So far, batting .500

In my last post I wrote that four reporters said they would call La Salle faculty members to use as sources in their stories. Well, so far, one called and one didn't, so I'm batting .500. Even though some media members seek sources nationwide, they'll often use "hometown" sources, such as a reporter in Cleveland quoting a Case Western professor or a Wilmington (DE) News-Journal quoting someone from the University of Delaware. But, reporters will also like to use out-of-area sources to add new insights or seek a roundup of ideas from around the country.

So why would a reporter tell me they'll call a La Salle professor and then not follow up? If I knew the answer to that, I'd keep it to myself and get La Salle mentions around the world. Just kidding. Sometimes another source comes along that bumps the La Salle prof, or they try to reach the prof, can't, and because of deadline pressures will use someone else. Like all human endeavors this is a subjective process, but if a professor isn't called today, the media beast needs constant feeding and opportunities happen every day.

"I'll call them...."

"I'll give them a call...."

When I email the media info about a faculty member who could be a good source for their stories, I sometimes hear back from them with a note that says they'll call the professor. Well, this is like dating: you wait for that call...and wait, and wait....sometimes they call, sometimes they don't. Four reporters have told me this past week that they'll call La Salle faculty. Out of the four, well, if one follows up, that's ok; two is great; three is phenomenal and if four call back I'll retire. Still, even if they call the faculty member that's no guarantee the faculty member's comments will be used. When that happens I say to myself, if you fail 2/3 times in baseball, you're in the hall of fame.

You never know where you'll find a good story

Riding in the shuttle bus one day I chatted with Carla Johnson, a senior who was about 50 years old. She told me she had gone back to school after her children were grown, and planned to volunteer with AmeriCorprs for a year after graduation. I made a note to do something about her at graduation. Well, Carla and I exchanged a few emails about her story, but when I asked her why she wanted to volunteer, she told me it was to honor those who had helped, including her fiance, Roland, who had been retired but started working again to Carla wouldn't have to to work while completing her degree. That last bit of info put Carla's story in the "A" category. I sent her info to Phila. Inquirer columnist Annette John-Hall, who immediately wrote about them. Here's a link to her column:

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/20100615_Annette_John-Hall__Couple_has_a_love_that_never_retires.html#axzz0qx9ywtLC

I was lucky I took the shuttle that day!

Press still has some power

A few weeks ago Philadelphia Daily News columnist Ronnie Polaneczky Polaneczky wrote about Mareeda Perry, a La Salle employee who has overcome much in her 24 years to earn her BA from the University. Since then, Mareeda has received many letters and emails from people who say they found inspiration for themselves through her story; one person offered to help her navigate the world of grants and fellowships to finance her graduate studies; there were even some job offers!

This all started back in March when I sent a campus-wide email asking folks for interesting and unusual graduation stories. Joan Ulmer, who works with Mareeda in the Nonprofit Center, sent me some info and the rest took care of itself. This proves that you never know where a good story will come from.

Commencement 2010

It's rainy and cold as I write this, but I don't care....on Sunday, it was gorgeous, perfect weather for La Salle's commencement exercises. And never underestimate how important good weather is for that day.

The last person to walk across the stage and receive his diploma from Br. Michael was Bill Deputy, who's 81. Long story short: Bill went to night school at La Salle in the 1950s, but his job and family came first, so Bill stoped his education; he had enough credits for a junior. 50 years later on a trip to Ireland he met two La Salle grads; he told them his story, they told the university and asked if anything could be done; La Salle said he has enough credits for an Associate's Degree. It was a big thrill for Bill and his family. As he walked across the stage, hundreds of folks cheered him. Michael Klein of the Inqurier ran a story and photo of him (and his wife), and a few tv stations showed up to speak with him.

The Lindback recipient for distinguished teaching was Jim Smither of the management department. Jim has won several other awards from La Salle, so I assumed he'd already won this one, but he's a very deserving candidate.

After commencement I ask several grads to come by the center of campus for some additonal photos that I try to get published; in addition to Bill Deputy the photos we took featured:

a husband-wife who were named the top students in their graduate programs, twin brother and sister who chose La Salle independent of each other; Tori Grise, who had three tv station internships while attending classes full-time, and Mareeda Perry and her family; Mareeda was the subject of a Phila. Daily News story a few days prior to commencement (she told me she got plenty of text messages and emails and calls about it).

After the ceremony I spied a man in a cap and gown who at first I thought was Bill Deputy; turns out it was Bill Francour, who's 65 and received his MBA, something he said he always wanted to do.

During the ceremony I always look for clever or funny or interesting messages students write on their graduation hats. My favorite was two guys who put "Go Flyers" and the Flyers insignia on their caps. Now I have to get those pics and send them to their hometown papers. A few others included "I Love You Mom and Dad," "I Did It" and "Amber the Bear" (it was a student's nickname).

GOOGLE Puts Him First

If you go to the Google search box and types in these words, "Robin Hood" and "expert" the first info you see is this: Kevin Harty, chair of our English Dept. and one of the world's leading scholars on film versions of Robin Hood (and other medival figures, such as Joan of Arc). On May 14 a new "Robin Hood" starring Russell Crowe and Cate Blanchet opens and the media have already started asking for sources about Robin Hood, such as why the character is do enduring. Harty has already been interviewed by the Cleveland Plain Dealer on the topic and I hope to keep him busy up to and after the film's release. (BTW, the Plain Dealer reporter told me she was going to the library to get Dr. Harty's book, "The Reel Middle Ages: American, Western and Eastern European, Middle Eastern and Asian Films about Medieval Europe.")

Dr. Harty has also presented papers at international conferences on film or medieval studies in Antwerp, Amsterdam, Berlin, Paris, Utrecht, Cardiff, Bangor, Leeds, Nottingham, London (Ontario), Vancouver, and London (England).

Graduates wtih a story

Everyone has a story....some stories are unique, some interesting, some triumphant. Those are the stories that the media will be looking for in this graduation season. Among the La Salle grads are:

A wife and husband who were named the top students in their programs!

A man who lost almost everything to a gambling addiction went to La Salle and is now an addictions counselor.

An 83-year old man is receiving an associate's degree.

Here's a story that was deemed "not unique" by a newspaper: this student, a senior with a double major, was named the top student in both programs, wrote an application that resulted in a $20,000 grant from Nike; was the first student two win a new national award from a national trade group in their field, won numerous other awards and had a GPA of 3.9 plus....That was not unique enough to merit a story about them. Best I can hope for is a few lines in a column. I know the rules are different when it comes to graduates and their stories: the three stories above would all trump the "younger" student story.