Kansas Publisher Official Monthly Publication of the Kansas Press Association Oct
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
The Kansas Publisher Official monthly publication of the Kansas Press Association Oct. 21, 2015 Inside Today Brownback appeals order to disclose ov. Sam Brownback has appealed a Page 2 Shawnee County District judge’s order Hutch News also seeks records KPA board member Andy Taylor in September that denied Brownback’s similar situation to the one in Salina has discusses the loss of his com- G effort to block disclosure of information about Hutchinson News executives seeking munity hospital. applicants seeking appointment to expanded Arecords as well. county commission seats in Saline County. Publisher John Montgomery said his news- Page 3 Shawnee County District Judge Rebecca W. paper is trying to get the list of candidates for John Foust highlights an adver- Crotty had made the ruling a few weeks earlier. a Reno County magistrate judge position that tising strategy that might work. The appeal also asks Crotty for “clarifica- went to Cheryl Allen. tion” of her order, saying it was “unclear” In a formal request by The News to obtain Page 4 whether the judge’s memorandum decision and those under consideration for the bench, a KPA president Susan Lynn order is a “final determination of the parties’ spokesman from the governor’s office denied discusses whether money or rights.” the request, citing the same exceptions under the community service is the driver. Kansas Open Records Act as the Salina case. See APPEAL on Page 5 Pages 6-7-8 Check out the jobs that are avail- able at Kansas newspapers. Page 8 Doug Anstaett is tired of the lip service being given by elected officials to transparency. KPA Calendar Oct. 22 KPA staff members will be calling newspapers all day to complete a digital survey sanc- tioned by the Kansas Newspa- per Foundation. Emily Bradbury, director of member services for the of KPA membership to participants in the Northwest Oct. 23 Kansas Press Association, explains the various benefits District meeting Sept. 18 in Atwood. CANCELED — Montgomery Family Symposium, University of Kansas. Merriam announces retirement as hotline attorney ike Merriam, who has served the Kansas Association of Broadcasters, Nov. 6 as the Kansas Press Associa- the Society of Professional Journalists, KPA district meeting, Topeka. Mtion’s Legal Hotline attorney the League of Women Voters and media for more than three decades, announced law advocates. Dec. 15 his retirement this week due to ongoing “Our association and its members National Bill of Rights Day. health struggles. owe a huge debt of gratitude to Mike Merriam was honored last Novem- for his loyal service as a media attorney April 22-23, 2016 ber with the Above and Beyond Award and operator of the Legal Hotline,” said Kansas Press Association an- from the Kansas Sunshine Coalition Doug Anstaett, KPA executive director. nual convention, Overland Park for Open Government, an organization DoubleTree Hotel. that includes representatives of KPA, See MERRIAM on Page 7 Mike Merriam 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 2015-16 KPA Board Editors know good medicine, Susan Lynn President Iola Register good information are critical [email protected] hen Mercy Hospital announced the current crisis affecting Independence in early September that it was simply because a local newspaper saw the Sarah Kessinger ceasing its hospital and emergen- situation as a major news story. It could not First Vice President W Marysville Advocate cy department in Independence, it seemed be ignored. like the collective soul of Independence, Nor could the Montgomery County [email protected] Kan., went into cardiac arrest. Chronicle rely singularly on the few press And, there was no one in town with releases from Mercy Hospital for answers. M. Olaf Frandsen a crash cart ... or a prayer ... to attempt a Getting the information required old- Second Vice President rescue. fashioned, gum-shoe journalism: telephone Salina Journal The plug has been pulled on a town’s calls and personal interviews with multiple [email protected] primary healthcare provider — a area medical providers, a relation- service that has been provided by ship with the Kansas Hospital Andy Taylor Treasurer the same religious charity since Association (a fantastic informa- Montgomery County Chronicle 1920. tion resource), and countless hours [email protected] That’s the harsh reality con- of reading previous news stories fronting Independence, a town of about the state of healthcare in Dan Thalmann 9,000 in Montgomery County. rural America. Past President Things aren’t looking good in What has happened since Sep- Washington County News Independence. And the loss of a tember is that Independence has [email protected] major entity, with 190 employees become a national poster child for left with pink slips in hand, obvi- a growing (and disturbing) trend: John Baetz ously is a gut punch. Andy Taylor rural hospitals are on life support. Northwest District Director However, if there is ever a And, Mercy was among the first to Lincoln Sentinel-Republican need for a newspaper to explain the situ- issue a “Do Not Resuscitate” order. [email protected] ation — perhaps demand a few answers, The New York Times contributed investigate the status of rural healthcare, greatly to the Mercy Hospital situation with Peter Cook and speak on behalf of a wounded town — a lengthy account in the Oct. 4 issue. Multi- Southeast District Director it’s now. ple stories in the political blogosphere have Parsons Sun The Montgomery County Chronicle retold Mercy’s situation, and reporters from [email protected] has spent countless the Wichita Eagle, column inches in Topeka Capital- Mary Hoisington the past six months What has happened since Journal and Kansas Daily Membership Director Great Bend Tribune devoted to the story City Star have September is that Indepen- [email protected] of Mercy Hospital. dence has become a national contributed greatly We reported on poster child for a growing to the explanation Tim Kellenberger the efforts of the of the local crisis, Northeast District Director hospital’s top brass (and disturbing) trend: with heavy empha- Sabetha Herald to attempt a merger rural hospitals are on life sis on the state of [email protected] with a hospital in Kansas’ refusal to Coffeyville (those support. expand Medicaid Denice Kuhns merger talks ulti- rolls (as part of the Southwest District Director mately failed). Affordable Care Meade County News We spoke about Mercy’s difficult deci- Act funding mechanisms). [email protected] sion to announce its closure in September. I believe this story is not over in Kansas. We studied the issues that led to Mercy’s The Kansas Hospital Association is Travis Mounts decision to close, namely the changing already anticipating closures of other Nondaily Membership Director population demographics, the failure to hospitals (large and small) in the coming Times-Sentinel Newspapers retain physicians in a rural market, and the year. And, every study under the universal [email protected] policy decisions that are made (or aren’t medical sun has pointed to a sort of dooms- made) in Washington, D.C., and Topeka, day scenario as it pertains to rural health Scott Stanford Kan. markets. Legislative Director And, we have given ample coverage to In Kansas, we have hospitals every- Lawrence Journal-World other area medical providers as they try to where (Kansas ranks third in the nation [email protected] make sense of the changing medical scene in hospitals per capita). It’s my hope that Joey Young in southeast Kansas. newspapers across the Sunflower State will Central District Director Not trying to toot my own horn, but brush up on their knowledge of rural health The Clarion (Andale) I feel the residents of Independence and [email protected] Montgomery County better understand See TAYLOR on Page 3 Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (855) 572-1863 3 Want to sell more ads? Try this proven technique ichael was talking to me about compliment their current media choices. turn that seven into a 10?’ This question one of his favorite sales tech- Find something positive to say, even if can produce a ton of good information. Mniques. they are the weakest media outlets in the Sometimes they talk about their current “Even though I’ve been selling ads for market. It’s foolish to be critical and put marketing results and – most important – a lot of years,” he said, “there’s always them in a position to defend their choice. what they would like to accomplish in the something new to learn. A friend in the For example, I might future. That opens a furniture industry shared a great idea on say, ‘It’s easy to see discussion about what how to ask questions to get the right kind why someone would The technique involves I can do for them.” of information. I don’t pick that radio station. asking a prospect to rate Step 5: Then know if this technique I know a few people Michael works to was developed specifi- who work there, and his or her experience manage expectations. cally for the furniture they are excited about with existing ads. Then “It’s unrealistic to business, but it works their product.’” it’s easy to shift the con- expect a perfect 10,” just as well in ad Step 3: “This is he said. “After all, a sales.” where the magic versation to the benefits lot depends on things He explained that starts,” Michael said. of advertising with his in their businesses that the technique involves “I ask the prospect to publishing company. are beyond my control asking a prospect to rate the experience, – like parking and rate his or her experi- by saying something customer service.