This year’s convention, which will focus on the state Sunshine Laws and Freedom of Information matters, will host speakers well-known to many MPA members, including FOI attorney Leonard Van Slyke, MPA general counsel John Henegan, and National Newspaper Association postal chairman Max Heath.

View the tentative agenda here.

Reservations can be made for the Beau Rivage for the group rate of $139 Wednesday and Thursday night and $179 Friday and Saturday nights. For more information on lodging or to make reservations, click here.

Registration packets will be mailed to members in early May.

Convention chairman for this year’s event is Randy Ponder of the Sea Coast Echo, president-elect of MPA/MPS. He will accept the gavel the evening of June 27 from outgoing president Tom Andrews of The Picayune Item.

Convention highlights include the traditional golf and tennis tournaments, post-event schooner cruise and, of course, the Better Newspaper Contest Awards program.

For more information on the convention, contact Layne Bruce, executive director, lbruce@mspress.org, or Kimberly Haydu, event manager, khaydu@mspress.org.

Judging this year was performed by the South Carolina Press Association in Columbia last month. Awards will be presented during MPA’s 142nd Annual Convention June 28 in Biloxi.

Newspapers should also take note of revised USPS Form 3541 that goes into effect this month.

Nominees must be between 23-40 years old, well respected in the community, be of good reputation and integrity, provide active leadership in the newspaper industry and be active in his or her state press association and community. Nominees must be an NNA member, and although NNA involvement is encouraged, other merits will be taken into consideration in determining the award winner (NNA involvement is not required).

Deadline for submission of letter of nomination and form is May 31, 2008. If your nominee is among the top five candidates selected by the judges, you will be contacted and asked to submit additional documentation. The nomination form and more details are located at nna.org.

The Daniel M. Phillips Leadership Award will be presented during NNA’s 122nd Annual Convention & Trade Show, Sept. 25-28, 2008, in Saint Paul, MN. For more information, contact Sara Dickson at (573) 882-5800 or saradickson@nna.org.

Established in 1885, the National Newspaper Association is the voice of America’s community newspapers and the largest newspaper association in the country. The nation’s community papers inform, educate and entertain nearly 150 million readers every week.

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Last year, 12 weekly and 10 daily newspapers participated in the program, which allows journalism, communications or media students to work at member locations for a period up to 11 weeks. As long as members employee the interns at a rate of no less than minimum wage, MPAEF contributes an additional $100 per week to help offset living and other expenses.

Deadline to apply is April 10. For more information, contact Layne Bruce at lbruce@mspress.org or by calling 1-601-981-3060.

Log on to beaurivage.com to make reservations online using the MPA group code MSPA608. Or call the Beau direct at 1-228-386-7444 and identify your group as the Mississippi Press Association. Members are urged to make their reservations now. Group cutoff is June 3, 2008.

More information about the convention, including a preliminary agenda and updates on speakers and other details, will be posted here as it becomes available.