The Power

Published by MPS | Fall 2013 of Print inside in Action – Page 3 PRESIDENT’s MEssage Strength in numbers Industry must be ready to innovate, adapt MPA News | p. 2

OLE MISS Students earn RFK award Second such recognition for school in recent years Member News | p. 3

SOUTHERN MISS MPA has partnered with Jackson-based GodwinGroup to create a new marketing presentation for con- Ribbon cut on sumers and advertisers that bolsters the relevance and vitality of community newspapers. The effort will be unveiled to members at the Mid-Winter Conference Jan. 31. College Hall Foundation contributes $15K to building fund New Albany Gazette sold to Journal, Inc. NEW ALBANY – The New Albany were carried over Clay Foster, chief executive officer, Foundation | p. 4 Gazette has been sold to Tupelo-- as staffers for president and publisher of Journal, based Journal, Inc., parent company Journal, Inc. Inc., said in a meeting with the Gazette of the Daily Journal and 8 other state Terms of the staff that the newspaper would KEVIN SLIMP newspapers. transaction were continue to be published twice a week, The transaction, along the not disclosed. on Wednesday and Friday. Change affects unrelated sale of the Belmont The weekly “We at Journal, Inc. are excited Tishomingo County Journal to another Belmont paper about the opportunity to be the new many papers owner, are the eighth and nine was sold in owner of the Gazette. Union County is Orange County Register newspapers sold in the state in the August by Foster an economically healthy community in past 12 months. longtime owners the heart of our primary market area model holds promise The New Albany sale by Landmark Wayne and making the Gazette a great fit for our Technology | p. 11 Community Newspapers closed Oct. Catherine Mitchell. The new owner is company,” Foster said. 19. All of the Gazette’s 14 employees Alan Williams of Belmont. See GAZETTE | Page 6 2 | Fourth Estate | Fall 2013 president’s column Our industry is strong, but we must innovate and adapt The following remarks were additional content on the web, but delivered by MPA-MPS President don’t give it away for free. Jim Prince during the 147th Annual We must market newspapers The official newspaper of the Convention June 21st in Biloxi. better. Focus on improving ad sales Mississippi Press Association JIM rather than cost reduction. PMorgan Chase delivers a PRINCE Cutting out days of publication 371 Edgewood Terrace, Jackson, MS 39206 printed copy of its internal doesn’t fit the Harvard Business 601-981-3060 | Fax 601-981-3676 employee newspaper to the Review model for the most successful www.mspress.org | [email protected] J desks and personal mailboxes of its companies. 260,000 employees every Monday, I applaud The Sun Herald here on MPA-MPS Staff even though it’s available digitally. the Coast because executives haven’t Chase is one of the largest most fell out in November 2007. Things are bought in to the notion that print Layne Bruce David Gillis gradually starting to tick up. executive director director of sales highly regarded and technologically is dead and remain committed to [email protected] [email protected] advanced banks in the world. Still, It means we must continue to delivering a printed newspaper every their own behavioral research shows innovate and adapt — or die. morning. Many of you, even in much Monica Gilmer Andrea Ross In its April issue, Harvard member services media buyer their employees prefer print and smaller markets, remain committed. [email protected] [email protected] absorb information better in print. Business Review reported that, Look at The Dallas Morning News frustrated by the lack of rigorous Beth Boone One of the largest and most and The Orange County Register. foundation coordinator research, they undertook a [email protected] technologically advanced banks in They’ve opened their news holes and the world prints a newspaper. Sounds statistical study of thousands of focused on more content. companies to find out what makes The Fourth Estate serves as the official newspaper of the kind of quaint, doesn’t it. I believe theirs is the model that Mississippi Press Association, recording the history of Well, I’m not really telling you them truly great, and eventually will win the day. the organization, its members and associates. Copies are identified several hundred among distributed at no charge to members and are available by a thing you don’t already know. To be sure, it’s tough in this 24/7 contacting the MPA office. Our own recent research confirms them that have done well enough news cycle, especially for us smaller for a long enough period of time to Commentary columns published herein are the opinion of what many of us have suspected or newspapers. We live in a world where their respective authors and not necessarily those of the qualify as truly exceptional. MPA, its board of directors or staff. know in our own markets: Seven everyone is a publisher and no one is of 10 Mississippians read a printed Then they discovered something an editor. startling: The many and diverse MPA-MPS Board of Directors newspaper or visit a newspaper’s With the economy growing at a website regularly. That’s more than choices that made certain companies slow, tepid pace, we’re all working great were consistent with just three James E. Prince III Joel McNeece 1.5 million consumers. hard but smarter. President First Vice President Nearly half of Mississippi seemingly elementary rules: And when contacting sources Neshoba Democrat Calhoun Co. Journal consumers say the newspaper is 1. Better before cheaper—in other becomes criminal for journalists, I Philadelphia Bruce words, compete on unique features their primary source for sales and fear for our Liberty. “(O)ur liberty Reece Terry Don Norman and/or benefits other than price. Second Vice President Treasurer shopping information, followed by depends on the freedom of the press, their second choice, television, at 2. Revenue before cost—that is, and that cannot be limited without Daily Corinthian Starkville Daily News prioritize increasing revenue over Corinth Starkville 13%. There is, no doubt, power in being lost,” Thomas Jefferson wrote. print. reducing costs. Many of you toil away in relative Layne Bruce John P. “Pat” Brown 3. There are no other rules—so Executive Director The Magee Courier Newspaper readership in anonymity, but what you do matters. MPA/MPS Magee Mississippi is stronger among change anything you must to follow If you didn’t report it, nobody younger adults (18-34) than seen Rules 1 and 2. would. It may not matter to CBS The rules don’t dictate specific Kevin Cooper James Arrington Goff in most states. More than seven in News, but it matters to the people The Natchez Democrat The News-Commerical behaviors; nor are they even general Natchez Collins 10 (72%) of younger adults access a in our communities, like when the printed newspaper or a newspaper strategies. They’re foundational Chickenbone Fire Department concepts on which companies have Tracie Fowler Paul Keane website weekly. responds to a rollover in Calhoun Hattiesburg American Wayne County News built greatness over many years. Hattiesburg Waynesboro So, reports of the death of County. newspapers are proving to be greatly For us, content matters. Good I love the Delta, but it’s a hard H. Ray Mosby Jack Ryan exaggerated, but what does that newspapers that serve their place to eek out a living sometimes. Deer Creek Pilot Enterprise-Journal mean for us? So what! It’s been a communities well will survive and We have members who take on Rolling Fork McComb thrive. Go out of your way to get grueling six years since the bottom See PRINCE, Page 10 more names and faces in print. Put

CALENDAR Publishers Roundtable Thanksgiving holidays New Year’s Holiday 11.7 Ameristar Casino, Vicksburg 11.28 MPA closed through 11-29 1.1 MPA closed ArkLaMiss Conference. MPA-MPS Board Meeting MPA Foundation Roast 11.7 Ameristar Casino, Vicksburg 12.5 MPA office, Jackson 1.30 Jackson Hilton Mississippi Press Association | Established 1866 Webinar – Developing a Com- Christmas holidays Mid-Winter Conference Mississippi Press Services | Established 1978 Jackson Hilton MPA Education Foundation | Established 1983 11.7 petitive Sales Advantage. 12.24 MPA closed through 12-25 1.31 Fall 2013 | Fourth Estate | 3 EDUCATION MPA hires Consumers Meek students turn first to honored with agency for Mississippi newspapers RFK recongition marketing OXFORD – A Meek School for shopping of Journalism and New Media information. multimedia project has been honored initiative with the 2013 college journalism award by The Robert F. Kennedy The Mississippi Press Association Center for Justice and Human Rights. has partnered with Jackson agency Five students and three faculty GodwinGroup to improve the produced the project, titled marketing of state newspapers and “M-Powered: University of Mississippi position them as the media of first students learn through service in choice for advertisers. A series of promotional ads was created in-house by MPS after the Belize.” It included a print depth The partnership is the outgrowth report, television series and videos results of the Advertising and Media Use Survey were announced. of an initiative created during a spring documenting the interdisciplinary retreat of the Board of Directors. A The new marketing intiative between MPS and GodwinGroup will be work of dozens of University of chief goal is to better market the based on findings of the survey. Mississippi students and faculty in strength and continued vitality of branding exercise and a “positioning” source of community news and Belize over the past few years. print in Mississippi and improve process in August and September. information for consumers statewide. The five students – Aubry Killion, consumer awareness of newspapers’ Godwin and MPS are appropriating “This is a groundbreaking project Cain Madden, Jajuan McNeil, role as the leading provider of news information from the Advertising for us,” said MPA-MPS Executive Margaret Ann Morgan and Katie and advertising information in all 82 and Media Use Survey for inclusion Director Layne Bruce. “This Williamson – traveled to Belize counties. in an overall marketing strategy and investment in marketing will be a multi- during Winter Intersession January Additionally, the effort is aimed presentation being developed for tiered, years-long effort that promotes 2012 for their reporting. They were to improve the overall performance the general public and prospective print’s rightful position as the leading accompanied by Student Media of Mississippi Press Services in its advertisers. The finished product is news and information medium in every Director/Assistant Professor Patricia work as the advertising and media expected to be unveiled to member community served by MPA member Thompson, editor and faculty representative for MPA member newspapers at the annual Mid-Winter papers.” leader for the project, and Assistant papers. Conference this January. A steering committee comprised Professor Mikki Harris, photography/ Requests for proposals for the The Advertising and Media Use of MPA-MPS President Jim Prince, video Editor. They spent part of project were sent to Jackson area Survey, conducted this past spring Advertising Committee Chairman Pat spring semester finishing their work. agencies in late spring. Godwin was by American Opinion Research on Brown, Vice President Joel McNeece, Assistant Professor Darren Sanefski selected in August from a pool of behalf of MPA, found that 7-in-10 Bruce and MPS staff is shepherding was design editor for the print depth groups that responded to the RFP. Mississippians are regular newspaper the effort through the creative process report. Students wrote articles, took Board members participated in a readers and that print is the leading and implementation. photographs, wrote scripts for the television series, produced videos and other online content, and did all the production and on-air work for the bylines television series. Columbus editor and publisher of The Star- Paul Barry has been named The multimedia course was a William Browning has returned Herald in Kosciusko. managing editor of The Post. He was partnership with the Division of to Mississippi as a correspondent serving as production manager and Outreach and Continuing Education. for The Commercial Dispatch in Laurel Chronicle previously worked for The Columbian- Students received scholarship Columbus. A graduate of Ole Miss, Kevin Williamson was recently Progress in Marion County. support. Browning formerly worked for The named publisher of The Chronicle This is the second RFK national Greenwood Commonwealth and was a in Laurel. A Jones County native, he West Point award for the Meek School in recent reporter for the Florida Times-Union most recently worked for Impact in Former Starkville Daily News news years. in Jacksonville at the time he joined Laurel. editor Mary Garrison is the new Four of the five students on the Dispatch. managing editor of the Daily Times the Belize project have graduated. Laurel Leader-Call Leader in West Point. She succeeds Killion and Morgan are working as Greenville Sean Murphy, formerly an editor Bryan Davis. Justin Minyard television journalists, and Madden Tom Bassing has been named for The Vicksburg Post, has joined recently joined the West Point paper is a newspaper editor; all three were managing editor of the Delta the Laurel Leader-Call as managing as a general assignment reporter. actively involved at the Student Media Democrat-Times. He is a former copy editor. Center during their Ole Miss years. desk editor for The Birmingham Natchez McNeil, who has a bachelor’s degree News and correspondent for the Vicksburg Stephen Hemelt, former from the Meek School and graduated Birmingham Business Journal. Managing Editor Karen Gamble managing editor of The Daily in May with a master’s from the IMC recently departed The Vicksburg Post Herald, in Roanoke Rapis, NC, has program, is a marketing professional. Kosciusko after 23 years at the daily paper and 40 been named editor of The Natchez Williamson, a journalism and art Former Jasper (AL) Daily years in the newspaper business. She Democrat. Hemelt succeeds Julie double major working this summer Mountain Eagle managing editor is now teaching at Hinds Community Cooper, who recently stepped down as Daily Mississippian photography James Phillips has been named College. but continues to serve as editor of editor, graduates in December. Natchez the Magazine. 4 | Fourth Estate | Fall 2013 MARCH OF EVENTS More papers in Mississippi than five years ago

LAYNE BRUCE

NEWS THAT The Southern Reporter would end publication at the in September was disheartening. We don’t like to see a newspaper ever write its own obituary. But the realities of publishing a paper in a small town – particularly one that faces the economic challenges a rural town on the cusp of the Delta – Kelly Dunn/USM cannot be denied. Those involved in the ribbon cutting for renovated College Hall at The University of Southern Mississippi However, one of the most included, from left to right: Dr. Chris Campbell, director of the School of Mass Communication and Jour- surprising facts I share with nalism; Dr. Steven Moser, dean of the College of Arts & Letters; President Rodney D. Bennett; senior broad- the public whenever I have an cast journalism major Emily DeVoe and alumnus Rebecca Baldwin, vice president and general manager of opportunity to speak to civic and zap2it.com. professional groups is Mississippi has more newspapers publishing today than it did just five years ago. Admittedly, it is a small net gain. MPA Foundation gives $15K With the closing of Sardis we now have two more papers in the state today versus 2008. But, as I’ll tell anyone who listens, modest growth is to USM College Hall fund better than decline. That The Panolian in Batesville is entrances on the east and west sides “doing the right thing” and absorbing University holds ribbon cutting for College Hall of the building. the subscriber list of The Southern HATTIESBURG – The School of Dr. Chris Campbell, director of the W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Reporter is also reassuring. It means Mass Communication and Journalism School of Mass Communication and Company served as the contractor for loyal readers in Sardis won’t be left at The University of Southern Journalism. “And the College Hall the project, with architectural services without a newspaper to call theirs. Mississippi was officially welcomed you see today is almost identical provided by Dale Partners Architects Both the Sardis and Batesville to the building that first opened in papers are located in Panola County into its new home during a ribbon- P.A. The overall projected cost of the and are owned by the Howell family. cutting ceremony held Friday, Oct. 1912. We believe that this impressive renovation is $6.3 million. David Howell, publisher of The 25 at renovated College Hall on the restoration will help us reach our Campbell, along with the USM Southern Reporter since the late 90s, Hattiesburg campus. goal of becoming one of the finest Foundation and Southern Miss continues running the neighboring School of Mass Communication mass communication and journalism Vice President for Advancement newspaper in Yalobusha County, the and Journalism, campus radio station programs in the country.” Bob Pierce, have been reaching North Mississippi Herald in Water WUSM-FM and The Student Printz Over the last 100 years, College out to Southern Miss supporters, Valley. student newspaper will also call Hall has hosted classes, department including alumni of the school, to back College Hall home after being housed offices and even the University’s first fundraising efforts for new furniture THE SARDIS paper had been in Southern Hall for several decades. library and auditorium. Renovation and equipment for the building as publishing since 1885 when James The MPA Education Foundation of the building blends modern well as scholarships for the school’s Frederick Simmons, a former district was a major contributor to the building technology, such as LED lighting and students. judge, moved home and relocated fund, giving $15,000 for renovations other energy-efficient infrastructure, For more information about the newspaper operation from to the century-old building. The along with revival of the building’s the Campaign for Mass Com, Henderson, KY. Foundation board approved the gift 20th century architectural style, said call 601.266.5210 or visit. www. About 70 years worth of ownership during its summer meeting at the project manager Joel Lucero. usmfoundation.com/masscomm. For by the Fletcher family began in 1930. 147th Annual Convention. A pillar on The south entrance, previously more information on how to support Albert E. Fletcher bought the paper the front of the building bears a plaque blocked by a mechanical room, will the School of Mass Communication that year from Percifer Simmons and in appreciation for the Foundation gift. be accessible and several windows and Journalism, contact the school at “Today marks a new era in the bricked in decades ago are back, along 601.266.4258 or visit www.usm.edu/ See BRUCE, Page 7 history of this special building,” said with arch-shaped windows above the mcj. Fall 2013 | Fourth Estate | 5 transition Raybon appointed Brookhaven publisher BROOKHAVEN – Veteran newspaper man Otis Raybon has been named president and publisher of Brookhaven Newsmedia LLC, the Boone Newspapers Inc. affiliate in Brookhaven, and vice president of BNI. A native of Griffin, Ga., Raybon most recently served as publisher of the Rome News-Tribune in Rome, Ga. Outside of bagging groceries when he was growing up, Raybon’s entire career has been in the newspaper business, starting as a delivery boy for Reflector editors visit with MPA Board his hometown newspaper, The Griffin Zack Orsborn (standing), multimedia editor for The Reflector at Mississippi State University, and editor Kaitlyn Daily News. Byrne visit with MPA-MPS Board members during a luncheon at MSU’s Mitchell Memorial Library. Orsborn is “Newspapers are the fabric of a an MPA Foundation Scholarship recipient, while Byrne is a former Foundation summer intern. community,” said Raybon. “I appreciate the rich heritage Dept. of Archives undertakes effort of The Daily Leader in the Brookhaven to digitize old newspaper archives community and its role of helping From The Associated Press Digital Newspaper Program) grant 1836-1922 project dates. Twenty-five make the quality recipient,” said Young. are antebellum newspapers from 11 of life here what JACKSON — The Mississippi With newspaper holdings from counties, including ones from the older it is. Raybon Department of Archives and History 1801 to the present comprising more counties in the southwest such as “I look forward has received a $274,000 grant to than 13,000 rolls, the microfilmed Adams, Amite, and Wilkinson, and the to working with digitize 100,000 pages of state newspapers are some of the most newer counties that were being settled the staff here to continue that tradition newspapers published between 1836 frequently used holdings at MDAH, in the north, such as Panola, Tippah, and to improve the newspaper and its and 1922. Young said. and Yalobusha. Civil War newspapers website and add value to everything Julia Marks Young, director of the She said genealogists, local from southwest, central, and northern we do.” MDAH Archives and Records Services officials, journalists, documentary counties are also included. “We are pleased Otis and Barbara Division, says MDAH will partner with producers, attorneys, students, and Eleven newspapers are in the are joining us in Brookhaven. We Louisiana State University Libraries other researchers rely on Mississippi’s MDAH’s collections dating 1866-1922 have known Otis for some time and Special Collections on the project. newspapers for information on local -- Natchez, Liberty, Jackson, Raymond, respected him and his work as a MPA Executive Director Layne Bruce and national events; birth, death, and Lexington, Macon, Sardis, Vicksburg, newspaper publisher,” said Todd has been invited to serve on the marriage notices; and city and county and Woodville appear to be complete. Carpenter, president of Boone project’s advisory committee. information. The NDNP is a joint project of Newspapers Inc. “He and (his wife) “LSU has extensive experience with MDAH has about 2,700 rolls of the National Endowment for the Barbara will be excellent additions to digital content and technology projects microfilmed newspapers containing Humanities and the Library of The Daily Leader family and to the as an established NDNP (National 782 newspaper titles that span the Congress. Brookhaven community.” Raybon’s career took him to The Valdosta Daily Times and then to the Wright named publisher of Clarksdale Press-Register Americus Times Recorder, where he became the publisher. Jesse Wright, the news editor at the Clarksdale Austin University with a journalism degree. He earned a He later returned home as Press Register since January 2012, has been named the master’s degree in Southern Studies from the University publisher of The Griffin Daily News. newspaper’s publisher. of Mississippi. Wright worked for the Peace Corps in Haiti In 1997, he moved to Dalton, Ga., to Wright succeeds Matt Killebrew, who has been and East Timor. serve as president of the Northwest publisher for the past three years and has taken a job at He previously worked for a newspaper in Brenham, Georgia Strategic Marketing Group Coahoma Community College. Texas, and free-lanced for other news organizations. A Texas native, Wright graduated from Stephen F. See RAYBON, Page 6 6 | Fourth Estate | Fall 2013 Deaths New weekly Kenneth Andrews Church. The family requests alongside her husband, Ray Mosby, PENSACOLA, Fla. – Kenneth W. donations be made to Interfaith first in Clarksdale, then here, after newspaper Andrews, former publisher of The Ministries, a clothing and food bank, they purchased the weekly paper in Clarion-Ledger, died June 21 from at 4435 Gulf Breeze Parkway, Gulf 1993. launches in pancreatic cancer. He was 83. Breeze, FL 32563. That career was cut short when Andrews was a Pensacola native, she was stricken with early-onset served in the U.S. Navy and spent 29 Phyllis Mosby Alzheimer’s Disease, a scourge from Hattiesburg years in the newspaper industry. ROLLING FORK – Phyllis Ann which she suffered, but battled with Trelling Mosby died Aug. 31, 2013 courage, grace and dignity for the last His team at the Jackson newspaper HATTIESBURG – Emmerich at Heritage Manor Nursing Home dozen years of her life. won a Pulitzer Prize in 1983 for its Newspapers launched a new weekly in in Rolling Fork following a lengthy A warm and gentle soul, she is coverage of problems and reform in the Hattiesburg market Oct. 3. illness. survived by her husband, Ray Mosby the Mississippi education system. The Hattiesburg Post, a sister Mrs. Mosby was a graduate of of Rolling Fork; daughters Logan Andrews began and ended his publication to The Lamar Times, The Clarksdale High School and received Mosby of Lady Lake, Fla. and Devin news career at the Pensacola News Petal News and Signature Magazine is her bachelor’s degree in art from Hardin-Warfield of Atlanta, Ga; a son, Journal, starting as a credit manager delivered on Thursdays and focuses Delta State University, where she was Robert H. Hardin III of Madison; and in 1963 before traveling Louisiana and on Hattiesburg proper. also a runner-up in the university’s four grandchildren, including Levin Mississippi and returning to the PNJ Publisher David Gustafson said Miss Delta State pageant. Alexander Hardin of Lady Lake, Fla., as president and publisher in 1988. the launch of The Post is the result of She served as a social worker whom she reared. He retired from the News Journal several years for several years at the S.L.A. Jones In lieu of flowers, memorials may in 1992, but continued to serve of planning Activity Center for the Elderly in be made to the Sharkey-Issaquena the community as chairman of the and numerous Clarksdale before she began a County Library, 116 E. China St., Salvation Army. discussions newspaper career that included Rolling Fork, MS 39159 He is survived by his wife, Jackie, with community respective positions at the Delta Farm Graveside services were held Sept. and two sons Mike and David. leaders about Press, the Clarksdale Press Register 5 at the Montroy Family Cemetery His memorial service was held the need for and the Deer Creek Pilot, working north of Coahoma. June 24 at St. Christopher’s Episcopal a traditional community newspaper. Foster said the company believes the fine employees associated with the “Newspapers so strongly that the future is bright Gazette much success in the future.” Gazette have long played Gustafson for newspapers that it has invested in In addition to the newspaper, which an important role From page 1 a new high-technology press to print will observe its 125th anniversary in communities its products. next May, and its online edition, the like Hattiesburg. Our readers in Lamar “The team at the Gazette is All of the stock of Journal Inc. is Gazette publishes the Gazette Guide, experienced and passionate about County and Petal will attest to our owned by the CREATE Foundation, The Advertiser, Mississippi Homes, commitment to providing fair coverage providing quality products and a public charitable corporation based and two glossy magazines, Explore, services to the citizens of Union of events that matter to them the most. in Tupelo, but with affiliates in other an annual tourism and marketing We take our jobs very seriously and County that are relevant and affect counties, including UNITE in Union magazine, and New Albany, a twice-a- Union Countians lives personally,” he readers will be able to see that each County. year city magazine. week in our finished product.” added. Landmark, based in Shelbyville, Foster said, “We continue to invest David Breland, former government Ky., which operates more than 50 reporter for The Hattiesburg American, in papers like the Gazette because we newspapers, owned the Gazette 34 believe there is continuing value in will serve as news editor of The Post years. The company bought the paper as well as its sister publications, The the local publishing model, and with in October 1979 from Bill Rutledge, Raybon our existing operations throughout Lamar Times and The Petal News. a New Albany lawyer. The Rutledge From page 5 Gustafson said an aggresive Northeast Mississippi, we’re family had been associated with the convinced we can bring economies sampling plan has been put in place in Gazette since the 1930s. with Thomson Newspapers. of scale and enhanced management which more than 100,000 free copies Present at the Gazette for the sale Raybon became the vice president to both print and digital publishing of the newspaper will be mailed to announcement were Michael G. and chief operating officer of News operations of the Gazette.” Hattiesburg residents in the weeks Abernathy, Landmark Community Publishing Co. in 1998, and was Foster stressed that “returning and months ahead. Newspapers president, and Dan named publisher of the Rome News- the Gazette to local ownership is “There are plenty of exciting Sykes, executive vice president. Tribune in May 2008. important because we believe that things happening in the Hub City Abernathy told employees that He served as chairman of the board locally owned newspapers can these days and we want to use The because the Daily Journal operates in of directors of the Greater Rome best reflect the values and serve Post as a vehicle to promote this great the market next to New Albany, the Chamber of Commerce, as chairman the interests of the people of any community. I’m confident people will company had been trying to buy the of the Rome-Floyd Development community. like what they see,” Gustafson said. Gazette for many years. Authority, and as a member of “A distinguishing characteristic of With century-old roots in the “The paper is a very good fit for the board of directors at Georgia our newspapers is the commitment communities they serve, the Tupelo,” he said, adding that because Northwestern Technical College. to serve the information needs of Hattiesburg-based newspapers the Gazette was the only paper “Publishing a newspaper gives the community, and we look forward have been owned by Mississippi- Landmark owned in Mississippi, it us the opportunity to better serve to working with the team at the owned Emmerich Newspapers since was difficult to have synergy with the our communities,” Raybon said.“A Gazette as we seek new ways to serve 2003. The company is led by Wyatt company’s other papers. newspaper is a partnership with the our readers and advertisers and Emmerich, whose family-owned “The Gazette plays an important community, and I look forward to the strengthen the local community,” newspaper group has roots in 26 role serving the community of Union opportunity to build that partnership.” Mississippi communities. Foster said. County,” Abernathy said. “We wish Fall 2013 | Fourth Estate | 7 Layne From page 4 James S. Nichols. The Fletcher family owned the paper through the remainder of the 20th Century before selling to the Howells in 1998. We visited David Howell just a couple of months ago and he told us of the difficulties of running a small weekly in an economically depressed community. To make matters worse, the tiny but attractive newspaper office had been burglarized three times in the past year. The situation is quite different for David in Water Valley. That community has been growing for a number of years and benefits from being a nearby neighbor to Oxford. Amazing what a difference the 30 miles or so makes between communities like Water Valley and Sardis.

AND GOOD things continue to take place in small towns where they Talking it over value the sense of community fostered Dean Will Norton of the Meek School of Journalism (left) talks business with Charlie Langford, general man- by a local newspaper. ager of the Monroe Journal. Norton and MPA Executive Director Layne Bruce have made several visits this Jace Ponder, a journalism graduate summer to discuss ways the Association and the school can be of greater service to state newspapers. Norton of Ole Miss and the son of Sea Coast and Bruce have made over 50 joint visits to state newspapers in the last two years. Echo publisher Randy Ponder, recently took ownership of the Gazebo Gazette, a paper that opened in Pass Christian as the coast struggled to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Georgia publisher elected to lead Founded by Evalina Burnett in January 2006 as a bi-weekly, she sold the paper in May of this year. NNA; Schieffer to keynote DC event Jace, meanwhile, has changed the Robert M. Williams Jr., chair and attendance for being community News in Granbury, TX, as an at-large publication frequency to weekly and publisher of SouthFire Newspaper newspaper publishers, but all those director. has been learning the fine art of ad Group in Blackshear, GA, was who own and work at community scheduling, covering cops and city elected as president of the National papers. Leadership summit councils and the nuances of public Newspaper Association, during the Elected to his first three-year One of the most recognized faces notice advertising. association’s 127th annual convention term is Philip Vega, publisher of the in American journalism will keynote It’s gratifying to see a young man and trade show Sept. 14, 2012. He had Siera Vista (AZ) Herald as Region NNA’s “We Believe in Newspapers” with a bright future tackle newspaper been vice president. 11 director (Arizona, California, Leadership Summit set inWashington publishing in a small community. Williams succeeded Merle Hawaii, Nevada, Guam). He succeeds March 13-14. Bob Schieffer, Chief By all accounts, Pass Christian Baranczyk, publisher of the Salida Sharon DiMauro, publisher of the Washington Correspondent for has embraced the paper and the (CO) Mountain Mail, who became Fort Bragg (CA) Advocate-News and CBS News and a former newspaper newspaperman behind it. It may seem cliché since we say it immediate past president. the Mendocino (CA) Beacon, who reporter in Texas, will speak to the Elected vice president was John completed her second three-year term so often, but there truly is power in group at the National Press Club that print. Edgecombe Jr., publisher of the on the board. Thursday evening. Nebraska Signal in Geneva, NE. He Elected to their second three- “We are pleased Bob will be with Layne Bruce is executive director of MPA- had been treasurer. year terms were Pat Desmond, us,” saidWilliams. “Bob’s reputation MPS. His email address is [email protected]. Elected treasurer was Chip publisher the Milton (MA) Times, as a journalist with high standards, Hutcheson, publisher of the Princeton as Region 1 director (Connecticut, no doubt, goes back to his roots in (KY) Times Leader. He had been Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Maine, newspapers, where, as a new reporter Region 3 director (Kentucky, North New Hampshire and Vermont); and he was “accidentally” drawn into Job seekers find the Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and David Puddu as Region 10 director covering the Kennedy Assassination latest on newspaper West Virginia). (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, in Dallas. That’s just one of countless position openings at During his acceptance speech at Wyoming). fascinating stories about Bob that the MPA Job Bank. the association’s business meeting, Appointed to the board was Jerry come from his decades on the front go to mspress.org Williams thanked not only those in Tidwell, publisher of the Hood County line of journalism.” 8 | Fourth Estate | Fall 2013 guest column Why the newspaper industry still matters nce upon a time, the very first to discuss and share it. The average continue to seek out our readers’ newspaper was painstakingly newspaper’s pass-along rate is 2.12, interest and high engagement many Ocarved on stone or metal and which accounts for the copies spread different ways. posted daily in Rome’s public spaces. out among office coworkers, read The newspaper industry is one The Acta Diurna carried news of CAROLINE and re-read on public transportation that is constantly transforming. What legal proceedings, public notices and LITTLE and those picked up by other family was once a stone notice has become prominent births, marriages and members. a ubiquitous paper product and an deaths, but its readership was limited Today’s technology has only instantly accessible website or app. to the country’s few literate. amplified this effect, providing a We’re still innovating and evolving Today, the New York Times myriad of social media and digital with the times and technology today, tweets its headlines to more than 9.5 Yet while the look, content and platforms to widen the newspaper and our content is more relevant and million followers – and then they are business model regularly evolve audience of all ages. Stories are more needed than ever. retweeted, shared, and commented with society, one thing has stayed now repeated, shared, discussed, We recently observed National on to millions more people online. constant: Our hunger for immediate, emailed and texted countless times Newspaper Week. As we celebrate We’ve come a long way from the accurate news and information and a day – with the opportunity to reach the impact this business has on our carved and handwritten dailies that newspapers’ ability to deliver just millions more readers than before. communities and our country, I were distributed just a few hundred that. Newspapers are more relevant This high-quality content, could not be more proud to be a part years ago. than ever before, for in the midst combined with an engaged of this industry. Our future is bright, Today, those of us who are literate of the internet’s information age, readership of all ages, is exactly what and I cannot wait to see what is are thankfully not just a small we instinctively turn to newspaper continues to attract advertisers and ahead for the newspaper business. sliver of the elite population. Print content to provide trustworthy lend credibility to their messages. and digital innovations have made information and context. And that We’re seeing gains in digital and Caroline Little is President and CEO of the Newspaper Association of America. news available to everyone, and news frames our conversations and bundled advertising as advertisers the newspaper industry is on the even actions throughout the day. front lines of improved literacy and In other words, the impact of education efforts. newspapers on a community, on our Our news is also immediate, nation, just continues to multiply. which is a critical factor in allowing It starts with a reputation for businesses and leaders to react great content. Newspapers are in in real-time to the world’s events. the unique position to provide both Rather than opening the paper to last the local stories that connect us as week’s news, stories are constantly a community and the international breaking and updated in print and news that creates an educated, on a variety of digital and mobile responsible citizenry. platforms. It’s no surprise, then, that readers The newspaper has transformed both seek out this content and look itself many times throughout history. Pew: Newspaper brands don’t matter much to Facebook news consumers From Poynter.org Entertainment news and local news are the biggest draws for Facebook A third of Americans get news news consumers, Pew found. Less from Facebook, a new study from than a third of people who read news Pew Research Center says. But 80 on Facebook said they go there for percent of the people who get news breaking news. on Facebook get it when they’re on Only 16 percent of the people Facebook for other reasons. surveyed said they were bothered by Only 20 percent of people who people posting their opinions to news told Pew they click on links inside stories. Forty-seven percent said they Facebook posts said they did so were bothered by people bragging or because they prefer the news complaining about their lives. organization that produced the story. Still, news remains a “common but Nearly twice as many said a friend’s incidental experience” on Facebook, recommendation was important, Pew found. One respondent told the and half said they clicked because researchers: “News on Facebook is a story looked surprising, funny or just something that happens.” entertaining. Fall 2013 | Fourth Estate | 9 AD LIBS You’re replacing someone; now what? was talking to Angela about her details – good or bad – of how and predictable relationship with your early days at her newspaper. why their former representative is paper. I“When I moved into this sales job, a no longer handling their advertising. Here’s a new beginning. A clean lot of clients asked about the person I And it’s natural to want to please slate. An invitation to discuss ideas. replaced. Most of them asked innocent JOHN their curiosity. That’s why even the The first order of business is to questions about how that person was FOUST most innocent question calls for self- reassure your accounts that you have doing. But some of them were nosy discipline. their best interests at heart – and that and persistent. I figured the best “Just because people are curious their marketing is in good hands with strategy was to stay upbeat.” doesn’t mean I have to answer your newspaper. “In the beginning it’s It’s a big challenge to step into a inappropriate questions,” Angela all about establishing rapport,” Angela new position, whether it’s a result of Angela said. “There’s nothing to be explained. “I found it helpful to say, said. “When I had initial conversations account reassignments or a matter gained by criticism, even if that person ‘I appreciate your interest in Joe, but with existing accounts, I just tried to of replacing someone who has left left under negative circumstances. I wasn’t here at the time, so I really get to know them and let them see the newspaper. By being upbeat, “It’s smart to prepare some positive can’t answer your question.’ I kept my that I cared about their businesses. Angela was on the right track. People comments – things that are true, comments as neutral as possible.” And like always, I was on the lookout transition in and out of jobs and sales things you can say with sincerity. Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, for potential ideas and promotions.” territories all the time – and the new For example, you can say something “Great minds discuss ideas. Average “Funny thing about ideas,” she person has some control of how those like, ‘I appreciate your concern. Joe minds discuss events. Small minds continued. “When you get good ones changes are perceived. Here are three developed some ad strategies which discuss people.” – ideas that generate business for your points to keep in mind: got great results for his accounts.” Or Which leads us to the next point. advertiser – they’ll stop talking about 1. Be positive. Never say anything ‘Joe told me how much he enjoyed 3. Help your clients look the good old days.” negative about the person you’re working with you. I’m sure his old forward, not backward. Advertisers replacing. “Early on, I decided to avoid – like consumers – are motivated Copyright 2013 by John Foust. All rights accounts will miss him.’” reserved. E-mail John Foust for information saying things that I wouldn’t say if 2. Don’t gossip. It’s human by self-interest. Change represents about his training videos for ad departments: my predecessor were in the room,” nature for clients to want to hear the a possible threat to what was a [email protected]

Two years later, readers paying bigger share of NYT revenue From INMA biggest challenge of them all, Namini said. This is why The Times Yasmin Namini, International News introduced its paywall in March of Media Association president and 2011. senior vice president/chief consumer There had been a rapid decline in officer of The New York Times, has advertising since 2008, yet circulation been a witness and participant of revenue was growing. The Times many events that directly address started to rely more and more on the the changing media landscape: the readers to close the digital advertising introduction of color, the transition gap. to a national newspaper, and, most Circulation revenue became the recently, the launch of a pay model. biggest revenue source for the news In all cases, the decisions were media company, with more than half controversial at the times they were of company revenues now coming introduced, she told delegates at the from readers, thanks primarily to the 2013 INMA European Conference in decision to launch the paywall. Berlin. And only time could help prove Namini reported US$75.1 million they were wise decisions. of new revenue came from digital “Decisions we make today will subscriptions in the first half of this carry us to the next era,” Namini said. year. Some elements of the media Depending on the bundle, The business remain unchanged. Namini Times charges US$15, US$20, or believes in great journalism, the kind US$25 for a monthly subscription, published in The New York Times and arriving at this pricing by: by all publishers in attendance. She is •Conducting research to assess the sure that quality journalism is worth current demand curve. paying for, and feels the fundamentals •Considering print and digital of great journalism must remain businesses together. intact. •Considering advertising and Revenue diversification is the consumer businesses together. 10 | Fourth Estate | Fall 2013 Common sense journalism Timelines help make sense of fragmented coverage city council approves tax you present a complete story at its tell a story. incentives for a shopping conclusion. Select the important A woman receives the lifetime A center after a months-long items, and the chronology is ready- achievement from a civic club. process that provoked emotions JIM made. Sidebars offer opportunity for Profile the individual in the main from proponents and opponents graphics and photos, too, to present story, then scan the nomination alike. PUMARLO a reader-friendly package. letters to produce a timetable on her A basketball team completes a These internal files also should accomplishments. perfect season, capping it with a include pertinent information on A former mayor is elected to state championship. the key players. For criminal cases, statewide political office. Her A jury convicts a local resident record basic information including advancement up the political ladder of a triple murder after rumors good bet that these stories are names, addresses and birthdates – complete with ups and downs and legal maneuvers captivate the touched by several reporters. Staff for defendants and victims. – is noted in the accompanying community for two years. take vacations, have conflicting List attorneys and their contact chronology. High-profile stories such as assignments or switch jobs. Internal information. Collect appropriate A building is named to the these are commonplace in our logs enable any reporter to pick up a photos. This provides an easy National Register of Historic Places communities, punctuated by banner story midstream. reference for continuing coverage after facing demolition. Its history – headlines and photos. The stories Crime coverage provides an for the lead reporter as well as other including the architect, changes of prompted prominent coverage when excellent example as big cases staff. ownership and court challenges – is they first broke, and newsrooms typically last months or years The many starts, stops and outlined in a chronology. likely delivered play-by-play before they are resolved. From day detours before committees provide Today’s fractured media coverage at the various steps. one of the arrest, it’s a good idea ample opportunity to benchmark landscape demands that editors and But how many newspapers to generate files and update them the shopping center project. An reporters explore ways to make provide a comprehensive wrap regularly. Keep a log of key dates undefeated basketball season news relevant and easy to digest for those individuals who have and actions. Court appearances are includes plenty of highlights to for readers. Chronologies are an not followed the stories from standard information to collect, but chronicle – the common-from- important tool in both regards. beginning to end? That probably there is much more. Track when behind victory, a player’s record- Take time to brainstorm the applies to a good share of your motions are filed and ruled on; setting performance, the showdown opportunities, and everyone will readers. Chronologies are effective benchmark such things as changes between two unbeaten teams. The reap the rewards. in providing a living history of key of venue, new legal representation legal strategies in court cases, not events in our communities. or judge replacements. Not all of always readily apparent, can be Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides these items will necessarily be training on community newsroom success Compiling chronologies also identified and clarified in a step-by- strategies. He can be reached at www. are a valuable tool for newsrooms reported when they occur – maybe step account. pumarlo.com and welcomes comments to ensure meaningful and not ever. And there are many more and questions at [email protected]. comprehensive reports. It’s a But a complete record will help examples where chronologies help

NEWS LEADS at the dedication of his Presidential Prince library recently, “Life is service til the end.” Poynter launches effort to aid From page 2 The late British Prime Minister coverage of Affordable Care Act papers just to keep them going. When Margaret Thatcher said, “I am a community loses its newspaper, in politics because of the conflict The Poynter Institute has launched org, while Poynter’s e-learning it loses its soul. We’ve all grieved between good and evil, and I believe an initiative to provide teaching and site, News University, www.newsu. over New Orleans and wondered. that in the end good will triumph.” resources to help journalists cover org, will produce accompanying But sometimes big corporations get Thatcher also said: “If you just the federal Affordable Care Act – online interviews between Poynter it wrong. They lack that fire in the set out to be liked, you would be and what it means to the public. faculty and the health reporters, belly that since the 18th Century in prepared to compromise on anything The multifaceted project aims to allowing viewers to ask questions and America has driven newspapering at any time and you would achieve help simplify a complicated topic for participate in the discussions. instead of margins. nothing.” journalists and their audiences. “The Poynter.org stories will offer Everyone is a publisher in this age Few have the courage to speak the “The implementation of the ACA valuable insights, story ideas and tips but few are competent editors. truth. Telling the truth does not make is one of the most important stories that can help journalists improve their We may have to rethink our you popular or wealthy, necessarily, of our time, and it’s also one of the coverage of the ACA,” said Poynter. business model in places where the but it’s the right thing. May God most complex,” said Poynter’s dean org managing editor Mallary Tenore. local economy is drying up and move bless future generations and may He of faculty Stephen Buckley. “Poynter’s “We hope to help both health care toward subscription-based revenue. continue to call brave souls to serve goal is to be a place for journalists of reporters and general assignment There are challenges, but I have in our profession so that the light of all kinds to get the resources they reporters who are tasked with confidence we will overcome and Liberty continues to shine, even in the need to cover this story in a way that’s covering this difficult topic.” prevail. Our own survey says so. Read remotest outposts of this great land. smart and nuanced and factual.” Replays of Poynter’s online it. Digest it. Print it out and use it to Health care experts from top discussions will be archived. Visit shout from the rooftops the value of MPA-MPS President James E. Prince III is media organizations across the www.newsu.org/courses/covering- president of Prince Newspaper Holdings newspapers. country will write a series of articles affordable-care-act. and publisher of The Neshoba Democrat for Poynter’s website, www.poynter. President George W. Bush said and Madison County Journal. Fall 2013 | Fourth Estate | 11 TECHNOLOGY Changes affect community newspapers Over the past 15 years or so, I’ve papers tend to be. It’s also the case that, in worked with newspapers of all sizes. When newspapers get bought communities served by metro My clients have included some of up by large corporations with no papers who have decreased home the biggest newspapers, as well as a historical tie to the industry, it’s distribution, readers are looking for few of the smallest papers in North KEVIN obviously a concern that they solid local news. One of the themes America. I would like to dedicate SLIMP are being purchased simply as a I heard time and again in Kalamazoo this column to my friends in the commodity, with no thought to was that the reinvented newspaper community newspaper world. the responsibilities that come with had cut their news staff to the point So much is going on in our newspaper ownership. that there wasn’t much real news in business - and I receive so many it. Community papers can provide the messages asking me to write about the changes. Let’s face it. Advertisers There are several ways news that readers are looking for. my thoughts on these events - that I still need to advertise, even if they’ve smaller papers can take advantage I had a phone conversation wanted to take one column to explain lost their daily paper. of the atmosphere created by unrest with my friend, Ed Henninger how I think some of the big “stories” Also in attendance were broadcast in larger papers. First, I’m a firm this morning. Ed has long been about the newspaper industry media representatives. It was believer that what hurts our metro a very respected name in the particularly affect those of us at interesting to learn that their revenue papers hurts all of us. We’re all better newspaper world. He mentioned smaller papers. had also increased significantly as a off if our large, visible newspapers, to me that he thought the changes The Newhouse folks, aka Advance direct result, they felt, of the changes are healthy and growing. It presents in the Newhouse properties Publications, continue to convert at the daily newspaper. advertisers with a negative view of would ultimately be a big boost to their daily newspapers to non-daily In addition, local civic and print advertising in general when community papers, who could pick distribution. I’ve lost count of the business leaders, as well as our large brethren are making up the slack in news and advertising. number of Advance papers that have others, shared their concern for moves that cause the world to see If I were to wish, I’d wish that made the move, starting with nine a community without a “serious” newspapers as a “dying industry.” other metro papers would invest and properties in Michigan, then moving newspaper. But like the publishers I met in improve in ways that the folks in through New Orleans, Alabama, Michigan, community papers can Orange County are finding profitable. Pennsylvania, New York and now, I didn’t plan to write about benefit by aggressively seeking But in places where that is not the Cleveland. this. But I’ve received a bunch of advertisers in these same areas. case, I would suggest that community In July, I took a trip - on my own emails and other messages asking Let’s face it, the home builders newspapers can fill the advertising dime - to meet with media, business me to share what I think about the group in Michigan hosted the vacuum by using this opportunity and civic leaders in Kalamazoo, purchase of The Washington Post by meeting in Kalamazoo because to improve their presence and offer Michigan, to hear how the loss of Jeff Bezos. they feel like they’ve lost their most advertisers the resources they are a daily paper had effected their In a nutshell, I’m optimistic precious method of advertising, daily searching for. community. In a community meeting and worried. Like Warren Buffett, newspapers. While the drop in home hosted by the Home Builders of Jeff Bezos is a huge name that delivery can be catastrophic in a Kevin Slimp is the director of the Institute of Newspaper Technlogy. Email him, kevin@ Southwest Michigan, I listened as brings instant attention to an metro paper, area community papers kevinslimp.com one attendee after another spoke up industry that can use some positive can pick up the slack. about the negative impact felt after public relations. It’s concerning The Kalamazoo Gazette made the that someone with no significant now familiar move from daily to non- background in newspapers will take daily delivery. control of one of the most recognized On my way to the meeting, newspapers in the world. At the I stopped at a supermarket and same time, Aaron Kushner and Eric purchased a copy of the Wednesday Spitz had no previous newspaper edition of the paper. The 20-page experience, yet they’ve made huge edition was filled with one ad, 1/4 advances at The Orange County page in size. That’s not a misprint. Register. Other than a few classifieds and So my hope is that Bezos will public notices, there was one ad in follow the examples of Buffett, the entire newspaper, not including Kushner and Spitz and invest in ways house ads. to improve the newspaper in the long There were at least two persons in run, rather than seeing it as a cash attendance who owned community cow to be dismantled for a quick newspapers in the area. One of these return. I’m optimistic that could owned a very healthy free newspaper, happen. while the other owned a successful At the same time, I’ve been paid weekly paper. Of particular around this business long enough to interest to me was that both were recognize that the most successful very disappointed with the changes papers are those that are run by at the Kalamazoo newspaper, but people in their communities. The were taking advantage of increased further the leadership is from the advertising revenues as a result of community, the less successful the 12 | Fourth Estate | Fall 2013 Free Flow of Information Act gains momentum

WASHINGTON—The Free Flow of Information Act moved successfully through the Senate Committee on the Judiciary with a 13-5 vote in September. All members of the committee voted in favor of the bill except for Sens. Jeff Sessions, R-AL, Jeff Flake, R-AZ, John Cornyn, R-TX, Michael S. Lee, R-UT, and Ted Cruz, R-TX. The bill brings with it the hope that Congress will provide federal statutory protection for journalists. The Free Flow of Information Act of 2013 is not the first bill of its kind to find itself in the Senate pipeline. Similar bills have been introduced but none have become law. This particular bill, S. 987, was amended by Sens. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, and Richard Durbin, D-IL. The amendment narrows the definition of those people protected by the bill in deference to national security concerns. Board visits Mississippi State The next step is for the Senate Dr. John Forde, head of the Department of Communications at Mississippi State University, updates MPA-MPS Committee on the Judiciary to report Board President Jim Prince (from left) and Treasurer Don Norman on department curriculum and activities. the legislation to the full Senate, The Board visited Mitchell Memorial Library and offices of The Reflector student newspaper during its Oct. 17 possibly next spring. meeting in Starkville. Several Board members also served as guest speakers for journalism reporting classes.

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