March 2014 Published by Press Services HOSEMANN ROAST RAISES OVER $26K FOR FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIPS

SON MARK HOSEMANN: “MY DAD IS THE ORIGINAL CLARK GRISWOLD” Mississippi’s Secretary of State endured barbs from journalists, a close friend and even his own son during the annual MPA Education Foundation Celebrity Roast, which raised money for scholarships, grants and internships administered by the foundation. Page 3.

Did you know 7-in-10 Mississippi adults are regular newspaper readers? powerinprint.ms McDAVID CONFERENCE MPA, AGENCY PARTNER TO TELL Overby will be guest THE TRUTH ABOUT NEWSPAPERS speaker at student MPA took the wraps off process and production of newspaper at least once a symposium of a new industry promo- the video. A St. Louis-based week,” said MPA President tional video during a special firm was engaged to create James E. Prince, III, presi- Page 8. luncheon at the Mid-Winter the visual for the project. dent of Prince Newspaper Conference. The new video is avail- Holdings. “And your board “The Truth About News- able to members for down- has invested a lot of time papers” premiered to about load and MPA representa- and resources to create a 100 newspaper publish- tives will use it to promote presentation that highlights ers, ad managers and sales the industry to current newspapers and print as representatives and seeks clients and prospects. the number one source for to dispel myths about the Publishers and MPA board news and advertising infor- READ MPA PRESIDENT popularity of the industry. members will join MPA staff mation in our state.” JIM PRINCE’S It was produced in coop- on calls this winter and The video can be viewed COLUMN ON eration with the Jackson- spring to major clients in and other material accessed PAGE 2. based GodwinGroup agency. the corporate, financial and at powerinprint.ms. Godwin Managing Partner government sectors, among “The Mississippi Press John McKie and Creative others. Association assignment was BNC AWARDS Director Tal McNeill told “Over 1.5 million Mis- very important to GodwinG- attendees about the creative sissippians read their local VIDEO >> Page 9 Who took first? Page 4. 2 >> Fourth Estate >> March 2014

president’s column You’ve heard the news: Print is dead; it’s a digital world now eventy percent of Mississippi tion of how we do business. Much adults are active newspaper soul-searching occurred last fall at Sreaders. Seventy percent! That’s our Board retreat in Biloxi. But what Fourth Estate huge! That’s 1.5 million readers. emerged was a clear vision and a plan What other medium offers such a Jim of action that led us to Godwin. The official newspaper of the broad reach in this fractured age of Prince The key component has been the Mississippi Press Association 900 cable channels to flip through 60-page Readership Survey which and 2.15 billion web pages? clearly demonstrates the superior- 371 Edgewood Terrace, Jackson, MS 39206 But, you’ve heard the news. Print ity of print. An outside national firm 601-981-3060 | Fax 601-981-3676 is dead. It’s a digital world. Our con- conducted the telephone polling. The www.mspress.org | [email protected] dolences. report we’re presenting to custom- Nothing could be further from the ers is, objectively, exactly what the View to the video MPA-MPS Staff truth! A new video professionally pro- pollster gave us. The numbers are duced for MPA by the GodwinGroup http://www.powerinprint.ms. powerful. Layne Bruce David Gillis illustrates just that in a stunning dis- For publishers, a simple market- executive director director of sales Download the video [email protected] [email protected] play that’s quickly changing percep- ing plan utilizing the video is to: 1.) tions about the newspaper industry. http://bit.ly/1cg4JqP Present the video to key customers Monica Gilmer Andrea Ross Godwin confessed after digesting prefaced with “I’m not here to sell member services media buyer Download the Readership Survey [email protected] [email protected] our Readership Survey and spending you a thing.” 2.) Leave the color print about three hours questioning the http://bit.ly/14bNkbL piece that goes with the video. Fol- Beth Boone Sue Hicks Board that prior to their engagement low with an e-mail to the digital link foundation coordinator bus. development mgr. [email protected] [email protected] with us they’d “written print off.” powerinprint.ms. 3.) Leave a copy of Wow! Newspapers had simply gone advertisers know. the MPA Readership Survey. The Fourth Estate serves as the official newspaper of the Even for the unsophisticated Mississippi Press Association, recording the history of the off of the agency radar, although they In conversation, ask your key ad- organization, its members and associates. Copies are distrib- all confessed personally to a love for advertiser, 70 percent of anything is vertisers what they think, thank them uted at no charge to members and are available by contact- big. Digital numbers dazzle because ing the MPA office. newspapers. for their business and be on your way. The truth is, Mississippi newspa- of the specificity of who clicked on Plan a follow-up visit after they’ve di- Commentary columns published herein are the opinion of what. The immediacy is exciting, but their respective authors and not necessarily those of the pers are not only surviving, they’re gested the survey to obtain feedback. MPA, its board of directors or staff. thriving! it doesn’t necessarily translate into This strategy has already turned into We asked Godwin to take their a return on investment locally. Print dollars for us. Among other things, MPA-MPS Board of Directors newspaper conversion experience has a proven return on investment. the survey debunks radio. One of our and bring it to life in the video anima- The survey proves it and the video top advertisers was convinced. James E. Prince III Joel McNeece illustrates so. President First Vice President tion. They did! Along with the key advertiser vis- Neshoba Democrat Calhoun Co. Journal As an industry, we’re horrible mar- How we market our newspapers its, run the MPA house ads and share Philadelphia Bruce keters, although we think we know matters, but the most important thing the video and survey links on social is that content still matters most. Bad Reece Terry Don Norman advertising. After all, we sell a lot of media. How we market ourselves Second Vice President Treasurer it. Our idea of marketing is asking newspapers may survive, but they matters. Again, we must become Daily Corinthian Starkville Daily News won’t thrive. Nobody does what we Corinth Starkville Bill down at the car dealership what more aggressive in an ever-crowded he wants in his ad this week. do. Strive to do what you do better. marketplace. Don’t hesitate to call on Layne Bruce John P. “Pat” Brown In order to thrive, we must We have a connection to our commu- me if I can help you in any way. Layne Executive Director The Magee Courier nities no one else has. We are where MPA/MPS Magee become more aggressive and, as and the MPA/MPS staff stand ready as an industry, learn to think more readers turn to see who’s getting well. Kevin Cooper James Arrington Goff like a General Motors, Procter & married, who had a baby, who won Our numbers are outstanding, but The Natchez Democrat The News-Commerical the football game. Natchez Collins Gamble or Wal-Mart. We have to we’re simply not telling the story be more sophisticated. Our aim Mainly, readers trust their local as an industry. We have to change Tracie Fowler Paul Keane newspaper. In an era where ev- Hattiesburg American Wayne County News should be to serve our customers as fundamentally the way we market Hattiesburg Waynesboro trusted advertising consultants, not erybody has an opinion, the local ourselves. monotone salespeople. MPA, through newspaper is more relevant than ever The truth is, Mississippi newspa- H. Ray Mosby Jack Ryan in sorting out the truth and making Deer Creek Enterprise-Journal the video and Readership Survey, is per numbers are strong. The statis- Rolling Fork McComb giving you basic tools to develop your sense of the information overload. tics prove print’s superiority. Use own smart marketing strategy. Similarly, we’re going to have to the video, the printed video “leave Not a single publisher at Mid-Win- step up our subscription marketing behind” piece and the printed survey. ter could tell me his or her market and NIE programs. Waiting for read- Together, they illustrate powerfully penetration, although most Missis- ers to come to us is a death sentence. print’s overwhelming advantage in sippi newspapers reach close to 70 If you haven’t engaged in telemarket- reaching today’s consumers. percent of the households in their ing, . Sharper design has even county. Market penetration is a basic translated into dollars for us. MPA President Jim Prince is president of statistic you must know to compete Your MPA Board took the market- Prince Newspaper Holdings, Inc. His email Mississippi Press Association | Established 1866 effectively. It’s the language ad agen- ing challenge seriously as we em- address is jprince@princenewspapers. Mississippi Press Services | Established 1978 barked on a top-to-bottom examina- com. MPA Education Foundation | Established 1983 cies and other more sophisticated March 2014 >> Fourth Estate >> 3 MPA FOUNDATION ROAST BYLINES Commercial Dispatch Commercial Dispatch sports staff member Scott Walters was recognized in January as the state of Mississippi’s National Sportscaster and Sportswriters (NSSA) Sportswriter of the Year. He covers the prep beat for the Columbus daily.

DeSoto Times-Tribune Veteran newspaper executive Richard P. (Dick) Mathauer has been named as the new publisher of the DeSoto Times-Tri- bune and CLICK Magazine. He formerly was associate publish- er of the Scripps-owned DeSoto Appeal.

Madison County Journal Tyler Cleveland joined the Madison County Journal in January as a reporter. He formerly was a city reporter for the Jackson Free Press.

Photo/Leilani Salter Secretary of State Delbert Hosemann (second from right) is presented the S. Gale Den- Daily Journal ley Memorial Journalism Education Award by MPA Education Foundation Chairman James E. Patsy Brumfield, longtime senior reporter for the Daily Journal, Prince, III, as the honoree’s sons (from left) Mark and Chad Hosemann, and wife, Lynne, join departed the Tupelo newspaper in January to join a new public them on stage. policy initiative in Jackson. Roast brings in over $26K Birmingham Business Journal Bryan Davis, former managing editor of Leader in West Point, is now a real estate reporter for the Birming- ham Business Journal. Davis was als0 a sports editor for The for grant, intern programs Yazoo Herald. Mississippi’s Secretary Ledger Political Editor Geoff character played by Chevy of State endured barbs from Pender; editorial cartoonist Chase in a series of movies in Have news you want to share about your newspaper, your staff or journalists, a close friend and and radio host Marshall the 80s and 90s. yourself? Send it to us. [email protected]. even his own son Thursday Ramsey and last-minute Gov. Phil Bryant was evening during the annual substitution Mark Hosemann, a surprise guest for the MPA Education Foundation Delbert Hosemann’s son evening, making an Celebrity Roast. who was pinch-hitting for appearance following a DATELINES The event, which honored Casey Phillips of RedPrint legislative event. two-term Secretary of Strategies. “We all wished we O.C. McDavid Journalism Conference. Former State Delbert Hosemann, Phillips, who ran had commercials like 3/27Freedom Forum and Newseum CEO Charles raised over $26,000 for the Hosemann’s campaign for Englebert’s,” Bryant said, Overby will be the guest speaker at MPA’s annual internship, scholarship and Secretary of State and was poking fun at the Hosemann’s student journalism conference at the Mississippi Craft grant programs of MPAEF. A behind his popular television campaign advertisements. Center in Ridgeland. Admission is free. See page 4. crowd of about 250 people commercial series, was a Bryant himself is a past was on hand at the Jackson victim of airport delays honoree of the event, founded Webinar – Creating a Brand Image for Your- Hilton to watch as friends brought on by last week’s in 1990 to raise funds for the 4/11self. 1 pm. What do people see when they and associates took turns winter storms. His remarks MPA Foundation. think about you? How do you portray yourself? Your alternating skewering and were delivered in absentia by The event has raised image is the visual enhancement of your technical skills praising the politician. Mark Hosemann. hundreds of thousands of Roasters included personal “My father is the original dollars over two decades and level of professionalism. To register, visit the MPA friend David Russell, Clark Griswold,” Mark and has honored politicians, calendar at mspress.org. president of McGowan Hosemann said, comparing entertainers and journalists, Working Partners; Clarion- his dad to the hapless among others. MPA-MPS Board Meeting, Overby Center for 4/17Southern Journalism and Politics, campus of the University of Mississippi. 1 pm. Boone group buys Picayune, Poplarville papers Webinar –Short and Smart: Mobile Video Sto- Picayune Newsmedia, LLC, a new Newspapers, Inc. [BNI] with offices in Natchez, rytelling. Demand for short, timely video is Mississippi entity wholly owned by Carpenter and Tuscaloosa, Ala 4/17 high on all news websites. In this session you will learn Newsmedia, LLC [CNL] purchased The The sale ends more than a decade of Picayune Item, The Poplarville Democrat operation of the newspapers by CNHI. Linda how to shoot short videos with a smart phone or tab- and related publications from Community Gilmore will continue at The Item and The let. To register, visit the MPA calendar at mspress.org. Newspaper Holdings, Inc. [CNHI] of Democrat as publisher. Todd Carpenter of Montgomery, Ala. CNL is an affiliate of Boone PICAYUNE >> Page 8 4 >> Fourth Estate >> March 2014 March of events Saying goodbye to Orley, hello to Delta, delegation in Congress he office of the Quitman County Democrat in Marks sits across Tthe street from the courthouse, and just a half-block down and across the street where it was housed for Layne years when owned by John and Josie Fleming. It’s an older building – Bruce characteristic of much of the small town. These days, the weekly paper is owned and operated by Bill and Carol Knight. They bought the Democrat Hood, the longtime columnist for the from Mrs. Fleming in 2011, a couple of Jackson Daily News and The Clarion- years after her husband’s death. Ledger who died Feb. 21. Ole Miss Dean of Journalism Will There were scads of newspaper folks Norton and MPA Vice President Joel – past and present – and an impressive McNeece, publisher of the Calhoun group of community leaders from County Journal, joined me for a tour Jackson and beyond. Speakers included of Delta papers on a very cold March former Clarion-Ledger editor Charles day recently. We found Bill Knight Overby, columnist Sid Salter and even hard at work in his new office. There Hood’s own son, Hunter. But my favorite had to be former Gov. William was a warm fire in the hearth when we Photo/Anthony Warren arrived. Winter, who, at 90 years of age, can still Magee Courier advertising director Nancy Brown is presented the “You know, I would never have run circles around most of us with his award for Advertisement of the Year by MPA-MPS President Jim Prince. thought that this would be something vim, vigor and wit. I’d want to do at this point in my life,” “I wanted to be like Orley Hood Better newspaper contest said Bill, an accountant by training and when I grew up,” Winter said is his five now a newspaperman by trade. minutes of eloquent praise and humor. “But I really enjoy working for “And, although I didn’t know him when I was young, Orley was the type of man I Brown wins annual this community and I am constantly impressed by the work and how we are aspired to be.” appreciated.” We should all be so lucky to have The phone rang several times while something like that said of us when our ‘Ad of the Year’ award we were there. Bill juggled the visits time comes. with the whims and wishes of readers The advertising manager manager of The Magee who were calling to invite him to cover MPA PRESIDENT Jim Prince, Past of The Magee Courier took Courier, was singled out for the their events. He also was planning a trip President Randy Ponder and I recently home the trophy and $500 for Advertisement of the Year. She won to Brandon to visit the couple’s newest paid visits to several members of the the Advertisement of the Year, a $500 cash prize with the award. grandchild. Mississippi Congressional delegation on presented Feb. 1 during the MPA Over 40 papers submitted Carol was attending classes at a trip to Washington, DC. Better Newspaper Contest Awards 1,800 entries for the 2013 contest, Northwest Community in It was a good visit with Sens. Thad in Jackson. which was judged this past fall by Senatobia during our visit. Sorry we Cochran and Roger Wicker, as well as Five Mississippi newspapers members of the Hoosier State Press didn’t get to see her, but it was hard Reps. Gregg Harper and Steven Palazzo were singled out for being “Best Association in Indiana. to leave Marks behind without being in their Capitol offices. in Show” among their circulation A complete list of winners can happy with the enthusiasm the couple Washington was very cold but serene classes during the event, held at the be read on the MPA website at obviously has for their (relatively) new during the trip. It’s always a stark conclusion of the MPA Mid-Winter mspress.org. role in the community. contrast to the hot air and turmoil that Conference. Entries for the Editorial Division While Carol had previously worked plays out in headlines and on televisions Honored for Advertising were received by MPA the week of for the papers in Batesville and day in-and-out. Excellence were The Natchez March 1. The contest will be judged Hernando, Bill has never been in the The four men, all up for re-election Democrat, The Greenwood by volunters with the Louisiana news business before. Interesting to this year, were gracious hosts. It was a Commonwealth, The Lamar Press Association this spring. find he has ink in his blood at this point bit of a reminder why most Americans Times in Hattiesburg, The Magee Winners will be announced in in his life and career. disapprove of Congress but tend to like Courier and The Clarksdale Press Biloxi during the Joint Convention Better late than never. their own representatives there. Register. Awards were handed out with LPA June 19-21 at the IP Saturday at the Jackson Hilton. Casino Resort. Layne Bruce is executive director of Nancy Brown, advertising AT LEAST 400 people attend a late MPA-MPS. His email address is lbruce@ February memorial service for Orley mspress.org. March 2014 >> Fourth Estate >> 5

management Newspaper wins long-fought battle Schumacher to have DMR records made public new publisher >> The Sun Herald of Vicksburg GULFPORT >> A federal judge in Decem- ber ordered the release of docu- newspaper ments sought by the Sun Herald for more than a year in its investigation VICKSBURG of the Department of Marine Re- Jeff Schumacher was named sources. publisher of The Vicksburg Post and District Judge Keith Starrett gave affiliated publications and president of the U.S. Attorney’s Office 10 days to Vicksburg Newsmedia LLC effective turn over the records. Monday. “I’m very happy with the decision A native of and Judge Starrett’s basis for the Drayton, N.D., decision,” said Sun Herald attorney Schumacher Henry Laird. “It now returns the most recently case where it should be, which is the served as Chancery Court in Harrison County. general manager It’s a great decision in favor of of Mountaineer freedom of expression and freedom Publishing Co., of speech because the people of in Waynesville, Mississippi are going to be able to N.C. look at their records.” “I am Schumacher A grand jury in November indicted Photo/Anita Lee (via Twitter) extremely Bill Walker, the former executive Sun Herald Vice President and Executive Editor Stan Tiner (left) and State Auditor Stacey Pickering in federal court in early December. excited and director of the agency; Walker’s humbled to be chosen to lead the son Scott; Joe Zeigler, the former jury proceedings. government’s position appears to team at The Vicksburg Post,” DMR chief of staff; Tina Shumate, Starrett saw the matter differently. be that the DMR records are part Schumacher said. “I will bring all of the former DMR coastal resource “The represents of a grand jury proceeding because my energy, resources and knowledge management and planning director; that these documents are part of an they were obtained by a grand jury to give Vicksburg a community and Michael Janus, former city ongoing grand jury investigation,” subpoena, without regard for their newspaper of which they can be manager of D’Iberville. Starrett wrote in his order. “But the actual role, if any, in the grand jury extremely proud. Just days before the indictments, record contains no indication that proceeding.” “I look forward to building long- state Chancery Judge Jennifer they were presented to the grand He also said the government lasting relationships with our readers, Schloegel ordered the State Auditor’s jury before the indictments were admitted in its brief that the as well as our clients. After all, The Office to return the records to DMR issued Nov. 5, 2013. rule against disclosing “a matter Vicksburg Post belongs to them. I and ordered the DMR to comply with “Furthermore, the United States occurring before the grand jury” am just the one given the privilege of the records request by the paper. conspicuously failed to represent does not apply to “material obtained being the publisher.” Sun Herald reporters first asked that the documents would be or created independently of the Schumacher and his wife, Michelle, for the records in the fall of 2012 presented to the grand jury at grand jury as long as the disclosure have four children: Brandi, 22; with a formal request to the agency. some point in the future. The of such material does not reveal London, 17; Kiana, 14; and Easton, That request was denied, citing the what transpired before or at the 9. Michelle and the children will ongoing investigation of the agency direction of the grand jury.” relocate to Vicksburg in the spring at by state and federal officials. “It’s a great He found the records could not the completion of the school year to In January 2013, the Sun Herald decision in favor reveal what transpired before the join Jeff. sued the DMR seeking the records. grand jury because there was no “We are pleased to welcome Jeff It later added State Auditor Stacey of freedom of evidence they had been presented Schumacher to Vicksburg and The Pickering to the suit after DMR expression and to the grand jury. The records, he Post, his family to Mississippi,” said attorneys said the records were in wrote, “are public records created by Todd Carpenter, president of Boone the custody of the Auditor’s Office. freedom of speech the DMR and obtained by the state Newspapers. “He shares our values After Schloegel ruled that the because the people auditor independent of the grand and beliefs, and I know he will records were public and should be jury proceedings.” work hard to serve the Vicksburg given to the Sun Herald, the federal of Mississippi are Starrett found that if he didn’t community, readers and advertisers, prosecutor’s office subpoenaed the going to be able permit Pickering to disclose the to see we meet our every obligation truckload of documents and they DMR records, he could be held in to all who have a stake in the success were sent to Jackson in the middle to look at their contempt of court by Schloegel. of the newspaper and community. of the night, a move that did not sit records.” And, he said, keeping the records Schumacher attended Moorhead well with the chancery judge. secret would essentially nullify the State University in Moorhead, Minn., Federal prosecutors then argued – HENRY LAIRD authority of the Chancery Court and and North Dakota State University the records couldn’t be disclosed ATTORNEY FOR THE SUN HERALD the Legislature, which passed the in Fargo, N.D., majoring in mass because they were part of the grand Public Records Act. communication. 6 >> Fourth Estate >> March 2014 FAREWELL Good writing is hard work; Orley made it look easy et the score in the first once saved my job at the Mississippi court. I mean, I was really going to do paragraph. Spell folks’ names Gulf Coast Coliseum. It’s a story it. And then suddenly, nothing was in Gcorrectly. Write in short direct worth recounting. my hands. Orley swiped it, saved my sentences. The sooner you finish, the Dave Whitney’s Alcorn State job and probably kept me from being better. Rick Braves and Mississippi State were at arrested. When I started writing sports for each other’s basketball throats in a With that impish grin of his, he newspapers almost half a century ago Cleveland December tournament game. It was said, “Sorry, Pards, that damned thing now, those were my instructions. The a doozy and the packed house was deserved it, but you’ll thank me later.” Hattiesburg American was hiring into it. I was writing on deadline, I did. stringers. I was but 13, but I could and the newfangled, temperamental We once shared an apartment type, spell a little, and breathe. computers we used back then were between marriages. We were the You should know he was also one In other words, I qualified. noise sensitive. Every time the crowd odd couple, I the messy Oscar, he of my best friends, ever. As the years and press boxes and roared, which was every few seconds, the neat Felix. For a time he worked Orley died in February due to games went by, I learned sports my computer quit recording what the early mornings for the afternoon the complications of a stem cell writing could be more. I read Red I typed and start spewing all sorts newspaper. I worked late at night for transplant to treat acute leukemia. Smith in the New York Times and of nonsensical gibberish. It was the morning paper. Many times, he In sports terms, leukemia won a Jim Murray in the Los Angeles maddening. headed to work before I finished a knockdown drag out. Orley was Times. I read Frank Deford and Tex Deadline and game’s end nightcap. courageous in defeat. Maule in Sports Illustrated. approached. (Alcorn and Whitney Nevertheless, we adjusted our I thought I knew so much about And then I started working won.) I finally could take it no more. schedules to be golf partners and Orley before he was diagnosed with with Orley Hood at the Jackson During a time out with the Alcorn won several four-ball trophies. We the deadliest form of blood cancer newspapers. Orley was Mississippi’s fans chanting: “Who Dat think Dey shot 65, the day’s best score, one on 11/11/2011. I mean, we traveled sports poet laureate. The little man, Gonna Beat Dem Braves,” I picked up Sunday at the Brookwood Memorial the highways of the South together with the gigantic soul, could ever that machine, lifted it over my head Day Tournament. Orley shot 68 on for more than 30 years. We covered more write. and was about to heave it to mid- Super Bowls and Masters together. He RICK >> Page 10 Deaths

Orley Hood Clarion-Ledger, died Feb. 18. She was 70. compete in as many events Orley Hood, a longtime columnist and writer at “She probably was the most popular feature in as possible, he entered Jackson newspapers, died Feb. 21 at the University our Sunday newspaper,” said Charles Overby, the some under the name “Joe” of Mississippi Medical Center from complications Pulitzer Prize-winning editor who hired Jolly. Roberson and others as “Ray” from leukemia. He was 65. Jolly studied journalism at Ole Miss and worked Roberson. Because of that, Hood was originally from in the press office of the late Mississippi Sen. John his coach, Billy Brewer, took Vicksburg. His long career Stennis. She later was press secretary for longtime to calling him “Joe Ray.” The in journalism included Rep. Sonny Montgomery. name stuck. work at the Meridian Star, “Epicurious wrote cleverly and with just After several years working The Commercial Appeal, the right touch. She knew she was writing for at the paper, Roberson The Jackson Daily News Mississippians, not Parisians. But she also knew moved to Jasper, Ala., to be a Roberson and The Clarion-Ledger, Mississippians deserved crisp salad greens, hot photographer with The Daily concentrating in sports, soup, fresh fish, cooked-to-order meat, decent Mountain Eagle. He would features and general interest wine, efficient service and fair prices,” wrote Rick became sports editor at that newspaper. column writing. He held Cleveland in a column for Mississippi newspapers Then he opened Roberson Studio, which the week following Jolly’s death. specialized in high school annual and wedding positions as sportswriter, Hood columnist, sports editor, A Jackson native, she served as a bureau chief photography. He had a passion for helping Southern Style editor, for The Commercial Appeal of Memphis and as children, especially those with special needs, Cash senior editor and features editor at the Jackson editor of The Oxford Eagle. said. His rapport with children was strong. An newspapers. She is survived by her husband, Grady Jolly, and high school once dedicated its annual to “He was a great friend and he may well have been two brothers. Roberson. the best Mississippi newspaper writer I ever read,” A reception for family and friends was held at In the late 1980s, he moved back to Columbus said Rick Cleveland, who worked alongside Hood in the Fairview Inn in Jackson Feb. 22. and again became a photographer at The Dispatch. Jackson 1979-2008, and covered games with him “Joe Ray was a character, a holdover from a dating back to 1972. time when newsrooms were full of characters,” Ray Roberson Dispatch publisher Birney Imes said. “Joe Ray Hood is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, and two Ray L. Roberson, longtime photographer for was always full of enthusiasm, for people, for his grown sons, Hunter and Tucker. The Commercial Dispatch in Columbus, died next assignment...He was very much a part of this A public memorial service was held Feb. 26 at the Feb. 9 at Community Hospice in Verona, Ala. He place.” Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. was 71. He remained with The Dispatch through the Read Rick Cleveland’s tribute to Hood on page 6. Roberson had suffered from Parkinson’s disease late 2000s, when be began showing signs of for several years. Parkinson’s disease and made the decision to Roberson began as a photographer at The Betty Carol Simmons Jolly retire. Dispatch not long after graduating from S.D. Betty Carol Simmons Jolly, a former journalist He is survived by his wife, Regina Cash, and a Lee High School, where he ran track. In order to and once the “Epicurious” columnist for The daughter, Ashley. March 2014 >> Fourth Estate >> 7 photo album game faces abound at mid-winter event

Clockwise from left: Daily Leader publisher Otis Raybon puts on a smile at the keynote presentation; Silver Dollar Breakfast moderator Pat Brown (left) presents a cash prize to Jason Patterson of The Yazoo Herald; speaker John Lindsey directs traffic during his advertising boot camp; Linda Bassie (from left) of The Greenwood Commonwealth, Wanda Roché of The Winona Times and Anita Turner of the GrenadaStar celebrate their BNC wins; MPA Board Member Paul Keane of The Wayne County News pitches a few beads during the Silver Dollar Breakfast Idea Exchange. 8 >> Fourth Estate >> March 2014

mcdavid conference Picayune Overby is keynote at student event From Page 3 Natchez is BNI’s president and chief The former chief of the Newseum Syracuse Post Standard who is operating officer and is principal and Freedom Forum will be the now an assistant professor in the owner of CNL. keynote speaker March 27 during School of Journalism and Mass James B. Boone, Jr., of Tuscaloosa, the annual O.C. McDavid Student Communications at the University of Ala., is BNI’s chairman and chief Journalism Conference. Southern Mississippi. executive officer of BNI. Charles Overby will headline the Overby was for 22 years CEO BNI started as Tuscaloosa event at the Mississippi Craftsmans of the Freedom Forum, a non- Newspapers, Inc. and purchased The Guild in Ridgeland. A career partisan foundation that educates Picayune Item in 1970 from the late journalist, Overby was editor of people about the press and the First Charles Nutter and his family. The Clarion-Ledger in 1982 when Amendment. At that time The Item was it was awarded the Pulitzer Prize He was CEO of the Newseum published weekly. It was increased to for its coverage of the Education from 1997 to 2011 and supervised daily during that ownership. Reform Act. the building of the Newseum on The Poplarville Democrat was The event memorializes the Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, acquired several years later. Both journalism and artistic career of the D.C. He also was CEO of the papers were sold in 1980. late O.C. McDavid, former editor Diversity Institute from its beginning “We are pleased Linda Gilmore will of the Jackson Daily News. About in 2001. The Diversity Institute is a remain as publisher,” Carpenter said. 75 journalism and communications school that teaches journalists and “Her steady leadership and knowledge students and educators are expected aspiring journalists, with the goal of of community newspapers will be to attend. Admission is free through increasing diversity in newsrooms. important to us during the transition a grant from the MPA Education Lunch will be served at the and thereafter. We look forward to Foundation. event, which culminates with the becoming a part of the communities Also featured during the presentation of the 2013 Better Charles Overby is the retired chief and county served and will work event is a special presentation Newspaper Contest Student Division executive of The Freedom Forum hard to meet our every obligation to on multimedia journalism by Dr. Awards. and the Newseum. readers, customers, employees and Gina Chen, a former editor of the all who have a stake in the future of these communities.” March 2014 >> Fourth Estate >> 9 ad libs Did the dog eat your homework? t’s no secret that the more than they are with people. Rather Preparation time can easily be put on sales people know about their than avoid gathering information, the back burner, but they don’t let Iprospects – before they begin a they overdo it. You’ll find them at that happen. sales presentation – the better their their desks, basking in the glow of 6. Lack of desire. Every job has chances for successful outcomes. John their computer monitors, poring its most favorite and least favorite In advertising, this means learning Foust over online and database research, parts. Strong sales people persevere prospects’ business and marketing surrounded by charts and graphs. through the parts they don’t like, histories, identifying major Their mantra is not “Ready, aim, because they see how those duties competitors and analyzing what fire.” It’s “Ready, aim, aim.” This fit into the big picture. Weak sales they want to accomplish in their approach creates the risk of losing people simply avoid the things they advertising. 2. Overconfidence. This relevant, usable information in a don’t like. Since pre-presentation homework is particularly common with mountain of details. 7. Lack of perspective. Too many is such a crucial step in the sales experienced account executives; they 5. Poor time management. You may sales people – veterans as well as process, why don’t more sales people feel like they can wing it, instead of be familiar with the time management rookies – simply don’t realize the make it a top priority? There are spending time gathering information. grid which illustrates four categories: importance of research. The message several possible reasons: They have dealt with so many widget (1) Urgent and Important, (2) Urgent here for them is: knowledge is power. 1. Impatience. High-energy sales dealers that they think they can skip but not Important, (3) Important but That goes for knowledge of the sales people thrive on the adrenaline of the discovery step. not Urgent and (4) not Urgent and process, as well as knowledge of their the pitch and are eager to get to the 3. Lack of knowledge and not Important. It’s human nature to prospective advertisers. main event. After all, isn’t that where skills. Sales people may skip this concentrate on the tasks which are their powers of persuasion come into step because they don’t know the in the urgent category, regardless of John Foust has conducted training play? And isn’t that where decisions their importance. Something shouts programs for thousands of newspaper techniques to gather information. advertising professionals. Many ad are made? They may not have learned how to ask “do this now,” and we do it – often Impatience has a big downside. without asking ourselves if it can wait. departments are using his training videos open-ended questions to encourage to save time and get quick results from It sends a signal that sales people prospects to talk. They may be poor Good time managers discipline in-house training. Email for information: are (1) unprepared and (2) listeners. They may not know where themselves to focus on tasks which [email protected] concerned only about themselves. to find information (online research, are important but not urgent. That’s a negative first impression networking, etc.). that is difficult to overcome in a 4. Research paralysis. Some people presentation. are more comfortable with technology

McKie. “This is a story that needed to Video be told, and we needed to grab the From Page 1 audience’s attention. GodwinGroup roup because as a communications is constantly looking at new ways to company we realize the importance communicate with our audiences, and of a strong newspaper industry,” said we felt the animated video enabled us to best achieve our goals.”

Looking to buy or sell your publication? Give me a call. I will do a brief valuation for free to help you determine a price. (850) 532-9466 [email protected]

Lewis Floyd Senior Associate www.mediamergers.com

Job seekers find the latest on newspaper position openings at the MPA Job Bank. go to mspress.org 10 >> Fourth Estate >> March 2014 newsrooms Tragedies are widely read but difficult to report family’s farm is devastated by time of grief. The reporter, however, what distinguishes someone who is a tornado. A reporter is on the handled the contact with tact and a professional from someone who is Ascene moments afterward to concern that was not upsetting to our just doing his job.” record the events, including talking mother. The advice is well taken when with family members. Jim “The result was an article that pursuing any story, but especially A student commits suicide and, Pumarlo provided your readers with some when reporters are in the midst of understandably, it’s a shock to many small comprehension of this man who a sensitive or tragic situation. Often people. A story documents the died in the crash. For many readers how a story is pursued is equally community’s response; the family who wondered why they were late to important to how it is presented. relives the episode, blow by blow. work, your paper let them know it In this case, the reporter’s A child is murdered. Within days, approached for the story, during the was because a decent, hardworking approach was professional and an interview with the grieving parent interview and after it’s published man lost his life that day, and this much appreciated by the individuals is published. for all to read. Anger, bitterness, man had a family that is now grieving directly involved, and it resulted in a All were handled remorse, guilt – people may react its loss. better story. That will reap benefits during my tenure as editor of the Red with any of these emotions. “A reporter’s job can be very for himself, his newspaper and the Wing Republican Eagle. All three A reporter from another difficult. Reporters are forced readers. dealt with tragedies and involved newspaper, who was involved in such to confront the most unhappy interviews with family, friends or an incident, wrote about a letter to circumstances on a daily basis. Our Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides others close to the situation. All three purpose in writing this letter is not training on community newsroom the editor his newspaper received success strategies. He is author of probably put people in an unfamiliar describing the reaction of the to criticize, but perhaps to enlighten – and uncomfortable – spotlight. journalists to the immense impact “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community family of a man killed in a car-truck News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Tragedies are some of the most collision. It was written by a member that a seemingly insignificant article Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” readable stories but also the most of the man’s family. can have on the parties involved. and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A difficult to write. It’s probably the “To be honest,” the family member “On behalf of families everywhere Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues toughest assignment for any reporter wrote, “our first reaction was anger who find themselves facing similar in Small-Town Newspapers.” He can – rookie or veteran. and dismay that a reporter would circumstances, we would like to be reached at www.pumarlo.com and It’s difficult to predict how violate our family’s privacy during a let the press know that a small welcomes comments and questions at the people will respond – when investment of empathy and time is [email protected].

It was shorter, simpler, much more telling. Perfect. Rick Much of Orley’s writing was From Page 6 perfect or nearly so. He was not his own ball with an hour’s sleep the above dashing off a column in 20 night before, a story for another day. minutes so he could make a tee time. We were both reformed smokers. But when he deeply cared about One year, on the way to The Masters, something or someone — someone just before Orley left sports for like Bailey Howell or Archie Manning news, he said, “Rickey, I’ve got a — no one was better. proposition, let’s smoke on this trip. So, as I was saying, I thought I Just this trip. This might be my last knew so much about Orley before Masters. I don’t want to do it without he was diagnosed on 11/11/11. But cigarettes.” here’s what I did not know: That he I was a pushover. We pulled over was courageous beyond even his own for a carton of Winston, Reds, mind words. That he would fight a truly evil you. Long story short: I quit again, a disease for 27 months. That he would year later. I think it was three years remain Orley through all that hell on for Orley. earth. He did. And, as much as we Good writing is hard work. Orley all hate to lose him, he deserves this made it look easy. He always seemed rest. to have the right touch, the perfect Rick Cleveland is the executive director word. He edited me once when I was of the Mississippi Sports Hall Fame and describing a dark and threatening sky. Museum and a syndicated columnist. His Try “evil” Orley said of the sky. I did. email address is [email protected].

Upload your newspaper’s legal notices to PUBLICNOTICEADS.COM/MS Contact Monica Gilmer – [email protected] March 2014 >> Fourth Estate >> 11 the business of news Tips for a new newspaper publisher have a new friend on Facebook. Here are some simple tips I give have more columns like “Students of I just “accepted” Roger’s friend to folks like Roger to help grow their the Month” and “An In-depth Look at Irequest this morning. More about papers: the Life of Our State Representative” that later. • Improve the quality of your and fewer columns like “Are You While speaking at a convention Kevin content. For community papers, the Ready For Valentines Day?” and a few last week, I noticed Roger sitting in Slimp key is hyperlocal. Include stories that others. the front row, taking notes furiously are important to the readers. I like Roger’s paper. He’s done in my classes. There were sessions on • Improve the look of your paper. some really good things. He’s got a photo editing, page design, newspaper If I had to name one thing that could religion page with a column by a local management and PDF technology. He increase the popularity of many clergy member that is full of ads from sat through every class, writing most I asked how he ended up at at the community newspapers, it would be local religious groups. He has several of the time. convention, when he wasn’t even a improving the look of the product. stories about local athletes and ball I hadn’t met Roger before, so I member of the association. He said, Looking over Roger’s paper, I see a lot teams. And I’m sure a lot of families struck up a conversation with him “I read about the convention and saw of areas that could be improved: pick up his paper for the kid’s page, during a break. I learned that he was you were speaking, so I registered and • Headlines aren’t consistent. Some which is very well done. new to the newspaper business. When here I am.” are centered. Some are justified. The The keys to the future success I asked what he did at the paper, he Roger told me he wanted to leading (space between lines) is too of Roger’s newspaper aren’t that paused. improve his paper and this seemed great in the headlines. different from any other paper: local I interjected, “Let me guess. like a good first step. He gave me a • Black & White photos are too content that draws readers, continued Everything.” copy of his most recent issue and I dark and muddy. It makes the whole updating of equipment and training He laughed and said, “Yes, just promised to look over it and make paper look dirty. That will probably to produce an attractive publication, about everything.” suggestions after I returned home. change after a private lesson I gave plus consistent efforts to keep and We chuckled about that for a Trainers and speakers tend to like Roger between classes. attract advertisers. moment, then I explained to Roger people who listen closely and write • Get rid of the clip art. Clip art I’ll look forward to checking out that I’d heard that before. He told me lots of notes. It reminds us that we’re can make a newspaper look more like Roger’s paper in a couple of weeks he had recently purchased a paper saying something that is important to a church newsletter. I’ll have a talk and seeing if the training was worth it. and was doing everything he could to the audience. After visiting with Roger, with Roger about that. make it grow. I liked him even more. • Even more local content. I would Email Kevin Slimp at [email protected]. NNA survey finds continued Press associations join support for community papers >> From NNA completed in 2013 in partnership fight against new ad tax with the Center for Advanced Social COLUMBIA, Mo. >> Two-thirds of residents Research of the Reynolds Journalism >> From NAA rely on advertising – are beginning in small towns across America depend Institute at the University of Missouri. to move forward in a positive upon their local newspaper for news Surveyors reached 508 households in ARLINGTON, Va. >> Forty-seven press direction.” and information, according to the communities where a local newspaper associations, including MPA, have Advertising currently accounts for National Newspaper Association’s most of circulation of 15,000 or less voiced their opposition to an $5.8 trillion of the $33.8 trillion in recent newspaper readership survey. served the communities.The survey advertising tax proposed by Senate U.S. economic output and supports NNA, founded in 1885, represents began in 2005. It has consistently Finance Committee Chairman, 21.1 million of the 136.2 million 2,200 members across the U.S. shown the community newspaper to Sen. Max Baucus, in his paper U.S. jobs, according to estimates by Its mission is to protect, promote be the information leader in smaller “Discussion Draft on Cost Recovery economic consulting firm IHS Global and enhance America’s community communities. and Accounting Language,” which Insight. “The proposed tax would newspapers. Most of its members are Overall, readers in the 2013 survey was released in December. The have an immediate and devastating weekly or small daily newspapers in gave high ratings to the accuracy, ad tax proposal would require all impact on newspapers and other smaller or niche communities. coverage, quality of writing and fairness advertisers to wait up to five years media, where advertisers underwrite The survey noted that more readers of news reporting of the local print before they can fully deduct the much of the cost of bringing news, are using mobile devices to shop, read newspapers. In “coverage of local cost of half of their advertising as a information and entertainment to all and communicate. The number with news,” “quality of writing” and “fairness business expense. Americans,” reads the letter. smartphones jumped from 24 percent of reporting,” their combined ratings As the letter explains, “We believe The associations’ letter reminds to 45 percent and 39 percent said they were higher than in 2012. the proposal in the discussion policy makers that advertising is an used the phones to access local news. 94% of readers agreed that the draft would severely undercut the ordinary and necessary cost of doing Newspaper websites remained the newspapers were informative. economic power of advertising to business and has been treated as a leading provider of local news, followed 80% said that they and their generate sales and support jobs. deductible expense for 100 years distantly by a local TV station’s site and families looked forward to reading the The proposed tax on advertising and urges members of the Finance then by national aggregators, such as newspapers. would push our economy down at Committee to reconsider including Google and Yahoo. 78% relied on the newspapers for a time when businesses – including the proposed tax in a tax reform The annual NNA Community local news and information. newspapers and other media that package. Newspaper Readership survey was 12 >> Fourth Estate >> March 2014 Print still leads local consumption for news readers

>> From MediaPost

Just over half (55%) of the U.S. newspaper audience still reads their local newspaper in print only -- with no overlapping digital consumption. That’s according to a new survey of 150 U.S. media markets conducted by Scarborough on behalf of the Newspaper Association of America. It found another 15% read their local newspapers both in print and online, while an additional 10% read newspaper content on a mobile device, as well as print and online. Just 4% read their newspaper in print and mobile, eschewing other online consumption. Given all these numbers, it’s easy to deduce that the digital-only newspaper audience (including people who avoid print and only read newspapers online, via mobile devices, or both) actually remains fairly small. Indeed, just 7% of those surveyed said they read their local Delta road trip newspaper only online, while just 3% MPA Vice President Joel McNeece (center) and Executive Director Layne Bruce (right) visit with member Scott Coopwood, read it with a mobile device, and a publisher of The Cleveland Current and Delta Magazine, at his Cleveland office. The stop was part of a Delta road trip that mere 5% read it both online and with took McNeece, Bruce and Meek School of Journalism and New Media Dean Will Norton to Marks, Tunica, Cleveland, Indianola, a mobile device. Greenville, Belzoni and Yazoo City.

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