Successful Folio Changes in the Capitol the MPA Public Policy Team Was Finally Enforcement Groups

PROMOTING PRESS FREEDOM SINCE 1868 JULY, 2017 “Newspapers cannot be defined by the second word—paper. They’ve got to be defined by the first word—news.” Arthur Sulzberg, Jr. ISSUE 7 Successful Folio Changes in the Capitol The MPA Public Policy Team was finally enforcement groups. successful in getting an adjustment in the rate The public notice issues remain in committee. newspapers are allowed to charge for legal However, we continue to monitor closely. notices (folio). Due to a prior sunset in the law the rates have remained the same for 5 years. Senator Rick Jones will be re-introducing the The new law will allow the rate to be adjusted student press rights bill again this year with to the CPI until 2025. We anticipate that the changes proposed by MIPA to address some of Treasury Department will have a new chart that the concerns voiced by school administrators. reflects the increase by October of this year. The Public Policy Committee will be meeting Unfortunately, during the same time period, a to prioritize our legislative agenda and address bill sponsored by Represenative Jim Runestad any new concerns in the coming weeks. If you (R-White Lake) that would allow for FOIA have any concerns about legislation impacting exemption of a majority of police body worn the business of newspapers please contact camera footage (HB 4575) also passed. MPA Lisa McGraw at 517-372-2424 or email lisa@ worked for 2 and half years with the sponsor of michigannpress.org the bill to prevent this from being so extreme but we were shouted down by numerous law MPA 150th Anniversary Just Around the Corner The staff at MPA is getting geared up for a year of memorable activities to commemorate our 150 years. A committee appointed by MPA Board President Doug Caldwell met recently to discuss plans for the year. Great ideas were generated and will evolve over the next year. Keep your eye on this publication and other MPA communications for upcoming events. Plans for editorial content, house ads, open government seminars, a 5K and various other opportunities to celebrate are in the mix. If you have a great idea for potential content (the historical significance of your newspaper in the community, your families involvement in the business, historical pictures of illustrious people) please contact Lisa or Brittiany at MPA. MPA would also like to hear from you if you won a BNC award prior to 1994. We are also hoping to locate memorabilia from past years that we can display at various events. 2018 will be a “golden” year at MPA and we can’t wait to have you celebrate with us! Newsboy Pavillion Built in 1911, the historic Newsboy Shelter on Belle Isle is in danger of falling down. MPA, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Belle Isle Conservancy are raising funds to help restore this victorian era structure and piece of Michigan press history. MPA is incorporating the restoration of the shelter into its 150th celebration activities taking place throughout 2018. If you are interested in donating to the efforts to save the Newsboy Shelter, please visit patronicity.com/project/ belle_isle_newsboy_shelter_restoration or contact us at 517.372.2424. PAGE 2 JULY, 2017 MPA Executive Director’s Column Strength in Numbers from MPA Executive Director Jim Tarrant MPA members – you represent our eyes and ears. You legislation which prevents newspapers from accessing Please consider joining MPA and know the stringers, freelancers, photographers, etc. in the files of footage. MPA will continue to work with supporting fellow journalists, your area who may be potential MPA members. There members to modify the law in the future to open things editors and publishers as we are also a small number of newspapers and magazines back up to improve access and transparency. continue the efforts to educate who are not current members. As staff reaches out to the public, defend free speech and The other major legislative concern MPA is working on, these potential members, your assistance forwarding open government. is preventing legislative efforts to allow governmental contact information of prospective members or even bodies to only place public notices on their respective As a member you will be kept better, personal calls to area newspapers which are not websites. The public will not take the time to search aware of the efforts underway members (see directory), will be helpful in expanding multiple websites looking for the information that has at MPA. Calls to action when the membership. always been available in newspapers. newspaper industry is under attack, Please feel free to adapt the following membership when you should be calling your In addition to our advocacy at the state Capitol and in recruitment letter as you identify and contact individuals. elected officials to tell them the Washington DC, MPA is your voice for open government Expanded membership helps MPA members connect impact legislation will have on on other fronts. Most recently, MPA designed a campaign wih people seeking opportunities. your business or question why they don’t support open for member newspapers to combat #fakenews. We will government. be adding editorial content to this campaign often. Not every action by the association benefits every __________________________ We often take on the cost of legal counsel preparation member, but the leadership considers the impact on of amicus briefs for significant issues which may impact Dear ---- the newspaper industry and its evolving landscape. all newspapers. Your voice can be heard and together the voices of all Support for the Michigan Press Association is critical. You benefit from the ongoing efforts of MPA whether Michigan newspapers can be very loud. MPA is advocating for Michigan Newspapers which you currently pay dues or not. However, as the American requires support. Governor Snyder signed the Folio Those who are members see the benefits of advocacy, Medical Association states, “we are stronger together.” legislation on July 12, which will increase the fees for legal assistance, education and being part of something Journalism is under assault from the President of the publication of legal notices and again realign it to adjust bigger. United States on down. The industry needs a united annually based on the Consumer Price Index. front and the resources to defend freedom of the press MPA opposed the recently signed Police Worn Body Cam and the public’s right to know. Connecting With Members HE Left- MPA Executive Director, Jim Tarrant joined Tom N T WO I R MacDonald, owner of the Gratiot County Herald in E L R D Ithaca. E H I S Right- Jim visited the Crawford County Avalanche W in Graylng and was shown around by advertising department staffer, Raylene Collen. NT RA AR JIM T www.MICHIGANPRESS.org PAGE 3 JULY, 2017 What’s happening in WASHINGTON? Coalition fighting to preserve deduction of ad tax during Federal Reforms Excerpts from : atr.org The Michigan Press Association has joined with a Eliminating the Advertising Deduction Would Have coalition of groups including broadcast media and Drastic Economic Consequences: Past tax reform advertising professionals to fight a proposal to remove proposals have called for limiting or eliminating the the current deduction for advertising that has been advertising deduction as a “pay-for” in tax reform. discussed in Washington as the President and Congress However, any revenue raised in this way would be look at tax reform. dwarfed by the negative impacts to the economy. As lawmakers move forward with tax reform, they must In total, advertising directly or indirectly supports retain the ability of businesses to deduct advertising almost 22 million jobs and $5.8 trillion in total economic costs. Eliminating or removing this deduction would output. Every dollar of advertising spending generates distort business decisions and undermines the goals $22 of economic activity. Advertising associated of growth, simplicity, and equity that drive tax reform. with local radio and television is alone projected to contribute more than $1 trillion in economic output Treating Advertising Costs Differently From Other and 1.38 million jobs. Business Decisions Would Distort the Tax Code: Advertising is one of many costs of doing business that As part of the tax reform conversation, legislators firms are properly allowed to deduct, and has been should oppose any proposal that removes the ability of treated as such in the tax code for more than 100 years. businesses to deduct advertising costs as a necessary Other costs to businesses include wages and other business expense. Limiting this provision would forms of compensation, travel, and rent. undermine economic growth. There is little difference between advertising costs The MPA public policy team will be contacting and these other business expenses. Changing current members of the Michigan Congressional Delegation to law would needlessly create a bias against investing in express concern about the potential elimination of this advertising. In turn, this would encourage businesses deduction as the issue of tax reform moves forward in to make economically inefficient decisions based on DC. tax reasons. #TBT “New” Inovations July 1947 Type is set automatically by this machine, now in use at the plant of the Midland Dairly News. Miss Ileane Asch, Beaverton, punches the tape which is fed (left) into the Teletypesetter machine. Type comes out (right). Here is one way to solve the shortage of machine operators. www.MICHIGANPRESS.org PAGE 4 JULY, 2017 ABC News Settles

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