PenPoints Fall 2009 / 5

From ‘the horse’s mouth’—
2009 NFPW Conference Highlights

Lana "Honest Abe" Brown
Lana Brown as
Abe Lincoln

To be in San Antonio and receive the Communicator of Achievement Award for Illinois was truly bliss.

But, it was far more than the spotlight or even playing a chubby Abe Lincoln for the Illinois invitation to Chicago in 2010 in our “Chicago, My Kinda Town” presentation to NFPW. It was the first minute I walked into the hotel after a very long day at work in Chicago and a late flight to San Antonio—a place I had never been before.

It was Marlene Cook calling my name with one very big hug that had me at “hello.” From that moment, I was able to meet women from all walks of life, love, and the pursuit of happiness and I had a front row seat at a great national conference.

I watched Heloise as she won the national COA Award and followed me to my room to give me tips on my torn tendon. I heard a young girl who organized a national writing effort which defied gravity—and any perception anyone could ever have of Generation Y. I had surprise celebratory champagne while setting the tables for our breakfast presentation—I led a kick line with a cast on my left leg and a little help from dance master, Val Ensalaco. I got to sing and dance with Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas and decided that if we ever change our day jobs, emceeing in Lincoln costumes just may be our ticket to the Magic Kingdom. It was fun. It was meaningful.

That was NFPW-2009. Now, to NFPW-2010. Our turn.

—Lana Brown, VP Programs

This year’s National Federation of Press Women convention in San Antonio had an impressive lineup of speakers on the future of newspapers and on moving from journalist to author.

Right off the bat we had a chance to see Stop the Presses: The American Newspaper in Peril, an award-winning documentary featuring interviews with writers, editors, journalism professors and readers. We were also able to talk with Mark Birnbaum and Manny Mendoza, the journalists who created and produced the film.

Using examples from her nationally syndicated advice column, Heloise gave a thorough program on journalist factchecking and procedures. Another highlight was a panel on changes in the newspaper industry, featuring Robert Rivard, editor of the San Antonio Express-News; Mitch Land, interim dean of the University of North Texas and Bob Sanders, Fort Worth Star-Telegram columnist.

We also had a chance to meet some iconic Texas authors. Sarah Bird, (author of How Perfect is That? and six other novels) a Texas Monthly columnist who has written for Glamour, O Magazine, the Chicago Tribune and the New York Times, gave a very funny luncheon speech. Mike Cox, author of 15 nonfi ction books (including a two-volume history of the Texas Rangers law enforcers), described how covering a national story about a mass murderer led to a book. Cox was a communications specialist for the Texas Department of Transportation, which helped him get to know media, who in turn promoted his books. Now he is a syndicated local columnist on travel, history and issues and a blogger on books.

“I am an old dog but I can learn new tricks,” he told the group.

—Suzanne Hanney, 2010 NFPW Convention Co-Chair

San Antonio was lots of fun. Who would have ever guessed they’d witness two Lincolns (aka Lana Brown and Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas) in beards, stove pipe hats and tails? Our Illinois delegation really got into the spirit by performing as the “Lincoln Rockettes.” Our kick line brought the house down. All at once camera flashes filled the ballroom and of course, that made our kicks reach a little higher!

— Marianne Wolf-Astrauskas, President