Steffy '86: Deep in the Chron's emergency bunker

I received this great dispatch Friday afternoon from the Houston Chronicle's Loren Steffy '86, but tragically I missed it until going back through my e-mails just now. Argh! Still, it is good to know that the Chron properly values and protects some of their finest:

I'm sitting here in the Chronicle's hurricane bunker, where we have a skeleton crew ready to put out the paper if Chron Central downtown loses power. Oddly, the Chron has sent most of its Aggies up here -- me, Ronnie Crocker and Paul McGrath. This is sort of our Al Haig moment. The entire fate of one of the country's biggest newspapers could rest in our hands. The bunker is designed to withstand almost any natural disaster, so it should be able to withstand us. The bunker's location is, of course, a secret, much like Dick Cheney's, but I can tell you it's somewhere in Montgomery County.

Martin '91 election specials start tonight at 7 on CNN

Roland Martin '91 will host a series of specials starting this weekend with panelists discussing candidates' positions on issues. The first, "7 Weeks to Go," airs tonight at 7 p.m. Central and according to Multichannel News will deal with the effects on this election of age, gender, race and bias.

Multichannel News reported the second installment, "6 Weeks to Go," will air Sept. 20 and 21 at 7 p.m., and the third special, "5 Weeks to Go," will air Sept. 27 and 28 at 7 p.m.

A few more tweets from the storm

Oliver '81 is home, and Rojas '10 gt his first tagline in the New York Times http://plurl.me/u9
42 minutes ago from web

Galv Daily News editor rode out the storm in the newspaper building, which seems to have largely lived up to its hurricane-proof billing
44 minutes ago from web

Meyer '05 and her husband OK, and so are rest of Galveston Daily News staff from what I hear. Foley '05 got a car here and has headed back
about 1 hour ago from web

Foley '05 got herself booted from the Crockett HS shelter in Austin (no lie http://plurl.me/u2) and is now reporting from our spare bedroom
about 19 hours ago from web

Video, blogs, stories from Ags covering Ike

Video of Jay Janner '91 (AAS) in Galveston on Friday morning: http://plurl.me/tr

Sara Foley '05 (GCDN) blogging from Austin shelter for Galveston evacuees: http://plurl.me/tv

Rhiannon Meyers '05 (GCDN) covering flooding, evacuations in Galveston: http://plurl.me/tu

Peggy O'Hare '91 (HC) reports from Surfside Beach, an area now underwater: http://plurl.me/tw

Richard Oliver '81 (SAE-N) hunkers down in Port Lavaca: http://plurl.me/tx

Following Aggies reporting on Ike, via Twitter

Here's a recap of today's tweets in which I tried to keep up with various A&M grads out there covering Ike. Most likely I won't be doing the same tomorrow, but you can definitely keep up with Sara Foley '05 and Rhiannon Meyers '05 at http://www.galvnews.com/, with Richard Oliver '81 at http://www.mysa.com/, all of the Aggies at http://www.theeagle.com/ and Jay Janner '91 at http://www.statesman.com/ and the Statesman's Ike Twitter account, www.twitter.com/trackingike. (Links to more Ike reporting around the state on my account, www.twitter.com/aggiejournalist; just fish through the folks I'm following.)

And LCRA meteorologist Bob Rose -- also an Aggie -- will hold a second live chat about Ike Friday at 2 p.m. on www.statesman.com, taking questions from readers.

Today, September 11, 2008, 13 hours ago
Foley '05 reporting in evacuating Galveston http://tinyurl.com/623976 Janner '91 part of Statesman Ike teams tweeting here @trackingike

Today, September 11, 2008, 9 hours ago
Rtwt from @trackingike: http://twitpic.com/b382 - "Take a hike Ike.. Bad Ike Go Away" Photographer Jay Janner working the storm in Corpus.

Today, September 11, 2008, 8 hours ago
Oliver '81, others blogging Ike for SA Express-News here http://tinyurl.com/5xxmzk

Today, September 11, 2008, 8 hours ago
A&M campus closes Friday; hurricane-force winds expected in Brazos Valley http://tinyurl.com/3pa3vp (Watkins '07 writing for Eagle)

Today, September 11, 2008, 7 hours ago
Meyers '05: Minor tidal flooding begins in Galveston http://tinyurl.com/4dqv2l

Today, September 11, 2008, 25 minutes ago
Galv. Co. Daily News' Foley '05 is now, I'm glad to say, blogging from an evacuee bus headed to Austin http://tinyurl.com/3vfopv

Today, September 11, 2008, 24 minutes ago
rtwt fm @mySA Richard Oliver found the last restaurant open in Port Lavaca. http://is.gd/2w2F

Selvidge '07: Images from journey across Europe

Spencer Selvidge '07 has returned from his 181-day photoblogging trip across Europe and has kindly agreed to let me show some of his photos here. He's in Austin doing studio portrait work now, so let me just SEO this blog entry real quick in case anybody is searching for a wedding photographer in Austin, wedding photos Austin, beautiful wedding portraits, Austin wedding, engagement photos, family portrait photographer Austin, book wedding photographer, individual photo portrait Austin... and you can find more at his Web site, http://www.spencerselvidge.com/.

Thanks to all three Aggie photographers who have sent in the news, photos and video I've used this week, and please keep it coming!

More of Selvidge's photos:

Nash '77 offers photo tips, shows work in video

Continuing this week's photography theme: Sunny Nash '77 has posted a video she produced that showcases some of the images from her photo collection "Shopping for Hope," a study of storefront churches in America, as well as photos she took at the annual gala reception and awards ceremony for the Black AIDS Institute in Los Angeles.

The video is embedded in a lengthy list of photography tips, well worth visiting on its own, but I'll pop it in here too so you can see:

Janner '91 blogs about community photojournalism

Sometimes I think I can take photos OK. Then I look at what someone like Jay Janner '91 does with a camera and see very clearly what a true professional and artist does. Janner's Web site, jayjanner.com, showcases his work. He has also started a blog about community photojournalism at jayjanner.wordpress.com, where he talks about his work in Austin and displays more of his great images.

Head on over to his blog, check it out, leave him some comments, send it to photogs you know!

Oliver '81 to liveblog Ike; let us know if you're covering

As Hurricane Ike approaches, some are saying it could be the worst to hit Texas in 40 years and its effect on Texas could be like that of Hurricane Carla (via @mysaweathervane). Carla made landfall on the Texas coast 47 years ago this week, on Sept. 11, 1961.

In recent weeks, we've posted here about Aggie journalists covering hurricanes this season, including San Antonio Express-News writer Roy Bragg '80, who went to New Orleans to report on Hurricane Gustav, and KBTX's Jordan Meserole '05 and Kristen Ross '05, who embedded with a search and rescue team during Dolly.

This time around, Richard Oliver '81 will be liveblogging Ike for the Express-News; please write in and tell us if you will also be covering the storm. We have many Aggies at newspapers on the coast as well as Houston and San Antonio, and this storm currently seems set to come far inland. At times like these, all of us tend to convert to storm coverage, whatever our normal job descriptions are. Tell us what you're up to: Twittering breaking news or blogging from an emergency bunker, or send us a link to your photos.

Above all, be safe. Gig' em. And remember, no matter what they tell you, the official Houston evacuation route for Aggies is NOT Loop 610!

Media bias against A&M? Good points in magazine

The Sept. 6 issue of the 12th Man Magazine has the second part of a writers' roundtable discussion, in which the question is pitched (in a sports context): Is the media biased against A&M?

Among the responses were these, from 12th Man Magazine On Campus editor True Brown '04 and San Antonio Express-News A&M beat writer Brent Zwerneman (both of whom have made similar points about A&M journalism before, Brown when he was at the Battalion and in a retrospective for this blog, and Zwerneman in his columns):

Brown: In my opinion, it's not a matter of writers and editors going out of their way to downgrade A&M. Rather, there just aren't enough Aggies in the state media to keep things on an even keel. Unfortunately, this is going to get a lot worse before it gets even a little better because of A&M's jaw-dropping decision a few years ago to eliminate its journalism program.
I know of several aspiring young journalists who ruled out attending A&M altogether because the perception is that the university isn't interested in helping them achieve their career goals.
...
Zwerneman: Look, the worst thing Bob Gates did at A&M was kill out the journalism major at A&M -- and Elsa Murano needs to bring it back. Why would you lessen the number of pen-wielding people who could spread the good word about your university?
It didn't make sense then, and it doesn't now. Graduates of a university tend to lean toward hoping it does well -- it's human nature (as well it should be!). And right now, Texas is cranking out a whole lot more graduates into the media than its rival. A&M needs to do something about that sooner than later.

To put some numbers on that last point: UT is graduating about 160 journalism majors per year. A&M has graduated a total of 23 journalism minors since the new program began in 2004.

Bernsen '94 named press secretary for Craddick

Recently returned from serving in Iraq, James Bernsen '94 has been hired by the state House Speaker. From Tuesday's press release:

(Austin) - Speaker Tom Craddick (R - Midland) today named Alexis DeLee communications director and announced the hiring of James Bernsen as press secretary. Additionally, he named Chris Cutrone media relations liaison for the House. This is part of a reorganization of the Speaker's Press Office to better facilitate communication of the speaker's goals and priorities.

"Alexis has been an excellent communications advisor, and I am pleased to promote her," Speaker Craddick said. "James is also a great addition to my press office. He brings a wealth of capitol experience through his work with a key senator and a prominent house member, and he has observed the legislative process from a reporter's perspective."

...

James Bernsen is a former news reporter and correspondent for the Lone Star Report, a newsletter covering the Texas Capitol. He served as the deputy press secretary for U.S. Senator Phil Gramm and as the campaign press secretary for Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. He has also served as a legislative aide for former Rep. Dianne White Delisi and for Senator Craig Estes.

Abilene boat maker has communications opening

Received this week:



COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR



Tigé Boats, a leading inboard watersports boat manufacturer, is actively recruiting a qualified Communications Coordinator to join the company's marketing team. Duties include developing and writing news and information materials for print and on-line distribution to Tigé owners, dealers, the marine industry and the general public. The successful candidate will also be directly involved in development of brochures, on-line website content and other Tigé marketing materials.



This position requires excellent writing skills and full working knowledge of web-based and print-oriented communications media. Strong organizational skills and the ability to communicate well verbally and in writing are also essential. Degree and/or journalism or public relations experience preferred. Boating background is also a plus.



This position is located at the headquarters office in Abilene, TX. Tigé offers a complete benefits package including health and dental insurance, matching 401(k) plan, company bonus plan, and paid time off. Qualified applicants should submit a current resume and cover letter detailing experience and background relative to the position. Send information in MS Word or PDF version to tige.employment@tige.com.



Jean Wagner

Corporate Relations Manager

325.676.7777 phone

Bragg '80 liveblogging Gustav from New Orleans

In his own inimitable way, Roy Bragg '80 is blending storm reporting, observation and wisecrackery in his live blogging for the San Antonio Express-News: click here to read. He headed there Friday, and last night he observed:

...because of the hotels that are still open, Vieux Carre, as the French Quarter is also known, is also the defacto press center of Hurricane Gustav coverage. Every hooker on Bourbon Street has been replaced with a television crew.

His most recent dispatches:

NEW ORLEANS, 9/1/08 10:15 AM Television crews are reporting that water is going over the top of the rebuilt levee in the Lower Ninth Ward. Photographer Lisa Krantz and I are heading out there. I'll report back as soon as I can.

NEW ORLEAN 9/1/08 10:14 AM Michael Homan, a theologian at Xavier University, has been riding the storm out at his rebuilt, reinforced Mid City home."We're doing pretty well,'' he said. "The power went out at 4 a.m., but I have generator so I'm doing well. Three families on his block, which sits in an area that didn't get a lot of flooding, are riding out the storm. He feels safe.
Winds and water damaged the house during Hurricane Katrina, causing it to list precariously. It took Homan three years to rebuild the home, which is almost finished: one year to get the insurance company to write the structure off, one year to get them to pay a fair market value, and a year to build a new home that's 2 1/2 feet higher off the ground and with reinforced steel beams throughout.

"Ironically," he said, "we moved into our house 4 days before the 3rd anniversary of Katrina."

A&M Student Media honchos teach seminar

(Thanks to Bob Wegener for sending this!)

Three members of Texas A&M University’s Student Media Board will teach a First-Year Seminar (FYS) on the First Amendment during Fall 2008.

Dr. Carol Binzer, director of Student Life and chair of the Student Media Board; Dr. Deb Dunsford, senior lecturer and program coordinator, Agricultural Communications and Journalism, and Bob Wegener, general manager of Student Media, will teach Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace: The First Amendment and College Students.

This seminar is designed to enhance students’ understanding of the First Amendment and the five freedoms therein; to share contests to those freedoms throughout history, especially in higher education; and to explore legal, moral, social, technological, and cultural perspectives on the Constitutional protections.

Texas A&M’s new FYS program applies "seminar-style” teaching in a learning community setting to provide intellectual and social transition into the university under the guidance of faculty/staff in classes of 20 or fewer students. Courses are designed to encourage students to participate in their learning through critical inquiry; by listening and contributing to class discussion; in reading broadly from research sources, and writing original works. The one-credit courses are open only to first-year freshmen.

In 2005, Binzer and Wegener completed training at the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.

Bob Rogers enjoying well-earned retirement

Bob Rogers, former A&M Journalism Department head and longtime journalism prof at A&M (did he retire twice? three times?) is "perking right along," to quote his ownself! I love him to bits and I know many others out there do too, so I asked him if it was OK for me to put this update about him up on the blog. I also have his e-mail address if anybody wants to drop him a line. Here he is, the man whose red pen has struck fear into so many hearts:

Thanks for inquiring about Pattie and me. We are doing reasonably fine for old folks (80 for me and 76 for Pattie) and continue to enjoy retirement. For sure it's the best job either of us ever had. Pattie has had a long-running problem with pain that makes it difficult for her to walk very far at a time or even sit for an extended time so we don't make the long car trips we once did. Just as well with gasoline prices over the top. The doctors can't seem to figure out what the pain is all about despite assorted tests and guesses. I am having a bit of a hip problem at the moment but nothing serious. Other than that we are perking right along.

I have attached a picture taken on July 4 of me with my son Brad, daughter Mickey and granddaughter Carla. Brad lives in Dallas and Mickey just outside Mexico City. Carla graduated last month with a BFA in design from UT. It was great to have them here. Mickey gets here once or twice a year so her visit is always special. Also attached is a picture of Pattie in one of several new dresses that Mickey's dressmaker friend in Mexico made for her, a near-miraculous feat since Angelica has never even seen Pattie. Great work.

I try to keep up with what's going on with FJSA through the newsletter and through Kelly Brown at the Eagle. ... I still have hope for a rebirth of the department. I suggested to someone that maybe you should haul all the Hall of Honor plaques over to Madame President and say, "See what you are missing? We sure need more like them."

Good luck in your continuing efforts. I continue to feel so fortunate to have known all of you. Those were great years. -- Bob