March 1998
Cornely Takes Reins at Winter Convention
Deborah Cornely, managing editor of The Dundalk Eagle, was elected president of the MDDC Press Association Feb. 26 at the Association's Winter Convention at the Admiral Fell Inn in Baltimore. (See her remarks and profile.)

Thomas Graham, executive editor of Patuxent Publishing Co., was chosen president-elect.

The two-day convention in the heart of picturesque and funky Fells Point was marked by unseasonably mild temperatures and featured several highlights:

  • The induction of W. Wright Robinson of Seaford, DE, editor emeritus of The Leader & State Register, into the MDDC Press Association's Newspaper Hall of Fame. (See story, page 4.)
  • An address by Supreme Court reporter Lyle Denniston of The Baltimore Sun on the public's perception of the press (not good) and how developing First Amendment doctrine in the Supreme Court doesn't give cause for rejoicing.
  • A presentation by "Homicide" author David Simon in which he extolled narrative, "storytelling" pieces, and took newspapers to the woodshed for ignoring them.
  • An Associated Press panel of editors that examined current practices and dug for new ways of covering local political campaigns.
  • The presentation of nearly 600 awards in MDDC's biggest contest ever.

    Other officers elected to one-year terms besides Cornely and Graham were Carol Melamed, vice president/government affairs of The Washington Post, vice president; Legusta Floyd, general manager of The Prince George's Post, secretary; and Michael Powell, managing editor of the Frederick News-Post, treasurer.

    Six of the 18 members of the Board of Directors were up for re-election, and all six were returned for three-year terms. They are: Graham; Powell; Elaine Brady, group publisher/director of administration, Gazette Newspapers; Gloria George, executive editor, The Herald-Mail; Jean C. Halle, vice president of new busi-ness development, The Baltimore Sun; and Samuel Martin, advertising director, The News Journal.

    Cornely has been managing editor of The Dundalk Eagle since 1986. One of 11 children of the original owners of the paper, she has worked there since its inception in 1969.

    As president, Cornely succeeds Larry E. Effingham, publisher of The Star Democrat, who had led the Association since February 1997. As immediate past president, Effingham will continue to serve on the Association's Executive Committee with the other officers.

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