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Official Newspaper of the Mississippi Press Association mspress.org » Winter 2017 PROFILE CELEBRITY ROAST Newspapers honored for advertising excellence

JACKSON Five newspapers were Weekly newspaper recognized for general excellence during the annual Mississippi publishers discuss Press Association Better role in communities Newspaper Contest Awards » Page 5 Advertising Division. The Natchez Democrat, The Greenwood Commonwealth, The Panolian of Batesville, PRESIDENT’S COLUMN The Magee Courier and The Sun-Sentinel of Charleston Roast, Mid-Winter both were singled out for distinction a success; time to among their peer publications at an awards luncheon Jan. 28 move on to convention held during MPA’s Mid-winter » Page 2 Conference. “These winners represent MEMBERS the best in advertising service provided to customers and readers for 2015-2016,” said By An thony Warren MPA Executive Director Layne Marshall Ramsey enjoys a joke at his expense during the Jan. 26 Roast in his honor. Bruce. “The Advertising Excellence Awards are presented for the cumulative body of work of these newspapers Roast earns $30K for BNC » Page 7 internship program Dearman, retired editor JACKSON positions at Mississippi newspapers over 10 A star-studded skewering of cartoonist weeks this summer.” in Philadelphia, dies and radio host Marshall Ramsey delivered The panel of roasters at the Jan. 26 » Page 7 over $31,000 for the benefit of the MPA program included Gov. Phil Bryant, Education Foundation. Secretary of State , state INDEX Ramsey was the honoree during the Rep. Steve Holland, veteran journalist and annual Celebrity Roast to raise funds for educator David Hampton, former college Bylines...... Page 3 the scholarship and internship programs of and pro football player and fitness trainer March of Events...... Page 4 MPAEF. Paul Lacoste, and longtime emcee Sid Salter Convention Photo Album...... Page 6 “This was a really fun and entertaining Deaths...... Page 7 of Mississippi State University. Into the Issues...... Page 8 event that will fully fund the internship Ramsey, editorial cartoonist for The Ad Libs...... Page 10 program for the coming year,” said Clarion-Ledger who recently marked his Greenwood Commonwealth Technology...... Page 11 Mississippi Press Association President Don 20th year with the state’s largest newspaper, publisher Tm Kalich (left) ac- Norman, publisher of the Starkville Daily is also host of “Now You’re Talking” on cepts the Advertisement of Copyright © 2017 News and vice chairman of MPAEF. “The Mississippi Press Services the Year Award from MPA money raised will be used to fund 15 intern ROAST » Page 7 President Don Norman. 2 » Fourth Estate » Winter 2017

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN ROAST, MID-WINTER ANOTHER SUCCESS; PLANS TAKING SHAPE FOR CONVENTION STARKVILLE learn more. he year started off for our Association with another BELIEVE IT OR NOT, our attention is Tsuccessful roast to benefit the MPA now turning to the summer convention. Education Foundation and Mid-Winter Be sure and mark your calendars: It is a Conference with terrific sessions on Don little later this year than usual, July 6-8. The official newspaper of the sales techniques and revenue growth. Norman Those dates follow a Tuesday Fourth of Mississippi Press Association Roasting Clarion-Ledger cartoonist July holiday, so hopefully our weekly Marshall Ramsey was a blast for those members can get their editions out 371 Edgewood Terrace, Jackson, MS 39206 of us in the audience and a dream come early and then join us for some good 601-981-3060 | Fax 601-981-3676 www.mspress.org true for some of the politicians on the programming and R&R on the Gulf panel. Gov. Phil Bryant, in particular, to the program next year to hopefully Coast. MPA-MPS Staff seemed to really enjoy the chance to make it more relevant to more of our We are returning to the Golden Layne Bruce Andrea Ross turn the tables on the honoree. members. Nugget in Biloxi this year for another executive director media director Marshall, as expected, took it like Stay tuned for further details. joint meeting with the Louisiana Press [email protected] [email protected] a champ and gave as good as he got. Association. They will join us this year Monica Gilmer Sue Hicks He’s been a fixture on the panel for ANOTHER HOT TOPIC at the in Mississippi, and we will return the member services mgr. bus. development mgr. many years, and it was fun to see him in meeting was growing digital revenue, favor by joining them in New Orleans [email protected] [email protected] the spotlight. A couple of the roasters and MPS can now help our member next year. Julie Darling showed off some of their own artwork papers do this. Topics are still being ironed out and marketing manager in an attempt to prove what Marshall [email protected] Through a partnership with Amplified selected, but count on a couple that does is actually pretty easy. But we Digital, MPS is now offering digital sales will cover the threat to public notice The Fourth Estate serves as the official newspaper of the know better. Mississippi Press Association, recording the history of the options like search engine optimization, advertising across the nation. One organization, its members and associates. Copies are distrib- The money raised from the event e-mail blasts, programmatic and other session, in particular, will focus on “best uted at no charge to members and are available by contact- ing the MPA office. will nearly fund the entire internship options member papers can sell to their practices” for public notices and some program this summer. So we are very local clients. design suggestions intended to increase Commentary columns published herein are the opinion of their respective authors and not necessarily those of the grateful to newspaper members and Not sure what any of those terms reader awareness and interest. MPA, its board of directors or staff. other sponsors who supported the mean? No problem – MPS Marketing Other sessions will focus on industry MPA-MPS Board of Directors event. Manager Julie Darling is well-versed trends and challenges of the news Meanwhile, Mid-Winter was another in these options and can help you or business. I bet you can expect the topic Don Norman Paul Keane President First Vice President fine gathering. Keynote speaker Diane your sales staff learn quickly. If you are of “fake news” to come up at least once! Starkville Daily News Wayne County News Ciotta was one of the best-reviewed interested in learning more, give Julie a Meanwhile, your feedback and Starkville Waynesboro presenters we have had in a long time. support is always appreciated. If you call. She can also set up a time to visit Kevin Cooper James Arrington Goff Her expertise, energy and good humor your newspaper for one-on-one training have thoughts or suggestions about Second Vice President Treasurer made her very popular. We look forward if that is something you need. MPA, MPS or the upcoming convention, The Natchez Democrat The News-Commerical to welcoming her back in the future. Natchez Collins We think it is important for members please call me at 662-323-1642 or email Early results indicate we covered our to be able to offer these products locally me at the address below. Joel McNeece Layne Bruce expenses on the conference thanks to so that they can protect their positions Immediate Past President Executive Director MPA-MPS President Don Norman is pub- Calhoun County Journal MPA/MPS keeping speaker fees down overall. But, as the leading provider of advertising Bruce in an effort to improve attendance, the services in their communities. lisher of the Starkville Daily News. His email MPA Board is considering some changes address is [email protected] John P. “Pat” Brown Joe B. Coates You can visit mspress.org/digital to The Magee Courier Copiah County Courier Magee Hazlehurst

Clay Foster H. Ray Mosby Daily Journal Deer Creek Pilot Tupelo Rolling Fork SPJ seeks greater access to government

Stephanie Patton Tim Reeves The Society of Professional than interacting with Public Information President Lynn Walsh. “The average The Leland Progress The Vicksburg Post Journalists and 60 other journalism Officers (or having all conversations American citizen does not have the time Leland Vicksburg organizations have requested a meeting monitored by Public Information or resources to check up on elected Jack Ryan George R. Turner with President Donald Trump and Vice Officers); officials to make sure they are running Enterprise-Journal Greene County Herald President Mike Pence to discuss access • access to the activities of the the country the way they should. It is McComb Leakesville to government. President; up to journalists to help hold those in The coalition sent a letter today to • and ensuring that the Federal power accountable.” Trump and Pence, asking for a meeting Freedom of Information Act remains as The letter is the latest among several or conference call to discuss: strong as possible. sent to The White House since at least • the ability of reporters to directly “We believe strongly that journalists 2013, regarding concerns restrictions on Mississippi Press Association | Established 1866 interact with government employees are the eyes and ears of the citizens of photographers, transparency and public Mississippi Press Services | Established 1978 MPA Education Foundation | Established 1983 who are subject matter experts, rather the United States,” said SPJ National information officer restrictions. Winter 2017 » Fourth Estate » 3 FOI BYLINES Clarksdale Auditor: Open Taylor Mitchell is the new publisher of The Clarksdale Press Register. He previously was on the news staff for the Meetings Act Delta Democrat Times in Greenville. He succeeds Nathan Duff in Clarksdale… Josh Troy was named managing does not apply editor of the Press Register. He originally worked for the paper » By WESLEY MULLER recent performance review of before serving recently as SunHerald the City of Diamondhead to sports editor of the Enterprise- these members. The mayor and Journal in McComb. All DIAMONDHEAD another member had previously three newspapers are owned State Auditor Stacey received copies of this report. by Jackson-based Emmerich Pickering said the Open While the Open Meetings Act Newspapers. Meetings Act does not apply to does not apply to the State him, according to a statement Auditor, we are always careful issued in early February. to ensure compliance with Brookhaven The the Act when meeting with Dylan Rubino was named statement local officials. An Attorney sports editor of The Daily was in General’s Opinion ... dated Leader in Brookhaven. He response April 4, 2003, addressed a is a recent graduate of the to what very similar gathering, stating University of Mississippi with a Mayor ‘a meeting called by a state or degree in journalism. Tommy federal economic development Schaefer agencies whose sole purpose is told to disseminate information of Starkville the Sun available grants and favorable Ryan Phillips has been Herald loans for public projects, is named managing editor of the last week. not in violation of the Open Starkville Daily News. He He said Pickering Meetings Act.’” previously was an editor and Pickering Councilman-at-large Ernie reporter for the Birmingham had held “an illegal meeting” Knobloch said Friday the Business Journal, weather.com with four of five Diamondhead councilmen were the ones who and the Associated Press. He councilmen. planned the meeting, but they Columbia High launches paper succeeds Jim Gaines. Pickering’s statement said: originally intended to have Staff members of the Paw Print newspaper at Columbia “On Tuesday, January 31, only two councilmen at a time High School John Ezell (from left), editor Jack Deal, Amber Mississippi State 2017, the State Auditor met meet with Pickering to avoid Wascomb and Alyssa Pearce show off the second edition of with four Diamondhead council having a quorum. A quorum, Frances McDavid, faculty the new publication. The CHS students partnered with The adviser for The Reflector at members at city hall. The State which is defined as three-fifths Columbian-Progress to start the newspaper with financial Auditor’s purpose for this visit of a board’s members, makes a Mississippi State University, assistance from the MPA Education Foundation. was recently honored with was to provide a copy of a Auditor » Page 7 a national award by the National Academic Advising Association based on “significant contributions to Newspaper haiku cultivates following the improvement of academic advising.” A former reporter » By JERRY MITCHELL IndianolaMSnews. and editor, McDavid has been The Clarion-Ledger “In an effort to reach the new era of on the MSU faculty for 30 digital-savvy, poetry-loving millennials, we years. A newspaper has have begun publishing a ‘Crime Haiku of mastered the art of turning local crimes the Week,’” the newspaper tweeted. into popular haikus on Twitter. Then he began to share some of the Madison “It’s an odd thing,” said Charlie Smith, haikus: Terry Cassreino, a editor for The Enterprise-Tocsin in A New York Times reporter and others former reporter and editor Indianola. “I’m glad people are enjoying began to retweet them on Twitter. for Mississippi newspapers in them. They’re fun to write.” turning them into haikus. “It’s gotten more attention than Biloxi, Meridian and Ridgeland, The newspaper has a page called “Cops The decision drew little fanfare from anything else I’ve ever tweeted,” Smith was recently awarded the Dow and Robbers” that prints local police readers, he said. “My mom is really the said. Jones News Fund Distinguished reports. only one who commented on it before.” The newspaper noted: “Funny what Adviser award for his work In December, Smith decided to break But that changed Wednesday gets attention in print vs. social media. with student journalists at St. up the gray page by highlighting one of when Smith decided to share them Crime haiku has created little buzz in the Joseph’s Catholic School. the incidents, sometimes humorous, by online through its Twitter account, @ paper but seems a hit on Twitter.” 4 » Fourth Estate » Winter 2017 MARCH OF EVENTS In media, President Trump LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING Bill on liquor has his cake and eats it, too ads advances A bill that would repeal the resident Trump wants to have it both prohibition of advertising liquor ways, and, for now at least, it looks in dry counties and municipalities Plike he’s getting what he wants. is advancing in the House of He excoriates the media as an “enemy” Representatives. of the people, but gorges on it – even the Layne SB 2345, filled by Sen. Lydia purveyors of what he maintains as “fake Bruce Chassaniol, would allow advertisements news.” He clearly subscribes to the line of by liquor store operators or restaurants thought that any kind of publicity is good serving alcohol to appear in publicity. newspapers that are not published in What else could be behind the wet municipalities. hurdle for this important legislation.” melodramatic move barring The New York ourselves to the reality that this is the A similar bill filed in both 2015 and The bill recently passed the Senate Times, CNN, and Politico from a Feb. 24 president’s modus operandi: Shoot first and 2016 failed. and now moves to conference for briefing by press secretary Sean Spicer? let the adults in the administration clean up SB 2345, however, passed the senate further deliberation. It accomplishes three things: the mess later. last month by a vote of 39-12. 1) Rattles the press, 2) Serves a Those same adults would have us The bill is double-referred in the huge helping of red meat to Trump’s believe he actually doesn’t mean the media Senate but recently passed out of the UMMC joint venture unswerving base, and 3) Draws plenty en masse are truly nasty people – just those Tourism Committee and Ways and of attention to an an attention-starved bill would elude FOI dirty, rotten scoundrels at CNN, ABC, CBS, Means Committee. It now awaits floor politician. (Yes, he’s a politician now.) NBC and The “failing” New York Times. action in the Senate. The sort of unflattering coverage the MPA has voiced opposition to a Political theater. I get it. president has attracted in his first month house bill designed to exclude joint But it’s also a dangerous gambit – for us on the job is by no means unique to him. ventures between the University of in the media business, for politicians, and Special meeting He’s definitely not the first to have a Mississippi Medical Center and other for the voters who rely on the freedoms tempestuous relationship with the press. notice bill alive hospitals from transparency laws. granted under the First Amendment That goes back to the founding of the HB 926 passed the house in early probably much more than they realize. nation. Language has been restored to HB February on a vote of 89-9. Given the general disdain – genuine But Thomas Jefferson was famously 1116 that will make it applicable to all But concerns about the bill have hate, even – many Americans harbor quoted as saying if it were left to him public bodies in the state and not just slowed its progress in the senate as for the “mainstream media,” it’s hard “to decide whether we should have a those situated in the most populated other public hospitals have voiced to imagine us playing the role of the government without newspapers or cities and counties. concerns over it. persecuted very well. newspapers without a government, I Filed by Rep. Cory Wilson The bill is similar to legislation That distaste doesn’t always trickle should not hesitate a moment to prefer the (R-Madison), the bill requires public passed in Alabama in 2016. The down to the local media, but it’s undeniably latter.” bodies to give a list of opted-in media Alabama bill, however, did not include a challenge for all of us to overcome. Much Keep in mind he said this during contacts at least one hour of notice provisions for excluding such deals like how bad news that encircles the largest the nation’s infancy and a time when before special called meetings. from FOI laws. newspapers in the country tends to drive newspapers were hyper-partisan. When the bill passed the House in “Our goal going forward is to have the conversation about the vitality of the I came of age when the drama of February on a vote of 118-3 it was entire industry. the public records exemptions in HB Watergate was much-discussed in amended on the floor to only apply to But, hey, the drama may be good for 926 removed,” said MPA lobbyist journalism classes. The struggle of the cities with populations of more than business. New York Times executive Steve Browning. “Then it would be Nixon administration to cover up and 25,000 and counties with populations editor Dean Baquet says circulation rises nearly identical to the 2016 law which obfuscate was still very fresh. of more than 50,000. every time the president Tweets about benefited the University of Alabama President Clinton couldn’t possibly have “The amendment significantly the newspaper. And The Washington Post Birmingham hospital.” been happy with the coverage of his own weakened the bill and would have recently announced the addition of five The bill was filed by Rep. Jason travails. made it apply to only a handful of cities dozen new journalists to the payroll. White (R-West). And, though it’s easily forgotten now, and counties,” said Layne Bruce, MPA If we have learned nothing else in the President Obama’s administration was not last 18 months, we know Donald Trump executive director. the friendliest to the media. When it took a Lottery advertising is who he is, and he’s not interested in It was amended further in the Senate strong tack against Fox News, other outlets “pivoting.” Accountability, Ethics and Transparency bill dies in committee like CNN and The New York Times stood So it’s incumbent upon us to figure out Committee so that it applies to all with that network to object. the new normal and how to navigate it. And cities and counties, but only requires A bill that would have repealed a Still, none crossed the bridge Trump report on it. the largest of them to post notices of prohibition on lottery advertising died recently has. The nation needs the press. And the special called meetings to government in the Senate Finance Committee. It’s difficult to listen to recent remarks president does, too. body websites. SB 2189, filed by Sen. Derrick from President Trump painting the press This isn’t a banana republic. “It was the web posting requirements Simmons (D–Greenville), was backed broadly and with a very dirty brush, Not yet. in the bill that originally stalled by MPA as an important precursor as accusing the media of being an “enemy it,”Bruce said. “By making that portion of the American people,” and not get Layne Bruce is executive director of MPA- officials continue to debate the need for applicable to only large cities and a lottery, which could inject up to $75 defensive about it. MPS. His email address is lbruce@mspress. counties, it hopefully clears a major But we have to shake it off and steel org. million into state coffers. Winter 2017 » Fourth Estate » 5

PROFILE Knowing their community common thread for weeklies » By BILLY WATKINS the score of the high school The Clarion-Ledger girls basketball game. CNN is not going to tell them what Ray Mosby writes with the happened at the board of subtle charm of a bulldozer: supervisors meeting,” says Loud, straight ahead and Mosby, whose daughter is editor willing to push through all of of a weekly paper just outside the muck and mud. St. Petersburg, Florida. “To “I never want anyone to me, the smaller the community, finish one of my (editorial) the more vital the community columns and not know where I newspaper is.” stand on an issue,” he says. After 23 years in Rolling Which, of course, means that Fork, he has earned the respect his editorial columns as editor of his neighbors. and publisher of The Deer “We’re friends with him, Creek Pilot weekly newspaper enjoy reading him but we will in Rolling Fork often make tell him when we don’t agree readers and those he writes with something he wrote,” says about fighting mad. Melissa Thomas, 57. “But a lot So imagine Mosby’s heart of times, I’ll be reading him and rate on the gray, winter day think, ‘Oh, boy, he’s stirring when an extra large man some folks up today.’ “ parked his pickup in front of “I think everybody who lives the newspaper, climbed out Ray Mosby, editor and publisher of The Deer Creek Pilot, in his Rolling Fork office. here should be required to read and said, “Boy, I want to talk to Ray’s newspaper,” says Meg you.” He was wearing a flannel of the Emmerich Award, which history as it happens.” pulled a copy of every paper Cooper, 55. “He tells us the shirt and overalls. honors the state’s best editorial The Beacon, which has a from the previous 12 months,” things going on that we need Mosby stared at the man’s writer. circulation of 2,801, also is the he says. “I took a Sharpie and to know about. That’s the main arms. “They were bigger than But there is a common place people call or email when highlighted what I considered to thing I appreciate. But Ray is so my waist,” he recalls. thread among the weeklies. research has left them at a dead be positive news. It turned out much fun to read. You meet him “There are a lot of folks “We want people to know end. that 78 percent of the papers and think ‘He doesn’t seem like out there who think you ain’t what’s going on and how it’s “I had a woman from St. had a good news story on the the kind of guy who would really nothing but a son of a b----,” going to affect their lives,” Louis call me and say, ‘I think front. I bundled them up and go after somebody in an article. the man told Mosby. “But can’t says Emma Crisler, editor and I’ve finally figured out who my mailed them to her. Never heard Not Ray.’ But when he thinks it’s a single one of them call you a publisher of the Port Gibson biological dad is.’ She told me a word, but I proved my point.” called for, he does.” liar.” Reveille. “People will come his name and asked if I’d ever Mosby says his readers are There was a time when That was all he said. by the paper and ask, ‘What’s heard of him. I said, ‘I sure eager to read the local news — Mosby’s actions were far “I’d never seen him before, happened this week?’ They’re have.’ She wanted a copy of unless it involves them. “I had a stronger than his words. and I’ve never seen him since,” still excited about what’s his obituary. I called the (local) woman call and ask, ‘Why did For 12 years, the people of Mosby says. “That was about coming out in the paper.” funeral home, found out when you put my child’s name in the Rolling Fork watched him care 1995, a couple of years after A hot topic recently has been he died, looked up his obituary paper?’ I said, ‘Why did your for his wife, Phyllis, as she me and the bank bought the the ever-changing route of the and sent it to her.” child rob the liquor store?’ ” battled Alzheimer’s. She died paper. I had come in here from U.S. 61 bypass. Mosby, 66, has enjoyed a in August 2013. He also buried the Clarksdale Press Register “That will impact a lot of long love affair with words. both of his parents earlier that and applied the principles of a people and businesses around It’s not all bad He starts each column with a year. Weekly papers chronicle daily newspaper to the weekly. here,” Crisler says. “It’s a story quote that relates to his chosen But through it all, every good news, too. Every week I had a ‘real’ front we will cover to the end.” subject. It might come from a single week, Mosby published “I’d like to have a positive page that consisted of news Crisler, a former English Faulkner novel, a favorite poem The Deer Creek Pilot, with the story on my front page every and a ‘real’ editorial page that teacher who jokingly gives or a rock ’n’ roll song. He even help of associate editor Natalie week if I could,” Crisler says. offered opinion. Folks around her age as 105, took over as quotes himself on occasion. Perkins. So would Boyd, who here weren’t used to that and I editor when her husband, Ed, While the newspaper industry “It’s a strange thing, but was furious after learning a was wondering if the paper was died in 1998. Her husband’s has struggled in recent years, I’m pretty sure I’d only been subscriber said at a public going to make it. grandfather had been sole Mosby has never fretted much to Rolling Fork once in my life forum that the biggest problem “For some reason, that man’s owner of the paper starting in about the Pilot’s well being. — for a football game when I with Noxubee County was that words assured me it would.” 1898. Its circulation is 1,450 across was in high school — before The Beacon “prints nothing Mississippi, a state with Scott Boyd, 58, editor and Sharkey and Issaquena counties, I bought the paper,” he says. but negative news on its front 82 counties, has 89 weekly publisher of The Beacon in which have a combined “Somehow, I knew that if I came page.” newspapers. Macon, says his paper’s role population of approximately down here and gave them a Boyd confronted the woman Most do not have a in Noxubee County is simple: 6,400 and rank among the real newspaper, things would after hearing about it. She stood wordsmith as talented as “We’re here to inform and poorest counties in the state. eventually work out. by her statement. Mosby, who twice has been educate the public as much “But guess what? ESPN “I guess you can say they “I went back to the office and voted by his peers the winner as possible, and to document isn’t going to tell my readers have.” 6 » Fourth Estate » Winter 2017 MID-WINTER CONFERENCE PHOTO ALBUM

Amanda Sexton Ferguson of The Winona Times and Douglas Hurd entertained the crowd during the Fri- MPS marketing manager Julie Darling leads a round The Conservative was the winner of the MPAEF day evening reception. table discussion on digital sales strategies. commermorative quilt raffle.

Jennifer and Russell Turner (left) of The Greene Rep. Steve Holland and David Hampton enjoy a few MPA director and Silver Dollar Breakfast moderator County Herald and Stephanie Patton of The Leland of the jokes cracked at the MPA Education Founda- Pat Brown presents an iPad Mini to Angela Ross of Progress. tion Roast of Marshall Ramsey. The Vicksburg Post.

State Treasurer and Gov. Phil Bryant at Andy Burleson (from left) with father Barry Bur- MPA staffers Monica Gilmer (from left), Julie Dar- the Roast of Marshall Ramsey. leson of The South Reporter and keynote speaker ling, Layne Bruce, Andrea Ross and Sue Hicks cel- Diane Ciotta. ebrate the end of the conference. Winter 2017 » Fourth Estate » 7 OBITUARY Dearman, editor who fought injustice, dies at 84 » The Associated Press went free after the jury couldn’t family an understanding and come to a verdict, was charged warmth that we needed so PHILADELPHIA with murder. He was convicted desperately at a time when Mississippi editor Stanley of manslaughter in 2005 by it seemed our wounds would Dearman, who pushed for a state court jury - exactly never be healed,” she told justice in the murders of three 41 years after the killings. Dearman then. civil rights workers, died on Killen remains confined at the In a eulogy, James E. Prince Feb. 25 in Florida. He was 84. Mississippi State Penitentiary at III, the Democrat’s current Dearman wrote articles Parchman. editor and publisher, talked and editorials in The Neshoba Dearman told a reporter of Dearman’s fight for justice Democrat that helped lead from The Globe and Mail following the 1964 murders. to conviction of a former newspaper in Canada that he He compared Dearman to Klansman in the 1964 killings. was haunted by the case. At the the biblical prophet Habakkuk, The civil rights workers time of the killing, he had been instructed by God to write - Andrew Goodman, James a reporter in nearby Meridian, plainly about the Lord’s Chaney and Michael “Mickey” where Chaney lived and goodness in the face of great Schwerner - disappeared on Schwerner had been based. evil, according to the Old June 21, 1964. A deputy sheriff Photo by Steven G. Watson/The Neshoba Democrat “More than anything else, it Testament. in Philadelphia had arrested Stanley Dearman, pictured in his den at his home, was also an is a personal thing,” he told the “His greatest gift was them on a traffic charge and accomplished pianist. Canadian newspaper in 2001. words,” Prince said. “He was released them, but not before “At some point, it entered into stern and unbending, yet alerting a mob. Their bodies ran it for 34 years. After Reconciliation, said Dearman my psyche and started working. compassionate and kind.” were dug up 44 days later his retirement, he became had tears in his eyes as he I don’t fully understand it. I “If we all had a double under a dam, after Mississippi’s a founding member of the walked into a 2004 news have replayed every minute of portion of Stan Dearman’s then-governor claimed their Philadelphia Coalition, a conference when coalition it.” justice and truth, the world disappearance was a hoax. multiracial citizens’ group that members first called for justice Dearman said he took up the would be a better place,” said The murders inspired pushed for further prosecutions in the case. cause in part because he didn’t the Rev. Dr. Dan Howard. the 1988 film “Mississippi in the killings. “He said ‘I never thought feel he initially did enough Dearman was inducted Burning.” “Come hell or high water, I would live to see this when he bought the Democrat into the Mississippi Press In 1967, the federal it’s time for an accounting,” day,’” Glisson wrote in a in 1966. Association Hall of Fame in government charged 18 people Dearman wrote in a 2000 remembrance on Facebook . Carolyn Goodman, the 2005. with depriving the workers of editorial in the Democrat. “I told him how much he had mother of Andrew Goodman, Services were Feb. 28 at their civil rights. Only seven Susan Glisson, former done to make it happen.” came to Philadelphia for McClain-Hays Funeral Home were convicted. head of the University Eventually, Klansman Edgar Dearman’s 2001 retirement in Philadelphia. Burial was in Dearman purchased the of Mississippi’s William Ray Killen, who had been party. Cedarlawn Cemetery. Democrat in 1966 and Winter Institute for Racial charged in the 1967 trial but “You gave to me and my

and graphic artist DeMario Greer which recognizes unique Knobloch said the meeting won the Advertisement of the ideas in promotion, marketing was held to discuss a letter Roast Year Award in recognition of an and revenue were The Sun- Auditor Schaefer sent to Pickering’s From Page 1 ad promoting an interview with Sentinel of Charleston and the From Page 3 office concerning the audit 91-year-old jailed felon Edgar Enterprise-Journal of McComb, report. over a year’s time, and meeting official and public. Ray Killen, convicted in the 1964 winners in the weekly and daily The 2003 opinion to Sonny honors their efforts in print Pickering also said, “It is the slayings of three civil rights divisions, respectively. Clanton has to do with more newspaper, magazine and digital understanding of our office that workers. Thirty-two​ newspapers than one member of the Calhoun advertisements.” this meeting was for the purpose Honored for distinction with entered nearly 1,700 entries in County Board of Supervisors Greenwood Commonwealth of providing copies of the report the Silver Dollar Idea Award, 35 categories of the contest. meeting with members from Editor and Publisher Tim Kalich and disseminating information state and federal economic relating to the report. No development agencies. It does official action was taken in the not address meetings in which a he has done of many state honorees include Congressman Auditor’s presence by the board quorum is present. and local officials for years. Gregg Harper, former members.” BNC The opinion states, “The Hampton serenaded Ramsey governors William Winter and But the Open Meetings Act usual nature of these meetings From Page 1 with “Marshall You’ll Always , comedian Jerry defines an official meeting as are that they are called by the Be a Caricature to Me,” set to Clower, and Mississippi State a gathering of a quorum of MPB Think Radio and author agencies at locations away from the tune of “Rocky Top,” the University President Dr. Mark the members of a public body of several books and cartoon our courthouse, are organized fight song from the University Keenum. at which official acts “may be retrospectives. by those agencies and are for of Tennessee, Ramsey’s alma The event is held annually taken,” and the Mississippi Salter, Bryant, and the purpose of disseminating mater. as part of MPA’s Mid-Winter Supreme Court in 1985 ruled Hosemann turned the tables information of available grants The roast program has Conference. A video of the roast that information-gathering on Ramsey by drawing their and favorable loans for public raised over $500,000 through can be viewed on MPA’s YouTube sessions are subject to the Open own caricatures of him as projects.” its 27-year history. Past channel. Meetings Act. 8 » Fourth Estate » Winter 2017 INTO THE ISSUES Big changes in Washington mean changes in your community ig changes in Washington will Radio suggested that rural areas are micropolitan counties because too many mean big changes in your county, the perfect breeding ground for opioid prospective employees can’t pass a drug Band we’ve been covering them on addiction. We paired it with a New York test. The Washington Post reported on The Rural Blog. Times county-by-county map showing that phenomenon in a story about how President Donald Trump’s pledge to drug-overdose rates at bit.ly/2kbvlz6. U.S. manufacturing has changed: bit. deport undocumented workers could Al The Centers for Disease Control ly/2jkfxvD. lead to a labor shortage in agriculture, Cross and Prevention has identified 255 Newspapers: The Rural Blog is in which an estimated 16 percent of the counties, mostly rural, that are the also about journalism and community work is done by people who are in the most vulnerable to an outbreak of HIV newspapers, which are threatened in U.S. illegally, The Associated Press and or hepatitis C from intravenous drug most states by local officials’ efforts to CNN reported. Our blog item is at http:// use. Many local officials have resisted get legislatures to slash public-notice bit.ly/2klGxs1. Kaiser’s main example was a hospital establishing syringe exchanges as a laws. The Public Notice Resource That’s just one farm-and-food issue in Pennsylvania, a state that just started way of heading off such outbreaks, but Center noted how the Georgetown (Ky.) that could spark disputes among Trump a pilot project to pay six rural hospitals in several counties, they have changed News-Graphic presents public notices and other Republicans, NPR reported. a set amount each month instead their minds, reports Mary Meehan like news stories on a special page Those include breaking nutrition of reimbursing them for federally of Ohio Valley ReSource, a regional “designed to capture readers’ attention legislation out of the Farm Bill, the covered care, the Pittsburgh Post- journalism collaborative of public and promote the kind of serendipity bill’s conservation-compliance rules, Gazette reported. Read about it at bit. broadcasters in Kentucky, Ohio and that distinguishes newsprint from regulation of confined animal feeding ly/2irMg1A. West Virginia: bit.ly/2iYvPeM. electronic formats.” We picked it up at operations, and protection of bees and Trump’s key landslide in rural In Kentucky, which has many “dry” bit.ly/2jVY0L6. other pollinators. See bit.ly/2jL91g3. areas, and major news outlets’ failure counties, a study of meth-lab discoveries You may have seen the New York Trump has talked about an to anticipate it and its effect on the boosted the case that drug use is less Times story about the Enid (Okla.) Obamacare replacement that would election, prompted The Washington prevalent in areas where alcohol sales News & Eagle catching hell from allow insurance companies to sell across Post to add a reporter who will focus are legal: bit.ly/2jW8gmw. readers and some advertisers for state lines, but that’s more complicated on the divides between rural and urban Drug use is discouraging economic endorsing Hillary Clinton; we picked it than it sounds, and it might be bad for Americans. Jose DelReal, Alaska native development in some rural and ISSUES » Page 9 rural buyers, Jackie Farwell reported for and Harvard grad, might appreciate the Bangor Daily News. We excerpted some competitive help from rural the story at bit.ly/2iYbKW9. papers; read about his assignment at Repeal of Obamacare could also bit.ly/2jLrsRE. quash a program that is penalizing 769 One last Trump note: Jim Stasiowski hospitals this year for shortcomings on is known among community journalists patient safety, Trudy Lieberman wrote for his column on newspaper writing, Make for the Rural Health News Service at bit. but his latest effort warned that Trump’s ly/2kbbUX9. For our blog item with a success could prompt local candidates Sales Soar link to the list of penalized hospitals, see who use the “Trump approach of loud, bit.ly/2jLjubb. bold, insulting statements to gain early Like Magic More importantly, depending on the attention for an otherwise long-shot Improve your close replacement, repeal could hurt or kill campaign.” Read it on one of our blog struggling rural hospitals, many in areas pages: bit.ly/2jk6Ql2. ratios to 70% or more that Trump carried, Kaiser Health News Drug abuse: Why is opioid with the New MiAD reported, and we excerpted it at bit. addiction so rampant in rural areas? A ly/2jqX4Lv. story by Luke Runyon of Wichita Public Wizard! It's a fact that spec ads help close more sales— and yet spec ads are used less than 20% of the time. Now, with the real-world magic of MiAD Wizard, personalizing and presenting spec ads for EVERY prospect is as easy as 1-2-3! No training. No time wasted. No more tough sells.

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800.223.1600 [email protected] www.metrocreativeconnection.com Winter 2017 » Fourth Estate » 9 FROM THE QUILL When Nixon called on the ‘Tylertown Times’ he New York Times, whose slogan a tour of the nuclear power plant in this is my last press conference.” is “all the news that’s fit to print,” Claiborne County or what, at the time, Obviously it wasn’t. Before his Tfound itself in the news during the was the new experimental winery at political comeback culminated in election for publishing some of Donald Mississippi State University. winning the presidency in 1968, Nixon Trump’s tax documents. Charles I don’t know how Paul swung that held press conferences all over the Disclosed were the first page of deal, but MSU sent a plane down to country like the one Paul and I attended. Trump’s 1995 New York state resident Dunagin McComb to pick us up and fly us to At that one, there was a room full of income tax return, the first page of his the campus, where we were wined reporters, including a New York Times New Jersey non-resident tax return and and dined. Needless to say, they got correspondent who, I think, worked out the first page of his Connecticut non- some good publicity in the McComb- of Atlanta. resident tax return. They show a $916 Tylertown area from a couple of Ole At some point Paul managed to get million loss that might have allowed extended beyond his native Walthall Miss graduates. recognized by Nixon to ask a question. Trump to legally avoid paying any County. One of those trips we took was to I don’t remember the question, but I income taxes for up to 18 years. He wrote a syndicated column Jackson to a press conference Richard do remember how it was prefaced. In addition to the political that appeared in a number of state Nixon was holding in one of the hotels “Mr. Nixon, this is Paul Pittman of the ramifications of the report, there’s a newspapers, directed public relations on Capitol Street. Times.” debate over whether the newspaper for William Winter’s 1967 gubernatorial Nixon, who had lost the president’s When the New York Times reporter violated the law in publishing the campaign and once ran for Congress race to John F. Kennedy in 1960, had looked incredulous and Nixon even documents. That will be probed from himself. also lost the California governor’s race raised an eyebrow, Paul added, “The all sides until something else in this He finished Ole Miss before I started, to Pat Brown in 1962. Tylertown Times.” bizarre presidential election captures but I knew of his reputation before I met He was bitter after the 1962 loss. the headlines and the attention of him personally. Appearing before 100 reporters he Charles Dunagin is the retired editor and the talking heads on the cable news After I moved to McComb in the lashed out at the media, proclaiming publisher of the Enterprise-Journal in Mc- networks. 1960s to work for the Enterprise- that “You won’t have Nixon to kick Comb and a past president of the Missis- For me, whenever the New York Journal, he and I became friends, since around any more, because, gentlemen, sippi Press Association. He resides in Ox- Times is in the news, I’m reminded of we were only about 20 miles apart. ford. my friend of decades ago, Paul Pittman. When the Enterprise-Journal press Paul, who died way too young at age was modernized, Paul contracted to 52 in 1983, was editor and publisher of print his newspaper with us, and we had the weekly Tylertown Times and started a great relationship for the rest of his a radio station in the town. life. A talented journalist, humorist and On occasion, we would take a trip after-dinner speaker, his influence together to cover some event, such as

culture, now defines its divisions: bit. ly/2hOft47. Issues Portable wi-fi devices at libraries From Page 8 allow patrons to “borrow the Internet,” the Daily Yonder reported, and we up at bit.ly/2klYw1s. picked it up at bit.ly/2jkaUSc. The rise of fake news has proven, that Rural liberal-arts colleges are now more than ever, quality reporting fighting enrollment losses by improving is essential to keep people informed, connections with their communities, especially in smaller communities. The Wall Street Journal reported: bit. That was a key point of an article that ly/2jWjIPr. longtime journalist Kathy Kiely wrote for Abusive teachers are able to skip (Bill) Moyers & Co., citing some local from state to state as local schools cover news startups: bit.ly/2ikGSKT. up their misdeeds, USA Today reported: The editor-publisher of the paper bit.ly/2jk7AGK. judged the state’s best weekly for the If you do or see stories that resonate last nine years became president of across rural areas, please send them to the Kentucky Press Association and me at [email protected]. immediately challenged his colleagues to do better. We wrote it up at bit. Al Cross edited and managed weekly news- ly/2kkEp3T. papers before spending 26 years at The Potpourri: One of the most (Louisville) Courier-Journal and serving as republished or adapted Rural Blog items president of the Society of Professional recently was one about a New York Journalists. Since 2004 he has been direc- Times analysis of TV-show followers, tor of the Institute for Rural Journalism and with a neat map. It showed that Community Issues, based at the University television, which once unified American of Kentucky. See www.RuralJournalism.org. 10 » Fourth Estate » Winter 2017 AD LIBS Keep them talking and learn more on your calls ori told me about some simple 1. Say “that’s terrible” or that’s information. “What do you mean” can techniques she uses in advertising awful,” when a problem is mentioned. sound abrupt and defensive. Lpresentations. “Once the other Say “that’s good,” when the news is 4. Say “Hmm.” “Crazy as it sounds, person mentions a problem,” she said, positive. These simple phrases can help this is one of the best ways to keep the “it’s important to slow down and show John you get in step with the other person. momentum going,” Lori said. “Think of some restraint. A lot of sales people are “When you agree with what they’re all the different things you can express conditioned to pounce on the slightest Foust saying, they usually keep right on with ‘Hmm.’ With different inflection, opening and shift the conversation. talking,” she said. “You’re sympathizing you can convey agreement, happiness, They can’t wait to talk about the ways with their bad news and giving them a surprise, sympathy or sadness. their products can solve the problem. verbal high five for their good news.” “All of this is intended to help them For example, if the prospect says, ‘My 2. Repeat their last phrase as a flesh out problems. As the conversation advertising is not generating enough their weekday traffic has been declining question. This is a well-known technique moves along, you can ask some raffic on weekends,’ the sales person is along with the weekend business. That that has been around for years. When questions to tighten the focus and help tempted to jump in with a suggestion to would call for a different solution. you hear, “We’re not getting enough them see the long-term implications of run more ads on weekends. “To keep them talking, it helps weekend traffic,” say “You’re not getting their situation. Then you’ll be in a better “That’s a bad move,” she said. to use a minimum number of enough weekend traffic?” and raise your position to propose a solution.” “Although that kind of instant-answer words, sometimes just one or two,” voice on the last word to emphasize the Hmm. That’s good. approach may seem like good idea at she explained. “I’ve learned some question. That’s less formal than saying, the time, it’s too early to propose a techniques from sales seminars and “That’s an unusual statement. I’d like to solution to the problem. So instead of books, but I’ve also picked up ideas know more.” Copyright © 2017 by John Foust. All rights expressing an opinion, I encourage the by watching good interviewers on 3. Say “How do you mean?” instead reserved. John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper other person to continue talking. That television.” of “What do you mean?” Although your Lori knows the importance of looking advertising professionals. Many ad departments keeps them on their train of thought. old grammar teacher would scold you are using his training videos to save time and The more they talk, the more I learn. below the surface. Here are some for using “how” in place of “what,” get quick results from in-house training. E-mail And as a result, I might find out that phrases that work: “how” is a friendlier way to ask for more for information: [email protected] Winter 2017 » Fourth Estate » 11 TECHNOLOGY Know when to let go of older hardware, software hile in Minnesota recently, I old iMac. It still works and is fine for curve if you have older software? Again, had an assignment similar to word processing and less intensive maybe or maybe not. I don’t work for Wassignments I’ve had many processes. But, I notice lately that it Adobe or Quark, so I have no reason to times during the past 20 years: to even slows down during simple tasks mislead you. spend a day with a small community Kevin like checking email. I wouldn’t dare You don’t have to have the latest newspaper group, meet with the waste my time trying to crank out pages version of InDesign or Quark to be management and staff individually, then Slimp on that computer. Sure I could do it, efficient. I have three versions of propose two optional plans with the but it would take three times as long as Adobe’s software on the machine same goal in mind. creating the same pages on my two-year I’m using right now: CS5, CS6 and The goal was to improve the editorial old iMac. CC. I’ve noticed no big difference in and production workflow, thereby speed between CS6 and CC. That’s improving the quality of the publication columns. Q. What can I do to get the most also the case on other machines I use. and efficiency of the operation. Sounds of my current hardware? So if your staff is using CS6 software, simple enough, and having completed Q. Is my hardware too old? Is it A. If hardware is slowing down your speed probably isn’t an issue. If it is, similar assignments hundreds of times all going to come crashing down? workflow but new computers aren’t you should check the RAM memory, before, I felt up to the task. A. Hardware is a delicate issue. in the budget, one of the easiest ways as mentioned earlier. You may want to Every newspaper is different, so I One of the quickest ways to improve to get more from your machine is to upgrade to Creative Cloud for other keep their particular needs in mind efficiency is to improve the tools we maximize its RAM memory. RAM isn’t reasons but speed probably isn’t one of when offering advice. This group is in a use. Why do you think Amazon is always expensive these days and I’ve seen them. process that many of us find ourselves investing in new robots and distribution machines double or even triple in speed You might even be OK with Adobe in: determining whether to tweak methods? However, hardware isn’t by upgrading their current RAM to CS5 or 5.5. If things seem to be moving the current workflow using the tools cheap and no one wants to waste money. higher levels. Most computers can hold along nicely and you are getting your available, or to upgrade hardware and I would suggest newspapers look 8 to 16 gb of RAM. Check to see how ads and pages out in a timely manner, software throughout the organization to over their current hardware and ask much your machines currently have you might be safe for now. I wouldn’t achieve monumental jumps in efficiency. a few questions. How old are my and how much they can hold, and make plan to use CS5 for several more years, I understand the dilemma. Having computers? If you are working on an investment (usually under $100) to but your operation won’t come crashing owned several publications in the past, machines more than six years old, maximize the memory in each machine. down in the near future due to software plus a couple of companies right now, chances are they are getting pretty issues. I know what it’s like to make upfront slow and produce all kinds of delays. Q. Is my software too old? Do I However, if you are using really old expenditures in order to see software like CS or CS2 (even longterm gains. CS3), your days are numbered. Perhaps you are in the same One day in the not-to-distant dilemma. Should I purchase new future you might walk in to learn hardware and upgrade software at no one can get their pages out. the same time, or will everything Even if that weren’t a possibility be OK if we upgrade software - and it is - it’s taking at least on our current machines? Would twice as long as it should to get my staff be more efficient with your product out the door using training or is it a waste of time? old software. CS3 was released If I train them too much, will they just under ten years ago. Not run off and find a higher paying many of us are driving the same job somewhere else? cars we were in 2007. And if we The questions go on. What are (I’ve had mine five years), about camera raw? Will it improve we’re probably thinking about my product or just slow down my upgrading to a newer model. workflow? Am I spending enough It’s interesting we often update time on my digital products or am our cars before updating the I possibly spending too much time things that provide our financial on them? security. We forget that time is Speaking of staff, do I have money. If it takes twice as long too many or too few? Are they to get an issue designed due to organized in the most efficient old software and computers, the manner? Should we create our website really need to pay a monthly fee to amount of time it would take to recoup in-house or use an outside vendor? I’ve noticed six years is kind of a magic keep from falling too far behind? the cost of new equipment is minimal. The questions could go on forever. It’s point for computers. Yes, Macs can A. Maybe, maybe not. Approximately As I tell my clients, I’ll be home in a enough to bring on a panic attack. last forever, but like anything else they a third of the newspapers I visit are couple of days. So do what you think Don’t panic. Let me suggest a few slow down in time. And Windows-based using the most recent design software. is best. But if it were my decision, I things to think about when faced with machines slow down more quickly than If you’re an Adobe user, that means the wouldn’t wait too long before upgrading similar questions. Let us consider Macs. It’s just a fact of life. Creative Cloud version, which requires a any older software and hardware. hardware and software today and I I have four computers I primarily monthly subscription. will discuss other issues in upcoming use in my work. One is an eight-year- Does this mean you’re behind the Email Kevin Slimp, [email protected]. 12 » Fourth Estate » Winter 2017 McDavid event joining with JSU conference MPA’s annual workshop for collegiate journalists is this year joining with the Jackson State University School of Journalism and Media Studies Conference. The 19th annual O.C. McDavid Journalism Conference will be held March 30 on the campus of the JSU e-Center in Jackson. The JSU event is a day-long workshop for students in the university’s School of Journalism and Media Studies, bringing in speakers and panels to help majors prepare for post-school careers. The McDavid Conference is sponsored annually by the the MPA Education Foundation for students of journalism at universities and colleges in Mississippi. There is no cost for students or MPA members to attend the event, which will feature panels discussing careers in print, digital and broadcast journalism and public relations. The McDavid Conference will also, as is customary, feature a speaker on the arts in recognition of O.C. McDavid’s Winners at ArkLaMiss long secondary career as a sculptor and Adam Prestridge (left) of The Columbian-Progress and Myra Bean of The Panolian took two of the top cash prizes for their submis- artist. The event will culminate with the sions during the Hot Ideas Idea Exchange session Friday, Nov. 11 at the ArkLaMiss Conference in Vicksburg. They were presented presentation of the Better Newspaper their prizes by program moderator Dennis Dunn of The Annistar (AL) Star. Contest Student Division awards.

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