The Nebraska Press Women (NPW) organization is establishing the Marian Andersen Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame, with the inaugural class to be inducted in September. Nominations may be made by the general public and are due June 1, 2011.
“The purpose of this new hall of fame is to recognize the working women journalists who may never have become a newspaper publisher, broadcast station manager or ad agency president, but who, through talent, initiative, intelligence and stamina, made a difference for the profession, for their communities and for those who follow in their footsteps,” said Bette Pore, NPW vice president.
“Only about 11 percent of the Nebraska Newspaper Hall of Fame members are women, and only about 6 percent of the Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame members are women,” noted Ruth Brown, NPW president. “We know there are many Nebraska women in all areas of the journalism profession who have made significant contributions and who deserve to be recognized.”
The NPW hall of fame is sponsored by and named for Marian Andersen of Omaha, a graduate of the College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “A woman who gives generously of her time, talents and resources has agreed to give once again to her beloved journalism,” Brown said. Andersen made a name for herself through her service on numerous boards, ranging from local to international. She served on boards for the Public Broadcasting System, YMCA, United Way, the Nebraska Arts Council, the State Historical Society and Opera Omaha, to name a few.
Those nominated for the Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame must have a Nebraska background by birth or work experience, having spent a significant amount of their professional careers in the state. They may be living or dead and may come from any facet of the journalism profession — broadcast, print or online, news or advertising, public relations or any other aspect of journalism.
Nominations will be judged on contributions to the profession, achievements within the profession, and service to the nominees’ communities (both geographic and professional, local as well as state, regional and national). They must give compelling reasons why the woman should be selected and must be accompanied by two letters of support, each of which addresses at least one of the criteria.
Nominations must be submitted to: Bette Pore, 2821 Cross Pointe Drive, Grand Island, NE 68803 by June 1. Information about what is needed for the nomination is available on this website under Conventions: Hall of Fame.
Final selection will be made by the NPW Board of Directors. “We anticipate inducting several women journalists into the hall of fame in the inaugural year,” Pore said. Nominations that are not chosen will be kept for consideration during the following year.
The first inductees will be announced at the 2011 National Federation of Press Women/Nebraska Press Women meeting to be Sept. 8-10 in Omaha/Council Bluffs. In the future, annual induction ceremonies will be held at NPW’s spring convention.
The Marian Andersen Nebraska Women Journalists Hall of Fame will be located at the UNL College of Journalism & Mass Communications, the same location as the Nebraska Broadcasters Hall of Fame and the Nebraska Newspaper Hall of Fame.
