D

Notes on the Just-Completed Philbin Awards Luncheon

A number of our group has returned from the Belo Mansion, whereat was held the 26th annual Stephen Philbin Awards luncheon to recognize excellence in legal reporting. The keynote speaker was Susan DeSanti, of the Federal Trade Commission. Jump for notes on the proceedings.

– One wonders what is up with the Dallas Bar Association and its Philbins-producing crew. On the invitation, under DeSanti’s name, appeared this description of her and her talk: “Description of speaker and her role with the FTC and the workshops being held … include how the topic(s) of workshops are relevant to media and lawyers. Description of speaker and her role with the FTC and the workshops being held …” And so on. But for the grace of God go we at D Magazine. Mistakes do happen. Perhaps in a nod to the recession, the luncheon this year was served buffet style, rather than a full service. Also been there. Currently doing that.

– I had the privilege of sitting next to our Haynes and Boone lawyer, Don Templin, and his wife, Sarah Saldaña, whom Wick recently called a “bone.” Sarah might be the next U.S. Attorney for North Texas, if elected leaders can get their acts together. Weird story: she’s a Democrat. Our two Republican senators have chosen her. Which got a Democratic congressman in a dither. Anyway, Sarah laughed about Wick’s calling her a bone.” One of the commenters in that bone post floated the theory that she and her competition for the U.S. Attorney gig, Terri Moore, might both get screwed, as Dems and Reps seek a compromise candidate. Sarah didn’t think that was likely. The process is too far along. And when might it come to a conclusion? She’s not sure. There’s no real timeline.

– Susan DeSanti, director of policy planning for the FTC, said a few words about what her organization might do about journalism in the Internet age. I’ll say two things about what she said: 1) most of what she said about the FTC and its upcoming workshops to explore whether it ought to take action on behalf of consumers and news organizations can be found here, on the FTC’s site. And 2) she kept her remarks brief. Thankfully.

– Then it was time to hand out the Philbin Awards, a handsome plaque and $750 (or $1,500 for the grand prize). Michael Hall of Texas Monthly won an award. Kudos! But he couldn’t be there to pick it up. Understandable. The guy doesn’t live here. But Skip Hollandsworth and Brian D. Sweany do. Alas, they couldn’t be there to pick up the award either. So I accepted it for him. Michael, I’m taking the staff to Stephan Pyles after work for drinks. In your honor. Oh, also, this was of note: Jim Schutze and Robert Wilonsky won a newly created award this year for “electronic media-news feature.” Their blogging from the City Hall corruption trial was cited as some really solid, good typing. Schutze was there to accept the award and was no doubt pleased to see himself and Wilonsky IDed on the big projection screen as writers working for the Dallas Morning News.