Meet a Member: Jane Primerano

 

One of the wonderful things about belonging to the National Federation of Press Women is the opportunity it gives members to network and have friends all over the United States. My friend Jane Primerano is an accomplished member of NFPW and also other professional organizations. She is a consummate professional who is willing to adapt to meet the needs of our changing profession. Meet another outstanding member of our organization. 

Name: Jane Primerano

City and State: Hope, NJ

Jane Primerano with her ever present Nikon. (Photo by Anthony Buccino).

 

 

Affiliate and any leadership positions: Pennsylvania Press Club. I was a member of the late, lamented, New Jersey Press Women. I was president from 2001 through 2003 and was Communicator of Achievement in 2003. I joined PPC because I wanted to be part of an affiliate and I live 10 minutes from Pennsylvania.

Years a member of NFPW: 33

Tell us a little about you.

Right now, I’m a freelancer specializing in agriculture and agri-business. I am also moving into writing about wineries, craft breweries and craft distilleries, which happened sort of by accident. I have been a reporter, photographer and editor for weekly, daily and online publications. I also spent some time on the “dark side” doing hospital communications and working for public relations firms.

I have three grown children, a son-in-law and two “grandcats.” One of my favorite things is “borrowing” a cousin’s grandchildren and taking them to county fairs and other cool places. Sort of practice, I suppose. I’m active in my church and in Warren County Community Singers.

Jane Primerano with Diesel, a friend’s daughter’s horse in Ohio. Jane loves horses as well as dogs and cats and pretty much any animal. (Photo by Jessica Vezza)

 

 

 

 

Any career advice you would give?

Develop a specialty early on. The only way I can survive as a freelancer is because I have expertise in farming. You never know, especially today, when you may have to become an independent journalist.

Which talent would you most like to have?

A real knack for languages.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Tuscany. But I’d miss my kids.

What book are you reading?

Just finished The Lowlands by Jhumpa Lahiri and started Informing the News by Thomas E. Patterson.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I once played a sheriff at a wild west theme park.

Why is your affiliate and NFPW important to you?

I believe professional organizations are vital for networking and for banding together for our common interests such as freedom of information and journalism ethics.

Way to follow you on a website, twitter, Facebook, etc.

I’m on Facebook as Jane Primerano and on Twitter as @ReporterJane2.

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Meet a Member: Kay Stephens

One of the advantages of NFPW conferences are the pre- and post- conference tours to learn more about the region. That is where you can get to know members better, while enjoying great scenery. I enjoyed spending time with Kay Stephens on the post conference tours to Yellowstone National Park/Jackson, Wyoming in 2008 and again in southern Utah in 2013. She has been a wonderful and supportive NFPW board member, willing to help any way she can, and is working to help organize a future NFPW conference in Pennsylvania. Meet my friend and another unique and unbelievable member, Kay Stephens.

Kay Stephens, right, accepting several contest awards from me at the 2014 conference in South Carolina. Photo by Lori Potter.

Name: Kay Stephens

City and State: Altoona, Pa.

Affiliate and leadership positions: Pennsylvania Press Club, current treasurer and contest director; NFPW assistant archivist

Tell us a little about you:

I am longtime newspaper reporter who writes news and feature stories mostly about to county and municipal governments and their impact on our lives. But at my newspaper with a daily circulation of about 28,000, we reporters are expected to be able to handle everything else too. Outside work, I am a Big Sister in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, a bass bell ringer for my church bell choir and the caretaker of two beautiful Tomcats, Tigger and Patton.

Any career advice you would give?

Make yourself as smart as you can be about the issues you write about. You’ll ask better question of your sources and you’ll write with knowledge.

Kay Stephens on the zipline on a pre-conference tour for the NFPW Conference in South Carolina. Lori Potter photo.

What talent would you most like to have?

The ability to designate a place for everything and to keep everything in its place. My inability to keep a neat desk at work is evidence of this longtime failure.

If you could live anywhere, where would it be:

I’m not sure, but it would definitely be a place where I feel a sense of belonging and purpose.

What book are you reading?

I read more newspapers and magazines than books. But the book on my nightstand, to be read next, is “Busted” by Wendy Ruderman and Barbara Laker of the Philadelphia Daily News. I heard this duo speak last year about their investigative reporting work into a rogue narcotics unit in the Philadelphia police department. They won the Pulitzer Prize for their efforts.

What would people be surprised to learn about you?

I grew up on a small dairy farm in Pennsylvania but we never participated in county fairs. So during my senior year at Penn State, I signed up for a program that taught collegians how to groom and show a dairy cow. The College of Agriculture, along with student clubs, sponsored the show where I won the reserve grand champion amateur showman honors for 1977. I received a big ribbon and a large Penn State ceramic mug that remains on display within my living room bookcase.

What is your affiliate and NFPW important to you?

NFPW and its affiliate, the Pennsylvania Press Club, have given me the opportunity to broaden my horizons. I’ve been exposed to a wide variety of talented and hard-working writers and communicators in various stages of their lives. They’ve educated me in more ways than they know and for that, I’m grateful.

Pennsylvania Press Club members from left, Linda Koehler, Kay Stephens and Pat Ryder enjoy dinner at the 2009 NFPW conference held in San Antonio, Texas.

Also, by attending NFPW national conferences, I’ve been able to see sites including Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, Arches National Park, the Alamo and Chicago. I’ve been on a floating raft trip down the Snake River in Idaho (on a gorgeous day), I went zip-lining from tree to tree in South Carolina and I am very excited about seeing glaciers for the first time when I get to Alaska for this year’s conference.

Contact information:

I’m available at kstephens@altoonamirror.com and look for me on Facebook and LinkedIn.

TV reporter/anchor loves the challenges of job

One of the unique and unbelievable NFPW members attending the conference in Salt Lake City was first-time attendee Rebecca “Becca” Solomon from Pennsylvania. She is an award winning journalist for WPMT FOX43. A Harrisburg native, she is thrilled to be back in her home state covering the news.

Name: Rebecca “Becca” Solomon

City and State: York, PA

Affiliate and any leadership positions: Pennsylvania

Years a member of NFPW: going on two

In a paragraph, tell us a little about you.

I’m a self proclaimed “Renaissance man.”  But it’s not because I know a lot about things.  However, I am interested in just about everything!  I believe that’s why I’m a broadcaster.  I love observing people.  I learn a lot about myself from you.  At 29 years old, I’ve already lived in six states.  I grew up in PA, went to college at Indiana University, and made my move around the country as a reporter and anchor in Wisconsin, Ohio, Tennessee, New York and now, back to Pennsylvania.  My pet child, Rizzo, is the sweetest thing that’s happened to me.  She’s such a doll baby and keeps me grounded when my job throws me left and right. I also enjoy philanthropic opportunities in my community.  I am a fan of dancing, exercising, theater, Saturday Night Live, chocolate, shopping and spending time with my friends and family.  Although my career is challenging and quite stressful, I love what I do and I aspire to do more.

Any career advice you would give? Communicate, communicate, communicate.  Did you hear me!?

Which talent would you most like to have? hmmm, this is a tough question!  Is fortune telling a talent?  If so, I’d like to know what my future holds!  Don’t get me wrong, I love living each day to the fullest without knowing what to expect, most days.  But, sometimes I want to be guaranteed that “it’ll all pay off!”

If you could live anywhere, where would it be?

Somewhere beyond the sea…like Italy, Ireland or Israel…or Manhattan.

What book are you reading?

“Here on Earth,” by Alice Hoffman

What would people be surprised to learn about you?’

I am a sensitive fighter.  Confused?  Let me explain!  Often times, people assume I believe “everything’s fine.”  But I’ll tell ya, I am extremely sensitive regarding situations I care about.  For example, I put 100% into almost everything I do.  I am passionate and focused.  But if I sense my actions are not appreciated or cared for, I feel worthless and even insulted.  But then I put my armor on and respectfully show people why they should “care.”  It may take a few hits, but my strength usually overrides my sensitivity!

Why is your affiliate and NFPW important to you?

I started in NFPW as an at-large member because I was living in New York at the time.  I entered a prepared report in the communications contest and won.  It’s my first professional award.  I was so escatatic and honored, I couldn’t wait to attend the convention in Salt Lake City.  And wow!  What an experience!  I am so excited to travel the NFPW road. The members I’ve met are fascinating in so many unique ways.  I hope to recruit others around my age to keep the NFPW going strong for years to come.

Way to follow you on a website, twitter, etc.

Facebook: Rebecca Solomon Fox43 (Like me! I want to get at least 1000 fans, if not more...)

Twitter: @RebeccaRSolomon  (Follow me! I try to tweet fun (and newsworthy) notes throughout the day)

I’m also in the early stages of creating a website, stay tuned.

(If you know of a unique, unbelievable NFPW member who should be featured, send an email to tlehre@aol.com)