OCNA Welcomes New Executive Director
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ONTARIOnews COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS ASSOCIATION’S clipsJUNE 2007 http://members.ocna.org VOL. 21, NO. 6 Quebecor makes bid to OCNA welcomes new purchase Osprey Media Executive Director umours and specula- Newspapers, 9 dailies, 12 shop- tion recently about pers, and a variety of specialty he Board of Directors of the OCNA is pleased to the future ownership products, including two com- announce the appointment of Robyn Matravers as of Osprey Media muter papers. Executive Director, effective May 16, 2007. She hails came to a halt after There are three markets experience from the governmental, non-governmen- RQuebecor announced May 31 where Osprey publishes daily tal and private sec- Ttor communities. Prior to join- that it has bid to purchase the newspapers and Sun Media company. Reports say the deal is Community Newspapers: ing OCNA, Robyn Matravers worth about C$516.9 million or Timmins, Chatham and Sarnia. was the Deputy Director of $7.25 per unit; while the compa- Both companies publish the Regional Office for North ny's equity value is C$355.5 mil- Community Newspapers in America of the United lion (Osprey Media Income Wallaceburg, while other mar- Nations Environment Fund Close: $6.32 unit). kets complement each other in Programme. She was the key "The offer of Quebecor their distribution. If this deal is liaison person between UNEP Media reflects strong value for accepted by Osprey unitholders, and Canadian government and unitholders while providing an the Ontario market will see CSOs. She was also responsi- excellent strategic fit for our Metroland with 100 Community ble for other UNEP program- newspapers," said Michael Newspapers and Quebecor/Sun matic activities and the gener- Sifton, Osprey's President and Media with 66 Community al management of the regional CEO. Newspapers, Transcontinental office. In Ontario, Osprey publish- Media with 4 Community Ms. Matravers has also held senior management positions es: 34 Community Newspapers, Newspapers, and another 152 in the Community Newspaper publishing industry in Europe and 20 dailies, 3 shoppers, and about independently-owned newspa- Canada (General Manager of The Prague Post, Director 40 magazines and specialty pers who are members of Business Development/Consultant with Metroland) and played products. While Quebecor, OCNA. a key role in new business and driving of additional revenue through its Sun Media division, It will be interesting to see sources. She also worked in senior program and management publishes: 32 Community Continued on page 5 positions within several non-governmental organizations includ- ing the Prague Post Endowment Fund, Foundation for a Civil Society, Association of Conservation Authorities, the Council of 2006 Junior Citizen Ontario Universities, the Centre for Economic Research and Graduate Education in Prague, and other entities. Ms. Matravers also brings to OCNA skills in event planning, project and finan- passes away cial management, and interactive media development. CNA Ms. Matravers has both Masters and Undergraduate degrees 2006 from York University in Toronto. Junior “The skills and experience Robyn brings to our association, Citizen as well as her knowledge of our industry, make her well suited Maddison to both continue to build on the services we provide as well as OBabineau, 15 of develop other valuable programs for our varied membership,” Hamilton, passed said OCNA President Rick Shaver. “Community newspaper away on May 15 at companies are the preeminent source of news and information to Sick Kids Hospital their communities through their print and online products. This after her three-year association is dedicated to ensuring community newspapers con- battle with cancer. tinue to grow and stay on the leading edge of Ontario’s media Maddison was landscape.” lovingly known as "the She will be based in OCNA’s Burlington office while girl who gave her wish spending some time each week at Ad*Reach’s Toronto office away". and can be reached at [email protected] or 905-639-8720 Continued on page 9 ext 238. WHAT’S INSIDE: PAGE 2 - A word from the President PAGE 4 - Update on former Junior Citizen Page 2 OCNA’S NEWSCLIPS • JUNE 2007 a word from the President... In and around OCNA By Rick Shaver Our agenda will include the a review/update of the newsprint OCNA President industry. We sell newsprint as a revenue source and member ser- he Canadian Community vice so it is a concern to us as to the future of our ability to con- Newspaper Association’s annual tinue to sell to print shops. meeting and conference in We will also be recapping the annual OCNA conference that Winnipeg has proven to be a suc- was held in Niagara Falls and set a plan for next year. OCNA cess. Our congratulations to committees will also be set and if any publisher would like to sit TColeen Campbell who takes over as on a committee please get in touch with your director or tell them President and a thank you to outgoing pres- when they call you in the next few weeks. ident Cam McKnight of Tillsonburg, who Congratulations to Laurentian Media Group founder and becomes Chairman of the Board. John Hinds and his staff did a president Michael Atkins who received the prestigious Dr. Fred great job making everyone feel welcomed. Sheridan Award at Cambrian College's 39th annual convocation I would also like to congratulate all the Ontario newspapers ceremony on Thursday, May 24. The Dr. Fred Sheridan Award who were nominated for awards at the Better Newspaper recognizes contributions to the advancement and betterment of Competition and to remind all papers to continue to support this society through extraordinary service to education. program by sending your best work each year. I would also like to remind publishers of the series of As you have read, OCNA has hired a new executive director. Webinars being offered through our member services. Karen Robyn Matravers has joined our staff and we expect it will not Shardlow, Member Services Coordinator, has been working hard take long for her to get into the daily routine of our operation. Her on getting a good selection of topics and it’s a benefit to our mem- experience as Deputy Regional Director, United Nations bers to use them. OCNA’s Defamation Webinar is Thursday, June Environment Programme, her years as general manager at the 14, at 12:00 noon EST. In this one-hour Webinar, media lawyer Prague Post, plus the years of consulting with Metroland and Doug Richardson will outline how to avoid pitfalls and prepare Osprey newspapers will give her a good start and understanding your story so you can avoid or defend a defamation lawsuit. of where the association should go in the future. Remember, if any publisher has any industry concerns please The OCNA board will meet at the end of June in Toronto. contact a board member. a word from OCNA... Summer time at OCNA By Anne Lannan Computer survey – we will be updat- Web sites, special sections, agricultural Member Services Manager ing our computer database so we know publications, magazines, directories and t has been a busy few months at your who is using what programs on what plat- guides. We’ll be asking about all the differ- association as we begin new projects forms. This helps us when other members ent vertical products you produce so we’ll and continue to refine others. We are asking advice or troubleshooting a pro- have the data about the depth of our indus- were pleased to welcome our new gram; helps us plan for appropriate training try. Executive Director Robyn Matravers programs and articles in News Clips or There are other new offerings in the Iwho has spent her first few weeks getting Best Practice bulletins; helps with relations works as we are reviewing an online adver- to know the OCNA staff, being introduced with vendors; and gives us data for project- tising sales training program, ideal for new to some of our member newspapers, but ing issues and trends. sales representatives to our industry. At most importantly dealing with the issues OCNA/Ad*Reach is also reviewing only $100 per 8-hour course, the program and trends facing the Community the feasibility of selling online national allows an individual to train online at their Newspaper industry so she can help the advertising onto our member newspaper’s own pace and gives their sales manager or association meet those challenges head on. Web sites. From our database and initial publisher reports on their progress. We will Summer time is OCNA Member contact with members, we have determined also be exploring other relevant programs Survey time. Your participation in this there are 160+ newspaper Web sites in offered in this format that are either avail- online survey is valuable to us so we can Ontario. In order to develop this new pro- able to OCNA or can be developed by us. gauge your satisfaction and ratings of gram that will add revenue to you, we need On the OCNA staffing side, we are importance of OCNA programs and ser- to get information about your Web devel- pleased to announce that Lynn Fenton, who vices. Getting feedback from members opment, logs, visitors, rate expectations, has worked as Ad*Reach’s Media helps us to evaluate our current offerings as etc., so please complete this section of the Coordinator for more than 25 years, has well as to understand and plan around your survey. agreed to serve as Member Services needs and wants. We are going to ask for Community Newspapers aren’t just Coordinator while Karen Shardlow is on your patience this year. Since we have your newspapers. They are fully integrated com- maternity leave beginning in July.