Editor explains decision to publish images of death
Saturday's Pittsburgh Tribune Review carried photos of the body of Paul Johnson, the hostage beheaded by Saudi Arabian terrorists. The photos were on an inside page, in black and white, and the editors gave  readers a front page warning of the photos in the paper.

Editor Frank Craig explained his decision in the paper three days later. Click here to read it.

How did your paper handle this decision? How did your readers react? What facts from this story made it different from the gruesome photos from Fallujah that many newspapers published a few weeks ago?

PNA is collecting answers from editors for a future article in our publications. Please send your answers to Erin Auci at erina@pa-news.org. 

Penn State's law school board would be subject to Sunshine Act under bill passed in Senate
The board of governors for Penn State's Dickinson School of Law won a court case over two newspapers who sued to force the board to open its meetings.

Now a local legislator, opposed to plans of moving the law school from Carlisle, has seen his bill that would make the board subject to the Sunshine Act pass in the Senate unanimously.

Open government advocates support the bill, however, insiders are unsure of the attention the bill will receive before the close of the current session.

[CLICK FOR COVERAGE FROM THE CENTRE DAILY TIMES]

Roberts retires, two editors promoted
at The Morning Call
Deputy managing editor Al Roberts retires June 30, ending a 21-year stint with The (Allentown) Morning Call. 

Theresa Rang, copy desk chief, was named deputy managing editor, responsible for the newsroom's production operation. Rang is the former managing editor of the Pottsville REPUBLICAN & Evening Herald and a member of the Pennsylvania Women's Press Association.

Michael Miorelli, metro editor, has been promoted to assistant managing editor, metro. In his new position, he will supervise the entire newsgathering operation. Miorelli was formerly sports editor for The Call and the Reading Eagle.

Veteran ad exec named ad director for Centre Daily Times

Jim Grahn, a former newspaper ad professional in Arkansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Texas and Germany joined the Centre Daily Times earlier this month as the paper's advertising director.

Grahn left The Abilene (Tex.) Reporter  for the job in State College. In his new position, Grahn will aim to build the paper's ad revenue from smaller, locally-owned businesses, according to the Times.

Eckenrode promoted at Altoona Mirror
Altoona Mirror managing editor Ray Eckenrode was named the paper's general manager, a new position at the paper. Eckenrode will oversee day to day operations of all newspaper departments as general manager.

Publisher Ed Kruger announced the move this week. "We are fortunate to have someone from within the Mirror with the talent and innovation that Ray brought to our news department that can now be expanded to our entire newspaper," Kruger said.

Eckenrode is a native of Carrolltown in Cambria County and now resides in Patton. He is a 1985 graduate of Penn State University with a degree in print journalism. He has been a Mirror newsroom staffer for 17 years, the last 12 as a full-time employee. He served as reporter, copy editor, news editor, assistant sports editor and city editor before being promoted to managing editor in November 1999. 

Basketball beat writer honored by Hall of Fame
Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News will be honored with the Curt Gowdy Print Media Award during the annual enshrinement ceremonies at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. 

Covering the Philadelphia 76ers, Jasner bridges the gap between Julius Erving and Allen Iverson, according to the Daily News' Rich Hoffman.

PNA stays the course with America East
America East, the nation's largest regional newspaper trade show and simply the best overall newspaper conference in the region, will continue as planned for future years.

As the primary planners of America East, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association is aware of changes to NEXPO that will present difficulties to attendees and exhibitors who annually attend both events. 

Follow the link below to read an explanation of the upcoming conflicts of America East and NEXPO, including dates for the next eight years. 

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Members needed for committee serving legal community, press
The Bar/Press Committee, a committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, is seeking additional members from the media. Any reporter, editor or publisher who has any interest in serving on the committee, please contact Teri Henning at (717) 703-3076 or terih@pa-news.org.

Please click here for more information on the committee and its role.

From the Hotline: What is a bona fide occupational qualification, when is one necessary, and how does an advertiser get one?
Teri Henning, PNA's media law counsel, explains what newspapers need to know to protect themselves from legal and regulatory trouble when an advertiser places an ad in which they are allowed to show preference, as approved by the state human relations agency.

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Use this link to the Headlines & Deadlines page which groups and archives Teri Henning's weekly 'From the Hotline' columns. 

[HOTLINE ARCHIVE]

Federal Court throws out FCC's media ownership rules
In a 2-to-1 decision, Federal judges threw out rules that would have allowed greater ownership of television and radio stations in the same market.

However, they also found that the FCC was within its rights to repeal a blanket prohibition on companies owning both a newspaper and a television station in the same city.