Chanticleer Book Reviews

Tag: Janice Ellis PhD

The Lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life Should Give Us Hope Today by Janice Ellis, CIBA Nellie Bly Grand Prize Winner
Annual Inspiration from Dr. Janice S. Ellis

Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D., is the Nellie Bly Book Awards (CIBA) for Investigative and Long Form Journalism Works Grand Prize winner and the Journey Book Awards for Overcoming Adversity (CIBA). Her works address political, racial, educational, and socioeconomic news and issues.

Dr. Ellis has been an author for more than thirty years and writes for columns for newspapers along with broadcasting on radio and streaming services. We are honored that she has submitted and received Chanticleer International Book Awards and Chanticleer five-starred book reviews, for the following books, that have also received other prestigious awards and stellar reviews from Kirkus and Midwest Book Reviews.
We saw that Dr. Ellis’s column for MLK Day was published in the Missouri Independent this morning, along with publications across the country that have picked it up. We always love to crow about the successes of Chanticleerians!

Here is a blurb from Dr. Ellis’ article (published with her permission) and the links below where you may click on it to read it in its entirety.

It is an inspirational and thought-provoking article to honor Martin Luther King, Jr. today. And timely!

Photo of Martin Luther King, Jr. at his famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the U.S.A. Capitol on August 28, 1963. Photo from the National Museum of African American History & Culture, Smithsonian

King began his fight to gain equal rights for Blacks, poor Whites and other disenfranchised groups years before the March on Washington. He continued the fight until his assassination in 1968 at the young age of 39.

We will never know how long he would have stayed the course, working for equal justice, equal opportunity, equality in housing, employment and education to become standard practice, ingrained in the fabric of American life.

But he let us know how deeply his beliefs and faith ran: “I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” – Janice Ellis, Ph.D.

Below is the growing list of 20+ publications (so far) that have picked up this important opinion piece by Dr. Ellis where you may read the article in its entirety:
- Washington State Standard The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Washington State Standard
- Colorado Newline The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Colorado Newsline
- Oregon Capital Chronicle Janice Ellis, Author at Oregon Capital Chronicle
- Arizona Mirror Janice Ellis, Author at Arizona Mirror (azmirror.com)
- New Jersey Monitor Janice Ellis, Author at New Jersey Monitor
- Oklahoma Voice Opinion: The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Oklahoma Voice
- South Dakota Searchlight The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – South Dakota Searchlight
- Arkansas Advocate The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Arkansas Advocate
- NC (North Carolina) Newsline The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today | NC Newsline
- Lansing City Pulse The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today | City Pulse (lansingcitypulse.com)
- Ohio Capital Journal The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Ohio Capital Journal
- News From The States The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today | News From The States
- Maryland Matters The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Maryland Matters
- Louisiana Illuminator The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Louisiana Illuminator (lailluminator.com)
- Michigan Advance The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today ⋆ Michigan Advance
- Rhode Island Current The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Rhode Island Current
- Idaho Capital Sun The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today – Idaho Capital Sun
- Shore Local News Magazine The lessons of Martin Luther King’s life should give us hope today – Shore Local Newsmagazine
- Perryville Republic Monitor The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today | Perryville Republic Monitor
- Daily Montanan The lessons of Martin Luther King’s life should give us hope today – Daily Montanan
- New Hampshire Bulletin The lessons of Martin Luther King’s life should give us hope today – New Hampshire Bulletin
- Missouri Independent The lessons of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life should give us hope today • Missouri Independent
About the columnist

Janice Ellis, Ph.D.

Janice S. Ellis, M.A., M.A., Ph.D., a native daughter of Mississippi, grew up and came of age during the height of the Civil Rights Movement and the Women’s Liberation Movement.

Dr. Ellis has been an executive throughout her career, first in government, then in a large pharmaceutical company, and later as a president and CEO of a marketing firm and a bi-state non-profit child advocacy agency. In addition to those positions, she has been writing columns for more than four decades on race, politics, education, and other social issues for newspapers, radio, and online. Her commentary can be found at janicesellis.com.

Follow her on facebook.com and twitter.com.

Five Interesting Facts About Martin Luther King, Jr.

These facts are from a story published on the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History & Culture website. To read more and for photographs, please visit the original article: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/5-things-know-surprising-facts
1. Martin Luther King, Jr. was named after the Protestant reformer Martin Luther
2. King entered college when he was 15-years-old and graduated valedictorian. He was awarded his Ph.D. at the age of 25 from Boston University.
3. King was arrested 29 times. Learn more at The King Institute, Stanford University.
4. King survived an assassination attempt where he was stabbed (1958) a decade before his murder.
5. December 8, 1999, “twelve jurors reached a unanimous decision that King’s death was a result of a conspiracy” and not the act of James Earl Ray, a single shooter. The New York Times article printed on December 9, 1999, Section A, Page 25.
January 15, 2024
Chanticleerians in the News! Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D, Nellie Bly Grand Prize Winner is Featured Across the Nation
Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D has done it again

Dr. Ellis presenting on her book Liberty to Magnolia

The groundbreaking author of Shaping Public Opinion, which won the Nellie Bly Grand Prize Award, and From Liberty to Magnolia, which won the Journey Grand Prize Award, has written an article that’s being featured nationwide on President Biden’s choice to appoint the first Black woman to the supreme court.

Dr. Ellis begins by setting the record straight and defining Affirmative Action:

Affirmative action has a long history in this country as an attempt to stop and correct the systemic discrimination and oppression of Blacks. The initial attempts began during the Reconstruction Era (1863-1877) shortly after the Civil War.

Furthermore, Dr. Ellis points out the double standard that Affirmative Action is being invoked as the reasona behind putting a Black woman on the Supreme Court, saying:

Was it considered affirmative action or out of line when President Ronald Reagan declared while campaigning that he would appoint the first woman to the Supreme Court? Was it affirmative action when he followed through and appointed Sandra Day O’Connor?

You can read the full article here, which has been reprinted in more than twenty publications across the US. Well done Dr. Ellis. We’re proud to count you as a Chanticleerian. Dr. Ellis is known for her analysis of social, educational, and political issues across race, age, gender, and socioeconomic status.

Here are the links to the publications that picked up her article:
- Pennsylvania Capital Star Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action | Opinion – Pennsylvania Capital-Star (penncapital-star.com)
- Georgia Recorder Opinion: Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action – Georgia Recorder
- Ohio Capital Journal Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action – Ohio Capital Journal
- Iowa Capital Dispatch Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action – Iowa Capital Dispatch
- NC Policy Watch Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action | NC Policy Watch
- Nebraska Examiner Opinion: Don’t taint Supreme Court nominee with stigma of affirmative action | Nebraska Examiner
- Colorado Newswire Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action – Colorado Newsline
- Lehigh University Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action | Opinion | Lehigh University Nation News
- Iowa News Appointing a Black Woman to the Supreme Court Isn’t Affirmative Action – Iowa News (darik.news)
- NewsBreak Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action | Opinion – NewsBreak
- Metro St. Louis Opinion: Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action – MetroSTL.com
- Joplin Globe Janice Ellis: Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action | Opinion | joplinglobe.com
- Nevada Patch Appointing A Black Woman To The Supreme Court Is Not Affirmative Action | Across Nevada, NV Patch
- The Triangle Tribune Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action (triangletribune.com)
- Daily Advent Opinion: Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action – Opera News (dailyadvent.com)
- Tiffin Ohio Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action (tiffinohio.net)
- The Real Deal Press Appointing a black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action (therealdealpress.com)
- Tony’s Kansas City Kansas City Politico Argues Over Affirmative Action Amid Supreme Decision (tonyskansascity.com)
- Keith Kamisugi Janice Ellis: Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action – Keith Kamisugi
- League of Women Voters Johnson County Iowa – Posts | Facebook
- Source New Mexico Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action – Source New Mexico (sourcenm.com)
- Florida Phoenix Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action | Opinion – Florida Phoenix
- The Keystone Gazette Appointing a Black woman to the Supreme Court is not affirmative action | Opinion – The Keystone Gazette
More Recommended Reading from Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D

Dr. Ellis is a fount of good information and common sense that we rely on here at Chanticleer. Be sure to check out:
We are delight to be welcoming Dr. Ellis, back by popular demand, as a speaker at the 10th Anniversary of the Chanticleer Authors Conference, CAC22.

VIRTUAL and IN-Person – June 23 – 26, 2022! Register Today!

FLEXIBLE REGISTRATIONS ARE AVAILABLE for these challenging times.

Seating is Limited. The esteemed WRITER Magazine (founded in 1887) has repeatedly recognized the Chanticleer Authors Conference as one of the best conferences to attend and participate in for North America.

Join us for our 10th annual conference and discover why!

Featuring: International Best Selling Authors: Cathy Ace and Robert Dugoni along with A+ list film producer Scott Steindorff.
February 17, 2022
SHAPING PUBLIC OPINION: How Real Advocacy Journalism™ Should be Practiced by Janice Ellis, Ph.D. – Media and Internet Politics, Political Advocacy, Human Rights

Janice S. Ellis, Ph.D., introduces the journalistic theories of Walter Lippmann in her new non-fiction work, Shaping Public Opinion: How Real Advocacy Journalism™ Should be Practiced.

Walter Lippmann, considered one of the foremost journalists in the field over the last 100 years, was a mentor in absentia of Dr. Ellis in the art of advocacy journalism. During Lippmann’s 40+ year career, his columns were syndicated in over 250 newspapers nationwide and over 25 other international news and information outlets. Lippman focused on the ethical dissemination of information, especially about communities, society, and the world. A theory, which Dr. Ellis calls Real Advocacy Journalism™.

Real Advocacy Journalism™ theory pertains to foundational behavior and ethical standing for those who report on, translate, and share information with the masses. This theory identifies the tension between individualism and collectivism, the private sector and public sector, the ruling elite, and the dormant masses.

Real Advocacy Journalism™ eschews demagoguery and tribalism for a belief that reason, logic, facts, truth, and clear graphic language are the most effective instrument of public persuasion.

Remarkably well researched, Dr. Ellis shows throughout the book how Lippmann identified challenges to factual sharing of information and how he spoke to the importance of choosing words wisely.

Three tasks every journalist must consider in the pursuit of Real Advocacy Journalism, 1—separate words and their meanings in order to disentangle complex ideas, 2.-be effective at creating a visual picture to explain the words and concepts used, and, 3.-have a good understanding of the traits and characteristics of the target audience.

Lippmann knew the impossible task of considering everything that the typical listener may utilize in their life as a filter of information. As the audience grows, the number of common words and references diminishes. The information becomes more abstract, lacking a distinct character of its own. This phenomenon leaves the general audience to interpret the message as they see fit, not necessarily equal to the original information. Age, race, gender, social standing, mood, and “his place on the board in any game of life he is playing” inform how information is understood. The journalist must set the highest goal to clarify, evaluate and draw conclusions for readers and listeners too preoccupied or too removed from the actual events to judge clearly for themselves.

The problem occurs when the constant feed of partial information is based on opinion and not wholly on facts.

Information in its most proper form may be perceived as dull and uninteresting. To gain viewers, “opinion news” sources have become increasingly personal and deliberately dramatic to stop the viewer from tuning out or turning the channel. Not having the time, energy, or understanding to draw their conclusions, the listener accepts this partial information as truth.

Ellis cites Robert O. Anthony as saying, “The secret to Lippman’s ability to reach such a wide audience lay in his expert understanding of the information, his reasonableness of temper, his complete honest and profound attachment to the principles of liberty.”

Lippman’s “survivors,” Kennedy, Schlesinger, and others claim Lippman taught them how to think.

He perfected a rare ability to impose verbal order on chaos. Even when wrong, corrected, or later expanded on, the goal was not to be the only voice but to be like “the village light post.” Ellis’ book exposes the dangers of “opinion news” and how very counterproductive “celebrity journalism” truly is, as it puts profits and popularity (ratings) over actual truth.

Ellis encourages readers to research and discover the meaning of the words being used to grasp the whole picture of what any news source presents. Shaping Public Opinion: How Real Advocacy Journalism™ Should Be Practiced won Grand Prize in the 2019 CIBAs, Nellie Bly Awards for Longform Journalism.

July 19, 2021
Dr. Janice Ellis to present at VCAC21!
We are so excited to welcome Dr. Janice Ellis back to the Chanticleer Authors Conference

Dr. Ellis is one of our favorite authors—and truly a joy to get to know. She reminds us that the pen is mightier than the sword! See her at #VCAC21

VCAC 21 Conference Session:
- 4/24, 4:30 p.m. The Pen is Mightier than the Sword
Dr. Janice Ellis has written columns for newspapers, magazines, radio commentary, presented internationally across the U.S., and now online. For the past 30 years she analyzes educational, political, social and economic issues across race, ethnicity, age and socio-economic status. She continues her important work in these challenging times.

We are honored that Dr. Ellis presented The Critical Role Authors Play in Fostering a Better Society at Chanticleer’s first virtual conference, VCAC20. Her presentation was inspirational and thought provoking. Janice S. Ellis has been an author for over 30 years and has written a column for newspapers and radio throughout her career about education, politics, race and socioeconomics. Janice Ellis holds a Ph.D. in Communication Arts, and two Master of Arts degrees, one in Communications Arts and a second in Political Science, all from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin. Dr. Ellis is the author of two award-winning books, From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream (2018); Shaping Public Opinion: How Real Advocacy Journalism™ Should Be Practiced (2021).

Check out this excerpt of Chanticleer’s review for her book From Liberty to Magnolia:

As a black woman on a cotton farm in Mississippi in the 1960s, Janice Ellis could have resigned herself to a life full of status quo: never speaking up for herself, never speaking out against injustice or racism. Instead, she never let unsettling times define her or hold her back, even as a witness to some of the ugliest racial violence this country has seen. In her candid and thought-provoking memoir, From Liberty to Magnolia: In Search of the American Dream, Ellis vividly depicts her life in the South during the height of the Civil Rights and Women’s Rights movements.

Through fluid and skillful writing, Ellis recounts the battles she encountered due to her skin color or due to her gender: an abusive husband, discouragement to further her education, sexual and racial discrimination in the workplace, a lack of support from friends and family when she runs for election. Despite these mounting obstacles, she goes on to earn her Ph.D., lands leadership roles and furthers her career, and even runs for mayor in a major US city. Her faith in God and her unwavering belief that the American Dream should be accessible and attainable to everyone are what lead her.

Continue Reading Here

Click here for more information about the 2021 Virtual Chanticleer Authors Conference and Int’l Book Awards Banquet and Ceremony.
April 20, 2021