A Good PIO ... And a Steelers Fan, Too ...

More than once, here, in my little corner of the blogosphere, I've made some passing remark about Public Information Officers, or PIO's ... and the remarks haven't always been complimentary ...

Today, though, they are ...

Many of the people who are PIO's in the West Texas region were, at one time, journalists ... working the other side of the microphone, as it were ... and the same is true of one of the newer PIO's in West Texas ... Mike Adkins, spokesman for the Ector County Independent School District and former Sports Director at the station where I work ... KWES-TV, NewsWest 9 ...

I mention Mike because he has, over the last few weeks, had a particularly tough job to do ... and I think he's done pretty well at it.

It would be one of the easiest jobs in the world, if all you had to do was highlight positive and outstanding achievements by students, teachers, administrators, volunteers and so on and so forth ...

But that's only part of the news one comes across when covering a large and diverse school district such as Odessa's ... there are the other stories, too - every bit as outstanding, but not-at-all positive - that a good PIO should be ready, willing and able to address, fully and frankly ...

... like fears that a Bible-based curriculum that has attracted plenty of attention and debate, may also attract some lawsuits ...

... like a top school district police official who finds himself the subject of an investigation ...

... like allegations that changes to a health/sex-ed curriculum, that would encourage an improved physical and moral climate, may also place some students at-risk ...

Mike has addressed all of this and more, and he's done it in a manner that encourages questions-and-answers, discussion of the issues, and solutions to problems. I experienced this, first-hand, when I called him about viewers' allegations that an ECISD school board member presumed to run Odessa's public school system, while the board member's children attended private school in another community ... as it turned out, no story emerged from those allegations ... but, that didn't lessen my appreciation for the thoroughness and openness with which Mike answered my questions ...

And, I'd like to point out that a good PIO not only makes my job easier ... a good PIO also makes our community better, more open ... making us more informed and more inclined to participate ...

And if that weren't enough ... Mike's also a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers !!!!!

Take a Deep Breath ...

Sometimes, the impact of medical advances isn't brought home to a person so much by the headlines of revolutionary new vaccines and surgical procedures, as much as it is by small, personal observations ...

That happened to me, this week ...

Some of you may be old enough to remember a kid in school with asthma ... someone who had to sit out phys-ed, sitting in the bleachers and doing homework or reading a book, while the rest of ran up and down the field or the gym floor ...

The times, they are a-changin' ...

Earlier today, my older boy, Andrew, and I watched Jerome Bettis running over, around and through the Indianapolis Colts as he helped the Pittsburgh Steelers earn a place in the American Football Conference championship game, next week in Denver. Bettis is an asthmatic, and follows a strict, daily regimen to keep his condition under control as he pursues one of the more remarkable careers in pro football ...

In the past, Bettis has also spoken publicly about that condition, and has encouraged others to develop what he calls an "asthma game plan" in order to pursue an active lifestyle.

One of those touched by Bettis' outreach is Andrew, who has had to cope with asthma since early childhood. Last night, he played a full half of indoor soccer as goalie (shutting out the other team), then switched jerseys and played striker in the second half ... and scored a hat trick.

It was an exciting game that left ME more breathless than he was at the final buzzer!

Working the Obit Desk ...

Jimmy Patterson over at "Sticky Doorknobs" has drawn a tough assignment ... for a brief while, he's been working the Obit Desk.

Regular visitor's to Jim's blog have been following the ongoing story of his Mom, and how she and the family were preparing for the end. Earlier today, we learned that "Betty Jo Patterson, beloved wife, cherished mother, and adored grandmother and great-grandmother, died Friday at an Irving, Texas, hospital following a lengthy illness. She was 79."

Obituaries are a challenge. There is so much riding on them ... so much more than can be achieved by simply stating the facts. Granted, you do want to get some facts in there ... they provide the framework upon which a life story is built. But, you don't want those facts to overwhelm the story ... the life you are recalling was so much more than a catalog of names, dates and places.

In some ways, the job is harder, when it is someone close to you ... and, in other ways, it can be easier. To this day, I think some of the best pieces I ever wrote were my columns in the Fort Stockton Pioneer that I composed as memorials to my father and, later, to my brother.

You'll feel a range of emotions that don't often accompany your other assignments ... sadness, grief, even anger. Go with your feelings, express them. They are the colors and textures that bring life to what might otherwise have been a dry recitation. And don't forget joy ... remember the promise that we shall be together again, someday ... that, through God's grace, we "shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

All in all, I think Jimmy has done an outstanding job with his assignment. See for yourself, and don't hesitate to offer your comments, your thoughts and your prayers.

Something I Heard ...

Do you have a few minutes to truly listen to someone who truly has something to say?

Then you may want to tune-in 'This I Believe,' a series of radio essays that can be heard on NPR every Monday morning (on "Morning Edition") and afternoon (on "All Things Considered").

The series is a provocative and profound response to those who have stated time and time again that, "they just don't make radio and television programs like they used to." In fact, it is based on a 1950s radio program of the same name, hosted by acclaimed journalist Edward R. Murrow. In creating 'This I Believe,' Murrow said the program sought "to point to the common meeting grounds of beliefs, which is the essence of brotherhood and the floor of our civilization."

So what does that mean? A glance at the presentations of the last few months gives some answers ... former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell speaks of a country based on openness, freedom and democracy for its citizens and visitors ... jazz pianist Dave Brubeck tells how he is sustained by his belief that faith in God and love will win over conflict and destruction ... former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich considers the the collapse of thriving civilizations, and how strong leadership can protect America from a similar fate ... and Microsoft founder Bill Gates shares his belief that technology, creativity and intelligence can change the world.

There are many, many more. Not all of them are well-known names ... but each has something of value to say, something worth our hearing and - if not our acceptance - at least our consideration

Also presented, from time to time, are essays from the archives of the original series ... by President Harry Truman, Helen Hayes, Jackie Robinson, Helen Keller and Justice William O. Douglas, to name a few.

I know, you're going to point out that there's an abundance of talk radio on the airwaves today ... but this is different. These are people from all walks of life talking to you, not some professional mouth talking (or yelling) at you. These are people who would appeal to your reason and your beliefs, to your mind and your soul, not your gut. These are discussions from people who believe that ideas - not volume or invectives - are the foundation of a discussion.

If you've missed hearing the series on air, you can visit their archives online. Here you can read the words written by this remarkable assembly of contributors, or you can listen to them in the writers' own voices.

We happy few, we band of brothers ... we dang Yankees from 'back east ...

Hardly a day goes by that the impact of the internet in general, and the blogosphere in particular, upon our sense of 'community' is not demonstrated.

For me, one such demonstration came from the contacts I have made with two new, virtual friends in Pennsylvania - entirely through weblogs.

One is Frank Wilson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Book Review Editor. He writes an "Editor's Choice" column each Sunday in the 'Books' section, and posts daily at BOOKS, INQ.

The other is Jim, a "Professional Institutional Christian Cog." He comes to us "almost live from scenic Pottstown, PA," his "semi-stimulating corner of the bloggiverse" at serotoninrain

This part of my virtual community was developed in much the same way we develop our actual community. I met Frank by chance, stumbling across his blog while 'exploring,' clicking on that 'Next Blog' button in the upper-right-hand corner of Blogger sites, and seeing where it takes me. Jim, on the other hand, I have met through an introduction of sorts, through a mutual friend we share ... Eric Siegmund, over at The Fire Ant Gazette

Their being Pennsylvanians, and I being an expatriate from the Keystone State, our conversations have more than once touched upon something of special significance to that part of the world. For example, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina smashing into the American Gulf Coast states, Frank's blog offered a forum where some of us could share our memories of Tropical Storm Agnes, and the devastation that storm wreaked upon the Susquehanna River Valley. On a lighter note, anticipating a trip I'll be taking to Pennsylvania, Jim has recommended that I visit "the best little coffee/pastry shop north of the Schuylkill River" (I will, and I hope he'll be my guest, there, for coffee and pastry when I do).

There is, of course, a lot more to be said about the concept of community on the blogosphere, its practice and its impact. And I suspect I shall be touching upon it again, in the future.

For now, though, I have a virtual community of my own to explore and develop, and some changes to make to the 'Blogs of Note' feature on my site. And, if there's any improvement to be made to these friendships I have made online, it may come on that day that I actually meet these virtual friends, these happy few, these dang Yankees from back east.

Things To Do ...

Please add the following to your list of "Things to Do" ... today, and in the days to follow ...

1. Visit Jimmy Patterson's blog ... if you haven't dropped in lately, plan to spend a little time, reading his posts of the last week-and-a-half ...

2. Push back from the computer, and say a prayer for Jimmy, for his parents, and all who know them, love them and cherish them ... add them to your church's prayer list ...

3. Take a look at your own life - not the virtual one ... the actual one, in the real world - and think of someone who has touched that life ... someone about whom you've been saying, over and over again, 'one of these days ..." and give them a call, write them a letter or - if they're close to hand - go and see them ...

New Look For OA Online ...

The Odessa American has always had a good website in terms of content - good, comprehensive and in-depth coverage of its home community, as well as some coverage of headline stories from around the region ... and refreshed each day.

BUT, it was also one of the blandest websites in West Texas ... well, not anymore. Since late last year, the OA's online content has been presented in a new setting, with a MUCH-improved look. Check it out.

Perils of Print ...

Today, out there - in the real world, away from the computer keyboard - there has been almost as much talk about coverage of a particular news story, as there has been about the story itself.

I'm talking, of course, about the coal mine tragedy in West Virginia. The story, in and of itself, is heart-wrenching, especially for those of us who have lived part of our lives in the rugged coal-mining country of the northeastern United States, and have experienced first-hand the prolonged agony of 'the watch,' the vigil that follows an accident in the mines.

Adding to it, is the furor over official announcements that most of the trapped miners had been found alive, prompting almost three hours of joyful celebration among families and friends ... only to be dashed when news came that all the miners but one were, actually, dead.

A chunk of the day's discussion was over the headlines and stories that appeared - not only in both of Midland-Odessa's daily newspapers, but in newspapers across the country - on the front page, sharing with their readers the good news of the first announcement. My own experience of that discussion was that the more derogatory comments tended to come from those who have never spent a day in a newsroom ... print, radio, television, whatever. Them's that know the least, as the old saying goes, tend to say the most.

Me, I just nod my head in understanding and sympathy. A mistake such as this is not unknown to any of us who have worked in the print medium ... but, on the other hand, it's not as common as some media critics would have you believe. In the old days, all a newspaper could do was take its licks and print a clarification in the next day's (or, in my case, at the Fort Stockton Pioneer, the next week's) edition.

But, now, there is the online component of the print medium - a means to address, immediately and in detail, something that has appeared in print.

How?

We had one outstanding example here, in West Texas. And, even though the Midland Reporter-Telegram has demanded that I not discuss their website in my blog ... I'm going to, anyway, and urge you to read Jimmy Patterson's coverage of a story about 'the coverage of a story.'