MPA eBulletin

From Editor and Publisher: Newspaper online advertising revenue growth is starting to slow, according to the most recent data from the Newspaper Association of America.  In Q1, advertising spending for newspaper Web sites increased 22.3% to $750 million compared to the same period last year. In the first quarter of 2006, newspaper online ad revenue advanced 34.9% to $613 million.

Media Life Magazine on the continuing dip in circulation at major daily newspapers: “What will drive this dramatic shrinkage? Certainly the internet but also increasing print competition led largely by free dailies, such as the Examiner chain, which now has papers in San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore and plans to expand beyond.”

The Kansas Press Association has established a tornado relief fund to assist the Greensburg Kiowa County Signal, which was wiped out during a midwest outbreak of tornadoes earlier this month. According to KPA executive director Doug Anstaett, the small community paper had no advertising in its first two editions following the storm May 4.

“As you might know, the entire business community was wiped out, eliminating all of the advertising resources for the Greensburg newspaper,” Anstaett said. “They want to try to rebuild or relocate, but it’s going to be a huge struggle…Help with some advertising would be of great assistance.”

Newspapers or individuals who wish to help may do so by sending contributions to Kansas Newspaper Foundation, 5423 S.W. 7th St., Topeka, KS 66606.

The MPA board of directors on Monday approved a contribution to the Kansas Newspaper Foundation, which, in 2005, donated $1,000 to our state’s newspaper relief fund in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

MPA and Butler Snow, legal counsel, have prepared an updated 2007 Guide to Election-Related Laws and Regulations Related to State and Federal Political Campaigns. Visit the MPA publications page to download the handy booklet.

From MPA counsel Malissa Winfield of Butler Snow: All political advertisements must include a disclaimer. If the advertisement is designed to influence voters for or against a candidate, it must be approved and subscribed by the candidate, his campaign manager, or assistant manager. The subscription must be printed exactly as provided. It is not sufficient to designate the authorization of an advertisement as “paid political advertisement,” or “contributed by a friend,” or “contributed by friends and supporters,” and the like. Every advertisement having reference to any election, or to any candidate, that has not been approved by a candidate must include a disclaimer with the name and address of the author, printer, and publisher of the advertisement.

Mississippi Press Services is searching for a Director of Sales. The position opening follows the move of former Marketing Director Layne Bruce into the role of executive director and the recent departure of senior marketing director Sue Sessums who is joining the Natchez Democrat as classified manager later this month.

MPS acts as an advertising placement service on behalf of member newspapers and is the for-profit business unit for the Mississippi Press Association. It operates two cooperative networks, including the Mississippi Classified Advertising Network and its onsite companion msclassifiedsonline.com and the small space Mississippi Display Advertising Network.

Persons interested in the position are invited to send resumes and cover letters to the attention of the executive director, 371 Edgewood Terrace, Jackson, MS  39206, or email mpa@mspress.org.

The Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame (www.msmusic.org) is offering a series of columns titled “Mississippi, Birthplace of America’s Music.”

The columns are short biographies about Mississippi musicians such as “Howlin’ Wolf” Burnett, Henry “Hank” Cochran, and Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield. The source of the material is taken from the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame’s book, Legendary Musicians Whose Art Has Changed the World.

Credit must be given to the Mississippi Musicians Hall of Fame for content. You can download a sample of three columns by clicking here.

If interested, please contact Dr. Jim Brewer at jbrewer8@bellsouth.net.

From Editor and Publisher: “The Newspaper Association of America reported that overall daily circulation for the spring period declined 2.1% to 44,961,066 and Sunday decreased 3.1% to 48,102,437. The association analyzed average daily circulation for the 745 daily newspapers and 601 Sunday papers reporting to the Audit Bureau of Circulations’ FAS-FAX for the six-month period ending March 2007.”

A sidebar examines some of the causes of the slide: “Blame the cutting of other-paid circulation, which includes hotel, employee, Newspapers in Education and third-party copies, for the losses. Publishers are dialing back on their distribution areas, focusing on the “core market.” The category of single copy — while a small portion of circulation — is suffering large declines affecting the overall numbers.”