<<

newsONTARIO COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION’S clipsDECEMBER 2004 VOL. 18, NO. 12 Protect SANTA’S PUBLISHING ELVES sources, says OPC ources of information the public deserves to know would soon dry up if journal- ists could not guarantee pro- tection of their identity, the SOntario Press Council says in support of Hamilton Spectator reporter Ken Peters. Peters was cited for contempt of court after he refused to reveal the identity of two people who handed over documents at a 1995 meeting that became the basis of a series of articles. Peters was subpoenaed to testify in a $15.5-million civil suit launched by St. SANTA PUBLISHERS. Newspaper publishers, from left Ken Nugent of the Elizabeth Villa, a Hamilton retirement Guardian, Ron Lenyk of , Mike home, against public officials. Although Goldbloom of the Star and Tim Whittaker of the Ajax News Mr. Justice David Crane of the Advertiser, help launch ’s Santa Fund which provides gifts boxes Superior Court conceded identity of one to 45,000 needy children over the holidays. Rene Johnston, of the individuals should be protected, he said the promise of confidentiality did not “A journalist’s right to withhold the public’s right to know, and may vary in include the second person. Mr. Peters said name of a confidential source may not be the particular circumstances of the issue,” identifying one would ultimately reveal formally written into law but the principle said , Chair of the Press the identity of the other. is important to press freedom and the Council. Continued on Page 5 Ads That Did Not Run and Tearsheets By Don Lamont look at the details you see room for improvement - the dollars Executive Director lost and the disappointed advertisers. We estimate members collectively lose over $100,000 annu- uestion: Name two of the favourite topics in ally for ads booked by AdReach that get missed by the papers. advertising sales departments within any commu- Ad*Reach usually does not find out about these omissions until nity newspaper? we follow-up looking for tearsheets several weeks after the run Answer: Ads that did not run (DNRs) and date. Not only do members not receive much desired advertising Qtearsheets. revenue, advertisers end up exasperated. It also makes agencies reluctant to do business with us again. What? My time sensitive So it should be no surprise when Ad*Reach wants to discuss ad did not run? Advertisers cannot understand how it could hap- these topics with OCNA members. Generally speaking the pen. process of booking ads with national advertisers and then hav- But it does. And it happens primarily because people simply ing them run in many OCNA papers simultaneously works sur- misplace insertion orders. This is clearly something that can be prisingly well when you look at the big picture. It's when you Continued on Page 2

WHAT’S INSIDE: Remembering Iannuzzi PAGE 4 Where are they now? PAGE 5 Scaling back PAGE 7 2 OCNA’S NEWSCLIPS • DECEMBER 2004 New tearsheet policy to ensure timely delivery Continued from Page 1 and Trade Show. We are winding up year-end audits for the prevented. It's important to emphasize the need to have good upcoming Annual General Meeting. We send out offerings from processes in place for handling orders when they arrive in the members to be judged for the Better Newspaper Awards. Junior office, carefully read any special instructions that have been Citizens are also being selected. provided and to making sure there is a proper system or process OCNA redesigned and last week launched a new web site - in place to follow through on these instructions - so nothing two sites in fact. One site is for the general public (about OCNA falls between the cracks. and community newspapers) the other is for members. A few years ago Ad*Reach started sending weekly ad Early this winter we are planning to launch a series of work- reminders to summarize the orders that are scheduled to run in shops for small independent publishers to help them maximize the upcoming week. These reminders have helped reduce the their revenues. In December we met with colleagues from incidence of DNRs tremendously. We simply ask members to around the country to prepare plans for a digital newspaper ensure designated staff use the reminders to double check that archive - a project introduced to members in an earlier edition all the ads scheduled to run have been booked in the paper. If of news clips. The same day we evaluated and strengthened you are missing an order please call Lynn Fenton or Carolyn CommunityMediaCanada, the brand and process established to Press at Ad*Reach. They will be glad to provide any informa- enable community newspaper associations to sell ads in other tion you may be missing. provinces. Now on to tearsheets: Currently Ad*Reach guarantees pay- Elsewhere, Ad*Reach is gathering 2005 rates from members ment for an order if the tearsheet is received within 60 day of and preparing a new rate card. Negotiations are underway for when the ad is run. Sixty days. auto dealer advertising rates. Ad*Reach is completely redesign- When you graph the response pattern it becomes evident that ing its marketing and sales material. We recently hired a new most members send their tearsheets within two weeks. As Manager of Marketing, Sean Lind, and we are organizing our- expected, there are always a few members who regularly send selves to launch new initiatives to promote the community tearsheets after the sixty-day period. newspaper brand among national advertisers. Included among It's the tyranny of the few. The deadline could be set at 90 these initiatives will be a series of Lunch and Learn presenta- days and we would see the same pattern with the same newspa- tions to national advertisers about community newspapers. pers stretching the due date. This winter OCNA will speak at hearings scheduled for the These few members continually hold up payments for them- Transparency in Public Matters Act (about in-camera meetings), selves as well as members who promptly send tearsheets. In and we'll renew our efforts to bring about changes leading to a order to invoice an advertiser, Ad*Reach needs tearsheets from greater share of provincial government advertising, as well as all the papers participating in a buy. Split billing is labour speak to government officials about amending the provincial intensive for Ad*Reach and confusing to Interpretations Acts to broaden the defini- the client so we do not subscribe to this tion of a newspaper (make us eligible for practice. certain types of government advertising). The bigger the time period between the Progress is being made at the national campaign run date and the date the client is level to promote community newspapers billed the more likely there will be a delay to federal government advertisers - a pro- in receiving our money. ject jointly funded by regional associa- We'll be notifying members in writing tions. shortly and giving notice about a new prac- During the week we gather informa- tice. In future, Ad*Reach won't be able to From tion from various sources for news clips guarantee payment for tearsheets received the Board and for your weekly electronic bulletin, e- after 45 days. and staff clips. Friday is production day when we pull everything together and send out e- OCNA Update of OCNA, clips. Around this OCNA year-end period Happy All the while we are out there selling and the beginning of the New Year is Holidays! display ads, newsprint, Network always a busy time for OCNA as we activi- Classifieds, press releases and sponsor- ty ramp up towards the Spring Convention ships to make money for OCNA and members.

THINKING OF SELLING YOUR PUBLICATION?

We specialize in serving the needs of small and intermediate independent publishers.

All inquiries confidential

(877) 670-1085 OCNA’S NEWSCLIPS • DECEMBER 2004 3 ocna Plan to attend Spring Convention April 8-9 aking plans for the new at our opening session – a look into the been put on the special VIP invite list, year is just the right time future of community newspapers, from and we are hoping to lure him as a speak- to be making plans for the editorial to advertising, publishing to er once again – this time with the promise Convention. Spring con- readership. For Your Eyes Only, experts of not being upstaged by Elvis in a nearby vention. If you can’t guess in the areas of leadership, demographics, room... Mthe 2005 theme by the clues deftly left by sales, ROP, flyers, printing will give you Saturday night will be filled with cele- convention coordinator Laraine Hall, then a glimpse of tomorrow and answer your bration during the Better Newspapers you have truly been living in a hole questions. Awards Gala where the (golden) eyes will underground for the past 40 years: Diamonds are Forever, but none shine be on the prize and the (gold) finger will The date sneaks up on us every year ... as brightly as the young people we will point at the winners. We hope to surprise but just like 007, we are ready – ready for honour as the 2004 Ontario Junior the Living Daylights out of you with spe- a look into the future, ready to learn new Citizens of the Year. You could become cial prizes and competitions at the con- methods and strategies, ready to network, the Writer with the Golden Pen as writing vention. The world is not enough ... and ready to celebrate and salute the best of coach (and news clips contributor) Jim of course, Tomorrow Never Dies, so keep the best. OCNA’s annual spring conven- Stasiowski will be on hand to lead editori- your bookmark on the web site and stay tion is booked for April 8 and 9 at the al types through the yes’s and the (Dr.) tuned for details. In the meantime, we Toronto Airport Renaissance Hotel. The No’s of better writing, reporting and inter- will meet you at the martini bar. 2005 lineup will bring together all the ele- viewing. Add to this a Career Fair to (Just in case you read all the way ments to help make your community encourage journalist, advertising, graphics through and you still need help: The newspaper more sophisticated and ready and photographer students/grads to work spring convention theme “Shaken, Not to face whatever the future holds. at community newspapers. Stirred,” in honour of fictitious British We expect a Thunderball of attention Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty has secret service James Bond.)

CHRISTMAS came early for the employees of the Ontario Community Newspapers Association. Newest employee Sean Lind (pictured right), Ad*Reach’s manager of marketing, takes a turn with the Secret Santa game. Wasting no time getting down to swiping business, this colourful present was taken a few different times before landing in front of Nancy Burman (below). Next time you talk to Nancy, make sure to ask her about its contents...

Best wishes for the holidays to everyone! OCNA PHOTOS 4 OCNA’S NEWSCLIPS • DECEMBER 2004 member news Investing in editorial, design pays off for News By Wallaceburg News Staff ers,” said Smith. Osprey Media Group to con- a dramatic improvement.” “Through the hard work duct a public opinion survey Statistics show readers n increasing num- and dedication of our staff, we on the reading habits of have come to rely on The ber of local resi- have been well received in the Wallaceburg residents. A total Wallaceburg News for local dents are now community. of 200 interviews were con- coverage. turning to The “We will continue striving ducted Nov. 13, 2004. “Mathematically, when you Wallaceburg News to bring our readers the best The key finding of the have 94 per cent readership, forA local news and informa- local news coverage possi- report said: “Over the past 12- you have the whole market,” tion. ble.” month period, readership for said Nanos. A readership study in When The Wallaceburg The Wallaceburg News has The margin of accuracy for Wallaceburg, conducted by the News was purchased by increased from 81 to 94 per the aggregate research is 7.1 firm SES Canada Research Osprey Media Group in 2002, cent.” percentage points, plus or Inc., recently showed 94 per research pegged the reader- Nik Nanos, president and minus, 19 times out of 20. cent of people in Wallaceburg ship level at 65 per cent. CEO of SES, said the increase This project was completed are regular readers of The In 2003, the readership in readership is remarkable. in accordance with the stan- Wallaceburg News. jumped to 81 per cent, due to “The findings show the dards of the Professional Daryl Smith, publisher of an investment in additional change in the format of the Market Research Society of The Wallaceburg News, was editorial staff, a redesign of newspaper has been well Canada and was registered pleased with the results. the product, and change to a received in the community,” with the Canadian Survey “First and foremost, I format. said Nanos. Research Council, of which would like to thank our read- SES was retained by the “This should be considered SES is a member. Iannuzzi lived motto he proudly printed on his newspaper Nearly all Daniel dent of Multimedia Nova holder, director and executive Order of Canada in 1990. In Iannuzzi’s accomplishments Corporation, a public compa- producer of multilingual pro- 1999, he was awarded the point to his tireless work as a ny whose subsidiary, gramming at CITY-TV from Order of Merit for lifetime pioneer of mulitculturalism in Multicom Media Services 1972-79. Iannuzzi served as accomplishment and dedicated Canada. The entrepreneur, ide- Ltd., produces Corriere president and executive pro- service to the community by alist and visionary died sud- Canadese, the Italian daily ducer of CFMT-TV Channel the National Congress of denly Nov. 20 while in Rome. newspaper which he founded 47, the regional multilingual Italian Canadians in Toronto. Iannuzzi was a third-gener- in 1954, and Tandem, its television station which he Dan Iannuzzi was “Fiercely ation Canadian of Italian ori- weekend edition. founded in 1979. Canadian and Proudly Italian,” gin. Born in Montreal, he had Other Multicom Media Awards include: the EXPO a statement he printed as part resided in Toronto for the past newspapers includes multina- ’86 Award for Excellence and of the Masthead of the daily 50 years. Fluent in English, tional publications and the Contribution in pioneering Corriere Canadese. His family, French and Italian, his loyalty nine Town Crier newspapers. multicultural communications, friends and acquaintances, and and commitment to Canada He was also the president the Order of the Republic of employees are deeply sad- began at an early age, while of World Television Italy, and being named “Man dened by his passing, but he dedicated his entire adult Network/Le Rèseau of the Year” by the Canadian know their lives have been life to multiculturalism in Tèlèmonde Inc., licensee of Italian Business and deeply touched and enriched Canada and pursued it through two national multicultural spe- Professional Association. by a great Canadian visionary. a life-long career in interna- cialty services in Canada’s Iannuzzi was vested in The Iannuzzi will forever be tional and multicultural media. official languages. Order of Ontario in 1989, and regarded as a pioneer of He was chairman and presi- He was a founder-share- became a member of The Multiculturalism.

A N O TO M Try the fresh, new eclectic I J O IS M E Y L 450-word weekly column A S K A L U U C S G R IN by John P. Maclean U IL E B Life Member LT Canadian Parliamentary Y Press Gallery Print four samples FREE and check your audience reaction. Then sign on for weekly downloading at just $25 per month. Click on http://members.ocna.org and go to Syndicated Work OCNA’S NEWSCLIPS • DECEMBER 2004 5 partners with TV Media Journalist Sun Media Corporation has Press, Winnipeg Sun, TVMedia Inc. president. “We chosen Ottawa-based TV Media Sun and Edmonton Sun. look forward to bringing TV fined largest Inc. as its sole provider of TV The agreement also extends Media’s quality data and listings for their Sunday TV list- the services to Bowes Publishers resources to the mix.” ing books across Canada. The Limited, a subsidiary of Sun Global sum yet agreement will see TV Media Media Corporation, adding nine Communications Corporation Continued from Page 1 Inc. provide the television list- community daily newspapers has awarded TV Media Inc. an ings data and related entertain- and 20 weekly publications. agreement to produce the “Whistle-blowers in soci- ment content for Sun Media’s “Sun Media’s Sunday TV ’s weekly TV ety are gradually gaining flagship daily newspapers books are a quality product and book. Combined, the new titles legal protection, but without a including the Ottawa Sun, well read within their respective add approximately 1 million medium to spread their mes- , London Free communities,” said Don Piché, Canadian readers to TV Media. sages, the benefits of their courage would be lost.” CLASSIFIEDS The Council, established in 1972, has 221 daily, com- Used Equipment Water Cooler OCNA is offering a Used munity and specialty newspa- Equipment section in newsclips to pers in its membership. It is compiled by encourage members with redun- governed by 21 directors – 11 Carolyn Mullin dant equipment to place free clas- representing a broad cross- sified ads with us, c/o OCNA, 103- section of the Ontario public 3050 Harvester Rd. Burlington ON and 10 employed by member • Metroland Printing & Distributing welcomed Doug Lamb recently L7N 3J1. newspapers. as vice-president of corporate development, which means he will Life 101 It is mandated by its con- help the company with future acquisitions and expansions. Guaranteed laughs means guaran- stitution to defend the free- • The Napanee Guide is available online at teed readership. Give your readers dom of the press on behalf of www.napaneeguide.com. ANOTHER great reason to open your public and press alike and to • Louie Brennan recently left the Ottawa Valley News to pursue paper. Life 101 by Mark Thrice. E- higher education. Anne-Marie MacDonald now has Jessica mail: [email protected]. review and report on attempts Gordon to help with the day-to-day tasks of running the paper. Buying & Selling to restrict access to informa- • The Grimsby Independent recently welcomed new reporter A Business Column tion of public interest. Shella Gardezi from a stint as a reporter in British Columbia. Are you looking for punchy articles EDITOR’S NOTE: At • and from an Ontario author who special- press time, the judge in the staff worked for six months to discover how best to redesign the izes in mergers and acquisitions? civil court ordered Peters to newspaper, including an increase in the type size for sight-chal- Doug Robbins is your solution. pay $31,600 for refusing to lenged readers! Doug writes columns to capture reveal a confidential source – • Doris Bouchard has taken over as editor at Les Nouvelles, a interest. Your circulation gleans the largest contempt of court francophone newspaper in the Timmins area. valuable, useful tips regarding buy- penalty handed out to a jour- ing and selling a business. He is a • Simon Whitehouse has joined the editorial staff of the Carleton nalist or media outlet in member of the editorial board of a Place Canadian. The Ontario native brings with him experience Canadian history. The fine, working for the federal government in rural Alberta. GTA newspaper. His fees are nominal. Call Joyce which covers legal costs • Kingston This Week recently went through a number of editorial related to the contempt changes, including eliminating old-style columnists and adding Hansen, Class Act Connections, 905-278-0952 today to book Doug charge, will be paid by the new features aimed at broadening the appeal to the readership. for your column. Spectator. Meanwhile, The • Angela Crich recently left column writing with Sarnia This Week Columns available online Spectator will appeal the rul- to become a graphic designer for another publication within the Looking for regular or semi-regular ing. city. columnists for your newspaper? • The Londoner’s growing pains of late have included a “new and Check out the OCNA website. improved” redesign of contect placement into three main sections. Columnists William Thomas, Eric OCNA launches The paper’s MegaDrive section focuses on automotive, while the Dowd, and now John Maclean new web sites Londoner 2 features a pullout section for readers. upload their column for your use at • The Turtle Island News was recently given the prestigious hon- a nominal charge. John Maclean is a http://www.ocna.org our of representing Canadian aboriginal newspapers at the historic veteran observer in the is for advertisers, the opening of the Smithsonian Institute’s Native American Museum. Parliamentary Press Gallery. government and the Reporter Edna Gooder was sent to the site for the opening. Go to http://members.ocna.org and general public. • Kristina Chryssanthis recently joined the staff of Barry’s Bay go to the Syndicated Works folder. This Week after trying her hand at daily newspaper reporting. She Newspaper for Sale http://members.ocna.org says when she met a woman for a story one day, toured her farm Independent weekly for sale in and met her spitting lama, she knew she would find her place as a South-western Ontario, 2300 veri- is the Members’ Only small-town community reporter! fied Circulation Paid, plus small Intranet site filled with • John Barker, a veteran journalist whose previous posts took him commercial printing plant. Only information for as far away as Yellowknife, has returned to Ontario to be closer to third owner since 1870. Looking to community newspapers. family and work at The Brighton Independent. retire. Interested parties e-mail in strict confidence to chuter@porch- Check it out... send updates to [email protected] light.ca 6 OCNA’S NEWSCLIPS • DECEMBER 2004 advertising Interactive classifieds keenly important now By Peter Zollman • Yellow pages and classifieds: This they should. Interactive Insider may become the online ‘killer app’ for • Social / professional networking: Sites finding local products and services. like LinkedIn, Ryze, Tribe.net and Orkut he Los Angeles Police Combining the strong, frequently updated all purport to help you run your life better Department recently filmed three database of a local classified advertising through networks of friends, colleagues, short action films to recruit new publication with the rich directory data of and friends-of-friends. Is there a long-term officers. They’ll be shown in telephone yellow and white pages may cre- business model here? And will it affect movie theatres; on the depart- ate the best local online shopping experi- classifieds? We’ll see. Tment’s own web site, JoinLAPD.com, and ence for users. Several of these combos • Richer content online: The days of on Monster.com. launched in 2004; you’ll see more in 2005. saying, “Sorry, we can’t put a picture of In a nutshell, that sums up the problem We’re even working with one major, telco- your house on our web site” or “… in our facing newspapers in classifieds. affiliated directory publisher on its classi- newspaper” should be over. Sadly, they There are a lot more places to advertise fied advertising strategy. Uh-oh, newspa- aren’t. Online, advertisers can offer lots of than ever. Hiring? Selling your car? pers. photos, even video clips. They add value to Buying a house? There’s a wide range of • Local search: As more users turn first house, apartment, car, even job ads. If you options for advertisers, buyers and job- to search engines for products and services, don’t offer them, your competitors will. seekers. and Google and Overture (among others) Each of these trends is changing your To reach young men and women of vari- surround those results with useful targeted classified advertising business. Keep an ous ethnic backgrounds and interests, the ads, local advertisers are learning to post eye on them. Read my column. Visit our L.A.P.D. goes into movie theatres. Other pay-per-click ads to generate business. If web site occasionally for free (and paid) employers use billboards, radio, television, your site doesn’t offer easily searchable reports about them. Sign up for our free Craigslist, direct mail, employment sites like ads, classifieds and advertiser lists, and Classified Intelligence Case Studies. But Monster and CareerBuilder, and their own contextual ads, you may lose out to “Goog- more important than watching, ACT. web sites to supplement – or more and more erture.” Improve your services. Upgrade your sales often, supplant – newspaper classified ads. • Pay for performance: ‘Pay per click’ force. Add pictures, features and databases That’s why it’s more critical than ever and ‘pay per action’ ads are increasingly to your web sites. And make your classi- for your classified services to be complete, popular with advertisers, who like to know fied marketplace the best - the only – place comprehensive, local and highly effective – exactly what they got for what they paid. to go in your market for jobs, homes, cars in print and especially online. And please, Recently a smart newspaper ad executive and stuff. If you’re that ‘marketplace,’ emphasize the local part of that equation, told me he’d never offer PPC and PPA ser- you’ll have the foundation of a great busi- because it’s a unique element you can offer vices; I say, ‘Never say never.’ One major ness for the future. that can make your services stand out from paper I know is negotiating to give a real Peter M. Zollman is founding principal those others. estate advertiser a test program of half-page of Classified Intelligence, L.L.C., and the At Classified Intelligence, we follow the ads that cost nothing up front but generate AIM Group,consulting groups that work changing classified advertising market- revenue based on leads delivered by those with media companies to help develop places. Our global group of analysts watch- ads. Fascinating. (We’ll see if it happens.) profitable interactive media services. Learn es the trends, with an eye on practical ways • Accountability: Advertisers are getting about the company’s services online at to turn them in your favour. We keep in smarter fast about learning how the money ClassifiedIntelligence.com. Zollman can be touch with newspapers, web sites, yellow they spent on advertising actually brought reached at (407) 788-2780, pages, employers, advertisers and classi- customers into their stores, home-buyers to [email protected]. fied-advertising users to see how those their agents, job-seekers to their chairs. changes will affect your business. Using web tracking, unique telephone With that in mind, here are the key numbers, call identifiers, targeted lead-gen- You did it again!! trends we’ll be watching closely in 2005. eration systems and other techniques, Thank you to all OCNA member advertisers can tell, for example, how You’d better pay attention, too. More newspapers for your generous important, you’d better meet these threats much it actually cost to hire each of the and opportunities head-on. people who came in through various spe- support of the 2004 Ontario • ‘Meg and Craig:’ Merchandise classi- cific sources. Powerful. A real positive Junior Citizen of the Year fied ads are threatened with ‘death by development for media that deliver results; Awards. You have been success- big trouble for those that don’t. EBay.’ The company, headed by the brilliant ful in recognizing the outstanding Meg Whitman, is growing its ‘critical mass’ • Web-to-print: Many newspaper pub- in merchandise sales, while many newspa- lishers and non-traditional publishers like achievements of more than 140 pers don’t have critical mass at all. EBay directory companies and web sites are young people across the province. has spent about $865 million (U.S.) in 2004 using databases compiled online to output Editors will receive certificates material for new print publications. Great buying online classified advertising busi- of nomination for nominees within nesses worldwide, including about $12 mil- cost-cutting potential; excellent new-prod- lion to buy 25 per cent of the powerful free- uct development opportunity. your community for you to ads community Craigslist.org. Craigslist • Self-service ad placement: Customers present during the month of keeps growing as a tough competitor - it’s buy things online. They want to place ads January. Final recipients will then online, too. And when they do, if you make now in more than 65 cities – partly because be announced the beginning of it’s run like a counter-culture service for it easy for them, they spend more money. friends, not a traditional business. These services are growing steadily, as February. OCNA’S NEWSCLIPS • DECEMBER 2004 7 design Scaling back, forth to find great type By Edward F. Henninger very round face that doesn’t seem to fit Do NOT overtighten. OMNIA Consulting well into the more vertical look of today’s Edward F. Henninger is an indepen- newspaper pages. dent newspaper consultant and the any of you know it’s possi- With care, however, Caslon can be Director of OMNIA Consulting. Offering ble for us to adjust the hor- adjusted to tighten its look. In a few of design consultation, redesigns, work- izontal scale of type. Like my designs, I’ve adjusted the scale of shops. You can reach him at: 803-327- many of the choices we Caslon to about 80 per cent. The scaling 3322. E-mail: [email protected]. On make in design, that capa- actually gives Caslon 224 a stronger, the web: omniaconsulting.org Mbility can be either a promise or a threat. more newsy feel. It appears even more The promise is that we can adjust type elegant and more classic than the original. to further improve the design of our The key to adjusting the scale of newspaper pages. The threat is that it’s so Caslon (and other typefaces) is knowing NewsMakers easy to over-adjust and ruin the design as when you’ve gone too far. I often wince a result. Proper typography is a must – it when I see headlines that are over-scaled • The Northern News columnist Gary tells your reader in so many ways (often and I believe that over-scaled type also Ball has earned two prestigious awards subliminally) that your publication is appears incorrect to even the most casual from the Outdoor Writers of Canada either careful or sloppy. reader. national outdoor communications awards A couple of years ago, Julia and I were When I adjust scale, my goal is to try competition. His column on mastering the helping our daughter and her husband as to find the implosion point – that percent- moose hunt earned top prize in the news- they assembled a Christmas toy for our age when the typeface begins to shatter. paper column category, while he also took granddaughters. The instructions (translat- Then I back off by a considerable factor – first place in the Wetlands Appreciation ed poorly as usual) repeatedly bore the often more than 10 per cent – to be sure category for a feature story called admonition: “Do NOT overtighten.” I’m allowing for enough margin of error. “Ducking the issue,” which appeared in Throughout the evening, it became a joke Some other points about scaling type: the Peterborough Examiner. Both national of sorts. With each screw that was turned, • Scaling works best for headlines and awards were administered through the we would join in chorus: “Do NOT over- display faces. Adjusting the scale of text Outdoor Writers of Canada. tighten.” Even a couple of years later, the can create serious readability problems. • The Voice of Pelham recently opened a phrase echoes in our homes whenever • Be careful to adjust tracking after sister publication in neighbouringThorold, someone is working with a screwdriver. you’ve adjusted scale. The two must com- appropriately named the Voice of Thorold. That warning applies whenever we plement each other. The newspaper company is the only inde- pendent one operating in Niagara. adjust the scale of type. A typeface is • Test, test, test. Make sure your scal- • Inside Oakville recently launched as a much like a cinder bloc: it can carry a ing percentage works well by showing it weekly tabloid published by Our Oakville heavy load – to a point. When it has to as many others in your newsroom as Publications. Long-time industry names reached it’s load-bearing limit, a cinder you can. And when necessary, adjust your Wendy Burton and Robert Burton are block implodes, crumbling to dust. Type adjustment. behind this venture. that is overly scaled also implodes. • Search for a common percentage. • Staff not involved with the merging of the Caslon 224 is one of the most elegant Choosing the same number for headlines Port Perry Star and Port Perry This Week, typefaces ever designed. In the days of and subheads, for example, will make life have started The Scugog Standard. the American colonies, it was said you a lot easier for your editors and pagina- could have any typeface you wanted – as tors. send gossip to long as it was Caslon. But Caslon is a Oh, and one more thing... [email protected]

MetroCreativeConnection Superior layout & design software The online solution you can • Layers • Creator Media Databse Interface • Built-in PDF count on to truly fulfill your creative needs! • Oprn Type support • Tables Your Resource For: • XML in/ out • MagicWand Photos, Images & Ideas • Text On Path • Export PDF Auto&RealEstateAds • Easy Masking • Exports EPS Themed Spec Ads Themed Editorial Features • Mac/OSX/Windows • Embed Fonts EPS • Scriptable Inspirational Tearsheets • Prints to non PS • • Borders dbase • Matrix Call now for your free MCC trial. Powerful Products For Newspapers Metro Creative Graphics, Inc. metrocreativegraphics.com NEWS-NET “ Dedicated to the publishing industry “ 800.223.1600 Tel: 905. 844-0524 [email protected] www.news-net.ca 8 OCNA’S NEWSCLIPS • DECEMBER 2004 advertising Got a problem with that? We say, “Good.” By John Foust demonstrated a powerful advertising tech- work.’ Raleigh, NC nique: Problem-solution. Problem-solu- (And there’s always the famous bloop- tion can work in any medium. Denise, er, ‘Illiterate? Write today for free help.’) n a road trip one summer, I ran who sells ads for a paper in a large mar- 2. How? Here’s the creative payoff. across an interesting little AM ket, once told me, “When you get down How can you dramatize the problem – Oradio station. It was obvious that to basics, every business exists to solve and/or the solution? In other words, how the local commercials were produced on problems. As sales people, we spend a lot can you make the target audience care? low budgets, because most of them were of time showing customers how we can This question will determine whether read by the station’s announcers. solve their marketing problems. But your advertisers connect with consumers. Jingle Bells played in the background we’ve got to remember that they’re in the That little radio station used music – and of one commercial. That had to be a mis- problem-solving business, too.” what that music symbolized – to makes take, I thought. This was summer. It was Well said, Denise. Every business is tires important. In the print media, you way too hot to expect people to imagine there to solve problems. To translate that have plenty of ways to accomplish the dashing through the snow. into advertising, let’s focus for a moment same goal ... before-and-after pho- The announcer said, “A bald man is all on two simple questions – what and how? tographs, testimonials, cut-away draw- right, but bald tires aren’t good,” then 1. What? Naturally, the first step in ings, guarantees, slice-of-life examples, explained the importance of checking using the problem-solution technique is to comparisons, etc. tires for wear. And of course, the logical identify the problems in which your Dramatize problems and solutions – place to have that done was at a certain advertisers specialize. Go beyond lazy and your advertisers’ cash registers will auto supply store. ‘here to serve you’ generalities. Think in (pardon the pun) jingle all the way. Sure, the spot opened with a corny play specifics. For example, what clearly- (c) Copyright 2004 by John Foust. All on words. But the big issue was the music, defined problems do accountants solve? rights reserved. which turned out to be a setup for the Or shoe repair shops? Or banks? Or John Foust conducts on-site and video announcer’s closing words, “I know building contractors? training for newspaper advertising you’re wondering why we’re playing “What” is only the beginning. If you departments. His three new video pro- Jingle Bells in July. Well, if you’re driving stop there, you’re limited to an obvious grams are designed to help ad managers around on bald tires, you’re not going to statement of fact, like the store that adver- conduct in-house training for their sales be around to hear it in December, so we’re tises, ‘Can’t find the right gift? Buy a gift teams. For information, contact: John playing it for you now.” certificate.’ Or the lawn maintenance Foust, PO Box 97606, Raleigh, NC 27624 The whole idea was such a stretch that company who says, ‘If you’re tired of USA, E-mail: [email protected], it was laugh-out-loud funny. But it mowing and trimming, let us do the Phone 919-848-2401.

OCNA TEAM OCNA OFFICERS Don Lamont, Executive Director; Anne Lannan, Cam McKnight, President, Sun Media; Dave Armstrong, Member Services Manager; Shelley Ford-Kohler, First Vice-President, New Liskeard Temiskaming Speaker; Published monthly by the Ontario Community Director of Financial Services; Lucia Shepherd, Mike Williscraft, Second Vice-President, Niagara This Week; Newspapers Association Accounting/CNRIE; Jessi Rushton, Accounting; Rick Shaver, Treasurer, Cornwall Seaway News; Ron Nancy Burman, Newsprint; Lynn Fenton, Carolyn Wassink, Past President, Kincardine News 3050 Harvester Rd. Ste 103 Press, Minna Schmidt, AdReach; Carol Lebert, OCNA DIRECTORS Burlington, Ontario, Sales Coordinator; Laraine Hall, Education Joe Anderson, Metroland’s Simcoe Division; Marie David, L7N 3J1 Hanover Post; Linda Plumridge, Fort Frances Times; Keith Tel: (905) 639-8720 Coordinator; Ian Youseman, IT Technician. Roulston; Blyth/Brussels Citizen; Gerald Tracey, Eganville Fax: (905) 639-6962 NewsClips Editor: Carolyn Mullin http://www.ocna.org Leader; Doreen Sykes, Collingwood Enterprise-Bulletin; E-mail to: Abbas Homayed, Sudbury Northern Life. [email protected]