Arkansas Publisher Weekly: May 28, 2020

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Money sought to prop up United States Postal Service

Guest Column:

Make Facebook and Google pay for local news, just like you

Arkansas Press Association

Publisher Weekly

By Dean Ridings

Vol. 15 | No. 22 | Thursday, May 28, 2020 | Serving Press and State Since 1873

Kid publishers learn ins and outs of newspaper business The powers-that-be at Foxcroft Newspaper assembled via Zoom video conference on Wednesday to discuss the latest developments in their emerging newspaper war, brainstorm advertising ideas, strategize about the impact of declining circulation and hear about Tyler McAlpine’s annoying older brothers and his baby cat.

All the while, an internal power struggle materialized between Audrey Spivey, the lead reporter and “boss of the Zoom” and George Cox, editor and self-titled manager. A few staffers even acknowledged they were only working for the Newspaper because they were bored.

Such is to be expected from most newspapers, and even more so for one published by 8- and 9-year-olds.

Foxcroft Newspaper, the brainchild of George and Audrey, got its start three weeks ago as an outlet for the kids to Continued on Page 2

Employees of the Foxcroft Newspaper offer copies of their publication for sale in the Foxcroft neighborhood in Little Rock. Pictured are (from left) Audrey Spivey, Tyler McAlpine, Adeline Spivey and George Cox.

APA Better Newspaper Editorial Contest entries sought As summer approaches, so does the deadline for entries for the Arkansas Press Association Better Newspaper Editorial Contest. This year, the deadline is July 31.

The APA pushed back the original spring deadline because of the COVID-19 epidemic in order to allow members plenty of time to submit their best work for the contest. The annual event provides an opportunity to be recognized by peers for work completed in the previous calendar year.

The contest is open to employees of APA member newspapers for work published

any time in 2019. Entries are judged by members of the Kansas Press Association and awards will be presented during the

Awards will be presented in multiple categories in five different divisions: Daily circulation under 10,000; daily circulation above 10,000; nondaily circulation of 1,300 or fewer; nondaily circulation between 1,300 and 2,600 and nondaily circulation above 2,600.

To read a complete listing of categories and rules, and to enter, visit newspapercontest.com/ contests/ArkansasPressAssociation. aspx.

2020 APA Convention, scheduled for Sept. 24-25 at the Marriott in downtown Little Rock.

APA members with additional questions should contact Terri Cobb at terri@arkansaspress.org or (501) 3741500.

Kid publishers learn ins and outs of newspaper business Continued from Page 1

Olive would choose to compete with an established publication like theirs.

Still, there was universal optimism about a potential merger or joint operating agreement.

manage their extra time at home because of the coronavirus. The staff, all students at Jefferson Elementary School in Little Rock, publishes its newspaper for the Foxcroft neighborhood each Saturday. Copies of Foxcroft Newspaper – printed on 8 ½-by11 paper and usually two or three pages -- are 50 cents each.

“We’re going to try to hire her to work for our newspaper,” George said. “We have the bigger business.

We have the advantage, so we think we’re going to hire her.” As a reminder, George is 8.

The staff consists of George and Tyler, both 8; Audrey and Charly Ann Calloway, who are both 9; and Adeline Spivey, Audrey’s sister, who is 6.

If they can manage to recruit Olive, the future looks bright, as the entire team has recognized its niche and wants to grow its audience and advertising revenue.

The group works between two and four hours each day on the product and meets in videoconference to go over article and advertising ideas.

Like other newspapers, they’re facing some trouble in the form of slow ad sales and circulation revenue that isn’t coming in fast enough.

“Most newspapers don’t publish stuff about neighborhoods. They don’t usually do that,” Tyler said.

“These are big things for one little newspaper in one neighborhood,” George added.

The weekly Newspaper centers on news the young reporters have collected from neighborhood sources, a list of birthdays, some “They’ll pay us one way or another,” shoutouts to friends and family and he said. “They can either do it now, Members of the staff of the Foxcroft Newspaper meet on a Zoom the weather. Their email addresses or in four weeks.” video conference to discuss their upcoming edition. are included so that readers can send news tips or updates.

The business needs the money sooner rather than later, they said, since it’s Charly Ann, the advertising manager, will used to pay the cost of supplies and for To prevent further circulation decline, all include ads this week for some acrylic were intrigued by the prospect of recruiting paintings. Next week, and beyond, she’s salaries. a girl named Olive to the staff. going after the lucrative summer camp George said the staff will get its pay at the end of the month, once expenses Olive, it seems, is attempting to piggyback market. Most parents will be seeking are covered. Audrey and Charly Ann are on the success of Foxcroft Newspaper information on camps, and the Newspaper planning to pool their salaries and donate by publishing her own newspaper in the will be there with prime advertising space for those camps, she said. to a charity, “like, the pound or something,” neighborhood.

Charly Ann said.

The team has no immediate plans for Olive doesn’t charge a subscription expansion into other neighborhoods, but They are looking for ways to drive more price, said Audrey, who thinks “Olive’s the long-term outlook is good, according revenue, especially now since they’ve lost newspaper is really good.” Both are real to George. a customer. George broke the bad news challenges for the Newspaper team. on Zoom on Wednesday: “Hey guys, we “If this newspaper still goes on when we’re lost a subscriber. The Buzawas moved None of the Newspaper staffers know adults, we’re going to buy our own building Olive personally, nor do they know why and have our own incorporation!” he said. away!”

George takes a bullish approach to subscriber collections.

INDUSTRY QUOTE “Good journalism is good business practice; good business supports great journalism.”

-Lachlan Murdoch

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May 28, 2020

Money sought to prop up United States Postal Service Two congressional leaders this week introduced a $25 billion appropriations bill intended to help the U.S. Postal Service weather a financial crisis brought on by the economic impact of the COVID-19 epidemic.

Reps.

Carolyn Maloney, D-New York, and Gerald Connolly, D-Virginia, introduced the legislation. Both are chairmen of key oversight committees in the House.

According to the National Newspaper Association, USPS reported 27 percent less volume during April, while being required to hire more workers at hotspots where employees have been exposed to the coronavirus.

The NNA said the bill, called the Postal Preservation Act, would add funds to

make up for lost revenue because of the pandemic and add funds for the Office of Inspector General to monitor USPS spending.

The bill’s sponsors said the USPS, in a time of “national emergency” cannot be allowed to shut its doors.

The president of NNA, Matt Adelman, said in a statement: “We understand that great pressure is being applied to the federal treasury right now and we appreciate our leaders’ attention to the need for wise spending. But USPS was in trouble

Arkansas College Media Association journalism contest winners named

The Arkansas College Media Association recently named its annual award winners. The ACMA awards are presented for the best student journalism at Arkansas’s two- and four-year colleges.

This year’s General Excellence winner for Newspaper of the Year was The Tower at Central Baptist College in Conway. Second place was The Bison of Harding University in Searcy and third place was The Echo at the University of Central Arkansas.

before the coronavirus disaster and is in worse shape now. Our concern that is if Congress waits until the last dollar is in the postal coffers, a rescue will come too late.

Particularly right now as the nation struggles to get back to its feet, reliable and affordable mail delivery is the backbone of commerce in towns served by our newspapers. We applaud Chairwoman Maloney and Chairman Connolly for aggressively moving toward action.”

The newspaper industry supports efforts to help the USPS remain solvent because postal service is vitally important to America’s rural communities.

Buying or Selling?

I can help you with a new purchase or the sale of your publication.

LEWIS FLOYD Senior Associate

The Newspaper Editor of the Year award was presented to Emily Nicks of The Bison; second place was Ethan Dial of The Signal at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia and third place was Krishnan Collins of The Herald at Arkansas State University.

(850) 532-9466 lfloyd@mediamergers.com

Melody Brooke Siebenmann of Central Baptist College was named Reporter of the Year and Jocelyn Waters of Central Baptist College earned the Designer of the Year prize.

In all, 656 entries were submitted in print, broadcast and digital categories.

Arkansas Publisher Weekly

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May 28, 2020

Do’s and don’ts for advertising design during pandemic

As businesses reopen and readers emerge from two months locked down in their homes, advertisers are slowly returning to newspapers. While the newspaper industry tries to rebound and advertisers seek to engage existing and new customers, advertisers, ad representatives and designers should be conscious of the new dynamic created as a result of the coronavirus epidemic.

that reality.” According to research in the UK, 31 percent of the public would find it inappropriate to consume new advertising that included crowded scenes, the expert said.

• Don’t show scenes of crowds. People are becoming increasingly uncomfortable with large gatherings, and “the public would like the content (in advertising) to reflect

His do’s: • Be aware of the shifting tone of the consumer, and adjust accordingly. Themes that may have worked in February probably won’t work now. With the way the climate is changing, today’s imagery may not be a good fit in July.

In a recent article in MediaPost. com, a British advertising consultant offered a few suggestions for ways to avoid turning off potential customers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The expert urged advertisers to avoid losing customers because “the tone or imagery doesn’t resonate with an audience that has endured a lot over the past two months.”

His “don’ts”:

readers have less disposable income and many are without jobs. The expert’s take: “It seems we don’t want to be reminded of what we can’t currently enjoy.”

• Don’t use celebrities in messaging. Use of sports celebrities in particular suggest the “excess of a pre-COVID-19 world” • Don’t show people flaunting new purchases. Because of the pandemic,

• Do incorporate imagery of families being happy at home.

This means intimate backyard cookouts, digital chats with loved ones or time at home.

Read the full article at: https:// w w w. m e d i a p o s t . c o m / p u b l i c a t i o n s / article/351701/3-things-to-avoid-in-covid19-advertising.html

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May 28, 2020

Guest Column: Make Facebook and Google pay for local news, just like you

By Dean Ridings If you are a newspaper subscriber or you pick up a copy at a local retailer, you pay for the news and information you receive in your paper’s print edition or digital outlets.

But it may surprise you to learn that the multi-billion-dollar digital behemoths Facebook and Google don’t pay for the enormous amounts of news content they scoop up from newspapers every second.

Facebook doles out a little bit of money through grants and funds to a few publishers — and Google provides some small grants through its News Initiative. While these are positive steps, they in no way make up for the use of the news content they are using for free.

Newspapers’ original reporting, especially on the community news and information that only local papers can provide, drive traffic to Facebook and Google, keeping people on their sites longer and attracting advertisers.

And news is a rich source of revenue for the Big Tech platforms. A 2019 study conducted by the News Media Alliance concluded that news publishers’ content makes up 16 to 39 percent of Google’s search results, which goes largely uncompensated. That figure doesn’t include the more intangible benefits that news content, and the data that comes with it, provide the search giant, such as using it for new product development.

The irony is that the news and content that newspapers pay journalists to provide is used by Google and Facebook to Arkansas Publisher Weekly

steadily drive advertising revenue away from newspapers, and into their coffers.

The two digital giants now gobble up 60 percent of all online advertising in the United States — an amount certain to increase with the cratering of newspaper ad revenue caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Facebook and Google don’t have reporters or the associated expense.

They rely on small and large newspapers to feed their search results.

Here’s why this patently unfair situation should concern you and your community: It now threatens the existence of some local newspapers, the source of news and information that underpins democracy and civic life itself.

It’s long past time for Google and Facebook to do what newspapers and their subscribers do: Pay for the local news that benefits them so richly.

There are ways for that to happen. Ideally, Google and Facebook would take the responsibility and voluntarily propose a method to share revenue with newspapers 5

and other news organizations. They already pay licensing fees to music publishers, for instance.

Realistically, though, the two behemoths will have to be forced to a solution.

America’s Newspapers, an association of some 1,500 newspapers including many operated by families for multiple generations, along with the News Media Alliance and other media associations have urged Congress to pass the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, allowing newspaper publishers as a group to negotiate rates with Big Tech.

Other nations around the world have taken notice of the ill effect the market dominance of Google and Facebook has on the viability of independent journalism. Australia is now developing a code that would require Google and Facebook to compensate news organizations when their content is used in the digital giants’ news products. Similarly, France just ordered Google to negotiate with news publishers over pay for news content.

This public health crisis has demonstrated the importance of the reporting of local newspapers, even as it has wreaked economic havoc on them, forcing layoffs and even silencing printing presses on some days. Requiring Google and Facebook to pay their fair share for news would go a long way to restoring the longterm health of your local newspaper.

Dean Ridings is CEO of America’s Newspapers May 28, 2020