| Ohio News Photographer |
| August 1999 |
"All in all not to bad," according to Colabine.
There were over 50 entries from across the state. Entries in spot news, and sports were sparse and Colabine encourages photographers to enter these categories. Chris Reece of WJW-TV in Cleveland is the points leader with 23 after the first quarter followed by Paul Kwapich of WTOL-TV Toledo and Eric Anderson of WNWO-TV Toledo who have 12 points.
Critique forms from the first quarter should be in the mail soon. The judge responsible for them went on vacation and did not return them with the results. Patience is the keyword as the contest gets off the ground.
A reminder to entrants that you are limited to two entries and no recuts, just the originals. The second quarter entry deadline was July 15th and are being judged in Seattle. Be reminded that there is NO in-depth category for the contest at this time. There was some confusion in regards to this category in the first quarter and some clips were entered and judged in this category. No points will be awarded for the in-depth winners as it is not a recognized category.
Please take a minute and read the rules and do not assume they are the same as the NPPA contest. Rules and entry forms are available on the ONPA web site.
If you have questions contact contest chairman Dave Colabine or Television vice president Vince Shivers.
The officers of the Ohio News Photographers Association held a Board meeting in the home of "Suba Vision." Present were Bob DeMay, Ed Suba, Lisa Dutton, Vince Shivers, Kim Barth and Dave Andersen.
To begin the meeting, a motion was made and passed to skip the reading of minutes from the last meeting.
Barth then gave the treasurers report. The ONPA has $7100 in the checking account and she is still waiting on final numbers from the convention held last spring in Dayton.
The first item under old business was the Member Directory planned for the fall. DeMay said he would put something in the next newsletter announcing that we plan to publish it. If anyone would like their information not published, they will have to get in touch with Bob.
The election of officers is coming up, so DeMay checked to see if any board members had received any written nominations, beyond those made at the business meeting in Dayton. None of the board members had and so the ballots will be in your mail boxes in September. You will have 45 days to return them. Remember, your vote is important.
In connection with the 50th anniversary of the ONPA coming up in 2001, Ed Suba volunteered to do the initial search through the archives at OSU for presentations at the convention. The board also will begin the search for as many photographers who qualify for Life Memberships. The board hopes to attract as many possible to both the convention and the organization.
DeMay had talked with Chris Parker about the Monthly Clip Contest. The News category so far this year has been split about 50-50 between general and spot news. The board decided that next year the news category will be spit into General News and Spot News. A monthly Portrait category would also be added. And not to disappoint those who shoot illustrations, we will add a quarterly Illustration category. Entries must be entered in the month published and then will be judged quarterly.
It was reported that the results are in for the first Quarterly TV Clip Contest. The number of entries was very promising.
The last item under old business was the estate of George Smallsreed. It was to close the week after the meeting and therefore the trust would then open. The board will discuss investment options at the next meeting.
The first item under new business was the need to apply for a 501 C 3 tax status with the IRS. This should provide us with some tax breaks as well as savings on postage. Barth and DeMay are working with the lawyers and accountants on this and will report back to the board their findings before any action is taken.
The 2000 Convention in Cleveland was next on the agenda. Andersen reports that they are still in negotiations with area hotels. Two different locations are on the list. He also discussed who was on the team so far and what they are doing. Suba said that his brother and his wife has volunteered to provide day care for the weekend. They have done this before for us and it work well. We plan on having it at this point.
DeMay would like to have the speakers locked up by October. Andersen said that we would do our best to do that. Andersen was reminded that lunch be provided during the annual business meeting on Saturday. A "Best Use of a Live Shot" will be added to next years annual TV contest. It was also decided to mail the television entries for each of the categories to the judges rather than fly judges here. Attendance at the television judging has not justified the added expense of bringing judges in.
Last on the agenda was the annual Still Contest. It will be judged on February 18th and 19th at the Fawcett Center on the OSU campus in Columbus once again. Barth wondered if the TV side might want to take advantage of having the space at the hotel that weekend.
Some loop holes still have to be closed before next years contest. Each board member is going to look at the rules and then discussion and changes will be made at our next meeting.
It was moved to closed the meeting.
The position has no pay and the only benefit you will receive is knowing youıve done your part to help our organization do the best job it can for its members. The person chosen will be responsible for the sorting and organizing all entries for the annual still picture contest. You will see to it that all entries meet the eligibility requirements set forth in the rules as adopted by the board of directors.
The chairman is also responsible for obtaining judges for the contest. The judging will be held February 18-19 at The Fawcett Center on the campus of Ohio State University.
If you have an interest in filling this position or have questions concerning the duties involved please contact ONPA President, Ed Suba Jr.
The board will meet in September at which time they will make the appointment to fill the position as well as vote on rule clarifications and proposals.
Members who have suggestions or concerns regarding any of the contest rules should contact an officer before September so your proposals can be discussed at the board meeting.
The directory will only be mailed to ONPA members. If for some reason you do not wish to be included in the directory please contact Bob DeMay prior to September 1.
The board is looking for your help in tracking down life members as we approach our 50th anniversary. Over the years some of our retired brethren have fallen through the cracks and off our mailing list.
If you know the whereabouts of any of these wayward photographers please contact any officer with what ever information you have. Donıt take for granted that we have information on file for anyone.
ONPA has in stock a supply of t-shirts, sweatshirts and ball caps that were on sale during the past convention. Contact Ed Suba who will gladly let you know whatıs available in what size and color. The items are reasonably priced and are a great way to support ONPA. You know youıve made a great impression on the brass when you walk into the publisherıs office for an exit interview and you are addressed by the wrong name.
That's exactly what happened to Matt Detrich of The Beacon Journal on his last day of work before leaving for The Indianapolis Star. After being summoned to office of publisher John Dotson, Detrich was somewhat bewildered when Dotson said, "we're sure going to miss you around here Mike."
His co-workers made up for their publisherıs identity mistake and sent Detrich off in fine fashion with a party hosted by Phil Masturzo. There were of course lovely parting gifts, including an authentic Akron tire ashtray.
Entertainment for the evening was supplied by retired Beacon Journal photographer Ott Gangle who held court in the kitchen impersonating the late George Smallsreed as well as telling a few tails from days gone by.
The Tribune Chronicle in Warren switched cycles to a morning edition July 6th. The had previously published in the afternoons Monday through Friday.
Jeff Wilson who worked the picture desk in Warren has recently left the photo department to become the system information manager at the paper.
Congratulations are in order for Jeff and his wife Amy who had a baby boy in July. Jarod Michael Wilson joins big sister Natalie at home.
Kim Salvadore and her husband Chris are proud first time parents. Ian William Salvadore was born on May 24th and is now the controlling force at their home in Delaware. Kim is a staff photographer at This Week Newspapers in Columbus.
The Buckeye TV Seminar was the brain child of Ali Ghanbari of WJW-TV who got the idea after being a speaker at the NPPA Television Airborne Seminar in 1994. His idea was that if photographers from across the state would give of their time and talent that they could provide a program free of charge. It would not only improve television photojournalist, it would be a way of giving back something to the profession.
In five short years this event has become the most popular and well attended television seminar in the state. Although the seminar is still free registration is required. This years presenters include, Paul Kwapich from WTOL who will focus on award inning stories.
Reporter Mark Spain of WJW-TV in Cleveland will discuss, "Working as a Team: Reporters and Photojournalist". Ron Mounts, photojournalist and lighting expert from WJW will focus on "Lighting For News." Ali Ghanbari will share his expertise in "The art of natural sound packages." WKYC's special projects photojournalist Kim Fatica will host a tape critique session.
Flyers with more details are being sent to all stations. If your station hasnıt gotten the flyer or if you have any questions about the event contact Paul Kwapich at WTOL-TV. The station address is 730 N. Summit St., Toledo, OH 43604. Kwapich can be reached by phone at (419) 244-7104.
Technically, all the basics are covered in the code. Yes, photojournalism is an art and a science. It affords an opportunity to serve the public. Every photojournalist should strive for pictures that report truthfully, honestly and objectively. Work hard to raise photojournalism to a higher standard and work to preserve all freedom of the press rights recognized by law.
We learn these standards and more about film, cameras, lenses and writing captions by attending school, through real world work experiences and from veteran photojournalists we come in contact with.
But number seven is an intangible not found in job descriptions or college lectures.
Number seven is about being a human being.
Number seven played a pivotal role in two recent incidents in the world of journalism-Julius Erving's "outing" as the father of overnight tennis sensation at Wimbledon, Alexandra Stevenson and the Canton Repository's coverage of the private funeral at Arlington National Cemetery for Chief Warrant Officer David A. Gibbs.
The Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel uncovered a copy of Stevenson's birth certificate listing Erving as her father and published the story. Gibbs was a native of Massillon who died when his Apache helicopter crashed during a training exercise in Albania. The Repository, despite a request from the family for no press coverage, sent a reporter and a photographer to the private service.
Both papers claimed the events were newsworthy and that readers would be interested in the details of the stories.
As their presses ran, buried under the weight of their editions was number seven, "our standards......shall have in them a note of sympathy for our common humanity". Did the Sun-Sentinel show "a note of sympathy" when they invaded the 18 year-old Stevenson's privacy. She had met Erving once when she was three and had made no effort and wanted none made to make contact with him.
The paper ran the story for one reason. To be first. The first to publish the sensational story during the height of the Wimbledon fortnight coverage.
Did The Repository consider "our common humanity" when they ignored a long-standing policy of honoring a family's request of no press coverage; through, in my opinion, a series of questionable decisions by their editors and the overzealousness on the part of a photographer.
Gibbs wasn't a public figure but in the probable anticipation of wanting to help the paper cover the story for their readers, the photographer started a chain of events at the paper that resulted in what Army public communications team chief, Patty Heard termed, "nearly unprecedented actions."
I'm not pointing the finger of blame at the photographers. I have to believe that every photojournalist is following what he or she considers to be the proper path in any situation.
But a photojournalist has to learn that the job isn't only about cameras, the lenses, covering the assignments and ethics. Or even about common sense.
It's about being a human being.
It's about looking through the view finder and not focusing on a subject and seeing a prize-winning photo, but seeing a human being. A person who is entrusting you with the chance to not only freeze for eternity a moment of their life, but to be PART of that life. I never heard anything about this at Bowling Green or on the job. I was "taught" to cover the assignment as creatively and objectively as possible. That sentence was quickly followed by-get the A-1 picture, get that clip sent in, get those contest entered, beat the competition.
It wasn't until I spent eight months on a story documenting the final days of a husband and father dying from leukemia that I finally understood the phrase ".....when each of us is finished, we shall have endeavored to lift the level of human ideals and achievement higher than we found it."
As a photojournalist we have to follow the rules we have set for ourselves and the profession. But as human beings, we have to realize that we should treat our subjects as we would like to be treated. If that means putting the camera down or objecting to coverage of an event we shouldnıt be at then do it.
The Sun-Sentinel and The Repository thought the most important thing was getting the stories, the pictures and running them. So did I for a long while.
We were all wrong.
The most important thing is the people.
Ed Suba
August 18, 1998