Kansas Publisher Official Monthly Publication of the Kansas Press Association Aug
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
The Kansas Publisher Official monthly publication of the Kansas Press Association Aug. 21, 2019 Inside Today Page 2 Kevin Slimp says print is still where successful newspapers are making their money. Page 3 John Foust gives tips on how to have more buy-in at your sales meetings. Page 4 KPA president Travis Mounts takes a close look at how the GateHouse/Gannett media merger might affect the industry. Page 6-7 Three of the state press associations briefed executive directors of those associations: Mark Visit KPA’s marketplace. There about the new Think F1rst campaign included Thomas, Oklahoma Press Association; Emily are job openings, newspapers for Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri. Shown above Bradbury, Kansas Press Association; and Mark sale and equipment for purchase. at a recent meeting in Montreal are (from left) Maassen, Missouri Press Association. Page 8 Emily Bradbury urges editors to States join in ‘Think F1rst’ campaign keep the mission — serving their he Kansas Press Associ- about the First Amendment and your publications and online,” communities — top of mind. ation has joined with the the rights afforded under it.” she said. “Even consider Kansas Association of In a civics survey taken by pairing them with an editorial KPA Calendar BroadcastersT and other associa- the Annenberg Public Policy about why you are running the tions nationwide to promote the Center, nearly four in 10 stu- ads or any other educational “Think F1rst” Campaign. dents couldn’t name even one stories that might take this Aug. 1 - Dec. 31 “Participation in this project of the five freedoms guaranteed campaign one step further.” States work together to promote is voluntary but highly recom- by the First Amendment. The campaign will run the “Think F1rst” campaign. mended,” said Emily Bradbury. “Clearly, we have work to between Aug. 1 and Dec. 31, See story at right. “We have a vested interest in do,” Bradbury said. 2019. having an educated readership You can find the ads by An example of one of the Oct. 11 and there is much work to be clicking here. ads can be found on Page 5 of SAVE THE DATE! Montgom- done in educating Americans “Feel free to use them in today’s Kansas Publisher. ery Family Symposium. More details to come soon. KPA to debut ‘Journalist of the Year’ award Dec. 15 new annual award will debut at the 2020 press associations, so we’re excited to add this Bill of Rights Day, recognizing Kansas Press Association annual conven- new award to our repertoire,” said Emily Brad- the 228th anniversary of the tion in Newton — the Kansas Journalist bury, KPA executive director. “Our journalists are ratification by the states. A of the Year citation. doing exemplary work and this award will allow The award will be presented along with the us to recognize them.” March 19-20, 2020 Awards of Excellence winners and will be based Entrants must be from newspapers that are Kansas Press Association on a body of work by a journalist published members in good standing of the KPA. annual convention, Meridian between Nov. 1, 2018 and Oct. 1, 2019. Center, Newton. “We have noticed such an award in other state See JOURNALIST on Page 4 Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (855) 572-1863 2 Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (855) 572-1863 What’s the big deal? Print 2019-20 KPA Board Travis Mounts President is still where we make money Times-Sentinel Newspapers ndy Warhol once said, “In the future, Post? Trust me, nothing most of you didn’t [email protected] everyone will be world-famous for already know. 15 minutes.” Problems began when newspapers began Joey Young A First Vice President I’ve experienced those 15 minutes a few to believe their own headlines roughly a times, but it comes less often these days. dozen years ago, over-investing in the digital The Clarion, Newton Now [email protected] So, I was surprised to get a call last week side of the business and cutting reporting, from a reporter for The Washington Post. It production values and customer service. Robin Clasen Wunderlich seems he had received a number of emails I still work with a lot of papers as a Second Vice President containing a blog post I had written consultant. It holds true that most Eureka Herald for stateofnewspapers.com the day of the papers I visit who are doing [email protected] before. well financially didn’t make that We spoke for quite a while mistake. Sure, most invested in Tomari Quinn about the state of newspapers and digital, but not to the detriment of Treasurer the future of the new Gannett. It’s their core product. Topeka Capital-Journal no secret I’ve been predicting the Like most folks who don’t [email protected] merger/buyout for several years, as work for community newspapers, well as other industry events that O’Connell was pleasantly surprised Andy Taylor seem to have surprised the general to learn there are thousands of Past President public. locally-owned community papers Montgomery County Chronicle As I told Jonathan O’Connell, Kevin Slimp out there. He, like most folks I [email protected] financial reporter for The Post, it’s visit with on the subject, seemed to not rocket science. Anyone paying think most papers were part of big Marcus Ashlock attention had to see the GateHouse-Gannett groups. Southwest District Director merger coming for years. Gannett has cut I assured him, backed by data, that most Syracuse Journal their staffs, pages and content, sold their papers aren’t controlled by large national [email protected] buildings and basically had no place to turn. groups. According to my latest survey of GateHouse (New newspaper managers, Nickole Byers Northwest District Director Media Investment I used to keynote large the number of papers Ellis Review, Western World Group) has been owned by large groups [email protected] expanding their name- newspaper conferences is less than 20 percent plates as quickly as and beg the attendees to of total newspapers. Jeff Cott possible, while watch- So, what did I tell Legislative Director ing its stock value quit writing that print Jonathan that earned Derby Informer continue to drop. was dead ... three paragraphs in [email protected] Buying Gannett was a The Post? I simply quick way to draw the told him that most, not Mary Hoisington attention of the media all, but most papers At-Large Director and, hopefully, draw attention away from the are doing fine financially. Most aren’t going Great Bend Tribune significant drop in stock prices which have out of business or planning to sell to a large [email protected] lost approximately half their value in less national group. than a year (from $15.99 per share in August Thankfully, he didn’t take just my word Jason Jump 2018, to $8.08 as I write this column). for it. I was glad to see he interviewed Nondaily Membership Director What did I say so revolutionary that it Kingman Leader-Courier filled three paragraphs in The Washington See SLIMP on Page 5 [email protected] Chad Lawhorn July KDAN, KCAN winners Daily Director he following newspapers sold either direct placement, Kansas Display Ad, Lawrence Journal-World Kansas Classified Ad or out-of-state network ads in July. [email protected] T If you sell a KDAN or KCAN, which run in almost 150 Kansas newspa- David Allen Seaton pers, you keep half the money. Southeast District Director Sell outside of Kansas (SDAN or SCAN) or do direct placement in other papers Cowley CourierTraveler and keep half the commission allowed to KPA. [email protected] KDAN — Rural Messenger, four ads for $2,000 profit; Anderson County Review, two ads for $1,650 profit; Eureka Herald, one ad for $900 profit; Great BendTri - Ned Seaton bune, one ad for $380 profit. Northeast District Director KCAN — GateHouse Media, two ads for $300 profit. Manhattan Mercury DIRECT PLACEMENT — Hays Daily News. [email protected] Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (855) 572-1863 3 How to get more buy-in at your sales meetings risten told me how she handles gives us a specific focus, which is bet- Sometimes subtraction is just as important one of the biggest challenges of ter than a vague statement like, ‘Increase as addition.” Kmanaging her newspaper’s sales sales’ or “Provide better customer ser- r Step 4: “With all the talk about more department. “Sales meetings – like a lot of vice.” It allows us to concentrate our at- and less, we don’t want to lose track of the other things – fall into predictable pat- tention on that one thing, without running things that don’t need to be changed. The terns,” she said. “The boss talks, the staff down rabbit trails. My job is to state the next sheet is labeled KEEP DOING, so members listen, and more often than not, topic as clearly as possible and make sure we can examine – and evaluate the value it’s just a transference everyone stays on of – activities that are of information. No one track. I write the doing what they are feels motivated to do topic in big letters on My job is to state the supposed to do.” anything different after a flip chart, tear off topic as clearly as possible r Step 5: “After the meeting is over. the sheet and post it we go through this “I learned a tech- on the wall.” and make sure everyone process, an ac- nique a few years ago r Step 2: “After stays on track.