NFPW debuts new YouTube Channel

I am often asked about being a member of the National Federation of Press Women, and this is especially true when I am introduced as the national president. Usually, the focus is on "Women." Most folks want to know if the group is just for women.


I am always pleased to tell them that NFPW is open to all professional communicators - men and women.


My affiliate, Iowa Press Women, has had a tradition of gentleman members, although we do not currently have any. Bruce Miller of Sioux City was a longtime member, perennial contest sweepstakes competitor and was Iowa's Communicator of Achievement nominee back in the late 1990s.


The other interesting time to explain that the organization is open to men and women was for the annual High School Journalism Contest. Not only could female students enter, but the guys were welcome to as well. I'm sure more than once an honor winner thought it was "weird" to win a "Women's" award, but hopefully they realized it was "cool" too.


This brings me in a round-about way to a great video from NFPW Membership Director Tiffany Ervin. She brings us the male point of view courtesy of Illinois Women's Press Association member Tim Libretti.


Check out that video on NFPW's new YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ODX77N65-Q.


Thanks to Tim and Tiffany!

Four years.

That timeframe is what we have to wait from one Leap Year to the next. It is also the magic number between each edition of the Winter and Summer Olympics. In the U.S., it’s how often we hold presidential elections.

Thanks to the latter, my fair state of Iowa has enjoyed the national spotlight – at least the national political spotlight - for the weeks leading up to the Feb. 1 Iowa Caucuses. When an incumbent is running, the focus isn't as intense because only one party has to determine who its candidate will be. Media attention has been high as Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton currently hold slim leads.

Yet which candidate from what party is leading in the polls in the run-up to the Caucuses is losing center stage to none other than Mother Nature. She could throw a wrinkle into this year’s Caucuses because the forecast is calling for about a foot of snow across much of the state.

I tuned in to CNN today to catch pre-Caucus coverage, and low and behold, there was the weather forecast among the poll numbers.

No matter what the weather situation, one outcome is always the same. After wrapping up the results of the Iowa Caucuses on Tuesday, the media will move on to New Hampshire. That's just fine. We here in Iowa will see you again in four years.

 

A brave, new blog world

After a number of starts and stops, I have finally launched my blog. I might have achieved this sooner but I kept running into a stumbling point ... what to name the darn thing!


With a bit of inspiration from watching a Serena Williams tennis match, I decided on Match Point. For those who may not be sports aficionados, match point is the potential match winning point in a number of sports, including tennis and volleyball.


It is important to note that just because you or your team reaches match point, victory is not certain. In fact, the opponent could score one point to tie and then another to gain match point against you.


I also hope that I am able to make a point or two via the blog, so the title has multiple meanings.


At any rate, thanks for reading and joining my blog journey!