Certified Audit of Circulations merger with Alliance for Audited Media completed
Members of the Certified Audit of Circulations voted unanimously to support a merger with the Alliance for Audited Media. One hundred percent of the votes cast were in favor of the merger with more than 30 percent of members voting. AAM's membership also overwhelmingly supported the merger with 99 percent approving it. With support from both memberships, the merger was completed on May 29.
MORESign the petition; join the fight to protect U.S. jobs and oppose tariffs
The staffs of SNPA member newspapers are encouraged to sign the citizen petition to the International Trade Commission opposing the tariffs on imports of uncoated groundwood paper.
Newspapers also are encouraged to share the petition with their readers, and urge them to sign it as well.
The petition is being circulated by Stop Tariffs on Printing & Publishing (STOPP), a broad-based coalition representing the U.S. printing and publishing industries that was formed to fight these crippling tariffs. SNPA is a coalition member of STOPP.
MOREGateHouse Media launches consumer marketing agency
GateHouse Media has launched a new, central consumer marketing agency to drive consumer marketing revenue and develop new and innovative products and experiences. The agency is led by Denise Robbins, senior vice president of consumer marketing.
Part of the agency's role is overseeing subscription acquisition and customer lifecycle management, including deepening reader engagement and customer experience in GateHouse's largest markets. Later this year, the agency will expand to lead consumer marketing activity for all 144 GateHouse dailies as well as the company's weekly subscription-based publications, the company said.
MOREAP to automate video, audio transcription with Trint
The Associated Press and Trint have announced that they will work together to automate AP's video and audio transcription process, streamlining the news agency's workflow.
AP video journalists across the globe will use Trint to transcribe recorded interviews and events for use in the video and text news report. The transcriptions are reviewed by journalists for accuracy before the content is published.
MORE'PRINT' Act introduced in House to protect publishers and printers from harmful tariffs
Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and Charlie Crist, D-Fla., yesterday introduced legislation to suspend tariffs on Canadian imports of uncoated groundwood paper which includes newsprint used by newspapers, book publishers, printers and direct mail companies.
The legislation, H.R. 6031 – "Protecting Rational Incentives in Newsprint Trade Act of 2018" or "PRINT Act" – would temporarily halt both the preliminary and any final duties while the Department of Commerce (Commerce) completes its study on the economic health of the printing and publishing industries. The study would, among other things, examine whether the tariffs would harm local news coverage, reduce employment in the publishing and printing industries, or harm local businesses that advertise in local newspapers.
The House bill is identical to S.2835 that was introduced by Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Angus King (I-Maine) in May.
SNPA President Patrick Dorsey, publisher of the Herald-Tribune Media Group in Sarasota, Fla., and regional vice president Coastal Group, GateHouse Media, said: "Thanks for the leadership and common sense shown by Rep. Kristi Noem, R-S.D., and Charlie Crist, D-Fla., as they introduced legislation in the House to suspend tariffs on Canadian imports of uncoated groundwood paper. They should be lauded for stepping up to protect American jobs and working to stop these damaging tariffs."
MOREGiving Back: Become an SNPA Mentor
Mentors are needed to pair with newspaper employees who have leadership potential in the 2018-19 SNPA NEX GEN program that begins in September. This structured mentorship program includes a variety of events and activities designed to strengthen participants' industry knowledge, professional relationships, analytical skills and aptitude for innovation.
MOREHalf Moon Bay Review acquired by local group
A newly formed company, the Coastside News Group, has acquired the Half Moon Bay Review newspaper and related publications from Wick Communications.
Dirks, Van Essen, Murray & April, a media merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, N.M., represented Wick Communications in the transaction. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
MORECost cutting? Check out eBay
Lance Moler has taken bargain hunting to a new level at The Edmond Sun in Oklahoma. As general manager, before he replaces a part on the press or the CTP processors he checks eBay.
In the last few months alone, Moler has saved nearly $1,000. He said he's amazed by the markups on manufacturer replacement parts and that while he doesn't find every part he needs on eBay or the local hardware store, occasional dramatic savings are well worth taking the time to search.
MOREPaxton Media Group acquires the Batesville Daily Guard
Paxton Media Group purchased The Batesville (Ark.) Daily Guard from the Jones family on June 1, according to Randy Cope of Cribb, Greene & Cope who represented the Jones family.
Paxton Media, a family-owned company headquartered in Paducah, Ky., owns more than 36 daily newspapers, a television station and numerous weekly publications across Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina and Tennessee. Fourth- and fifth-generation family members manage Paxton Media.
MOREMcClatchy unveils ambitious editorial initiatives for midterm election coverage
McClatchy announced the launch of new editorial initiatives this month, aimed at better connecting McClatchy readers with important coverage of politics and policy decisions at stake in the 2018 midterm elections. The projects – "The Influencer Series," "Ground Game" and "Beto" – will provide sophisticated coverage of midterm election races important to both local voters served by McClatchy news brands and political obsessives nationwide.
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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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