2009.  Weisfeld has also worked at television stations in Indianapolis, IN; Raleigh, NC; Evansville, IN; and Hopkinsville, KY.

Here is a sample of what viewers can expect.

Constant changes cause some Columbia viewers to question stability of local news operations

When I posted Otis Taylor's breaking news message about the latest front-line talent change at a Columbia television station, one of my Facebook "friends" commented, "ouch, not very stable lately…"  That's not a good commentary coming from a viewer and television stations should take note.

While those of us who have made our livings in television news would like to think we are irreplaceable, it just isn't true.  Change is often difficult, scary and sometimes unnecessary.  Despite those things, change is almost always inevitable.  Change can be tough to accept, for everyone involved, but eventually things stabilize again.

TWG client and former Columbia reporter Jerrita Patterson back in the mix

Photo Credit: Jerrita Patterson/Facebook

Congratulations to reporter Jerrita Patterson on her move to Huntsville, Alabama!  "When one door closes, another door opens," said Patterson of her new opportunity.  She joined the WHNT News 19 team on September 27, 2010 after spending two years at WACH FOX News in Columbia, South Carolina.

Distracted Driving on the Job

Photo: Ed Brown

I received a Tweet this afternoon from Consumer Reports about the 2010 Distracted Driving Summit taking place in Washington D.C. involving government leaders, industry executives and safety experts.  Their goal, according to Consumer Reports, is to develop policies designed to limit dangerous distractions.

I don't think anyone would disagree that distracted driving is not just dangerous, it's deadly.  The U.S. Department of Transportation reports that distracted driving resulted in more than 5,400 deaths and 448,000 injuries.  If that's not the slap in the face we all need to put the cell phones, PDAs, mascara brushes and hair combs away while rolling down while rushing off to work, school or wherever, I don't know what it will take.  And, I say that knowing-- full well-- that I am guilty of doing everything from trying to pull something out of the rear console or eating, to talking on the phone or texting all while driving.  I know, I know--- STUPID!  I need to sign that pledge Oprah promotes.

Covering Funerals: What's Appropriate

The caskets of Devean Duley and Ja'van Duley arrive for funeral services in Orangeburg, SC.
(Photo Credit: Mary Ann Chastain/The Associated Press)

I received a phone call on Thursday from a television reporter in Columbia, South Carolina who wanted to ask my opinion on using some pictures that her videographer shot during their assignment. They were covering the visitation for Devean and Ja’van Duley, two toddlers allegedly killed by their mother and disposed of in the Edisto River in Orangeburg County.

The reporter informed me that they had video of the boys in their caksets while family members and others paid respects at the funeral home. Some of the video clearly showed the boys from various angles, some of them being close-up shots. The reporter’s question was, “would it be appropriate to use the video?”