PressLines May/June 2016 by Illinois Press Association

PressLines ILLINOIS

May-June 2016 Month 2015

Official Publication of the Illinois Press Association

Pre-Convention Issue Honorees announced for Distinguished Service Awards 3 We can't wait to see you at convention 13-16 Simple mantra for complex times 9 Posting the 'final word' 17

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

Join your friends and colleagues in the fun, excitement and celebrations It seems like just yesterday we were gearing up for the IPA’s Sesquicentennial Anniversary celebration last June. Almost a year has passed and we’re now just a few weeks away from the start of the IPA’s 151st annual convention to be held June 8, 9 & 10 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Last year’s 150th event brought a couple of new things to the convention lineup and we’re continuing those this year. Specifically, we will again be presenting the Distinguished Service Award to individuals for their outstanding commitment and service DENNIS over the years to the IPA, the DEROSSETT Illinois Press Foundation and the Illinois First Amendment President & CEO Center. These awards will be presented during the gala dinner on Thursday evening; the gala dinner immediately follows the popular Presidents’ Reception. See page 3 for the names of our four honorees in 2016. The gala dinner itself was a new event introduced at last year’s 150th anniversary convention. The gala fills the “prime time” spot on the convention schedule—Thursday evening. It went over so extremely well that it will be a fixture of future annual conventions for many years to come.

Another highlight at the gala dinner will be a presentation by WWII veteran Morley Piper, an Illinois native who has lived most of his life in the Boston area. Morley was a 19-year-old second lieutenant and was with the 29th Infantry Division that stormed Normandy Beach on June 6, 1944—better known as D-Day. His story of that eventful day is captivating and is something you surely do not want to miss. Morley, 92, is from the Canton area and has a life-long career in the newspaper industry. Just a suggestion: you might want to bring a tissue for this one. We’re also honored this year to have the presidents of two national newspaper associations at convention. They are: Chip Hutcheson of the National Newspaper Association and David Chavern of the Newspaper Association of America. You’ll certainly want to hear the good things they have to say about the current state of the newspaper industry. Also, please take time to meet them and welcome them to the IPA convention. If you haven’t already done so, we hope you’ll register right away and join your friends and colleagues in the fun, excitement and the celebrations that make up the convention. From the opening reception on Wednesday evening to the awarding of the sweepstakes trophies on Friday afternoon, the convention is a time of learning new things, sharing ideas, networking and getting rewarded for the great work you do back home with the local newspaper.

OFFICERS Sam Fisher | Chairman Sauk Valley Media, Sterling 900 Community Drive Springfield, IL 62703 Ph. 217-241-1300, Fax 217-241-1301 www.illinoispress.org Illinois PressLines is printed and distributed courtesy of GateHouse Media, Inc. in Peoria and Springfield.

Sandy Macfarland | Vice-Chairman Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Wendy Martin | Treasurer Mason County Democrat, Havana Karen Flax | Immediate Past Chairman Tribune Company, Chicago Dennis DeRossett, President & CEO Ext. 222 - dderossett@illinoispress.org

Convention is all about speakers, awards, celebration and more! That “more” includes our exhibitors who showcase new products and services that can certainly benefit any newspaper. We have a near-record number of 20 exhibitors this year and we encourage Piper you to spend some time with them, welcome them to the IPA convention and thank them for participating. We also have the advertising awards luncheon on Thursday and the editorial awards luncheon on Friday. There were almost 4,000 entries combined for these conHutcheson tests, which were judged this year by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. Who are the first place winners, and who will take home the sweepstakes trophies? Be there at the luncheons to find out! In this issue of PressLines you will find all the information about Chavern the upcoming convention. If you have questions at all please contact Cindy Bedolli (cbedolli@illinoispress.org) or any IPA staff member. We’re anxious to help and hope to see you back in Springfield at convention!

DIRECTORS Matt Bute Chicago Tribune Media Group Tim Evans News-Gazette Community Newspapers, Rantoul

Scott Stone Daily Herald Media Group, Arlington Heights

Jim Kirk Sun-Times Media, Chicago

Caroll Stacklin GateHouse Media, Inc., Downers Grove

Karen Pletsch Daily Chronicle, DeKalb

Ron Wallace Quincy Herald Whig

Jim Shrader Civitas Media, Alton

Gary Sawyer Herald & Review, Decatur IPA STAFF | PHONE 217-241-1300

Tony Scott, Vice President, Business Development Ext. 230 - tscott@illinoispress.org

Josh Sharp, Vice President, Government Relations Ext. 238 — jsharp@illinoispress.org

Cindy Bedolli, Member Relations Ext. 226 — cbedolli@illinoipress.org

Carolyn Austin, Business Manager Ext. 237 - caustin@illinoispress.org

Jeffrey Holman, Director of Advertising Ext. 248 — jholman@illinoispress.org

Kate Richardson, Communications & Marketing Ext. 227 - krichardson@illinoispress.org

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES (USPS 006-862) is published bimonthly for $30 per year for Illinois Press Association members by the Illinois Press Association, 900 Community Drive, Springfield, IL, 62703. Kate Richardson, Editor ©Copyright 2016. All rights reserved. Volume 22 May/June/2016 Number 3 Date of Issue: 5/16/2016 POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to ILLINOIS PRESSLINES, 900 Community Drive, Springfield, IL 62703. Periodical postage paid at Springfield, Illinois and Peoria, Illinois.

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

Honorees announced for IPA Distinguished Service Awards

Four long-time IPA members have been chosen to receive Distinguished Service Awards. They are: Jeff and Kathy Farren, former owners/publishers of newspapers in Yorkville and Oswego; John Foreman, president of News-Gazette Media Group, Champaign; and Carter

John Foreman

IPA Past President, 1997 John Foreman is president of The News-Gazette, Inc. which owns The Champaign-Urbana News-Gazette, The News-Gazette Community Newspapers and WDWS/WHMS/ WKIO radio. Foreman also serves on the corporation’s board of directors. Foreman has been with the company for over 37 years. He was named editor in 1985, publisher in 2003 and CEO/president in 2004. Foreman is past chairman of the Illinois First Amendment Center, the Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press Editors and the Mid-America Press Institute. In addition, for many years he served as chairman of a Society of Professional Journalists project on access to government called “Project Sunshine.” He is an adjunct professor of journalism at the University of Illinois. He was the first recipient of the “James C. Craven Award for Freedom of the Press” from the Illinois Press Association and the second recipient of the Illinois AP Editors’ “Lincoln League of Journalists” award. He has been named to the Journalism Hall of Fame by the faculty at Eastern Illinois University, and in 2006, he was named Illinois Journalist of the Year by the faculty at Northern Illinois University.

Carter Newton

IPA Past President, 2007 & 2008

Newton, publisher of the Galena Gazette. They will receive their awards during the IPA annual convention at the Gala Awards Dinner on the evening of Thursday, June 9. The convention is being held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Springfield.

The Distinguished Service Award recognizes IPA members for their exceptional service, involvement and support of the IPA, the Illinois Press Foundation and the Illinois First Amendment Center.

Jeff & Kathy Farren Jeff: IPA Past President, 1990 Kathy: IPA Past President, 2009 Jeff and Kathy Farren met while working on the copy desk of the Northern Star, the daily student newspaper at Northern Illinois University in the fall of 1968. They both earned bachelor's degrees in journalism from NIU, Jeff in 1970 and Kathy in 1971. Jeff went on to serve as associate editor of the Northern Star and Kathy was later a reporter for the Star. Kathy was born and raised on the south side of Chicago while Jeff is a Yorkville native. Jeff did an internship for the Aurora Beacon-News in 1969 and was hired there after graduation as the assistant state editor. In 1971, he became editor of the Kendall County Record in Yorkville. Kathy did an internship in 1970 for the former DeKalb Journal and, after graduation, held an internship in education reporting at the Chicago Tribune and worked in public relations for the College of DuPage. Shortly after she and Jeff were married in 1971, she joined him in working for the Kendall County Record. They purchased the paper in 1973 and three years later started the Plano Record to serve that area of the market. In 1979, they purchased the Oswego Ledger and a year later bought the competing Fox Valley Sentinel, merging them to create the Ledger-Sentinel. In 1985, they started the Sandwich Record in southern DeKalb County.

Carter is a native of Muskegon, Mich., graduating from Mona Shores High School in 1973; and Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, with a bachelor's degree in history in 1977. He then worked for newspapers based in Zearing, Iowa; West Burlington, Iowa; and Mediapolis, Iowa; where he worked in all facets of newspaper publishing. Carter began working at The Gazette in December 1979 as managing editor. In January 1982, he became a partner in the newspaper operation joining Robert and Frances Melvold and Sam and Fran Byers as stockholders in the cor-

Kathy served as editor of the Kendall County Record and Jeff as the publisher. Both served on the board of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association and later the Illinois Press Association board of directors. Kathy was the president of the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association board in 1991- the same year Jeff was president of the IPA board. When Kathy became president of the IPA board in 2009, it marked the first time that a husband and wife had both held that office. Also in 2009, Jeff was named a regional director of the National Newspaper Association, a position he held on the NNA board until they sold the papers in 2015. Kathy still serves on the Illinois Press Foundation Board. In 1991, the NIU Journalism Department presented them with its Alumni Award. They were also named to the inaugural class of the Northern Star Hall of Fame in 2000. Kathy has served on the boards of the Yorkville Hometown Days Festival, Yorkville Area Chamber of Commerce, and is currently the treasurer of Kendall County PADS (Public Action to Deliver Shelter), a program serving the homeless. Jeff was also on the Yorkville Chamber board, has been in the Yorkville Lions Club, and has volunteered with events of the Walter and Connie Payton Foundation. They have one daughter, Colleen Higginbotham, who lives in Virginia Beach, Va., with her husband, Mark. Colleen is the Director of Visitor Relations for the Chrysler Museum of Art in Norfolk, Va.

poration. His wife, Sarah, joined the company in 1983 managing the firm's Main Street newspaper museum. In December 1985, the Newtons assumed publisher roles when they purchased the Byers' interest in the newspaper. In January 2001, Carter and Sarah assumed total ownership of Galena Gazette Publications Inc., the parent corporation of The Galena Gazette. Carter has served two terms as the president of the IPA, and is very involved in the Galena Rotary, spearheading a number of exchange programs in Chile.

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

IPF announces $22,000 in mini-grants

The Illinois Press Foundation, the 501(c)3 arm of the Illinois Press Association, has announced the awarding of $22,200 in mini-grants to high school journalism programs across the state. The Illinois high schools receiving mini-grants include: Arthur Lovington Atwood Hammond High School, Barrington High School, Belleville West High School, Carlyle High School, Carmi White County High School, Carterville High School, Curie Metropolitan High School, Frankfort Community High School, Harrisburg High School, Hartsburg-Emden High School, Havana High School, Normal Community High School, Pearl City High School, Phoenix Military Academy, Queen of Peace High School, Springfield High School, St. Joseph-Ogden High School and Vienna High School. The grants will allow the journalism

advisers to purchase equipment including computers, monitors and cameras, as well as Adobe Creative Suite licenses and paper for printing. "We are very proud to be a part of this program that helps high school students gain valuable journalism experience at an early age," said Illinois Press Association President and CEO Dennis DeRossett. The foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s primary mission includes: 1) support of Illinois scholastic journalism programs both at the high school and college level, 2) to champion literacy efforts for adult learners and to help educate the public about the importance of becoming better consumers of news, 3) to award journalism scholarships to students attending Illinois universities and colleges, and 4) to assist educators in teaching awareness of the five freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment.

Phoenix Military Academy journalism adviser Katie Comeford sent the Illinois Press Foundation a thank you card signed by some of her journalism students. The Chicago-based Academy received $1,000 to purchase a MacBook Pro to aid in the production of The Phoenix Chronicle. Seventeen Illinois high schools received mini-grants.

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

It's been a great 18 months Term as IPA Board Chairman ends in June It’s been an honor and pleasure to serve as the Board Chairman/President for the past 18 months. Having been involved with the Association for over 30 years, I’m happy to report that the Association is stronger today than at any point during this time. This strength is centered around a great staff, an involved board and active membership. Below is a brief summary of the recent accomplishments of the IPA: STAFF – It all starts with the folks at the Association. IPA President & CEO SAM FISHER Dennis DeRossett Chairman, IPA Board has built an orgaof Directors nization that has responded to the changes in our industry to ensure that we can meet today’s challenges. The Association staff is deep in knowledge and talent. REVENUE – Over the last few years the Association has responded to the changing ad climate, which has always represented our single largest source of revenue, to diversify revenue sources –  Clip services – New technology has enabled new and varied services to customers with digital information needs.  Management services – In January the Association successfully implemented the management services contract for the National Newspaper Association. This brings new revenue and has enabled the Association to add depth to its staff, strengthening the IPA overall; of particular note are the addition of Tony Scott in revenue development, the retention of Lynne Lance for NNA membership services, and Stan Schwartz as editor of Publishers’ Auxiliary.

 PNI website, hosting and support to other states – Currently 13 other states are using the PNI platform as their aggregated public notice website.  ACES – this contest entry platform that was designed and developed internally by the Association staff. This platform is currently being used by 21 other organizations. LOBBYING EFFORTS – Josh Sharp, vice president of government relations, continues to do an outstanding job of representing our industry’s interests at the state capitol. This current session alone he has thwarted several attempts on bad Public Notice legislation. IPA legal counsel Don Craven, Dennis, the Government Relations committee and the support of our members have been instrumental in this success as well. It’s important each member has a strong relationship with local legislators so our individual and collective voices will always be heard. SESQUICENTENNIAL – Last year we recognized the contributions and celebrated the accomplishments of an organization that has served our members so faithfully and withstood the test of time. Reaching the 150th-year milestone is a significant achievement and one of which we should be proud. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARDS – During last year’s convention we recognized individuals for their dedication and commitment to our industry and the Association. We will be recognizing this year’s recipients at our June Convention. On behalf of the board I would like to encourage all of our members to attend this year’s convention in Springfield; dates are June 8-9-10. It’s been a great 18 months serving an organization that has been and is today so relevant and important to the newspaper industry in this state. IPA has afforded me the opportunity to meet great people and develop lifelong friendships. Thank you for allowing me this truly unique opportunity.

CIRCULATION SOFTWARE for NEWSPAPERS SUBSCRIBER CARE DELIVERY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS REPORTING

CALL: 888-473-3103 WRITE: sales@ilsw.com VISIT: www.ilsw.com

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

Charging for Delinquent Tax Lists and Assessment Lists It is important to remember the law is very specific regarding what can be charged for delinquent tax lists and assessment lists. All statutes discussed below are statutorily set rates, meaning that newspapers may not charge any more or less than what the law allows.

JOSH SHARP

Delinquent Tax Lists – All Counties

Delinquent tax lists are billed at the set rate of $0.40 per column line for the entire legal notice; that price includes all tracts and lots plus the preamble, any descriptive headings, the affidavit, and any other matter accompanying the delinquent list. For full text of the statute, see below: Vice President, Government Relations

(35 ILCS 200/21-117) Sec. 21-117. Costs of publishing delinquent list. A county shall pay for the printer for advertising delinquent lists the following fees: (1) in all counties, for tracts of land, $0.40 per column line; and (2) for town lots, (i) in counties of the first and second class, $0.40 per column line. The printer shall receive for printing the preamble, the descriptive headings, the affidavit, and any other matter accompanying the delinquent list, the sum of $0.40 per column line, to be paid by the county. No costs except printer's fee shall be charged on any lands or lots forfeited to the State. (Source: P.A. 93-963, eff. 8-20-04.)

Assessment Lists – Counties of less than 3,000,000 inhabitants For all newspapers outside of Cook County, assessment lists should be

billed at 80¢ per parcel, while the preamble, headings, and any other explanatory matter should be charged according to the Legal Advertising Rate Act. Both statutes can be found below: (35 ILCS 200/12-15) Sec. 12-15. Publication fee - Counties of less than 3,000,000. The newspaper shall be paid a fee for publishing the assessment list according to the following schedule: (a) For a parcel listing including the name of the property owner, a property index number, property address, or both, and the total assessment, 80¢ per parcel; and (g) For the preamble, headings, and any other explanatory matter either required by law, or requested by the supervisor of assessments, to be published, the rate shall be set according to the Legal Advertising Rate Act. (Source: P.A. 97-146, eff. 7-14-11.) (715 ILCS 15/1) (from Ch. 100, par. 11) This Act may be cited as the Legal Advertising Rate Act. Sec. 1. For purposes of this Act, "required public notice" means any notice, advertisement, proclamation, statement, proposal, ordinance or proceedings of an official body or board or any other matter or material that is required by law or by the order or rule of any court to be published in any newspaper. The face of type of any required public notice shall be made shall be not smaller than the body type used in the classified advertising in the newspaper in which the required public notice is published. The minimum rate shall be 20 cents per column line for each insertion of a required public notice. The maximum rate charged for each insertion of a required public notice shall not exceed the lowest classified rate paid by commercial users for comparable space in the newspapers in which the required public notice appears and shall include all cash discounts, multiple insertion dis-

counts, and similar benefits extended to the newspaper's regular customers. For the purposes of this Act, "commercial user" means a customer submitting commercial advertising, and does not include a customer submitting a required public notice. (Source: P.A. 97-146, eff. 1-1-12.)

Assessment Lists – Counties of 3,000,000 or more inhabitants For newspapers located in Cook County, billing for the assessment is identical to the delinquent tax lists. Any newspaper publishing an assessment lists in Cook County should charge 40¢ per column line for the entire legal notice. This rate includes all parcels, the preamble, headings, and any other explanatory matter. Again, text of the statute can be found below: (35 ILCS 200/12-20) Sec. 12-20. Publication of assessments; counties of 3,000,000 or more. In counties with 3,000,000 or more inhabitants, in each year of a general assessment, for each county or assessment district therein if the county is divided into assessment districts as provided in Section 9-220, the county assessor shall publish a complete assessment list as soon as the assessment is completed as required under this Section. If the county assessor revises the assessment after the complete assessment list is published, then the county assessor must publish a subsequent list of all the revised assessments for that year. In years other than years of a general assessment or reassessment, the county assessor shall cause

to be published, within the time and in the manner described here, a complete list of assessments in which changes are made together with the changes made in the valuation or assessment of property since the last preceding assessment. The publication shall contain a copy of the land value map for the township, if required by the Department. The publication of the assessments or the changes shall be printed in some newspaper or newspapers of general circulation published in the county except that, in every township or incorporated town which has superseded a civil township, in which there is published one or more newspapers of general circulation, the assessment list of each township shall be published in one of the newspapers. In cities of more than 2,000,000 inhabitants, the assessment list of the city shall be printed in one or more newspapers of general circulation published in the township assessment district within the city or, in the event a newspaper of general circulation is not published within the township assessment district, in one or more newspapers of general circulation published within the city. Any newspaper publishing an assessment list under this Section is entitled to a fee of 40¢ per column line for publishing the list. (Source: P.A. 93-759, eff. 1-1-05.) For further information about any of these statutes, please contact: Josh Sharp at jsharp@illinoispress. org or IPA legal counsel Don Craven at don@cravenlawoffice.com.

Connect with IPA!

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

The News-Gazette, Inc. is devoted to delivering the highest quality news and information to our readers. And it shows. We are consistently recognized by our peers for outstanding journalism, commentary and advertising creativity. Local ownership makes this possible - and important.

Make an impact.

Are you talented and committed to excellence in local journalism? Do you want to work with a team whose #1 goal is to be the best at what they do? We want to hear from you.

The News-Gazette, Inc.

15 Main St. | Champaign, IL | www.news-gazette.com

SP35963

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

Simple mantra for complex times Editor's Note: This article is reprinted from the Daily Herald, Arlington Heights. Useful. Different. Relevant. Time was, those were the three most important words in the Daily Herald newsroom, as close to a collective mantra as a body of committed skeptics is likely to embrace. Our success depended on our ability to provide information and entertainment that aspired to JIM SLUSHER those three stanAssistant Managing dards. And, to be Editor, Daily Herald sure, they're still our prime directive. But consider the new vocabulary clamoring for contention: Metrics. Silos.

Clickbait. Algorithm. Platform. Curation. Social media. Pageviews. Analytics. Chartbeat. It's a dizzying new lexicon, but it's not only we news media folks whom it affects. It is also you, t he

here comes another one!) news consumption, all these new notions have far-reaching and direct consequences as personal as the management of your local school and as expansive as the election of a new president.

reader. Or, you, the user, in a distinction increasingly important to some contemporary experts. However you characterize your (eek!

This obser vation is evident in a broadcast conversation last week between National Public Radio anchor Robert Simon and

with

Boost Revenue & Increase ReadeRshIp Inserts & publications for your Local Community

We can help! As experts in printing senior guides, bridal guides, community guides and more, we can help you get started.

888-824-0303 | www.pubprinters.com

Make Sales Soar Like Magic Improve your close ratios to 70% or more with the New MiAD

Wizard!

It's a fact that spec ads help close more sales â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and yet spec ads are used less than 20% of the time. Now, with the real-world magic of MiAD Wizard, personalizing and presenting spec ads for EVERY prospect is as easy as 1-2-3!

No training. No time wasted. No more tough sells. Visit Jennifer Steiner at Metroâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booth to see the Wizard Illinois Press Association 2016 Convention June 8, 9 & 10 in Springfield, IL

800.223.1600

The Official Printer of the Denver Broncos

Bloomberg View columnist Megan McArdle regarding her observations on what I'll call political isolationism, a belief in the dominance of one's personal point of view, assumed because it's the only point of view one encounters. It's these intellectual silos in which we all find ourselves, their walls strengthened because electronic curators -- Google, Facebook, Netflix and practically every web monitor one can imagine -- are constantly refining algorithms to select the news and entertainment we consume to assure that we only see that which we appreciate or support. Suddenly, we think everyone must agree with us, because our views and our preferences are automatically served up to us every time we fire up our (sigh, sorry) electronic devices. "We don't realize that we're creating bubbles," McArdle told Simon. " ... And so it comes to seem that the news uniContinued on Page 12

service@metro-email.com www.metrocreativeconnection.com

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

Congratulations Sandy Macfarland CEO, Law Bulletin Publishing Company Incoming Chairman, Illinois Press Association (IPA)

FROM THE EMPLOYEES OF LAW BULLETIN PUBLISHING COMPANY:

Lawyerport

速

FORTY 40 UNDER

MAY - JUNE 2016

You're invited Please ! join u s &

for the Gala D Service inner feat Presidents' uring Award the Di Reception s. stingu ished

5:30 T - 7:00 hursda y p 7:00 .m. Hors , June 9 - 9:00 d prese p.m. ' oeuvres ntatio Awar n of IPA Evening i & cocktai n ls ds an D d spe istinguis cludes cial g hed S u Visit e s t spea ervice R http: //illin egistratio kers. oispr n ess.o require d. rg/Ev ents/ Conv entio n.asp x

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

ď ŹMANTRA

Continued from Page 9

800.245.9278, x5324 â&#x20AC;˘ creativeoutlet.com

verse, that people who agree with you are much more ubiquitous than they actually are. And that leads us to the conclusions that -- I mean, I've been informed by voters that every single candidate who's still there is completely unelectable." Now, layer onto this isolationist arrogance the influence of Chartbeat or pageview monitoring, and you gain an even greater appreciation for the complex demands for critical thinking that confront you in today's (whew) media environment. In an article for the website Quartz, writer John West revisits a timeworn conflict for profit-reliant news media. "In the one corner (is an approach holding) that media companies ought to give readers what they want, and that what readers want is more Kim Kardashian," he writes. " ... In the other corner (is an approach that) values media not as a function of how much money it makes, but the civic movements it creates." And the conflict is mediated now, West notes, by systems, like the pageview monitor Chartbeat, that provide better measures than we've ever had for providing data about what information people want. In a discussion last week with journalists from various Chicago news media, I was interested to note how many of our organizations are integrating into

FREE Pre-publication HOTLINE for IPA members only: 217-544-1777 Have a legal question regarding a story? Ask Attorney Don Craven first.

our news discussions data from similar companies that monitor the aggregate web behavior of our users. It worries all of us. Are we making news decisions based on what people need to know in order to become more-informed citizens? Or based on the momentary pleasures they take from the comfort of their isolated information silos? I was happy to note that all of us strive for a healthy balance in the use of these new metrics. We know how critical it is to take a running inventory of what seems to appeal most to our customers, but we also recognize, as West's article emphasizes, that analyzing this information is very much an imperfect science. One that brings us back to our original mantra -- useful, different, relevant. Thanks to the algorithms force feeding you what the web thinks you want, you may have to go out in search of that which is different. But we'll keep that concept in mind, along with a commitment to provide material that's useful and relevant, As with so many things, in an ever-more complicated world, the original, simple words are still the most valuable in the vocabulary. Jim Slusher, jslusher@dailyherald.com, is an assistant managing editor at the Daily Herald. Follow him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jim.slusher1 and on Twitter at @JimSlusher.

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

Who are the first place winners? Find out at the editorial awards luncheon on Friday!

June 8 -10, 2016: Crowne Plaza, Springfield

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

Agenda Wednesday, June 8 1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Sales training. 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. Kick off convention with the opening reception.

Media Sales Tactics for Today’s Competitive Environment Amie Stein, Local Media Association’s Director of Training and Development, will cover social selling, the digital sales process, and the customer journey for helping multimedia sellers differentiate themselves in today’s very competitive media sales landscape. Session for Amie Stein beginners and experienced sales staff.

Opening Reception - Complimentary with convention registration but requires an RSVP. 6:00- 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, June 9

8:30 a.m. - 4:45 p.m. A full day featuring a session by Amie Stein, a revenue idea exchange, Advertising Awards Ceremony, panel discussion and flash sessions. 5:30 - 9:00 p.m. Presidents' Reception & Gala Dinner.

Creating and Growing a Money-Making Events Division Amie Stein Media companies who are investing in growing an events division are seeing between 30-50% profit margins. During this session, Amie will share best practices and case studies from across the media industry to get attendees thinking how they can go back and cash in on this winning revenue stream.

Advertising Awards Luncheon & Dessert Auction 11:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Revenue Idea Exchange Great ideas to take home and implement. Pay for your entire convention cost with just one great idea!

Presidents’ Reception & Gala Dinner Join us during the Presidents' Reception & Gala Dinner featuring the Distinguished Service Awards. 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. Hors d’ oeuvres and cocktails 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Evening includes presentation of IPA Distinguished Service Awards and special guest speakers.

Two That Do It Right Staff from the Arlington Heights Daily Herald and Champaign News-Gazette, panel discussion on their best practices that earned them inclusion in E&P’s “10 Newspapers that Do It Right.” Topics: editorial, advertising, digital, marketing/promotion. Flash Sessions Rotation of six 15–minute topics. You pick the four you want to attend: • IPA Ad Networks by Jeff Holman, IPA Advertising Director and Melissa Calloway, IPA Digital Advertising Manager • Mobile Apps = Revenue by HubCiti • New Manager Guidebook Best Practices/Rep. compensation packages that drive results by Shawna Lawrence, IPA Adv. Committee

• What you can and cannot advertise by Josh Sharp, IPA V.P. Government Relations • How to drive revenue with trips/incentives by Capitol Marketing • New revenue through local events by Eileen Brown, Daily Herald

IAPME Awards Luncheon The Illinois Associated Press Media Editors Awards Luncheon and guest speaker, David Axelrod.

Chip Hutcheson, president of National Newspaper Association.

Hutcheson

Piper

WWII veteran Morley Piper. A native of Canton now living in Boston, Morley, 92, was a 19-year-old second lieutenant on D-Day-June 6, 1944 - and was in the first wave of infantry to storm Normandy Beach. His story, his survival, is a riveting story and one you won’t want to miss. After serving in the military, Morley had a life-long career in the newspaper industry including 30+ years as executive director of the New England Newspaper Association. Today, he still serves as clerk for the Newspaper Association Managers, the association for state press association executives.

Friday, June 10

8:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. An Illinois legislative update, educational session, keynote session, and the Editorial Awards Luncheon.

Illinois Legislative Update IPA Legal Counsel Don Craven and IPA VP of Government Relations Josh Sharp will provide an update on legislative issues impacting public notices, FOIA, drones, body cams and open meetings/records. Ferguson Pulitzer Prize winning coverage of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch on the police shooting of Michael Brown and subsequent protests and riots that rocked this community and the nation. Multimedia presentation by panel of P-D reporters and photographers.

Keynote David Chavern, president & CEO of Newspaper Association of America

Chavern

Editorial Luncheon and Contest/Sweepstakes Awards Noon- 3:00 p.m.

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

Congratulations to the 2014 award winners! Illinois Press IVERSARY N N A H T 150

Association 1865-2015

Join us for the award luncheons at convention to find out the 2015 contest winners.

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

Join us at the Crowne Plaza CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL 3000 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703 Ph: (217) 529-7777 NEARBY ATTRACTIONS ◊ Lincoln's Home, Tomb and Monument ◊ Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum ◊ Illinois State Fairgrounds ◊ Old State Capitol ◊ Springfield Muni Opera ◊ Knight's Action Park ◊ LPGA 1976-2006 Rail Golf Course ◊ Thomas Rees Carillon ◊ Governor's Mansion ◊ White Oaks Mall ◊ Henson Robinson Zoo ◊ New Salem State Park ◊ Prairie Capital Convention Center Photos courtesy of Crowne Plaza

Group rates are available at two hotels side-by side for your convenience. Both hotels are located off Interstate 55, exit 94 (Stevenson Drive). Discounted group rate for both hotels available through May 25th. Make your reservation today!

CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL 3000 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703 | (217) 529-7777 Special Convention Rate: $130/room + 12% tax To receive special rate, call (217) 529-7777 and mention Illinois Press or visit illinoispress.org/Events/Convention.aspx for a link to reserve online.

HOLIDAY INN EXPRESS 3050 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703 | (217) 529-7771 Special Convention Rate: $91/room +12% tax To receive special rate, call (217) 529-7771 and mention Illinois Press or visit illinoispress.org/Events/Convention.aspx for a link to reserve online.

Register Today! Visit https://ilpress.formstack.com/forms/2016convention for a la carte registration or scan the QR code! Call Cindy Bedolli with any questions or to register over the phone: 217-241-1300. All proceeds will go to the Illinois Press Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, that promotes training to IPA members and journalism education at the high school and collegiate levels through summer camps, grants to high school journalism programs and scholarships to students enrolled in Illinois state universities’ journalism programs.

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

Competing for customers Think carefully before posting

Years ago, I helped judge an advertising competition for a large agricultural association. By design, all of the judges were outsiders. We evaluated each ad on its merits, without being influenced by inside knowledge of individual advertisers or personalities. I recently ran across a leftover scoring sheet in my files. There JOHN FOUST were five scoring areas, with points Raleigh, N.C. awarded in each one. Although it was an industry-specific competition, these areas easily apply to all advertising: 1. Stopping power (described on the scoresheet as “attention getting ability”): This concept of stopping power is more important than ever. In

the old days, we were exposed to about 500 ads per day. But today’s number is 5,000 or higher. It takes a lot to break through that kind of clutter. 2. Clarity of message (“is message understandable?”): I once heard a speech by John O’Toole, president of the famous Foote, Cone & Belding advertising agency. After his talk, I chatted with him for a minute or two and asked what he thought was the most important principle of advertising. Without hesitation, he said, “Clarity.” 3. Interest of message (“does message hold attention of audience?”): Once an ad gets attention, the task is to maintain that attention. The surest way to do that is to appeal to the target audience’s interests. And what are we human beings interested in? Ourselves. There’s real truth in the old cliché that we all listen Continued on Page 18

Web CMS High School Sports e-Edition Mobile Apps Prepress Production e-Tears & e-Invoices

www.presteligence.com

info@presteligence.com

1.888.438.6050

the ‘final word’

A mayor takes issue with an editorial that criticized a city council action, calling your facts into question. Irate parents challenge your decision – your right – to report their son didn’t dress for the basketball game because he was suspended for violating school policy. A pastor is critical of an ad you accepted for pubJIM PUMARLO lication, saying it was in poor taste. Red Wing, Minn. Hardly a week passes that a newspaper’s policies and practices aren’t called into question. Many complaints are fielded in private conversation.

In other instances, though, readers want to share their opinions with a wider audience with a letter to the editor – which often spurs additional conversation both pro and con on the newspaper’s decision. The exchange soon dwindles, and the newspaper likely wins high marks for allowing readers to toss brickbats as well as bouquets. There are cases when editors feel compelled to add a P.S. to a letter. I urge you to think twice – even three times – before doing so. Postscripts may give you a “feel good” sensation in the short term, but they can have long-term consequences in relationships with your readers, and rarely for the better. Don’t get me wrong. Some letters warrant a response. I’m a firm believContinued on Page 19

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

You have questions. We have answers. Got Trucking Questions? Need Answers?

uestions about school law, finance, policy, or other management issues?

If you have one and need the other, contact us! Don Schaefer Executive Vice-President

www.iasb.com

(217) 525-0310

217/528-9688

dons@mid-westtruckers.com

Illinois Petroleum Marketers Association / Illinois Association of Convenience Stores

Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois Independent wholesalers providing a diversity of products for consumers and means for new brands to enter the market.

Contact Robert L. Myers with questions about beer distribution. myers@abdi.org 217-528-4371

phone: 217.544.4609 fax: 217.789-0222

Illinois Alcoholism and Drug Dependence Association

YOUR SOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON THE ILLINOIS PORK INDUSTRY

Advocating for substance abuse and mental illness prevention, treatment and recovery organizations throughout Illinois.

www.ilpork.com

Contact IADDA as the voice for Behavioral Health

Illinois Pork Producers Generations of Commitment.

Sara Howe, CEO | 217-528-7335 ext. 11 | showe@iadda.org www.iadda.org

Illinois Press Association Government Relations Legal & Legislative

FREE Pre-publication HOTLINE for IPA members only:

Josh Sharp, VP jsharp@illinoispress.org

217-544-1777

217-241-1300 www.illinoispress.org

Have a legal question regarding a story? Ask Attorney Don Craven first.

Contact: Morgan Booth E-mail: morgan@ilpork.com

Phone: 217-529-3100 Fax: 217-529-1771

Illinois Movers’ and Warehousemen’s Association www.imawa.com oving! about m we know

40 Adloff Lane, Suite 2 Springfield, IL 62703-4441 217-585-2740 FAX 217-585-2472 e-mail psmith@imawa.com Since 1953

To advertise in PressLines, contact Jeffrey Holman at 217-241-1700

CUSTOMERS Continued from Page 17

to radio station WII-FM – “What’s In It For Me?” Every time we encounter an advertiser’s product or service – even for a split second – we automatically run it through the self-interest filter. If it holds some appeal, we’ll give it a few more moments of our time. If not, we’ll click, tap or turn to something else. The key is to know the audience. Marketing textbooks emphasize the value of features and benefits. Along the way, it’s smart to narrow the list to those which are most relevant. Features A,B and C may not mean anything to potential buyers, but Feature D might hit the mark. 4. Believable (“will audience believe message?”): Although advertisers realize that there is no sale without trust, some of them hurt their chances by resorting to exaggerations and unsubstantiated claims. They lose credibility when they use shallow terms like “unbelievable,” “one of a kind” and “best deals in town.” I believe that people often exaggerate when they lack confidence in the truth. Sometimes this means the copywriter has not learned enough about the product and the audience to create a believable campaign. The remedy is to get the right information – and simply put that information into words and pictures. 5. Tone (“good taste in keeping with audience”): This is a matter of likeability. People would rather hear, “We understand you, and here’s something you’ll like” than to hear, “You’re making a big mistake if you don’t buy from us.” At the end of the day, there’s something which can mean more to your advertisers than winning ad contests. And that’s winning customers. © Copyright 2016 by John Foust. All rights reserved. -John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training videos to save time and get quick results from in-house training. E-mail for information: john@johnfoust.com

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

'FINAL WORD' Continued from Page 17

er in having a dialogue with readers. That includes writing columns to explain news decisions, especially when an issue is raised in your newspaper. But there are some important considerations. First and foremost, don’t blind side the writer. It’s always best to have a conversation with the author. Explain your decision-making and your wish to explain your reasoning to the broader audience. Gauge the reaction; the conversation may dissuade you from writing anything. If you proceed with a column, the author deserves a headsup. You may well view the column as an explanation; the writer will likely view it as a rebuttal. That’s all the more reason to connect. The process is fairly straightforward when dealing with the person who feels mistreated by a newspaper decision and pens a letter. It becomes more

complicated with a “third party” complaint. Consider the woman who criticized a newspaper headline: "Drug defendant dies at 19; cause unclear." She wrote, in part, “What you did was not responsible journalism. It was callous sensationalism.” In this case, the more important consideration in any editor’s response is the family of the youth that will be drawn into additional limelight through no fault of their own. The letter itself will likely generate more attention; you’re in a difficult position to stop additional exchange. A column also may prolong the debate, and you do have a choice in that regard. A conversation with the family, at minimum, gives you an opportunity to explain your decision in private. Those conversations can be difficult. Individuals may refuse to talk and hang up abruptly. But the calls also

might pay you dividends in the long run. I speak from experience. I made many a call to individuals when our news decisions were called in question. Some remained a private conversation; some resulted in a column. In all instances, the readers – our customers – gained a better understanding of the hows and whys behind our decisions, even if they did not agree. If you write a column, don’t be afraid to say that, upon reflection after the crush of deadlines, you may have handled the circumstances differently – if that is the case. Showing that you are human, too, strengthens your credibility. Requisite to writing any column is having a conversation with the author and/or affected individuals. In contrast, many editors tack a P.S. on letters without ever connecting with the author. From the writer’s perspective,

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ILLINOIS PRESS ASSOCIATION ON OVER 150 YEARS OF PROMOTING LITERACY, FREE SPEECH AND SUPPORTING THE NEWSPAPERS OF ILLINOIS

editor’s notes are just an example of the newspaper having the “last word” and diminishing the impact of the letter. Do so, and it’s a good bet the authors will be hesitant to submit another letter. They will be unafraid to express that sentiment to friends, too. In the end, you lose with the author and your readers. Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is author of “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in SmallTown Newspapers.” He can be reached at www.pumarlo.com and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com.

20 ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

Pressing Issues

What are the three most common questions I’m asked on-site? If a person hangs around long enough, he’s bound to get noticed. That’s my theory anyway. When asked why I receive so many requests for help from newspapers, I simply mark it down to longevity. I’ve been around the business long enough for most KEVIN SLIMP publishers, and others, to know me. Director, Institute of Newspaper Technology On Tuesday of last week, I received requests to visit five newspapers in four states. For some, the most pressing need is training. A few seek

advice concerning the overall structure of their operations. Still others are hoping I can find the solution to problems which have plagued their newspapers for too long. Ten or 15 years ago, I would worry a bit before boarding on a plane to make a consulting visit. Concerned there might be bigger problems than I could solve, it was always a relief to eventually get on the flight back home. Those days are past. I don’t stress or worry about upcoming trips. One reason is there’s simply no time for worry while visiting two or three papers each week. A more likely explanation is there’s not much I haven’t seen after 20 years of consulting, so issues that might be huge in the eyes of a client often have simple solutions when seen through the eyes of experience. Here are some of the most common

One of my most common requests is to "get the color right" on the printed page. Here, a pressman checks the dot gain right after this page came off the press in Cambridge, Minnesota, while I looked on. questions I’m asked while on-site at newspapers: Question 1: Is there a better way to

chronicle

produce my newspaper? Continued on Page 21

MEDIA

Chronicle Media, LLC is excited to unveil the new way of processing legal notices at the Illinois Press Association Conference.

LEGAL NOTICE SERVICE

Stop by our booth to learn more about how your publication can save money and reduce errors.

MAY - JUNE 2016

QUESTIONS

Continued from Page 20 The topic of production comes up a lot during my visits. This particular question is one of the most difficult, because there’s almost always someone who doesn’t like my answer. Ponder this: How often do you visit some type of business and think, “There’s got to be a better way?” If you’re like most, the answer would be, “That happens a lot.” That’s what makes this a difficult question. It’s not that I don’t know the answer. Usually, within just a few minutes I’ve noticed several potential improvements to the workflow. It’s natural for people to resist change. So I tread this question gently, hoping to gain the trust of most everyone on staff before sharing my thoughts. For instance, most people enjoy designing pages. The truth, however, is it’s important to have good designers working on pages and good writers writing stories. Sure, photographers sometimes like having total control of their photos, but there’s often someone on staff who is particularly skilled at color editing, leaving the photographer more time for what they do best, shooting photos. As an adviser, I use experience to guide me in knowing when to advise changes, and when to realize, for the time being, things might work better as they are. Question 2: Why are we having so many problems with ads clogging up the system or printing incorrectly? I don’t like bringing up issues with PDF files. Sometimes it seems like I’ve spent my life dealing with them. But the truth is I haven’t visited a paper in a long time that didn’t have issues with PDF files. Most don’t realize their trouble is coming from PDF files. A pressman might ask, “Whey do files coming from advertising cause errors when going through the RIP (raster image processor)? A publisher might ask, “Why are we losing so much money because ads aren’t printing right in our paper?” A page designer might ask, “Why are quotation marks turning to strange symbols?” or “Why are boxes appearing

on the page where letters should be?” As much as the good folks at Adobe want you to believe otherwise, the answer is almost always found in the method used to create the PDF files. One of the most common messages I receive after visiting a client is, “We’ve already covered your cost in savings from ads printing correctly.” It’s not rocket science. Ensuring those PDF files are error-free before sending them to the RIP will make everyone sleep better. Question 3: Will we increase profits and produce better papers by centralizing production? When approached with the idea of moving the productions of multiple newspapers to a central office, I’ve found it wise to do more listening than talking. Most clients are already hoping I will say, “Yes, that’s a good idea,” before I arrive. I figure, however, they’re paying me good money and want objective answers, rather than having me placate their egos – improving my chances of being invited back. Sometimes the answer is “yes.” If they own three papers in one county with a total circulation of 1,600, it probably doesn’t take three full-time design staffs to lay out the pages. However, often the answer is “not so fast.” Research indicates often the best way to produce long-term growth is improving the quality of the products. Moving to a central production facility often has more to do with reaching short-term cost reduction goals than achieving long-term growth. As often as not, when faced with this question, I will have a serious discussion with a publisher, CEO or other manager, resulting in a decision to use current resources to improve the quality and profits of their newspapers, rather than cutting to grow, which rarely works in the long run. I could write a column titled, “The 100 most often asked questions during on-site visits,” but the editor of this publication might not be pleased with such a topic. So, for now, let’s stick with these three.

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

High Quality Printing Solutions

From Concept to Delivery We’ve taken our experience and developed a host of new services with the reputation of our brand behind them.

We now offer a variety of printing services, paper stocks and full bindery capabilities as well as “concept design to delivery” via our unique ability to reach your target audience.

dhprinting is a full-service, one-stop shop for all your printing needs.

(847) 427-4300 I dailyheraldmediagroup.com/printing

22 ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

Tribune Co., Chronicle Media, reach production agreement

Tribune Publishing, parent company of the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, and other iconic media brands, has reached a printing and distribution agreement with Chronicle Media, LLC. All 13 county-wide Chronicle Media, LLC print and digital newspapers in Illinois, and the FreeShopper, are now being printed at Tribune Publishing's Freedom Center production facility in Chicago. Retail delivery for Chronicle's nine Chicago area publications is also now being fulfilled by the Tribune. Newspapers included in the distribution agreement include the Cook County Chronicle, Suburban Chronicle, the Chicago FreeShopper, Lake County Chronicle, Kendall Chronicle, DuPage Chronicle, McHenry Chronicle, DeKalb Journal, and Winnebago Chronicle. Chronicle Media, LLC is a startup media company developed by former Sun-Times Media managers John Blais and Andrew Morys. In November 2014, shortly after launching several Chicago-area newspapers, the company merged with the Legal Record publishing company owned by Brandon Bressner, which published seven "News-Bulletin" weeklies across Illinois. In August 2015, the company acquired the FreeShopper, a Chicago advertising publication that has been continuously published since the 1970s.

AROUND THE STATE

Belleville News-Democrat wins SDX award

The Belleville News-Democrat has won another national journalism award for its series on the failure to prosecute felony sex crimes reported to police over a nine year period in Southern Illinois. The series, "Violation of Trust," by BND reporters George Pawlaczyk and Beth Hundsdorfer, won a Sigma Delta Chi Award in investigative reporting for daily newspapers with a circulation up to 50,000. The award is given by the Society of Professional Journalists. The rape series, which was published in February 2015, reported that 70 percent of sex crimes — rape and felony sexual abuse — reported to police in 32 southernmost Illinois counties were never prosecuted, and of those that made it to a courtroom, 95 percent of defendants never received prison time. The series also won a National Headliner Award, the John Jay College award for investigative journalism from John Jay College in New York, and was named a finalist by the group Investigative Reporters & Editors in the Innovation in Investigative Reporting category. The Sigma Delta Chi Awards date back to 1932, when the SPJ honored six individuals for their contributions to journalism. The current program began in 1939 as the Distinguished Service Awards.

Chicago magazine acquires Splash from Sun-Times owner

Chicago magazine has acquired Splash from Wrapports, putting the celebrity weekly back under the direction of its founder, Susanna Homan. Homan created Splash in 2012 as a supplement in the Wrapports-owned Chicago Sun-Times. She ostensibly left the fashion and lifestyle magazine behind when she was named editor and publisher at Tribune Publishing-owned Chicago magazine last month. Tribune Publishing spokeswoman Dana Meyer confirmed April 18 that an agreement with Wrapports to acquire Splash magazine had been reached but declined to disclose the terms, or how the magazine will be distributed to readers going forward. Meyer said the deal is effective immediately. Sources said about seven Splash employees are expected to relocate with the publication this week to Chicago magazine's offices at the Freedom Center plant on Chicago Avenue at the Chicago River.

Shaw Media acquires Kaneland Publications

Shaw Media has acquired Kaneland Publications, Inc. from owner Ryan Wells, the two companies announced late March. Kaneland Publications published the Elburn Herald, Sugar Grove Herald and other niche publications. Shaw Media owns St. Charles-based Kane County Chronicle, and newspapers, websites and niche publications in the Chicago suburbs, northern Illinois and Iowa. Shaw Media President John Rung said that the acquisition is part of the company’s strategy to expand its network of weekly newspapers in the Chicago suburbs. Last June, Shaw acquired weekly newspapers in the suburban communities of Oswego, Yorkville, Plano and Sandwich. In October of 2012, Shaw acquired 22 suburban Chicago weekly publications from GateHouse Media. Shaw Media also announced it converted the Kane County Chronicle – formerly published five times per week – into three weekly publications mailed to subscribers each Thursday. The St. Charles Chronicle, Geneva Chronicle and Batavia Chronicle debuted April 14. With the addition of the Elburn Herald and Sugar Grove Herald, and the conversion of the Kane County Chronicle to three separate weekly publications, Shaw will publish 31 weekly newspapers in the Chicago suburbs. Rung indicated that there would be no staff reductions associated with this move.

Tribune Publishing rejects offer from Gannett Acquisition bid too low, Chicago-based publisher says Tribune Publishing's board has voted unanimously to reject Gannett's $815 million unsolicited offer to buy the Chicago-based owner of the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times and other major newspapers. In a letter sent to Gannett on May 4, Tribune Publishing said that after "thorough consideration" the offer was determined to be too low and not in the best interest of shareholders. "The board and I remain confident in our ability to generate shareholder value in excess of Gannett's opportunistic proposal through a focused execution of our strategy," Tribune Publishing CEO Justin Dearborn said during an earnings call. "The board has evaluated the unsolicited offer in this context

and concluded it is not a basis for further discussion." Tribune announced it was rejecting Gannett's offer shortly after releasing its first-quarter earnings but before a call with investors in which executives detailed plans to separate the company into three segments: the traditional publishing business, a digital content business and the Los Angeles Times. Selling to Gannett was not in those plans. On April 12, Gannett, publisher of USA Today and more than 100 other newspapers, made an offer to buy Tribune Publishing for $12.25 per share, an all-cash deal valued at $815 million, including the assumption of $390 million in debt. The offer represented a 63 percent premium over the stock price before it was made public on April 25.

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

AROUND THE STATE

PRESS PEOPLE

Journal-News publisher named to NNA board

SIEA announces Better Newspaper Contest winners

Newly-elected Southern Illinois Editorial Association President Jeff Egbert (Publisher, Pinckneyville Press and Du Quoin Weekly) and Vice President David Porter (Publisher, Lebanon Advertiser and Arcola Record Herald) announced the Better Newspaper Contest awards at their annual meeting on April 15 at Rend Lake College. The Lebanon Advertiser emerged as the top small weekly, and the Republic-Times (Waterloo) took home a plaque for top large weekly. The Journal Gazette & Times-Courier (Mattoon) took home the plaque for top small daily, and the Southern Illinoisan took home the award for top large daily. Newspapers compete across four divisions – small weeklies, large weeklies, small dailies and large dailies, as well as in an open division for several reporting categories. To see a list of all winners, visit: illinoispress.org/ portals/1/SIEAwinners2016.pdf

The NEW Metro Creative Connection More Intuitive. Streamlined. Inspirational.

We've redesigned our web experience to help you make even more money with easier access to Metro's creative imagery and compelling ad solutions.

SearchBooks give you instant access. Images, designs and ideas in a unique presentation designed to inspire.

Take a tour now and experience all of the incredible improvements.

newmcctour.com Metro Creative Graphics, Inc.

800.223.1600

John M. Galer, publisher of The Journal-News in Hillsboro, has been appointed Region 4 director for the National Newspaper Association by NNA President Chip Hutcheson. Region 4 comprises Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Galer was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Keith Rathbun, the former owner and publisher of Galer The Budget in Sugarcreek, Ohio, the nation's largest Amish and Mennonite newspaper. Rathbun died earlier this year. Hutcheson, publisher of The Times Leader in Princeton, Ky., said the NNA board was deeply saddened when it learned of Rathbun's death in January. "NNA is a strong and resilient organization dedicated to helping commu-

nity newspapers thrive," Hutcheson said. "We were thankful that John was able to step in and take over the regional director's position. His experience and energy will be assets to NNA. All of our regional directors, and the entire board, put forth a lot of effort on behalf of the members. We all work together for a stronger organization and for stronger newspapers." Galer is a past president of the Illinois Press Association and now serves on the Illinois Press Foundation board of directors; he is also active with IPA's Government Relations Committee. Established in 1885, the National Newspaper Association is the voice of America's community newspapers and the largest newspaper association in the country. The nation's community newspapers inform, educate and entertain nearly 150 million readers every week.

M ErrimAC P ublishing M AnAgEr An integrated management system for publishers of community newspapers

Give your salespeople the tools they need to sell more effectively MPM is an affordable, easy-to-use solution for: • Advertising sales management and billing • Automated page dummying and ad placement • Classified copy flow to print and web • Online classified and subscription sales and paywall support • Comprehensive subscription and distribution management – meets all postal requirements • All accounting and payroll functions including carrier payroll

MPM saves time and money! Email sales@merrsoft.com to arrange an online demonstration Merrimac Software Associates, Inc. www.merrsoft com • 603-323-5077

24 ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016

Amboy News welcomes new staff

Tonja Greenfield will be assuming the General Manager position at the Amboy News and at the Ashton Gazette. She will be working on editorial content and working with area businesses to supply their advertising needs. In her tenure, Greenfield served as a reporter for the Mendota Reporter, editor of the Ashton Greenfield Gazette and the Ogle County Life. She moved to Arizona in the summer of 2007 to be the editor of Tucson West Publishing. In January 2014, she was promoted to publisher of the Lake Powell Chronicle weekly Young newspaper in Page, Ariz. Another new face to Amboy is Monetta Young. Young will be assisting in the editorial department and with office duties. She is currently the editor of the Ashton Gazette and will continue to serve both papers. She has been with the Ashton Gazette for 13 years, serving as the editor for the past nine years. 

Cousins joins Telegraph

Paris-Beacon welcomes Knonke

PRESS PEOPLE

Tribune reporters win award for College of DuPage probe Chicago Tribune reporters Jodi S. Cohen and Stacy St. Clair were honored April 8 as winners of a National Headliner Award for their investigation of improprieties at the College of DuPage. The Tribune's series of stories took first place in the education category of the journalism contest, which was founded by the Press Club of Atlantic City in 1934. The Tribune's investigation of College of DuPage, the state's largest community college, revealed that college President Robert Breuder and senior managers spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayer and donor money on food and alcohol, including $120 bottles of wine, at the campus' money-losing restaurant, Waterleaf. The series also uncovered non-competitive contracts to board members of the college's fundraising foundation and inflated enrollment figures that led to the college paying money back to the state. As the Tribune series unfolded, the college's board of trustees fired Breuder. Reacting to revelations that the college president had received a secret $763,000 severance package, Illinois enacted a law that limits severance packages for community college presi-

dents statewide. Citing the Tribune's findings, College of DuPage's accrediting agency launched an inquiry of the school and ultimately put it on probation. Federal and state St. Clair prosecutors launched criminal investigations of the college and its foundation, and those probes are ongoing. Cohen and St. Clair are three-time winners of the National HeadCohen liner Award. They teamed with the Tribune's Todd Lighty and Ryan Haggerty in an investigation of college sexual assaults that won first place for education in 2012. They also won first place for education in 2010 for their work with the Tribune's Tara Maloneon on the "Clout Goes to College" series about political favoritism in University of Illinois admissions. The 2016 National Headliner "best in show" award went to Margie Mason, Robin McDowell, Martha Mendoza and Esther Htusan of The Associated Press for their "Seafood From Slaves" investigation.

Wood to serve as sports editor

Rodgers joins Sauk Valley Media

The Telegraph has added reporter and Alton native Scott Cousins to the newsroom. Cousins will cover education for the Riverbend, as well as assist with breaking news coverage and photography. He returns  to the Telegraph with a resume that spans 30 years in community The Courier in Lincoln welcomed new Rachel Rodgers joined Sauk Valley journalism. sports editor, Sam Wood at the end of Media early March as a Starting his career at April. reporter for the Dixon Madison County JourTelegraph. She previousWood, 24, spent the nals in 1986, he became last year hosting a mornly worked as a general asCousins a photographer for the ing drive show and doing signment reporter at the Telegraph in 1991. He sports play-by-play for Herald & Review in Dereturned to Madison County Journals Newstalk WTIM in Taycatur for 18 months. Priand Suburban Journals of Greater St. lorville. He also previor to working at the HerLouis for 16 more years. Recently, he Rodgers ald & Review, she served ously hosted a public afwas the editor of The Times of FrankWood fairs program, “Saturday as the editor-in-chief of the Eastern fort, Ind. He moved back to Alton last year and had been serving as the Tele- Journal” at WLNX, Lincoln College’s Illinois University student newspaper, student radio station. The Daily Eastern News. graph's weekend reporter. 



Knonke

David Knonke joined the Paris Beacon-News staff as a reporter early April. He comes after a long career as a freelance entertainment writer in Los Angeles. In addition to reporting, he will be writing a weekly column, "Spam Folder." 

H&R reporter Petty one of 'Top 30' in nation

Herald & Review reporter Allison Petty has been named one of the "Top 30 Under 30" people in the newspaper industry by the Newspaper Association of America. The honor was announced April 18 at the association's annual conference in Washington D.C. The "Top 30 Under 30," list was compiled to honor young industry leaders in every aspect of the newsPetty paper business. Petty, who joined the Herald & Review in 2010, covers Decatur city government, the Decatur Park District and local politics. She has a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, where she held the position of editor-in-chief at the university newspaper, the Daily Egyptian. She earned a master's degree in public affairs reporting at the University of Illinois at Springfield, followed by an internship at the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin. Petty also is active in the Herald & Review's digital production. In 2014, she won first place for the Best Use of Social Media by an Individual from the Illinois AP Media Editors Association. 

Austin Voice introduces columnist The Voice Newspapers welcomed a new columnist – Josie Pierce, called Joie by her friends and colleagues. She's a longtime community activist on Chicago's West Side and a strong advocate for children and seniors. 

MAY - JUNE 2016

PRESS PEOPLE

Voyager Media creative director Samaan honored by E&P In addition to the Journal-Star’s Adam Gerik, Voyager Media’s creative director and "jack of all trades” Andrew Samaan was also named one of Editor & Publisher magazine's 25 under 35. Samaan is in charge of the creative department and manages the creative team at each of the seven newspapers owned by Voyager Media Publications. Samaan is also in Samaan charge of the company’s website, Facebook and other social media sites. A year ago, he served as project leader during a redesign of the newspaper products and helped create a new logo. He was also instrumental in the creation of Voyager Media Studios. His team has designed brochures, business cards and other marketing material for a number of businesses over the years which have helped the bottom line of the company, according to marketing director Laureen Crotteau. “Whether it’s for a special section, a poster, a T-shirt, website or mobile app, Andrew is ready to take on the project,” Crotteau said. “He’s always ready to take an out-of-the-box look at things to ensure the company gets the most exposure in the most positive light.”

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

Ringness named Northwest Herald, Lake County Journal GM

Bute replaces Fleck on IPA Board of Directors Matt Bute is vice president of advertising for Chicago Tribune Media Group (CTMG), one of the nation's largest diversified media and marketing solutions companies that includes the award-winning f lagship Chicago Tribune brand and an array of niche products, including Chicago magaBute zine, RedEye and Hoy. A diversified sales executive, Bute oversees the strategic vision and performance of CTMG's local sales force that sells diversified solutions across all platforms within the CTMG portfolio. Since becoming vice president in February 2014, Bute successfully introduced a new sales strategy to accelerate digital initiatives and strategically realigned the sales teams to improve overall efficiencies in the marketplace, allowing for deeper penetration into the communities CTMG serves. He recently led the retail, major account and entertainment teams to grow their digital revenue performance 22 percent year-over-year, and continues to

foster a culture of collaboration, experimentation and innovation. Previously, Bute served as senior director of local advertising where he was responsible for leading the development and execution of sales strategies for the retail, major accounts, targeted media and classified sales teams. In this role he introduced improved performance metrics to further evaluate churn, new business digital development, client engagement and revenue across the department, and placed a big emphasis on improved sales training for all new and current reps. Bute first joined the Tribune in 2000 as a regional sales representative and helped launch RedEye, CTMG's dynamic, multi-platform lifestyle brand, in 2003. He went on to become automotive manager for Chicago Tribune Interactive before moving up to director of classified in 2009. A native of La Grange Park, Bute holds a BA in advertising and communication from Northern Illinois University. Bute and his wife Julie have two sons and live in Chicagoland.

Jim Ringness has been named general manager of the Northwest Herald and Lake County Journal, Shaw Media announced March 18. Starting as an account executive in Crystal Lake, Ringness has been with Shaw Media, owner of the Northwest Herald and Lake County Journal, for Ringness 21 years. He has held a variety of leadership roles in the company, including major national sales manager, general manager of the Kane County Chronicle in St. Charles, and most recently as suburban group sales director. Ringness serves on the boards of numerous local civic organizations, and he is a 2013 graduate of Leadership Greater McHenry County. 

Fleck joins Lee Enterprises

Fleck

Robert Fleck was named vice president of business development at Lee Enterprises. He was previously general manager and publisher of the Suburban Media Group, a division of the Chicago Tribune Media Group.



Bakke retires, Munks joins Las Vegas Review Journal staff The State Journal-Register's newsroom was hit with two departures as longtime metro columnist Dave Bakke retired May 13 and Springfield city hall reporter Jamie Munks took over the city hall beat at the Las Vegas Review Journal, a publication stung by scandal last year when it was acquired at an inexplicably inflated price by casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who tried to hide his ownership. The Las Vegas paper, previously owned by GateHouse Media, parent company of the SJ-R, is still managed by GateHouse Media. Munks started with the SJ-R in 2014 and has covered such sagas as Springfield's never-ending quest to fix roads and sewers and the

saga of the Sa lvat ion Army trying to find a home for the homeless, a quest that Munks Bakke dates back more than a decade. Bakke was writing for the SJ-R when Reagan was in the White House and has a list of scoops and infamous columns that brought both outrage and tears. Among other things, he's the reporter who broke the story in 2013 that the state was spending a large sum on new copper plated doors for the Capitol.



HJ0140 congratulates Lawrence Members of the Illinois General Assembly congratulated Mike Lawrence on his retirement with House Joint Resolution 0140, and thanked him for his many decades of service to the people of Illinois. Most recently, Lawrence was the advisor to the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois. During his 25-year newspaper career, Lawrence served stints as managing editor and editorial page editor of the Quad-City Times; specializing in Illinois state government and politics, he wrote a political column that was syndicated to more than 40 newspapers in Illinois; he capped his newspaper

career in the Springfield Statehouse, opening a bureau for Lee Enterprises and finishing his first career, as journalist, as the statehouse bureau chief for the Chicago Sun-Times. Lawrence became press secretary to then-Secretary of State Jim Edgar in 1987, following him to the governor’s office in 1991 and continuing to serve as his press secretary and one of his closest advisors. Lawrence has been recognized for his tremendous contributions to journalism and state government. He was honored by the Associated Press Editors Association in 2003 for his exemplary service to other journalists and newspapers in Illinois.



26 ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

James Michael Adams

James Michael Adams (Jim, Mike, Mickey), 66, of Aurora passed away March 19 after a severe stroke. He was vacationing in Florida. Adams worked in advertising at the Beacon-News in Aurora for 36 years. He was a long time resident of Yorkville Adams before retiring to Allegan, Mich. Adams was an avid sports fan and cheered on his White Sox. He loved to read, especially history and politics, listen to music, plant in his garden, and spoil his pets. He was a watcher of all CNN current news events and the weather as well as a civil war and trivia buff. He is survived by his wife of 38 and a half years, Maryann, and his two children, Christopher and Anna.

James Bruce Campbell

James Bruce Campbell, 72, president of Campbell Publications, died April 18. He was a lifelong newspaperman and had built the company from one newspaper to six at the time of his death. He was a graduate of Hardin High School and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in history Campbell from Westminster College in Fulton, Mo., where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. After receiving his Master of Arts degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Missouri in Columbia, he served two years in the U.S. Army as a company commander. Following his discharge from the military, Campbell returned to Hardin and began working at The Calhoun News, the newspaper founded by his grandfather, C.C. Campbell, in 1915. He had grown up in the News office, beginning his newspaper career at the age of 6 when he was given the Saturday job of sweeping out around the hot metal equipment. He gradually learned to use all of the hot metal equipment and worked after

MAY - JUNE 2016

OBITS school and on weekends during high school. While attending college, he began to assist in the writing and advertising sales departments of the News. After his military stint, he helped convert the newspaper to offset and expanded the commercial printing department. All three generations of the Campbell family were still active in the business when his grandfather died in 1970 and his father was named publisher. Bruce Campbell assumed the title of president of Campbell Publications when his father retired. Campbell began the expansion of Campbell Publications in 1990 with the purchase of The Weekly Messenger in Pleasant Hill. In 1992, he added the Pike Press in Pittsfield to the company. The Greene Prairie Press in Carrollton and the Scott County Times in Winchester were purchased in 1998 and the newest publication, the Jersey County Journal in Jerseyville, was started in 2003. The Calhoun Herald was purchased in 1997 and combined with The Calhoun News to form the Calhoun News-Herald. In 2007 the Carrollton Gazette-Patriot was purchased and merged with the Greene Prairie Press. The six newspapers have a combined readership of over 75,000 persons every week and serve five contiguous counties in West Central Illinois; Calhoun, Greene, Jersey, Pike and Scott. Campbell served in various local civic and church activities throughout his life, including serving as a founding member, vice president and development chairman of the Habitat For Humanity of Illinois state board. He was also on the international board of Christian Salvation Service, a nonprofit corporation to provide life support and care for unwanted, abused or orphaned babies, with the principal office in Taipei, Taiwan. He was inducted into the Journalism Hall of Fame at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and, professionally, he was a member of several journalism fraternities while at the University of Missouri and was a member of the Illinois Press Associa-

Robert A. Mau

tion, Southern Illinois Editorial Association, Missouri Press Association, Inland Press Association and the National Newspaper Association. He was active in the alumni groups of Westminster College, the University of Missouri and a supporter of the Mizzou athletic program. The family of James Bruce Campbell has scheduled a Memorial Service in his memory to be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016 at Central Presbyterian Church, 7700 Davis Drive, Clayton, Mo.

Gene Cryer

He was known for his toughness and his insistence on putting the reader first. And before Gene Cryer "guided the South Florida Sun Sentinel from a sleepy Fort Lauderdale newspaper into a regional media force," as Michael Mayo wrote in the Sentinel, he honed his impressive journalism skills in Kankakee. Cryer died from complications of a stroke April 16. He was 80. In addition to his work in Florida from 1979 until his retirement in 1994, he was a reporter and editor for Rockford newspapers from 1963 until leaving for Fort Lauderdale. Before his work in RockCryer ford, Cryer was a reporter and copy editor for the Daily Journal in Kankakee from 1960-63. Born in Morris, his family settled in Kankakee, where he graduated from Kankakee High School. He also graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale with a degree in journalism in 1957, and in 1982, was named the SIU Alumnus of the Year. Originally hired by the Fort Lauderdale News, that newspaper merged with the Sun Sentinel and Cryer was called upon to lead the combined editorial team. What followed was a period of explosive growth, with the Sun Sentinel expanding with bureaus in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami and West Palm Beach.

Robert A. Mau, 62, of Herscher, passed away suddenly on April 12 at Riverside Medical Center in Kankakee. He was born Nov. 27, 1953, in Kankakee, the son of Albert and Elizabeth (Wheeler) Mau. Mau married Janet Lloyd on Nov. 25, 1988, in Herscher. Mau was the owner and editor of the HerMau scher Pilot newspaper since 1979. He was a member of The Herscher Christian Church, where he was a deacon. He also was a member of the Lions Club, the Herscher Chamber of Commerce and served on the Herscher Village Board. Mau was a current board member of Hospice of Kankakee Valley and was a multi-gallon blood donor as well as an organ and tissue donor. He is survived by his wife, Janet, of Herscher余 two sons and one daughter.

Audrey DeMuth

Audrey DeMuth was born in Washington, D.C., grew up in Wheaton, and met her husband, Winston, at the University of Dubuque. After living in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Matteson, Ill., they settled in Crete, Winston's home town. She was editor of the Crete Record from 1963 to 1973, running the paper from home while raising three children. She then became managing editor of the Russell Publications chain of weekly newspapers, working in Peotone from 1973-1993, then continued as political editor, working part-time from home, for another three years. Taking an interest in investing, DeMuth co-founded the Women's Investment Network in 1996, and was a director of the Chicagoland Chapter of Better Investing. She was a member of the Crete United Methodist Church. She is survived by two daughters, a son, four grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. DeMuth was preceded in death by her husband, Winston, in 2006.

MAY - JUNE 2016

ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

OBITS

Susan Sommer

Founder and editor of the Tremont News, Susan Lehman Sommer, of Tremont, passed away April 23 at 68 years old. She is survived by her husband, James, along with two daughters, two sons and eight grandSommer children. She was the founder and editor of the Tremont News and Printing from 1987 to 1995. She was the executive administrator for the Illinois Mennonite Conference from 1996 to 2006. She served as board chairman of the Mennonite Magazine, served on the Tremont Area Park Board and was a member of the Central Illinois Banjo Club in Morton, where she played the mandolin.

William Rice

William Rice was a food and wine journalist whose urbane writing for various publications, including the Chicago Tribune for 17 years, combined expert knowledge with an unassuming approachability that appealed to both Rice home cooks and some of the world's top chefs. He died April 3 at the age of 77.

Sam Riekelman

Alice Mae Wickert

Alice Mae Wickert, 96, of Dixon died at the end of April. For 49 of her 96 years, she worked for Shaw Newspapers, as it was then known. Alice came to work at the Telegraph in 1938 when the company still published just one newspaper. Over the years, she worked in many capacities. She started in the advertising department at the old Telegraph building at First Wickert and Ottawa streets. As new employees were hired, Wickert was the person who dispensed the necessary forms and made sure they got their employment off on the right foot. "There have been five generations of Shaws running the paper, and I have worked under four of them. I guess that is a little unusual," she said in 1987. Wickert was around when Mabel S. Shaw, publisher from 1902 to 1955, launched the company's expansion with the purchase of the Newton (Iowa) Daily News in 1944. Later in the 1940s, newspapers in Creston, Iowa, and Woodstock and McHenry were purchased. The 1950s saw the purchase of newspapers in Morris and Webster City, Iowa. From that initial expansion, the company has continued to grow. Wickert played a strong supporting role as additional newspaper purchases were made in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. She was known as Alice Sheller for most of her career; at age 67, she married Dale Wickert in 1987, and they honeymooned in Hawaii. He preceded her in death in 2011.

Sam Riekelman, sports editor at the Effingham Daily News for more than 45 years, was remembered as a man with a gruff exterior, but a soft heart. Riekelman died April 19 at age 75. He began his career at the Daily News as an Effingham High School student and became the paper's first-ever sports editor after he graduated. He stayed at that post for more than 45 years, reRiekelman Russell E. Fryer, 72, of Bloomington, tiring in the summer of died April 5 at Heartland Healthcare 2006. Rickelman had been struggling with in Normal. Fryer graduated from Yates City diabetes for several years before his death. High School and later served in the

Russell Fryer

U.S. Air Force from 1962 to 1966. He served three of those years in England in military intelligence, deciphering Russian communications. After leaving the Air Force, Fryer worked for State Farm and then moved in July 1967 to The Daily Pantagraph as a photo engraver. Fryer While at The Pantagraph, he was the credit union treasurer for several years; he retired in August 2008 after 41 years. Surviving are six children.

Mats-ove Stenander

the lives of celebrities, politicians, and everyday people struggling to survive. Soll was also a co-editor and writer for Chicagoland Monthly and the Chicago Times and wrote articles for Chicago magazine. He received numerous journalism awards for his Soll newspaper and magazine writing. He is survived by his wife and brother.

James Sedgwick Jr.

James “Jim” Sedgwick Jr., 86, of Normal, passed away April 2 at his residence. Sedgwick served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War, stationed at the Panama Canal. He was a proud graduate of the University of Illinois, attaining a degree in journalism, and a life member of the Illini Association. He worked for the Chronicle-Herald newspaper in Hoopeston, Sedgwick and as city editor at the LaSalle-Peru News Tribune. He later was employed at Illinois State University as the first full-time general manager for the Vidette, developing the newspaper into a daily publication. Sedgwick is survived by his wife, Trilby, and their three children and five grandchildren.

Mats-ove Stenander passed away suddenly on March 3 at the Lutheran Home in Arlington Heights, where he had been living for the past four years after being diagnosed with dementia and Parkinson's six years earlier. Stenander and his wife, Britta, immigrated to the United States in 1953 where he worked for the Chicago Sun-Times as a typesetter. Stenander was drafted to serve in the U.S. Army from 1955-1957 as a ski instructor in Alaska. After his honorable disStenander charge from the Army, Stenander returned to work for the Chicago Sun-Times for another seven years before working 25 years as a salesman for IBM where many lifelong friends were made. He is survived by his only child, Barbara Jean Rhodes, 86, of Rivtwo granddaughters and three erton, died Friday, April 22, 2016 at great-grandchildren. Memorial Medical Center. Rhodes was Editor and Publisher of the Riverton Register/Tri-City RegisRick Soll, of Chicago, died April 22, ter/Williamsville Sun for after a long battle with lung cancer. 60 years. He was 69. She is survived by Soll was a reporter for the Chicaone daughter, three go Tribune and Sun-Times, revealing grandchildren and four with depth and sensitivity the huRhodes great-grandchildren. She man interest side of major stories. He was preceded in death by her huscovered wars, trials, local and world band and one son. conflicts, and the critical events in

Barbara Jean Rhodes

Rick Soll

28 ILLINOIS PRESSLINES

MAY - JUNE 2016