Wichita State News: Communications

Public forum focuses on citizen journalists

It's a powerful movement. Every day, social media platforms are gaining momentum, changing the way news is reported and delivered, as well as how citizens view the world around them. Every day, citizen journalists emerge and contribute to our knowledge of the community.

That's the focus of "Citizen Journalism: The Fifth Estate," an interactive discussion at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in 203 Rhatigan Student Center at Wichita State University. The public forum is free. Refreshments will be served.

The forum will explore the role that blogs, Facebook, Twitter and other social media have alongside mainstream media, as well as what citizen journalists need to do to be successful.

"This is exciting stuff in exciting times," said Molly McMillin, president of the Kansas Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. "The world benefits from more news coverage and information. We want to help people who practice journalism do it accurately, ethically and fairly and give them the basic tools to contribute to the growing trend."

Panels and panelists include:

Ron Sylvester, interactive reporter for The Wichita Eagle -- an overview of the rise of citizen journalism and the ethics of doing it.

Randy Brown, executive director of the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government and senior fellow at WSU'S Elliott School of Communication -- open government issues surrounding citizen journalism.

Lou Heldman, distinguished senior fellow in the Elliott School -- successes around the country and how you can use citizen journalism to find the news.

Find out more about training for citizen journalists and the SPJ's Citizen Journalism Academy at www.spj.org/cja.asp.

Patterson, Stone named WSU Man and Woman of the Year

Trent Patterson and Ashley Stone were recently named 2009 Shocktoberfest Man and Woman of the Year at Wichita State University.

Trent Patterson

Patterson is a senior majoring in accounting, and Stone is a senior majoring in integrated marketing communications with a minor in sport management.

The Shocktoberfest Man and Woman of the Year are two students who encompass campus pride and are role models for future and current students in and out of the classroom. For winning the title, Patterson and Stone will each receive a $500 scholarship.

After completing his degree, Patterson plans to travel across the nation as a regional director for his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon.

Ashley Stone

Stone is a member of Delta Gamma, holding many offices and receiving many awards and international scholarships.

Students who were runners-up each will receive a $100 scholarship.

The runners-up are:

Vanessa Maryott, a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. Maryott is completing her engineering degree this December and will study abroad in Australia during the spring semester, acting as an international ambassador for WSU.

Sheersty Rhodes is a senior in the W. Frank Barton School of Business, majoring in management. She also is a third generation Shocker.

Erin Waggoner is in her fourth year studying aerospace engineering with a minor in mathematics. Waggoner has been a cooperative education student at the NASA-Dryden Flight Research Center in California.

Zachary Mastroly is a senior majoring in accounting. Mastroly enjoys being involved on campus and attending as many Shocker athletic events as possible.

Marcus Pyles is a senior majoring in aerospace engineering. After graduating, Pyles hopes to own his own business that deals in human performance enhancement and bionics.

Rami Zayed is a junior majoring in biochemistry. Zayed hopes to attend medical school after graduation. Zayed also was named a 2007 Harry Gore Memorial Scholar.

Elliott School students help plan, promote special event

Students in an Integrated Marketing Campaigns class in the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University are putting their education into practice by helping plan and promote a benefit for an after school arts program.

The second annual Art A La Carte, scheduled for 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, in the Guild Hall of St. James Episcopal Church, 3750 E. Douglas, will feature jazz, wine and an art party.

"We are especially pleased to be able to feature Soulstice, one of Wichita's finest performing ensembles, at this year's party," said Theresa Johnson, president of the St. James After School Program Board. "Also, I'd like to thank students from Wichita State's Elliott School of Communication for helping us plan and promote this special event. I hope people will come out and join us for this exciting benefit."

In addition to Soulstice, a jazz ensemble from Friends University, there will be art pieces donated by local artists, and collectors will be available at the auction. Wine, champagne and appetizers will be served.

Tickets are $50, $35 of which is tax-deductible. Tickets are available at the church office and are being sold by WSU students. Reservations may be made by calling (316) 207-9109 or be an e-mail to StJamesASP@gmail.com and to WSU student Ashley Rosenbaum at baum1987@yahoo.com.

The St. James After School Program provides arts enrichment classes to fourth- and fifth-grade students from low income households at no cost to their families. The program works with Arts Partners, Roots & Shoots and Communities in Schools to provide services to children.

More information is available at:

http://www.wichita.edu/j/?286 and www.wichita.edu/j/.

Short documentary features ESC origins

The Elliott School of Communication's 20th anniversary couldn't come at a more appropriate time.

ESC Associate Professor Kevin Hager wrote, shot and edited a 10-minute documentary on the history of the school and its direction, all leading up to this paradigm shift in the discipline.

Conceived as an integrated school of communication, it was founded by media professionals, academics and enthusiasts who saw rapid technological changes in the future of the field.

"The ultimate goal is to make clear to students and even faculty just how the school came to be," Hager said. "Twenty to 25 years ago, some people thought it was crazy talk, but many people saw communication changing and wanted the school to be a leader in that."

Including interviews from distinguished alumni across the United States, the documentary probes how the pieces were set for the school to answer the needs of an ever-changing media world.

The documentary will be shown 9:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at the Scholarship Recognition event in 203 Rhatigan Student Center.

Elliott School's 20th anniversary highlights annual Communication Week

From Oct. 10-14, the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University – in conjunction with its annual Communication Week – will celebrate its 20th anniversary.

It was in 1989 that founding director Vernon Keel's vision of creating a seamless integrated school of communication became a reality. Twenty years later, the Elliott School remains the only comprehensive, integrated communication school in the state.

Susan Huxman

"The Elliott School was formed to give students a unique opportunity to gain an interdisciplinary knowledge of all facets of communication that would make them more well-rounded and attractive in the job market," said Susan Huxman, ESC director. "We are thrilled to celebrate 20 years of helping our students stay ahead of the curve."

Several events are planned to celebrate the school's 20th anniversary, including an alumni reunion and silent auction from 6:30-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Hotel at Old Town.

All graduates of the former departments of speech and journalism at WSU are also welcome.

RSVP to http://www.wichita.edu/j/?250.

One of the events highlighting Communication Week will be an appearance by John Stossel, former co-anchor of ABC's "20/20." Stossel will visit with students before making a public presentation at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

Tickets for this event are sold out.

Sara Quinn will be honored as the Elliott School's outstanding alumna with a reception from 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13. Quinn is a member of the visual journalism faculty at the Poynter Institute for Media Studies in St. Petersburg, Fla.

She will also give two presentations: from 11 a.m.-noon Monday, Oct. 12, and 9:30-10:45 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13.

Lee Whitman, a filmmaker and writer/producer for the American Forces Radio and Television Service in Washington, D.C., will be honored as the Elliott School's One to Watch, a new award given to promising professionals who have graduated from the ESC within the past 10 years.

Communication Week also will feature panel presentations on a variety of communication topics, plus other special events and opportunities for students to interact with local professionals.

For a complete schedule of events and more information on the 20th anniversary activities, go to www.wichita.edu/esc.

Veteran broadcaster Gary Bender creates scholarship in broadcast communication at Wichita State

Gary Bender graduated from the University of Wichita in 1962 with a Bachelor of Arts in speech but, during the past 40 years, his fervor has been broadcasting — the focus of his newly endowed scholarship at Wichita State University.

"Gary has experienced enormous success and yet he has maintained a delightful sense of humility," said Elizabeth King, WSU Foundation president and CEO. "His gift establishing the Gary Bender Scholarship in Broadcast Communication in our Elliott School of Communication will make a significant difference in helping us attract and retain outstanding students."

Gary Bender

Bender recently contributed $25,000 to the WSU Foundation to establish the scholarship, which will be awarded for the academic year 2010-11 initially to one student. During subsequent years, it is possible that it will be awarded to multiple students.

"It's a way for me to give back to the university, a thank you to WSU for taking a kid from a small western Kansas town into its fold and launching my career," said Bender.

After a shoulder injury forced Bender off the WU football field, he announced Shocker football and basketball games on KMUW 89.1 FM. While at WU, Bender participated in theater productions and joined Phi Delta Theta Fraternity.

"Going to Wichita University gave me a chance to be a part of things, to experience college," said Bender. "They were four wonderful years."

He continued his education, receiving a master's in radio/television/film from the University of Kansas in 1964. He launched his career calling games for the Jayhawks' basketball and football programs.

Bender is best known for the two NCAA Basketball Championships he called, when Michael Jordan's North Carolina team beat Georgetown in 1982, and the next season when North Carolina State beat Houston with the "shot heard around the world."

He also called the "hail mary pass" when Roger Staubach beat the Minnesota Vikings in 1975. And during the 1988 Calgary Olympics, he covered the speed skating event that involved the tragic story of American Dan Jansen.

Today he is in his 17th season as the voice of the Phoenix Suns.

His wife, Linda, is a native of Abilene, Kan., and received a Bachelor of Arts in Education, majoring in elementary education in 1963 from the University of Wichita. She was an elementary teacher for many years. The Benders have two sons.

MEDIA NOTE: For reporters who would like to interview Bender, he will be attending Rockin' the Roundhouse, hosted by the WSU Alumni Association and the WSU athletic department, at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Charles Koch Arena, and he will be the emcee at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame Banquet at 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4, at the Kansas Sports Hall of Fame, 238 N. Mead. For a photo of Bender, contact Belinda Venters at (316) 978-5624 or belinda.venters@wichita.edu.

Shocker debate team starts season with win

The Wichita State University debate team started its season off with a first place finish at its first tournament.

Senior Eric Robinson and junior Brian Box earned first place at the University of Northern Iowa, defeating Emporia State University in the final round on a 3-0 decision. They defeated Northwestern University 3-0 in the semifinals and were 6-2 in the preliminary debates.

This is the second year Robinson has won this tournament.

WSU sophomores Creighton Coleman and Matt Munday posted a 5-3 preliminary record, defeating Macalester College in the octafinals before losing to Emporia State in the quarterfinals.

The freshman team of Tom Garvey and Tyler Joe also competed at the tournament, earning their first two college debate wins. They were among the only two first-year debaters competing in the open division of the tournament.

Tickets available for broadcaster John Stossel lecture

Free tickets for "An Evening with John Stossel," longtime ABC news correspondent and co-anchor of "20/20," are now available at five Wichita locations.

The lecture will be given in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Wichita State University's Elliott School of Communication at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex at 29th Street and North Oliver. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets are free on a first come, first served basis; limit of four tickets per person.

Ticket locations are the Duerksen Fine Arts Center Box Office at WSU from noon-5 p.m. Monday through Friday or (316) 978-3233; and any of the four Auto Craft Collision Repair locations in Wichita — 1427 E. First St. N.; 10760 W. Kellogg; 3131 N. Ridge Road; and 8532 E. 32nd St. N.

Stossel's appearance is made possible by the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation.

Following the lecture, there will be a book signing. Books will be available for purchase from the WSU Bookstore in the days prior to the lecture, or from 6-7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, before the lecture in the Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

"We are delighted to have the public join us in welcoming an award-winning journalist to kick off Communication Week and the celebration of the 20th year of the Elliott School," said Susan Huxman, director of the Elliott School.

"Stossel is entertaining, provocative and digs into topics that consumers care about, such as health care, education and parenting issues. His longtime affiliation with ABC News and his many journalism awards are testament to the kind of relevant, in-depth reporting and commentary that viewers have come to expect and respect," said Huxman.

For more information about free events during the 20th anniversary celebration of the Elliott School of Communication, go to the ESC Web site at www.wichita.edu/esc or call (316) 978-3185.

Stossel became co-anchor of "20/20" in May 2003. He joined the highly acclaimed TV news magazine in 1981 and began doing one-hour primetime specials in 1994. He has received 19 Emmy awards and has been honored five times by the National Press Club for excellence in consumer reporting.

In addition to longer in-depth reports for "20/20" on subjects ranging from addiction to civil liberties, Social Security, free trade, small business owners and American taxpayers, Stossel is featured in a recurring segment called "Give Me a Break." These short commentaries take a skeptical look at a wide array of issues, from pop culture controversies to censorship and government regulations.

Stossel is the author of two best-selling books, "Give Me A Break" and "Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel – Why Everything You Know is Wrong."

The Elliott School of Communication

In 1989, the departments of journalism and speech communication joined to become the Elliott School of Communication with an endowed gift from Oliver Elliott, Wichita businessman and WSU alumnus (1942). The Elliott School is throwing a birthday party in conjunction with its annual Communication Week, which will be Saturday, Oct. 10, through Wednesday, Oct. 14.

The Elliott School of Communication is the only comprehensive, integrated school of communication in Kansas. It is one of the largest units in the Fairmount College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. For information on the Elliott School, go to www.wichita.edu/esc.

Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation

Established in 1953, the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation focuses its resources on not-for-profit organizations in Kansas that significantly enhance the state's quality of life through arts and arts education; environmental stewardship; human services; enablement of at-risk youth; and education. More information is at www.fmkfoundation.org.

Elliott School celebrating anniversary with appearance by John Stossel

Award-winning news correspondent John Stossel, co-anchor of ABC's "20/20," will give a lecture in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of Wichita State University's Elliott School of Communication at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, in the Eugene M. Hughes Metropolitan Complex.

Stossel's appearance will be made possible by the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation. It takes place during Communication Week at the Elliott School of Communication.

The public lecture is free, although it will be a ticketed event. Information on how to pick up free tickets will be announced in September.

Stossel became co-anchor of "20/20" in May 2003. He joined the highly acclaimed TV news magazine in 1981 and began doing one-hour primetime specials in 1994.

In addition to longer in-depth reports for "20/20" on subjects ranging from addiction to parenting issues in his "Family Fix" segments, Stossel is featured in a recurring segment called "Give Me a Break." These short commentaries take a skeptical look at a wide array of issues, from pop culture controversies to censorship and government regulations.

Stossel is the author of the book "Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity: Get Out the Shovel – Why Everything You Know is Wrong."

The Elliott School of Communication

Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation

PODCAST: Social media leads communication revolution

This WSU Newsline Podcast is available at http://www.wichita.edu/newslinepodcast. See the transcript below:

You're listening to the podcast edition of the Wichita State University audio newsline. Learn more about WSU — the home of Thinkers, Doers, Movers and Shockers — on the Web at wichita.edu.

Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other social media are having a dramatic impact on the way people get information. Online newspaper readership is growing, but revenues are declining. Lou Heldman, a communications strategist at Wichita State University and former publisher of The Wichita Eagle and Kansas.com, puts these dramatic changes in context.

Heldman: "We're seeing the most dramatic shift in journalism since the invention of the printing press. I think Benjamin Franklin would be fascinated to see what's happened since he used to publish his paper in Philadelphia."

It's hardly insignificant that, in the past two years alone, such newspapers as Rocky Mountain News, Baltimore Examiner, Cincinnati Post and Albuquerque Tribune have closed. Meanwhile, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Detroit Free Press and Christian Science Monitor are among the former print dailies that have adapted hybrid online/print or online-only models.

Heldman: "We're in the very earliest stage of the digital revolution. Think of this as 1777. We don't know what kind of country we're going to have. We only know it's going to be different than what we had before."

Clearly, journalism and communication in general have been affected by social media, as Heldman explains.

Heldman: "Social media is being integrated into every aspect of human communication. Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn are entering into the mainstream of discussion in America.

"With social networking we've gone from freedom of the press for those who own one to freedom of the press for everyone. We're seeing that played out right now in the streets of Iran."

If you're having trouble keeping up in this information age, you're not alone.

Heldman: "We've entered the age of continuous partial attention, because it's so hard to keep up with every bit of information coming at us. We strive all day long just to run in place."

When it comes to breaking news, some say that social media, such as Twitter, leads the pack these days. But how reliable is the information being shared? Heldman admits that it will be a challenge knowing whom to trust.

Heldman: "In a world with millions of sources of information, the hardest thing will be to decide whom to trust. The journalism of verification has given people a certain comfort level that information was checked out by professionals. Now it's every person for themselves."

U.S. newspapers are losing circulation faster than ever, compounding the pain of an industry reeling from even larger drops in the advertising revenue that pays most of the bills. It's the most severe downturn since newspaper circulation began to crumble in the early 1990s. The success of newspapers on the Internet only serves to highlight the accelerating collapse of the industry. And the big increases in Web traffic simply are not translating into increased online revenues.

Heldman: "The challenge for newspapers is to find a business model. People still want the information that newspapers provide, but now they're getting it for free on the Web. So, who's going to pay for it?"

And for all of the changes we've experienced in recent years, Heldman says there's more to come.

Heldman: "The communications revolution is going mobile. The most important tool will be the smart phone you carry in your pocket, both for receiving and sending information to the world."

For all of the challenges facing newspapers, it's also unclear how social media can turn a profit so it can continue to flourish. Robert Brown, president of RDB Consulting Firm Inc., said, "Social media is a good example of the symbiosis of technology and culture. It's as if the long heralded information revolution has finally reached the streets, and now everyone is a citizen in this revolution."

Then Brown said, "As a journalist, I believe that there is never too much information or communication. I think that, in the long-term, the rise of social media will have a positive effect on our world and its citizens. At any rate, it's going to be interesting."

Thanks for listening. Until next time, this is Joe Kleinsasser for Wichita State University.

Students document experiences two years after Greensburg tornado

More than a dozen Wichita State students recently returned from Greensburg, Kan., where they documented the rebirth of the small town that was 95 percent destroyed in a May 2007 tornado.

This is the second year for the pre-session class, which was led by Les Anderson, professor in WSU's Elliott School of Communication.

The group stayed day and night in Greensburg for two weeks, talking with locals, shooting photographs and videos, and documenting their experiences for Kansas newspapers.

The goal was to look for stories that haven't been done elsewhere. Along with newspaper stories, the students also produced audio for Wichita radio stations KFDI 1070 AM and KMUW 89.1 FM.

In addition, Anderson provided daily updates on a blog at http://www.kansas.com.

And the students posted daily updates and stories of their own at http://www.greensburgrebirth.com.

Elliott School student goes from opera to journalism

"I want a story to move me or provide me with what it means to me or to my world," said Rebecca Zepick. "As a viewer of TV, if I don't feel something or feel wiser afterward, then I feel it's a waste of my time."

One might never guess Rebecca Zepick got her start in communication through opera while watching her on Studio B or listening to her passion for political journalism. But following her graduation from Wichita Collegiate High School, she studied music performance in New York, a choice she says taught her how to be a communicator.

"In opera, I had to figure out how I was going to make a two-hour boring thing interesting while communicating through foreign language, music, acting and dance," said Zepick.

Though she soon realized opera wasn't the career path she wanted to pursue, she credits the skills she learned in opera—knowing lines, performing and making something interesting for the audience—with preparing her for the world of broadcast journalism.

However, when she realized she didn't want to make a living through opera, Zepick pursued another interest—politics—and enrolled in law school with the assumption she would one day work in politics. Though she worked with the campaigns for Carla Stovall, Ken Glasscock and Sam Brownback, she was practicing law when her big break came in October 2007.

John McCain's campaign contacted Zepick with an offer to be the communication director in Iowa. Zepick agreed to take a leave of absence from her law firm and volunteer through the Iowa caucus. For six weeks she booked spokespeople—called surrogates—for the McCain campaign in media outlets around the state.

"No one in Iowa thought McCain was still in the race but that changed in a few weeks," said Zepick. "All of a sudden people began showing up from both major and cable networks."

With the surge in momentum, Zepick traveled to Arlington, Va., to book surrogates for print, radio and TV in every major media market in primary states, a task she did through the primaries before returning to her law firm.

But she was not done with the McCain campaign. They called again to ask her to come on staff as the national veterans communication director, a position that would have her creating messages and drafting talking points on the military aspect of the campaign for the surrogates she booked.

Zepick was responsible for booking appearances and creating media tours for people in intelligence, marines, the 9-11 commissioners, the director of the CIA, astronauts, even the guys who pulled Saddam Hussein out of the spider hole.

"You basically create news stories for the nightly news and give radio drive time stories," said Zepick. "I had no idea that's how it worked. There are people who make their living doing that.

"I got along well with media outlets when I got to see them as a client instead of being scared of them."

When the election was over, Zepick's law firm wasn't in a position to have her back, but she received an offer to host a bipartisan, political show in Arizona. The offer led her to WSU and Studio B.

While Zepick had been involved with placing people in the media, she had never been on the other side of the camera reporting and anchoring, both of which she would need to be able to do. She was put in touch with Elliott School faculty member Kevin Hager who suggested she take Studio B.

"I love it," said Zepick of Studio B. "I love that he (Hager) turns us loose with a camera and TV show once a week."

Zepick has made the most of her time in Studio B and with her internship at KAKE TV, including flying to New York during spring break to interview Elliott school graduates Jeremy Hubbard and Taunia Hottman.

Zepick will be well equipped to shoot and edit video, as well as report and host the show that will cover state-wide political issues, when she gets to Arizona.

"If I had gone out to Arizona before doing this, we would have produced a far lower quality product," said Zepick. "And I wouldn't have understood how to be competitive in the industry. I now know how to make a story more visually interesting and emotionally compelling, and I understand how the rest of the industry works."

Topeka Capital-Journal fights for open government

The Topeka Capital-Journal has been at the forefront of the movement for open records and open meetings for decades.

That's why the Capital-Journal is a 2009 winner of the Above and Beyond Award from the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government.

Most recently, "the Capital-Journal did a great service to the people of Kansas by taking on the powers that be in the Schools for Fair Funding case," said Doug Anstaett, executive director of the Kansas Press Association and Sunshine Coalition board member.

Schools for Fair Funding was bankrolled by 19 public school districts in Kansas. It raised about $3.2 million to press a lawsuit against the state over school funding, yet tried to keep its contributors secret.

"Solid reporting indicated just how ludicrous it was that a publicly funded agency was claiming some sort of privilege to spend taxpayers' money while remaining free of public scrutiny," Anstaett said.

The 2007 settlement of the case by the school organization resulted in a $12,500 contribution to the Sunshine Coalition for public education on open government.

But that's only one of the Capital-Journal's efforts. "Repeatedly over the last 30 years, the newspaper has led the state in protecting the policy of open government," said Mike Merriam, a Topeka media lawyer who represents the cCoalition.

Two other examples cited by Merriam:

County commissioners attempts to keep settlement agreements in lawsuits secret from the public were defeated by the C-J in Osage, Anderson and Wyandotte counties.

And the investigation into practices at the Shawnee County Corrections Department was opened to the public after the paper's suit to achieve that goal.

This is only the third Above and Beyond Award given by the coalition (now located in the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University) since its founding in 1999. The Lawrence Journal-World won the first award in 2006. The Wichita Eagle also was honored this year.

Elliott School's Sunshine Coalition awards Wichita Eagle's work

The Wichita Eagle has won the Above and Beyond Award from the Kansas Sunshine Coalition for Open Government.

The award is given to media outlets and other concerned organizations that show extraordinary efforts in the cause of open meetings and open records.

The coalition is located in the Elliott School of Communication at Wichita State University.

Randy Brown, executive director of the Sunshine Coalition and senior fellow in the Elliott School, said the Eagle's use of its news resources on behalf of open government may be unprecedented in Kansas.

"The newspaper has taken the leading role in educating Kansans about their rights under Kansas law," he said.

Most recently, the Eagle devoted two full pages to the state's Sunshine laws and citizen rights. The Eagle also launched a weekly informational column – "You Oughta Know" – on the cover of its Local and State section.

More than 100 columns later, "You Oughta Know" is still telling Kansans how they can use the law to push for government transparency.

"I don't know of any newspaper in America that has sustained such an effort," said Brown. "And that's in addition to the Eagle's good work with the Legislature and local governments in the cause of openness."

The newspaper recently uncovered a violation of the Kansas Open Meetings Act by the Wichita City Council. It was the second such violation by the city in less than a year.

Eagle Editor Sherry Chisenhall will receive the award Friday night at the Orpheum Theatre in Wichita during the 2009 Gridiron Show. The show is produced annually by the Kansas Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, a charter member of the Sunshine Coalition.

This is only the second Above and Beyond award given by the coalition since its founding in 1999. The Lawrence Journal-World won the first award. The Topeka Capital-Journal also will be honored this year.

WSU-produced video, brochure on teen driving released to the public

An educational video produced by faculty and students at Wichita State University to help parents and teens understand the risks of teen driving and provide parental guidance has been released.

Les Anderson, associate professor of journalism at WSU's Elliott School of Communication, directed a team of faculty and students at WSU who produced the video and a companion brochure to help parents with teen driving guidelines, supported by the Center for the Study of Young Drivers, University of North Carolina.

"We interviewed parents who lost children in car crashes, teens who survived crashes who could share their experiences with their peers, driver education instructors and members of law enforcement, who could share their first hand experiences with handling teen drivers and crashes," Anderson said.

Funding for the project was facilitated by AAA Kansas, with funding by the AAA Kansas Traffic Safety Fund, the Kansas Department of Transportation, Kansas Turnpike Authority, the Sunflower Foundation and the Kansas Health Foundation.

The video is being distributed to parent and teen educational contacts in Kansas, such as law enforcement agencies, schools and driver education instructors, said James Hanni, executive vice president of AAA Kansas.

More than 2,400 copies of the videos are being distributed.

During interviews with parents and teens conducted by WSU in 2007, most parents told interviewers they had no materials to assist them. This was more common in rural areas.

For those who had something, the most common source was driver licensing offices, followed by insurance company and driver education schools/instructors, but all of these were uncommon.

The video and companion brochure being provided through driver licensing centers is expected to address this concern.

Copies of the video are available upon request by e-mail to boliva@aaa-alliedgroup.com. Copies of the companion brochure are also at www.aaa.com/teens.