Promoting a healthy business community
In outdoor-minded Traverse City, Mich., the Record-Eagle sponsors community activities that include the TC Trimdown weight-loss contest and a series of road runs among other health-related events. It also publishes a health and wellness magazine every other month, serving a community on the shores of Lake Michigan and Grand Traverse Bay that depends on tourism, especially in the summer.
So it wasn't a stretch for the newspaper to create "Healthy Community" advertising packages last year. "The financial health of our local businesses is very important as well," said Shawn Winter, director of advertising.
The goal was to sign up businesses for monthly packages that included every form of advertising the Eagle-Record offered at different price points depending on size. Winter said the businesses could reach every audience, try out forms of advertising that were new to them and do so on monthly budgets and contracts of six months or a year.
MOREAP, News Media Guild reach new tentative agreement
The Associated Press and the News Media Guild have reached a tentative agreement on a new three-and-a-half-year contract that includes pay raises each year of the agreement and health care revisions.
The agreement comes after more than 17 months of negotiations and is subject to ratification of the union membership.
MOREMcClatchy's War Within Initiative raises money to help erase military medical debt
Donations from McClatchy readers and viewers around the country will help pay off more than $5 million in medical bills owed by servicemembers, veterans and their families.
In partnership with RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit that buys bundles of debt at a steep discount and forgives it, McClatchy's War Within Initiative fundraising drive across print, digital, video and social platforms sparked the compassion of donors in the local news company's 30 markets and beyond, leading hundreds to join the effort to lift a burden for those who serve.
MORECommunity Impact Newspaper launches in Nashville area, plans more in Houston
Community Impact Newspaper is launching in the Nashville area, debuting an edition in the cities of Franklin and Brentwood. Residents can expect the hyperlocal publication to reach mailboxes in March. The company is also planning an expansion in the Houston area, and may have more news to announce this week, says owner John Garrett.
MOREWilson Times Co. purchases Wake Weekly newspapers
The Wake Weekly newspaper group – The Wake Forest Weekly and its zoned editions in Rolesville and Franklin County along with the Butner-Creedmoor News – are operating under new ownership.
Publisher and Executive Editor Todd Allen has sold the newspapers, along with marketing agency Kingsdale Media, to The Wilson Times Co., a growing print and digital media company with a daily paper and two other weeklies in its publishing portfolio.
MORELet technology plot the path forward
In these uncertain times, futurists give us scenarios we can use to try to predict how technology might impact journalism's future. But the present is less clear, and anyone who says they know what should be done at the moment isn't being honest. At best, we can only guess what skills we'll need to cope with this ever-changing landscape.
MORETerry Kroeger buys SKAR Advertising
SKAR Advertising, a full-service integrated advertising agency in Omaha, Neb., has been purchased by Terry Kroeger, who was previously chairman and chief executive officer of BH Media Group and publisher of the Omaha World-Herald. Effective with the purchase, Kroeger will become president and CEO of SKAR.
MOREVirginia Video Network is live in the Richmond area
The Richmond Times-Dispatch is excited to launch the Virginia Video Network, a location-based video advertising solution delivered through standalone periodical racks and video displays. Through this new platform, the paper's advertisers can market directly to consumers at the point of purchase in high-traffic retail locations.
Virginia Video Network is Virginia's first digital-out-of-home video marketing solution that combines data and technology together to deliver relevant advertising messages to targeted customers.
MORETownNews tips off turnkey college bracket contests
With football season winding down, sports fans nationwide are turning their attention to college basketball. The TownNews Bracket Challenge empowers local media sites – newspapers, TV stations, radio stations and magazines – to create digital college basketball bracket contests that turn local sports fans into loyal repeat visitors, driving audience engagement and advertising revenue.
MORE#StudentPressFreedom Day: Issuu's toolkit for rising journalists
Issuu has published a new resource for up-and-coming student journalists to get informed of their rights for Student Press Freedom Day this Wednesday, Jan. 30.
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We have a new website:
www.newspapers.org
America's Newspapers – the association formed from the merger of the Inland Press Association and Southern Newspaper Publishers Association – was ceremonially launched October 6 at its inaugural annual meeting in Chicago.
Dean Ridings will be its chief executive officer, effective Nov. 11.
America's Newspapers unites two of the oldest press associations to form one of the industry's largest advocates for newspapers and the many benefits to their communities, civil life, freedom of expression and democracy.
"Newspaper journalism provides a voice for the voiceless, challenges elected officials, shines a light on government, calls for change when change is needed, and exposes corruption and injustice," said Chris Reen, the president and publisher of The Gazette in Colorado Springs who will serve as the first president of America's Newspapers.
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New association launches today;
SNPA-Inland merger is complete
A new association formed by the consolidation of SNPA and the Inland Press Association was officially launched today. The name of the new association will be announced on Oct. 6 at the association's first annual meeting in Chicago.
Edward VanHorn, SNPA's executive director, said that the merger unites two of the country's oldest press associations into a progressive new organization that will use its bigger and more powerful voice to be an unapologetic advocate for newspapers.
MoreSNPA's staunchest advocate honored for 43 years of service
Edward VanHorn, who went to work for SNPA 43 years ago straight out of the University of North Carolina, will be honored at next week's SNPA-Inland Annual Meeting as this year's recipient of the Frank W. Mayborn Leadership Award. The award is named for the Texas newspaperman who helped shape SNPA in the early 1950s and served as president from 1961 to 1962.
"He's been that silent leader behind the newspaper industry and SNPA," said SNPA President PJ Browning, president and publisher of The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C. "We're honored to have the opportunity to give him this award as he's retiring. We thought it was very fitting."
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