2012-2013 Candidates for the Press Club Board of Directors
President
Liz Oliphant
APR, Fellow, PRSA, has operated her own public relations firm, Liz Oliphant & Associates, Inc., for more than 25 years. She has earned the APR (Accredited Public Relations) designation and was awarded a Fellow designation by the Public Relations Society of America, in addition to numerous other awards. She has represented a great variety of clients in providing media relations, governmental relations and strategic public relations counsel during her career. She has also chaired numerous Press Club events include the Living Legends event in May, the Toast to Tomas and Tribute to Troy (Dungan). This is her third term of service on the Press Club board where she has been a member for more than 25 years.
President-Elect
Tony Pederson
Tony Pederson holds the rank of professor and is the Belo Distinguished Chair in Journalism at Southern Methodist University. In that position he chairs the Division of Journalism in the Meadows School of the Arts. Before assuming the Belo chair in June of 2003 he was senior vice president and executive editor of the Houston Chronicle.
His teaching at SMU focuses on media ethics, and he has written extensively on the subject and serves as a local resource for media in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. He lectures and speaks frequently on mass media issues, especially relating to converging media.
He is a longtime activist in First Amendment issues and international press freedom issues, especially in Latin America. He was president of the Inter American Press Association in 1999-2000. He currently is serving as president of Consejo Latino Americano de Acreditación en la Educación en Periodismo, the accrediting council for schools of journalism in education and communication in Latin America.
Pederson spent 29 years with the Houston Chronicle. From 1992 until 1994 Pederson served as chairman of Texas Media, a coalition of media groups formed to pursue access issues and open government in Texas. He has received the James Madison Award from the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas for his work on First Amendment issues and the Jack Douglas Award from the Texas Associated Press Managing Editors Association for service to Texas newspapers. Pederson serves as a director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas and the Inter American Press Association and is a member of the board of advisers for the International Center for Journalists. He does a wide range of media and business consulting and also serves as an expert witness in media cases.
Pederson earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism/communication from Baylor University and a Master of Arts in journalism from The Ohio State University.
Media Candidates
Hugh Aynesworth
60 years of experience, mostly as a print journalist (Dallas News, Dallas Times Herald, Newsweek Magazine, Washington Times, Arkansas Gazette, Wichita Eagle, Clarksburg Exponent, Fort Smith Times Record),and an investigative reporter for ABC News (20/20).
Have written (or co-authored) six books.
Former Press Club president and also president of Press Club Foundation. Four time finalist in Pulitzer competition.
Married to Paula Butler Aynesworth, 25 years this summer). Children: Allyson, Allysa and Grant.
I am now free-lancing and working on two book projects–
Chris Howell
Chris Howell is a native of Dallas with over 15 years of broadcasting experience. The past five years he has worked for First Dallas Media at 90.9 KCBI-FM where he serves as the Morning Show news reporter and midday news anchor. Howell has been recognized by the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters in the areas of Best Spot News Reporter as well as Best Newscast. In addition to his broadcasting experience he has served on the board of several local non-profits and most recently on the board of Parkland Hospital’s WISH Family Planning Outreach.
Howell lives in Arlington with his wife of 24 years Dominique.
W. Allen Manning
Journalist, Writer, Father, grandfather and friend, I have more than twenty years in broadcasting with a short stents in print and media relations and now I’m a published author with two books in the works. Texas born, oilfield tested, graded in the Midland Public school system, Community college now a Journalism Graduate from the University of Houston. What more can I tell you about this candidate for the Board… Follow me on twitter @roadmonkeyone and Facebook or my WordPress blog at manningranch….
Writer/Editor/Photographer Midland College—(a few awards)
Writer/Editor/Photographer University of Houston
KTPX (now KWES) NBC Midland Odessa
KPRC NBC Houston
KDFW (then CBS) Dallas
KTVT CBS Fort Worth ( Emmy Nominated Desk Editor)
VNR media Relations
The Wonders Expedition, Writer, researcher, producer
Author: MLGW- A Peace of War and Musings of A RoadMonkey
By Will Manning
Jason Philyaw – Housing Wire
John “Doc” Strange
I began shooting photos at the age of 15. Since, I have photographed people from music superstars to politicians; and been in the midst of political protests recording the people involved,their feelings and viewpoints. Since 1984, I’ve been involved in photo shoots for local and national charities like JDRF and the Boys and Girls Clubs .My work has appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers. I’ve been the Director of Photographers for the Dallas Film Society, Photography Coordinator for the Lone Star International Film Festival and the Texas Black Film Festival. In addition to telling stories through photography, I currently run an entertainment blog called Selig Film News ;part of my film company- Selig Polyscope Company.
Press Club of Dallas members have greatly influenced the progress I’ve made in my profession.I feel that I can bring a lot to the board with my numerous connections in the community, and actively offer my film and photography skills to the Club as well as my overall attitude of giving toward public service and our community.I believe I can be helpful in raising public awareness of the good the Press Club does and the people it involves.Thank you for your consideration.
Professional/Public Relations
Michelle Bleiberg
Michelle Bleiberg is a director of public affairs in the Burson-Marsteller Dallas office. Michelle has led numerous successful communications campaigns and has expertise in media and community relations, crisis communications, event planning and brand positioning.
During her three-year tenure with Burson-Marsteller, she has led notable campaigns including the City of Dallas Water Utilities’ Save Dallas Water and Cease the Grease public education campaigns. Michelle also currently serves as the day-to-day client lead for Reliant Energy, provides counsel on thought leadership and national media relations for Shell Oil Company and oversees the State of Texas Voter Education Campaign as part of the Help American Vote Act (HAVA).
Prior to joining Burson-Marsteller, Michelle was the director of public relations for the Dallas Museum of Art where she oversaw public relations programs positioning the museum as a leading international arts institution and tourist destination. She began her career in Dallas at Read-Poland Associates where she handled national media relations for the dedication of Dealey Plaza as a national historic landmark and Kenneth Feld Productions. She also worked for Publicis Public Relations and Ackermann PR and Marketing where she handled national media campaigns for Carlson Restaurants Worldwide and Pizza Hut. Michelle also served as director of public relations and event marketing for ABC Radio Networks and as corporate communications manager for Tenet Healthcare Corp.
Michelle has a Bachelor of Arts in public relations from Texas Tech University, and is an Outstanding Alumna for the College of Mass Communications.Bleiberg
Diane Brandon
I’ve been a member of the Dallas Press Club for many years, but was unable to serve on the board due to work commitments as VP of Marketing at the Arlington Convention & Visitors Bureau. Now as a contractor for AT&T, I have the time and want to offer my contacts and resources to help restore Press Club membership. Networking among media is a very important tool and the Press Club is needed in this arena.
Maura Gast
A 21-year veteran of the Irving Convention and Visitors Bureau, Maura Gast was named its executive director in October 2003. A leading destination for business travel, Irving welcomed 2.6 million visitors in 2010, who in turn invested $1.24 billion in this town of 210,000, which is also home to the world headquarters of ExxonMobil, Zale Jewelers, Flowserve and Fluor, and serves as a major national or regional headquarters for Research in Motion (the parent company of Blackberry), Kimberly Clark, NEC, Nokia, and many other prominent corporate brands. She recently opened the Irving Convention Center at Las Colinas, and was responsible for the on-time-and-under-budget oversight for the project’s design, construction, management, sales and marketing.
Recognized as an industry expert on technology and marketing issues, and a trailblazer on reinforcing tourism as a vital component of a community’s economic development strategy, Gast recently completed her term as the chair of Destination Marketing Association International (DMAI), the third female chair in the organization’s history. She chaired DMAI’s Futures Study, and served on the inaugural Destination Marketing Accreditation Program board. She has developed curriculum for the association’s Program in Destination Management and leads several courses at its conferences and other industry forums. She has earned the industry’s highest educational certification, Fellow Certified Destination Management Executive (FCDME). She was recently named to the Board of Directors for the Texas Society of Association Executives, and to the Ethics Committee for the American Society of Association Executives. In her spare time in Irving, she serves on the Boards of Directors for the Irving Salvation Army, Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and the La Cima Club Board of Governors. She has been a member of the Press Club of Dallas since 1986, and currently serves on its Board of Directors. She is also the former Chair of the American Advertising Federation – Dallas Chapter, formerly the Dallas Ad League.
Before joining the hospitality industry, Gast spent time in the retail and newspaper worlds, in a variety of sales, marketing and event management roles. She is a graduate of St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, and spent most of her childhood years in San Angelo, Texas. An Air Force “brat,” Maura’s family spent its primary tours of duty in the Philippines and Taiwan.
Janie Bryan Loveless
A former Press Club member, I’ve rejoined to help rejuvenate the Club and support its needs and goals. As a communications specialist, I’ve directed public relations, media relations, marketing, advertising, publications, writing and editing for corporate, agency, government, nonprofit and educational organizations.
After 32 years of marriage to WFAA-TV news photojournalist Tom Loveless, I also understand the media side of communications. Our professional communications contacts have significantly helped both our careers.
Tom and I met while he was a Ch. 5 photojournalist and I was the public information officer for The Dallas Fire Department. Since then my varied career has included being Director of Communications for SMU’s Alumni Association, Advertising Manger for Mrs Baird’s Bakeries, Copy Editor for American Way magazine, Public Relations Director for The Salvation Army of Tarrant County, and National Communications Manager for Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
A native Dallasite, I earned a Master of Liberal Arts and BA degrees in Journalism and French from SMU. With three secondary teaching certificates, I headed Hillcrest High School’s Journalism Department, taught Writing for Mass Media for nine years at SMU’s Center for Communication Arts, a PR course at UTD and a writing class for the Dallas Center for Nonprofit Management.
While freelancing and consulting for a variety of clients, I’ve been honored to edit two books by legendary Press Club members: Liz Oliphant’s Ben E. Keith – The First One Hundred Years – 1906-2006, and Bert Shipp’s Details At Ten – Behind the Headlines of Texas Television History. Get your copies while supplies last!!
Timeline
Ballots will be mailed before July 19.
The Candidates Night is scheduled for July 24 in the penthouse at The Joule Hotel, 1530 Main Street, Dallas.
The 2012-13 board of directors will be announced at the annual meeting on Friday, August 3 at KERA.
