January 27th MAPBA Meeting

The Mississippi Associated Press Broadcasters Association held a meeting on Jan. 27 to discuss several issues and motions for the upcoming 2008 MAPBA Awards Banquet. Here are the minutes for the meeting hosted by Chief of Bureau Mike McQueen.

The meeting began by welcoming a new member, Nancy Dupont of Ole Miss, and a discussion of a motion to award framed certificates instead of plaques to first-place winners. A cost analysis shows the plaques will cost around $902.55, while framed certificates will cost about $494.92.

Teresa Collier made a motion to do further research into the cost of purchasing plaques from another vendor. Sunny Smith agreed to provide assistance. A breakdown of the cost will be made available to all board members once the analysis is complete and the board will make a decision at a later date.

The board approved a list of possible speakers for the upcoming banquet. The list is headed by Governor Barbour, former Senator Trent Lott, Ex-Gov. Ray Mabus, Mississippi Economic Council president Blake Wilson, Congressman Thompson, and Ole Miss Chancellor Robert Khayat. Bob Burks will invite the governor to speak, if the governor has a scheduling conflict, the board will move down the list until a speaker is confirmed.

The board discussed a proposal to hold Mississippi's 2009 Broadcast Awards Banquet and Louisiana's Broadcast Awards Banquet in the same location, possibly in Vicksburg, Natchez, or another location to eliminate the cost of holding separate award banquets. Doug Walker made a motion to look closer at the cost of combining the events. The board agreed to seek more information and a cost analysis will be provided at the next meeting, which is set for March 31, 2009.

Bob Burks made a motion to amend language in the website category for next year to include specific instructions that judges must check the websites three times a day _ morning, afternoon, and night. The motion was approved and the rules will be amended for the 2009 contest.
The board also agreed on March 31, 2009, to discuss planning issues for the MAPBA with the elimination of the Jackson AP bureau's broadcast editor's position and approved forwarding names for the MAPBA Hall of Fame award to Doug Walker. Names for the Newsperson of the Year award can also be submitted to the AP before the Feb. 16 deadline.

The board will vote on both awards via e-mail or March 31, 2009.