and one point heather made, is something i've been mumbling for years... who let them (video) into our clubhouse without making them play by our rules... namely, having some ethics.

i think the SVJ is only going to serve to mask the NPPA's fallacies. it's basically throwing a sheet over the goat, but we all know it's still the same old goat. ("NO! it wasn't us, the SVJ, that caused the rift and split with POYi... that was that old organization, the NPPA!!!)

i just wish they'd take time to work on things that actually matter to our profession... instead of something silly, like a name change.

If you make that change, then you might as well change other items including the Code of Ethics that MOST still photographers stand by and MANY video journalist and multi media specialist or new media specialist do not. Unless you are blind you have also seen video journalist and multi media specialist or new media specialist routinely setting up shots, have subjects "redo" things or pretend to do them because they either missed the shot, want a different angle, want B-roll or better sound. I do not want to join that group.

It seems to me that the NPPA is trying to turn its self into the American Society of Media Photographers, Inc.

If the name change is approved I will most likely quit the organization also.

We at the NPPA appreciate your comments and your interest.

The NPPA is VERY aware of the changes in the industry,

As a journalism professor myself, I am very aware of the disconnect between journalism education and the professions. I believe the NPPA is in position to fill that gap, and it's in position to fill many other needs as well, including advocacy, outreach and education for all aspects of visual journalism.

Yes, we know we need to do a better job on the forums etc.. We need to be more interactive. But we need to do it deliberately and strategically. We want to do things right.

We spent the last year reviewing industry needs and we came up with a strategic plan which we will review at our annual board meeting next week as part of our Convergence event.

We call it convergence for a reason. We all know how these things are coming together under one roof. To meet the needs of the converging media market, we are focusing more on issues that affect everyone whether he or she is primarily broadcast, print or online. We are all going to be a mix of all three sooner than later.

These issues include advocacy on access and copyright. We have been successful in many of our advocacy efforts for the field in the last year.

We are trying to do more hands-on training such as our very popular immersion program headed by the Roanoke Times' Seth Gitner.

And we are doing more outreach, including even an NPPA Facebook page.

The bottom line is that we hear you. We are the voice and clearinghouse of the profession. We appreciate the input, and even the criticism. We will do all we can to respond and fill the needs of the profession.

We want to do the best job we can for all visual journalists.

And on the possible name change? Most of us have very mixed feelings. This is not a thoughtless, unilateral move. We won't do this arbitrarily. The name change proposal is just one thing we are CONSIDERING as part of an overall effort to change the perception that the NPPA is the creature of still-only, staff-only, entrenched fuddy-duddy journalists.
We're not.
We are here for everybody and hear to represent the common interests of all visual journalists.
Help us do a better job by JOINING the NPPA, not running away from it.
Feel free to e-mail me at
jzibluk@astate.edu
sincerely,
Jack Zibluk
NPPA vice president
Associate professor of Journalism
Arkansas State University
jzibluk@astate.edu

This is a great opportunity because now the space (primarily the web) allows for more in depth reportage than ever before.

NPPA has done some great changes. Most notable to me is what happened under Alicia Wagner's term as president. She helped them to embrace educating photographers about the business aspects of the industry. Now there is great resources for photographers to understand the cost of doing business.

The magazine has also done a much better job of connecting the past with the present and helping us to see into the future.

Sadly the social media aspect of NPPA is lacking. SportsShooter has done a great job here, but now that the standards for membership there are pretty open, veterans comment less and less on the forums.

I am glad to see NPPA move away from just a awards program and seminars where the award winners just show their work at things like the Flying Short Course. They have been moving more and more to educating the profession.

I hope they also do things like commission a team to write text books for colleges.

Change is needed and if people liked what NPPA, well then you would most likely be out of a job in a couple years any way.

Those who see change as inevitable and want to try and help forge ahead will be the leaders of tomorrow.