Jeff Webb - Webbwords

The team from Jeff Webb Communications had a great time at the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce membership breakfast on Wednesday, April 28. In addition to the usual opportunities to network and greet old friends, it was great to see so many new members attend for the first time.

As sponsor of this monthly breakfast event, yours truly was asked to make a 5-minute presentation about my business. I was grateful for the opportunity to introduce several of my associates and publicly acknowledge the work they are doing for our clients. Those team members included Lori Bainum, Linda Hamilton, Cindy Harper and Debbie Wolfe.

The 100-plus people in attendance quickly grasped the organizational structure of Jeff Webb Communications as I analogized our operation to the 1980s television show The A-Team, which starred George Peppard as Col. Hannibal Smith. Those of you who remember the show's plot line know that each week Hannibal accepted an assignment from someone in need, then he would devise an ingenious plan to make it work. Finally, he would assemble a team of specialists to accomplish the mission, usually in heroic fashion.

I wanted to make sure all the subscribers to our newsletter Webb on the Web are aware that Jeff Webb Communications is sponsoring the Greater Hernando County Chamber of Commerce's monthly membership breakfast Wednesday, April 28. (Details follow in this announcement that was published in the Business Digest of the St. Petersburg Times Saturday, April 24, and reprinted here for your convenience.)

I realize that our clients who live outside Hernando County may not be able to attend, but I hope those who do live nearby will join us. Besides being able to meet some of JWC's key associates, you will be treated to an update from guest speakers Stan Giannet and Bonnie Clark about Pasco-Hernando Community College's soon-to-open campus in Spring Hill.

And if that's not enough incentive for you to attend, here's another: We are sponsoring a business-card drawing to win a free consultation with Jeff Webb Communications. That's a $500 value.

CBS' 60 Minutes is one of my favorite television shows. It has been a Sunday night fixture in my life for 30+ years. Only football and golf preempt its viewing. Although I think the show's reports -- and its reporters -- have lost an edge from the old days, I still think 60 Minutes' brand of journalism demonstrates depth and fairness that exceeds most so-called "news magazine'' shows on ABC, NBC and Fox networks.

One reason that 60 Minutes has endured is because of the leadership Don Hewitt, who founded the show in 1968 and produced it for 36 years. By all accounts, Hewitt, who passed away last year at age 86, was a newsman's newsman. He was persistent, demanding and willing to chase complicated stories that not only exposed wrongdoing, but explained to viewers how it affected their lives. He also had a keen sense of judgment when it came to profiling newsmakers, and making their stories relevant to 60 Minutes' viewers.

But Hewitt's secret to success was not his ability to gather or report the news; it was his understanding of how to present it.