Alabama Media Professionals is a statewide organization of professional communicators who meet monthly to network, share common problems, exchange ideas and keep abreast of changes in the media and journalism-related industries. AMP is affiliated with the National Federation of Press Women. Meetings: AMP meetings take place on the second Thursday of each month, beginning at 11:30 a.m. at the Alabama Power Company cafeteria in downtown Birmingham. Watch this site for details on our 2009 meetings. Contact Sondra Washington for reservations. Join us!

Topic: To be announced

Contact Sondra Washington for reservations.

See you then!

The deadline for entries in the 2009 AMP-NFPW Communications Contest was Friday, February 13th.

Your support is greatly appreciated!

AMP members Dana Crission, Sondra Washington, and Ella Robinson attended a press briefing at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute on January 12th, 2009.

The briefing introduced members of the local press to BCRI staff -- including AMP's own Marie Sutton -- who were instrumental in the "Expanding the Legacy" Renovation Project. The new "Expanding the Legacy" exhibition opened January 17th and features a new Human Rights Gallery, displays focusing on the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church bombing and resolutions of the court cases, as well as artifacts acquired by the Institute over its 16-year history.

By Ella Robinson

AMP is excited to welcome the following New Members to our group:

Linda Croley;
Camryn Oliver;
Mike Allison;
Lynn Groom;
Kathy Seale, a Features Writer with The Birmingham News;
Cathy DeLozier;
C'helle Griffin

Welcome, all!

Congratulations to the following AMP members who won in the NFPW Communications Contest:

Lucy Merrill, HM, 9A Special Articles, Business;
Nancy Mann Jackson, HM, 9I Special Articles, History;
Nancy Mann Jackson, First, 9O Special Articles, Hobby or Crafts;
Nancy Dorman-Hickson, First, 13C Sections / Supplements Edited by Entrant, Publication for general or specialized circulation including internal pubs;
Verna Gates, Second, 33D, News articles written specifically for the web;
Verna Gates, HM, 33E, Feature articles written specifically for the web

Click here to see who won!

President: Jane Ehrhardt
VP Membership: Lori Culpepper
VP Programs: Sondra Washington
VP Treasurer: Deborah Lockridge

Congratulations to the new crew!

Look! Up In The Sky!

No, it wasn't a bird. It wasn't a plane. It was a helicopter. And former AMP President Marti Slay was on board recently, getting a special chance to look down on The Magic City from high above...

Marti was one of the lucky folks who was able to take a ride aboard Care Flight, the new helicopter ambulance dedicated to The Children's Hospital.

Marti was among selected members of the news media who were invited to take a ride aboard Care Flight following its dedication February 20th, 2008.

Since 2000, the Hospital has shared a leased aircraft with Operation LifeSaver. But thanks to a new agreement with LifeSaver's parent company, a separate aircraft will now be available for exclusive use by the Hospital.

Deborah Lockridge is working with her husband, Evan, on a new talk show, The Lockridge Report, for Sirius Satellite Radio's trucking channel.

She will be on the show two or three times a week from their in-home studio to talk about various trucking issues she covers as Senior Editor for Heavy Duty Trucking magazine.

While Evan has been in broadcasting of one type or another fairly steadily since he was 17, this is a new experience for Deborah, and she was pleasantly surprised (to put it mildly) when Sirius asked her to be a part of the show.

The Lockridge Report airs from 1-3 Central time weekdays on Sirius Channel 147.

Congratulations to Carolyn Stern who celebrates 25 years as a member of Alabama Media Professionals and the National Federation of Press Women.

She will be honored during the NFPW general membership meeting on Thursday, September 11th, 2008, at the Shilo Inn, Idaho Falls, Idaho.

Mary Wimberley -- 20 years
Sandra Bearden -- 10 years
Dana Crisson -- 10 years
Mary Eloise Leake -- 10 years
Patricia Muse -- 10 years
Marti Slay -- 10 years

Congratulations!