The Kansas Publisher Official monthly publication of the Kansas Press Association July 6, 2011 Inside Today Page 3 Jim Purmarlo thinks newspa- pers should be more open about their policies and procedures. Page 4 KPA president Patrick Lowry is impressed by the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter’s reaction to a devastating fi re. Page 4 The Western Kansas Mini-Con- vention is Sept. 8. Look here for the schedule. Page 6 Jonathan Kealing is the newest member of the Kansas Press Association Board of Directors. Page 8 Firefi ghters spray water on the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter building. Doug Anstaett takes a look at the nameplates of Kansas newspapers. Guess which one Fire destroys Ellsworth I-R offi ce he thinks is the most unique? Paper gets out edition on time good side to this story, too. Our friends and landlords, Mark and Josie Roehrman, escaped By Linda Mowery-Denning the building without injury. That is something to KPA Calendar or someone who makes their living with cheer. words, this may be one of those frustrating There is more. July 20 Ftimes when fi nding just the right words — I can’t help but be a bit amused by the reac- NNA Governmental Affairs or any words at all – fails me. tion to the fi re and the newspaper’s future Sunday Conference, Washington, D.C. As anyone who reads a newspaper or watches night as probably more residents than attend the television probably knows by now, the building annual Cowtown Festival watched fi refi ghters Sept. 8 that housed the Ellsworth County Independent- from across central Kansas fi ght the fl ames and KPA Western Kansas Mini- Reporter was gutted by fi re Sunday night (June Convention, City Limits Con- 23). Such a loss is traumatic but there was a See FIRE on Page 2 vention Center, Colby. Serial story ready for fall publication Sept. 22-25 16-chapter serial story called “There’s burg. It was illustrated by Michael Meade from NNA annual convention, No Place Like Home” will be available Salina with funding provided by the Kansas Albuquerque. A free to Kansas Press Association mem- Newspaper Foundation. bers in August. Jeanie Warner, NIE coordinator for Harris Oct. 2- 8 The story won fi rst place in the Midwest Cir- Enterprises, said: “This serial story is a great National Newspaper Week. culation Management Association’s contest for way for you to increase your NIE, single copy Cartoons, editorials and other Newspaper in Education (NIE) promotion. and general circulation.” materials will be provided free. It was written by the award-winning chil- to KPA members. dren’s book author, Eunice Boeve of Phillips- See SERIAL STORY on Page 3 Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (785) 271-5304 2 Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (785) 271-5304 2011-12 KPA Board Patrick Lowry President Hays Daily News [email protected] Ben Marshall First Vice President Sterling Bulletin [email protected] Dena Sattler Second Vice President Garden City Telegram [email protected] Linda Mowery-Denning, Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter editor Dan Thalmann and publisher ... shown in 2010 in front of the building that burned. Treasurer Washington County News food and water as we watched our office [email protected] Fire disappear inside a cloud of black smoke. Alice and Ken Robson opened their store Linda Mowery-Denning to us, then refused to let us pay for the sup- Past President Continued from Page 1 plies we needed. Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter Monday brought more acts of kindness. [email protected] smoke for several hours. Several people Randy Gottschalk, who owns the former joked that we didn’t have to worry about Holm Motor building, refused rent on a A.J. Bozarth work Monday. Seriously? When a major storage unit for the damp hard drives and Central District Director fire disrupts your town, when a tornado other equipment Juanita and I salvaged Norwich News, South Haven New Era rips through your community – it’s more from our building. Susan Hicks and her [email protected] important than ever for the newspaper to do employer, Kirkham Michael, also offered its job. It offers a sense of normalcy during storage space. Jonathan Kealing a time or event that is anything but normal. But it was Shirley Raney and Tina Northeast District Director Not publishing a newspaper this week Davis who made me cry. Tina called me Lawrence Journal-World was never an option. Sunday night to offer the use of the build- [email protected] That said, the newspaper you are hold- ing that she and husband, Rick, own less ing in your hands right now is the product than a block away from our former office. Sarah Kessinger of many people. Monday, as the I-R staff worked at the high Nondaily Director The first call I made Sunday night was school to complete this week’s edition, Marysville Advocate to Eric Reid, incoming superintendent of Tina and her mother, Shirley, turned the [email protected] the Ellsworth-Kanopolis-Geneseo School vacant building into a real office. They District. It was obvious the I-R staff arranged desks and chairs, a front counter Ken Knepper wouldn’t be using any of the newspaper’s and wall decorations, including the I-R Legislative Director equipment to produce this week’s edition. sign from Wilson’s Eschbaugh Advertising. Sun Newspapers However, the high school journalism de- The sign, which looked a bit crispy when [email protected] partment had everything we needed – and we pulled it from the debris of our office, Mr. Reid didn’t hesitate to say yes when I was taken by Tina and Shirley to the car Brad Lowell asked for his help. wash and made to look presentable. I was Northwest District Director Then my cell phone started ringing. brought to tears of gratitude Monday night Concordia Blade-Empire The Salina Journal offered equipment when I saw the results of their efforts. [email protected] and expertise. The next day, the newspa- Finally, the firefighters who battled per’s systems manager, Bob Kelly, arrived Sunday night’s blaze were absolutely, Susan Lynn with three computers, which he also positively awesome. Their skill and dedica- Daily Director installed. tion prevented a much greater disaster in Iola Register John and Bree Baetz of the Lincoln downtown Ellsworth. [email protected] Sentinel-Republican offered meals and use My apologies to the many I’ve missed. of their staff. Local businesses provided food and water Steve Wade Daughter Allie called to tell me she was and opened their doors so exhausted fire Southeast District Director on her way home from Wichita. fighters could escape the heat. Pittsburg Morning Sun [email protected] The Kansas Press Association provided Of course, as much as our job is to get more computers and other support. out the newspaper no matter what, the job Doug Anstaett Here at home, Margaret Bourne pulled of a small community is to rally around Executive Director, KPA business manager Juanita Kepka and I into its residents in times of need. Ellsworth [email protected] her air-conditioned business and offered us showed this week that it’s doing its job. Kansas Press Association, 5423 S.W. 7th, Topeka, KS 66606 • www.kspress.com • (785) 271-5304 3 Open the window to your operation ewsrooms place a premium on explore the aspects they deem important to Explain your decisions. There’s no ensuring that government is understanding the subject. Reporters then better way to keep readers in the loop than Ntransparent in its decisions. When can finalize outlines and begin collecting through regular communication. A column elected and appointed officials fall short, a information. by the editor and/or publisher should be commentary is almost sure to follow. Insert “public” voice in editorials. The standard on the editorial page – in addition The principle is equally applicable to process for developing editorials runs the to a timely blog. newsroom operations. Consider the many gamut. Large newspapers may have formal These columns can serve a variety of queries that editors boards. At small newspapers, the publisher purposes. Educating readers on newspaper and publishers receive and/or editor may represent the edito- policies should be a priority. What are the on a regular basis. rial board. All guidelines for Why was my side newspapers, no All newsroom decisions are letters to the not presented in the matter their size, editor – why story? Why weren’t can benefit from stronger if the options and per- isn’t every sub- we approached to be voices outside spectives are explored with as mission pub- part of your special the newspaper many individuals as possible, lished? Why, or business section? family. Consider why not, does Why did the news- having one or especially with people outside the a newspaper paper endorse my two community normal newsroom discussions. report suicides? opponent without representatives, Why are some giving me opportu- Jim Pumarlo rotating them ads rejected? nity to respond to the on a regular basis similar to reader boards. Reader comments and questions provide a charges? Their perspectives can be valuable in shap- never-ending stream of issues to address. Transparency can be addressed in ing opinions and can be a springboard for The columns should not try to convince several ways. Taking extra steps will inviting guest commentaries or a point/ readers that a particular policy is the right increase credibility with readers and can counterpoint on a variety of subjects. policy, but rather to help them understand result in more substantive coverage.