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Your connection to industry & member news | Nov. 21, 2024
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We are thankful for you!We hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving! SCPA and SCNN will be closed Nov. 28-29. There will be no eBulletin next week because of the holiday. We're thankful for you and appreciate your support and involvement in the S.C. Press Association!
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SCPA partners with A-Mark Foundation to offer $15,000 investigative journalism prizeInvestigative reporters are trained to follow the money, but it takes resources to follow the money. That’s why the South Carolina Press Association and the A-Mark Foundation have created a new $15,000 cash prize for S.C. reporters and their newsrooms.
First place: $5,000 for the journalist(s) and $2,500 to the news organization
Second place: $3,000 for the journalist(s) and $1,500 to the news organization
Third place: $2,000 for the journalist(s) and $1,000 to the news organization
The A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism is open to all journalists and all news organizations in South Carolina, including newspapers, broadcast outlets and online news publications. The A-Mark Foundation is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization incorporated in 1997.
How S.C. Press Association members can compete: First, second and third place winners from all divisions of (28) Investigative Reporting will compete alongside S.C. Broadcasters Association member entries for the A-Mark Prize for Investigative Journalism in South Carolina. The deadline to enter is Dec. 6. Upload entries and letters of explanation at scnewscontest.org. There is no additional fee for SCPA members to enter this competition; (28) Investigative Reporting division winners will be automatically entered by SCPA.
View full criteria and details here.
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Legislative Workshop for the Media set for Jan. 9 at the StatehouseRegistration for the annual Legislative Workshop for the Media is now open.
Make plans to join leaders of the General Assembly Thursday, Jan. 9, from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. at the Statehouse as we discuss various topics that will impact the Palmetto State in 2025.
This event – sponsored by the S.C. Press Association, S.C. Broadcasters Association, SCETV and The Associated Press – is a one-stop shop for the media to interview members of both the House and Senate. Panelists will be announced as they are confirmed.
We recommend this event for editors, reporters, editorial writers, publishers and managers.
All discussions are on the record.
Lunch will be provided.
If you register by Dec. 31, the fee to attend is only $60. If you register between Jan. 1 - Jan. 6, the fee will increase to $70. Registrations will not be accepted after Monday, Jan. 6.
Please note space is limited and this event is only open to members of SCPA, AP and SCBA.
Register here.
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At 89, Betty Moses continues to make an impact on local news
When Betty Moses sits into her chair to begin her day of work, it’s likely that at least three people have already welcomed her into the office with heartfelt greetings.
“Good morning, Miss Betty.”
“How was your weekend, Miss Betty?”
“Can I help you with anything, Miss Betty?”
The greetings Moses receives aren’t ones of mere co-workers. They are more akin to comments directed at a family member or a trusted confidant.
That’s because Moses — the production manager of the Myrtle Beach Herald and the Carolina Forest Chronicle — is not just a co-worker.
Having just turned 89 years old, Moses still works full time with My Horry News, laying out newspapers every week for members of the community to digest the latest news around the Horry County area.
Moses wears many hats. Sure, she organizes the papers and works around deadlines and breaking news to put together a compelling product every week. But in the Conway office where she settles in each day with a can-do attitude, she also serves many other roles.
Moses is a friend.
She is a mother figure.
And each day she enters the office, she brings a smile to the faces of those she works with.
By Joe Wedra, My Horry News | Read more
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Scheer chosen for Poynter’s 2024 Essential Skills for Rising Newsroom leaders
Robert Scheer, deputy managing editor/visuals for The Post and Courier is one of 38 journalists chosen for Poynter’s 2024 Essential Skills for Rising Newsroom leaders training.
Journalists will meet in late 2024 at Poynter in St. Petersburg, Florida, for a dynamic, five-day, in-person workshop that will focus on the critical skills that new managers need to help forge successful paths to leadership.
The program is led by faculty members Tony Elkins and Fernanda Camerena. The goal of the seminar is to build a strong foundation among these leaders, giving them the tools they need to help their teams excel and succeed.
Participants will get personalized feedback from colleagues about strengths and challenges; instructions on leading a staff through turmoil and uncertainty, as well as growth and opportunity; customized advice for addressing pressing concerns; and small-group coaching sessions with Poynter instructors.
Poynter faculty Tony Elkins said that stepping into a leadership role for the first time can be an intimidating and challenging career move.
From Poynter | Read more
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|  | Moultrie News Editor Ralph Mancini was recently named a Rotary Club of Mount Pleasant Foundation's Paul Harris Fellow. Pictured with Mancini is Moultrie News Publisher Amy Sutton.
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|  | Last week, SCPA staff and retired Executive Director Bill Rogers (left) had lunch to celebrate Eric Robinson (right), who was recently named the Reid H. Montgomery Freedom of Information Chair by the University of South Carolina College of Information and Communications. The Chair was established in 1993 in honor of Reid H. Montgomery, Sr., secretary-manager of the S.C. Press Association for 22 years. The position honors faculty who are established scholars of First Amendment rights and media law. Jay Bender (center) held the position from 2007 until his retirement in 2016. We're so thankful for Eric and all he does to educate S.C. journalists on the FOIA and media law topics.
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Judge blocks Biden administration’s rule to expand overtime pay for millions
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge in Texas has blocked a new rule from the Biden administration that would have expanded access to overtime pay to millions more salaried workers across the U.S.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Sean Jordan sided with the state of Texas and a group of business organizations that argued the Labor Department exceeded its authority when it finalized a rule earlier this year to significantly expand overtime pay for salaried workers — ruling that the department could not prioritize employee wages over job duties when determining eligibility.
Under the federal law, nearly all hourly workers in the U.S. are entitled to overtime pay after 40 hours a week. But many salaried workers are exempt from that requirement — unless they earn below a certain level.
The Labor Department’s now-scuttled rule would have marked the biggest increase to that cap in decades. Employers were required pay overtime to salaried workers who make less than $43,888 a year in certain executive, administrative and professional roles as of July 1 — and that was set to rise to $58,656 next year.
By Wyatte Grantham-Philips, The Associated Press | Read more
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FTC publishes final negative option rule in the Federal Register
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) published the final Negative Option Rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 15. The prohibition on misrepresenting information with respect to a negative option/automatic renewal offer will become effective in 60 days. The requirements regarding clear and conspicuous disclosures, obtaining specific affirmative consent to an automatic renewal feature and providing a simple cancellation method will become effective in 180 days. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) sent a letter to the FTC on Nov. 7 requesting the FTC to immediately stop all work on outstanding rules, regulations, and guidance. (Note, however, that given Federal Register processing time, this rule may have already been on its way.)
By Holly Lubart, News/Media Alliance | Read more
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By Jim Pumarlo,
Newspaper Consultant
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| Press politicians on election promises
Elections are over, and you breathe a sigh of relief. The exhaustive campaign season has concluded, and newsrooms can return to some level of normalcy.
Not so fast. The most substantive aspect of election coverage may loom. Your pages have been filled with campaign promises detailed in stories, letters to the editor and ads. The next logical step: Are the winners keeping their promises?
In that regard, mark April 1. It’s common to rate the president’s first 100 days in office. Why not do the same for other elected officials? Yes, it’s unreasonable to expect a great deal of policy-making in the first three months, but it’s an opportunity to get a flavor of lawmaker priorities and participation.
The lack of civility in politics prompts many to bemoan the 24/7/365 election cycle. The hyper partisanship unfortunately has permeated into local races. At the same time, this is an excellent reminder that election coverage cannot simply be turned on and turned off during campaign season. Benchmarking is likely easiest, and most relevant to readers, by focusing on local elected officials.
Continuing coverage, if thoughtfully planned, goes a long way toward holding elected officials accountable. It also can enrich coverage of local public affairs, providing substantive content beyond blow-by-blow meeting reports. Read more
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