Conferences
From top level management conferences to webinars to regional workshops: MPA and the MPA Education Foundation help members meet competition head on. Our annual McDavid Conference in late March is a program specifically tailored for student journalists. Each summer, our members and associates from across the state gather for the MPA Annual Meeting, typically held on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, for fellowship and continuing education. The ArkLaMiss Marketing Conference is held each fall in conjunction with our neighbor press associations in Louisiana and Arkansas. It keeps managers up-to-date on trends and development in the field of audience development. Throughout the year, MPA sponsors or assists in the coordination of workshops and webinars on a variety of educational topics, including multimedia journalism, reporting and newspaper and web design. Click here for a calendar of upcoming events.
Training
MPA partners with the Online Media Campus to provide FREE training for members in disciplines such as editorial, advertising and revenue growth, audience development, and sustaining local journalism. These one-hour sessions are available to join live or on your own schedule through the archive. Click here to learn more.
Legal Hotline
It’s like having your own staff attorney. By contacting the MPA Hotline via email or phone, member papers could save thousands of dollars in legal fees. Both pre- and post-publication advice is offered in libel and privacy issues and Freedom of Information matters. Call 601-981-3060 or click here.
Better Newspaper Media Contest
Compete with the best in Mississippi. Motivate staff with professional recognition and awards. MPA has contests for member papers in advertising and editorial excellence, as well as a student division for college journalists. Click here to visit the BNC Page.
Job Bank
MPA acts as a clearinghouse for professionals seeking employment in the newspaper industry. Additionally, we publish all current job openings at member newspapers that are sent to us for listing. Click here to view the current Job Bank listings.
Governmental Affairs
MPA helps protect newspapers and First Amendment interests in the state legislature and on the local and national level. An example is the successful lobbing effort to have criminal incident reports clarified as open records in the state and adding other enforcement language to the Open Meetings Act. We also diligently work to protect the interests of our member publications.
Publications
Our monthly newsletter Fourth Estate is available online and via email subscription, keeps members up-to-date on industry trends and happenings at MPA/MPS. Additionally, a regularly-updated blog, Inkblots, posts news and developments specifically pertaining to the Mississippi newspaper community. Our Mississippi Newspaper Media Directory is the most comprehensive publication available on the newspaper trade and medium in our state, providing a wealth of information on personnel, contact information and other data about member papers.
Other publications specific to our membership are helpful resources on topics such as Mississippi freedom of information laws, emergency preparedness, and advertising.
Press Identification
The MPA press card acknowledges MPA membership and interest in a high standard of professional ethics. These cards are mailed annually to member newspapers in good standing with the Association. A photo ID badge is also available for a nominal price. These credentials assist law enforcement and other public agencies to identify members of the press and facilitate easier access to events and news venues. An MPA membership decal is also available for automobiles and office windows. Two decals are mailed each year to member publishers; additional decals are available on request by publishers.
Online Public Notices
MPA offers member newspapers an opportunity to participate in a statewide public notice database online at no cost. Thousands of public notices are uploaded and available to the public at mspublicnotices.com.
Libel Insurance
Members need more than the Bill of Rights to protect their newspapers. Without adequate insurance, your newspaper could be lost. Save money with the premium discounts available through MPA’s endorsement of the National Newspaper Association Libel Plus program administered by Walterry Insurance Brokers.