Charity Begins At Home Paper

By: Dave Astor For some columnists, the first letter of their job title also stands for community or charity. That's because these journalists do more than tap their computer keyboards -- they help society.

Prime examples are the first two recipients of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists' (NSNC) Will Rogers Humanitarian Award. Columnist Tim Chavez of The Tennessean in Nashville won this year for helping to start and/or publicize various programs -- including those bringing computers and musical instruments to poor schools. Former Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jeff Zaslow was cited last year for initiatives such as those enabling homeless children to get school supplies and singles to meet other singles at "Zazz Bash" charity parties.

Zaslow's work was much appreciated by the Chicago-area community, but it didn't protect him from losing his job this spring in a cost-cutting move. Hundreds of appalled readers sent letters protesting the Sun-Times action, which, for Zaslow, ended a 14-year stint at the paper that began when he won a 1987 contest to replace advice columnist Ann Landers.

"I was shocked," recalled Zaslow. "I thought I did so much for the paper and the community. I thought my job was safe." He said the Sun-Times ownership "saw me as my salary, not for what I did."

Zaslow added that while his motivation was to "make a difference," his work also helped raise money for Sun-Times charities, bring the paper ads from "Zazz Bash" sponsors, and give the paper publicity. "Newspapers need attention these days," he said.

The Benefits Of Helping Readers

They also need new readers and the good will of existing readers, which humanitarian efforts help generate. "People felt a connection to the Sun-Times for the programs I did," said Zaslow.

A columnist's charitable efforts can also build more trust with poor and/or minority readers who feel many newspapers focus mostly on negative stories (such as crime) in their neighborhoods. "A lot of times, the news media report on problems in minority communities and then leave," said Chavez. "I stay involved."

Indeed, Chavez -- in addition to writing about programs he starts and supports -- goes on-site to observe and volunteer for these programs. This not only gives him the satisfaction of helping people personally but enables him to develop new sources for his column. And humanitarian campaigns themselves can "lead to good stories," observed NSNC President Peter Rowe of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Rowe, who has used his column to help a food bank and other causes, added that a humanitarian approach "fits in with the larger role of columnists as the human face of the newspaper. Newspapers are increasingly impersonal, owned by out-of-town corporations, some not primarily interested in news. A columnist engaged in a good cause, especially a good local cause, demonstrates that at least someone at the paper cares about the community."

The most important benefit of columnists' humanitarian efforts, of course, is that people receive help they might not get elsewhere.

The Cons Of Pro-Humanitarianism

But there are some potential drawbacks to this kind of work. Editors might feel columnists aren't concentrating enough on writing, and columnists can get exhausted. Rowe also noted that readers can get "compassion fatigue" if they're dunned too often.

Sometimes, a person involved with a program turns out to be unethical -- hurting not only the program but possibly the credibility of the columnist backing it. Chavez noted that he checks up on people and organizations he works with.

There's also the perception that journalists should be objective, but this applies more to reporters. "A reporter probably could not do the things I'm doing," said Chavez. "As a columnist, I can have an opinion and take a stand. I can be an advocate. My readers want me to try to make things better, not just write about what's wrong."

Chavez said his involvement with various groups and communities doesn't mean he avoids doing negative pieces about them if warranted. This isn't resented as much if the paper is also doing positive things.

Will Rogers Prize Draws 35 Entries

It's hard to pin down the number of columnists who do extensive humanitarian work. But the man who proposed the Will Rogers award -- Robert Haught, a Washington-area-based columnist for The Daily Oklahoman in Oklahoma City -- did report that the award drew a total of 35 entries in 2000 and 2001.

Haught recalled that, when proposing the award, he noted: "We need to go beyond just filling the white space and use whatever 'fame' we might have to promote and support 'good works.'"

Good works Chavez has been involved with include collecting more than 150 computers for technology-deprived classrooms, getting more than 300 CD-ROMs donated to 30 Tennessee public schools, recruiting General Electric Co. employees to build three computer labs to teach English to immigrant kids, establishing an Immigrant Education Center in a church, collecting instruments and donations to add three band classes at an elementary school, starting a violence-prevention program for students living in a housing project, bringing nurse recruitment and training to Hispanic girls in Nashville schools, and creating and recruiting racially and economically diverse youth baseball teams.

Zaslow started "Letters to Santa" in 1987; last year, it enabled readers to give $1.2 million worth of gifts to 47,000 needy youngsters. "For many children, it was their only Christmas present," said the columnist.

He started another program in 1992 bringing a backpack full of school supplies to tens of thousands of homeless kids. And his "Zazz Bash" parties were attended by 7,000 singles a year and resulted in more than 70 marriages. Elizabeth Rodriguez helped run the programs.

Zaslow, who was once syndicated by United Media, continues to write for USA Weekend and also free-lances for The Wall Street Journal. Chavez's column is local, but he also writes for the Hispanic Link news service.

Why was the NSNC award named for Will Rogers? "In addition to being a popular humorist, he wrote more than 4,000 newspaper columns," said Haught. "And he was a great humanitarian, using his public forum for the benefit of humankind."

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OHIO FESTIVAL HAS 'CALVIN' ...
... And Various Cartoonist Speakers

Several of today's prominent cartoonists -- and a prominent one from the past -- will make their presence known during the Cartoon Festival of Art at Ohio State University (OSU) Sept. 28-29 in Columbus.

Retired "Calvin and Hobbes" creator Bill Watterson won't be at the festival, but the first-ever exhibit of his work will run from Sept. 10 to Jan. 15 at OSU's Cartoon Research Library. The show will feature original "Calvin and Hobbes" Sunday strips from Watterson's personal collection, and the exhibit catalog will include an essay by the cartoonist.

Scheduled speakers at the triennial festival (cartoons@osu.edu) include Jim Borgman ("Zits"/editorial cartoons), Lynn Johnston ("For Better or For Worse"), Rick Kirkman ("Baby Blues"), Patrick McDonnell ("Mutts"), Pat Oliphant (editorial cartoons), Jerry Scott ("Zits"/"Baby Blues"), and others.

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ET CETERA ...

Tribune Media Services (TMS) columnist Jonah Goldberg received the Lowell Thomas Award for his work as an Internet journalist from the 170-year-old International Platform Association. ...

The TMS marketing and creative services department won seven awards for excellence in communication and graphic design from the Graphic Design: usa publication. ...

Mobliss will provide Sprint PCS customers with the wireless version of TMS' "Jumble" game. ...

Scripps Howard News Service is offering a special report on how state lotteries have "proved anything but a jackpot." ...

At Large Features Syndicate is distributing the "Michael Stone on Relationships" column. ...

TeleMedia Press Syndicate (http://www.telemediapress.com) is offering TV, sports, trivia, and other packages via its "E-Delivery Newswire" service. Also, TeleMedia and ITV are offering content jointly. ...

The "Sid Hartman Bobblehead Doll," named after the longtime Minneapolis Star Tribune sports columnist, went on sale last month. Part of the proceeds go to charity. ...

Cartoonists are being asked to contribute original art for a silent auction at the Sept. 20 Mudpie-Tim Rosenthal Invitational Golf Tournament, which will raise funds for the Scleroderma Foundation. A number of syndicated cartoonists will participate in the event, at the Canton Public Golf Course, Canton, Conn. Rosenthal, an American Color executive, died of scleroderma last year. For more information, contact "Mudpie" creator Guy Gilchrist of Copley News Service at guy@gilchriststudios.com. ...

Plan 9 Publishing has released two new "Mudpie" books: "I'm Having a Bad Fur Day" and "When Cats Fly."

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