"Gridiron West" a success
 Our second annual "Gridiron West" Dinner on Nov. 11, 2000, was a huge success! We "toasted" longtime Seattle Times and Seattle Post-Intelligencer columnist Emmett Watson in a fun-filled evening of tribute, comedy and song! Master of ceremonies David Silverman, comedian Mike Egan and pianist Rich Gray did a wonderful job. About 300 people attended the festivities at the WestCoast Grand on Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle.

TERRIFIC TOASTERS! Special thanks to our terrific "toasters," who included Jean Godden, Shelby Scates, Paul Schell, Charles Royer, Ron Sims, John Carlson, Ralph & Karen Munro, and Gov. Al Rosellini. "Em's Able Assistants" -- Carol Barnard, Sharon Friel, Barbara Huston and Dean Leong -- saluted Watson and read a letter from U.S. District Court Judge Bill Dwyer, a longtime friend.

HORSEY CARTOON! Special thanks to David Horsey of the Seattle P-I for contributing the original drawing of Emmett that appeared on our invitation and programs. It was auctioned off at the dinner to benefit the WNC's Dick Larsen Scholarship Fund. The drawing was purchased by Jack Benaroya and Bill Gates Sr., who then graciously gave it to Emmett.

THANKS, SPONSORS! We'd especially like to thank our table sponsors:

     ▪ PEMCO and Weyerhaeuser at the "Publisher's" level ($5,000).

    ▪ Microsoft, Puget Sound Energy, and Sandy Schoolfield & Jon Kechejian at the "Editor's" level ($2,500).

    ▪ Alaska Airlines, At-sea Processors Association, The Gallatin Group, Bill Gates Sr., King County Journal Newspapers, Merriman Capital Management, Premera/Blue Cross, SAFECO, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, State Farm Insurance, Turner Construction Company, and the Washington Restaurant Association at the "Columnist's" level ($1,000).

MORE THANKS! Thanks to State Farm Insurance for printing and design services, Snoqualmie Winery for its generous wine donation, and to Dorothy Ng of Youth in Focus for taking photographs. WNC staffer Barbara Williams, and volunteers Jerry Greenberg and Tina Chin, also provided invaluable help.

WANT BOOKS? Thanks to all those who -- to benefit the scholarship fund -- purchased copies of Watson's books, or centerpiece flowers, or made individual donations. A few autographed copies of Watson's books are still available. Call us at 206-262-9793 for details.

NEXT YEAR? Nominations are now open on which media figure(s) we should "toast" next year at our THIRD annual "Gridiron West" Dinner! Email your suggestions to info@wanewscouncil.org.

Major Donation from Media Leader
In our first major donation from a regional media leader, Peter A. Horvitz, Publisher of the Eastside Journal, South County Journal and several other newspapers, pledged a $10,000 contribution to the Washington News Council. The generous donation followed a get-acquainted meeting at the Eastside Journal in June, when Peter and Executive Editor Barbara Morgan graciously hosted a dozen News Council members and staff. Our sincere thanks to Peter and the PAH Foundation.

Public Outreach Efforts. We've been busy with speeches and presentations to people who want to learn more about the Washington News Council. Examples: Overlake Rotary, Bellevue (Feb. 7); Fremont Rotary, Seattle (Jan. 23); State Board of Health Genome Conference, Tacoma (Jan. 5). If your organization would like to hear about the WNC, call us at 206-262-9793 or email info@wanewscouncil.org.
 

New President Named
Eddie Reed, acclaimed Seattle Public Schools teacher and education activist, has been named President of the Washington News Council.

Reed is currently serving as Math Department Head at Washington Middle School and as Curriculum Consultant at T.T. Minor Elementary School.

The Council is an independent, non-profit citizens' organization whose mission is to promote fairness, accuracy and balance in the news media in Washington State. Reed succeeds R.Y. Woodhouse as Council President.

Reed has been a Member of the Council and on its Board of Directors since the organization was formed in 1998. He has also served as co-chair of the Council's Development Committee.

Reed has more than 20 years of teaching experience in grades 6 through 12. He was previously instructor of Business Mathematics at Bellevue Community College, and an instructor at Eastside Catholic High School, and at Summit K-12 School, a prominent area arts and science program.

He was a member of the Mayor's Council on Education and is featured prominently in former Seattle Superintendent John Stanford's book, Victory in our Schools. He is also a Minority Affairs Commission member for the Seattle Teachers Union.

He was a participant in the "Front Porch Forum" civic-journalism project co-sponsored by The Seattle Times, KCTS-9 TV, and KPLU and KUOW FM. He has also been a panelist for the Committee for Responsible Journalism.

A native of Dayton, Ohio, who grew up in Maine, he is a graduate of the University of Maine, Machias. He also served in the U.S. Navy as navigator on the presidential yacht "Sequoia" during the Nixon Administration.

He lives in Mathews Beach with his wife, Beverly, and their two children.

Council Upholds Complaint Against The Olympian

In its first Public Hearing on a citizen's complaint against a newspaper, "Bernard Friedman vs. The Olympian," the News Council on Feb. 12 voted 9 to 6 to uphold the complaint. A videotape of the hearing and a written transcript are available by calling 206.262.9793. Also, you can view our press releases about the hearing and read Bernard Friedman's final statement.