Thank You,
|
|---|
 Denny Heinze |
|
|---|---|
 Mitch Eden |
 Marilyn Zimmerman |
The St. Louis Press Club is for those who make, cover and influence the news. Its mission is to raise awareness and funding for student journalism scholarships and for enterprise
grants to working, independent journalists to spotlight under-reported topics in our region. It serves its members through professional development activities to bolster their
skills to address the changing needs of the global communications profession and to offer social activities that
build a vital media community.
"Our IN THE NOW"
St. Louis Press Club's online initiative, featuring conversations with St. Louis-area professional communicators, continues.
Looking Back. Imagining the Future. Communications colleagues speak with St. Louis Press Club board member, Jessica Z. Brown Billhymer, on work and life during a pandemic, protests, economic stress and a community facing frank and varied discussions about racism.
In early 2020, it became clear to the St. Louis Press Club (STLPC) pivoting to a new way of connecting with community was a must, with the usual and varied local on-the-ground programming having to take on a new face.
Grappling with an unraveling major, stunning health crisis, STLPC conceived of a new online initiative that would harness the opportunity to catch a variety of professional communicators, and some journalism students, working from home July through December, 2020, talking about work and life during COVID 19. As well, these "snapshots" would remain an historical record regarding media and community.
Following most everyone else in the world, STLPC used the ZOOM platform to have face-to-face informal conversations, experiencing both those occasional recording imperfections as well as the unexpected pleasures of catching a few cats, dogs, children and some wonderful expressions of creativity in the backgrounds. Certainly, the platform facilitated easier access to our subjects for which we are grateful.
By the time STLPC's recordings began, the community was grappling with COVID-19; witnessing repeated video-taped images of the killing of George Floyd; holding protests; convening community conversations about systemic racism; seriously considering economic uncertainty and anxiety; and entertaining a consequential major election. Also, all institutions were in some form of lockdown.
Of varying lengths Our IN THE NOW conversations reveal stories of perseverance and unwavering commitment to one's job in a year that has tested all institutions, media included; and they also tell stories about how some colleagues are hitting their stride in a "new normal."
We travel behind the scenes via both storytelling and show-and-tell, and learn of some of the non-conventional ways producers, commentators, operations managers, photographers, videographers, TV and radio anchors, engineers, general managers, news VPs, editors-in-chief, marketing professionals, online engagement specialists and communications educators, have been making it through each day "in these times."
There are four takeaways from these conversations:
|
|---|
Beginning March 12, we launch Our IN THE NOW, showcasing several of our conversations every two weeks. Please see the March 12 line-up, below. We do hope the sit-downs are informative and inspiring as you attempt to peer through the proverbial lens of fellow professional communicators dealing with an ever-changing crisis and often make-or-break moments.
Alicia Elsner
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" On using user-generated content during the pandemic: " User-generated content has been, I think, really important for us, to have that local connection with our consumer." On the station's efforts to dismantle systemic racism: " We can't just sweep into communities when bad things happen, we're committed to the entire market." |
Eric Rothenbuhler
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" "We're living through historical events...it's an opportunity to make a difference." On the pandemic's effect on students' storytelling: "It (the pandemic) requires us to modify so much of our everyday behavior." He continues: "There is no doubt that will show up in stories that students tell; it will show up in the films they produce, in the themes they want to pursue in advertising or public relations class, in the stories they want to pursue in their journalism classes." |
Eric Berger
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" On the role of a Jewish journalism during COVID: "We are always looking for ways to cover how the pandemic is affecting the Jewish community." On the future of newspapers: "I tend to think that the future of newspapers is the non-profit model." |
Trish Muyco-Tobin
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" On Gazelle's ability to address the important topics of the pandemic and institutional racism: "When you have an issue that is George Floyd, that is Michael Brown, you really have this meeting of the minds.....diversity of thought, diversity of opinion that comes in, especially from powerful women. It really wasn't that difficult for us at Gazelle to be thought leaders.....in the midst of this pandemic in the midst of social unrest..." |
Tony Messenger
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" On being a metro columnist: "I focus a lot on social justice issues, but I'm not limited to that." On journalism, today: "I'm constantly worried about the state of the industry because our financial model is in flux" On what drives him to do his work: "My roots are in small newspapers... I started in the tiniest of weekly newspapers...when you start in a newspaper like that, where every single day you're writing about your neighbors and your kids' teachers and the people you'll see at the grocery store and the coffee shop, it affects your perspective on journalism and how personal it is and how impactful it can be, both positively and negatively...and that sort of experience drives me." |
Casey Nolen
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" with Casey Nolen, political editor and anchor, 5 on Your Side, KSDK, July 17, 2020, total running time: 32:31 On the sudden tough economic toll on broadcasting: "I'm, truly glad to have a job." On the value of the craft of journalism: "It's going to be a long time before we really see the benefit of sticking to our journalism and not giving in to reactionary, emotional responses (to it)" |
Leigh Walters/Jody Sowell
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" Re: March 18, when the museum shut down just three weeks before the opening of a major exhibit: "....our staff immediately stepped up and transitioned so much of our work to different platforms....." On the museum's role following the George Floyd killing: "The work we had to do is give people the historical context for why these issues might be happening, why we have these divides." "History can give us hope and guidance for the future." |
Carol Daniel
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" with Carol Daniel, Anchor and Host, KMOX Radio , July 17, 2020, Total Running Time: 33:51 On life for journalists in the midst of protests and COVID: "We remain under siege." About commitment and longevity in the community: "For me everything is about relationships and longevity. There's such a responsibility, such an honor with the words I'm about to use." |
Mitch Eden &
2020 Kirkwood High School students
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" with Mitch Eden, and Kirkwood High School students, July 14, 2020, Total running time: 21:22. Eden commenting on everyone's departure from school, during COVID : " Once we left for Spring break, March 13, we never came back." Regarding his students' extraordinary communications accomplishments and staying on deadline: "They did it with passion, energy and organization." |
Aisha Sultan
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" with Aisha Sultan, Columnist and Features Editor, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, filmmaker, August 28, 2020, TRT 36:19. Speaking on journalism values, “I don’t want to live in a country where truth is not valued.” On the toll the pandemic has taken, “This idea of dying alone…..” |
Amy Shaw
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" with Amy Shaw, CEO and President, Nine/PBS; recorded July 14, 2020; running time: 27:38. Shaw speaks to how Nine/PBS mobilized a network of partners to step up to the plate during the pandemic. “The pandemic has crystalized leadership. A crisis tells people who you are.” |
Wiley Price
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" with Wiley Price, photojournalist, St. Louis American; recorded Sept. 14, 2020; running time: 33:02. Price, with more than forty years in the business, commented, “This pandemic may bring us together; we have to help each other.” On photography: “There is power in the simplicity of the image.” |
Catina O’Leary
Jim Woodcock
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" with Jim Woodcock, Senior Vice President and Partner and co-founder of the global sports business practice at FleishmanHillard; recorded July 27, 2020; running time: 34:35. On the pandemic, “Certainly this is the most unique and challenging moment the communication industry has ever seen…from no fans to cardboard fans to recorded fans. “ On marketing communications: "The Art of Communications has never gone out of style. It’s never been replaced by anything better.” |
Audrey Prywitch
|
St. Louis Press Club's "Our IN THE NOW" with Audrey Prywitch, Vice-president, News, Fox 2 and News 11, and broadcaster for more than 40 years, July 7, 2020; running time: 18:44. On gathering and presenting news during a pandemic and protests : “First and foremost, keeping people safe and well …that’s what matters.” |
