Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association Vol. 82, No. 2 • 28 Pages • February 2011 Download The Oklahoma Publisher in PDF format at www.OkPress.com/the-oklahoma-publisher THIS MONTH: State Newspapers Find Alternative Delivery Methods During Blizzard Page 4 View front pages of Five of the six members who made presentations at the News Flash session during the OPA Mid-Winter Convention answer questions from the audience. blizzard coverage From left, Kim Noe, The Newcastle Pacer; Vickie Foraker, The Purcell Register; Dave Rhea, The Journal Record; Ted Streuli, The Journal Record; and Lynn Martin, Alva Review-Courier. Jeff Shultz, The Garvin County News Star, also presented an idea during the session and emceed the event. Page 8 SPECIAL MID-WINTER CONVENTION COVERAGE Six members, six inventive ideas Beginning Quick… present your best “We heard some great com- Player of the Week Contest. The More than 50,000 new blogs on Page 11 newspaper idea or topic in five ments about this session and hope contest generates a full-page ad in are started every day, Noe said, 2010 BETTER NEWSPAPER minutes or less at the Mid-Winter to do it again,” said Lisa Potts, the newspaper, and coaches and and niche blogs are where the CONTEST WINNERS Convention. Several members of OPA Member Services Director. players love it, Foraker said. young generation is going for its Page 20 the Oklahoma Press Association “You get to hear a lot of great ideas The newspaper staff selects four information. responded to that challenge and in a short amount of time.” Players of the Week – offensive, “The thing we have to remem- prepared presentations for the With a buzzer set in place to defensive, offensive lineman and ber is that the need for information hour-long session on Feb. 4, 2011. time the presenters, News Flash defensive lineman. The players are will always be there, and providing Unfortunately, two presenters began. featured in a full-page sig ad. In information is exactly what news- from northeastern Oklahoma had DAVE RHEA addition, winners receive a t-shirt papers do best,” Noe said. “What- to cancel due to blizzard condi- ever the newspapers of tomorrow Rhea was first up with “Shoot- with the Player of the Week logo tions in the state. The remaining are, we have the tools to make ing Quality Reporter Video.” on the front and contest sponsors six were given an additional min- Rhea’s visual presentation on the back. them succeed.” ute to make their presentation and offered tips including: Foraker said gross sales in 2010 News Flash was on. LYNN MARTIN Be aware of light sources; Be were $9,000, with about $1,000 The six presenters, in order of spent on T-shirts and plaques for Martin described how to use aware of your background; Use a Facebook in the role of a modern presentations, were Dave Rhea, tripod or stand; Zoom with your the Players of the Year. multimedia editor at The Journal day country columnist. Each Fri- feet; Always wear earphones when KIM NOE day, the Alva Review-Courier fea- Record; Vickie Foraker, advertis- shooting video; Try to avoid pan “New Media and the ‘Y’ Gen- tures comments from Facebook. ing manager at The Purcell Reg- and zoom; Shoot and move; Hold When Martin sees a comment ister; Kim Noe, advertising direc- shots for 10 seconds; and Look for eration” was Noe’s topic. The he’d like to include, he takes a tor at The Newcastle Pacer; Lynn action/reaction. young generation has moved on, Martin, publisher of the Alva Noe said. screenshot of the page, opens it in Review-Courier; Ted Streuli, man- VICKIE FORAKER “We’re over websites. We want Photoshop and crops to the com- aging editor at The Journal Record; Next on the stage was Foraker, to get our information through ment he wants to publish. and Jeff Shultz, publisher of The who provided a framework for apps, status updates and push noti- The cropped images are saved Garvin County News Star. The Purcell Register’s successful fications,” she said. Continued on Page 5 2 THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER, February 2011 to an annual conventionc in June. For many At the Clinton Daily News we print 14 newspapersnewspapers itit is a slow month. There is weekly papers throughout the region and nono basketball to cover, school is over and none of them missed a deadline. START THE PRESS the things youyou can do when it is warm far For the weekly publisher there is noth- exceedsexceeds those things available in the dead ing worse than a blizzard scheduled for the of winter.winter. day they print. AnotherAnother suggestionsu is to keep the same For some that print with us, it is a OPA President’s Column formatf t as theth Mid-Winter, but add the more than 60-mile drive each way to pick By ROD SERFOSS annual golf tournament before or after the up their papers. Getting it produced and Clinton Daily News Publisher convention. printed can often be easier than getting it Others thought combining the best of delivered. ongratulations to all of those who unable to make the journey. As one person the Mid-Winter Convention and the Sum- Recently these harsh conditions brought were recognized for excellence put it, “Eastern Oklahoma was not fit for mer Conference would be a good idea. out the best in newspaper people. Dur- Cduring the awards presentations at an Eskimo.” Then there was the idea of making the ing the Feb. 9 blizzard, papers that were the Oklahoma Press Association’s Mid- On the fact sheet, registration for the convention a day of education, awards and scheduled to print on Wednesday wanted Winter Convention. convention was up this year, but because business, and a day of social events. to beat the storm and come in on Tuesday. Seeing so much high quality work of the blizzard attendance was down com- I was also reminded that having it in The problem is that we already have a produced by Oklahoma journalists, pho- pared to 2010. February is still the best option because full schedule of newspapers that normally tographers, graphic designers, advertising Also because of the weather, the OPA that is when the state legislature is in ses- print on Tuesdays. In typical newspaper departments, pressmen and web designers staff had to scurry to replace panelists and sion and thus beginning their attacks on fashion everyone came together to make should serve notice that the future of news- moderators to fill the slots of those unable issues that are dear to our hearts. This per- it work. papers remains strong. to make the meeting. They went above son also pointed out that the Mid-Winter Several of the papers that normally I LOOK FORWARD TO MIKE BROWN joining and beyond to overcome the adversity and is a great place to rally the troops for the print on Tuesday called and asked if it the OPA/OPS board. Mike’s knowledge orchestrate another top-notch convention. battles to come at 23rd and Lincoln. would help if they printed early so those of both daily and weekly newspaper President-elect Rusty Ferguson says he that come in on Wednesday could get done IT SEEMS LIKE WEATHER is always a dark plans to look at all of the possibilities dur- early. By everyone working together we operations will bring a lot to the table. cloud hanging over the convention. While Before coming to Oklahoma, Mike served ing the board retreat in late April. were able to produce 12 weekly newspa- drinking coffee with Wayne Trotter, he Let your OPA board of directors know pers as well as the Clinton Daily News in as a director and as president of the brought up the idea of moving the Mid- Arkansas Press Association. what you think. After this year, moving the a 13-hour period. Winter to March or April so that weather date of the convention to warmer months From the publisher to the pressman, IT WAS GOOD TO SEE ALL OF THE PEOPLE will be less of a factor. I thought it was sounds like a great idea. none of this could happen without the battle the deep snow in order to attend a grand idea. Little did I know similar neighboring newspapers’ commitment to the Mid-Winter Convention. At the same conversations were taking place throughout IT WAS IMPRESSIVE TO HEAR STORIES of how get a newspaper out, even if it is not time, we understand why so many of the convention. newspapers continued to publish during theirs. our friends from eastern Oklahoma were One idea was to move the Mid-Winter the recent snowstorms. Rusty Ferguson elected OPA president; members pass OPA By-Laws amendment Rusty Fer- Newly elected to serve a three-year to Cleveland a year later with his wife, (B) Each business member of this asso- guson, pub- term as a director was Mike Brown, pub- Deana, to become publisher of The Cleve- ciation shall mail or deliver six copies of lisher of The lisher of Neighbor Newspapers in the land American. His father had been elected each issue of its newspaper to the OPA Cleveland Tulsa area. Robby Trammell, news direc- to the Oklahoma House of Representatives offices. The number of copies required American, tor at The Oklahoman, was re-elected to and passed the paper to Ferguson. may be decreased but not increased by the was elected serve a three-year term as director. Ferguson is active in his community Board of Directors. At the discretion of as president Other members serving on the OPA and has served on the Oklahoma News- the Board of Directors, and in addition to of the Okla- Board of Directors are Jeff Mayo, paper Foundation board of trustees since any required print copies, the association homa Press Sequoyah County Times; Jeff Funk, Enid 2002.