Debbie Friez of BurrellesLuce wrote an interesting post about a pending change at the Washington Times.  And, we found the questions Debbie raises at the end of her piece to be worthy of a great deal of discussion as it relates to the future of journalism.  Debbie's piece follows:    

The DC Chapter of the Black Public Relations Society elected its 2009 officers; and The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences announced nominees for the Webby Awards. 

Jennifer Cortner, president of EFX Media, joins Discovery Communications, Inc.,  Jim Franco, EFX CEO,< Read More »

Geoff Livingston sold Livingston Communications, Hill & Knowlton adds a number of new accounts, Hirshorn Zuckerman Design Group tapped by Volkswagen of America for after-sale sales, Arnold DC launched a Bahamas Ministry of Touri Read More »

Fleishman-Hillard's DC office provided us the the following trends worth tracking: Old and young use web differently;  benefits of big brands in social media; and, P&G host social media exercise.

Hirshorn Zuckerman Design Group launched a new Web site dedicated to the women who follow the Washington Capitals; Porter Novelli trimmed 15 percent of its D.C., staff; WestGlen partnered with TEEN KIDS NEWS to create an exclusive offering for placing video news packages on a unique TV news program; RTC Relationship Marketing promoted Alexandra Beneville; ICF International promotes two; and, Westland Printers is merging with S&S Graphics.  

 The DC Ad Club celebrated the 41st annual ADDY Awards on Thursday evening, March 19. A crowd of 350 people attended the event, which recognizes the best in creative excellence in DC-area advertising.

The DC Ad Club celebrated the 41st annual ADDY Awards on Thursday evening, March 19. A crowd of 350 people attended the event, which recognizes the best in creative excellence in DC-area advertising. 

Two interesting items related to the current employment situation facing area communicators:

Editor & Publisher has an interesting item that states that The Huffington Post is quickly edging its way up the top-30 online news destinations list, according to Nielsen Online. In February the Huff Post was No. 15 on the list with 8.8 million unique users compared to January, where it was No. 22 with 7.3 million.

"How Obama Did It: An Insider Look at the Road to the Presidency" was the focus on an Ad Club session this month ....

Williams Whittle Associates reports that its “Day in the Life” public service announcement (PSA), which it produced and promoted for the USO, was the nation’s most frequently aired television PSA of 2008.

The DC office of Arnold Worldwide has launched a new Choice Hotels International TV advertising campaign; The Samueli Institute awarded its marketing communications initiative to HC Creative Communications; and, Ascend Communication will provide PR services for the Lupus Foundation of America Greater Washington chapter.

Jake Lefebure, co-founder and CEO of Design Army, is on the cover of Graphic Design USA (GD USA) as one of the People to Watch in 2009; Amanda Sellers promoted to VP at Spectrum Science; 

There’s a battle brewing between Jack O’Dwyer, who publishes newsletter products covering the PR field, and the Public Relations Society of America – with O’Dwyer taking his concerns to President Obama. 

Williams Whittle forms division to focus exclusively on online marketing; Ogilvy PR is working on “New York 400

This year’s Environmental Film Festival, which runs from March 11-22, marks its 17th year in Washington, D.C. with an astounding diversity of films that capture the majesty of our world and address the ever-increasing threats to life on earth.

Changes at the top of LM&O Advertising; The American Peanut Council signs on with Ogilvy PR; Crosby Marketing will assist The Foundation for the Future of Aging: Design Army wins more awards; and, Parsons Outdoor Advertising now allows companies to advertise their products and services on Parsons’ fleet of over 50 trucks.

Arnold DC opened its doors on Jan. 29th to celebrate their totally new, totally open and almost-totally white space in the Court House neighborhood of Arlington, VA.

A successful DCDesignBabes’ event was held last Thursday, Jan. 29.  They had their usual mixer housing about 315 area creatives, coupled with an interesting sculpture competition created from mundane objects — Change the Way You See Things — a concept inspired by the Dutch Design Week and President Obama! 

Washington Women in Public Relations announced its 2009 Board of Directors: Women in Technology announced its call for nominations for the 10th Annual Women in Technology Leadership Awards; and Terry Prime has been named VP/director of technical services and chief technology officer at Virilion.

The Washington Business Journal held its 2009 Book of Lists party this week at the Corcoran Gallery of Art.  The event was attended by about 800 people, including a contingent from the communications community.

R2integrated has been selected by Forbes.com to revamp the site’s Video Network Program Guide and player;  Brunner Digital has launched a site for amfAR; MDB has launched a campaign for the DC Lottery; Ogilvy PR named global communications partner of the Lance Armstrong Foundation; Environics has been retained by ProLiteracy; Crosby Marketing Communications has been retained by PinnacleCare; and Stanton Communications has won a short-term contract to assist Maryland’s Office of Tourism Development.

In keeping with their mission to bring you the best of all things photographic, FotoWeek DC and The Newseum have launched fotobamaweek, an international photography contest celebrating the presidential campaign and inauguration of Barack Obama.  

Three upcoming events, scheduled before the end of January, should appeal to a wide range of area communicators: Jan 22 it's Twin Tech III (which already has 1,823 RSVPs); and, on Jan 28, PRSA-NCC presents “PR Employment Environment as we Enter 2009” and DC Ad Club celebrates its 90^th birthday.

Merritt Group launches digital services unit; TMP Worldwide Advertising & Communications launches new government unit; Qorvis Communications finalist in PRWeek contest; and, TGD Communications wins gold in Association Trends contest.

Qorvis Communications will be doing work for the Society for Human Resource Management; Crosby Marketing Communications adds Brightview Senior Living; Exemplar Strategic Communications adds three clients; Environics Communications launches a Sustainability & Clean Energy practice; and Hisaoka Public Relations and Flash Communications merged.

Lane Bailey named president of GolinHarris Public Affairs, and Susan Corsini, deputy managing director of GolinHarris/DC, moves up to managing director…Chris Foster, Burson-Marsteller's US Healthcare Chair, named to PRWeek's list of the top-40 professionals under the age of 40....MDB Communications promotes Kathryn Graham McNally and Cady Loftus ...&

Two recent items brought into focus one of the downsides of today's communications environment, where speed can kill you … or almost kill you! 

If there were two trends that marked 2008, they would be the explosion in usage of new communications tools and the concern that a recession in 2009 would impact jobs - although some would argue that we should have listed the second trend first.