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.
| Marie West Cromer Passes Away Former AMP president Marie West Cromer dead at 82 A former AMP member and past-president Marie West Cromer passed away on April 5, 2013. She was 82. The Leeds resident had a long career as a newspaper reporter, author  and freelance journalist. She covered three counties as a correspondent for the Birmingham Post-Herald and later for The Birmingham News, was lifestyle editor at the St. Clair News-Aegis, education editor at the Talladega Daily Home and worked as a freelance writer for a number of state and national publications. Following her retirement, she became a part-time staff writer for the Leeds News and a contributing writer for the Leeds Daily Herald. In 1984, Mrs. Cromer published, Modern Indians of Alabama: Remnants of the Removal, a book that won an award in the NFPW communications contest. She was adopted into the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama for her supportive reports and articles on the state-recognized Indian tribes and the organization of the state's first Indian Affairs Commission. She was given the Indian name, "Talking Leaves," Sequoya's descriptive words for the white man's printed pages. The adoption ceremony was the first in the state since Indian Removal on the Trail of Tears in the 1830's. In 2008, she wrote an outdoor historical play, “Listen to that Cold Steel Ring,” to call attention to and honor the legendary railroad tunnels in the Dunnavant community. The play was presented as part of the Leeds Downtown Folk Festival for five consecutive years. Recognized as a community leader, Mrs. Cromer was twice nominated for the Leeds Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” for her work on behalf of her hometown. She served on a number of community and civic organizations, and was active in the Leeds Historical Society, which she organized in 1998. |
 AMP Member Peter Kirchikov Publishes New Book Peter Kirchikov, AMP member published his new book Walnuts On My Bookshelf, Memories of Living in Communist Russia, 1952-1991. Click here for details. |
2013 AMP Media Winners in Annual Contest Alabama Media Professionals handed out 2013 Communications Contest Awards at the Arlington House on Thursday May 9, 2013. An impressive total of 18 first-place entries traveled forward to the National Federation of Press Women (www.nfpw.org) annual contest. AMP is an affiliate of the national organization. Print media categories included news, editorial and feature writing with divisions for daily and non- Radio and television categories included on-the-scene spot reports, prepared reports, interview, talk show, best newscast, and best presentation. Donna Francavilla dominated the categories with wins for her radio reporting. Jane Newton Henry was recognized for a non-fiction book. Web writing categories brought awards to Meredith Cummings, Donna Francavilla, Herb Patterson, Dale Short, and Mary Wimberley. The Sweepstakes Award of $100 went to Donna Francavilla, while Verna Gates received a certificate as the Sweepstakes Runner-up. The awards are based on a point system ,with more points awarded for higher placement and for winning awards in categories with more entries. |
daily newspapers as well as magazines. There also were winners in topic-specific categories such as business, sports, food, travel, and arts. Winners in print categories were Donna Francavilla, Verna Gates, Ann Halpern, Jane Newton Henry, Mary Eloise H. Leake, Elaine Hobson Miller, Carolanne Roberts, Dale Short, and Mary Wimberley. Two AMP Members Team Up To Produce A Documentary http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/05/filmmaking_team_hopes_to_raise.html |
Alabama Media Professionals Carroll Dale Short, and Marti Webb Slay teamed up to produce a documentary entitled The Recovering Racist, the struggle of white southerners to overcome lifetimes of learned prejudice and bigotry.
