From the North Star Writers Group: A study came out last week saying that, by 2010, more media advertising dollars will be spent online than in print. This poses a serious question for media companies – how to make online revenue work, and fast? Although online revenue is increasing at most newspapers, ad sales for the dead tree edition still largely pay the bills.
From American Journalism Review: Many in the media jettisoned caution–and the presumption of innocence–in their coverage of an alleged rape by Duke lacrosse players, and were too slow to correct the record as the case unraveled. But some journalists distinguished themselves with skeptical and incisive reporting.
From MediaLife Magazine: Worldwide, it’s a mega-trend, the rise in free dailies challenging older, established paid-circulation newspapers. Free papers are already big in Europe, and more are launching in the U.S. in cities like Washington, New York and Chicago. But the trend is hardly confined just to major markets.
Members are reporting a sharp rise in postage costs in the first week following second class increases by the USPS on July 15.
Prentiss Headlight editor and general manager Patsy Speights, an MPA consultant on postal matters, advises that newspapers are being charged for bundles and sacks, so bundles should be made as large as allowed and as few sacks and/or tubs used as possible.
Speights said any exceptional dispatch codes are claimed at DDU (Destination Delivery Unit) rate with no bundle nor sack/tub charge.
The National Newspaper Association has compiled a list of useful tips and advice from its Postal Chair, Max Heath of Landmark Newspapers.
A veteran newspaper advertising executive has joined the staff of Mississippi Press Services as its director of sales.
David Gillis, 55, of Vicksburg, joined MPS earlier this month and will oversee the newspaper marketing agency’s sales efforts. Prior to joining MPS, Gillis spent 15 years as advertising director for the Vicksburg Post.
“We’re thrilled to have someone with David’s experience in and enthusiasm for newspapers join our team,” said Layne Bruce, executive director of MPS. “He has worked in the trenches at the newspaper level for many years and we know that background will serve him well as he promotes newspapers as a medium of first choice on behalf of our statewide membership.
Prior to joining the Vicksburg Post as retail advertising manager, Gillis was a southwest sales representative for the Dallas Times Herald.
“I am very excited to be on board with Mississippi Press Services,” said Gillis. “I look forward to working with our member papers, advertisers and agencies to hopefully aid them in their continued success.”
Bruce said that while times are changing rapidly and media buyers have a menu of choices in advertising, newspapers still represent a great value to clients.
“MPS works with clients on a number of levels, including print and the Web, to help customers market their business to consumers in Mississippi and nationwide,” he said. “Our name says Mississippi, but we work with publications and sister associations across the country to promote the value and effectiveness of newspapers in print and online.”
Founded in 1978, MPS is the advertising business unit of the Mississippi Press Association, the trade organization for over 100 member newspapers in the state. It acts as an advertising placement firm for member papers and coordinates statewide cooperative ad networks. Established in 1866, MPA is the sixth-oldest operating association of its kind in the nation.
MPA members who are still receiving weekly mailings including their MCAN and MDAN advertisements will no longer receive the packages as of the week of July 23, unless they have specifically requested they continue.
Around two dozen member papers were still receiving the weekly packets, but MPA executive director Layne Bruce said with the rise in postage costs and the prevelance of of Internet access for downloading materials electronically, the days of weekly mailings have passed for most members.
“Longtime members will recall we made an effort over a decade ago to move toward a paperless exchange between newspapers and the Association,” Bruce said. “We may not be entirely to that point, but with this step we are moving closer.”
Bruce added that with upgrades expected in the accounting and order system software used by MPS, members will soon be able to elect to receive insertion orders via email. “We want to make use of the latest technology to make the process as simple and efficient as it can be for our members.”
A few newspapers will still receive the network packets by special request. If you have questions about the mailings or downloading MCAN/MDAN, contact Networks Coordinator Linda Caldwell, lcaldwell@mspress.org.
From The Washington Post: Gannett, the nation’s largest newspaper chain, has suffered from the industry-wide advertising downturn, the McLean company reported, though it is weathering the slump better than its rivals.
From Editor and Publisher: When the Bancroft family meets Monday to consider Rupert Murdoch’s $5 billion bid for Wall Street Journal publisher Dow Jones & Co., relatively few of them will actually be named Bancroft.
From NAA: More than 59 million people (37.3 percent of all active Internet users) visited newspaper Web sites on average during the second quarter of 2007, a record number that represents a 7.7 percent increase over the same period a year ago, according to custom analysis provided by Nielsen//NetRatings for the Newspaper Association of America.
Dozens of photos, audio clips from the political sessions, and copies of the Mississippi Newspapers Online Survey have been uploaded at the MPA Summer Covention page.
USPS periodical rates are set to increase July 15. Dowload information on the increase, including a Postal Bulletin, rate table and copies of the new Form 3541.
Or, download them all: postalratehike.zip
From NNA: For the first time in recent memory, the National Newspaper Association’s National Convention will be held in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country. NNA will be in Norfolk, Va. this coming September 26-29 at the Waterside Marriott Hotel.The convention is a terrific opportunity to network with peers, to see what’s new in software, hardware and services available to our industry at the Trade Show, to attend informative seminars and roundtable discussions and to enjoy the hospitality of the Norfolk area. Among other events planned are an evening at Nauticus, including a tour of the battleship USS Wisconsin, and a special ticketed day trip to Jamestown and Williamsburg on Saturday.
Your newspaper does not have to be an NNA member to take advantage of all the convention has to offer. Of course, NNA members do get a preferential registration rate, so if you have plans to attend, consider joining NNA to get the best rate. NNA also will offer a daily registration if you can only come for one day.
The Overby Journalism Boot Camp will return to the campus of Ole Miss the week of July 9-13 and volunteers from MPA member newspapers are being sought to lead sessions with high school advisers on topics ranging from basic reporting to photography to column writing.
The Boot Camp is again this year coordinated by Beth Fitts, new director of the Mississippi Scholastic Press Association. The MPA Adviser Boot Camp will offer nine advisers six days of hands-on training in writing, photography, computer design, advertising, staff management and more. Advisers are from the following high schools: George County, Pearl River Central, Pearl River, Ocean Springs, Murrah, Tupelo, Oxford and Terry.
Other programs held during the week include:
To volunteer to lead an adviser session or for more information, contact the MPA office or Beth Fitts by emailing mefitts@olemiss.edu.
From Editor and Publisher: “If Rupert Murdoch succeeds in buying Dow Jones & Co., will the unusual editorial-independence provision in the deal — which would apparently limit his involvement in The Wall Street Journal newsroom — really work? And should it? Veteran editors and newspaper executives who spoke with E&P today offered mostly criticism of the arrangement, from both the newsroom and ownership sides, saying the awkward limitations may well be unfair to the owner while likely doing little to truly protect the editorial department.”
Chief executive officers from Freedom Communications Inc., Gannett and The McClatchy Company participated in a panel discussion during the 2007 NAA Mid-Year Media Review, held June 19-20 in New York. NAA President and CEO John F. Sturm moderated the discussion. Click here for the archived Webcast.
From Media Life Magazine: “For the longest time, newspapers were confused by the web, and frankly annoyed, irked that they were having to post stories for free that print subscribers were having to pay for. But most publishers have moved a long way in understanding the longer-term strategic value of their web sites.”
SNPA’s 2007 Salary Survey has been published and is available to publishers and human resources departments. If your newspaper participated, the survey results have been e-mailed to the publisher. Other newspapers can purchase the study from SNPA. For details:
The Katrina Foundation for Recovery is launching a three-state public service campaign in an effort to raise more awareness and funding for the ongoing recovery efforts from Hurricane Katrina.
“Our hope is that most newspapers throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama will run the full color PSA’s to make everyone aware that the struggle continues on the Gulf Coast. Many charities are still continuing with their humanitarian efforts but are low on funding,” Rick Hohlt, publisher of the Ruston Daily Leader said. “ We receive many applications each month from charities requesting funding. We hope to fulfill those request through this campaign.” Hohlt serves as Vice President of the Katrina Foundation.
La Comunidad, a global independent advertising agency with offices in Miami and Buenos Aires, designed the campaign. Its clients include Remy Martin, Miller Brewing, Co., Citibank, Virgin Mobile, Best Buy, MTV and Rolling Stone Magazine. The agency was named the 2006 Agency of the Year by Adweek.
Click here for more information or to download the ads.
Longtime MPA/MPS executive director Carolyn Wilson will be honored June 22 with a special retirement reception during the 141st annual convention at the Beau Rivage. Wilson retired in February after 25 years with the organizations, 22 of which she spent as executive director.
The event gets underway at 6 p.m. and will include remarks from MPA President Marcus Bowers, publisher of the Rankin County News, and former MPA President Jack Tannehill, publisher of the Union Appeal. It was during Tannehill’s term as president that Wilson first joined the MPA staff in 1982.
The event will also include a special presentation from the Board of Directors and other surprises. The reception is open to all members and associates and to others by invitation.
As in recent years, MPA is searching for the longest-serving, currently active employee at a member newspaper. Publishers and managers with employees currently on payroll serving longer than 40 years are encouraged to email to mpa@mspress.org the names and length of service. The employee with the longest tenure at a member paper will be honored with an expenses-paid trip to our 141st annual convention next month in Biloxi, courtesy of Publishing Group of America.
Please send the names of these employees to us no later than Tuesday, June 5. For more information, contact Layne Bruce or Beth Boone.
Member newspapers participating in the annual MPA Education Foundation Internship program should receive checks by week’s end. Over 20 newspapers are participating this year in the program, which establishes internships from eight to 11 weeks for students currently enrolled in a journalism or communications program at a Mississippi college or university.
The funds from MPAEF are used as stipends to help defray living expenses for interns or cost of tuition for the upcoming semester. Any dues-paying member newspaper which makes an annual contribution to the Foundation is eligible to participate in the internship program. A deadline is set for the spring of each year for papers to apply for the funding.
Additionally, a Foundation committee will be reviewing applications for Grants For Services to be awarded next month. The committee will make recommendations to the MPAEF Board of Directors for consideration during its June meeting for the grants, which are requested by state schools to help underwrite the cost of journalism-related programs and instruction.
SNPA will host a series of Publisher Forums beginning next month at a number of venues across the southeast. The program kicks off Tuesday, June 5 in Hopkinsville, KY and continues over the next few weeks in other states including North Carolina, Florida and Alabama. Dates are still to be announced for upcoming meetings in Mississippi and Tennessee.
According to SNPA, the events are “intended to help publishers find new and valuable ways to interact and share best practices.“
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.
