spring2007

Spring 2007

Volume XCVI, No. 1

Núñez: ‘People don’t give power away’

Dan Weintraub leads a panel of veteran legislators including (left to right) Gloria Romero, Dick Ackerman, Fabian Núñez and Rick Keene.

3 publishers compare notes for ad group Don Bricker, publisher of the AppealDemocrat in Marysville, focuses on community issues, first amendment issues and is a second generation newspaperman. Carole Hutton, publisher of Palo Alto Daily News Group, spent 14 years in Detroit working at the same newspaper company as Frank Vega, publisher of the San Francisco Chronicle. Vega got his start in newspapers at age 12 as a paperboy and remembers the moment he realized he belonged in this industry: “I knew I loved this business at a tragic time, the day JFK was shot … all 109 people on my paper route were at the end of their driveway the next day waiting for their paper.”

Three different types of publishers were represented: Bricker is the community See PUBLISHER’S NIGHT Page 16

Eighty-seven attendees crowded into the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism’s library on Friday, Feb. 9 to participate in a one-day workshop on Newspaper Next, a yearlong project designed to develop the innovation tools and processes newspaper companies need to reverse course from decline to growth.

The program, led by Newspaper Next Managing Director Steve

See NEWSPAPER NEXT Page 14

See NPN Page 14

CNPA’s 119th Annual Convention takes shape

Save the date:

Publisher Profile

Legal Helpline ...... 2

Roberta Donohue Palisadian Post

President’s Note ... 2 Celebrate Sunshine Week .................... 5

July 12-14, CNPA members will travel to fog city to focus on Morphing into 21st Century Media, this year’s theme chosen

by Convention Chair and San Francisco Examiner Publisher John Wilcox.

The convention will take place at the San Francisco Fairmont and will feature presentations on technology, circulation and advertising.

Read more in CNPA President Jerry Bean’s column on Page 2.

CNPA Outreach..... 7 Obituaries ............. 8 People .................. 9 Technology .......... 12 Allied Member Directory .......... 17-19

California Newspaper Publishers Association

The new advertising program will compete with direct mail

Gray, was co-sponsored by CNPA and the American Press Institute. Gray used handouts and a massive flat-screen television to help deliver the message that if newspapers want to survive the current sea change in the industry, executives must change their thought processes now. Attendees were specifically encouraged to change their view of the target reader and the way newspapers provide these target readers with information.

To get the creative juices flowing, Gray had attendees fill out a worksheet called the “Disruptive Innovation Barometer,” which asks, “How ready is your organization for disruption?”

See GA DAY Page 10

CNPA members use workshop to take Newspaper Next home Newspaper Next workshop says innovation based on community interviews with non-readers is key to our survival

CNPA Advertising Services launches National Preprint Network

It is no secret that advertisers have been steering away from newspapers, and to bring them back, newspapers are beginning to realize that they are not competing with their neighbor, but with direct mail and the Internet.

CNPA’s answer to competing with these factors is the National Preprint Network, which will allow newspapers who join the network (any daily paper with a Total Market Coverage Program can join nationally) to take advantage of advertisers opting to run their inserts through Sharla Trillo the NPN as opposed to filling the mailboxes of their readers through the mail.

About a year ago, the idea began to develop that would support the newspaper industry by boosting advertising on a national level through the NPN. The idea germinated at the Newspaper Target Marketing Coalition conference where CNPA Director of Advertising Services Sharla Trillo and the Gregg Dittoe of the Los Angeles Times began to test the waters and design what CNPA could do to lead the charge for the new program.

“This is a good time for the industry to start something like this and compete with direct mail. Our rates are very attractive and competitive,” Trillo said.

A year later, all of the infrastructure is completed and NPN, which officially launched Dec. 31, already has 14 member newspapers, a major advertiser signed on (to be announced at a later time) and several already in talks to begin taking advantage of the reach this program can offer. The Los Angeles Times helped to spearhead the

“I don’t know what to do but I’m ready to do it”

IN S IDE

Pg. 3

Wednesday, Jan. 31 a sold-out crowd packed into the the Sheraton Grand Sacramento for CNPA’s 11th Annual Governmental Affairs Day. The event brought a record number of attendees and featured politicians who discussed the hot topics brewing in the political world and how to better bridge the relationship between journalists and politicos.

Some topics were hotter than others as California State Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles) announced he wants to relax term limits.

Núñez told representatives of CNPA and California Society of Newspaper Editors that the current term limit law restricts Assembly members to three twoyear terms and State Senators to a pair of four-year terms. A proposed plan would allow a 12-year limit that a legislator can spend in either the Assembly or the State Senate “Redistricting comes down to the question of power … People don’t give power away,” Núñez said. “If we are on a course of political metamorphosis then we have to have trust in the state we represent.”

Assistant Assembly Republican Leader

July 12-14, San Francisco Fairmont

708 10th St., Sacramento CA 95814 (916) 288-6000

Fax (916) 288-6002

www.cnpa.com

2 California Publisher Spring 2007

T H E C N PA M I S S I O N To champion the ideals of a free press in our democratic society and to promote the quality and economic health of California newspapers

Learn how to thrive in the 21st Century at convention

C

The convention committee is designNPA’s 119th ing the sessions and workshops to help in annual conventhose daily decisions on how to deliver our tion July 12-14 in content. Invitations have been extended San Francisco will mix to speakers and workshop leaders, and practical advice on suralthough it’s too early to make announceviving in a digital age ments, Wilcox promises “they’ll be experts with the engaging atmoin the field.” sphere and good times The lure of San Francisco is also a major of one of America’s draw of the convention. “When people want greatest vacation cities.

FROM THE to play, they’ll be able to do it in a great The goal of the conPRESIDENT place,” Wilcox said of his city, which is vention this year is Jerry Bean known for its cultural diversity and fantasto help you “not only tic dining. survive in a digital The convention will be held at The age — but thrive,” emphasized convention Fairmont on Nob Hill, a world-famous chairman and San Francisco Examiner hotel known for its comfort, impeccable Publisher John Wilcox. “Our sessions will service and a historic view of the City by offer the best of current thinking on how the Bay. The Fairmont is to be successful as modern near Union Square and media evolves.”

Our goal is to make Fisherman’s Wharf and For CNPA, this is an has quick access to the important concept: You will the convention a city’s famed cable cars. have fun at this convention, must-attend event The convention will but it will also be serious for even the most begin on Thursday, July business for a serious time financially strapped 12, with a get-acquainted in our industry. If you want breakfast and will end on to thrive, the convention will newspaper.

Saturday, July 14, with the offer information and ideas Better Newspapers Contest that will guide you. awards show. In addition Our goal is to make the to 21st Century Media sessions, Wilcox convention a must-attend event for even hopes to have other sessions — perhaps the most financially strapped newspaper. some political with the impending election In the coming weeks, you’ll learn more year — and special discussions on Saturday about the programming and why it is with editorial themes. essential for you to attend, but here are There will be early evening receptions, previews: but no formal dinner on at least one night The Convention’s theme this year is so convention-goers may take advantage “Morphing into 21st Century Media.” of San Francisco’s great restaurants. The Wilcox says this theme illustrates the evoSan Francisco Examiner is sponsoring the lutionary process that newspaper compaFriday evening reception and dinner cruise nies will face as they decide how to operate aboard the Empress Hornblower yacht, their 21st Century information businesses. which will be limited to the first 140 regis“For instance, some of our content may trants. be similar today, but our delivery systems The convention will allow time for fun may change,” Wilcox said. “They may even be different on different days. These are big See PRESIDENT’S COLUMN, Page 11 decisions.”

CALIFORNIA PUBLISHER

Jack Bates Executive Director Kristen Lowrey Communications Director Joe Wirt Advertising Manager California Publisher USPN 084720 ISSN 0008-1434 Subscriptions are $15 per year.

California Publisher is printed by Paradise Post Printing.

Periodicals postage paid at Sacramento, CA. Postmaster send address changes to: California Publisher 708 10th Street Sacramento, CA 95814-1803

nalism programs around the state to help CNPA is hosting a define appropriate curricular changes. statewide summit in “While there’s a lot of discussion going May for California pubon nationally about how to revitalize and lishers and professors reform journalism education, California is to prioritize what skills so large and so diverse in how we educate entry-level journalthat it seems appropriate to define this ists or interns need to very clearly for ourselves,” Fox said. work in the newspaper The Cal-JEC is an umbrella group of industry. The summit is high school, college and professional orgapart of a six-month ini- Sylvia Fox nizations interested in journalism educatiative by the California tion. With the support of CNPA, and coJournalism Education Coalition to clarify sponsored by California State University, industry concerns to educators. Produced Sacramento, Fox became the inaugural by the new executive director of the Calexecutive director of Cal-JEC in January.

JEC, Sylvia Fox, the initiative will ask “CNPA is excited to help in the process industry and academic decision-makers to of defining what define skills and abiliskills our young jourties for a media career should have in 2007.

“There will always be a need nalists for a career in a rap“There will always for good journalists … But idly changing indusbe a need for good try and providing journalists,” Fox said. it’s time to establish exactly resources for those “But it’s time to estab- what we think are the list of who are guiding lish exactly what we skills an entry-level reporter them into the workthink are the list of should have for a career that ing world,” CNPA skills an entry-level Executive Director reporter should have begins in 2007.” for a career that begins – Sylvia Fox Jack Bates said.

Cal-JEC executive director Fox, a veteran jourin 2007.” nalism adviser and Fox said she has freelance journalist, found publishers, edihas instructed and tors and professors advised journalism for more than 20 years. eager to tackle this subject.

She has chaired Cal-JEC since its forma“While there’s been no debate that tion in 2003 and is the president of the everyone needs a firm foundation in critiCalifornia College Media Association, which cal thinking skills, ethics, spelling, puncrepresents university journalism programs. tuation and grammar, the baseline skill Since 2003, Cal-JEC delegates have lists can get a bit hazy from there,” Fox identified and discussed issues in California said. “We’re training students for a differjournalism education along with the indusent world, and we need to get on the same try’s needs. The coalition in 2006 revived page, quite literally, about industry expecstatewide adviser of the year awards for all tations in order for a curriculum to reflect scholastic levels. industry needs.”

For instance, should students be expectFor more information, contact Sylvia ed to be comfortable with using databases?

Fox at (916) 288-6025 or e-mail her at Using a video camera? Editing audio?

Sylvia@cnpa.com. Details on Cal-JEC are Fox plans to circulate the priorities at www.cnpa.com/caljec. established by the summit to college jour-

Closed meeting exemptions rarely granted

Q:

Published quarterly by the California Newspaper Publishers Association 708 10th Street Sacramento, CA 95814 Spring, March 2007

Cal-JEC project to re-define skills needed to enter journalism field

I am a reporter for our local newspaper working on a story about a wildfire moving toward some homes in a fairly desolate area.

I went with our photographer to access the HELPLINE fire scene and we got to Jim Ewert the staging area where CNPA Legal many of the firefighters Counsel were boarding transport trucks to take them to the actual location of the fire. When we began to follow one of the transport vehicles to the fire scene we were stopped by a highway patrolman who told us we could not drive to the actual location because he was concerned that “we might park our car in a manner that would impede the firefighters from doing their job.” The road leading up to the fire is a four-lane road.

When I asked the officer how we would get to the fire if we could not drive our car, he said we could walk. By insisting that we walk the 12 miles from the staging area to the fire, the officer essentially prohibited us from covering one of this year’s biggest

news stories. Isn’t there a law that allows reporters to cover emergency situations or accident scenes?

A:

Law enforcement officers have the right to restrict the general public from accessing disaster and emergency scenes such as fires and accidents under California Penal Code Sections 148.2 and 409.5. Unlawful entry by the general public constitutes a misdemeanor according to Penal Code Section 409.5(c) and Penal Code Section 148.2 specifically states that every person who willfully: resists or interferes with the lawful efforts of any fireman or firemen or emergency rescue personnel in the discharge or attempt to discharge an official duty; or disobeys the lawful orders of any fireman or public officer is guilty of a misdemeanor.

However, under Penal Code Section 409.5(d), “a duly authorized representative of any news service, newspaper, or radio or television station or network” has a statutory right to be present at the scene of disasters and emergencies. The California attorney general has ruled that this media exemption prevents law enforcement from excluding the media from disas-

ter and emergency areas provided that the individual reporters and photographers can present some evidence (e.g., a media badge or other identification) issued by their employer to indicate they are “authorized representatives” of a newspaper or other news organization. The attorney general’s opinion specifically rejects the argument that “duly authorized” means only those authorized by law enforcement, 67 Ops. Cal Atty. Gen. 535 (1984).

On these facts and assuming you were able to present a badge identifying you as a journalist, the officer was wrong for denying you access to the fire scene. He was well aware that you were a journalist because he was going to let you walk the twelve miles to the scene. This suggests he knew you had a legal right to access the scene but ignored the law. Additionally, because you were denied access to the scene, it was impossible for you to violate Section 148.2 since you were never in a position to interfere with the ability of the firefighters to battle the fire. If the officer was concerned about your behavior at the location of the fire, he could have given you a cautionary warning to avoid doing anything that would impede the firefighters at the scene that might subSee HELPLINE, Page 5

ADVERTISERS IN THIS ISSUE CNPA Allied Members ....................... 17-19 CNPA Foundation .................................. 8 Dirks, Van Essen & Murray........................... 16 Gauger Media Service, Inc. ......................... 13

JP Media Partners ................................... 7 Kamen & Co. Group Services ............... 14 Knowles Media Brokerage Services ........ 5 McGrann Paper Corp. ............................... 6

Newstravel.................................................... 15 NP Commercial Printing ......................... 7 TownNews.com .......................................... 18 The Ultimate Print Source ......................... 20

PUBLISHER’S PROFILE

Spring 2007 California Publisher 3

Roberta Donohue Palisadian Post in Pacific Palisades What sparked your interest in journalism as a career?

My career at the paper has always focused on the business side. My managing editor is the true journalist, and I work closely with him overseeing the newsroom, discussing story ideas and sharing feedback that I get from community members.

PERSONAL STATS Name: Roberta Donohue Born: 1952 in Culver City, and brought home to Pacific Palisades where I was raised with my two brothers. My Dad owned and operated a Mobil gas station in the heart of the town for 40 years.

What’s the most important thing you learned along the way that prepared you to be a publisher?

The most important thing that I have learned is to listen to your people. Share their ideas with the rest of the staff and create a team spirit.

First job: I was hired in 1972 as a typesetter for the PalisadianPost. The Post had just converted to cold type, and I learned to type on Compugraphic computers that punched tape.

It was exciting to learn this new equipment and I was asked to create instruction manuals for the composition department. I really enjoyed working in this environment with the diversity of jobs. Not only did I set all newspaper copy and advertising, we were also a commercial printing shop and set copy for newsletters, brochures and magazines.

After six months as a typesetter, I was promoted to the front office as a receptionist/classified clerk. I handled all facets of the newspaper’s frontoffice duties, sold subscriptions, serviced real estate accounts, performed paste-up duties and began selling small commercial printing jobs.

In 1980 I was promoted to office manager where I learned the bookkeeping end of the business. A year later I became the publisher’s assistant and was taught all facets of our commercial printing functions.

What people or places have had the biggest impact on how your career has developed?

Watching my Dad had a big impact on me. He had only a third-grade education, came to America at the age of 15 and owned his business, working seven days a week yet making time to volunteer with the Optimist Club and the Chamber of Commerce. He gave back to the community, he helped his neighbors and he was a wonderful and loving father and husband. My only regret is that he did not live to see my success at the paper and he never had a chance to meet his wonderful granddaughter.

You’ve been at the Palisadian-Post for 35 years. What is it about that paper in particular that has kept you involved?

Continuing to learn and to incorporate new technology with our computers and presses, but the heart of what we do is the same: writing about our community and the people that live and work here. When I first started working the editor said to me, “Once you get ink into your bloodstream, it’s hard to get it out!” I still enjoy hearing the sound of the presses start up.

What is your biggest concern about newspapers and their future?

We are a paid weekly community newspaper and have always had competition with free newspapers around the area.

Now, the websites are our biggest competitors because it hurts us in our commercial printing division. Many organizations have stopped their print media and posted information on a website instead. We are moving into a more active advertising program on our newspaper’s website.

Tell us something about the communities the Palisadian-Post serves. Are they growing communities? Who are your readers?

Pacific Palisades is a jewel of a community, situated between the Pacific Ocean

Palisadian-Post Publisher Roberta Donohue stands in the pressroom at The Post, where she has worked in various positions for 35 years, including the role of publisher since 1987. and the Santa Monica Mountains. Our town of 27,000 appears to be the culmination of a perfect master plan, protected through community efforts to save the coastline and mountains from development. We have 530 businesses, including retail shops and professional services. Though we lie within the City of Los Angeles, Pacific Palisades has kept its own name and post office designation, in keeping with the original intent of the founders, and functions as a town with its own Community Council, a band, a symphony orchestra, a community theater, a major Fourth of July Parade, excellent schools, thriving places of worship, a YMCA and many active clubs and organizations.

Civic pride by local residents is readily seen by the amount of extraordinary time spent in volunteerism and community service. We have an extremely loyal readership: 90 percent resubscribe!

What excites you about this business?

Seeing the excitement that stories bring to people! When strangers walk up to me and say that they love the paper!

What can journalists do to keep newspapers alive?

We can educate our kids to love their community newspaper. We give tours to all different age groups – elementary to high school – to help them appreciate how a newspaper is created from story idea to watching the pages come off the presses.

What fun it is to see their faces when the presses begin to run!

Donohue and her daughter Jennifer.

The government and press have always had a strained relationship.

What can newspapers do to make sure that they are acting as a watchdog but also using discretion in publishing sensitive stories?

Making sure that all sides are reported

accurately and fairly, and that our stories strive hard not to hurt people.

You are very involved in your community; what are some of the ways the industry can preserve newspapers in our communities?

Again, by educating people every time we go out into the community.

What are some of the challenges the Palisadian-Post faces in today’s technology-driven world? What are your print-to-web processes (24-hr. coverage, updates once a week, once a day, etc.)?

Our graphic designers are learning a new program for Web advertising design.

Our sales staff will be aggressively selling Web ads, which will be new to our website. We print our papers weekly, and update our website every Wednesday afternoon after the paper has gone to press.

What are you most proud of?

Besides my daughter, my extended family at the Post! I work with a group of 27 wonderful people. This past December we lost two of our Post family members – our pressman Joe Hernandez , who I had worked with for 28 years, and Dan Kanan, husband to our business manager Cheryel, who has been with us for 24 years. This has been a hard time for the employees; we are a small group and a close one. The loss of our dear friends is deeply felt and continues to remind us that life is very precious.

Where do you go to get your news?

I listen to news radio in the morning when I’m getting ready for work and I read the Los Angeles Times at work. I like the feel of newsprint!

Current job: In 1985 I became general manager and assumed full commercial printing responsibilities. I also supervised all facets of the front-office operations and personnel relations.

In 1987 I was promoted to publisher. I am responsible for the entire operation and revenue generation for the Palisadian-Post and Post Printing.

Family: Married 34 years to Richard; our daughter Jennifer, 16, is a junior at Palisades Charter High School. We are very proud of our daughter. She is an outstanding student, plays violin in the school orchestra and is a starter for the girls’ volleyball team!

Education: I attended our local public schools and then graduated from Willis Business College in Santa Monica. I continue to educate myself by attending leadership conferences, seminars and reading.

Community involvement and diversions: I joined the Chamber of Commerce board of directors in 1986, served as president in 2000, and now serve as an advisor. I love being a volunteer. One of my favorite events that we sponsored for nine years was an auto show! This year the Chamber is focusing on the environment, which is also one of our concerns at the Post. We have been using 100% recycled newsprint for the past 15 years, and now have a column in our paper (“Save Our Earth”) to help our readers be more aware of the role they play.

My diversions? I love Nordic walking, listening to classic rock n roll!

Reading a good book. Relaxing on the beach, watching the sunset.

Being with people I love and cooking.

That sounds like a party!

4 California Publisher Spring 2007

NEWS BRIEFS Celebrate Sunshine Week March 11-17 Celebrate open government with Sunshine Week 2007 to be held March 1117. You can contribute work to the online national Toolkit, which is available to everyone participating in Sunshine Week.

If you’ve produced a story, opinion column, cartoon, graphic, Web product, podcast or anything else looking at the importance of access to official information, it could be considered for inclusion. Please send your submissions to Debra Gersh Hernandez at dghernandez@asne.org, Sunshine Week coordinator. Everything in the Toolkit is available to use for Sunshine Week coverage. Each year, work is posted in an electronic gallery on the Sunshine Week website at www.sunshineweek.org, and some is selected for inclusion in the “Bright Ideas” book.

Sunshine Week Events in California On Monday, March 12, the California First Amendment Coalition will cosponsor a “Sunshine Week” panel discussion along with the Northern California Association of Law Libraries and the League of Women Voters of Oakland. This event will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the County of Alameda Training Center in Oakland, 125 12th Street, Suite 400. The cost is $10 for lunch. The talk will feature CFAC Executive Director Peter Scheer and other open government experts. It will follow a broadcast of two Washington, D.C.-based panel discussions on openness. For more information about this event and to register contact Paul Gullixson at paul.gullixson@pressdemocrat.com.

Also, CFAC will cosponsor, with the Associated Press, the “Sunlight Awards,” which will be announced during Sunshine Week. These will go to writers whose news stories in 2006 best reflect the values of openness and access.

On Tuesday, March 13 will be the SPJ dinner in San Francisco to honor this year’s winners of the Madison Awards.

CFAC’s Reb Rebele, CNPA’s 1988 presi-

dent, will receive the Norwin Yoffie “Career Achievement Award.” The dinner will be at Biscuits & Blues, 401 Mason St. For more information, go to http://www. spj.org/norcal/ 4. Finally, Check out the national Sunshine Week website: www. sunshineweek.org.

Newspaper Industry Compensation Survey

stories from the newspaper’s website onto their computers by clicking on a desktop icon. Another company, NewsStand Inc., offers digital media content from a number of newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal.

With the Seattle paper’s News Reader service, readers who remain online can get updated content every hour. Only select stories will be made available through the service, which is free. To get access to all the newspaper’s stories, readers must go to the publication’s website, subscribe to the paper’s electronic edition or buy a copy of the newspaper. The News Reader software will work only with computers using Microsoft Windows XP or Vista operating systems.

The Newspaper Industry Compensation Survey is the largest and most complete and authoritative survey of salaries for newspaper positions. The survey covers more than 90 job titles specific to the newspaper industry. It is the “industry standard” and guides the compensation planning process for most newspaper groups. The purpose of the survey is to provide high-quality planning data for pay levels and pay practices in the United States and Canada.

NAA’s ‘Solutions 2007’ to be held in California

The survey provides comprehensive pay data that enable papers to: Receive reliable and effective pay benchmarks, the quality and scope of which cannot be found elsewhere; Compare compensation levels by circulation size, by revenue level, by geographic region and with the newspaper industry as a whole; Assist the newspaper industry in managing an important fact of business; Explain compensation decisions.

NAA’s Smaller-Market Newspaper Regional Marketing Symposium is bringing its seminar to California on Oct. 25 in Riverside. “Solutions 2007” is a one-day marketing symposium for advertising, promotion, circulation, new-media executives and publishers. NAA has designed an inexpensive, informative program that’s easy to attend and near the newspaper’s own hometown.

The survey cost is based on circulation size. Late fees apply after March 15. Final deadline is May 15. For information on fees and to download the form go to www. cnpa.com

Solutions 2007 is guaranteed to help marketing efforts across all disciplines and improve the bottom line. Each symposium also includes a large variety of take-home

Microsoft, Hearst to deliver newspapers online, starting with Seattle P-I Microsoft Corp. and Hearst Corp. unveiled a software service last month that allows newspaper readers to download stories and read them even when not connected to the Internet. The News Reader, which is now available to readers of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, enables readers to automatically transfer a sampling of

products and materials including the latest “Solutions – Big Ideas for Smaller-Market Newspapers” book with over 300 pages of success stories to help your efforts as well as a networking continental breakfast and luncheon. To sign up visit www.naa. org The cost for the symposium is $60 for NAA Federation members and $90 for NAA members with a 30 percent discount on each additional registrant. Room registration at the Riverside Marriott can be found at www.marriott.com.

Magistrate will mediate Wolf case The San Francisco Chronicle reports that a federal judge assigned a magistrate as a mediator Feb. 20 to try to resolve the case of Josh Wolf, the blogger who has been in prison nearly six months for refusing to turn over a videotape of an anarchist protest to a federal grand jury.

U.S. District Judge William Alsup, who held Wolf in contempt of court in August and has rejected several defense requests to free him, said in a brief order that he was referring the case to U.S. Magistrate Joseph Spero “in the interest of reaching a resolution satisfactory to both sides.”

Alsup did not mention any basis for a possible settlement or otherwise explain his order. Neither the U.S. attorney’s office nor Wolf had requested mediation.

Dan Siegel, a lawyer for Wolf, said he was “pleased but mystified” by the order.

Neither side has given any indication of an impending compromise.

CNPA produces a weekly electronic bulletin posted on www.cnpa.com and e-mailed to our members. To submit your news piece or subscribe to the newsletter, contact CNPA Communcations Director Kristen Lowrey at kristen@cnpa.com

Spring 2007 California Publisher 5

Celebrate Sunshine Week March 11-17

By Mary Dugenske Atlanta Journal-Constitution communications director Every year, through their support of Sunshine Week, hundreds of newspapers educate their readers about the importance of open government and freedom of information.

Editors who want to make the most of their Sunshine Week efforts should consider reaching out to their newspaper’s marketing department. Their marketing counterparts can help them foster awareness and appreciation of the need for open government and freedom of information, as well as build readership for the newspaper’s Sunshine Week stories.

For two years, The Atlanta JournalConstitution’s marketing department has supported its newsroom in promoting Sunshine Week. Based on that collaboration, here are ideas other newspapers may wish to explore.

Involve marketing early: In December 2004, as it prepared for the first national Sunshine Week in March 2005, the news department notified marketing of its interest in promoting Sunshine Week, which gave marketing plenty of time to develop creative ways to promote Sunshine Week activities and coverage.

Think beyond just a week It generally takes more than a week to build awareness and understanding for any program. In 2005, the AJC began running stories on the importance of open government and open records in February – nearly a month before Sunshine Week.

Marketing outreach to the public began in February, too. Since the AJC’s efforts weren’t limited to just a single week, the program was branded locally as “Your Right to Know.” A “Your Right to Know” icon was developed, and it appeared in all news stories and marketing materials related to open government issues.

Week in 2005 and 2006 are collected in Bright Ideas for Sunshine Week 2007 and Bright Ideas for Sunshine Week 2006.

Tap all aspects of Marketing After news reached out to marketing, marketing designated a project manager for “Your Right to Know” who, in turn, formed a committee of marketers with expertise in public relations, online marketing and event marketing.

Balance Marketing efforts with News efforts: “Your Right to Know” was an important program for the AJC’s newsroom, with a variety of stories planned over the course of several weeks. To complement the newsroom’s plans, the marketing program for “Your Right to Know” employed a variety of awareness-building tactics over a two-month period, including: • Media relations – distribution of special packages and media advisories to local TV and radio stations; placement of AJC news staffers on community affairs programs.

• Community relations – distribution of media advisories to college and high school newspaper editors and advisers.

Distribution of posters to local schools and libraries and distribution of fliers at newspaper-sponsored events.

• Editorial marketing (print and online) – development of two related house ad campaigns, one promoting the program in general, the other promoting specific AJC stories. These ads were scheduled to run frequently in February and March.

• Internal marketing – posters on bulletin boards, signs in the lobby and employee cafeteria, presentations at company meetings and stories in the employee newsletter helped inform and educate employees across the newspaper.

• Event marketing – the newsroom hosted a luncheon honoring local heroes of open government, for which marketing provided support.

• Circulation marketing – point-of-purchase materials promoted specific AJC “Your Right to Know” stories.

Is Sunshine Week making a difference?

What is Sunshine Week?

Sunshine Week is a national initiative to open a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information. Participants include print, broadcast and online news media, civic groups, libraries, non-profits, schools and others interested in the public’s right to know. Sunshine Week is led by the American Society of Newspaper Editors and is funded by a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation of Miami. Though spearheaded by journalists, Sunshine Week is about the public’s right to know what its government is doing, and why. Sunshine Week seeks to enlighten and empower people to play an active role in their government at all levels, and to give them access to information that makes their lives better and their communities stronger. Sunshine Week is a non-partisan initiative whose supporters are conservative, liberal and everything in between.

What do people do during Sunshine Week?

The first two national Sunshine Weeks saw fantastic creativity and enthusiasm from participants. There were special sections devoted to open government, weeklong series, profiles of local Freedom of Information heroes, public forums, classroom activities, online packages, essay contests – and even a song. Examples of the myriad ways journalists, students, lawmakers and public groups marked Sunshine

The coverage, commentaries and activities promoting open government during Sunshine Week have led to some tangible, meaningful changes to people’s lives and the laws that govern them. The Sunshine Week initiative is increasing public awareness, it’s coming up more often in policy conversations, and the efforts of participants are being cited as real forces for moving the public away from simply accepting excessive and unwarranted government secrecy. People also are playing more of a role in the actions that affect their communities. They now are learning what kinds of information they have a right to see, where to get it, how to get it and what to do if someone tries to keep if from them.

You can find examples of Sunshine Week success stories in the Sunshine Illuminates gallery at www.sunshineweek.org.

For more information on Sunshine Week contact your regional Coordinator: Far West Region Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Washington Regional Coordinator Maureen West Senior Editor Arizona Republic, Phoenix (602) 444-4843 maureen.west@arizonarepublic.com California Paul Gullixson Assistant Editorial Director Santa Rosa Press-Democrat Board President California First Amendment Coalition (707)-521-5282 pgullixson@pressdemocrat.com

Helpline From page 2 ject you to potential misdemeanor liability.

It is important to remember that despite your right of access to an emergency or disaster scene, law enforcement has the ability to control the area and your decision to obey the officer was correct. If you had disobeyed the officer, even though he wrongly denied you access, you could have been arrested. To prevent this situation from being repeated in the future, it may be a good idea to carry a copy of Section 409.5 with you when you cover an emergency or disaster. You might also consider scheduling a meeting with your editor and the local CHP commander to discuss what happened. Once the commander understands you have a right to access the fire scene he or she should be willing to instruct the unit’s officers on your access rights.

Please note that Section 409.5(d) does not grant you a right of access irrespective of other property rights. If the fire is on private property you might not be exempt from liability. In these situations, while an officer may not arrest or cite you for a violation of Section 409.5(d), the officer may arrest or cite you under criminal trespass statutes.

Q:

One of my worst salesmen walked into my office last Friday afternoon and told me he was resigning to take another job in a different part of the state. He told me he knew this put me in a difficult position but he was not leaving for four weeks so that I could find a replacement and he would have enough time to train him or her. Since it was already the end of the pay period and I didn’t want him to train his replacement, I decided to make his resignation effective that day. A week later I received a letter from the Employment Development Department (EDD) informing

me that the salesman had filed a claim for unemployment insurance. If the employee voluntarily quit, is he entitled to receive unemployment insurance?

A:

EDD has determined that if an employee quits and gives notice and the employer lets the employee go before the expiration of the notice period, the employer becomes the “moving party” who places into motion the chain of events that is responsible for the termination of the employment relationship.

According to this interpretation, if the employer is considered the moving party, the ending of the employer-employee relationship becomes a discharge by the employer rather than a quit by the employee. If the employee does not go to work immediately for another employer and suffers a wage loss, the employee would be entitled to unemployment benefits (assuming he had sufficient wages in the base period to meet eligibility requirements).

The risk in immediately terminating an employee who has given notice may be avoided, although potentially costly in this case, if the employee is paid through the notice period even if the employee is not working because the employee would not suffer a wage loss – the triggering event. The interpretation by EDD is posted online in the last volume of the Benefit Determination Guide called “Voluntary Quit - VQ 135 - November 1994” which can be found at the EDD website at www. edd.ca.gov.

Have a legal question? Call Jim Ewert on the CNPA Legal Helpline at (916) 288-6013 or e-mail at jim@cnpa.com.

6 California Publisher Spring 2007

Look ahead to Spring with CNIE

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needs. A full schedule will be out as soon as here are a couple the sessions are finalized. If you have a sugof important gestion or would like to propose a session, events coming contact Terri Neece at tneece@thecaliforsoon that I want to talk nian.com or Diane Kannenberg at dmkanto you about in this nenberg@jps.net for a proposal form. issue. These are major After all, as I’ve said many times, this events that you should is your organization and you should be make note of: March involved in its conference planning and 4-10 is NIE Week, and implementation. We haven’t finalized our the annual CNIE conNEWSPAPER Thursday night event but it’s bound to be ference will be held May IN EDUCATION fun.

10-11 in Santa Barbara.

Diane The committee has worked hard to keep NIE Week is a time to Kannenberg costs as low as possible. The conference fee showcase the wonderis $100 for CNIE members ($75 for each ful work done by NIE additional person from the same newspaprograms around the world. Celebrations per) and includes meals for both days. The can be as simple as a thank-you ad in the non-member conference fee is $150 per newspaper or a full-blown celebration with person, and $125 for each additional percommunity involvement. However they are son from the same organization. The hotel celebrated they all have one thing in comrooms are $129 per night and are a real mon: acknowledging the efforts by each bargain for this location. The program to help prepare hotel will offer pre- and posttoday’s students for the future If newspapers conference rooms at the rate by using the newspaper to of $159-$179. Mention CNIE encourage learning and com- expect to attract when booking to get the conmunity involvement. and retain ference rate.

The Newspaper Association motivated, In order to help with budof America Foundation offers career-focused geting for the conference the a new teacher’s guide each CNIE board voted to waive the year that promotes newspeople, we need conference fee ($100) for the paper use in the classroom. to talk about the first 20 CNIE members regisThis year’s guide, “Now I Get positive things tering for the conference. To It,” is designed to improve happening in our qualify for the fee waiver the reading comprehension. member newspaper must meet The guide is available on the industry. the following requirements: NAA Foundation website. · 2007 membership dues must There is no cost for the guide be paid prior to submitting the conferthrough the generous sponsorship of Abitibi ence registration.

Consolidated Inc. · 2007 membership must be verified by This year’s CNIE conference will be Becky Perry, CNIE membership chairheld May 10-11 at the Hotel Mar Monte in person. beautiful Santa Barbara. The Mar Monte The fee waiver does not include hotel, is an elegant seaside hotel located directly transportation or any other costs. It is limacross from the beach. Its Spanish coloited to a one-time $100 conference fee and nial-style architecture and décor radiate an is valid for one person at each newspaper. old-world feel while offering guests modern Additional people from the same newspaper conveniences such as wireless high-speed must pay the regular conference fee ($75).

Internet access, a fully equipped fitness The offer is not available to non-members. center and gourmet cuisine. The hotel also The CNIE board will determine the 20 recipoffers complimentary parking, bicycle rentients by date and time of registration. CNPA als, Spa Mar Monte and the Santa Barbara will offer online registration.

Airbus to LAX. We will keep you updated as the conferThe conference committee is working on ence takes shape. If you have any questions sessions based on responses to the survey about any of the information in this column, sent out in December 2006. The main topcontact me at the email address above and ics will be: ABC, setting up and maintainI’ll do my best to answer them for you. I look ing an NIE program, funding options and forward to seeing you all in Santa Barbara. teacher workshops. Featured speakers will represent both the corporate world and the Diane Kannenberg is president of NIE community. Many of those surveyed the California Newspaper In Education requested basic “how to” sessions, so the Association. committee also will try to address those

Building a foundation

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NPA board members Cheryl Brown, publisher of The Black Voice News in Riverside; Dean Eckenroth, publisher of the Coronado Eagle and Journal, and Becky Clark, publisher of the Town Crier in Idyllwild, read new member student papers.

The board approved 13 high school members and one college member during the Feb. 1 meeting. Campus members are eligible to apply for CNPA Foundation Equipment Grants, which are awarded in late spring.

D

uring the quarterly meeting, the CNPA Foundation Board of Directors approved a revised mission statement: “The CNPA Foundation serves California’s newspaper readers by supporting and financially assisting the state’s high schools and colleges to teach quality journalism that is also responsive to changing technology and consumer preferences.”

Spring 2007 California Publisher 7

Are you building your farm team?

I

t was a typical January day – I’d given my usual opening-class speech about the importance of working on the college paper and getting internships, and now there was the student at my door, part puzCOMMON zled, part panicked.

SENSE “I should get an JOURNALISM internship? How? Doug Fisher How can I afford it?”

The answer to the first question was an emphatic “yes.” But I’m finding the answers to the second and third ones a little harder each year.

On my desk, an editor’s letter regretfully said a newspaper was ending its internships. A couple of months earlier, I’d sat on a panel with this person as we discussed the industry’s push for experience in our graduates and possibly requiring internships.

But cutting the internships wasn’t the editor’s decision; corporate had cut the money, more fallout from the industry’s economic woes. (To the editor’s credit, the paper is trying to find alternative funds.)

A colleague told me a major national internship program scrambled this year after industry changes undermined some of

credit only, you’re asking someone to pay its support, and apparently the future still hundreds of dollars for the privilege. And is uncertain. don’t get all teary-eyed because of the gloOne friend with a long history recruiting rification of the unpaid internship Will for the newspaper industry says the word Smith’s character struggled through in on the street is that many of the surviving “The Pursuit of Happyness.” chains are talking about their The potential for riches as a internship programs’ future, stockbroker was much greater from doing away with them to If newspapers than your average newsroom downgrading them to unpaid expect to attract job being sought by a college positions. And while I haven’t and retain student with a near-crushing done a content study, I’ve motivated, debt load. noticed what seem like fewer Broadcasters have had internships listed recently, and career-focused unpaid internships for years, those that are have lines like people, we need but they benefit from the lure “seeks unpaid news interns on to talk about the of the chance to be on camera, an ongoing basis who will be positive things or even near one. Even among responsible for their own livbroadcast students, however, ing expenses and must be able happening in our I increasingly hear concerns to receive academic credit.” industry. about how to hold down an I covered agriculture for internship – and the job they many years, and in the heartoften need to pay for it. land, this is called eating your seed corn.

Those “best and brightest” students we A new report says the job market is so talk about needing to help revive the news tight that employers nationwide are offerindustry know how to do the math. And they ing competitive positions to those even know the importance of internships. The latwithout a college degree. At the same time, est University of Georgia nationwide survey many newsrooms are buying out or layof journalism and mass communications ing off older employees even as they try to graduates (2005) reported that more than bring in young talent. But how do you lock three-quarters had at least one internship up that talent with relatively unattractive before graduation, more than twice the persalaries and benefits if you don’t at least centage of those who worked for the campus hold out the promise of viable internships? newspaper and far greater than the percentEven if you shift to internships for class

age who worked for a campus broadcast station. The report is laced with comments from graduates advising those up and coming to get as many internships as they can.

So if you are thinking of cutting your internships, give it a second thought. And if you are thinking of going to unpaid internships, take a hard look at the long-term benefits over the short-term savings. Maybe there’s a middle ground, like the newsroom internship I saw recently that was for class credit, but offered a $75 weekly stipend.

Over 10 weeks or so, that at least covers the equivalent of paying for the credit. Even if you are a small paper, isn’t that an investment you can make at least once a year?

“Every team in Major League Baseball has a farm system to nurture young talent. At BusinessWeek, our farm team is our internship program,” Editor-in-Chief Stephen J. Adler wrote this past summer in praise of its 15 interns.

And every farmer knows that if you eat your seed corn, you’re eventually going to go hungry – or worse.

Doug Fisher, a former AP news editor, teaches journalism at the University of South Carolina and can be reached at dfisher@sc.edu or (803) 777-3315 . Past issues of Common Sense Journalism can be found at http://www.jour.sc.edu/news/ csj/index.html

Here’s to your less-heralded content producers

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hey give all kinds of awards for crusading, enterprising, one-off creations that wow the judges and/or earn the applause of readers.

But what about the just-plain useful information, done well, without fanfare, that fills in around the ads when the blowout pieces are still in the works?

That’s what all the recent high-level talk about helping the time-starved consumer

get ’er done got me to thinking.

That and community newspapers’ police blotters. You know the ones, where a scribe never plays the public-safety calls straight when they can be spun. Humdrum reportage + bored-yet-skilled reporter = readable copy. Not award-winning, but readable – and marketable.

In my very early years of journalism training, I did a couple of pieces that, look-

ing back, would fall right into the category of consumer usefulness.

I was at college four hours from my hometown and had as transportation a hand-medown ’64 Plymouth. It drank gas and chugged oil and had no air conCNPA ditioning.

OUTREACH So two stories I did Joe Wirt for Journalism 101 were straight out of the newsyou-can-use file.

One was on how to change your oil. The other was on the best places to exit southbound Highway 99 for a Dr Pepper and to top up your bomb’s oil and water.

They were explainer pieces, and they earned A’s.

Oil changes, rest-stops, which local parks allow dogs, who’s who in that band playing this weekend, who serves the best meat loaf: That’s solid Column B stuff.

There’ve always been a lot more generalists than Column-A home-run sluggers.

Question is, how do we help the mavens

of morphing media decide who falls in Column A or Column B, or when?

Do we offer up Column B work to citizen journalists? Does Column A deserve more trained journalists, or do Column A players boost their byline counts?

Someone needs to do an explainer piece, don’t you think? *** In cooperation with your newspapers’ department managers in several regions, we are organizing some purposeful and economical seminars for late spring. We will inform all publishers and key people in your region shortly.

And as always, shoot me your ideas for training in the usual disciplines: operations, circulation, advertising, editorial and digital.

Other very worthy opportunities are detailed below.

Yell if you need anything.

Joe Wirt, secretary-treasurer of the CNPA Foundation, oversees training and outreach. Contact him at (916) 288-6021.

California Newspaper Conference Planner Publishers

Newspaper In Education

CNPA Quarterly Meetings offer roundtables, topical presentations April 19-20, Laguna Beach; Convention, July 12-14, San Francisco; Oct. 11-12, Indian Wells

California Newspaper In Education Association annual conference May 10-11 Hotel Mar Monte, Santa Barbara

Circulators

Retail advertising

Cal-Western Circulation Managers Association annual sales conference.

April 25-27 Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula

California Newspaper Advertising Executives Association annual sales conference Sept. 9-12 Marriott at Marina Del Rey

Editors

Classified advertising

California Society of Newspaper Editors annual convention April 27-28 Disneyland Paradise Pier, Anaheim

Western Classified Advertising Association annual sales conference Sept. 16-19 Hyatt Regency, Newport Beach

Writers

For expanded information on these events and others, see the Affiliates page at www.cnpa.com/affiliates

National Writers Workshop May 5 California State University, Fullerton

8 California Publisher Spring 2007

PEOPLE Top office positions Board publisher at Inland Valley Fred Board has been named president and general manager of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

He had been publisher of Long Beach’s Gazette Newspapers and succeeds Dave Kuta, who was named publisher of the Press-Telegram in Long Beach. Board had been publisher of the Redlands Daily Facts before going to Long Beach.

Brewer on NNA Board of Directors Sharon Brewer, publisher of the Fort Bragg AdvocateNews and The Mendocino Beacon, was named to the board of directors of the National Newspaper Association, filling the seat previously filled

by MediaNews’ Dean Singleton. Brewer will be the director of Region 11, which includes California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Guam. Brewer has been with The AdvocateNews and The Beacon for over 25 years, and as publisher since January 1995.

Del Toro to lead Redlands Daily Facts Peggy del Toro became president and general manager of the Redlands Daily Facts in January. She succeeds Fred Board, who became publisher of the Gazette newspapers in the Long Beach area, including the Grunion Gazette and Downtown Gazette. Del Toro began her newspaper career in 1980 with the Daily Report in Ontario, which later became part of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.

Gaier succeeds Wible at Daily Breeze Liz Gaier in February became publisher of the Daily Breeze in Torrance. She succeeds Art Wible, who retired. Gaier worked for 10 years in the advertising sales department of The Breeze. She left in 2000 to work at a newspaper in Ventura County before joining MediaNews, The Breeze’s new owner, a year later. Gaier also serves as the company’s senior vice president for new business development, focusing on building revenue. The newspaper also named James Siegrist as general manager.

Hutton to head CNP community papers Carole Leigh Hutton in January began as vice president of community newspapers for the California Newspapers Partnership, which is owned in part

by MediaNews Group. She is publisher of the Daily News Group, which publishes six newspapers around the Bay Area, and will oversee publications including the San Mateo County Times, Silicon Valley Community Newspapers and the Pacifica Tribune. Hutton had been vice president of news at Knight Ridder and previously was publisher and editor of the Detroit Free Press. She succeeds Shareef Dajani, who becomes vice president of targeted publications, CNP-Bay Area. Dajani previously had served as publisher of the Hills Newspaper Group for the Contra Costa Times.

Kline named publisher at San Gabriel Larry Kline begins in March as publisher of the San Gabriel Valley Newspaper Group.

He succeeds Ron Wood, who became president and CEO of the San Gabriel Valley Economic Partnership. Kline has held senior positions in marketing and advertising with the Los Angeles Times, Palm Beach Post and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

He has been a newspaper consultant since June 2005. Steve O’Sullivan, SGVN executive editor, had been interim publisher during the search for Wood’s successor.

Press-Telegram names Kuta publisher; Stevens to VP of strategic planning Dave Kuta, publisher and president of the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin in Ontario, in

February was named publisher of the PressTelegram in Long Beach. He succeeds Mark Stevens (pictured at right), who joins the Los Angeles Newspaper Group’s corporate operation as vice president for strategic planning.

Kuta previously had been publisher of Long Beach’s Gazette Newspapers. Kuta’s (pictured below, right) career also includes 24 years at the Anchorage Daily News in Alaska, where he managed the advertising, printing, circulation and marketing departments and served two years as acting publisher. Stevens was previously publisher and CEO of the Toronto Sun and vice president and chief financial officer at the Houston Post.

Lasak and Weiermiller assume new duties with Press-Enterprise Ed Lasak, vice president/finance at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, in January took on an expanded role at the company with responsibility for all publishing operations. In addition, Kathy Weiermiller, vice president/circulation, has assumed expanded responsibilities for all product packaging, inserting, transportation and distribution.

McKinnis named publisher at Hi-Desert Eldon McKinnis in January became publisher at Hi-Desert Publishing Company, which includes the Hi-Desert Star in Yucca Valley and The Desert Trail in Twentynine Palms. McKinnis, who succeeds the late Doug Fetzer, had been a sales manager, general manager and publisher in Oklahoma and Colorado.

Perkes to GM of Telegraph newspapers Allison Perkes in December was named general manager of The Folsom Telegraph

and El Dorado Hills Telegraph. Perkes has worked in newspaper advertising sales and management, including the McNaughton family newspapers in Davis and Placerville, for more than 25 years. Most recently, she was assistant publisher of the Life newspapers in Folsom and El Dorado Hills.

Reitz publisher at Inyo, Mammoth papers Bob Reitz became publisher at The Inyo Register and The Mammoth Times.

Most recently, Reitz was director of display advertising and special publications at The World in Coos Bay, Ore. Reitz succeeds interim publisher Chuck Williams, a long-time Horizon publisher and manager who facilitated the transition from former publisher Sharon Dare to Reitz. Reitz will oversee operations in both Bishop and Mammoth Lakes.

Seven promoted at Fresno Bee Ray Steele Jr., publisher of The Fresno Bee, promoted seven senior managers in January: Valerie Bender, vice president of custom publications; Jim Boren, editorial page editor and vice president; Jennifer Brumgardt (pictured), vice president of finance; John Coakley (pictured), senior vice president of sales and strategic marketing; Stephen Dana, vice president of interactive media; Ken Hatfield, vice president of communications and public affairs; Cathy Peppers, vice president of human resources.

Stevens named publisher at Eureka Greg Stevens in January became publisher of the Times-Standard in Eureka. He had been publisher of The World in Coos Bay, Ore., and succeeds David Lippman, who

CNPA produces a weekly electronic bulletin posted on www.cnpa.com and e-mailed to our members. To submit your people item, or subscribe to the newsletter, contact CNPA Communications Director Kristen Lowrey at kristen@cnpa.com

resumed an advertising management role for the newspaper. Stevens, a former general manager of the Napa Valley Register and group vice president for Scripps in the Pacific Northwest, began in sales at the San Pedro News-Pilot in 1971.

Eight part of CNP reorganization George Riggs, president and CEO of the California Newspaper Partnership, recently announced several executive appointments in Northern California: Lisa Buckingham, senior vice president/ chief financial officer of CNP; Kathleen Slattery, vice president of human resources, CNP-Bay Area; David Bauer, vice president of information technology, CNP-Bay Area; Doug Ryle, chief financial officer, CNPBay Area; Steve Bressoud, chief financial officer, Northern CNP; Laurie Fox, director of human resources, Northern California; Mona Hatfield, information technology director, CNP-Bay Area (planning and implementation); Jack Schneider, information technology director, CNP-Bay Area (technical infrastructure).

Advertising/Marketing Atkins named SVP of sales at Freedom David Atkins joined the Interactive Division of Freedom Communications as vice president for advertising sales and business development. Prior to joining Freedom, Atkins served as the vice president and general manager of Interval International, where he founded and launched the LiveItUp.com brand. In addition, he helped launch Expedia, Inc., a leading online travel service.

Fisk VP/marketing at Freedom Interactive Linda Fisk became vice president of marketing at Freedom Interactive, where she will oversee its marketing, public relations, sales support and research efforts. Fisk recently served as vice president of marketing for IFILM in Los Angeles. Prior to that, See PEOPLE, Page 9

PEOPLE

PEOPLE From page 8 she served as vice president, online marketing and analytics for Scripps Networks in Knoxville, Tenn. Fisk also served as vice president of audience development and management for Belo Interactive in Dallas.

Three promoted in sales at Index-Tribune Editor and Publisher Bill Lynch announced in January the promotion of three sales executives: Chris Oscar is now classified and real estate advertising manager; he had spent 11 years in advertising sales with The I-T; Gerri Back (pictured) becomes advertising operations manager; she has been with the company 10 years and started as receptionist; Robert Lee (pictured) becomes retail-advertising manager; he has been with The I-T since 1997, starting as an account executive and moving up through classified manager to retail advertising manager.

Circulation Horvath named director at Union-Tribune Frank Horvath in January was named circulation director at The San Diego UnionTribune. He had been circulation director at Alameda Newspaper Group. He had been single-copy sales manager for The Oakland Tribune and held various sales and distribution positions at the Chicago Tribune.

Newsroom Bignell named Daily Triplicate editor Rob Bignell in October 2006 became editor

of The Daily Triplicate in Crescent City. He succeeded Mike Schmeltzer, who became editor of the Free Lance in Hollister. Bignell had been editorial page editor at The Desert Sun in Palm Springs and previously was editorial page editor of the Iowa City (Iowa) PressCitizen and managing editor of the Prescott (Wisc.) Journal in Wisconsin.

Bolling is Sonoma Index-Tribune editor David Bolling in January became editor of The Sonoma Index-Tribune.

Bolling, the former editor and publisher of the Santa Rosa News-Herald, had been The I-T’s news editor. Bill Lynch will assume the title of editor in chief and publisher. Bill Hoban will continue as the paper’s managing editor.

Bostwick managing editor at A.V. Press Chuck Bostwick was named managing editor of the Antelope Valley Press, succeeding Vern Lawson, who retired. Bostwick had been Antelope Valley bureau editor for the Daily News of Los Angeles. He was formerly a reporter at The Press and at The Hemet News.

Cronk named Sunnyvale, Cupertino editor Michael Cronk became editor of the Sunnyvale Sun and Cupertino Courier. Cronk served 35 years as a staff writer for the San Jose Mercury News and worked as a beat reporter in Cupertino and Sunnyvale for many years.

Hosseini editor at Amador Ledger-Dispatch Raheem Hosseini became editor and general manager of the Amador LedgerDispatch in Jackson, succeeding Sean Rabe, who

joined the Amador County Transportation Commission. Hosseini had been a reporter and columnist for the paper before joining The Folsom Telegraph and El Dorado Hills Telegraph.

Menicutch new P-T news editor Tim Menicutch, a veteran of the newspaper business, was recently named news editor of The Press-Tribune newspapers in Roseville and Granite Bay. Menicutch, 50, previously worked as the sports editor for the papers and received the promotion in January. He was hired as a sports writer and business writer for The Press-Tribune in April 2004 after spending five years at The Albuquerque Journal in New Mexico. Menicutch started his newspaper career at Carlmont High School in Belmont. Since then, he’s worked as a writer and columnist at several newspapers in California, Texas and New Mexico, including the San Mateo County Times, the now defunct Vallejo Independent Press, The YubaSutter Appeal-Democrat and the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

Roberts hired as Daily Nexus adviser Jerry Roberts, former executive editor of the Santa Barbara News-Press, became publications director for the Daily Nexus newspaper and La Cumbre Yearbook at University of California, Santa Barbara. He succeeds the former director, Tybie Kirtman, who retired.

Roberts’ 30-plus years of journalistic experience include the San Francisco Chronicle, Pacific News Service and San Francisco Bay Guardian.

Schmeltzer named Free Lance editor Mike Schmeltzer succeeded Dan Fitch as editor of the Free Lance in Hollister.

Schmeltzer had been editor of The Daily Triplicate in Crescent City. Schmeltzer attended school at the University of Alaska while working as a reporter and photographer for the Juneau Empire. He later worked as sports editor of the Anchorage Daily News and spent 22 years at The Spokesman-Review in Spokane, Wash.

Spring 2007 California Publisher 9

Interactive Artley part of L.A. Times’ newsroom integration The Los Angeles Times Media Group named Meredith Artley as executive editor of latimes.com to lead The Times’ online newsroom and manage the day-to-day editorial operations. She had been Parisbased digital development director of the New York Times Co.’s International Herald Tribune and former associate editor of nytimes.com.

Business editor Russ Stanton became innovation editor, and senior technology editor Aaron Curtiss was named deputy innovation editor.

Additionally, The Times named Robertson Barrett, currently general manager of latimes. com, to be a vice president of the Los Angeles Times Media Group. Barrett has led The Times’ online efforts since 2005.

Hoffman to head Ventura’s YourHub The Ventura County Star has named Michael Hoffman general manager of YourHub.com, The Star’s community journalism operation. Hoffman had been training and development editor, one of several positions he has held during 22 years with The Star. He was president of the California Society of Newspaper Editors from 2003 to 2005. The Star has YourHub sites for six areas in the county: Camarillo, Conejo Valley, Moorpark, Oxnard, Simi Valley and Ventura.

CNPA produces a weekly electronic bulletin posted on www.cnpa.com and e-mailed to our members.

To submit your people item, or subscribe to the newsletter, contact CNPA Communications Director Kristen Lowrey at kristen@cnpa.com

OBITUARIES Bertt Lependorf, 86 Bertt Lependorf, a former printer, died Dec. 11, 2006, at age 86 from pneumonia caught while recovering from heart-valve replacement surgery.

After a career in the print rooms of newspapers that included 13 years at The Oakland Tribune followed by 22 at The Daily Review in Hayward, Lependorf stayed involved in daily operations by frequently sending letters to the editor.

After retiring from The Daily Review in 1982, Lependorf continued to work in the community through the California Association of the Deaf. He had lost his hearing at age 3 and advocated for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community throughout his life.

He was born Sept. 28, 1920, in New York City and was raised in Brooklyn. Lependorf attended Gallaudet College in Washington, D.C., from 1940 to 1944, where for all four years he wrote for the Buff and Blue newspaper. It was there he also met his future wife, Betty-jo.

While in college, he worked for The Prince Georgian, a weekly newspaper in Hyattsville, Md. After college, Lependorf worked at presses in Baltimore and Silver Springs for several months until he was offered a job at a weekly paper in Carson City, Nev. He leaves his wife of 62 years, Betty-jo; their four adult children, Bruce, Barry, Brenda and Brian; and 11 grandchildren.

Tony Mineart, 47 Tony Mineart, senior vice president of circulation for the Los Angeles Newspaper Group, died Dec. 22, 2006, shortly after receiving a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

He was 47.

Mineart was known in the industry as a mentor to circulation managers. To honor his memory, the Newspaper Association of America renamed its “Merchandiser of the Year” award to “The Tony Mineart Merchandiser of the Year Award.” Mineart

helped conceive of the idea in 2001. The award is given to five retailers who have demonstrated a cooperative effort to sell newspapers in their stores.

Mineart began his career as a newspaper carrier at The Washington Post. Once he could drive, he became a route driver for Post distributors. After he received a liberal arts degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa, he returned to The Post, working his way up into management including a position as circulation director for corporate and national sales.

After 20 years, Mineart left The Post to become president of the newspaper division at Current News Company, a distributor of magazines, books and newspapers on the East Coast. He was then recruited to serve as circulation director at the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune and later for The New York Times Co.’s Regional Newspaper Group (which owns the Herald-Tribune).

Although he worked in Florida, he commuted every weekend to California to see his family.

Mineart is survived by his wife Lori; four children, Eric, Scott, Kelly and Jamie; his brother Mark; and sisters Cherie Mobasheri and Cindy Sinsap.

Charles E. Scripps, 87 Charles E. Scripps, scion of a legendary media family and the board chairman for more than four decades of The E.W. Scripps Co., which owns the Record Searchlight in Redding and the Ventura County Star, died Feb. 3, 2007, of natural causes at age 87 near his home in Naples, Fla. Scripps was born Jan. 27, 1920, in San Diego to Robert Paine and Margaret Culbertson Scripps. He and his three brothers and two sisters grew up at nearby Miramar, their grandfather Edward Willis Scripps’ 2,000-acre ranch. Scripps attended William & Mary College in Williamsburg,

Va., but returned to California and entered Pomona College after his father died at age 42 in 1938.

Shortly thereafter, Scripps began his newspaper career at his grandfather’s first newspaper, The Cleveland Press, where he covered police and courts. Scripps was 28 when he became chairman of the family trust and moved to Cincinnati, home to the trust’s headquarters. After 57 years on the company’s board of directors, Scripps retired in May 2003.

He leaves his wife, Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Breslin Scripps, whom he married in 1993; four children, Charles E. Scripps Jr. of Darby, Mont., Marilyn Scripps Wade and Julia Scripps Heidt, both of Cincinnati, and Eaton Scripps of Boulder, Colo.; two stepsons, Ben P. Breslin and Andrew W. Breslin; seven grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and two brothers, Robert P. Scripps, of Fredericksburg, Texas, and Sam Scripps of Rhinebeck, N.Y. He was preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Lois Anne MacKay Scripps.

Ralph Thompson, 88 Former Petaluma Argus-Courier editor Ralph P. Thompson died Jan. 5, 2007, at age 88.

Born in Chicago, Thompson moved with his family to Fallon, a town in northern Marin County. He joined the Air Force and became a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot based in England.

After Thompson’s discharge from the service and return to Fallon, he met Hilda Poncia, the school secretary at Tomales High School, and the couple married in August 1946. Thompson attended the University of Oregon, where he earned a degree in journalism.

He began his newspaper career in the 1960s at the Napa Register, where he was a linotype operator. He moved on to become editor of the Tahoe Daily Tribune.

When Ross P. Game, former editor of the Napa Valley Register, became publisher of

the Argus-Courier, he convinced Thompson to transfer from Lake Tahoe to the ArgusCourier. Thompson stayed as managing editor until his retirement.

He is survived by his sisters, Faye Petronave of Chico, Shirley Chicholas of Nipomo and Patsy Van der Leun of Roseville; several nieces and nephews; and grandnieces and grandnephews.

James C. Weeks, 64 James C. Weeks, the first publisher of The Press Democrat in Santa Rosa after it was bought in 1985 by the New York Times Co., died Jan. 8, 2007. He was 64.

Weeks was publisher in Santa Rosa for two years, leading the newspaper through a period of economic growth and transition. He succeeded Evert B. Person, who had been publisher since 1973 and assistant publisher since 1945.

During his tenure, Weeks had general direction of the Santa Barbara News-Press, also owned by the New York Times Co. He left in 1988 for a position in Atlanta as vice president of operations for the newspaper group. He was promoted to president and chief operating officer of the company before retiring in 1999.

Weeks was a graduate of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications and also had a master’s degree in marketing from the university. He began his career in 1964 as a retail-advertising salesman for the Gainesville Sun. He rose to management positions and later became head of acquisitions for the New York Times Affiliated Newspaper Group. Before coming to The Democrat, he was publisher of the Star-News in Wilmington, N.C. Survivors include two children, Todd and Traci.

Send People news to CNPA Communications Director Kristen Lowrey at kristen@cnpa.com

10 California Publisher Spring 2007

G.A. DAY From page 1 tricky questions from the Rick Keene (R-Lassen, Nevada, Plumas, audience regarding voting: Sierra Yuba and part of Butte and Placer “Should voting ballots be all counties) noted that with the current term in English or should voters limit rules, an assemblyman “spends two learn English?” She diplomatyears learning your way around, two years ically responded that under of being effective and two years of being a the voting rights act, it is lame duck.”

CNPA’s Governmental Affairs Day was allowable to have a maximum Some legislators already feeling the held at the Sheraton Grand Sacramento. of five languages on a ballot. pressure of those term limits are those The final session of the day, who sat on the morning session with newly before the open meeting for appointed legislators. The panel, led by CSNE members and friends, San Francisco Chronicle columnist Greg The Modesto Bee’s Judy Sly, opinion editor, and was the Legislative Leadership Margaret Randazzo, publisher/president.

Lucas, included assembly members Kevin Panel where Núñez unveiled his De Leon (D-Los Angeles), Mike Duvall term limit-softening plan.

(R-Orange), Jean Fuller (R-Kern and San Starting the panel on a light note, Núñez Bernardino), Ted Gaines (R-Alpine, El quoted Don Perata (D-East Bay) (who canDorado, Placer and Sacramento), Fiona celled being on the panel at the last minMa (D-San Francisco and San Mateo), and ute) regarding the public’s feelings about Curren D. Price Jr. (D-Los Angeles), all of the legislature, saying, “Until recently the whom agreed that there are several major Legislature’s approval ratings were in the issues they need to take on in their terms 20’s…below lung cancer.” However, Núñez that will affect all Californians.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown added, “I think we’re making significant These issues, discussed throughout the and Cal-JEC Director Sylvia Fox. progress towards growing the respect and day were: taking a fresh look at sentencconfidence of the voters.” ing to reduce pressure on prisons and jail Assembly Member Curren D. Price Jr. and With the audience attentive and The systems, water conservation and flood Willie Brown of Inglewood Today.

Sacramento Bee’s Dan Weintraub modcontrol, bringing jobs back to California, erating, the legislative leaders seemed healthcare and education. Almost all of relaxed in discussing issues they face in these issues are related to societal growth and the general quality of life issue created the current political climate. Also on the panel was: Senate Republican Leader by uncontrolled growth of society.

Dick Ackerman (R), “Education is the bigAssistant Assembly gest civil rights issue of our time,” De Leon said.

“We want to make sure Republican Leader Keene (R) and And regarding healthcare, that the media is as free Rick Gloria Romero (D).

Gaines said the approach The Black Voice News Publisher and open to do their This panel, like the going forward needs to be Cheryl Brown and Gloria Zuurveen, New Member panel empowerment of the citijob ... I feel for you; Pace News, L.A. focused on the hot zens of California. there are pressures CNPA’s Jim Ewert and Tom Newton with political issues, but “The more you empower California Secretary of State Debra Bowen. from all sides…we’re also how newspapers the consumer, the more not watching you and can cover those issues competitive the market and politics better. is,” Gaines said. Duvall thinking, ‘why do you “There are lots of summed up the general people hate us?’” things that we agree goal of these representa– Assembly Member on but it is the controtives that “when I leave I Gloria Romero versy that gets carried leave it better than when I in the papers,” Keene came.” said. “We may have different ideas on how Following the new member panel was a to solve those problems, but the problems conversation with California Secretary of San Francisco Examiner Publisher John Wilcox, Assembly Member Mark Leno and State Debra Bowen and California State are there nonetheless.”

Erica Craven of Levy, Ram & Olson, LLP. Ackerman echoed Keene’s remarks, sayController John Chiang for the constituing, “Everybody’s got their own agenda tional officer panel. and we need to focus on the big issues like “The states are the laboratory of Senate Republican Leader Dick Ackerman healthcare and education.” democracy,” Bowen said, emphasizing and Assistant Assembly Republican The day was productive in understandthe importance of civic engagement, even Leader Rick Keene. ing what political issues California’s legisstarting at the elementary school level. lators are working on and how these politi“You’re in a world where more and cians perceive journalists. more people can find out more about you, “We want to make sure that the media but fewer people care,” said moderator is as free and open to do their job,” Hal Fuson, CNPA Governmental Affairs Committee chairman and senior vice pres- Romero said. “I feel for you; there are pressures from all sides … we’re not ident/chief legal officer, The Copley Press, watching you and thinking ‘why do you Inc., La Jolla.

Barbara Webb, Assembly Member Ted people hate us?’”

One of the other issues Bowen will deal Gaines, CNPA’s Diane Donohue and These representatives are, however, with in her new position, besides getting Mountain Democrat Publisher Jim Webb. concerned about our industry’s survival in people excited about the wake of multiple cuts in the newsroom voting, is to determine Los Altos Town Crier Publisher recently and how that affects the relationhow they will vote.

Paul Nyberg and CNPA’s Tom Newton. ship between the Third and Fourth estates.

She said her office is Another concern of these assembly undertaking a top to members is that there are less seasoned bottom review of how reporters, “who don’t know the issues, the voting machines doing more investigative reporting,” work. One of the ways Romero said. “[These types of reportthey are doing this ers] are also covering a lot more. Cutting is by looking at the private sector including people out of newsrooms concerns me because I don’t know what it means for Sony’s Playstation and the future of your industry and the intercasinos. play with politics.”

Bowen also addressed one of the California State Controller John Chiang and Carlon Perry, owner/publisher of the Lathrop-Manteca Harold W. Fuson, Jr., The Copley Press, Inc. Sun Post; Assembly Member Cathleen Galgiani and Lodi News-Sentinel Publisher Marty Weybret.

Assembly Member Jean Fuller and legislative aide Jeff Caligiuri (far left) with Antelope Valley Press Managing Editor Chuck Bostwick.

1988 CNPA President Reb Rebele and The Malibu Times Publisher Arnold York.

The new legislator panel at Governmental Affairs Day was led by San Francisco Chronicle columnist Greg Lucas.

Spring 2007 California Publisher 11

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN From page 2 but will also recognize that, in these challenging times, a convention must deliver information that benefits the newspapers and their executives. We want to make the convention enjoyable, but most importantly, worthwhile for everyone who attends.

Don’t miss it — if you want to thrive in the 21st Century.

Entries for the 2006 Better Newspapers Contest pile in

To register for the convention contact Diane Donohue at (916) 288-6017, diane@cnpa.com or visit the CNPA website at www. cnpa.com.

The Fairmont in San Francisco is known for its elegance and location in the heart of the city.

CNPA’s Bryan Clark and Terri Vanderveer conduct the BNC each year.

T Take in the City of Fog from The Fairmont’s rooftop.

CO N TAC T

US

Subscribe to California Publisher: Bryan Clark (916) 288-6001 bryan@CNPA.com Submit a story idea, letter or comment to California Publisher: Kristen Lowrey (916) 288-6016 kristen@CNPA.com Advertise in California Publisher: Joe Wirt (916) 288-6021 joe@CNPA.com Change your address; update information: Debbie Foster (916) 288-6018 debbie@CNPA.com Order a CNPA book or directory: Tiffani Sterbentz (916) 288-6012 tiffani@CNPA.com Be a convention sponsor: Diane Donohue (916) 288-6017 diane@CNPA.com Get help with a legal issue: Jim Ewert (916) 288-6013 jim@CNPA.com Legislative issues: Tom Newton (916) 288-6015 tom@CNPA.com Place a recruitment ad in the Classified Job Bulletin: Terri Vanderveer (916) 288-6009 terri@CNPA.com Better Newspapers Contest: Terri Vanderveer (916) 288-6009 terri@CNPA.com Membership Services: Bryan Clark (916) 288-6001 bryan@CNPA.com Donations to the CNPA Foundation: Joe Wirt (916) 288-6021 joe@CNPA.com High School, College or Affiliate Relations: Joe Wirt (916) 288-6021 joe@CNPA.com

he 2006 CNPA Better Newspapers Contest has now officially started. Again, hundreds of boxes came pouring in from all over California, testing the will of the FedEx, UPS and USPS deliverers. In-state judging began March 1 in Sacramento with Concord and Ontario judging on March 16 and March 29 respectively.

The BNC recognizes excellent journalism throughout California. The coveted winners’ plaques will be awarded at the 119th Annual CNPA Convention in San Francisco on July 14 during the BNC Awards Luncheon.

Entries this year were slightly lower in numbers, reflecting some of the consolidation as well as expense cutting. But one member proudly stated that recognizing excellence in our core product, journalism, is what the BNC is all about. It is a great opportunity each year to compete and be recognized as the best of the best in California.

12 California Publisher Spring 2007

TECHNOLOGY

Keeping up with technology is ongoing

T

he past few days have been a blur as I plan tomorrow’s presentation for the Iowa Newspaper Association.

In the past five days, I’ve found myself at press association conventions stretching NEWSPAPER across the map from TECHNOLOGY Calgary, Alberta to Kevin Slimp Louisville, Ky. The topic of choice has been “New Technology for Newspapers.”

The problem with this topic is that I can never use the same presentation twice.

Newspaper technology is constantly changing, so I’m always researching and testing the latest products on the market. Let me share a few thoughts from tomorrow’s session.

Cameras Remember when photographers used to debate whether digital cameras could match the quality of film? I haven’t heard too many arguments lately. Digital is king and there are good cameras for the serious photographer to the ad salesperson needing a quick shot for a realty ad.

Canon EOS-1D (Mark II N): Gee, that’s a long name for a camera. But it’s a lot of camera. A fast camera, shooting eight frames per second at 8.2 megapixels, the 1D boasts ISO speed of 100-1600. This is a great camera for the serious photographer who needs to get that evening slide into home plate. $3,600.

Nikon D2X: Most newspaper photographers fall into one of two camps. Canon

and Nikon. With lenses often costing more than cameras, it makes sense to stick with the brand you own lenses for. For serious Nikon users, the D2Xs is another great camera. Boasting 12.8 megapixels, this is another great camera for the fast action shots. $4,300 (US).

Canon Rebel XTi (400D): Not as powerful as the 1D, the Rebel descends from a line of excellent cameras (Rebel, Rebel XT) at an affordable price. At 10.1 megapixels, the XTi boasts three frames per second at a price under $800.

Nikon D80: I’m starting to run into a lot of D80s at newspapers of all sizes. The D80, sporting 10.2 megapixels, packs at lot of punch for $999.

Scanners A funny thing has happened to the scanner market. It looks like a lot of vendors are getting out of the desktop scanner business.

Fortunately, Epson still offers great scanners at very reasonable prices. Most newspapers will be happy with the Epson V350.

Offering 48 bit quality for $149, this Epson is a perfect fit for the type of scanning we do.

Newspapers that do a lot of scanning should consider the Epson V700. The quality of the scans is the same as the V350, but this scanner is Firewire compatible, meaning it works a lot faster than USB scanners like the V350. Speed has its price, however, and the price is $499.

Software InDesign CS3 and QuarkXPress 7.1: These heavyweights will continue to duke it out in 2007. Fortunately, both are quality products with a lot going for them.

InDesign moves up to version CS3 with promises of “Photoshop -like” tools and faster performance for Intel-based Macs. Quark fights back by allowing two users to work on the same document simultaneously. InDesign continues to make significant gains in the newspaper market in 2007. Quark began to show signs of life in 2006. It will be interesting to see how this battle of pagination giants pans out.

Acrobat 8 Professional: This latest rendition of the Acrobat line offers tools essential to our market.

The most important addition is the preflight “fixup.”

With 8.0’s preflight tool, newspapers can find and fix problems in PDF files with a single click.

Apple Aperture and Adobe Lightroom: Will either of these products make a dent in the newspaper market in 2007? It’s anyone’s guess.

But don’t kid yourself. Both are powerful tools for professional photographers and make working with RAW images a speedy endeavor.

Open Source Software: A buddy in Illinois tells me his newspaper group plans to produce a newspaper using only open source software. Open source is free. Yes, free. I’ll be keeping my eye on Illinois.

Publishing Systems: Mediaspan (Harris Baseview) and Managing Editor continue to lead the pack in the small and midsize newspaper market. ATS (Advanced Technical Solutions) seems to be popping up at big newspapers all over the place.

I’ve been especially impressed by ATS’ Consumer Center (online ad creation and placement).

Well, there’s a lot more I could tell you about newspaper technology in 2007, but I’m limited to 800 words in my column. Tell you what. If you can catch a quick flight to Des Moines for tomorrow’s conference, we can discuss preflight systems, website design services, computers, OS X, Windows Vista and more.

Kevin Slimp is director of the Institute for Newspaper Technology, a training program sponsored by the University of Tennessee and the Tennessee Press Association. Previous columns by Slimp can be viewed at www.kevinslimp.com

No way to do a chart? Think again.

“N

o one here knows how to do a

chart.”

“We don’t have the skills it takes to create a chart.”

“No one here has charting software.”

“We have Illustrator NEWSPAPER but no one here knows DESIGN how to use it for Ed Henninger charts.”

I hear such comments often from clients at smaller newspapers. With everything else the editor has to do, asking her to learn a charting program may be a bit much. And who has the budget to buy it?

It seems many editors at small newspapers are doomed to only wishing for charts.

Not so. Not if you look around your own office. I’m willing to bet someone in advertising or accounting has a copy

– even an old copy will do – of Microsoft Excel.

Excel is basically a spreadsheet program, but too few of us know it’s also a simple and versatile application to help you do charts. And the charts it can help you produce are very professionallooking.

I don’t tout Excel as the best charting program you can use. Certainly Adobe Illustrator is a powerful application that helps you illustrate charts in imaginative ways. But I point to Excel because I’m aware that many, many newspapers have it available – a lot of them just don’t know it yet.

But Trudy in Accounting knows.

She’s been using Excel for the budget since 1992. And she’s been using Excel’s charting capabilities since, well … 1992.

Here’s what she knows about Excel charts: • The spreadsheet program is very flexible and easy to use. Just input the numbers you want according to the order you

•

•

•

• • • •

want and the program will do the math for you.

Chart Wizard is a whiz. Using Chart Wizard, you can select the figures you want to use in your chart, then see what kind of approach Chart Wizard recommends.

Within Chart Wizard, there are multiple options for the kind of chart you think you want. If it’s a column chart, for example, you can select charts in front of each other, next to each other, 3-D effects and other options.

Once you’ve selected the kind of chart you want, you can then choose if you want a background or not. you can also choose how many tick marks you want to include, to make the chart more precise or to make it less formal.

Changing the colors of the columns or strokes is a snap.

Changing stroke width is a snap.

Changing fonts is a snap.

You can import art files prepared in other applications, such as pdf files.

In brief, there’s little that Excel’s charting capabilities won’t let you do.

Perhaps you think you don’t have the time to learn yet another program.

Well, there’s nothing wrong with asking Trudy to do an occasional chart for the newsroom, is there?

So, if you have Excel – and if you have a Trudy – what are you waiting for?

For a look at different design options for the same pie chart, check www.henningerconsulting.com and leave a request with an e-mail address. We’ll send out a pdf file right away.

Ed Henninger is an independent newspaper consultant and the director of Henninger Consulting.

Offering comprehensive newspaper design services including redesigns, workshops, training and evaluations.

E-mail: edh@henningerconsulting.com.

On the web: www.henningerconsulting. com. Phone: (803) 327-3322.

Three different charts—all prepared in Excel

TECHNOLOGY

Windows Vista debut is bittersweet

W

of Solitaire. ith much fanBut there are some big downsides to this fare, Windows new version of Windows. To get the full Vista finally benefits of Vista, especially the new look and arrived. It has taken the user interface, which is called Aero, you will giant software maker need a fairly new computer with plenty of more than five years to space (at least 512 MB of system memory for replace Windows XP the basic version and 1GB of system memory with the new, but largely for the premium version). The vast majority unexciting, product. of existing Windows PCs won’t be able to use Although many TECH all of Vista’s features without major hardreaders of California REPORT ware upgrades.

Publisher are undoubtMarella Kelley Despite Vista’s security improvements, edly MAC uses, CNPA it will still be necessary to run, and keep is totally outfitted with updating, security programs. After all, it is Microsoft products top to bottom. For me, still a Microsoft product, which makes it a this means “job security.” prime target for hackers and viruses.

For those of us in IT who have spent the For most users who want last few years upgrading our Vista, I recommend buying a company computer systems from Windows 98 to XP Pro, I wouldn’t even new PC with the new operating system preloaded. I wouldn’t installing upgraded drivers and consider trying even consider trying to upgrade software, training users and to upgrade a a computer older than 18 finally getting everything up computer older months. Microsoft offers a free, and running relatively smoothly, the release of Vista is not than 18 months. downloadable Upgrade Advisor program at www.microsoft. necessarily cause for rejoice. com that can tell you if your XP Overall, Vista works pretty machine is ready for Vista. much the same way as Windows XP, but Eventually, all Windows computers will be Vista is much prettier than previous versions Vista computers, and that’s a good thing. But of Windows. The icons look better, winyou may want to keep your older Windows dows have translucent borders, and items XP box around awhile longer, until you can in the taskbar and in folders can display afford new hardware that can handle Vista. little previews of what they contain; security As for CNPA, we won’t be migrating to is supposedly a lot better; there are some Windows Vista anytime soon. I’ll let other new programs included; and fast, universal folks work out all the bugs first. search is now built in. There are hundreds of other, smaller, improvements and addiMarella Kelley is Systems Manager for tions throughout the system, including CNPA. Contact her at (916) 288-6020. parental controls and even a slicker version

Two decisions confirm federal protection for website owners

By Thomas R. Burke California publishers watching the California Supreme Court’s handling of Barrett v. Rosenthal and the lawsuit filed in Illinois against Craiglist have reason to be optimistic in the wake of resolution of these cases.

Both rulings, by two different courts, including the California Supreme Court, Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996 challenged federal immunity for content posted by third parties confirming the longstanding expansive protection granted by the law to Internet service providers For newspaper publishers, these decisions make it clear that publishers enjoy federal immunity against claims for libel and invasion of privacy when they publish content provided by third parties (e.g., those not employed by the newspaper) on their websites, even if the identical content would be the basis of a lawsuit if it appeared in print.

Section 230 protects any “interactive computer service” – broadly defined to include Internet service providers like America Online as well as owners of other interactive websites – by protecting them from claims such as libel or invasion of privacy based on content posted online by third parties. The federal law states: “No publisher or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another informa-

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Spring 2007 California Publisher 13

tion content provider. No cause of action may be brought and no liability may be imposed under any state or local law that is inconsistent with this section.”

Since the enactment of Section 230 more than a decade ago, plaintiffs nationwide have unsuccessfully sued website owners for content third parties posted on their websites, even when owners knew of the defamatory or offending work and failed to remove it.

But in 2004, a California appellate court cast doubt on the scope of protection intended

by Congress, finding the statute did not immunize an individual defendant sued for third-party content she received in an email from someone she did not know and posted to an Internet forum. The California Supreme Court reversed the decision this past November, rejecting the lower court’s attempt to change settled law.

In Barrett v. Rosenthal, the California Supreme Court reversed the First District Court of Appeal’s new interpretation of Section 230, applying the statute to an atypical fact pattern.

The plaintiffs, operators of a website devoted to exposing health fraud, sued an individual defendant who reposted messages from the website in a discussion group, alleging they had warned her that the messages contained false and defamatory information. Ignoring the weight of nationwide precedent, the San Francisco appellate court found Section 230 immunity hinges on whether the defendant was “on notice” of the unlawful material. In Rosenthal, the California Supreme Court overturned the decision, noting four fatal flaws in the Court of Appeal’s approach: • First, it would subject service providers who received notice that content was defamatory only for maintaining this content, not removing it, which would chill speech by provoking widespread removal of online postings.

• Second, the standard would deter providers from actively screening the content of the material posted on its service, against the express intent of Congress when it enacted Section 230.

• Third, such notice-based liability would give third parties a cost-free means of manufacturing claims.

• Finally, a decision otherwise would encourage forum shopping, given nationwide precedent favoring immunity.

The California Supreme Court also rejected the plaintiffs’ argument that the individual was a “distributor,” not a “publisher,” reasoning that she was a “secondary publisher.” By its decision in Rosenthal, the California Supreme Court joined the vast majority of courts in the country that have recognized the broad immunity provided by Section 230.

Similarly, an Illinois federal district court recently found that Section 230 immunized Craiglist from alleged violations of the Fair Housing Act on the basis that the website allowed third party posting of discriminatory housing advertisements. Plaintiffs in the suit cited several postings soliciting renters on the bases of race, religion, sex, familial status and national origin. Craigslist.com moved to dismiss the action, arguing that under Section 230, third party users are responsible for their own content. Although the court expressed concern regarding broad interpretation of the statute thus far, the court still granted immunity, reasoning that liability would subject Craigslist.com, an interactive service provider, to liability as a publisher under the Fair Housing Act. The recent Rosenthal and Craigslist.com decisions are a welcome legal sign for publishers who increasingly feature third-party content on their websites. As the federal law stands today, the Rosenthal and Craigslist. com decisions confirm the broad availability of this federal immunity.

Thomas R. Burke is a media attorney and a partner with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP in San Francisco.

14 California Publisher Spring 2007

NPN From page 1 program with CNPA. Their art department designed the logo, and The Times worked with CNPA to draft a contract as a jumping off point for outlining the program.

Trillo returned to the NTMC meeting in October to present the contract, which was received with much excitement. Meanwhile, back at CNPA, systems, procedures and a process of implementation moved forward.

The NPN targeted large papers first.

About 100 packets, including a contract, a rate card, which Trillo describes as “pretty industry standard,” and data about the network, were sent out starting in late Jan. The interest is already beyond expectation.

“Our goal for the first year was to sign on 30 newspapers,” Trillo said. “At 14 members we are already halfway to our goal with many prospects lining up, including 10 verbal commitments.”

Only two or three papers have declined to join the network at this time, partially due to a poor match for their market, but they did not rule out revisiting the idea at a later time.

Once a contract is signed, the newspaper enters a two-year agreement with CNPA, and each newspaper will do its own selling. Each member paper will have two single points of contact for the network with one to five salespeople working

on the program, but no more than five.

CNPA will also provide training for the two points of contact and the salespeople chosen to work on the network.

There is a one-time start-up fee, and after that is collected, CNPA compiles data from the member paper and enters it into a system specifically designed for NPN. After the information is in the system the newspaper can start selling.

CNPA is acting as a facilitator by conducting market research; providing one order, one bill cash processing and being the central communication hub for the members and advertisers.

When an advertiser signs onto the program, member papers have the option of using the advertiser or not and can even reach out to draw in new advertisers to the program, which will bring more money to the member paper through commission. Papers will have the potential to be selling members or distributing members, providing two different ways to bring in additional income to the paper.

“Newspapers have been looking for a way to make more money and please their advertisers,” said CNPA Executive Director Jack Bates. “NPN accomplishes both goals without pitting newspapers against each other. We need to help each other out.”

NEWSPAPER NEXT From page 1 After the barometers were completed, Gray asked the audience whose company was prepared, and not one person raised their hand.

However, Gray said he has never had anyone say their company was prepared. API is hoping to change that through workshops that aim to get newspaper companies moving toward sustaining their business using the same disruptive innovators that are leading readers elsewhere.

In mid-2005, seeing the changes that lay Steve Gray led the Newspaper Next ahead, the American Press Institute’s leadWorkshop at UC Berkeley’s Graduate ership took action. The effort, christened School of Journalism.

“Newspaper Next: The Transformation percent more of the types of people who are Project,” was launched in September already subscribing; create new products 2005 and charged to deliver its findings in that will close the gap.

September 2006.

Gray also frequently reminded the audiThe Newspaper Next (N2) challenge: Find ence to “beware the sound of the sucking a way to help newspaper companies migrate core,” as the core product (the print newsfrom a fixed and monolithic business model paper) will try to take attention away from to a diverse and growing portfolio of busithe jobs to be done. One ness models, products of the interviewees in and services that engage a video clip during the throngs of new consumers ... the problem with presentation said, “if you and advertisers. newspaper growth take your eye off of the During the course of the did not lie in current core it will still exist and Newspaper Next project development, API discovreaders and subscribers, sustain itself, but if you don’t even look at the ered that the problem with but in the people who innovations there is no newspaper growth did not felt that newspapers had possibility of growth.” lie in current readers and nothing to offer them or Some California newssubscribers, but in the papers are already makpeople who felt that newstheir families. ing great strides in using papers had nothing to offer disruptive innovators them or their families. in their markets. The Desert Sun in Palm Gray repeatedly mentioned that all readSprings was one of the papers used as an ers have “jobs to be done” in their lives. example in the Newspaper Next Project. The Newspapers need to be the solution to get Orange County Register targets the free daily these “jobs” done. In most cases these “jobs” market and still provides good quality news do not involve hard news necessarily but with OC Post, which touts the slogan “No news bits that make life more manageable Fluff. No Jumps. No Bulk.” from summaries or shorter articles of the While these papers are creating new day’s news (much like the 5 o’clock news on products, other papers like The Bakersfield television) to databases for moms who want Californian are creating products such as to know what is going on at their child’s Bakomatic (pronounced bake-oh-matic), school (besides a summary of the school which powers all of The Californian’s niche board meeting). community websites, that any newspaper can Newspapers can provide this type of inforbuy into to expand community reach. mation to their communities, but journalists Although most papers are in the position of and news executives have to get out of the “I don’t know what to do but I’m ready to do newsroom to find out what their communiit,” says Gray, all papers have the potential to ties want and need. API’s solution to doing sustain and grow their newspaper business. this is “jobs to be done” interviews.

When brainstorming or interviewing For more information, visit www. to find the “jobs to be done,” newspapers americanpressinstitute.org. The full 96should ask themselves, “What is it about page Newspaper Next report is available people in the communities my paper is directly at http://www.newspapernext. serving that people don’t want the product org/2005/09/report_availability_1.htm. we are selling?” Don’t focus on getting one

A metaphor for our new media times

I

don’t know about you, but I’m a bit confused about the future of the printed newspaper. In fact, in February, New York Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. was quoted as saying, “I really don’t know whether NEWSPAPER we’ll be printing The MARKETING Times in 5 years, and Scott Little you know what? I don’t care, either.” “Internet is a wonderful place to be and we’re leading there,” he added.

Then in a speech the following week, Sulzberger said, “We are continuing to invest in our newspapers, for we believe that they will be around for a very long time.” Then he added, “Traditional print newspaper audiences are still significantly larger than their Web counterparts. Print continues to command high levels of reader engagement.” I’m glad to know that much, much, much greater minds than mine are confused as well.

I guess it can safely be said that newspaper companies are finally thinking of themselves as being in the information business and not the printed-word business. The future seems to be in cyberspace and not ink on paper.

There is a dramatic shift from print to the web by just about all companies.

I recently attended the NAA Marketing Conference in Las Vegas. There, it was apparent that the emphasis now, and in the future, is on the Internet. Only a year before, at the 2006 conference, it seemed that in the mix of print and online, print still dominated.

This year, it was crystal clear that online is now the dominant element of that mix.

The combination of print and online is powerful. Readership of daily newspapers has leveled off a bit over the past year or two. But there seems to be little doubt that readership will shrink more as people look to the World Wide Web for their news and information.

But, it can’t be forgotten that newspaper websites are the fastest growing sources for

Internet news.

This seems to lead to one overwhelming conclusion. The printed newspaper will change dramatically and soon. What is the newspaper of the future? I guess no one really knows. We all have our theories. For what it’s worth, I’d like to repeat some opinion I expressed in a column over a year ago.

The newspaper of the future will be a compact tabloid format, portable, easy to handle. It will be intensely local. National and international news will be in digest form.

It will have a fixed news hole and a limited number of pages to assure that every page holds relevant news content. The fixed news hole and limited page count will pave the way for pitch-perfect packaging. It will be predictable. Each day the reader will know where to find the news that’s of greatest interest to him or her.

Like a lot of successful magazines (Vanity Fair comes to mind), advertising will be as important as news content to the reader. That factor – coupled with a fixed and relevant news hole – will allow a much higher advertising to news ratio. It needs to be noted that this means that newspapers need to make a sizeable and sustained investment in the creative and ad production side – in people and systems. Newspaper creative departments must truly function like an ad agency, offering photography, design, copywriting, logo design, point-of-purchase collateral materials and more.

While it seems inevitable that newspaper readership will continue to shrink, we may end up with 20 percent to 30 percent coverage within our core markets. But this friendly, relevant, nearly indispensable print publication will be joined at the hip with a strong online presence.

I think that, in some form, the printed newspaper will be around for a long, long time. But what do I know?

Scott Little is president of Media Recruiters and an Allied member of CNPA. Contact him at slittle@mediarecruiters.com or (530) 342-6036

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Spring 2007 California Publisher 15

16 California Publisher Spring 2007

Churchill and journalistic objectivity

W

inston Churchill once described Russia as “a riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma,” and that’s exactly my thought about our devotion to so-called objectivity.

WRITING As a principle for COACH reporters, objectivity Jim Stasiowski sounds admirable. If I go interview someone, and I think he is despicable, I probably shouldn’t start the story with, “Joe Schnorz is despicable.”

On the other hand, if Joe is despicable, and I can prove he is despicable, I am lying to readers if I portray him as anything other than despicable.

The problem with objectivity, of course, is that we fool ourselves into thinking we can achieve it in some pure form. Our intellects, backgrounds and experiences combine to form our judgment, and all of us have different intellects, backgrounds and experiences.

For instance, if three reporters interviewed Joe Schnorz, even if all three strive to be objective, can there be any doubt that each of the resulting stories would differ from the others?

The broad topic of objectivity would take far too much space to explore meaningfully, so I’m not going to tackle it today.

Instead, I’m going to narrow my focus to our floating standards.

When we discuss the dangers of bias, we usually are talking about stories that will make people, their businesses, their organizations or their communities look bad.

Frankly, our record on doing such stories is spotty.

Sometimes, we write what we found. We show no favoritism. That is our best work.

Other times, wishing not to anger sources, we soften the story. We rationalize, using the slippery standard of objectivity.

We say that even though we do not like the people (business, etc.) we’re writing about, we must remain neutral. Usually, that means we soft-pedal the negative.

Softening makes the writer more comfortable, but comfort rarely produces excellence. But objectivity has another side. We swear we strive for objectivity in the case of the bad person, but what about the good person? The good business? The good cause?

Ahhhhh, in those cases, we cavalierly abandon objectivity. We fall in love with good people and their causes. Then, we write a typical sweet, unchallenging story.

I

I recently read two different stories from two different newspapers, and both fell into the same trap of failing to look critically at their topics.

One reporter wrote about school fundraisers for charities. The story was predominantly lighthearted, a look at offbeat tactics school principals and others use to motivate students to sell, sell, sell for the good of the community.

I was not bothered that the principals dressed up in goofy costumes. Here’s what did bother me: Should schools be using students to raise money? Is that a proper strategy? Shouldn’t schools focus on educating children, and leave the fund-raising to others?

I know charities need money. But instead of questioning whether principals should dress up in goofy costumes, shouldn’t we be questioning whether schools should turn children into sad-eyed beggars? If asking such a question offends people, that’s a price we must pay.

A different reporter took an uncritical look at a new program started by a women’s group. The program’s goal is to persuade girls to look into careers that they ordinarily would not pursue. The goal is admirable, to break down society’s mindlessly constructed barriers.

The problem: There is no actual program. Some well-meaning women truly wish to steer girls toward non-traditional careers, but the women have only an idea plus -- this is the part I object to -- a $20,000 grant from the state government.

Before giving a grant, shouldn’t a state demand more than just an idea? Shouldn’t the women be required to show they have a specific action plan that has a chance to succeed?

As with the schools’ using kids for fundraising, I am not saying the women are wrong or their program is bad. I am saying we should be asking whether taxpayers’ money should go for a program that is a program in name only.

My real gripe with objectivity has little to do with the principle itself. It sounds good, but we use it selectively.

We write a difficult, probing story about an bad person or an unpleasant topic, and we defend it by insisting that we diligently dug up the facts, and that we treat everybody objectively. Then, to avoid writing a difficult, probing story about a good person or noble-sounding project, we drop objectivity and beg for approval like love-starved puppies.

And that, ultimately, is the curse of socalled objectivity. Sometimes it is our inviolate principle; other times, it is a principle dressed up in a goofy costume.

THE FINAL WORD:

confess, I am an addict: When I speak, I find myself saying “sort of” way too often, as in, “It was sort-of a surprise party, and a few people got sort-of drunk.”

When I write, I avoid such a softening of my meaning. However, whatever becomes popular in speech eventually creeps into our writing. I am seeing “sort of” as a

softener pop up often in newspapers these days. I think we should, you know, kind of stamp it out.

Writing coach Jim Stasiowski welcomes your questions or comments. Call him at 410 796-0210, or write to 6310 Bayberry Court, No. 1007, Elkridge, Md. 21075.

PUBLISHER’S NIGHT From page 1 publisher, Hutton a regional publisher and Vega tackles the metro market.

Regardless of the path these publishers took to get to their top jobs, and the different challenges they face in their daily tasks, Bricker Hutton Vega each is now focused on how will be, and newspapers need to stay to survive in the changing landscape of the ahead of the game, Vega said. newspaper industry. These changes were One of Bricker’s biggest pet peeves, he the topic of conversation at the California said, is the way the industry covers the Newspaper Advertising Executives industry: “We’ve held up better than any Association-North Publisher’s Night held other industry and we’re providing serFeb. 21 at the Embassy Suites in Walnut vices, content and things people need in Creek. Each year CNAEA-North gathers to their daily lives.” And Hutton said, “print celebrate publishers and bridge the comwill continue to exist in munication gap by different forms ... There hosting a dinner and are no long-term solupanel discussion.

“There are no long-term just short-term “I am of the belief solutions just short-term tions, successes that can lead that there is a way to successes that can lead to other successes.” walk out of this transiBeyond online, the to other successes.” tion,” said Hutton. “I speakers said their think free is a viable – Carole Leigh Hutton, newspapers’ greatest publisher, model for the future Palo Alto Daily News Group opportunity for growth but I also have paid varies. Vega said part newspapers. There is of the problem with room for everything.” growth is the inability Hutton described to attract the type of talent that newspaa “vertical model” allowing for the stackpers used to recruit. Focus groups, hard ing of different types of products within research and readership surveys have a community from a niche, free, weekly been used to target new readers and keep paper to a paid daily as one way to boost current ones. value to a newspaper company.

“Gannett is doing these local informaWhen asked about their thoughts on the tion centers and blowing up [traditional newspaper industry’s relationship with newspaper business] structures to do it,” Google, the publishers said newspapers said Hutton, who repeatedly spoke of need to find ways to work with companies “blowing up” the traditional model to be like Google and Monster. “It should be a able to move forward and think innovasignal to advertisers that Google is looktively. ing to us for help,” Bricker said. Google “People outside of our business see has about 600,000 advertisers right now, more possibility than we do.” Bricker its newspaper ad program is not a threat chimed in, saying, “we tend not to do because it is limited, but when they open things unless there’s a magic bullet.” it up to those 600,000 advertisers it

Spring 2007 California Publisher 17

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18 California Publisher Spring 2007

CNPA’s 2006-2007 Board of Directors Officers:

Jerry Bean President The Century Group

Lynn Dickerson President-Elect The McClatchy Company

Tony Allegretti Vice President Pinnacle, Hollister

Bob Balzer Secretary-Treasurer The Sun, San Bernardino

Will Fleet Past President The Bradenton Herald, Florida

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Spring 2007 California Publisher 19

CNPA’s 2006-2007 Board of Directors Directors: 3 Year Remaining in Term

Directors: 2 Years Remaining in Term

Directors: 1 Year Remaining in Term

Ralph Alldredge, Calaveras Enterprise, San Andreas Karlene Goller, Los Angeles Times Tom Johnson, Times Community News Dave Kuta, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin Melanie Polk, L.A. Watts Times Newspaper Judi Pollace, The Eureka Reporter Ronald Redfern, The Press-Enterprise, Riverside Wolf Rosenberg, Enterprise-Record, Chico Jayne Speizer, The Monterey County Herald Mike Taborski, Feather River Bulletin, Quincy

Chris Anderson, The Orange County Register, Santa Ana John Burns, Petaluma Argus-Courier Dean Eckenroth, Coronado Eagle & Journal Tim Gallagher, Ventura County Star David Herburger, Galt Herald Bill Johnson, Palo Alto Weekly Cynthia Schur, Santa Maria Times Brenda Speth, The Napa Valley Register Frank Vega, San Francisco Chronicle Jim Webb, Mountain Democrat, Placerville

Bill Brehm, Brehm Communications Inc. Cheryl Brown, The Black Voice News, Riverside Becky Clark, Idyllwild Town Crier Hal Fuson, The Copley Press Inc., La Jolla Paul Nyberg, Los Altos Town Crier Amy Pack, Visalia Times-Delta Edward A. Verdugo, The Event News-Press, Cypress Marty Weybret, Lodi News-Sentinel John Wilcox, San Francisco Examiner Arnold York, The Malibu Times

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20 California Publisher Spring 2007

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