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TheBuzz
Erika Engle
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Media nonprofit begets a baby sister
THE Honolulu Community-Media Council is birthing a sister organization.
The Hawaii Media Action Group has been established to promote the public interest as it relates to a free press, free expression, freedom of information and access to media, organizers said.
HiMAG, as the group will be called, plans to initiate a pilot project entitled, "The Public Interest: Local Obligations of TV Broadcasters," at its first meeting from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday in Room 225 of the state Capitol.
It is seeking volunteers to help develop the pilot project and other activities in advance of local broadcasters' federal license renewal applications that are due next year.
The group released only an e-mail address for public inquiries: himediaactiongroup@yahoo.com. The difference between the media council and the new organization is the activities in which each can be involved.
HiMAG was set up as a 501 (C) 4 organization under the Internal Revenue Service Code. That means it can "be directly involved with advocacy on media-related issues," said co-founder Chris Conybeare.
Donations to a 501 (C) 3 organization (such as the media council) are tax deductible and, as a result, there are limits placed on advocacy activity such as lobbying, litigation, etc., he explained.
'Tis the season
Hawaii members of the International Association of Business Communicators are reminded that it's almost Gold Quill time.
The group's world headquarters in San Francisco has issued a call for entries announcing that this year award categories have been added for blogs, wikis and podcasts.
According to various online glossaries, a blog or Weblog is a frequently updated Web site of dated entries. Wiki is software that allows users to create and edit Web page content using any Web browser. And podcasting is a method of publishing files, usually audio files, to the Internet.
If a Hawaii member wins this year, it won't be the first time. In 2003, a Gold Quill Media Relations Merit Award went to Lurline McGregor of Olelo Community Television and Alan Tang of Olomana Marketing for their "Vote! 2002" campaign.
More information on the award program can be found online. The entry deadline is Feb. 9, 2006.
International Association of Business Communicators
www.iabc.com
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Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin. Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached at:
eengle@starbulletin.com