Members examine the state of State

Straight talk from Kay Semion

Waitung for no introduction, Condoleezza Rice approached the double-door entrance to Room 1107 in the State Department building with a smiling, "Hello everyone." With aides on her left and right, she immediately made the rounds of the squared-off table where twenty-eight NCEW members had gathered for the April seminar.

With precision, the politically astute Rice, wearing a tailored black-and-white checkered suit with a black shell and faux pearls, shook everyone's hand and exchanged a few pleasantries before sitting down to talk with us and answer a series of questions.

We had been told earlier that the State Department was eager to work with NCEW in setting up these annual seminars-a tradition initiated by Jim Boyd at the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The baton has been passed along, with Becca Rothschild of the Detroit Free Press organizing this year's two-day session.

Boyd said that the idea for the briefings came about in 1996, after incoming president Sue Ryon asked him to chair the International Affairs Committee. Boyd said that in past years, he'd enjoyed a briefing at State for journalists from regional papers. So in the fall of 1996, he contacted sources who got him a meeting with Nicholas Burns of the State Department. Boyd presented the idea of coordinating with NCEW to hold special briefings for editorial writers. Burns was enthusiastic, and the first seminar took place in February 1997.

Thanks to Boyd s work and the initial support that came through the Star-Tribune, members have been able to meet with top-level policy leaders, including secretaries of State. Those who attended this year's meeting were able to question State Department experts about issues important to them-like the status of the Iraqi war, the Iran and North Korea nuclear situations, the massacres in Sudan, U.S. relationships with Europe, and more.

The agreement for the format has been upheld by State over the years, allowing NCEW to influence the content so that issues our members say are important are highlighted and that we are free to ask any questions.

That held true at State this year. For instance, Rice's initial comments were only a couple minutes long, in which she set up her main issue: "The role of the United States is to support young democratic movements." She then took questions, staying beyond the scheduled forty-five minutes. To her credit, when there appeared to be concern over who was being recognized to ask questions, Rice took control, making sure that anyone with a hand up got an answer.

Although Rice was clearly the "star" of the seminar, other presenters were equally willing to listen to our questions. There were, however, times when the answers were so long and wonkish that, frankly, I forgot what the question was by the end of the reply.

From the State Departments view, the seminar gives them the chance-as several said-to "find out what they think in Peoria." NCEW delivered on that, with members churning up a smorgasbord of questions, ranging from Peoria itself (Mike Bailey was there from the Peoria Journal Star) to international observations (Stein Hauglid was there from Norway's Dagens Naeringsliv).

The work of Boyd in beginning this tradition is deeply appreciated as well as continuing efforts by Rothschild and all others in between to keep the State Department seminar a valuable, productive session for members.

Another of NCEW s successful venture is the Minority Writers Seminar, which is celebrating its tenth year. Vanessa Gallman, Tommy Denton, Rick Horowitz, Chuck Stokes, and Morgan McGinley have helped guide this effort over the years, with assistance from Joan Armour of Armour&Armour in Nashville. The seminar is a statement about NCEW: This organization not only values ethnic diversity within its membership but also goes the extra mile to encourage underrepresented minorities to enter our field. This year's seminar included a panel of those who have graduated from the weekend event and gone on to become opinion writers and editors.

Kay Semion is associate editorial page editor of The Daytona Beach News-Journal and president of NCEW. E-mail kay.semion@ news-jrnl.com

Copyright MASTHEAD National Conference of Editorial Writers Summer 2005
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