Software AUTOMATION 200 + Ink SUPPLIERS Newsprint Cloud ® Computing one D I G ITAL PAGE Cooperative Newsletter • Volume 1 • 2019 PLATES SERVICES BANK CARD PROCESSING Archives CEO’S COLUMN • 1, 3 SUPPLIER NEWS • 13-19 HONOR ROLLS • 20, 22 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN • 24 CEO’S COLUMN Getting on the same PAGE As PAGE Cooperative veterans, you no Periodic, between-the-newsletters outreach. Publishing a doubt have heard the headline metaphor printed version of this newsletter twice a year is important. Print is too many times in your member, partner, or our livelihood and will continue to be so. But at the same time, it supplier experience … but for this newbie, would not be cost e ective for us to assemble print and disseminate it has extra meaning. the newsletter any more frequently. So, we will be taking a look In the few brief weeks since taking this at other methods such as email, the PAGE website or webinars to exciting role with PAGE, I have been learning expand our collective dialogue. as much as possible about how this dynamic Website enhancement. No discredit to all our PAGE sta and organization works -- the ins, the outs, members who have worked very hard to generate content, keep BY GARY the ups, the downs, the challenges and the information current and keep the res burning, but it has been quite BLAKELEY successes. As I have been turning the pages a few years since the PAGE website has been refreshed. I don’t just of its history, my hope is that with your mean graphically, but also improved navigation, user experience, help, we can draft a new chapter in PAGE presentation of content and its overall functionality in today’s Cooperative’s story that foretells increased involvement, added world where phones are actually computers, when instant access member bene ts, ever-increasing value and sets the stage for greater to information is critical, and where the website ts the business member success. lifestyles of newspaper folks like you and us. More to come on that Let it su ce to say, in the coming months you’ll see evidence of too. the Board’s and my goals to help you realize greater returns from Survey of members. In the June/July timeframe, you will be your investment in and commitment to PAGE. receiving a request from PAGE to participate in an electronic survey. I have much I would like to share with you, but also much to We will be polling both membership and suppliers asking for input learn before I share too much. So, today, I am using this opportunity on improving/increasing the value of PAGE in our market. e to give you some perspective on what I believe are very important survey may also have a segment that is speci c to the newsletter steps all of us must take in order to help PAGE continue to grow – asking for input on making this bi-annual communication more and prosper. Some of what you are about to read are plans and goals; meaningful for you and your organization. some are new procedures and practices that we are implementing and some are just ideas. But, what I can assure you, even at this early ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE stage, is that by working together toward “getting on the same page” Just over 8 years ago, David Lord (past board president of (and I mean all of us – members, partners and preferred suppliers, our cooperative) wrote a general letter to all PAGE members. In board and sta ) we will certainly grow and prosper. part, the letter read, “For many years, your Cooperative operated Okay, so where do we start? Well, how about the following? without accounts receivable being a major concern. Almost all PAGE members paid their bills promptly, and as a result the Cooperative COMMUNICATIONS had a very small bad debt reserve and was able to reward members with signi cant patronage dividends.” Starting with this article and the publication of this issue of our semi-annual newsletter, I would like to foster increased David continued, “Sadly, the economy and structural changes communications with and among all of PAGE Cooperative’s in our business have altered that operating model. Beginning in members, partners and vendors. Let me oat a few options for you 2008, bad debts from members experiencing nancial issues have to consider … nothing etched in stone at this stage, but some ideas increased despite the e orts of the PAGE management and sta to to prompt more conversation and input from all of you so that our corral them as much as possible. is non-paying trend has increased board, sta and management can act on what is important to you. in 2011, to the detriment of members who abide by the rules of the Cooperative.” A virtual suggestion box. With email, websites and other electronic means, there is no reason why the entire PAGE Cooperative David’s message remains spot-on today, in 2019. We still have a ensemble can’t e ectively use the contemporary equivalent of the old-fashioned suggestion box. More to come on that. (Continues on Page 3) About PAGE Cooperative CELEBRATING 35 YEARS irty- ve years ago, a misdirected ink invoice landed on the desk of Pete Eyerly, then publisher of the Bloomsburg, PA “Press-Enterprise.” What Pete noticed is that the much larger “Chain Newspaper” down the road a few miles was receiving far more favorable pricing than he. And thus, PAGE (Publishers Association To Gain Economy) Cooperative was born. Now, in 2019, PAGE boasts over 1,400 newspapers in its membership ranks. PAGE purchases newsprint in conjunction with Cox Newsprint Supply and together they are the largest buyer of newsprint in the nation. To join PAGE, members must receive approval from the PAGE Board of Directors. For additional information please contact the PAGE o ce at 800-468-9568. PAGE Sta Gary Blakeley Marcy Emory Tony Lopez CEO CFO Invoicing Coordinator 800-468-9568 x196 800-468-9568, x182 800-468-9568, x183 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Steve Schroeder Dana Greco Sharon Shi ett Director of Membership Development A/R Coordinator Accounting/AP & Technical Services 800-468-9568, x180 800-468-9568, x177 800-468-9568, x187 [email protected] sharon.shi [email protected] Direct: 484-636-0187 [email protected] PAGE O cers PAGE Directors President - Brandon Eyerly Brian Jarvis Rex Rust Publisher, Press-Enterprise President, NCWV Media Co-President, Rust Communications Bloomsburg, PA Clarksburg, WV Cape Girardeau, MO 570-387-1234 304-626-1400 573-388-2712 [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] Vice President - Aaron Julien Gregg K. Jones Jonathan M. Segal President & CEO, Executive VP, Adams Publishing Group 252-633-2555 Newspapers of New England, Inc. Greeneville, TN [email protected] Concord, NH 423-638-4181 603-369-3260 [email protected] Francis Wick [email protected] President & CEO, Wick Communications Chair - Je rey N. Brown Robin Martin Sierra Vista, AZ Advisor to the O ce of Chairman of AIM Owner, Santa Fe New Mexican 520-458-0200 Media Santa Fe, NM [email protected] Columbus, IN 505-983-3303 812-379-5615 [email protected] [email protected] Stuart Richner Treasurer - Lissa Walls President, Richner Communications, Inc. CEO, Southern Newspapers, Inc. Garden City, NY Houston, TX 516-569-4000 713-266-5481 [email protected] [email protected] Secretary - Gary Blakeley CEO, PAGE Cooperative King of Prussia, PA 800-468-9568, 196 [email protected] Asst. Secretary/Treasurer - Marcy Emory CFO, PAGE Cooperative King of Prussia, PA 800-468-9568, x182 [email protected] 2 Getting on the same PAGE (Continues from Page 1) few current members who, due to continuing nancial di culty, are Additional inclusivity – a possible change to the bylaws struggling a bit with our 30-day payment terms. We will continue to (pending membership approval) that will allow a broadening of collaborate closely with these members to help them avoid exceeding our membership base, thereby increasing our aggregate spend. e the 30-day term requirement; this not only bene ts PAGE as a whole, bene ts to the Cooperative are greater nancial security and increased but removes the nancial penalty on them that would otherwise be negotiation ability pertaining to price and overall value. imposed. We would hope everyone realizes the signi cant bene ts Potential synergies with other purchasing organizations PAGE provides, not only to our members, but also to our preferred – investigating potential opportunities with other purchasing suppliers. ese bene ts can only be provided with collaborative organizations regarding aggregation of spend. and continual nancial support from ALL of our members. To that Value-added services – investigating what opportunities there end, it is imperative that all members make PAGE Cooperative a may be to provide services via a one-phone-call approach, e.g. nancial priority. Your attention and help in this matter are sincerely maintenance or support services from the RIP to the dock door. and personally appreciated. Moving forward, it is my commitment to collaborate closely with you as I directly partner with the PAGE sta and PAGE Board NEWSPRINT of Directors, to provide you very attractive aggregate pricing and As you know newsprint pricing has fallen since the beginning value-added products and services. of the year. My short tenure thus far at PAGE precludes me from speculating on price over the next few months. I can assure you that YOUR SUPPORT I will continue to work closely with all of our preferred suppliers for your bene t.