The Energizing Business of Oil and Gas Production

By Sara Pentz

The truth about the oil and gas business is that prices fluctuate because of the process of supply and demand. That is the way the free enterprise market works. That process has been over regulated for years with government curbing the progress of oil companies to expand drilling and refining.

But weather plays its own deadly game on the industry when it interferes with production. Oil prices have dropped about 15% from their peak on the day after Katrina while natural gas prices with different supply and demand dynamics are still close to historic highs.

Joe Sims, President of the US Oil and Gas Association, Alabama/Mississippi Division, based in Jackson, believes there are a number of significant opportunities for the Mississippi oil and gas industry as well as for companies from out-of-state who are active in the state. “With commodity prices being high, new ideas will come to the forefront and old ideas will make economic sense. Mississippi has a diverse geological setting and with the increased critical need for all fuels, unconventional and conventional, I think capital will be spent exploring and developing our natural resources.”

Sims points out that U. S. natural gas prices are a result of 1) the damage to onshore processing plants and shut-in production in the gulf and south Louisiana, and 2) an already tight market. In addition, there is pressure on refined products because of the hurricane and the damage done to gulf coast refineries.

“Supply was diminished because the refineries were shut down during the hurricane activity and 25 % of our country’s comes from gulf,” explains Jackson oil investor Wirt Yerger, III, of Crown Communications, LLC. “Central Mississippi was not hurt as badly as those who were drilling in the Gulf of Mexico because we are primarily a land based drilling area.”

Some analysts predict a continuing positive outlook for oil and gas companies in the fourth quarter of this year and first quarter 2006. Expect increased spending to develop the natural-gas industry, both domestically and internationally, by these large companies. And there is a general Wall Street ‘buy’ sign on the large oil companies as their stock continues to increase in value.

Still there are many who believe profits recently announced by the big oil companies should be penalized. But, according to others, that would prove fatal in the long run.

In a recent Townhall.com opinion article Ross Mackenzie writes: “Federal policy has assisted in multiple ways the developing crises in refined petroleum and natural gas. Regarding natural gas, easy-to-reach gas is tapping out, while federal policy long has discouraged - and still does - incentives for accessing the hard-to-reach. Regarding refining capacity, federal policy has hugely contributed - through environmental demands and requirements for boutique fuels - to a plunge from 324 refineries in 1981 (daily processing 18.6 million barrels of crude), to 149 in 2004 (daily processing 16.8 million barrels), and all while domestic demand for refined petroleum goes up.”

W.D. (Billy) Mounger, of Jackson–based Delta Royalty Company, Inc., has been in the oil business for a half century. “Years ago every oil company had offices here––Chevron, Shell, City Service. All of that is gone now. They’ve all moved to New Orleans or Houston. We have just a handful of independents left––the ones who had the wherewithal and the brilliance to survive. But they’ve had to pay the price to stay here.”

Ralph Hines, of Ridgeland–based Moon–Hines Tigrett Operation Company, says the hurricanes had no impact on his exploration business in the Alabama and Mississippi areas. “Gas prices have gone down some. Permits to drill are being issued routinely. Our business is okay even though we don’t have the margin of profit of the big oil companies. We’re continuing to do well in natural gas, a very valuable commodity right now. We see a pretty long period of increased activity for our business.”

Jackson’s Victor Smith, of Victor P. Smith Companies, puts together prospects that he thinks have a good chance of increasing commercial oil production. His company is hoping to have six new prospects in 2006. “In the past month, we have been delayed in some of our work in South Louisiana because some of the courthouses were not open and we weren't able to perform our land work,” he says of the effects of the hurricanes on his business. “We had minimal problems because of the hurricanes––but we are having some trouble with a well now that was interrupted by Katrina.”

Smith’s company is still on track regardless of those disruptions. “I believe our prospects for the future will be extremely good over the next three or four years. However, there will be some problems such as the availability of drilling equipment and the high cost of leases, and the possibility that Congress might come up with a windfall tax.”

Spooner Petroleum Company is an independent oil and gas producer formed in 1976. The company is involved in both exploration and production of oil and gas with land based operations located in North Louisiana, South Central Mississippi and Alabama.

Michael Spooner was fortunate that his company did not suffer damage to any of the facilities from either Hurricane Katrina or Rita, although he did experience a production shut-in due to the loss of electrical power. In addition, some of his field personnel could not get gasoline to fuel their trucks and therefore could not get to the production sites. They were also affected personally by the storms damage.

“We were able to restore most of the production within a few days,” Spooner explains. “Our most significant storm related problem involved a drilling rig at a well in Jones County Mississippi. We were forced to lower the derrick prior to the storm passing. The lowering of the mast proved to be a wise move because the eye of Katrina passed directly over the drill site. The cost to us as a result of the lost time was in excess of $100,000.”

For the Spooner Petroleum Company the future of the oil and gas business still looks good. “All oil and gas exploration and production companies,” explains Spooner, “are working diligently to supply our nation and the world with oil and gas. The world demand is continuing to increase and supply is tight. Oil companies, in particular independent companies (private not public), return their profits to exploration.”

While some government officials and consumers may bemoan these profits, it is essential for oil companies to make them in order to pay for the cost of permits, processing the regulations, drilling and building refineries.

“The notion that oil companies have some how manipulated the market to receive the current high prices is simply not true,” says Spooner. “The prices are controlled by supply and demand as determined by the world market.” In fact, the world market has changed considerably in the past years. China, India and other countries are consuming much more fuel and that demand has forced up prices.

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas is an advocate for liberty in politics. Writing in his weekly column recently he spoke to the issue of a free market for gasoline. “Many Americans understandably are upset with the sharp spike in gas prices since Hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast in August, and are concerned by reports of oil company profits. But we must understand that high oil prices are not the result of an unregulated free market. On the contrary, the oil industry is among the most regulated and most subsidized of U.S. industries. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves whether too much government involvement in the oil markets, rather than too little regulation, has kept the supply of refined gasoline artificially low.”

Paul adds: “Most Americans agree that the American economy should not be dependent upon Middle East oil. He sites economist George Reisman, author of CAPITALISM: A Treatise on Economics––which has been called a magnum opus on the nature of capitalism and the clearest and most comprehensive defense of capitalist economic system available.

Reisman explains that our own domestic regulations make us slaves to OPEC: “Today, it is possible once again to bring about a dramatic fall in the price of oil – indeed, one even larger than occurred in the 1980s. And it could begin right away. All that is necessary is to abolish the U.S. government’s restrictions on domestic energy production inspired by the environmentalist movement.”

Paul writes: “Reisman also explains how abolishing restrictions on coal production, natural gas production, and nuclear power would further reduce the OPEC stranglehold. By increasing the supply of these other energy sources, demand for oil would decrease and prices would drop.”

Michael Spooner agrees with many economists and industry experts who say that the biggest threat to the oil and gas industry is negative legislation. “Currently there is much talk in Washington about punishing the oil companies by taxing away a portion of their profits,” he says. “That would be a tremendous mistake for the energy security of this country. Such a tax will do nothing to lower the price of oil, to build a new refinery or to lower the price of gasoline. In fact history has shown us that just the opposite will occur.”

As Spooner points out, the Carter Administration enacted such legislation in the late 70s with the Windfall Profits Tax. “That tax is partially to blame for the current energy situation in this country. Instead of punitive action with no benefit, Congress should enact legislation for incentives to the industry and to use sound scientific judgment concerning environmental regulation.”

Late last week Hillary Clinton and a few other officials in Washington joined forces to call for laws that would require oil companies to reinvest their profits in increasing refinery capacity in the United States. Clinton proposed to hit oil companies with $20 billion in new fees that would be used to fund research on clean energy. This, of course, according to many in the oil industry, will only drive up costs for oil producers that they would inevitably pass along to consumers.

But the feeling in Washington is that legislation must be enacted. In a New York Times article (October 28, 2005) written by Jad Mouawad and Simon Romero, the authors claim: “Today, Republicans and Democrats alike, aware of the politically sensitive issue of high energy prices, are putting increasing pressure on the oil and gas industry to return some of its profits. The ideas include forcing the industry to invest in more refining capacity, to increase inventories to cushion energy shocks, or to provide money directly to the government program that helps low-income people pay heating bills.”

This is exactly what Spooner is talking about. People in government are unwilling to let business operate on the principle of supply and demand. These tax proposals will only do damage to the industry and cause further shortages. Further, it is not consistent with the principles of economic freedom to use force against an industry for arbitrary political motives.

OAGA spokesman Joe Sims agrees. “New taxes on the industry would hurt new investment in the nation. The cost to find and produce oil and natural gas is significantly higher and we, as a policy matter, should be encouraging capital expenditures. Industry investments are capital intensive and have risks just like other business investments and we compete internationally with other countries for this investment.”

Some experts speaking to the oil profits say the big problem is the regulatory and permitting processes that makes it hard to do almost anything new and significant in refineries, including building new ones.

Spooner, Yerger, Hines, Mounger, Smith, and other investors in the business, like to hear about higher profits. “It makes more sense for us to drill for oil when prices are higher. We might take more risks and complete wells that we might not have completed,” adds Yerger. “When profits are lower we might need to plug and abandon our untapped wells.” And that is not good for any business––even those only allied with the oil companies––as well as the cities and towns in which these oil companies do business.

Of course, the business of drilling for oil is very risky. Yerger continues: “You may be successful on one out of eight holes and some investors may loose big time. Something like eight out of 10 holes are dry. If the price is high enough and you can find a good field–hopefully good geology with seismic research–then you can be successful and make good money.”

###

Sheldon Laboratory Systems

An A+ for Enhancing Scientific Learning

By Sara Pentz

Imagine how enthralling it must be for an adolescent science student to witness laboratory demonstrations in a classroom setting where his curiosity is constantly nurtured. Then picture that child as he begins to achieve an awareness of the technique of problem–solving that will motivate him toward a lifelong interest in the natural world.

Little does that youngster know he will be confronted increasingly with questions that require scientific information for informed decision–making. Throughout his years––in his elementary, high school and university science schooling––he will gradually grasp that concept and be grateful to those who helped make possible his thinking skills.

In one very important way Sheldon Laboratory Systems (www.sheldonlabs.com), based in Crystal Springs, is responsible for making this child’s science lesson easier, faster––more interactive and inspiring. The 100–employee Mississippi furniture company makes sure that school science labs are no longer filled with drab tables where students must crowd around one small microscope in an effort to catch a glimpse of a scientific demonstration.

Sheldon is a manufacturer of innovative science laboratory and casework equipment for the school, college, industrial, and healthcare markets. The company creates space-saving, multipurpose furnishings that are outfitting school labs from Mississippi to New Jersey to California. In addition, Sheldon has supplied equipment to Canada, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

For our little science student, kid-size tables imprinted with rulers, charts and other useful tools are just the right size to get his first taste of science. Sheldon has designed panels that hang on the wall and give teachers a way to demonstrate science experiments. Clay Thames, Sheldon’s VP/sales and marketing, talks about the growing demand for science classroom equipment for the elementary school market. “There’s a renewed effort to teach math and science at an earlier age,” he says. “Our products are more mobile and much smaller for this market.”

What makes Sheldon the teacher’s pet is the ingenuity applied to the design of its patented products. “I have seen standard designs evolve into innovative plans that meet the specific needs of our students and teachers,” explains James W. Collins, science program coordinator at the University of Texas in Austin.

“Our jobs can range from one science lab for a very small school to a multi-million dollar university project,” explains Sheldon President Eddie Adkins. “Our products have been designed to be an active part of the teaching and learning process. We are doing things to help classrooms utilize their space better. You know that old saying––tell me something and I’ll remember 20%. Show me and I’ll remember 40%. We’re providing the right environment for teachers to be interactive with their students.”

Sheldon’s patented designs are carefully planned to meet the Americans with Disabilities Act requirements. The company maintains a relationship with the National Science Teachers Association in order to keep up with science teaching methods and standards.

Listening to their clients speak is a first priority because the company is constantly reconfiguring a classroom for a specific school’s needs. Sheldon looks for input from lab consultants, architects, builders, manufacturers and teachers to improve its designs.

Sheldon knows how to impact the equation so that everyone saves a dollar. “It’s clear that Sheldon has spent time communicating with educators and that Sheldon products are the results of extensive research and collaboration with the end user,” explains architect Dan Snead of Beckley, West Virginia. “Sheldon designs products that provide practical solutions to problems other manufacturers don’t even seem to be aware of. The Axis 3 System helped me to reduce the classroom laboratory areas by approximately 1000 square feet. This represented a savings in construction cost of over $100,000.”

Sheldon’s Axis 3 table, for example, is the first lab table to allow for the integration of standard desktop computers, flat-screen monitors or individual laptops. The table’s unique shape allows students to work facing their instructor around the perimeter of the table with access to a built- in sink, computer and all other equipment. The tabletop smoothly transitions from a standing height to a sitting height. Each has chemically resistant tops, a rotating computer monitor well and a wireless keyboard, with two cold water and gas fixtures.

Adkins and his team at Sheldon are about as proud of their company’s accomplishments as they would be if they had earned an A on their latest science exam. “We try to be quiet about what we do,” explains Adkins, who demonstrates his pride with his own modesty. “We let people watch us and see our successes. People in Mississippi probably don’t realize what we’re doing in the research and science business. For the some 6,000 people in Crystal Springs we’re the place where they want to work. Our employees have a lot of pride and passion. We’re supporting other Mississippi businesses––we’re touching as many Mississippi manufacturers as we can.”

Another innovative idea is the multimedia, boomerang shaped teacher desk that allows students to see demonstrations clearly. The desk provides space for a computer, VCR, LaserDisc player, Elmo and flex camera to be routed through an LCD projector onto a screen for classroom viewing and operated by remote control. A ceiling mirror over the desk can be dropped down and tilted at any angle to allow students to see the demonstration from overhead.

Adkins fully expects the multimillion–dollar company to continue growing by at least 15 percent each year. Patents have been obtained and others are pending on Sheldon designs which can nurture that growth. Since Sheldon is branching out into the elementary science classrooms with their products––following a trend throughout education to bring science to younger and younger students––future growth is fully expected.

Understanding science enhances the capability of students to hold meaningful and productive jobs in the future. The business community needs entry-level workers with the ability to learn, reason, think creatively, make decisions and solve problems. In addition, concerns regarding economic competitiveness stress the central importance of science and mathematics education that will allow this country to keep pace with global competitors.

When that little first grader enters his science classroom he will certainly be awed at the gadgets and gizmos that lie before him. It may look to him like a playroom. In fact, Sheldon Laboratory Systems, provides much more than that because it is the company’s intention to create a learning center for a child who will grow up to comprehend the world more clearly.

###

Noted Economists Praise "Noble Vision' Novel - Press Release

Noted Economists Praise New Novel Noble Vision
Reflects the Current Controversy in Healthcare
Should the government control the medical treatment of individuals?

(Chicago, IL – March 2005) When economists and social commentators rave about a new novel, it’s time to take note. Milton Friedman, Nobel laureate economist, says about Chicago author Gen LaGreca’s medical thriller Noble Vision: “The defects of government-controlled medicine are dramatized effectively in this page-turning story of the love of a brilliant physician for a beautiful ballerina who becomes his patient.” Also weighing in is magazine magnate Steve Forbes, who calls the book a “salutary tale of what can happen to medical breakthroughs if Big Government claws even deeper into our healthcare system!”

Noble Vision's accurate descriptions of the nightmares of state-run healthcare have earned endorsements from medical leaders, including Edward Annis, Past President of the American Medical Association, and Jane Orient, Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons.

Recent news events have raised the question: Should the government have the power to make decisions concerning a person’s medical treatment? Noble Vision examines this heated controversy—not through a dry nonfiction treatise but through the enchantment of fiction.

Author Gen LaGreca, a former pharmaceutical chemist and a healthcare writer, creates two intriguing characters—Nicole Hudson, the lovely Broadway dancer who rose to stardom from a disadvantaged childhood only to have her life shattered by a tragic accident, and David Lang, the impassioned neurosurgeon determined to restore her health no matter what price he must pay.

Nicole’s only hope is Lang’s revolutionary treatment—a way of regenerating damaged nerve tissue to cure paralysis and other nerve injuries. The trouble is that this new procedure is rejected by “CareFree,” New York’s universal health system, a bureaucracy bogged down in budget overruns, red tape, and political corruption.

The surgeon stands to destroy his marriage, lose his license—and even be arrested—if he uses his unauthorized procedure. But if he gives his patient the conventional treatment approved by the government, she will remain disabled for life. Should he follow his mind or obey the law? The patient ardently wants the experimental treatment. Should she be allowed to make medical decisions for herself, or should the government intervene? These issues wreak havoc in the lives of Noble Vision’s characters.

Asked what moved her to write Noble Vision, the author replies, “After years of working in the healthcare industry, I feel as if I’m witnessing the slow death of something great, something that shouldn’t be allowed to die—America’s gold standard of medicine.”

As innovative as its surgeon-protagonist, Noble Vision breaks the mold encasing much of today’s fiction. In an age in which plot stories and character studies, not to mention romances and thrillers, appear in distinctly separate categories of fiction, and far-reaching themes are rare, Noble Vision delightfully combines a rich mix of story elements in one satisfying read. The novel was a finalist in the Houston Writers League Manuscript Contest.

Noble Vision was released by Winged Victory Press, a Chicago-based independent press dedicated to publishing works that celebrate the American spirit of individualism. “There’s a growing demand for books reflecting our distinctly American ideals of liberty and limited government, as well as the personal initiative and achievement that result from being free,” says Ms. LaGreca. Winged Victory Press will also publish the author’s second novel, a semi-finalist in the Pirate’s Alley William Faulkner Creative Writing Competition.

For more information on Ms. LaGreca’s novel Noble Vision or her views on the healthcare controversy as the thematic conflict of the book, contact Sara Pentz, 949.719.0902, sara@sarapentz.com, or contact the author directly at glagreca@wingedvictorypress.com.

NOBLE VISION, a novel by Gen LaGreca
Distribution in US and Canada: Biblio Distribution/NBN
6 X 9 inches, 338 pages, published March 2005
Hardcover: ISBN 0-9744579-8-1, $27.95 US
Paperback: ISBN 0-9744579-4-9, $14.95 US
Available from bookstores in the US and Canada, Amazon.com, Laissez Faire Books (lfb.com), capitalism.net, and others.
Free excerpt is available at www.wingedvictorypress.com.

###

Occupy Your Dreams - Article

Occupy Your Dreams
At Time & Place Homes

By Sara Pentz

A sophisticated new service combining luxury and anonymity has entered the residential home market in recent years. International lawyer Mitch Willey, founder and president of Time & Place Homes, developed the concept stemming from his own hobby of collecting real estate properties. Willey combines his passion for prime real estate with the needs of travelers who want the services of a similarly priced hotel room with the greater space, privacy, independence and comfort of a real home.

“When traveling throughout the world, I sought the services of a five-star hotel but craved the solitude and convenience of a private home,” he explains. Two years ago Willey created his concept and—voilà!—today he represents some 75 homes around the world. Willey describes the business as a premier asset management firm of second and third homes, which can otherwise be daunting for owners to manage themselves.

The business premise is two-fold. Multi-homeowners can find a secondary income from renting their seldom-used properties. And, travelers can stay in exclusive home environments instead of commercial properties. Explains Willey: “We take care of our guests’ every wish while they are staying with us, and they never have to be concerned with a long-term legal agreement involved when purchasing a property.”

In each of the company’s residences, Willey has achieved the welcoming environment of a true home with a wide variety of design styles. A 16^th century French penthouse apartment in Paris has been up-dated with all the modern conveniences, while maintaining its original charm. In Palm Springs, an elegant mid-20^th century desert home still brims with Old Hollywood panache.

Each residence has been carefully renovated by a team of architects, landscape and interior designers with such features as Sub-Zero and Wolf kitchens, Waterworks fixtures, Penhaligon’s products, Frette linens, French antiques and lush swimming pools.

“Every one of our homes has what I call a “wow” factor. They may not be the most expensive or the largest, but they are the best,” he explains. “Still when all the luxuries and accoutrements are factored into the price, the costs are less than similarly priced hotels.”

Then there’s the ‘pamper’ factor. Willey takes pride in the personalized concierge services offered to guests. This include airport transportation, access to prescreened masseurs, private chefs, errand services, babysitters, personalized tours, private aerobics or yoga classes, cooking classes or golf instructions, Internet connections, fax, stereo, cable television and state of the art DVD systems. A concierge will even stock your kitchen before you arrive and a cleaning service will keep everything immaculate. When guests want to know where to dine out, shop or book a sunrise massage, all they need to do is ask their personal concierge.

Time & Place Homes’ apartments and estates are located in Palm Springs, Sonoma, Kauai, Puerto Vallarta, Nantucket, Beaver Creek and Jackson Hole, to name a few. Many properties are on the National Historic Registry and some have been owned or frequented by celebrities. Because of their expansive layouts and scenic settings, the homes are often the site of weddings, special events, television commercials or film productions. Time & Place properties are also popular for corporate retreats and executive housing. Companies use them for anything from brainstorming sessions and team-building exercises to unforgettable receptions.

So, if you’re looking for an unmatched and worldly spot to stay, you can find places in the heart of Paris, the center of town in Nantucket or on the slopes in Jackson Hole. Whatever your choice—17th century French, classic 50’s Palm Springs or the rich rustic Rocky Mountains—click on www.timeandplacehomes.com to occupy your dreams.

###

Chipping Away at Bias - Article

Chipping Away at Bias
Commentary
By Sara Pentz

As John Adams said, more than two centuries ago:
"Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes,
our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions,
they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

Faint in the background I hear the chip-chip-chip of a tiny pickaxe as it begins to expose the bias in the media. It is a fragile sound, but nevertheless it is there in response to the increasingly open criticism of the media from all sides of the spectrum. Taken collectively there is evidence to indicate that the end result may open a crevice into which those who do not report with objectivity and integrity will fall—unless they find it absolutely necessary to listen to the whittlers in the forest.

There are reasons to hope for a more fair and responsible media. For one, the expansion of Internet sites devoted to demonstrating biases has taken the lead. Sites like Townhall.com and Spinsanity.org (“Countering Rhetoric with Reason”) cut to the chase analyzing biases. For another, some book publishers looking at the bottom line have finally discovered that books critical of media bias actually sell.

Former CBS correspondent Bernard Goldberg’s books “Bias” and his newest one “Arrogance” have exposed bias on a first person basis making Goldberg a highly reliable source. When Goldberg revealed that, “…his network—and all the others—were liberal,” it came as a shock to his colleagues. He wrote, “…the liberal press had been talking to themselves for so long, they all believed that every other sane person shared their views, and that Republicans, the NRA and pro-lifers were all wackos.” The response from Liberals was to flail him over a hot stake. His books have sold very well.

There are other small fissures exposing media bias which, when taken as an overview, seem to reflect the general appearance of an anti-bias uprising. At NBC, Today Anchor Katy Couric is said to be losing popularity with viewers and The Today Show is losing ratings. For example, sounding like a good Liberal, she claimed that the capture of Saddam Hussein was only symbolic. Not that Couric is the only one who colors her reports and interviews. Maybe that’s why the public is voting with a remote control.

Meanwhile, across the pond, the BBC is in trouble. Recently, an independent inquiry looked at the BBC’s report about supposedly “sexed up” information regarding weapons of mass destruction in order to sway the British public against the Iraq war. The inquiry found all allegations entirely unfounded, vindicating the government—but not before the tragic suicide of the reporter’s source. The report precipitated the resignation of the BBC chairman, the director-general and the reporter responsible for the debacle. Later it was reported that the British government was considering a plan to break up the BBC and remove its independent status.

Early this year ABC News made an amazing confession of sorts about its own bias. On its own website the Network published “A Note” written by the political unit:

* Like every other institution, the Washington and political press corps operate with a good number of biases and predilections.

* They include, but are not limited to, a near-universal shared sense that liberal political positions on social issues like gun control, homosexuality, abortion, and religion are the default, while more conservative positions are ‘conservative positions.’

* They include a belief that government is a mechanism to solve the nation's problems; that more taxes on corporations and the wealthy are good ways to cut the deficit and raise money for social spending and don't have a negative affect on economic growth; and that emotional examples of suffering (provided by unions or consumer groups) are good ways to illustrate economic statistic stories. ...

* It still has a hard time understanding how, despite the drumbeat of conservative grass-top complaints about overspending and deficits, President Bush's base remains extremely and loyally devoted to him – and it looks for every opportunity to find cracks in that base.

The fact that ABC posted this information on its own website for all to read deepens the chipping by a considerable margin. But then along comes The New York Times with a brilliant new idea. The solution to a Liberal bias, they determined in a formal announcement, was to examine “…conservative forces in religion, politics, law, business and the media...” by giving a new Conservative beat to a former media correspondent. Here now would be reports from one man about all the conservative views on Earth while the rest of the staff would continue to write from their own Liberal viewpoint. It was typical Times politics to pretend that this was the answer to bias, but—still—it was an admissions of sorts.

The top people at The Times, and others, surely have not changed their politics or philosophy—or even acknowledged their bias. But The Times, even in this convoluted manner—by implication—has admitted that it is publishing slanted material. That act alone might convince us that the faint chipping away we hear might one day lead to the non-objective stalwarts in the forest falling one-by-one upon their swords—ending the monopoly of media bias. Just maybe!

###

The Diminishing Art of Inquiry

By Sara Pentz

Watching television news programs over the years I have become saddened by how many interviewers use questions as a vehicle for their own political agenda. Today, the art of inquiry in the media has digressed into a platform for speechmaking. Often its purpose is to create doubt, even to dispute facts with which the interviewer disagrees. This behavior allows reporters, and especially TV hosts, to obfuscate the truth, slant it, proselytize, or even forge new versions of the facts to fit a certain agenda. This is a disease that is breaking the back of journalism.

Asking clear and direct questions, without sneaking in a personal viewpoint, is essential to the end result of obtaining clear and direct answers from the interviewees. The art of inquiry requires a solemn promise on the part of the questioner to maintain objectivity.

There are general rules that govern the journalist’s questioning process. They are referred to as the 5Ws: who, what, when, where and why. The most critical of these is “why.” By asking the why, the logic and reasoning of the interviewee can be observed. By repeating this singular question many times, one can observe the depth, breadth and basis of their thinking. This method of inquiry can reveal the interviewee’s character, his inability to articulate his ideas or his deliberate desire to distort. It will reveal hidden agendas, opportunism and deceit—or insight and enlightenment. Question asking is the critical mass of journalism.

The deterioration of question asking by the media has prompted some newspapers, magazines and online newsletters to list offenders. The Media Research Center, for one, recently selected some examples of network TV news question-abuse as documented over several days in late November 2003. Herein are three examples with comment:

#1- "Forty Americans have been killed in the last 10 days, over 400 killed since the war began - more than the number lost during the first three years of Vietnam. Would you concede that things are very dangerous and continue to be extremely messy and difficult in Iraq?" -- NBC's Katie Couric to Ambassador Paul Bremer on Today , November 17 Does Ms. Couric think wars are not messy? Her question is not meant to pursue the truth. In addition, her facts are wrong. Some tens of thousands were killed in Vietnam in that period of time.

#2- "The President said during his remarks to the troops: 'You're defeating terrorists in Iraq so we don't have to face them in our own country.' Now, there's no connection between Iraq and 9/11. Why does the President persist in tying those two together?" -- CBS's Harry Smith to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice on the November 28 Early Show. Mr. Smith posits there is no connection between Iraq and 9/11. It is an agenda-filled statement, since facts to that effect have not emerged one way or the other. The second part of his statement about the President ‘persist(ing)’ is a deliberate slur. The appropriate question to Ms. Rice might have been, “Do we know (or how do we know or when will we know) that by defeating terrorists in Iraq, we will not have terrorism in our country?”

#3- "There's obviously great symbolism to this trip, because it is important for a Commander-in-Chief to come and see his troops. But so is there symbolism in that things are so unstable that he had to sneak in, in darkness, that he never left the airport, that he could only stay two and a half hours. Isn't there symbolism in the fact that it points up that not much has changed in eight months?" -- ABC's Charles Gibson asking Condoleezza Rice about President Bush's Thanksgiving Day trip to Iraq, on the November 28 Good Morning America. Mr. Gibson has consciously described the trip in words that clearly belittle the President’s action and, by innuendo, undermine the trip and its intent. In fact, the President went to Iraq to see the troops and boost their morale. Because of the war the trip was clearly dangerous.

Each of these statements is based on the premise that the media’s role is to teach, not to inform. Members of the media, in general, believe that the public cannot be trusted to make appropriate judgments, since the average mentality, they say, is that of a 12-year-old. By exercising the 5Ws, the opinions of questioners can be held in check. Of course, this presupposes integrity and commitment on the part of the journalist.

I recently reread the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists as a reminder of the purpose and responsibilities of this profession. The document warns: “Deliberate distortion is never permissible. Examine your own cultural values and avoid imposing them on others. Support the open exchange of views, even views you find repugnant. Distinguish between advocacy and news reporting. Analysis and commentary should be labeled and not misrepresent fact or context.”

No honest journalist can read that document and listen to TV hosts without a sense of shame at the diminishing art of inquiry.

(Journalist Sara Pentz has worked as a TV reporter/anchor and has written for local, regional and national magazines and newspapers.)

CAPITALIZING ON A CHARM

By Sara Pentz

The idea of mixing and matching fashions takes on new meaning when you’re a client of Southern California-based JudeFrances Jewelry. The concept of interchangeability for clothing has been an accepted mode with the fashion savvy for years. But Jude Steele and Frances Gadbois have taken the concept to a new level with their mix and match jewelry and charms. The concept has also caused a fashion rage with retail outlets like Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue carrying the company’s upscale niche jewelry.

For example, one piece of jewelry can be worn as a necklace and on another occasion as a bracelet. Another piece can hang on a leather or gold chain. Many of the JudeFrances earrings are based on the interchangeability of the charms they bear. This is how it works. Take one plain diamond hoop earring, slide on some turquoise and pearls and—voila—you have created earrings that will match your outfit for the day. Or take one hoop, add a chandelier or a long straight dangle drop and now you’re ready for a night out in your most delicious evening clothes.

“After a year we realized that charms are big business,” explains Frances. Women love the idea of creating an earring to match or complement an outfit. Instead of having that one expensive piece of jewelry to wear on a special occasion, they can buy an assortment of charms in all kinds of semiprecious stone configurations and proceed to create an entirely unique look. Initially, Frances was the interior designer and Jude the fashion photographer dabbling in jewelry design. Today, they are more productive as a team because their tastes are complementary. Fusing their creativity was the magic bullet.

Through a series of sound business decisions, fashion wisdom, hard work, long hours, managing children and coping with their creative identities, the two have turned that $9,000 initial investment into a seven-figure operation—and counting.

Their jewelry line consists of time-honored crowns and crosses laden with colorful stones. Jude tends to be the trendsetter specializing in edgy funk. Frances is the conservatively-elegant type. In the early days, for example, Frances doodled a flower with heart-shaped petals that was fashioned into a charm and it became one of their most popular pieces. But there are no cliché-ridden designs in this collection, even though they create crosses, crowns and fleur-de-lis—each a symbol of royalty—in every conceivable pattern. “We finally buckled and did a whole new line of hearts,” Jude admits. The new line is set to debut around Mother’s Day.

While their jewelry line is on the fast track of popular appeal, it is also in the black. “Our charms are such a big hit and by developing the charm line we have naturally created our own repeat customer,” explains Jude alluding to the dream of every retailer. “Also, women love to collect—who doesn’t—and that is an additional element of our success. You can choose charms from a price range of $300 to $3,000.” A word for the wise: give your husbands a list of charms, and shopping for the wife is as easy as a mouse click at www.judefrances.com.

The company is garnering praise from the abundant media coverage it has received as the new kid on the block. It’s a problem most retailers would love to enjoy. Recently, the two women were showing their wares at a truck show in Beverly Hills. They almost fell over themselves when they saw high profile celebrity Oprah Winfrey coming towards them. Afraid to ask, but anxious to please, they politely showed Oprah their line and she bought the Guinevere Cross on a hand pulled chain and the fleur-de-lis charm for the diamond hoop earrings. Later they sent Oprah a circle necklace featuring a dangling white topaz briolette that the famous talk show host often wears on her television show. The buzz generated was immense and phone calls from Oprah viewers came flooding in. “We used to call this the open circle. Now we call it the O Necklace,” explains Frances.

Other celebrities sport the JudeFrances line. “Mindy Burbano, of KTLA Los Angeles fame, is wearing our jewelry on TV and has been so supportive,” adds Frances. Jude remembers it was only two years ago that they were struggling to get attention from boutiques and retail stores. Now buyers are scampering after the JudeFrances line based on the publicity they have received and the salability of the pieces. The limelight has brought other accolades including the award for Innovation presented at the 2004 JA New York Winter Show this year for the exhibitor with the most creative and original marketing plan. No coincidence that is was called the Big Apple Campaign.

Color it onyx, aquamarine, amethyst or apple green, the real color of the bottom line for JudeFrances Jewelry is abundant success. The two women are projecting that 2004 will see a two-fold increase in the financial numbers etched at the bottom of their already burgeoning P&L statement.

Sara Pentz is a professional journalist living in Corona del Mar. She has been a TV reporter/anchor and has written for local, regional and national magazines and newspapers. www.sarapentz.com

March 05, 2004