I sincerely thank CSM and MAC leadership and membership for this collaborative response. I've been out-of-town and processing e-mail on a limited basis for the past several days. I just caught up on reading e-mails and comment responses to the press release. I concur with most sentiments and action proposals, and support: 1. a joint resolution officially approved by both memberships and signed by CSM and MAC Heads. 2. a formal invitation from CSM and MAC Heads for select AEJMC entities to consider supporting said resolution, particularly the Newspaper division, Radio-Television Journalism division, and the Standing Committee on Professional Freedom and Responsibility. 3. a resolution that centers on latitude and process for presidential communications; and demographic and intellectual diversity of the PAC in terms of divisional affiliations, research paradigms, comprehensive and doctoral institutions, small and large programs, etc. 4. a formal request from CSM and MAC Heads for Dr. Pardun and PAC to submit a written response to MAC/CSM concerns by a specified date. At 05:12 PM 6/10/2010 -0400, Dr. Linda F. Callahan wrote: >Dear Colleagues: >I spoke with AEJMC President Carol Pardun today. I shared with her the >sentiments expressed by CSM & MAC members regarding President Obama and >Transparency. > >She is going to provide a written response to our conversation after >speaking with Advisory Board members; however, this is a summary of her >response as to why the news release was sent. > >1. It was a difficult decision that was discussed for several months. >2. The release was not politically focused. >3. "From our investigation, facts are clear that he hasn't had full press >conferences as often as he should have." >4. Despite the fact that he has had numerous press conferences and uses >social media, "he's driving the communication channels instead of giving >access that would allow reporters to do their jobs." >5. She has received a lot of emails thanking them for "having the guts" to >do the news release. >6. She was shocked and surprised that some have suggested the news release >was politically motivated. >7. She was even more shocked and surprised that some have suggested that >racism might have been a factor. >8. They did not expect this response and did not expect this to be >controversial. They thought that net-neutrality would have been a >controversial issue, but not this. > >NOTE ABOUT # 6, 7, 8. >[I did not bring up "politically motivated" or "racism." So, someone prior >to our conversation had raised those issues. As for #8, I suggested that >more diversity on the Advisory Board could have caught this problem]. > >MAC Chair Jennifer Woodard and I have spoken. We decided that we would >hold-off on the joint resolution until we receive a written response from >Carol and the Advisory Board. She will send the response to me with the >understanding that I will share it with CSM & MAC. (CSM is an oversight body >of AEJMC). > >Thank you very much for your feedback. >Linda Florence Callahan, Ph.D. >Chair, Commission on the Status of Minorities >Professor >Journalism & Mass Communication >North Carolina A&T State University >Greensboro, NC 27411 > > > > >WARNING: This e-mail correspondence is subject to Public Records Law and >may be disclosed to third parties. > > >-- Camilla Gant, Ph.D. Director/Associate Professor Mass Communications University of West Georgia 678.839.4933 Office 678.839.4926 Fax