Research study seeks partners
Research Director On Demand is looking for partners on its national survey to learn more about Millennials and their media habits. The object of the research will be a better understanding of this massive generation, including media usage, sources of information, content preferences and newspaper readership drivers.
MOREMaryland daily to be sold to Ogden Newspapers
An agreement in principal has been reached by the Randall Family, LLC, owners of The Frederick (Md.) News-Post, to explore the sale of the News-Post to Ogden Newspapers, Inc., of Wheeling, W.Va., according to Gary Greene, Cribb, Greene & Cope newspaper brokerage firm.
MOREHattiesburg paper to print three days a week, starting in April
The Hattiesburg (Miss.) American has announced plans to shift from publishing a print edition seven days a week to three – Wednesday, Friday and Sunday – beginning April 5.
In a letter to readers, Nathan Edwards, president of the Hattiesburg American, said: "The shift, driven by our consumers and advertisers, enables us to invest in new ways of doing business and better position ourselves for the future. Our research shows subscribers are increasingly choosing to access the American online via our website, mobile and tablet devices, with the Hattiesburg American having 8X more digital readers than print readers."
MOREPrint ads in newspapers, magazines are most trusted ad channels for purchase decisions
Eighty-two percent of Americans trust prints ads, followed by TV ads (80 percent) and direct mail (76 percent); online pop-ups are the least trusted (25 percent).
MORENew study shows the newspaper industry confidence continues to rise
According to the 2017 HubCiti Publishers' Confidence & Technology Report, the overall confidence in the sustainability of the local and regional newspaper industry is getting stronger amid new technologies and digital strategies. A full 70 percent of publishers surveyed believe digital services is necessary, with nearly 50 percent planning to implement in the next six months. Consumers of news continue to use the internet as the dominant source for content delivery, but with an increase of more than 10 percent from last year, mobile apps have now become the top method for digital news delivery.
"The new survey shows a definitive movement towards a more modern, digital strategy for news distribution among our local and regional publishers," stated Roy Truitt, CEO of HubCiti. "Implementing digital is now a must-have – compared to a competitive advantage. Training traditional sales staff to focus on digital and finding the right partners to implement new technology will determine how well publishers will meet market and consumer expectations."
Click MORE to read the key findings.
MOREAP to publish first all-time college basketball ranking
The Associated Press will rank the nation’s all-time top men’s college basketball programs for the first time, as tabulated from its more than 1,100 weekly polls of top basketball teams over the past 68 years.
MORENew Orleans Advocate acquires weekly Tammany Farmer
The New Orleans Advocate's owners expanded their footprint in St. Tammany Parish last week, purchasing The Farmer, a weekly newspaper that has been part of the Northshore's civic life since 1874.
MORE10 Newspapers That Do It Right
Three SNPA member newspapers are among the "10 Newspapers That Do It Right," as identified by Editor & Publisher Magazine, with another three being recognized with honorable mentions!
"From digital initiatives that are tapping into new audiences to community programs that are fostering stronger relationships, the ideas are as diverse as each market each publication serves," E&P said.
MOREDigital start-up understands what women want
By Mary Ann DeSantis, SNPA Correspondent
Nashville businesswomen Elizabeth Fox and Liza Graves met for coffee in 2009 to talk about how they could connect busy women to the great things happening in their town. They understood the time constraints women face, and their goal was to build a different business model to reach an audience that often says it's too busy to read a newspaper.
StyleBlueprint began in Nashville just eight years ago, and has become one of the South's fastest-growing online lifestyle brands, anchored by its daily articles, curated local guides in six markets and a newly launched digital app. In a breakout session at the 2017 Key Executives Mega-Conference in Orlando, Fox and Graves explained how they've achieved digital success by focusing solely on women.
"We didn't just blog," said Graves. "We got to know our audiences and focused on original content."
MOREThe science of story building
By Mary Ann DeSantis, SNPA Correspondent
Professors at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications are going beyond just teaching reporting skills. They are currently researching the psychology and physiology of storytelling, according to Matt Sheehan, who spoke at the 2017 Key Executives Mega-Conference in Orlando.
As director of stories and emerging platforms at the College, Sheehan is spearheading efforts to examine the intersection of storytelling, science and the social good. He leads a content and product incubator called "Hatch" that uses the principles of human-centered design to conceptualize, test and launch projects for the future of media and information.
"Storytelling is an art, not a checklist," he said to attendees at the Friday afternoon breakout session. "I'm giving you a headline view of the research we find fascinating."
MORE
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.
More
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."
More