OHIO NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION 2015 CONVENTION This year’s convention focuses on solving the puzzle of newspaper revenue, distribution and readership. Speakers include GateHouse CEO Kirk Davis, Dr. Michael Drake, the new president of Ohio State University, Christine Brennan, one of America’s top sportswriters and sports commentators, Kevin Slimp, one of our industry’s most noted trainers, and Matt Tenney, one of America’s most sought-after speakers on servant leadership and workplace success. Panels include Covering High School Sports in Ohio • What’s Next for Ohio politics (and Political Advertising) • What’s Up with the USPS • Finding and Growing Digital Revenue • and much more! February 11 & 12, 2015 OFFICIAL PROGRAM A WELCOME MESSAGE FROM YOUR CONVENTION CHAIR Welcome to the 2015 Ohio Newspaper Association Convention. I hope you enjoy our outstanding convention and the many dining, shopping and entertainment options in the Polaris area. If you have any questions about either the convention program or nearby eating and shopping choices, ask any member of the ONA staff. The theme of this year’s convention year is “Solving the Puzzle,” and I am happy to say that Ohio newspapers are indeed having success solving the puzzles of revenue, distribution and readership. Despite what newspaper naysayers have been saying in recent years, the fundamentals in our industry remain strong. Add in our drive to continually push the boundaries of what a newspaper can be through new technologies and revenue models, and it’s easy to see how the “puzzle” of our industry’s future is already being solved. At this year’s convention you will find plenty of pieces to complete your own newspaper’s puzzle. Among the great sessions are • “Finding and Growing Digital Revenue” with Shannon Kinney of DreamLocal. com, with Shannon exploring exciting new ways your newspaper can immediately begin to grow digital ads and revenue. • “New Tech Tools” and “Improving Customer Service” with Kevin Slimp, one of our industry’s most noted trainers. These two sessions will focus on new technologies to improve productivity and on how improving customer service is everyone’s job at a newspaper. • “Covering High School Sports in Ohio,” which will explore the challenges and opportunities of covering prep sports these days, which as we all know is one of our readers’ favorite sections of the paper. And these are only a few of the sessions we’re offering at this week’s convention. Add in headliners like GateHouse CEO Kirk Davis, USA Today sportswriter Christine Brennan, OSU President Dr. Michael Drake, and motivational speaker Matt Tenney, and this is truly the most exciting ONA convention of recent years. Don’t forget to bid at our Silent Auction to help raise money for the Ohio Newspapers Foundation! Last year we raised around $4,500 to help our foundation. Also keep an eye out for an emailed questionaire after the convention! I want to hear your feedback. I want to make it an enjoyable yet learning experience for all of us. PS: Enjoy! Lori Figurski Times-Leader, Martins Ferry Convention Chairman SPECIAL NOTES Registration and Name Badges For any special needs contact one of the staff members at the ONA Registration Desk in the main foyer. Name badges are required for admittance to all general sessions and meal functions. Convention Social Media Feeds For real-time comments and thoughts about the convention, please go to Twitter.com/ONAnews. You can also share your own thoughts on Twitter with the hashtag #OhioNews15 and view convention photos at www.flickr.com/ photos/ohionewspapers. PROGRAM IN BRIEF 1 WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11 8:30 a.m. Registration opens Polaris Foyer 9 a.m. – noon ONA Board of Trustees Meeting Gemini Ballroom C 9 a.m. – noon Ad Directors Roundtable Gemini Ballroom A 9:30 a.m. – noon Ohio League of Home Dailies Meeting Gemini Ballroom B 1 – 1:50 p.m. Welcome, Kirk Davis Opening Keynote Polaris Ballroom F 2 – 3 p.m. Breakout Session: Public Notice Update Polaris Ballroom C 2 – 3 p.m. Breakout Session: Hooper/Collegiate Awards Polaris Ballroom F 3:10 – 4 p.m. Breakout Session: Building Digital Audiences Polaris Ballroom C 3:10 – 4 p.m. Breakout Session: Weekly Roundtable Gemini Ballroom A 4:10 – 5 p.m. Breakout Session: Sports Coverage Panel Polaris Ballroom C 4:10 – 5 p.m. Breakout Session: Postal Issues Polaris Ballroom F 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Cocktail Reception / Newspaper Awards / Polaris Foyer Live Auction / Vendor Recognition THURSDAY, FEB. 12 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast Polaris Foyer 7:40 – 8 a.m. ONA Business Meeting, Treasurer’s Report Polaris ABDE 8 – 9:15 a.m. Matt Tenney (includes book signing) Polaris ABDE 9:15 – 9:50 a.m. Dr. Michael Drake Polaris ABDE 10 – 10:50 a.m. Breakout Session: Growing Digital Revenue Polaris C 10 – 10:50 a.m. Breakout Session: New Technology Polaris F 11 –11:50 a.m. Breakout Session: Social Media Polaris C 11 – 11:50 a.m. Breakout Session: Improving Customer Service Polaris F noon – 1 p.m. Lunch — Foundation Report, President & Polaris ABDE Executive Director Report, President’s Award 1 – 2 p.m. Christine Brennan Polaris ABDE 2:10 – 3 p.m. Political Party Chairs Discussion Polaris F 3 p.m. Adjournment 2 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Don’t forget to check out the silent auction A silent auction will be held at the convention to raise money for the Ohio Newspapers Foundation. All money raised will benefit Foundation activities. For more information and to make a bid, see the silent auction display or ask an ONA staff member for more information. Exhibits Don’t forget to check out the display of our newspaper photo contest entries, and the offerings of our sponsoring vendors. 9:00 a.m. - noon ONA Board of Trustees Meeting 9:00 a.m. - noon Free Pre-Convention Workshop Ad Directors Ideas Presentation and Roundtable Don’t miss this opportunity for ad directors to share and present the best recent ideas they’ve executed in a fun, rapid-fire format. The directors will then break into smaller groups to discuss issues everyone is facing such as retention of sales people, commission plans, new revenue streams, etc. Moderated by Lori Figurski. 9:30 a.m. - noon Ohio League of Home Dailies Meeting 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. Convention Opens General Session: Kirk Davis on the State of the Newspaper Industry GateHouse CEO Kirk Davis will provide his outlook on the newspaper industry in these rapidly changing times. 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Kirk Davis Breakout Session: Public Notice Update Major changes will impact digital requirements for Ohio notices in March. The ONA’s Dennis Hetzel and ONA Counsel Lou Colombo will offer a refresher on what the law says and answer your questions. Breakout Session: Hooper and Collegiate Awards 3:10 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Breakout Session: New Approaches to Online Access Our panelists will cover the latest developments in building digital audiences, including the use of Google surveys as a revenue stream that provides free access to readers, Ohio papers that are offering free access to WashingtonPost. com to drive traffic and what is working with more “traditional” paywall models. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 11 3 Panelists will be Dick Fuller of The Blade, Bill Hudnutt of Lorain County Printing and Publishing, and Matthew Skibinski of Piano Media. Breakout Session: Weekly Roundtable Led by members of the ONA Weekly Newspaper Committee, this session is an open forum for our weekly newspaper members to trade ideas and best practices. 4:10 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Breakout Session: Covering High School Sports Samuel E. Jaudon in Ohio Marc Pendleton with Cox Media Group Ohio and Mike Throne with the Media Network of Central Ohio will talk about the challenges and opportunities of covering prep sports these days. They’ll be joined by Tim Stried of the Ohio High School Athletic Association. Tim will address OHSAA’s current policies on media access and promises to remain after the session to answer additional questions from our members. Breakout Session: What’s Up with the USPS Samuel E. Jaudon with the USPS will answer your questions about the relationship between Ohio newspapers and the Lou Colombo postal service. He’ll be joined by Brad Hill of Interlink, one of the newspaper industry’s leading experts on dealing with the USPS. 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Welcome Reception Join us for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and musical entertainment while connecting with friends and colleagues. Joining ONA members for the reception will be Ohio legislative leaders and members of the executive branch. There will also be a live auction of some exclusive items. And new this year — the Newspaper of the Year and the Frank E. Deaner awards will be presented at the reception. Tim Stried Dick Fuller Bill Hudnutt Matthew Skibinski 4 THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. Continental Breakfast 8 - 9:00 a.m. Breakfast Speaker: Matt Tenney Matt was a brilliant Marine whose greed sent him to the brig – literally -- before he wised up and grew up. Matt is now one of America’s most sought-after speakers on servant leadership and workplace success and the author of Serve to Be Great: Leadership Lessons from a Prison, a Monastery, and a Boardroom. Matt Tenney 9:15 - 9:50 a.m. General Session: Dr. Michael Drake, OSU President 10:00 - 10:50 a.m. Breakout Session: Finding and Growing Digital Revenue Shannon Kinney of DreamLocal.com will run this fast- paced workshop. Shannon’s industry, agency and consulting background makes her a perfect choice, and she comes highly recommended by ONA’s partners at the Local Media Association.