2002 MEDIA ACCESS WORKSHOP
Leads to Story
of A Major Historical Collection

Hank Klibanoff, the Inquirer Deputy Managing Editor/News, was chatting and mingling with participants at the May 18 Media Access Workshop when he learned about Joe Ragsdale's collection of slave artifacts. This tip led to a story that ran on the front page of the Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday, June 25. The collection, according to the newspaper story, is said to be one of the largest private collections in the country.

In an email to PABJ president Sherry Howard on the day the story was published, Klibanoff wrote:

"I just want you to know that today's A1 story about Joe Ragsdale came
directly out of the PABJ media access workshop in May. I was visiting
there with two men, Lamar Kendrick and another man whose name escapes me
right now, and they started chatting with Joe Ragsdale's daughter (one of
his many daughters). "Now there's your story," Lamar Kendrick said, "her
daddy is your story." They then told me about the slavery collection "Joe
Raggs," as they call him, had gathered up. The conversation was
fascinating, as is her father.

Anyway, if you're looking for tangible benefits of that meeting, this is
one.

Thanks again for inviting me."

Inquirer reporter Stephan Salisbury wrote a moving story about an important part of our history.

Don't forget to take a look at our photo gallery of the workshop. And check out the tips on media coverage gleaned from our 1999 workshop. The workshop was co-sponsored by the Philadelphia Black Public Relations Society.