January 2014

TAlaPressahe N ewsleTTer of T he A l A b A m A P ress A ssociATioN January 2014

Important Dates

Hall of Honor Ceremony Auburn University Feb 15, 2014 APA announces Lifetime Achievement APA Journalism Summit APA Journalism Summit returns Embassy Suites to Montgomery Montgomery, AL Feb 20-21, 2014 APA Better Newspaper Contest goes digital 2014 Communication and Media Career Day Legislation introduced to strengthen Auburn University March 5, 2014 Alabama’s Open Meetings Act

Digital Media Center Venable and Woodward to be inducted Grand Opening into the Hall of Honor Tuscaloosa, AL March 13, 2014

APA Summer Convention Hilton Sandestin Sandestin, FL June 26-28, 2014 January 2014 AlaPressa 2 APA announces Lifetime Achievement gomery Advertiser. Beasley can be described Alabama Press Association as a newspaper legacy. Her Alabama Newspaper Advertising Service Inc. great-grandfather was a pressman at the Montgomery Adver- 3324 Independence Drive Suite 200 tiser. Her maternal grandpar- Birmingham, AL 35209 ents were editor and publisher (205) 871-7737 of The Clayton Record, as was (205) 871-7740 (fax) her mother, Bertie Parish. Mrs. www.alabamapress.org Parish took over the newspaper when her mother died in 1960. She worked until her death

Board of Directors in 1998, and the reins were passed to Beasley. Beasley’s family came to Mike Marshall, President Rebecca Beasley Alabama Media Group Clayton in 1915, and began Tommy McGraw, First Vice President APA President Mike Mar- work at the newspaper. Next Sumter County Record-Journal shall announced recently the year will mark 100 years The Alan Davis, Chairman of the Board recipients of the 2014 Lifetime Clayton Record has been in Dothan Eagle Achievement Award. Honorees Beasley’s family. Scott Brown, The Decatur Daily are Rebecca Beasley, editor Beasley graduated from col- Glenda Curl, Wilcox Progressive Era and publisher of The Clayton lege with a degree in second- Michele Gerlach, Andalusia Star-News Record, and Bill Brown, former ary education, and taught for a John Harvey, Advertiser-Gleam executive editor of the Mont- short time, while also Bob Martin, Montgomery Independent see Achievement pg 3 Horace Moore, The Northwest Alabamian Tim Prince, The Clanton Advertiser David Proctor, Clay Times-Journal APA Journalism Summit Russell Quattlebaum, The Southeast Sun Pam Siddall, Alabama Media Group Joe Thomas, The Tri-City Ledger returns to Montgomery APA will return to Montgom- day. Morning sessions include a ery for the 143rd Journalism demonstration on the new Better APA Staff Summit Feb. 20-21 at the Em- Newspaper Contest online entry Felicia Mason, Executive Director bassy Suites Hotel. system, a panel discussing how Brad English, Advertising Manager The convention will open with political and retail advertisers Leigh Leigh Tortorici, Senior the Lifetime Achievement Ban- are using various forms of me- Marketing Representative quet and Reception at the hotel. dia to reach target audiences, a Tay Bailey, Member Services The evening will also include practical session on how to tell Coordinator a silent auction and “wine pull” a story with pictures and video, Chris McDaniel, Network Sales benefiting the APA Journalism and an inside look at Gannett’s Emily Featherston, Tearsheet Clerk Foundation. Please consider new Butterfly Project, a new Dennis R. Bailey, General Counsel donating an item from your area twist for daily newspaper pub- Scott Goldsmith, APA Accountant for the auction. lishing. Friday will begin with a conti- J.D. Crowe, from the Ala- nental breakfast and publisher’s bama Media Group, will be the roundtable discussion. We have speaker for our luncheon. Crowe invited Gov. Bentley to attend is Alabama’s only newspaper this informal session. cartoonist. Crowe’s cartoons, as The morning sessions will well as the added editorial begin at 9 a.m. with concurrent sessions running throughout the see Convention pg 4 January 2014 AlaPressa 3 Bill Brown’s career took him Achievement from the St. Petersburg Times, 1962-73, to the Tallahassee Dem- from pg 2 ocrat, 1974-76, and the Colum- bus (Ga.) Enquirer and Ledger newspapers, 1976-85. He came working at the newspaper. Soon, to Montgomery in 1986 as man- after marriage and starting a fam- aging editor of the Montgomery ily, she left teaching and went to Advertiser. He became executive work at the newspaper with both editor of the morning Advertiser of her parents. “What a blessing it and the evening Alabama Journal was for me to work so closely with in 1987. He continued in that po- my parents, memories that today sition for the Advertiser after the I cherish so dearly,” Beasley said. Journal was closed in 1993. He Beasley’s community involve- currently has a self-syndicated ment went beyond the newspa- newspaper column, and is edi- Bill Brown per, however. She was the first fe- tor and publisher of Lake Martin lieve the people in the newsroom male on the Clayton City Council, Journal, an online magazine de- realized, however, that it wasn’t and later became Clayton’s first voted to the Lake Martin area. the staff Bill was most concerned female mayor. She is currently During Brown’s tenure at The about, but rather the readers of serving her fourth term as mayor. Alabama Journal, the newspaper the newspaper. His goal was to Beasley’s husband, Billy, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for make sure we had the tools nec- is a pharmacist and co-owner of a series on the high rate of infant essary to serve our readers.” Clayton and Clio Drug Stores, is mortality among the poor in the Since his retirement from the also an elected official. He was a Montgomery area. Co-workers daily newspaper, Brown has pub- member of the Alabama House and industry peers credit Brown’s lished a book, “Yellow Cat, Hen- of Representatives from 1998 to leadership for this accomplish- dry & Me: Dispatches From Life’s 2010, and was elected to the Ala- ment. Front Lines,” a collection of col- bama Senate in 2010. David Rountree, who worked umns with topics that range from Beasley says that ink will al- with Brown at the Montgomery cowboy heroes Gene Autry and ways be in her blood. “The Clay- paper, said he was a great advo- Roy Rogers, to regional phrases ton Record is 143 years old, and cate for the editorial operations such as a “mess” of turnip greens, I look forward to continuing the of the company. “Despite his to the mishaps of a stray feline. legacy of keeping the hometown easy-going personality, he was The honorees will be recog- news circulating for as long as I no shrinking violet,” Rountree nized at the APA Journalism Sum- am able,” Beasley said. “Com- said. “Ensuring that editors and mit on Feb. 20 at the Embassy munity journalism will always be reporters were given the support Suites Hotel in Montgomery. a part of my heart and soul.” necessary to do their jobs was among his key strengths. I be-

Venable and Woodward to be Are you following APA on Facebook inducted into the Hall of Honor and Twitter? The Alabama Newspaper program will begin with registra- Hall of Honor ceremony will be tion at 10 a.m., and the ceremony held Feb. 15, 2014, in Auburn. at 10:30 a.m. followed by a light APA followers will get current Jack Venable, former publisher meal. feeds on items of interest to of The Tallassee Tribune, and APA delegates will be invited the newspaper industry, as Don Woodward, former business to attend the Auburn/Mississippi well as, up-to-date coverage manager and advertising director State basketball game at 12:30 at The Advertiser-Gleam in Gun- p.m. in the Auburn Arena. Invita- of conventions and programs. tersville are the inductees. tions have been mailed to all APA The ceremony will be held in members. the newspaper reading room on the ground floor of AU’s Ralph Brown Draughon Library. The January 2014 AlaPressa 4 Legislation introduced to strengthen Alabama’s Open Meetings Act Recent rulings by the Alabama (1) It expressly states that can to ensure that we have the Supreme Court severely damaged meetings in small groups without highest level of open access in the the law that ensures open meetings proper notice to discuss issues that operation of government.” in Alabama. With the support of will come before the full body is not “Meeting one on one to avoid Gov. Bentley, a bill was introduced permitted. There are times when discussing public business in pub- on the second day of this regular government business requires lic was never intended to be an ac- session to address three areas that closed-door meetings, and the cur- ceptable practice under the Open were affected by the court rulings. rent law provides for those situa- Meetings Law, except where ex- They include the use of serial meet- tions. pressly permitted,” Rep. Hill said. ings, the ability for a newspaper or (2) Clarifies that any Alabama “I was a co-sponsor of the rewrite any Alabama citizen to bring action citizen has a right to bring an action of our Open Meetings Law in 2005, if they believe the law has been vio- against a governmental body if it and as is the case with most com- lated, and to reaffirm the Alabama believes it has violated the law, and prehensive laws, some areas need Constitution’s statement that the any penalties assessed are pay- to be better defined and clarified. “doors of the Legislature shall be able to the plaintiff. That is my goal with this new legis- open.” (3) The legislation reflects that lation.” “Transparency promotes govern- the Alabama Constitution requires APA has worked with Gov. Bent- ment accountability, and as elected the Alabama Legislature to meet ley’s staff in drafting the language officials, we are held accountable with its doors open to the public unfor this bill. “These simple amend- for our decisions by the people we less a vote is taken in public that ments only clarify the original intent serve,” Gov. Robert Bentley said. secrecy is required in certain cir- of the Alabama Legislature to have “It is important that our state’s open cumstances. a strong and effective open meet- meetings law allows the public to The legislation is co-sponsored ings law that provides a window see and be involved in government by Senator Cam Ward of Alabaster into the deliberative process of their decisions. The goal of this new leg- and Representative Mike Hill of Co- government,” Dennis Bailey, gen- islation is to further strengthen Ala- lumbiana. eral counsel of the Alabama Press bama’s Open Meetings Law.” “Transparency is crucial to main- Association said. The legislation will propose three taining the public’s trust in our gov- legislative amendments to the cur- ernment institutions,” Sen. Ward rent 2005 Open Meetings Law. said. “We must do everything we

political forums and debates. Also, Convention the afternoon ses- from pg 2 sions will include a program by APA’s commentary, continue to provide legal team on the fodder for reader interaction. Open Meetings A membership meeting will be Act and the efforts held at the close of the luncheon, in the Legislature just prior to the start of the after- to reverse recent noon sessions, which include a court decisions journalism student-led program on that have severely how they use social media to reach weakened the law. their audiences and the ever-pop- The convention will will adjourn adjourn at at also be found on the APA website ular Lisa Griffin with tips and tricks the close of the afternoon ses- at: http://www.alabamapress.org/ for InDesign. Delegates will hear sions. apa/conventions-and-workshops/ from Tommy Campbell, publisher We have invited students from winter-convention/. of The Choctaw Sun-Advocate in journalism programs across the Congratulations to APA Past Gilbertown on their new online tele- state to participate in our conven- President Jim Oakley for being the vision project, which was launched tion as guests of the APA Journal- first delegate to register! during the fall football season, and ism Foundation. Registration mate- their plans to expand coverage to rials have been mailed and can January 2014 AlaPressa 5 APA Better Newspaper Contest goes digital The 2014 Better Newspa- able on the APA website at: http:// unique to the TMC and not have per Contest will go online this www.alabamapress.org/apa/ run previously in the paid product. year. While a few categories still better-newspaper-contest/. Spe- The contest platform was de- require hard-copy entries, the cific instructions on how to enter veloped and is hosted by the Il- majority will now be entered via online can be found on the Basic linois Press Association, “We ex- upload to the contest site. All fee Entry Instructions sheet. plored a number of options and calculation and payment can be In addition to the new online are excited about this system,” done online through a secure process, there are several other APA Executive Director Felicia payment system. significant changes to the contest Mason said. “It most closely re- Materials were mailed earlier this year. First, web categories sembled our contest format and this month and are avail- have been incorporated into the the IPA folks worked with us to Editorial and Advertising portions customize it to our needs.” of the contest and will count to- Tay Bailey, APA’s member ser- wards General Excellence. vices coordinator, said, “We know Also, entries in all cat- this is a big change for some of egories may be submit- our members, and we want to ted from newspaper print make it as easy as possible. Once products, newspaper you log in and start the process, I websites or news- think everyone will be surprised paper special pub- at how user-friendly it is.” lications. The APA staff will provide train- Finally, active ing at the upcoming Journalism member affiliate Summit, and a tutorial is available free circulation on the APA website. Please con- products (TMC’s) tact the APA office at 800-264- may enter the con- 7043 or 205-871-7737 if you have test in Division E. questions. All entries must be Industry Watch Unlimited postal rate increases proposed by Senate leaders Sens. Thomas Carper, D-DE, tact the committee and urge that Now, the law limits postal in- and Tom Coburn, R-OK, are pro- this bill be suspended until proper creases to a common Consumer posing new legislation that would rate regulation is included. Price Index for each class of mail remove rate regulation from the (e.g,. First Class, Periodicals, Postal Regulatory Commission Background Standard), to be exceeded only and give the U.S. Postal Ser- Despite a postage rate in- with prior review of the PRC. vice’s own Board of Governors crease that are more than triple But the new proposal would unlimited authority to adjust post- inflation rates for most Period- let the presidentially-appointed age rates for mail within its mail icals-mailed newspapers, the Board of Governors, which in- monopoly. Postal Service continues to ar- cludes two seats for postal man- The Senate Homeland Se- gue for more “flexibility” in set- agement, decide to raise rates by curity and Governmental Affairs ting rates. That flexibility could be the CPI index plus one percent as Committee intends to review this manifested in higher Periodicals a total revenue figure for all mo- bill for passage to the Senate rates, lower saturation mail rates nopoly mail. That means major floor on Jan. 29. NNA recom- for newspaper competitors and adjustments for Periodicals mail, mends that you urgently contact other outcomes that affect mail your senators to ask them to con- distribution. see Postal Legislation pg 6 January 2014 AlaPressa 6 Actions: • The Postal Service Postal legislation Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, is should not engage in NSAs for prepared to introduce an amend- advertising. Its monopoly pricing from pg 5 ment to strike the rates section, powers distort the market and Section 310, and leave the cur- improperly put both the Board of rent law as is. Although Alabama Governors and PRC into a role of Standard mail or other classes senators are not on the commit- advertising regulators. used by newspapers could occur tee, please contact them NOW Also, please join NNA on March so long as all mail together pro- and tell them: 13 in Washington when publish- duced revenue under the cap. • The Postal Service re- ers take their case to Capitol Hill. This provision could mean a mains a powerful government NNA is the Voice in Washington chain of triple- or quadruple infla- monopoly that must not be de- for Community Newspapers. tion increases, without even PRC regulated to this degree. Postal Reform legislation is need- oversight, in the future. • Setting a price cap at the ed. Once completed, it will be in The bill also includes modest total-mail level, rather than upon effect for years to come. Act now language to rein in Negotiated each mail class, invites price ma- to protect your industry. Service Agreements, such as nipulation by USPS. For more information contact the one extended to Valassis Di- • The Postal Service badly NNA’s Postal and Government rect Mail, Inc, last year. But this needs some other provisions in Relations Committees: Max proposed language requiring the this bill, such recalculating crip- Heath, [email protected]; Deb Postal Service to take into con- pling burdens from employee McCaslin, [email protected]; sideration the relative harm to benefit programs imposed by OR Tonda Rush, NNA CEO, Ton- mailers, would simply invite the Congress in 2006. But while Sec- [email protected]. PRC into regulating the advertis- tion 310 remains, many who oth- ing marketplace. It is not enough. erwise support postal reform can- Our industry needs tighter rules not promote the Carper-Coburn on NSAs. bill.

New postage rate increase Jan. 26 will be three times inflation NNA calls USPS decision flawed The Postal Regulatory Com- Jr., publisher of the Blackshear a lack of action by Congress to mission handed everyone who (Ga.) Times, said NNA respect- enact postal reform is at the root uses the mail a lump of coal on fully disagrees with the Postal of the problem. Christmas Eve: approval of the Service’s request as well as the U.S. Postal Service’s proposal to commission’s decision. He insists see Increases pg 7 raise postage rates by more than triple today’s inflation. The new rates will likely go into effect Jan. 26 if USPS elects to Mark your Calendar accept the PRC’s decision. The PRC did disagree, however, with the Postal Service’s justi- fication for a proposed “exigency” APA Journalism rate increase that it lost more than Summit 53 billion pieces of mail because of the Great Recession. Rather Embassy Suites the PRC continues to blame In- ternet diversion as the principal Montgomery, AL reason for Postal Service losses. The PRC only credits the reces- Feb 20-21, 2014 sion with less than half the USPS financial loss — but granted the increase anyway — noting USPS needs the money. National Newspaper Associa- tion President Robert M. Williams January 2014 AlaPressa 7 seeable period, the commission increase was granted. Heath declined to allow the additional notes that although USPS cer- $1.8 billion it expects USPS to tainly has been impacted by the Increases receive in contributions to over- recession, so has its customers head to go on forever. The rul- and raising postage rates now is from pg 6 ing requires USPS to provide a ill-advised. plan by May for eliminating the “We calculated increases up extraordinary increase over a to 7 percent for some of our criti- two-year time period. cal newspaper mail categories. “We are whistling in the dark,” Unless USPS can achieve To the extent that USPS suf- said Williams. “We cannot avoid serious reductions in operating fered from the recession, so did the fact the Postal Service is costs without critically diminish- our business,” said Heath. “It is operating in a new world. We ing services, Williams is not op- too bad the law doesn’t allow for all are. The longer the Postal timistic this can happen. an “exigent decrease” in post- Service and lawmakers avoid “This latest action by the PRC age so we, who must respond to reducing core costs for the de- only makes the Postal Service’s market realities, could be made livery network, the more pain survival challenge tougher and whole as well.” will be inflicted upon all who use scarier. This decision opens the Williams said NNA will renew the mail. Fewer and fewer cus- door to perpetual steep postage its efforts to seek prudent postal tomers will be paying more and increases for American busi- reform legislation during the an- more. This approved postage nesses, including ours, which nual Newspapers Leadership increase solves nothing.” strives to fill a deep desire by Summit March 13, 2014, when The Postal Regulatory Com- readers to receive a hard copy publishers visit Capitol Hill to mission said it expects USPS newspaper, even if they also urge action. to wean itself off the increase read online.” over time. Although USPS said NNA Postal Committee Chair it expects the effects of the re- Max Heath said he is also dis- cession to go on for an unfore- appointed the exigency rate

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APAWOW2013 January 2014 AlaPressa 8 NNA joins broad mailing APA joins 47 other press associations to lobby industry coalition to overturn against changes in the deductibility of advertising postal service rate expenses The National Newspaper As- dictable and stable postal rates, sociation has joined a broad co- and that was a very good thing alition of postal customers and through the Great Recession. The business deduction for adver- suppliers to ask the United States Congress wrote in a clause to tising expenses is currently at risk in Court of Appeals in Washington, allow exigent—or emergency— a bill moving through Congress. Cur- D.C., to overturn a December 24 increases when the Postal Ser- rent law allows advertising expense decision of the Postal Regulatory vice faced unforeseeable circum- to be fully deductible. The proposal Commission (“PRC”) approving stances. Using that clause to hike before the Senate Finance Commit- a postage rate hike of six per- postage rates so much beyond tee proposes a 10-year amortization cent—more than triple inflation now to deal with of advertising costs. Specifically, the the rate of inflation. the inevitable adjust- proposal is expected to allow busi- The PRC justified ments needed be- nesses to deduct 50 percent of their the rate hike as cause of digital advertising costs in the year the ad- an emergency diversion is the vertising expense is incurred and measure to off- wrong way to require a business to spread the re- set losses that go. This unfor- maining cost over 10 years. the 2007-2009 tunate increase Below is a letter drafted by the recession sup- harms our Newspaper Association of America posedly inflicted newspapers and to the chairman of the Senate com- on the United other businesses mittee: (maybe put this as an inset. States Postal Ser- that are critical to Let’s discuss) vice (“USPS”). The driving local econo- main cause of the Post- mies. We think USPS The Honorable Max Baucus al Service’s losses in recent and the PRC should take Chairman years, however, is the public’s another look and we hope the Committee on Finance increased use of the Internet in- court agrees,” he said. United States Senate stead of mail. The law was de- The coalition joining the ap- Washington, DC 20501 signed to prevent the Postal Ser- peal includes: Alliance of Non- vice from recovering this kind of profit Mailers, American Catalog Dear Chairman Baucus: loss through above-inflation rate Mailers Association, Association We are writing to inform you of increases. for Postal Commerce, Associa- our concerns about the devastat- The appeal is sponsored by tion of Marketing Service Pro- ing impact that a tax on advertising a broad coalition of companies viders, Direct Marketing As- would have on our nation’s economy and mailer groups that represent sociation, Inc., The Envelope and on millions of American busi- every major class of mail, and Manufacturers Association, nesses. We urge you to reconsider the majority of mail volume, in Greeting Card Association, Major the proposal included in your Dis- the United States. The mail af- Mailers Association, MPA—The cussion Draft on Cost Recovery and fected by the rate hike includes Association of Magazine Media, Accounting Language that would personal correspondence, bills National Association of Presort change the current tax treatment of and invoices, magazines and Mailers, National Newspaper As- advertising expenses. newspapers, catalogs and other sociation, National Postal Policy We represent daily and weekly advertising mail, and many kinds Council, Newspaper Association newspapers across the United of parcel mail. of America, Printing Industries of States. Our free press has been a NNA President Robert M. Wil- America, Quad/Graphics, Inc., model to other nations and is made liams, Jr., publisher of the Black- Saturation Mailers Coalition, and possible because advertising under- shear (GA) Times, said NNA Software & Information Industry writes much of the cost of bringing joined the appeal out of concern Association/American Business news, information and entertainment for the impact upon newspapers Media. to all Americans. and other local businesses. “The 2006 law gave us pre- continued on next page January 2014 AlaPressa 9

We believe the proposal in the discussion draft would severely undercut the economic power of advertising to generate sales and support jobs. Every dollar of spending on advertising will generate, on average, almost $22 of economic output or sales. The economic consulting firm IHS Global Insight estimates that advertising accounts for $5.8 trillion of the $33.8 trillion in U.S. economic output and sup- ports 21.1 million of the 136.2 million U.S. jobs. The proposed new section 177 represents a tax on advertising. It would require all advertisers to wait up to five years before they could fully deduct the cost of half of their advertising as a business expense. The U. S. tax code permits a business to deduct the cost of advertising in the year it is purchased just as it permits the deduction of other ordinary business costs such as salaries, office rent, utilities and similar expenses. The advertising deduction proposal would be the most sweeping change to the tax treatment of advertising costs in the 100-year history of the tax code. The U. S. economy is just beginning to show signs of life after the Great Recession. IHS Global Insight estimates it may be 2016 before we reach the pre-2008 levels of spending on advertising. The proposed tax on advertising would push our economy down at a time when businesses—including newspapers and other media that rely on advertising—are beginning to move forward in a positive direc- tion. We urge you to reconsider the inclusion of this tax on advertising as you and your colleagues on the Finance Committee pull together a tax reform package. If you have questions, feel free to contact Kathy Mason, Vice President of Government Affairs, News- paper Association of America, at [email protected] or 571-366-1152.

Respectfully,

Alabama Press Association New England Newspaper & Press Association Allied Daily Newspapers of Washington New Jersey Press Association Arizona Newspapers Association New Mexico Press Association California Newspaper Publishers Association Newspaper Association of America Colorado Press Association New York News Publishers Association Connecticut Daily Newspaper Association New York Press Association Florida Press Association North Carolina Press Association Georgia Press Association North Dakota Newspaper Association Illinois Press Association Ohio Newspaper Association Iowa Newspaper Association Oklahoma Press Association Kansas Press Association Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association Kentucky Press Association Pacific Northwest Newspaper Association Louisiana Press Association Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association Maine Press Association South Dakota Newspaper Association Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Southern Newspaper Publishers Association Association Tennessee Press Association Maryland-Delaware-District of Columbia Texas Press Association Press Association Utah Press Association Minnesota Newspaper Association Vermont Press Association Mississippi Press Association Virginia Press Association Missouri Press Association Washington Newspaper Publishers Association Montana Newspaper Association West Virginia Press Association National Newspaper Association Wisconsin Newspaper Association Nebraska Press Association Wyoming Press Association Nevada Press Association January 2014 AlaPressa 10 January 2014 AlaPressa 11 America East conference offers something for everyone With a powerful Photoshop, customer ser- speaker lineup and a vice and new technology streamlined program tools available to news- focused on critical papers. Additionally, the business and technol- I-SCMA is offering circula- ogy issues, the 2014 tion sessions on Tuesday, America East confer- April 1 to share strategies ence is poised to of- for growing audience and fer something for ev- increasing circulation rev- eryone working in the enue. news media industry. growing the trade show floor as America East is admin- The largest newspaper confer- well. America East is an afford- istered by the PNA and several ence and trade show of its kind, able, one-stop shop for learning, co-sponsoring associations. The America East will take place networking and sourcing new conference focuses on maxi- March 31 – April 2 at the Hershey products and services,” said Tri- mizing print profit and generat- Lodge & Convention Center in cia Greyshock, VP, Association ing new digital revenue. With Hershey, Pa. Services, Pennsylvania News- its convenient, central location This year’s dynamic offerings Media Association. in Hershey, America East is a reflect the diverse needs and Additional bonus workshops cost-effective conference with so interests of today’s news media have been added to the already much to offer. To learn more and companies. Over the course of robust schedule – News guru to register, visit the America East three days, America East attend- Kevin Slimp will lead four work- website, www.america-east.com. ees have access to more than shops focused on InDesign and 25 sessions and workshops, with topics ranging from building com- pelling mobile platforms to multi- channel sales to insourcing and outsourcing strategies. Keynote speaker Larry Kramer, publisher and president of USA Today, will kick off this year’s event on Monday, March 31 and share his thoughts on how traditional media can build a successful business around quality news and information. Business track topics include new business models, new advertising revenue strategies, growing print revenue, event planning, and increasing audience loyalty and engagement. Technology track sessions feature pros and cons of cloud computing, digital printing best practices, driving operational efficiencies, commer- cial printing strategies and more. “We’ve worked hard to define and offer programming that benefits every area of the business. This year’s lineup is top-notch and we’re excited to continue January 2014 AlaPressa 12 Briefs Boone Newspapers Inc. has Carolina, Virginia, Minnesota, Ohio Association will present the Geor- purchased the Elizabethton (Tenn.) and Michigan. Elizabethton is the gia Press Institute Feb. 7-8, 2014, Star and related websites and affili- organization’s first acquisition in in Athens, Ga. The Institute, found- ated publications. Tennessee. James B. Boone, Jr., ed in 1928, is a two-day training The sale ends more than 50 of Tuscaloosa, is BNI’s chairman event aimed at student journalists, years of ownership and operation and chief executive officer. as well as professional newspaper of the newspaper by the Robinson employees. family. Frank Robinson was named The Mountain Valley News in Alabama journalists are invited publisher of The Star in 1955, and Rainsville was recently awarded to attend. For more information, purchased the newspaper in 1977. the statewide Media of the Year visit http://www.gapress.org/pres- Members of the Robinson fam- Award from the Governor’s Com- sinstitute/PI_Brochure.pdf. ily have owned and operated the mittee on Employment of People newspaper since. With Disabilities. David Bragg is the new multi- Elizabethton native Mark Ste- The nomination praised the media advertising director at Con- vens is the current publisher of the newspaper for raising awareness solidated Publishing, which pub- Elizabethton Star and will continue of the Milestone Program, a pro- lishes The Anniston Star, The Daily in that role. gram which places individuals with Home in Talladega, The Cleburne Majority owners of the newly disabilities into employment. News, The Jacksonville News, The formed company are Carpenter Piedmont Journal and the St. Clair Newsmedia, LLC (CNL), a com- The Alabama Farmers Federa- Times. pany owned by BNI’s president and tion recently honored The Chero- Bragg, a native of Douglasville, chief operating officer, Todd H. Car- kee County Herald in Centre with Ga., comes to Anniston from the penter of Natchez, Miss., and mem- its annual Communications Award Baltimore Sun. He spent 15 years bers of the Boone family. Other BNI for Print Journalism. The newspa- as the director of regional adver- key personnel hold ownership. per was chosen for its outstanding tising for the Newspapers of West BNI owns and manages 48 coverage of farm news and Fed- Georgia based on Carrollton, Ga. newspapers, 27 community mag- eration activities. azines and related websites in similar-sized communities in Mis- The Georgia College Press As- sissippi, Alabama, Georgia, North sociation and the Georgia Press Deaths Carmage Lee Walls Sr., 79, of he was a member of Alpha Tau Force, they moved to Cleveland, Birmingham, passed away Dec. 7, Omega fraternity and was its presi- Tenn., where they had two children, 2013, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in dent his senior year. He was also a Carmage Lee Walls Jr. and Sarah Birmingham. member of the Air Force ROTC and Elizabeth (Sallie) Walls. Mr. Walls He was born Feb. 20, 1934, was president of the Cotillion Club was the publisher of the Cleveland in Orlando, Fla., to Odessa Lee his senior year. Daily Banner, and later in Cleveland Dobbs and Carmage Walls. Early Following graduation, he en- he would create Walls Newspapers in his childhood he moved with his tered the Air Force and served Consultants and begin purchasing family to Macon, Ga., where his fa- for two years at Dhahran Airfield, daily newspapers in various states. ther assumed the leadership and Saudi Arabia. He was honorably He is survived by his wife, management of The Macon Tele- discharged in 1958. Yvonne Walls; his daughter, Sar- graph. He married Yvonne Nichols in ah Elizabeth Malinak (Joseph), of In the late 1940s, he moved October of 1976 in Houston, Texas, Asheville, N.C.; his son, C. Lee with his family to Gadsden, Ala., where he had moved his company, Walls Jr. (Jeanne), and their daugh- after his father, along with Charles Walls Newspapers Consultants, ters, Courtney and Jessica, of Bir- Marsh, began General Newspa- and where he oversaw the opera- mingham, Ala.; his stepson, Mark pers, Inc. He attended high school tions of daily newspapers he owned Miller (Vicki), of Houston, Texas; in Gadsden and then transferred to in nine states. He would eventually his brother, Byrd Cooper Walls of Marion Military Institute where he move the company to Birmingham Vancouver, B.C., (Carol); his sis- would graduate in 1952. in 1986. ter, Lissa Walls Vahldiek (Paul), of He attended the University of Al- He was previously married to Houston; his stepmother, Martha abama, in the School of Commerce Sarah Smith of Coral Gables, Fla., Ann Walls, also of Houston; and his and Business Administration, grad- whom he met while both were stu- sister-in-law, Nell Dunn Walls, of uating in 1956 with a degree in dents at the University of Alabama. Lanett, Ala. management. While at Alabama, In 1959, soon after leaving the Air January 2014 AlaPressa 13

GETTINGIt may be easierCOLOR than you think RIGHT Kevin Slimp all kinds of measuring devices and The News Guru tools, but when they leave, we rarely see any real improvement in our photos. You came in for kevin@ one day and taught us that all that kevinslimp.com really matters is what we see on the page and the improvement in our Color. photos is pretty remarkable.” It seems to be on the minds of Don’t get me wrong. There is newspaper publishers and produc- nothing wrong with measuring tion managers everywhere. devices. Standards are important. Without a doubt, the second But when it comes to photos, the most requested task I’ve been given proof is in the pudding. What our by newspapers in recent months is readers see on the page is what to improve the quality of the color matters. Most of them don’t know in their print products. the difference between a dot gain As I jump on a plane this week and Rogaine. One of the keys to getting good results from Photos on newsprint to head to Minnesota, I realize So what do all these pre-press is to  nd the perfect color settings for your press. that a good number of folks at and printing terms really mean? the event, sponsored by a major Here’s a primer for my friends dot gain. They are there for a Because newsprint is thin, this newspaper printer in that part of who want to know more about reason. These dots give your ink number is generally less than 100 the country, are hoping to improve color: someplace to go when it lands percent, because grays usually print the way photos print in their pub- Color Settings: Since the early on the page. Setting dot gains for darker than they appear on the lications. That was also the case days of Photoshop, there have newsprint used to be easier. Most screen. in Tennessee, where I visited with been ways to build color settings web presses tended to be about the Total Ink Limit refers to the staff of the Shelbyville Times- into photos. This is true of other same. Not any more. I’ve seen dot the total ink used on the Cyan, Gazette last week. There, Hugh photo editing applications, as well. gains from 20 to 40 percent Magenta and Yellow plates. Quite Jones, publisher, and Sadie Fowler, Color settings, when used correctly, on presses the past six months. And often, someone will tell me that editor, tasked me with improving are built into each photo. They the only way to their printer told the quality of photos in their daily include information like the dot know for sure “We’ve had specialists them to keep their newspaper. gain, the black ink level, the color what the perfect from several press, paper total ink limit I sometimes feel ill equipped ink level and more. If you want dot gain is on a under a particular for the job. I mean, I don’t show to see how your color settings are press is to run test and ink companies over number. This up with measuring devices, den- set, go to Edit>Color Settings in after test. That’s the years. They come in is what they are sitometers or other tools. Heck, I Photoshop. what we were do- with all kinds of measur- referring to. don’t even bring a computer for When you first open the ing in Shelbyville ing devices and tools, but I could go on the assignment. Color Settings window, you’ll see last week. when they leave, we rarely for hours, and I As we were looking over the fi- options for RGB, CMYK, Gray There are have, explaining nal print tests in Shelbyville, Hugh and more. Even though we don’t two separation see any real improvement the concept of Jones said something quite memo- print in RGB, getting this setting types in CMYK in our photos.” color in photos. rable to me, “We’ve had technical right makes a big difference when printing: Grey However, it seems support specialists from several converting your colors from RGB Component Replacement (GCR) I’ve reached my 800 word limit for press, paper and ink companies to CMYK, so don’t take it lightly. and Undercolor Removal (UCR). this column. over the years. They come in with CMYK Settings: The most impor- I used to find that UCR, which Let me suggest that, if you tant color setting is the primarily mixes Cyan, Magenta, haven’t already, you talk to who- CMYK setting. Here, Yellow and light amounts of black ever runs your press, whether you you let the application to create gray areas of a photo, print in-house or send PDF files know what dot gain, worked best on newspaper presses. off-site, to figure out what the best separation type and ink That’s not always the case any- color settings are for your pages. limits should be built more. It seems like about a third It can be the difference be- into each photo. of the presses I test print better on tween dull, lifeless, pictures and Remember looking newsprint using GCR, which uses photos that make your readers say, at pictures in books and less Cyan, Magenta and Yellow and “Wow!” magazines when you more black ink when printing gray were a kid? Remember areas. visit those white dots that Black Ink Limit refers to the amount of black used to print kevinslimp.com you would see in the email Kevin at [email protected] photos? That’s your something solid black in a photo. January 2014 AlaPressa 14 Publishing solutions for today and tomorrow Editorial • Advertising • Production Online • Print • Mobile • Circulation Multi-channel workflows • Self-hosted or SaaS

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www.mediaspangroup.com +1.734.887.4400 • [email protected] January 2014 AlaPressa 15 When you’re number one, “negative recruiting” isn’t just confined to football cent response to a prospec- Bowl parties. Many for the Ad Vice tive client’s RFP. Seems they primary purpose of seeing not by had decided to include print in the Broncos and Seahawks, Brad English their proposal before learning but the advertising gems the reason the business was rolled out by the most creative C o l u m n s being shopped - the old agen- minds in the industry. That In the South, there are cy believed in heavy print. famous John Wanamaker three seasons: College foot- And according to the client, quote about half of advertising ball, spring practice, and the “Everyone knows newspapers spending being wasted may weeks leading up to national are dying.” not apply to the Super Bowl : signing day. It’s been said We proceeded to have a A study by research firm Com- that recruiting is the life-blood spirited discussion about the municus suggests 80% of the of college football. The bet- difference between percep- ads don’t sell stuff. ter the recruit, the better the tion and reality, fact vs. myth. Indeed, the $4 million ad- coach. And everyone knows I later wondered how many vertisers spend for a 30-sec- to be a successful recruiter, a times newspaper reps, in re- ond Big Game ad actually coach better be a great sales- sponding to questions about buys a much bigger chance man. There’s an old coach- declining circulation – stories that their ads won’t work, ac- ing adage about winning, “It’s printed on the front page of cording to the Tucson, Ariz.- not about the x’s and o’s but their own newspaper – sim- based firm. In general, Com- the Jimmies and Joes.” ply just shrugged their shoul- municus has found about 60% And in the South, if ders instead of answering the of ads it tests don’t increase you want to keep your job, you questions head-on. purchase or purchase intent. better win. In fact, according Let’s face it. The competi- Newspapers aren’t dying. to a recent New York Times tion has “negatively recruited” Truth is, our broadcast breth- article, 85% of the people in against us for years. And I’m ren are having a much harder the Birmingham market fol- afraid too many times instead time holding on to their view- low college football. We’re of responding to the com- ers and listeners as the In- number one. And it’s not even ments we’ve tried to simply ternet continues to fragment close. deflect a client’s attention the market. TV and radio al- The top teams generally back to a topic with which we ways have and always will be pride themselves on selling were comfortable. entertainment vehicles. The the attributes of their own Truth is, there are more web just brings more enter- school and team, and tend newspapers around today tainment options to the table. to rarely mention the com- than there were five years Can newspapers be enter- petition. On the other hand, ago. Declines in circulation taining? Absolutely. Look no you consistently hear reports are mainly attributable to a further than the letters to the of negative recruiting by the tightening of a newspapers editor and sound off columns lesser teams trying to reach footprint – eliminating some during football season. But the top. The comments can routes beyond the primary hyper-local news and infor- range from half-truths to out- trading area – and a gravita- mation still remains our bread right lies. If an opposing coach tion of the occasional reader and butter specialty. doesn’t address those com- to the web, with most of those And when it comes to deliv- ments head-on, he stands to landing on the newspaper’s ering local, we’re still number lose out on the recruiting trail. web site. one. Which brings me to a lunch Our core print reader re- I had with a couple of buddies mains largely intact. And the other day. The two are that’s the one who was most Brad English is advertising man- top executives with one of the likely to respond to an ad mes- ager for APA. He can be reached largest agencies in the South. sage five and ten years ago. at 205.871.7737 or email him at They shared a story of a re- This coming Sunday, mil- [email protected] lions will gather for Super January 2014 AlaPressa 16

Leading by littles During one spring training is a walking encyclopedia of he could be ready with help at season, the New York Yankees’ baseball. But it’s not his style to a moment’s notice. Nick Swisher asked baseball clutter a ballplayer’s mind with Sales managers should do icon Yogi Berra for some hitting unnecessary information. One the same. By getting to know advice. Yogi told him to take simple suggestion – one small their people, by studying them a step toward the plate and a thing that Swisher could do on from the corner of the dugout, step toward the pitcher. “You’re his next at bat – was all that they will be in a better position

C o l u mletting n s the pitch break down on to offer do-able suggestions. you too much. That’s why these 3. Celebrate success. The guys are getting you out.” best sales managers recog- “That’s it?” asked Swisher. Ad-libs nize the accomplishments of “That’s it,” Yogi said. By John their individual team members. In his next time at bat – Foust While it’s not necessary to and against the same pitcher throw a party after a big sale – Swisher took Yogi’s advice (in reality, that strategy could and hit a stand-up double. Yogi needed to mention. backfire by discouraging those When he returned to the dug- Many managers make the sales people who have not had out, Yogi praised him and said, mistake of overloading their a big sale lately), it is impor- “You see? All you have to do staffs with too many instruc- tant to help successful sales is make contact with the base- tions at one time. Do it this people feel good about their ball. Move up against a break- way, they say. And be sure to successes. Words of praise ing-ball pitcher.” do that. And don’t forget this can go a long way toward help- Yogi had recognized the other thing. And have it all done ing a manager accomplish the problem immediately. While by tomorrow. first order of business: building Swisher could hit the fastball, By seeing immediate re- people. it was the breaking pitch that sults, Swisher boosted his con- Leadership is not a matter of bothered him. By moving up in fidence. Yogi knew that asking changing everything at once. the batter’s box, he could cut him to do everything at once It’s simply changing one thing the pitch’s distance. would not produce a success- at a time – knowing that little Today’s sales managers ful experience. changes add up to something would be wise to follow Yogi’s 2. Pay attention. When bigger. example of leading by littles. Swisher asked for help, Yogi That is, helping people grow didn’t have to do an exhaus- John Foust has conducted train- one manageable step at a tive analysis of his batting av- ing programs for thousands of time. Here are some points to erage, on-base percentages or newspaper advertising profes- keep in mind: his lifetime record against that sionals. Many ad departments are 1. Keep it simple. With 10 particular pitcher. As a student using his training videos to save World Series championship of the game, Yogi had been time and get quick results from in- rings and a plaque in base- watching each player carefully house training. Email for informa- ball’s Hall of Fame, Yogi Berra throughout spring training – so tion: [email protected]

Please remember to upload your legals for AlabamaLegals.com January 2014 AlaPressa 17 Help Wanted General Assignment Reporter at this time is health care and plicants must possess good and take their own photos. The Tuscaloosa News is technology. writing, photography and time To apply: Email résumé and seeking a general assignment Duties: The top mission: management skills. Experi- writing samples to Manag- reporter. We are looking for an to own audience, by every ence preferred. Layout skills ing Editor Katie McDowell at energetic, self-starter who can measure. A BBJ reporter is a plus. Competitive salary Katie.mcdowell@shelbycoun- produce six to seven stories expected to contribute both plus benefits. Send applica- tyreporter.com or call 205-669- a week for print and the web, short-form (daily online posts) tions with cover letter, resume 3131, ext. 24. as well as occasional in-depth and long-form (print) stories and references to: publisher@ feature and investigative piec- to our news products. Scoops southeastsun.com or General Assignment Re- es. This reporter must possess matter. A lot. Specifically re- Publisher porter excellent writing skills, includ- porters will be expected to P.O. Box 311546, Group of award-winning ing the ability to write clearly own their beat audience and Enterprise, AL 36331 newspapers and websites in and accurately under deadline conversation; use networking Alabama’s most prosperous pressure, be adept with social events, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pressman Wanted and fastest-growing county media and be willing to work other community-building out- Immediate Opening for seeks a general assignment nights and weekends. lets to expand and fortify their Pressman for six-unit Goss reporter. We practice all-local, We are looking for some- source pool and audience; Community Press in Centrev- community journalism at its one, as well, who is commit- work collaboratively with other ille, AL. Responsible for print- finest. This position includes ted to our role as government newsroom staffers to maxi- ing three weekly newspaper beat and general assignment watchdog. Assignments could mize impact and accessibility one day per week. reporting, some photography. involve traveling anywhere of stories reported; and meet Send resumé to: Lorrie Bean Quality of life here is as good within our 10-county cover- or exceed goals related to au- at Centreville Press, PO Box as it gets and opportunity for age area in west-central Ala- dience engagement. 127, Centreville, AL 35042; advancement—with our com- bama, or beyond, so a driver’s Required skills: email: lorrie@centrevillepress. pany and others— is nearly license, reliable transportation Proven ability in reporting com or fax: 205.926.9760 limitless. This full-time oppor- and automobile insurance and writing tunity offers competitive salary would be required. At least two Ability to work independently Internships for summer and and benefits. Please send ré- to three years of daily news- and remotely fall 2014 sumé with clips of stories and paper experience is preferred, Ability to break news and to Shelby County Newspapers, other examples of your work to but we will consider recent identify newsworthy events Inc., a group of award-winning Katie McDowell, managing ed- college graduates with strong and sources newspapers, magazines and itor, Shelby County Reporter, internship or college newspa- Strong analytical and investi- websites in Alabama’s most Katie.mcdowell@shelbycoun- per experience, or others with gative interviewing skills prosperous and fastest-grow- tyreporter.com commensurate experience in Ability to relate comfortably ing county, is seeking news, journalism. to a wide range of people, in sports and magazine interns Managing Editor Tuscaloosa is home to the person and online, and to de- for the summer 2014 and fall Hands-on managing edi- University of Alabama, Still- velop sources and audience 2014 semesters. tor needed for award-winning man College and Shelton Competitive, collaborative, cu- Our products include: weekly in SW Alabama. Full- State Community College, and rious The Shelby County Re- time position, paid vacation, its economy has consistently Solid understanding of news porter, a weekly newspaper sick days. Must be a good out-performed state and na- writing, journalistic ethics and with a daily online focus. The writer, go-getter, self-motivat- tional averages. Send cover story structure Reporter is published every ed, conscientious, and have letter, resume and your best Ability to leverage relation- Wednesday and updated on- a strong WORK ETHIC. Lazy, clips to City Editor Ken Rob- ships with sources to deliver line throughout the day every “just do the bare minimum” erts, The Tuscaloosa News, content that differentiates the day. The Reporter has won the types need not waste our time P.O. Box 20587, Tuscaloosa, organization from competitors Alabama Press Association’s or yours. This is rewarding AL 35402-0587 or ken.rob- Experience: Minimum of 2 top editorial award in its cat- work in a great community, but [email protected]. years of journalism experi- egory for the last seven years. it is not an 8-5 job; requires No phone calls, please. Drug- ence; Proven experience The Alabaster Reporter and some night and weekend free workplace – EOE. building, maintaining and en- the Pelham Reporter both work to attend meetings, cov- gaging an active audience; publish every Wednesday and er wrecks, fires, community Health care and technology Knowledge of business, and/ are updated online daily. events, and filling in to assist reporter or business community, a plus. Shelby Living, an award-win- sports editor in shooting high The Birmingham Business Experience with using social ning lifestyles magazine that school game photos when Journal is seeking a reporter media to source and promote serves Shelby County, and necessary. who is able to marry strong content also a plus Hoover’s Magazine, a similar It is not an entry-level posi- traditional journalism skills Education: Bachelor’s de- magazine that serves the city tion. Company vehicle provid- – source building, sharp in- gree or equivalent experience of Hoover. ed for work-related travel. The terviewing techniques, strong For more information, con- Shelby County Newspapers person for this job will have a analytical and investigative tact Editor Cindy F. Crawford offers a rigorous internship minimum of five years experi- reporting skills, clear writing, at [email protected] program with paid and unpaid ence in covering governmental document use – with online or (205) 443-5631. editorial internships. Interns meetings and courts, making and social media know-how. should be based in the Bir- photos (and adjusting same in Whatever the platform, re- Sports Reporter mingham metro area and will Photoshop), covering a variety porters will produce content The Southeast Sun, an spend time in the editorial, of events that can range from – original and curated – that is award-winning weekly in advertising, design and pro- kindergarten graduations to fa- accompanied by perspective Southeast Alabama, is look- duction departments. They will tal accidents, laying out pages and context. Beat available ing for a sports reporter. Ap- write multiple stories a week in Quark X-Press, writing edi- January 2014 AlaPressa 18 Help Wanted torial columns, and coordinat- that includes vacation, quality through contacts and social P.O. Box 1068, Starkville, Ms. ing the day-to-day operation of health insurance and a 401K media and able to work inde- 39760, e-mail:sdnpub@bell- the paper. plan. EOE/M/F/D/V. Pre- pendently as well as collabora- south.net Above all, the publishers employment drug and back- tively with other members of demand honesty and account- ground screen required. You the news team. Pressman ability to the company and to may apply online at www.bh- We’re looking for new ways Pressman/computerized the readers we serve. Send re- mginc.com to present information, in print print make-ready person sumes to: Dee Ann Campbell, and online. One – 2 years ex- sought. Southwest Alabama Publisher, The Choctaw Sun- Lifestyle Reporter – Mississippi perience is preferred. Ability operation prints several week- Advocate, P.O. Box 269, Gil- The Starkville Daily News is to meet deadlines and juggle ly publications on a NewsKing bertown, AL 36908, or email to looking for a lifestyle reporter multiple assignments a must. press with computer-to-plate [email protected]. who is excited by the fast pace Candidate must be proficient capability. Competitive sal- of our changing industry. This with use of Mac, Indesign and ary and benefits. Please send Seeking Dynamic and Inno- ideal candidate should have Photoshop. resume to Jim Cox, jimcox@ vative Managing Editor an interest in pop culture and The SDN, a Horizon Group tds.net, or mail to The Clarke The Dothan Eagle, a 26,000 current trends, from food and newspaper, is published County Democrat, P.O. Box daily newspaper located in Do- fashion to TV and technology, mornings seven days a week. 39, Grove Hill, AL 36451. than, Al, is seeking a superstar and home and gardening as Starkville is the home of Miss. Managing Editor. We are a well important topics such as State University, Mississippi’s BH Media company located in faith, family and health. This largest university. Send re- Southeast Al just 80 miles from reporter need to be a self-start- sume and samples of your the sugar white beaches on er, highly organized, excited work to Don Norman, Pub- the Gulf of Mexico. We have about generating story ideas lisher, Starkville Daily News, sister weekly and daily publications in Marianna Florida, Enterprise Al, Eufaula Al, and Auburn Al. The paper seeks a The APA Board of Directors will propose a change to the deadline-oriented all-purpose editor with a strong passion for bylaws at the next membership meeting on Feb. 21, 2014, at the local content. The position re- Embassy Suites Hotel in Montgomery. Members will be asked quires competency and experi- to vote yes or no on the proposed changes: ence in all areas including staff (proposed amended language is highlighted in bold italics) supervision, reporting, editing, page design, social media, photography and online news (C) All officers and Directors shall be chosen from the Active Membership of the presentation. organization (owners, publishers, editors, or persons actively engaged in an ex- Qualifications: ecutive position in the management of operation of a member newspaper, etc.) Candidates must have a and shall serve without compensation. “If an officer or director has a change proven track record of suc- in employment status such that they are no longer actively engaged as an cessfully managing day to day owner, publisher, or editor of a member newspaper nor involved in an ex- operations of an active news- ecutive position in the management or operation of a member newspaper, room. then they shall, within 10 days of the change in employment status, notify This position requires bril- the members of the board and the executive director in writing via mail, liant news judgment, strong leadership and coaching skills, email, facsimile or any other form of written electronic communication. If solid community relations and the affected officer or director is willing to continue to serve, their notice of a passion for both digital and change in employment status should include a request to complete their print journalism. term of office or to complete their term of office and continue through the You must demonstrate ex- executive progression established by these bylaws. If such a request is tremely innovative thinking made, the board has the discretion and authority to waive the eligibility all while maintaining a good requirements contained in this subsection upon the approval of at least sense of humor and positive 12 members not including the officer or director requesting a waiver. The attitude. board has the discretion to waive the requirements for completing a term The ideal candidate will have at least TEN years experience of office without waiving them for continuing through the executive pro- in journalism with minimum of gression periods. The board has the discretion to waive both. The vote five years experience as as- shall be conducted by secret ballot within 14 days of receipt of the notifi- signing and supervising editor. cation of change in employment status. This time period may be extended Daily newspaper newsroom at the discretion of the board. The votes shall be tallied by the executive and digital media experience director. Votes may be submitted by mail, email, facsimile or by any other is a must. form of electronic communication.” Strong ability to meet deadlines consistently and perform A complete copy of the APA Bylaws with this amendment can be found on the under pressure. APA website at: Journalism degree from a http://www.alabamapress.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/APA-Bylaws-with- reputable college or university. The paper offers an out- proposed-amendment.pdf standing benefits package