Ruth Ann Harnisch makes grant to Poynter

• Small disclosure: Ms. Harnisch was my college roommate a long time ago. Of the two of us, she was destined to make a difference in the world and has long since done so. I only wish she was on my side (the right) instead of the left. For example, I'd be happy if the Poynter Institute closed down. (Susan Mullen, aka framus)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - 11/12/09: "The Poynter Institute announced today a $35,000 grant from The Harnisch Foundation as the Institute prepares to observe its 35th anniversary next year. The grant is to launch an online curriculum for entrepreneurial journalists.

• Ruth Ann Harnisch, a former journalist and president of the foundation, said: "Since the Institute's founding, the business of journalism has changed in ways few could have imagined 35 years ago. Now, we're marking this anniversary with a gift that recognizes the need for training to meet the demands of the vastly altered field."...

The Harnisch Foundation previously supported the Institute with grants for scholarships and software to create "Studio H," the base for Webinars and other interactive synchronous training through Poynter's News University (www.newsu.org).

• Howard Finberg, who leads NewsU, Poynter's online training program, said the Harnisch grant would help create
  

• the first of a series of NewsU e-learning modules to serve an increasing number of entrepreneurial journalists and those creating technologies for traditional news media.

NewsU currently has more than 125,000 registered users, including 15 percent from outside the United States. "Our mission is to provide interactive, inexpensive courses that appeal to journalists, journalism students and anyone interested in media training," Finberg said.

• Harnisch spent three decades in media work, including Emmy-nominated television reporting and anchoring at the WTVF-TV (CBS) in Nashville, Tenn., a daily talk-radio program on WLAC-AM, and 17 years as a columnist for the Nashville Banner."...