Kansas Publisher Official Monthly Publication of the Kansas Press Association Dec

The Kansas Publisher Official monthly publication of the Kansas Press Association Dec. 17, 2014 Inside Today KNF to help fund statehouse coverage LAWRENCE -- Every member grant from the Kansas Newspaper Page 2 of the Kansas Press Association Foundation. Kevin Slimp reveals more of will have access to coverage of “Our members have indicated the findings of his survey of the Kansas Legislature during the they need more content from the 612 U.S. newspapers about the upcoming session. legislative session,” said Doug An- future of the industry. Last year, University of Kansas staett, KPA executive director. “This journalism students supplied nearly partnership with KU will ensure at Page 3 100 stories to the KU Statehouse least a portion of that need is met.” John Foust suggests how ad- Wire Service. The wire service then KPA will distribute the stories vertising salespeople can help distributed the stories to about 20 to its 230 member newspapers, and clients by connecting with their media outlets throughout the state. KNF has committed $5,000 in cash awards for history. In the 2015 legislative session, KPA will assist in expanding the wire service’s reach, thanks to a See STATEHOUSE on Page 5 Page 4 KPA president Dan Thalmann challenges his colleague to take a “fresh approach.” Page 6-8 Newspapers across Kansas are looking for a variety of staff members from reporters to advertising sales executives. Page 9 News when you want it, how you want it and where you want it is the new mantra, Doug Anstaett writes. KPA Calendar Jan. 16 Deadline for the KPA’s Awards Mike Merriam, the Kansas Press Association’s legal Coalition for Open Government “Above and Beyond” hotline attorney, left, discusses his Kansas Sunshine Award. KSCOG president Ron Keefover looks on. of Excellence contest for work from calendar year 2014. (Forms are attached). Merriam gets ‘Above and Beyond’ Award By Jonathan Shorman media law specialist — as it did continue to represent them as March 18-19 Topeka Capital-Journal Friday when he was honored by long as they desire.” The National Newspaper opeka attorney Mike the Kansas Sunshine Coalition Merriam’s extensive record Association’s “We Believe Merriam played a pivotal — his appeal was wrapped in advocating for open govern- in Newspapers” Leadership role in many news stories modesty. ment in Kansas led the Sun- Summit, Marriott Crystal City, T over the years — usually mak- “The past 38 years of repre- shine Coalition to recognize his Arlington, Va. ing an aggressive case that a senting the media have not only work with its highest honor, the government body or official been a great pleasure but a high “Above and Beyond Award.” April 17-18 had an obligation to be more honor for me,” he told family He said recent health chal- Kansas Press Association an- transparent. and colleagues at the Kansas lenges haven’t diminished nual convention, Courtyard by With a different type of spot- Capitol. “I owe a debt of grati- Marriott, Junction City. light shining on the longtime tude to those clients, and I will See MERRIAM on Page 5 Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (855) 572-1863 2 Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (855) 572-1863 2014-15 KPA Board Slimp digs deeper into survey Dan Thalmann President of how publishers see industry Washington County News ow! Today has been one of those connecting with their communities and ad- [email protected] days. You’re in the business. You vertisers. I certainly agree that there should Susan Lynn know what I’m talking about. be a ban on “print is dying” stories from all W First Vice President I planned to start on this column four sides. Baffling why they would write those Iola Register hours ago, but the phone started ringing. things about themselves. [email protected] Karen, who emailed late last night, needed My first boss once told me “the appear- my help to get an ad to print correctly in ance of momentum is often better than mo- Sarah Kessinger her paper. How could I not take care of that mentum itself. In the early days, I certainly Second Vice President first thing? Jim called from another state to think that message helped CVC survive. Marysville Advocate get my advice about a publisher’s I also believe it’s what the print [email protected] job he’s been offered. Ed Hen- industry needs today.” ninger, who never refuses to help Dick Colvin, executive direc- M. Olaf Frandsen when I call, called to get some tor of Midwest Free Community Treasurer technical advice. Papers, seems to agree with Tim Salina Journal Add to that staying up late last when he created a list of “Overall [email protected] night to help a group of newspa- best strategies,” after looking over pers in another area get the remote the results of the survey. No. 1 Dena Sattler access to their server working and, on his list: “Continue to fight the Past President well, you get the idea. ‘Print is dead’ mantra. It is not Garden City Telegram You know the drill. We work even sick!” [email protected] in a deadline-driven business. We Kevin Slimp Dr. Walter Fain, psychologist, get it done. No matter how busy is used to studying statistics in his John Baetz we are or what is already on our plates, we work. He wrote a detailed synopsis of his Northwest District Director Lincoln Sentinel-Republican get it done. thoughts concerning the survey. [email protected] I heard from a university professor Dr. Fain wrote, “Newspapers’ bread yesterday who had promised to help with a and butter used to be to put out a paper of Kent Bush project I was working on. He was several interest to people for a subscription fee and Central District Director weeks late, so I wrote to ask him how his by selling advertising. The printed paper Butler County Times-Gazette part was going. He is still their bread and [email protected] apologized and ex- Colvin ended by writ- butter.” plained that he hadn’t David Bordewyk, Peter Cook had time to keep his ing, “Hyperlocal, hy- executive director of Daily Director promise because he perlocal, hyperlocal. South Dakota News- Parsons Sun had to prepare for a Print the stuff mommies paper Association, [email protected] talk next week. Next mentioned that he week. Geesh. and daddies will cut out found several findings Denice Kuhns I’ve thought about and hang on the fridge. quite interesting. Southwest District Director that as I’ve looked “If there is one key Meade County News over the results of my Write stories about folks’ takeaway for me,” [email protected] recent survey of North neighbors and friends. wrote Bordewyk, “it is American publish- That is what they want.” that local, community- Travis Mounts ers. These publishers minded and based Non-Daily Director are people who get newspaper publishers Times-Sentinel Newspapers things done. It’s no wonder that most of the realize that it’s not about the delivery tech- [email protected] newspapers in North America plan to have nology or platform, it’s about the content Scott Stanford a bright future. We’re used to making the and news. The content is most important Legislative Director impossible happen every day. and community newspaper publishers Lawrence Journal-World Today, I’m looking more closely at the understand that as well as anyone in the [email protected] survey results. In all, 615 publishers re- industry.” sponded to the survey, covering every area Dr. Fain sounded like a newspaper pro Andy Taylor of the United States and Canada. when he wrote, “I agree with some of the Southeast District Director I’m also reading over the comments feedback on the survey that newspapers are Montgomery County Chronicle from a few folks who have been helping most effective when they are locally owned [email protected] me assess the results. Tim Bingaman, CEO and have active involvement with the com- at Circulation Verification Council, wrote munity. National news can be found online Joe Warren that he found the results “fascinating.” through Google, Bing, MSNBC, The Northeast District Director Bingaman wrote, “From the comments Washington Post and 1,000 other online Atchison Globe I read, I am encouraged that so many are [email protected] focusing on content, customer service and See SLIMP on Page 3 Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (855) 572-1863 3 Turn something ‘old’ into something ‘new’ ometimes the best way to come up a secluded desk in the corner, began pan- ties: Here was their original building, with with a new idea is to look to the ning for ideas, and less than an hour later, a freshly painted sign in front. Here was Spast. found what I needed — a large, black and their fleet of service trucks and drivers, When I was in the ad agency business, white photo of two mechanics working on lined up like race cars at the starting line. I once did an ad for a construction equip- an engine. The picture was in remarkably Here was an action photo of a bulldozer ment distributor to celebrate their 65 years good condition, even though it was over on a job site. And here was their founder, in business. Since most anniversary ads 40 years old. And it surrounded by depart- are of the cookie cutter “congratulations to had obviously been That old picture re- ment managers and us” variety, I wanted to taken by a profession- key staff members.

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