WPA Bulletin DECEMBER 2019 2121 Evans Avenue • Cheyenne, WY 82001 • 307/635-3905 • Fax 307/635-3912 • [email protected] • www.wyopress.org

Calendar BARRON BECOMES FIRST REPORTER of Events TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME By Dave Simpson JAN. 23-25, 2020 Reporter Joan Barron, who cov- WPA Annual Convention ered state government for the Casper Ramkota Hotel & Star-Tribune for 45 years, will be in- Conference Center ducted into the Wyoming Press Associ- Casper, Wyo. ation Hall of Fame Jan. 24 at the annual (Please note: The WPA offi ce will WPA convention in Casper. be closed Monday, Jan. 27) She will be the 29th person induct- ed into the Hall of Fame, which was es- June 13, 2020 tablished in 2003. Barron is the fi rst in- ductee who worked her entire career as WPAF Vern Shelton a reporter, joining other Hall of Fame Memorial members who worked as publishers, Golf Tournament editors, educators, advertising execu- Longtime Casper Star-Tribune capital bureau reporter Cody, Wyo. Joan Barron is pictured outside the Wyoming Capitol on tives and press association directors. Feb. 26, 2014 in Cheyenne. Barron began writing for the Hall of Fame members are nom- Star-Tribune in 1966. She retired in 2014. Holiday Closures inated by members of the newspaper -- photo by Alan Rogers courtesy of the Casper Star-Tribune industry, and their careers are reviewed Christmas by the Wyoming Press Foundation Hall of Fame Committee. Members “represent the very best qual- 1/2 Day Christmas Eve ity of Wyoming newspaper people.” and Christmas Day “Joan has been a larger than life fi gure in Wyoming journalism for as long as I can remember,” New Year’s Day former Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal said in a letter to the WPA, “She contributed greatly to the time when Wyoming journalism focused on real issues and undertook investigative pieces enhancing the public debate in Wyoming.” Nadia White, now an associate professor of journalism at the University of Montana, worked with Barron at the Star-Tribune, fi rst as a reporter in the mid-1990s, then as the state editor coordinat- ing Barron’s reporting from 2000 to 2005. “I doubt I ever told Joan what to cover, or helped her make a story better. But I helped her prior- itize stories to match the needs of the newsroom and to match the work cadence of the rest of the state reporting team,” White said. “We were a true team that deeply cared for each other, the state and the SEE PUBLIC NOTICES newspaper. PRINTED IN ALL OF See HALL OF FAME next page WYOMING’S NEWSPAPERS Visit wyopublicnotices.com Happy Holidays from the WPA Staff! Darcie Cec(ilia) Josie PAGE 2 DECEMBER 2019 WPA BULLETIN

2019 WPA BOARD MEMBERS HALL OF FAME CONTINUED FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Kristen Czaban, President The Sheridan Press “I think the most important thing she taught me was how to be a reporter’s editor,” White said. P.O. Box 2006 • Sheridan, WY 82801 (307) 672-2431/Fax (307) 672-7950 Barron grew up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and was trained as a nurse. She began working for the Email: [email protected] Star-Tribune as a part-time correspondent in Rock Springs in 1966, allowing her to work from home Louie Mullen, Vice-president and take care of her son and daughter. She moved to Cheyenne in 1969 to become a full-time state Green River Star Box 580• Green River, WY 82935 house reporter at the Star-Tribune’s Capitol bureau. She would cover legislative sessions, the gover- (307) 875-3103/Fax (307) 875-8778 nor’s offi ce, state offi ces, state politics and other topics until her retirement in 2014 at the age of 85. Email: [email protected] Barron continues to write a weekly column. It remains required reading for anyone who wishes Stephanie Bonnar, Sec.-Treas. to understand the intricacies of state government in Wyoming. Newcastle News Letter Journal Barron loved covering the day-to-day activities of government, and was happy to remain in a Box 40 • Newcastle, WY 82701 (307) 746-2777/Fax (307) 746-2660 reporting position. While many reporters move into editing jobs, “I never wanted to,” she said. “I Email: [email protected] was holding my breath that nobody would say I had to.” Jen Sieve-Hicks When she retired, she told an interviewer she was perfectly happy to be an observer of the news, Buffalo Bulletin P.O. Box 730 • Buffalo, WY 82834 and report on it. (307) 684-2223/Fax (307) 684-7431 “The fl y on the wall,” she said. “That’s me.” [email protected] Dan Neal, a former editor of the Star-Tribune, said Barron was “a consummate professional.” Lara Love “Joan’s inquisitive personality and her perseverance were the keys to her journalism,” Neal said. Thermopolis Independent Record PO Box 31 • Thermopolis, WY 82443 “The institutional memory she compiled over many, many years is invaluable. She has used that (307) 864-2328/Fax (307) 864-5711 knowledge to report with integrity and without fear of the sometimes angry reactions to her work.” Email: [email protected] When notifi ed in October by former Star-Tribune Publisher Rob Hurless that she would be Rob Mortimore inducted into the Hall of Fame, Barron said, “I was stunned, but later felt honored, and thought this Torrington Telegram 2025 Main • Torrington, WY 82240 (including the fi rst reporter in the Hall of Fame) was a healthy step for the WPA to take.” (307) 532-2184/Fax (307) 532-2283 Hurless said Barron has a “disarmingly pleasant, non-assuming personality, but with an iron Email: [email protected] will for getting to the heart of the story.” Kevin Olson Barron covered the administrations of six governors. The fi rst, Stan Hathaway, was known to Jackson Hole News&Guide P.O. Box 7445 • Jackson, WY 83002 begin press conferences welcoming “gentlemen and Joan...” (Joan is pronounced Jo Ann.) (307) 733-2047/Fax (307) 733-2138 Former Star-Tribune State Editor Dave Simpson recalled fi lling in for Barron at a news confer- Email: [email protected] ence held by Gov. Ed Herschler during a busy legislative session in the early 1980s. Rory Palm Adams Publishing Group “I noticed that the governor kept delaying the start of the news conference and looking out at P.O. Box 1286 • Cheyenne, WY 82003 the gathering of reporters,” Simpson said. “It fi nally occurred to me that he was looking for Joan, so (307) 633-3165/Fax (307) 633-3191 Email: [email protected] I raised my hand and said that I would be covering the news conference for the Star-Tribune. I could tell he wasn’t pleased to be dealing with the junior varsity. That’s the kind of trust and respect he had Jade Stevenson Gillette News-Record for Joan,” PO Box 3006 • Gillette, WY 82717 Herschler sometimes called Barron “Snoopy,” a much more endearing term than the sometimes (307) 682-9306/Fax (307) 686-9306 Email: [email protected] gruff words the governor had for other members of the news media. Mark Tesoro Pat Schmidt, former editor and publisher of the Lovell Chronicle and the Thermopolis Inde- Kemmerer Gazette pendent Record, himself a 2017 Hall of Fame inductee, said, “Nothing captured a local legislator’s PO Box 30 • Kemmerer, WY 83101 (307) 877-3347/Fax (307) 877-3736 attention more quickly than a question that started, ‘Joan Barron is reporting...’ Email: [email protected] “I vividly recall the fi rst time I had the honor to sit next to Joan on a Meet the Press panel with Matt Adelman, NNA Chair Gov. Ed Herschler,” Schmidt said. “I don’t know who intimidated me more, Herschler with his Douglas Budget brusque answers or the knowledge Joan’s questions would be way more insightful than mine!” PO Box 109 • 310 Center St. Douglas, WY 82633 Barron said covering the legislature has changed over the years, noting that much more drinking Email: [email protected] went on by lawmakers years ago, and access to meetings was far more diffi cult prior to passage of Milton Ontiveroz, Assoc. Chair open meetings legislation. UW Institutional Communications Most diff erent today, she said, is the polarization in the Legislature. Dept. 3226, 1000 E. Univ. Ave. Laramie, WY 82071 In a recent Sunday column about the Equal Rights Amendment, which was passed in Wyoming (307) 766-6709/Fax (307) 766-6729 in 1973, but not in enough states to achieve ratifi cation, Barron was skeptical that the amendment [email protected] could be approved in Wyoming today. Cindy Price Schultz UW Dept. of Communication and Journalism “The Legislature in 1973 was a much more moderate body than today’s House and Senate,” she Dept. 3904, 1000 E. University Ave. wrote. “The Legislature has since moved sharply to the right and Republicans have a super majority Laramie, WY 82071 Email: [email protected] in both chambers.” “They used to get along,” she said. Ken Smith UW Liaison Emeritus Noting Barron’s decades at the Capitol, Hurless – himself a member of the Hall of Fame – Email: [email protected] concluded, “With her long career, I think it is safe to say that she probably has been read by three STAFF generations in the same family trees across Wyoming. What an amazing contribution and legacy.” Darcie Hoffland, Executive Director Dave Simpson was editor at the Casper Star-Tribune from 1980 until 1984. Cec Moats, Deputy Director Josie Jenkins, Office Assistant See the full list of Hall of Fame inductees on the WPA website: www.wyopress.org WPA BULLETIN DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 3

2019 WPA COMMITTEES

WYOMING PRESS Hall of Fame ASSOCIATION BUSINESS STRATEGY Darcie Hoffland (Chair) Wyoming Press Association 121st SPORTS JOURNALISM Mark Tesoro Kemmerer Gazette ANNUAL SOCIAL MEDIA Pat Schmidt CONVENTION Past President SALES AND MORE Ken Smith January 23-25 UW Liaison Emeritus Ramkota Hotel MORE MORE! Casper, Wyo. NNA Louie Mullen (Chair) Green River Star The WPA is excited to announce that we have the WPA statewide advertising network programs. Matt Adelman Douglas Budget fi nalized our schedule for the 2020 Convention! We’ll have our regular festivities like the All members should have received it in their “Early Bird” welcome reception Thursday, the Toby Bonner email inbox on the 11th, but if you can’t fi nd it, go Governor’s luncheon on Friday, the general mem- Powell Tribune to the WPA website, www.wyopress.org, to down- bership meeting, awards banquet Saturday, and Robb Hicks Buffalo Bulletin load it and to register. the 2019 Journalism Hall of Fame Induction. This year’s convention is packed with rele- Everything kicks off the evening of Jan. 23 Legislative vant training sessions, professional discussions, at the Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center in Rob Mortimore (Chair) valuable networking and knowledgeable speakers. Casper. To register, visit our website and click on Torrington Telegram Topics include social media, customer service, the convention logo at the top of the home page. Bob Bonnar Newcastle News Letter Journal science journalism, public records requests, inves- This year you have the option to reserve a ta- Jim Wood tigative reporting, profi le writing, fl ipping objec- ble for your party at the Major Awards Banquet for Wyoming Newspapers, Inc. tions, business strategy, photography and more! an additional $50 (benefi tting the Wyoming Jour- Kristen Czaban Attend a variety of diff erent topics taking nalism Hall of Fame program). If you would like The Sheridan Press place Friday and Saturday in the ‘Community to book a room with the WPA rate of $89, be sure Jen Sieve-Hicks Journalism Classroom’, be a part of the Wyoming to call the hotel prior to January 8th. Buffalo Bulletin News Exchange discussion on style book, listen For questions or help with registering contact Audience/ Marketing to the panel on sports journalism, learn about First the WPA offi ce at (307) 635-3905 or shoot us an Kevin Olson (Chair) Amendment privilege, and hear what’s new with email at [email protected]. Jackson Hole News&Guide Rory Palm Adams Publishing Group Stephanie Bonnar SPEAKER HIGHLIGHT Newcastle News Letter Journal Jade Stevenson GADE AND BRENNAN TO LEAD SEMINARS Gillette News-Record Cathy Cline Saturday morning of of the convention will include a discussion with photo con- Riverton Ranger test judge Matt Gade. Find out which of your photos caught his eye, good and bad. Contest This evaluation will take place in the Theatre room of the Ramkota and is blocked out Rory Palm (Chair) for the entire morning. Lara Love Matt Gade has been the sole staff photographer for The Daily Republic news- Thermopolis Independent paper in Mitchell, S.D. for more than fi ve years, handling a variety of assignments Record ranging from sports, daily life, breaking news and videos in a 17-county, 13,000 sq. Jade Stevenson mile area. He serves as the National Clip Contest Chair for the National Press Pho- Rob Mortimore tographers Association Monthly News Clip Contest. He was named Great Plains Photographer of the Convention Year, a two-time Sports Photographer of the Year by Pictures of the Year International and twice named Jen Sieve-Hicks (Chair) regional Photographer of the Year in the monthly clip contest. Kevin Olson The Advertising Roundtable on Saturday features Karen Brennan, Senior Mul- timedia Sales Manager at the Jackson Hole News&Guide. Lara Love Milton Ontiveroz Karen grew up in the Seattle area and graduated from the Edward R. Murrow Associates Group Chair School of Communication at Washington State University, specializing in PR and Journalism. An avid skier, she moved to Jackson Hole in 2001 and started working Budget at the Jackson Hole News&Guide in 2004 as the ad sales assistant. She now helps Kristen Czaban (Chair) Louie Mullen to lead a team of four talented sales managers. Karen serves on a variety of local Stephanie Bonnar non-profi t boards and loves coaching kids’ youth soccer. Mark Tesoro PAGE 4 DECEMBER 2019 WPA BULLETIN

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO RAWLINS AND SUNDANCE PAPERS! RAWLINS TIMES Happy 130th Rawlins Times! The paper newspaper and we will do our very utmost was founded by H.B. Fetz in December of to publish one which will be a credit to this 1889 and was called The Rawlins Republi- section.” can. The fi rst issue of the Rawlins Daily Daily publication began on July 8, 1935 Times published in 1946 under new own- with the six-day Rawlins Republican-Bul- ership that included Wyoming Journalism letin, and the editor said, “The Republi- Hall of Famers Tracy McCraken and Ted can-Bulletin does not expect to start out as O’Melia. a second Denver Post or Wyoming Tribune, but will start in a modest manner and as In 2019, the paper changed its name fast as conditions justify, changes and im- to the Rawlins Times under owners Adams provements will be made… We realize that Publishing Group and now prints bi-weekly Rawlins and Carbon County deserve a daily on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

A linotype operator for the old Raw- SUNDANCE TIMES lins Republican. The Republican was published until 1946, when Ross Al- On December 10, 1913, The Sundance During its fi rst publication, there was corn sold it to Ted O’Melia and Tracy Time came into existence. another newspaper in operation called The McCraken. O’Melia and McCraken con- At the time, owner Joe Lytle was putting Monitor. The two papers were politically op- verted it to tabloid style, began pub- out the paper as broadsheet with two pages posed and constantly at odds with each other. lishing fi ve days a week and changed its name to The Daily Times. of local news and advertising and six pag- -- Photo courtesy of the Carbon County es of pre-print. A subscription to The Times -- Articles from“Wyoming Newspapers: Museum. was $2 a year. A Centennial History, pub. 1990.

THREE SEATS OPEN FOR WPA BOARD The 2020 General Membership meeting will be held on Saturday, January 25, at the 121st Annual WPA Convention. On the agenda will be the election of new board members. There are three posi- tions coming open, each representing the daily, large weekly and small weekly news- papers. The board of directors who will be leaving their seats include President Kris- ten Czaban of The Sheridan Press, who will move into the past president role; Louie Mul- len of the Green River Star; and Stephanie Bonnar of the Newcastle News Letter Jour- nal. No one is running for re-election at this time. All three vacancies carry a three-year term. If you are interested in running for the board, contact the WPA offi ce by email (wyo- [email protected]) or by phone at (307) 635-3905 so we can add your name to the ballot. Nominations to the board can also be made from the fl oor at the general member- ship meeting. WPA BULLETIN DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 5

DAVE PERRY Former WPA president, Wyoming newspaper publisher, editor and reporter. Current Greater Oro Valley (Tucson, Ariz.) Chamber of Commerce president and CEO.

TOM DIXON

Content Marketing Manager, Wyoming Business Council. Economic development and diver- sification. Former reporter, then editor, for the Saratoga Sun from 2010-13, and reporter for the Casper Star-Tribune from 2013-15.

FRIDAY, Jan. 24 WPA ASSOCIATES TRACT 2020 in conjunction with the WYOMING PRESS ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONVENTION Jan. 23-25 • Ramkota Hotel and Conference Center, Casper, Wyo.

9 a.m. “A real-life scenario - how to react.” Dave Perry will lead the group on a fast-moving interactive workshop for attendees. Participants will be divided into groups and Dave will present a real-life scenario. How do you, as a public relations person, respond to the media during this crisis? 11 a.m. “Writing a good media release.” Tom Dixon will follow up with helpful tips on how to write a good press release that will get picked up by your local media. Noon Governor“s Luncheon “Meet the Press” with Gov. Mark Gordon 1 p.m. WPA Update / Associates Meeting WPA President Kristin Czaban and Executive Director Darcie Ho൷ and give an update on the press association. 2 p.m. “Do newspapers still matter?” Panel discussion with newspaper reporters and editors. 3 p.m. Associates Roundtable A discussion on how things are done in individual shops to get media attention. 4:30 p.m. Reception and Awards Ceremony Newsroom and student mixer hosted by the Associate Members. Publishers are also encouraged to attend.

TO REGISTER: Go to www.wyopress.org and click on the 2020 convention poster at the top of the home page to register for meals. The SEMINARS are FREE to members. If you attend the Associate Tract only - no meals - please contact the WPA (307.635.3905 or [email protected]) to be added to the attendee list. If you wish to join WPA members for meals, please register at the site. PAGE 6 DECEMBER 2019 WPA BULLETIN

BROADCASTERS TO PRESENT SHIELD LAW BILL IN 2020 The WPA learned at the Joint Judiciary Committee in Chey- enne November 1 that the Wyoming Association of Broadcast- ers (WAB) will be pushing for a shield law in the upcoming legislative budget session. The broadcasters did not reach out to the press association prior to the committee meeting with their intent to bring forward the draft bill. Last year around this time, the WPA board of directors had met with members of the broadcasters association and had urged them to do the necessary “grassroots” work and to properly pre- pare before bringing a bill to the legislature. The WPA also conveyed to them that in a couple of years, and not during a budget session, and when all the work had been properly done, they would consider supporting them in their ef- fort. In the meantime, the board invited the broadcasters to work with the WPA on transparency issues in the 2019 legislative ses- sion and interim. In 2019, a roundtable discussion had been added to the annual convention to open dialog on the topic. The session in- cluded WPA Attorney Bruce Moats, WPA Lobbyist Bob Bon- nar, SPJ representative Ed Otte, Casper Star-Tribune Editor Josh Wolfson and WAB Executive Director Laura Grott. Forty-two states currently have a shield law, most recently South Dakota at the beginning of this year. Other states, except for Wyoming, have some other form of protection like “quali- fi ed reporter’s privilege” or established court precedents usually based on constitutional arguments. Those states without a shield law but other protections include Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Missouri, Virginia, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Last month the WPA legislative committee met to discuss the draft shield law bill brought forward by the broadcasters. The committee recommended to the board that the legislative position (at this time) remain solely focused on real transpar- ency for the people of Wyoming by supporting and defending the implementation of Senate File 057. And additionally, that the WPA stay ready to assist the Governor’s Transparency Task- force and the Public Records Ombudsman in the spirit of the new law. The WPA’s legislative committee asked the WPA board to consider including the recommended legislative priority as it pertains to a shield law be added to the agenda of the Annual General Membership Meeting during the 2020 Convention with the option for discussion.

Questions on open meetings or public records?

FOI (307) Sponsored by Wyoming Press HOTLINE 778-8844 Association WPA BULLETIN DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 7

PARTISAN DELEGATION TO SPONSOR NNA SUPPORTED BILL National Newspaper Association President Matt Adelman, with health fund obligations. But USPS announced a decade ago publisher of the Douglas (Wyomimg) Budget, announced that a that it could not continue adding to the fund as required if it was to postal reform bill supported by NNA has achieved a suffi cient continue delivering the mail. number of both Democrats and Republicans as sponsors and ac- Adelman noted that some members of Congress have been tion has been recommended to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Adelman concerned about the perception that HR 2382 is a bailout of the thanked Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Ore., for his leadership in mov- retiree fund. He said that, on the contrary, the reverse is true. ing HR 2382 to possible action on the House consensus calendar, “I know many in Congress are rightfully concerned about fi s- which is a streamlined process for quick passage of legislation. cal accountability and about the wide gaps in private sector retire- “We have worked for more than a decade to lift the burden ment funding coverage. Some have told our members that they of prefunding retiree health benefi ts from the U.S. Postal Service. worry the government is going to have to pick up the tab. But this This one requirement, unique among federal government agencies, bill won’t create that problem. Rather, it will help to avoid it by has led to the most staggering debt by USPS of any measure we helping USPS to keep rates stable and protecting the mail business have seen in the more than 100 years that NNA has worked on that it presently has. If we let this problem drift on, it will lead to postal policy. Congress took a big risk in 2006 when it decided to much higher rates, drive away more mail and put the USPS into an impose this burden. USPS has been unable to pay the obligation, even deeper hole.” so the debt just keeps mounting. With the assistance of NNA’s Congressional Action Team, HR “Now a wide majority of House members recognize that it is 2382 now has 292 co-sponsors, from both sides of the aisle. time to rethink the requirement,” Adelman said. “NNA appreci- A companion Senate bill by Sens. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) ates their attention to the plight of our nation’s universal service and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has also been introduced . The bill is network. Community newspapers need for USPS to be stable and identical to the House bill and is numbered S 2965. eff ective.” The obligation imposed in 2006 was for prefunding about On behalf of the WPA Board of Directors and our $72 billion in anticipated retiree health benefi ts covering a 75-year newspaper members, we extend a huge thank you to time span into the future. The fund has nearly $40 billion in it now, NNA President Adelman, who played an integral part which achieves a higher level of prefunding than the rest of the in forwarding this important issue. federal government and more than most private sector businesses

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MORE WYOMINGITES NEEDED TO PARTICIPATE IN SURVEY Pulse Research is conducting a comprehensive statewide reader shopping survey. The purpose of the survey is to provide our newspaper member advertising teams with current reader and website visitor pur- chasing and shopping information for advertising sales presentations. So far only 70 Wyomingites have participated in the survey. More are needed to get a more accurate view of shopping habits. There is no cost to the Wyoming Press Association or WPA newspaper members as the results will be incorporated into the national Pulse of America survey. The statewide survey documents member reader and website visitor household shopping for over 600 different business types and over 1500 individual products and services. Statistical results will be generated from over 120 questions in the survey. To promote reader participation in the shopping survey members are encouraged to run house ads and website banner ads through the end of the year. Newspaper readers will be encouraged to visit the survey web- site with the opportunity to be entered to win $3,000. WPA members can obtain the survey invitation house ads, instructions and more information at: https://www.pulseresearch.com/poa.html. The WPA will receive the tabulated results from Pulse Research from the shopping survey in January 2020 to distribute to members along with suggestions on how to use the shopping information in your advertising sales presentations. Should you have any questions please contact the WPA office at (307) 635-3905 or email [email protected]. WPA BULLETIN DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 9

BETTER WRITING WITH BART MEETING COVERAGE: FROM ROUTINE TO RELEVANT By Bart Pfankuch materials for anything where money may should know them, treat them with respect This column be spent, collected or shifted. Don’t forget and listen to them. Most share your belief is aimed at every sin- consent agendas or routine departmental that government needs to be monitored gle journalist working updates where interesting items may be and challenged, and they often have inside anywhere in the world hidden. information that may require skepticism now and in the future. — Consider a preview story. On but is always worth knowing. That’s a big bill to major topics, reporters can inform readers — Establish authority through fill, but with tips to of context and potential consequences long accuracy. The best beat reporters are improve coverage of any type of meeting, before a discussion and vote. Don’t forget known for being critical but fair and com- the following concepts apply both to a to include time, date and place of the meet- plete. Don’t take sides, don’t let your rookie reporter covering a town board for a ing. personal opinions be known (never, ever small weekly paper and a grizzled veteran — Know the key players. This is comment on social media!), and don’t monitoring the U.S. Congress for a nation- ultra critical on a beat, but is useful even on report any opinions you know to be false. al news service. a one-off assignment. Be sure to know the Your reputation is sacred, so protect it. We all cover meetings, and we can all board members, the staffers who inform Once trusted, your access to people and always do better. Here are some tactics to them and if possible, the real people who information will improve. improve meeting coverage. will be affected by a vote. Be sure to have — Don’t forget to follow up. — Do your homework. Advanced the cell numbers of all the regulars and Meetings occur at a moment in time and effort is critical. Get agendas and support- make sure they know how interested you therefore almost always present an incom- ing documents well before the meeting are in what they say and do. Always call to plete, imperfect picture. If you’re unsure begins. Read them. Do interviews with confirm unknowns. of something, hold it back. You can, and key players prior to the meeting. Gain an — Don’t cast off curmudgeons. should, frequently follow up by drilling in understanding of key points and positions Hopefully, your coverage area is home to on divergent opinions, exploring issues in prior to showing up. a do-gooder or gadfly who attends most greater depth and reporting the impacts on — Cash in on cash. Watch for any- meetings and testifies frequently. You can populations or individual people. thing financial or fiduciary. Scour meeting quote them sparingly, if ever, but you See RELEVANT page 12 2,913,035

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CLARITY NEEDED REGARDING EXEMPTION FOR PAPERS UNDER 4,000 IN FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT

LEGAL STANDING

TONDA F. RUSH WPA BULLETIN DECEMBER 2019 PAGE11

PUBLISHERS EVALUATE PAYROLL WITH FLSA SALARY THRESHOLD INCREASE ON THE HORIZON : Please explain again how a half for all hours over 40. But a clear understanding with the a nonexempt journalist can few newsroom budgets have that employee that a flat salary will be Qbe paid a salary. wiggle room these days. paid regardless of hours worked and Another is to specify a flat that hours over 40 will be compen- : Happy to. Now that the number of hours and pay a flat sated at an additional rate of 50% new Fair Labor Standards salary. The employee is not per- of the base. This system requires a AAct salary threshold is set mitted to go over the agreed number recalculation with every pay period. to go into effect next year, a of hours. That is legal so long as lot of companies are re-evaluating the hours over 40 are compensated 6. The employer may limit how their payroll. at time-and-a-half and the quotient many hours could be worked under It is an enduring of flat salary divided by hours does this system, but in this case, as well LEGAL irritant to both the not yield an hourly rate below the as with the regular FLSA overtime STANDING newspaper indus- minimum wage (remembering that rule, employees may not “volun- try and serious some states have minimum wage teer” additional time. Hours worked journalists that the rates above the $7.25 per hour set at have to be hours paid. Labor Department the federal level). devalues many A third is complex, but works Here are some examples to make community news- well for many newspapers. It is this process more clear. (Remember paper journalists called the fluctuating salary basis. that employees must have a “clear and will not clas- It allows for overtime hours to be understanding,” so this process sify them as pro- paid at 50% of the regular rate, but should be written down, reviewed TONDA F. RUSH fessionals who can it does not work in every circum- with the employee, initialed and put be paid on salary stance. This approach is available if into the personnel file.) without limitation. the following conditions are met: Let’s say the employee earns $600 Rather, we have an environment flat salary a week. For a 40–hour now where bosses have to pull jour- 1. It is allowed under your state week, that is a regular rate of $15. nalists off stories when their hearts law. In Alaska, California, Pennsyl- • In week one, the employee works and souls are intent upon covering vania and New Mexico, it is prohib- 40 hours and earns $600. the news, just so the budget isn’t ited. • In week two, the employee works busted. NNA hopes the day will 35 hours and earns $600. come when the Labor Department 2. The employer can show that • In week three, the employee gives journalists their due so they a specific employee’s work week works 44 hours. The regular rate can be considered exempt across the varies considerably from week to is $600/44 or $13.63. The employer board. week. owes for four hours of overtime. But However, for now, most reporters instead of time and a half, the em- and many editors are considered 3. It is consistently used with ployee has received flat time for the non-exempt under FLSA. So the the designated employee, both entire 44 hours. The overtime pre- question of how to predict compen- when work weeks fall under 40 mium owed is 50% of $13.63 or $6.81. sation in a budget and still let the hours and when they fall over 40 So the pay is $600 plus four hours at newsroom cover the news is vexing. hours. $6.81 or $27.23. The employee’s pay for that week, then, is $627.23. THERE ARE SEVERAL POSSIBLE 4. It is available only for full- • In week four, the employee works APPROACHES: time employees. 50 hours. His regular rate is now $12. His or her pay is $600 plus 10 One is simply to pay time and 5. The employer also must have hours at half of $12 regular rate or $60. Final gross pay: $660. The system works well for news- room employees who have great peaks and valleys in the work week, such as sports people who might have little to do one week and a lot on another, or for government beat reporters who might cover short meetings one month and long budget sessions that stretch into the night another month. The real challenge falls upon the bookkeeper who has to recalculate

To join and for more info, go to: http://www.nnaweb.org/who-can-join See PAYROLL next page PAGE 12 DECEMBER 2019 WPA BULLETIN

PEOPLE AND OTHER STUFF Tara Hutchison has been hired as the Lusk Herald’s newest reporter. most recently at the Wyoming Tribune Eagle in Cheyenne. Hutchison is a Goshen County native, born and raised in the Hawk Don Cogger was recently hired as a sports reporter for the Uinta Springs area. She attended Central Wyoming College in Riverton, County Herald in Evanston. Cogger was born in Minnesota before then moved to Cheyenne. She joined the army and trained to become moving to Alaska before his fi rst birthday. He has also lived in Idaho, a light-wheeled vehicle mechanic. Through the Army National Guard, Montana aand Wyoming. Prior to working at the Herald, Cogger has she began classes at Eastern Wyoming College, where she studied for worked at the Miles City (Mont.) Star and most recently at the Powell a general arts degree. She and her husband then moved to Cheyenne Tribune. and she then attended Laramie Community College, where she stud- ied photography and journalism. The Bridger Valley Pioneer has recently added two new staff - Randi Singleton as sales associate and reporter Anjoli Mosier. Singleton said Tyler Johnson was recently hired by the Rock Springs Rocket Miner she “was pleased to fi nd something right up her alley,” and that her to cover sports. A Texas native, he graduated with a journalism degree favorite part of the job was being able to interact with the people in from Stephen F. Austin State University in 2017. His fi rst job out of the community. Mosier, “an old hat when it comes to journalism,” had college was as a sports reporter for the Fort Bend Herald, a “hyper-lo- worked at the Pioneer’s sister paper - the Uinta County Herald - off cal newspaper just west of Houston.” Before coming to Rock Springs, and on for about three years. She became engaged and recently trans- he worked for the Houston Chronicle, his hometown newspaper, planted to Lyman. where he covered politics. Steve Miller, a member of the University of Wyoming Extension communications and technology team, received the organizaton’s Steve Knight is the new reporter at the Platte County Record-Times. Creative Excellence Award at the annual Extension training confer- Knight grew up in El Paso, Texas and was a music teacher and band ence in November. Miller joined Extension in 2005 as editor. He pre- director for ten years before deciding to go back to school for journal- viously worked as a reporter, photographer and editor at newspapers ism. He previously worked as a reporter in Texas, New Mexico and in Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming.

RELEVANT CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

— Pay attention, even if it — Let length indicate importance. vote tally and names of who voted how. hurts. Don’t space out if the discussion Don’t write the same length story every — Challenge closed session. wanes. Use your phone only to look up time or give in to editor pressure to fill When appropriate, which is almost always, information or confirm data presented, not space. Some meetings result only in briefs. stand up and ask for the legal reason an to text, email or Google random topics. Try leading with the top issue and provide executive session is needed. Do this often, Watch and listen for the little ideas or facts bullet points on smaller topics in an “In and they may hide less frequently. that can blossom into important stories Other Action” box. — Treat meetings as oppor- later. — Seek out photos. When a per- tunities. Only you can make meeting — Listen closely to what is said, son, place or thing is talked about, get a coverage valuable and interesting. If you and what isn’t. Watch for unspoken photo before or after the meeting. Shoot get lazy, readers suffer. If you work hard, reactions by panel members or the public photos of attendees or panel members in the public will benefit. and approach them later for an explanation. action, even a head shot. Take an occasion- Bart Pfankuch is the content director Reporting on actions provides fodder for al crowd photo or picture of the panel as and an investigative reporter for South invigorated writing. one. Even photos of documents can work. Dakota News Watch, accessible online at — Focus on real folks. Approach — List votes and voters. On key sdnewswatch.org. Write to him at bart. members of the public and ask why they issues, always provide readers with the [email protected]. are there. When someone testifies, get the correct spelling of their name, business or organization. Follow residents into the PAYROLL CONTINUED FROM PREVIOS PAGE hallway to interview them or get their cell number and email address for contact or regular rates for each work week. option,This change without in thelosing law eligibility has NNA’s clarification later. Of course, the journalists have to forsupport the fluctuating as it will increase salary process. the tools This change in the law has NNA’s — Describe projects accurately. cooperate as well because they have available to employers to ensure sta- to turn in their hours—a process supportbility in as covering it will increase the news the without tools Always include clear indicators of where that is anathema to many in the availablebreaking tothe employers bank. to ensure sta- something will be built or altered (the field. But, until the U.S. Labor bility in covering the news without northeast corner of X Avenue and Y Street). Department comes up with a better breakingTONDA RUSH the is the bank. director of public policy and Provide project costs and the source of the approach, that is the law. serves as general counsel to the National Newspaper money. Include names of people and busi- Now the Labor Department is TONDAAssociation. RUSH Email is the her director at [email protected] of public policy and nesses that receive government money. contemplating allowing bonuses serves as general counsel to the National Newspaper Publish project timelines and any promis- and pay premiums to be factored Association. Email her at [email protected] es. All these heighten accountability. into the base rate, at the employer’s WPA BULLETIN DECEMBER 2019 PAGE 13

The WPA would like to thank the many sponsors that have helped ensure the 121st convention is a success.