I was impressed by our enthusiasm at the Philadelphia reunion, and convinced by how swiftly and sanely we devised a policy statement that that energy could be put to use. We all know arts journalism is endangered in this country. So whatever the NAJP's future as a funding program, I believe we must use our skill and prestige for advocacy and education. I conceive NAJP fellows as the core of a much larger though not infinitely inclusive membership.

As a board member, I would expect to speak up loud and clear for the twin focuses of my four-decade writing and editing career, mostly at The Village Voice: criticism, which I believe is even more endangered than art reporting in today's theory-driven academic environment, and the popular arts as conduits of beauty and meaning as opposed to cash cow or reader bait. I should add that anyone who can claim experience in fund-raising or bookkeeping will get my vote. I cannot.