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Sunday, October 07, 2007 9:48 PM

Tatum's random thoughts on her way out the door

If you missed SPJ's 2007 national conference, you missed what very well could be the best wingding this great organization has staged in years. As USA Today Editor Ken Paulson put it Saturday night, "The star power was here in full force." It was a
posted by christinetatum | 1 Comments
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Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:04 PM

Still laughing at FOX lawsuit ...

The next time you need a video MP3 player to help wile away all those hours you anticipate being stuck in the car, on the train or in the airport, you must download "The First Amendment Project." This 2004 production from the Sundance documentary collection
posted by christinetatum | 0 Comments
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Friday, August 24, 2007 1:22 PM

The Bourne Ultimatum and Journalism

The hubby and I watched "The Bourne Ultimatum" last night, and it reminded me of discussions swirling in journalism/newsroom/SPJ circles. We're buffs who love to discuss over dinner a film's every detail. For years, without fail, my husband always has
posted by christinetatum | 0 Comments
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Sunday, August 19, 2007 2:15 PM

Go ahead! Plug your blog!

Certainly no news flash here: a blog can have serious reach. I launched Freedom of the Prez in September 2006 with hopes that SPJ national presidents for years to come would log on occasionally to document important issues/events, generate discussion
posted by christinetatum | 1 Comments
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Saturday, June 16, 2007 12:18 AM

Anchorwoman: How low can we go?

Let's get some things straight right out of the starting gate: No, I don't have the face or body for television (only because the medium is so intently -- and stupidly -- focused on cosmetic beauty). No, I'm not bitter about that. And yes, I fully expect
posted by christinetatum | 14 Comments
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Monday, April 02, 2007 10:20 PM

American Airlines doesn't fly smart

What a joke American Airlines' slogans are. "Something special in the air?" "Fly smart?" Hardly. This outfit can barely get off the ground. Because I have railed on United Airlines for its poor service, it's only fair that I devote some time to
posted by christinetatum | 9 Comments
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Monday, March 19, 2007 1:59 AM

Keeping my arrogance in check

To be SPJ's president is to agree to have your e-mail inbox pummeled every day. I try to stay on top of the deluge, but tonight, I got side-tracked by a simple and poignant request from David Hughey of San Angelo, Texas, father of Iraq War deserter
posted by christinetatum | 8 Comments
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Tuesday, February 13, 2007 2:36 PM

SPJ's first African-American member ...

... was my good friend, Lester H. Brownlee. Les, as he was called, was inducted into SPJ (then known as Sigma Delta Chi) in 1947 while studying at Northwestern University (he earned his master's degree in journalism from NU in 1951). He went on to
posted by christinetatum | 0 Comments
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Wednesday, February 07, 2007 7:59 PM

Thinking of Helen Thomas

Events where journalists and politicians hang out for an evening -- and enjoy themselves as they do -- make me queasy, but I'm always happy to make an exception for the annual congressional dinner of the Washington Press Club Foundation. Especially
posted by christinetatum | 4 Comments
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Thursday, January 18, 2007 12:06 AM

My newsroom and nursery

Well, not much time to write now. On Friday, my husband, daughter and I celebrated the happy and healthy arrival of Christian Asa Thurstone. He's the first baby born to a woman serving as SPJ's national president. As far as I'm concerned, he'll always
posted by christinetatum | 21 Comments
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Friday, January 05, 2007 4:32 PM

Changes news orgs and newsies should make in 2007

Being national president of SPJ is one cool gig if for no other reason than the opportunities it affords to see many of the nation’s newsrooms and to meet and correspond with journalists of all backgrounds, expertise and levels of experience. Oddly
posted by christinetatum | 4 Comments
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Tuesday, November 28, 2006 1:16 AM

For the newsie on your gift list

I'm a collector of journalism stuff -- and cool stuff made by journalists. This time o' year, I'm naturally trolling for presents for family, friends -- and the occasional SPJ member who's been extra nice. Some of the neat things out there that have caught
posted by christinetatum | 1 Comments
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Thursday, November 09, 2006 1:06 AM

Mourning the death of another community paper

Tom Henderson, president of SPJ's Snake River chapter and a columnist for The Lewiston (Idaho) Morning Tribune, paid tribute to the recently shuttered Springfield (Ore.) News. His eulogy is presented here with permission: By the time she died,
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