February/March 2014 Colorado Editor

editor colorado

Official publication of the Colorado Press Association / coloradopressassociation.com / Vol. LXXXV, No. 2

2013 Innovation, Rising Star winners honored.

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February/March 2014

Executive Director Johnston stepping down The Colorado Press Association will be losing an executive director and a furry office fixture when Samantha Johnston and her dog Murphy leave Denver at the end of the month. After leading CPA for three and a half years, Johnston has accepted a position as general manager with Swift Communications’ Colorado Mountain News Media in Aspen.

Mountain News Media. Working with publisher Gunilla Asher, Johnston will be general manager in Aspen with oversight of all aspects of the operation. Johnston will join the Swift team effective April 14.

“Samantha has done a great job for our organization. She led us through the transformation from a print-only ad agency to what we are today, an agency that offers solutions across multiple platforms. In addition, she has represented us well on Capitol Hill as an advocate, and she has been

By Cheryl Ghrist Contributing Editor

After three and a half years, Samantha Johnston has announced her resignation as executive director of Colorado Press Association/ SYNC2 Media. Hired in September 2010 to replace longtime director Ed Otte, Johnston’s last day was March 28, but she will handle some transition work through the end of April. She is leaving her post to join Swift Communications’ Colorado

equally as effective as a teacher in newsrooms across the state,” said CPA board chair and Greeley Tribune advertising director, Bryce Jacobson.

“I am sad to see her go, but I am excited for her because she will be filling a role at a great Colorado newspaper,” he said.

The board of directors is involved in the search for a chief executive officer and Jacobson said they hope to have the position filled by the end of April.

JOHNSTON on Page 5

CPA adds three new directors Annual meeting also features approval of changes to bylaws

Top honor

Thomas Cooper/Lightboximages.com

Bob Silbernagel, editorial page editor at The Daily Sentinel, was named the Colorado Press Association 2013 Newspaper Person of the Year. Read his nomination letter on Page 3.

Ten reasons why print isn’t dead

By Cheryl Ghrist Contributing Editor

Is print dead or alive? It’s the question newspaper people can’t escape, but would also love to solve.

Everywhere you turn there are meaningful discussions, bordering on protests, about the subject. Hit the Internet and a wide variety of dialogue pops up. Everything from blogs, newsletters and columns to entire websites devoted to the topic. Owners, publishers, ad men and women are analyzing the trends, but more and more they’re seeing hopeful signs instead

of overwhelming doomsday observations.

Here are 10 reasons to be encouraged about the future of print publishing:

1. A paper in the hand. The most obvious – and arguably the most old-school reason – is that some of us simply like to hold a newspaper in our hands. Brenda Brandt, publisher of the Holyoke Enterprise and former board chairman of Colorado Press Association (CPA), agrees: “Reading a print edition doesn’t have to rely on Internet connections, charged

tablet or phone batteries, or electricity. There are many readers who aren’t computer-savvy and numerous others who are computer whiz kids, but who still like turning the pages of the printed paper.”

As with book lovers fighting the temptations of e-readers, newspaper print readers who make their opinions known on this topic may help print products survive awhile longer.

2. Location, location, location.

Many community newspaper publishers are going back to their roots with more concentration on

local news highlighting the lives, the accomplishments, the concerns of their readers. The term hyperlocal – which can be a news strategy or a website itself – is now used to designate just that in journalism.

3) Reliable news sources.

Community newspapers, especially the smaller varieties, are often THE news sources for their areas.

For the foreseeable future, a weekly or monthly print version is still economically feasible versus complex websites that require additional tech support or new employees. It’s coming, but isn’t PRINT on Page 7

The annual meeting of the Colorado Press Association was held Friday, Feb. 21 during the 136th annual convention.

In addition to traditional annual meeting business and discussion of the CPA and SYNC2 Media, new directors and officers were elected and the membership in attendance voted to make a radical change to the bylaws, which will allow the board to pursue membership requirements changes and dues structure updates.

Colorado Press Association named three new directors to the board and elected five officers. The three new directors fill vacancies left by Brenda Brandt, whose tenure on the board ended after her chairmanship in 2014, Mark Drudge who recently left his role at Ballantine Communications to pursue a new endeavor in Cortez, and Paula Murphy, who closed her newspaper, The Trinidad TimesIndependent last year.

CPA directors are elected for two-year terms.

Bylaws The most controversial topic on this year’s agenda was the center of lively discussion, but ultimately passed unanimously. The bylaws were amended to allow the CPA board of directors to modify the membership dues structure as necessary to best reflect current industry standards and metrics and to craft membership requirements that align with the media landscape.

“The formula currently used to MEETING on Page 8

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colorado editor ISSN #162-0010 USPS # 0122-940 Vol. LXXXV, Issue 2 February/March 2014 Colorado Editor is the official publication of the Colorado Press Association and is published monthly at 1336 Glenarm Place.

Denver, CO 80204-2115 p: 303-571-5117 f: 303-571-1803 coloradopressassociation.com

Subscription rate: $10 per year, $1 single copy Staff Samantha Johnston Publisher/Executive Director sjohnston@colopress.net Brian Clark Design Editor Board of Directors OFFICERS Chair Bryce Jacobson The Tribune bjacobson@greeleytribune.com President Terri House The Pagosa Springs SUN terri@pagosasun.com Vice President Keith Cerny Alamosa Valley Courier krcemail56@gmail.com Treasurer Bart Smith The Tribune bsmith@greeleytribune.com Secretary Laurena Mayne Davis The Daily Sentinel laurena.davis@gjsentinel.com DIRECTORS Matt Lubich The Johnstown Breeze mlubich@johnstownbreeze.com Don Lindley The Durango Herald dlindley@durangoherald.com Larry Ryckman The Denver Post lryckman@denverpost.com Joe Hight The Gazette joe.hight@gazette.com Beecher Threatt Ouray County Plaindealer beecher@ouraynews.com Lisa Schlichtman Steamboat Pilot & Today lschlichtman@steamboattoday.com Periodical postage paid at Denver, CO 80202.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Editor 1336 Glenarm Place Denver, CO 80204-2115

Mark Drudge, left, with one of the true joys of his life, his seriously yellow Corvette.

Ad man leaves 27-year newspaper career for new economic future

By Cheryl Ghrist Contributing Editor After nearly three decades in newspaper journalism, Mark Drudge is jumping a short fence to the retail side of things. He left his position as Sales & Marketing Director for Ballantine Communications Inc. on Feb. 7 to begin a new chapter with the Cortez Retail Enhancement Association (CREA).

The move isn’t a far trip from his former office at the Cortez Journal, but a big step nonetheless.

He has worked at Ballantine in the Durango area for the past four years.

Besides the Cortez newspaper, the group includes the Durango Herald, Dolores Star and Mancos Times.

He came to the group after working for a couple of years as sales director at the Newton Daily News in Newton, Iowa, 2008-2010. Prior to that, he was in Nebraska, spending four years as sales manager of The Grand Island Independent in Grand Island, Neb., 2004-2008, and three years as publisher of the York NewsTimes in York, Neb., 2001-2004.

But Drudge began his career in Colorado, first as a circulation district manager for the Glenwood Post in 1986 before moving into the advertising department as a sales account executive for a few years. He returned to the circulation side in the late 1990s, taking the job of circulation director for Western Slope Publishing Group in Glenwood Springs from 1996-1999.

From there, he moved into the role of publisher of the Rifle Citizen Telegram from 1999-2001.

All those years gave Drudge a well-rounded education in what works in the newspaper industry.

He’s also gained an appreciation for the communities he’s been a part of, giving back through such organizations as the Jaycees, Rotary International, the American Cancer Society, and Kiwanis International, where he’s been a member since 2003.

A graduate of Ball State University with a bachelor’s in education, he’s also been a director on the Colorado Press Association board, which welcomed both his serious, business side, and his lighter, humorous one.

On the family side of things, he has two daughters, Kelly and Katie, and two granddaughters. Besides family time, he likes to fish among other outdoor activities, drive his Toyota Land Cruiser and his newer Corvette, and has played the banjo since he was just a kid, even doing some recording work.

four different newspaper groups, holding the titles of circulation manager, circulation director, weekly columnist, advertising manager, advertising director and publisher.

As he makes his big change, we asked him to give us a closer look at his life, then and now, so we posed the following 10 questions to Drudge before he leaves us:

Who is the best co-worker, the most inspirational in a business sense, with whom you have worked?

Robb Krecklow (former publisher, The Grand Island Independent) is, hands down, the best boss I have had. He was, in my humble opinion, the consummate newspaper guy. What made him stand out for me was that while he was always demanding the best out of people, there was absolutely no doubt that he was always supportive of his employees regardless of the situation.

You’re making a career change.

What is your new position?

I will be the Executive Director for the Cortez Retail Enhancement Association.

How did you get your start in the newspaper industry, and how many steps were there along the way to your current position with Ballantine?

I have been in the publishing industry for 27 years, starting as a circulation district manager for the Glenwood Post (Glenwood Springs).

From that start I have worked for

If money was no object and fulfillment was all, is there one job you have had that would be great to do again?

I have actually enjoyed all the positions I have worked. Some were more challenging than others, some bosses were more difficult, but each one of them challenged me.

Without necessarily naming names, who is the biggest character with whom you have worked with or sold advertising?

Oh boy … I need to narrow it down to one … but there have been so many. Hmmmmmmmm, I think it best to leave this question alone.

With all the advances in technology, compare how things were done when you started in newspapers with where we are today:

We were pouring hot lead … no seriously, while it seems like it has been that long ago, when I started we were pasting up pages. Within a year we got our first Mac. I remember being amazed that it was possible to make a square box with any size circle in it.

When you leave this industry, will you have more time to spend with friends and family, and do you already have plans for specific events or activities?

I should actually be about the same. My new duties will be comparable to my current job. The real fun comes in a few years when I plan to get rid of all my work duties.

If you had it to do all over again, would you choose another industry? Did you secretly want to be a country singer or a race car driver?

I grew up playing music. My brother made a career of music both as a musician and on the business side, where he performed many years on the Grand Ole Opry. I wish I would have pushed myself harder, to have played with him on that stage.

“Got Banjo … will travel.”

After all these years in newspapers, what has been the best thing you’ve learned?

If you don’t want to read it in the paper, don’t let it happen. Thank you Aspen Daily News for the quote.

Who or what will you miss the most about your Ballantine job?

I have worked at many newspapers and can say I have friends at each one that I still miss to this day.

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from the executive director

See you later? More like see you soon The roots of the phrase, “Irish goodbye,” escape me, other than to say, you know, it comes somewhere from Ireland. Still, I’ve been told more than a time or two by those who know me best that I’ve got such a parting manner mastered.

Maybe it’s because in this great, grand industry of ours, in which we’re all related or tethered or intertwined in some way, there’s really no such thing as goodbye.

It is, almost always, see you later.

With this note, I’ve tried samantha coming up with a list of johnston reasons why I’ll miss the cpa executive Colorado director Press Association.

I’ve struggled to come up with such, but not because content is lacking. Rather, it’s because the list is so short. It starts and stops with this: You. I’ll miss all of you.

It takes no time at all, none, to completely understand the people who truly care about journalism are noble, ethical, talented, generous professionals who put service to community above service to self. We in the newspaper industry are tight-knit, a tribe of brothers and sisters fully committed to our fundamentals of truth, freedom, democracy, and that time-treasured gift of weaving good stories. We put our hearts and souls into connecting with our readers, informing, educating and engaging them via happenings in their towns, state, country and world. I treasure the bond I have with this industry, the bond I share with all of you.

A candidate who applied for my soon-to-be-former CPA position asked what I find most rewarding, and the answer is simple enough: its’ the responsibility entrusted to me to share the lives of the people as entrenched and dedicated to this industry as I am.

It’s the late-night phone call from someone whose hand is forced and he has to lay off 10 employees, and he wants to know how to get through the emotions of it.

It’s the Sunday afternoon call when an advertising manager can’t decide how to fix a public notice crisis.

It’s the call from a reporter, on the scene of a homicide, fighting

I have been, without question, blessed to have overseen this association and gotten to share in each one of our newspapers around this great state. It seems only fitting I take all of that knowledge, those gifts you have all been so generous to give me, and funnel it back in a more hands-on manner. Such an opportunity arose, and I intend to do just that.” for accurate information with a deadline looming, needing quick advice about ethics.

It’s our peaks and valleys. Our successes and failures. It’s knowing when one of our members has a problem, I have a problem – we all have a problem – and that member trusts me enough for guidance.

Oh, sure, there’s the standard stuff, too. Completing big projects. Legislative victories.

Meeting monthly budgets.

Hosting successful trainings. The assortment of little odds and ends needed to make the trains run on time. But, none of that is what keeps me in it. None of that is why I do what I do, or why you do, either. We grind whatever grist the mill requires because we have to, but the mundane isn’t what we’ll remember. Standing with people who make this industry go, who keep those trains on time and that mill churning, that’s the stuff.

The good stuff, the stuff worth remembering. Through this job, I’ve been blessed to work with and for some exceptionally smart people.

In three short years, I’ve learned more about the legislative process from Greg Romberg than I ever knew existed to begin with. I’ve read the Colorado Open Records Act and the Colorado Open Meetings Law enough times that I can recite sections by heart. I’ve been mentored by some of the best Freedom of Information attorneys in the U.S. – Steve Zansberg and Tom Kelley. I’ve learned from the best editors, advertising directors, audience engagement experts, digital salespeople, and publishers.

I’ve appreciated every call with industry professionals who share their thoughts, ideas and emotions on the infinite number of topics we deal with. The open, candid dialogue, the ideas on how to fix our industry, conceding mistakes,

celebrating successes, all of it.

I have been, without question, blessed to have overseen this association and gotten to share in each one of our newspapers around this great state. It seems only fitting I take all of that knowledge, those gifts you have all been so generous to give me, and funnel it back in a more handson manner. Such an opportunity arose, and I intend to do just that.

I look forward to joining Swift Communications, Inc. as general manager of the Aspen Times and it’s affiliated properties. I know that the partnership I will have with Times publisher Gunilla Asher and the team assembled in Aspen will provide the best environment for digging in deep and getting back to the day-to-day business of running newspapers. The opportunity to merge the two things I love the most – our Colorado mountains and community newspapers – is rare, if not impossible to find.

While I’m moving on sooner than I expected, I’m eternally grateful for the chance to contribute to this absolutely essential industry of ours, within the most beautiful state in America. I look forward to competing in the CPA annual contest and attending the convention as a participant. And, I’ll most certainly be involved in supporting CPA as much as possible. It’s an organization I’ve to love, and one that’s role is vital.

The work I’ve started at CPA is merely the beginning. This organization will no doubt find a successor who is passionate, smart, thoughtful, engaged and undaunted by challenges. I hope you will embrace the new director as you have me.

“Irish goodbye?” Nah, the Irish can keep it. I’m not saying goodbye, or even “see you later.” It’s see you soon.

CU details proposal for new college Read all about it! A detailed draft proposal for a new CUBoulder College of Media, Communication and Information is now available for your review at colorado.edu/cmci. CMCI would include a journalism department and a new major in public relations, along with several other programs that specialize in various forms of communication and digital technology. For journalism students, for instance, this could mean ready access to classes taught by documentarians and to a slate of classes in technology

taught by information scientists.

The proposal is scheduled to go to the Board of Regents soon, but CMCI’s planners would like your input first. At our website, www.colorado.edu/cmci, you’ll find links to separate proposals for each department, including journalism, along with the full report. You’ll find a comment form there, too.

You’re ideas and suggestions are welcome – and will help shape the final proposal.

Questions? Contact Michelle Fulcher: michelle.fulcher@ colorado.edu or 303-492-0460

Gazette news director awarded fellowship, will head to Pakistan Sue McMillin, the news director for The Gazette, has been awarded a fellowship for a Pakistan-United States journalists exchange by the EastWest Center, an organization that promotes better relations and understanding among the people and nations of the U.S., Asia and the Pacific through cooperative study, research and dialogue.

McMillin will be in Pakistan from April 4 -15. She will gain firsthand knowledge about Pakistan through a series of meetings with policymakers, government and military officials, business and society leaders, journalists and a diverse group of community members.

Following McMillin’s visit to Pakistan, she will reunite with fellow journalists at the East-West Center in Honolulu to discuss their experiences and strategize ways to improve media coverage between the two countries.

At The Gazette, McMillin supervises the local, state and business reporting and editing staff. She also directs

McMillin

the coverage of breaking news, local and state government, transportation, education, military, public safety, health and other issues.

McMillin, who has held various reporting and editing positions, participated in the East-West Center’s August 2011 Senior Journalism Seminar and was a past participant in national security seminars at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, and at the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.

coloradopressassociation.com

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Amie Stein, director of training and development at Local Media Association, spoke to attendees about the importance of using social media for prospecting and lead development within newspaper organizations.

CPA President Bryce Jacobson presented outgoing board chair, Brenda Brandt, with the chairman’s award for her service to CPA and the Colorado newspaper community.

Scenes from the

Greeley Tribune editor Randy Bangert, left, meets with a student during the annual CPA Job/Internship fair.

CONVENTION FEB. 20-22, 2014 • DENVER

All photos by Thomas Cooper. Lightboximages.com

Summit Daily News publisher Matt Sandberg (left) and reporter Joe Moylan (center) take a break between convention sessions.

Noelle Levitt Riley, managing editor at Craig Daily Press, takes newspaper representation to a fashion extreme.

Laura Frank, executive director of I-News Network at Rocky Mountain PBS, speaks to convention attendees about investigative reporting content packages available to all CPA member newspapers.

Classified expert Janet DeGeorge speaks to a packed room about preserving the last of classified revenue.

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Rising Star and Editorial Innovator of the Year winners 2013 Rising Star Paul Berry: Engagement Editor, Fort Collins Coloradoan The Rising Star Award recognizes, celebrates and encourages the next generation of leadership in our industry and in the State of Colorado. This award recognizes an individual who is curious, innovative, progressive and stands out as a future leader.

2013 Editorial Innovator of the Year Josh Awtry: Former Executive Editor, Fort Collins Coloradoan (nomination year) Current Vice President and Executive Editor of the Carolina region of Gannett’s U.S. Community Publishing division, including oversight of The Greenville News in Greenville, S.C. and Asheville Citizen-Times in Asheville, N.C. The Editorial Innovation award recognizes innovation in newsrooms, content development and audience engagement. The winning submission included improved use of social media, incorporation of digital analytics to drive daily practices, innovative audience engagement programs, revolutionary print ideas, process improvement, business model impacts, collaboration, use of technology and internal culture shifts. This entry demonstrated a clear and tangible outcome to innovative practices.

Ex-CPA leader getting back to ‘everyday journalism’ JOHNSTON from Page 1 Johnston, a Steamboat Springs native, sees the move to Aspen as a return to her personal and professional roots.

“I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and get back to the business of everyday journalism,” she said.

“My side trips through hospital management, an MBA and my tenure at CPA have broadened my management perspective, sharpened my business acumen and given me tremendous insight into a very big cross-section of the media industry.

I feel like I’ve collected all of the puzzle pieces and now I just need a place to put them together.”

Colorado Mountain News Media General Manager, Jim Morgan said that in addition to Johnston being well-grounded in the traditions of the newspaper industry, she is in the forefront of finding the types of

digital solutions that will ensure the industry has a strong and vibrant future.

“Sam, who has been a successful leader throughout her career, is an ideal fit for our operations in Aspen as well as for Colorado Mountain News Media, and we feel fortunate she has accepted the opportunity,” said Morgan. “We look forward to her, and of course, Murphy, joining us.”

“The Times is one of our premier operations and we look forward to her partnering with Gunilla as well as the strong team at the newspaper,” he said.

Johnston sees her CPA run as a definite learning experience in many areas.

“In three short years, I’ve learned more about the legislative process from Greg Romberg than I ever knew existed. I’ve read the Colorado Open Records Act and the Colorado

I feel like I’ve collected all of the puzzle pieces and now I just need a place to put them together.”

Samantha Johnston

Open Meetings Law enough times that I can recite sections by heart.

And I’ve been mentored by some of the best Freedom of Information attorneys in the U.S. – Steve Zansberg and Tom Kelley.”

Johnston said she feels fortunate to have also learned from the best editors, advertising directors, audience engagement experts, digital salespeople, and publishers.

“I’ve appreciated every call with industry professionals who shared their thoughts, ideas and emotions

on the infinite number of topics we deal with,” she said. “The board of directors at CPA has demonstrated incredible vision and operated outside of the comfort zone in the name of progress. They allowed me to succeed and fail, but mostly they allowed me to experiment, which is how you really find out what works and what doesn’t.”

Looking back on her time at CPA, Johnston gives credit to a large supporting cast. “Really, I’ve had hundreds of mentors from the state’s smallest and largest newspapers to directors of the world’s largest associations. There isn’t a single industry conversation that I’ve had that didn’t leave me thinking about something again, or more or differently. From the most outrageous perspectives to the most conservative, it’s all of the pieces of the puzzle that come together to shape solutions or direction.

Johnston graduated Regis University with an MBA in 2007.

Prior to that, she earned a B.A. in Technical Journalism at Colorado State University, and also attended Texas Christian University. She was publisher of the Craig Daily Press from 2002-2006, and regional advertising director of Steamboat Pilot & Today from January 2006 to August 2007. After three years as an executive with The Memorial Hospital at Craig, she took on the challenge to lead Colorado Press Association.

A native of Steamboat Springs, she’s an avid outdoorswoman and sports enthusiast, particularly in the areas of skiing and snowboarding, biking, and mountain hiking – usually in the company of “Murphy,” her Golden Retriever. Johnston is also a trained firefighter and EMT, having served with the Craig Fire/ Rescue for seven years.

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newspaper person of the year

‘A Forceful voice for the middle’

Nomination letter submitted by Jay Seaton, Publisher, The Daily Sentinel It is my honor to nominate Robert “Bob” Silbernagel, editorial page editor of The Daily Sentinel, for 2013 Newspaper Person of the Year.

In a time when much of our news reporting seems to reflect unprecedented political division, hot language, outrage and accusation from one side of the ideological spectrum or the other, Silbernagel has given The Daily Sentinel a forceful voice for the middle. This is a far, far trickier task than one might suppose.

Silbernagel has been editorial page editor at The Daily Sentinel since 1995. During that time, he has been a steady hand on the tiller through four publishers. Though the Sentinel has maintained a consistent

editorial voice under Silbernagel, this does not mean he has been unwilling to steer an aggressive tack when necessary.

No subject inspires great editorial writing like violations of open records and open meetings laws.

Silbernagel hits these out of the park.

After the newly minted Mesa County Board of Commissioners sacked the county administrator under cover of night last year, the Sentinel editorial page screamed. Silbernagel adeptly juxtaposed the new commissioners’ campaign statements about open government against what they had just done. The Sentinel demanded answers in order “to defend the right of citizens to know why their elected representatives have taken such an important action, supposedly on their behalf,” without notice or explanation.

As a consequence of the Sentinel’s reporting and Silbernagel’s editorial, Mesa County has revamped its internal policies to (we believe) more meaningful compliance with CORA. Silbernagel is not a purveyor of sound bites or catchy gotchas. He is a careful journalist whose logic and dispassionate presentation of undisputed facts makes his editorials not just compelling, but illuminating.

In 2010, The Daily Sentinel’s editorial page was the first to call for then-candidate for governor Scott McInnis’s withdrawal from the race in light of reports of his plagiarism and accepted of influence peddling.

Silbernagel’s editorial was a tour de force on McInnis’ misdeeds and his inconsistent attempts to explain them.

Silbernagel, in his 33 years at The Daily Sentinel has served as

political reporters, environmental writer, business writer, city editor and bureau reporter. Previously, he served as general assignment reporter for The Glenwood Post and even drove a delivery truck for the Vail Villager.

Silbernagel has penned three books. His most recent, “Troubled Trails: The Meeker Affair and the Expulsion of Utes from Colorado,” reflects Silbernagel’s long-time friendship with members of the Ute Indian nation of western Colorado and eastern Utah. In “Troubled Trails,” Silbernagel navigates the reader in page-turner fashion through an investigation of the deadly 1879 clash between the Utes and the U.S. Cavalry, making the reader a partner in his revelations of new facts and interpretations of the events.

Finally, Silbernagel is a star of his own video opinion blog, “Over the Top,” appearing weekly on GJSentinel.com. Silbernagel often lampoons himself in Colbertesque fashion to the delight of his loyal fans.

I am told by many faithful readers of The Daily Sentinel that their reading regimen consists of quick scans of the front page, followed by a turn directly to the editorial page.

For 33 years, Silbernagel has lent his voice to the pages of the Sentinel, and for 18, this has been the voice of the Sentinel.

Silbernagel’s reasoned consistency has made The Daily Sentinel’s editorial page the adult in a room of noisy children. This newspaper owes him an enormous debt of gratitude, as does this entire industry.

How does your paper grow?

So tonight I was sitting with my son, Zachary, at Dragon Den. After a bite of his eggroll, Zach stopped and turned to ask a question.

“Dad,” Zach asked, “what happens with all those things you write all the time?”

I told him in my best fatherly voice, “They’re called columns.” Every column I write appears in more than 60 industry kevin journals and publications slimp around the world.”

I couldn’t wait to hear what my son had to say next.

“So write about Legos.”

A story about Legos makes more sense than some of the stories I’ve read online in the past week. Did you read about the Russian who was killed when the Olympic ring didn’t appear as planned during the opening ceremony?

Remember the one about Tony Romo and Jason Whitten, NFL stars, coming out of the closet together? Everybody was talking about that one a few weeks ago.

As my son so aptly reminded me later in the evening, “You can write about anything dad.”

Maybe that’s true. But, as I explained to him, there’s a big difference between the headlines he reads on Facebook and those in the newspaper.

Tips For a New Publisher I have a new friend on Facebook. I just “accepted” Roger’s friend request this morning. More about that later.

While speaking at a convention last week, I noticed Roger sitting in the front row, taking notes furiously in my classes. There were sessions on photo editing, page design, newspaper management and PDF technology.

He sat through every class, writing most of the time.

I hadn’t met Roger before, so I struck up a conversation with him during a break. I learned that he was new to the newspaper business. When I asked what he did at the paper, he paused.

I interjected, “Let me guess. Everything.”

He laughed and said, “Yes, just about everything.”

We chuckled about that for a moment, then I explained to Roger that I’d heard that before. He told me he had recently purchased a paper and was doing everything he could to make it grow.

I asked how he ended up at at the convention, when he wasn’t even a member of the association. He said, “I read about the convention and saw you were speaking, so I registered and here I am.”

Roger told me he wanted to improve his paper and this seemed like a good first step.

He gave me a copy of his most recent issue and I promised to look over it and make suggestions after I returned home.

Trainers and speakers tend to like people who listen closely and write lots of notes. It reminds us that we’re saying something that is important to the audience. After visiting with Roger, I liked him even more.

Here are some simple tips I give to folks like Roger to help grow their papers: • Improve the quality of your content.

For community papers, the key is hyperlocal.

Include stories that are important to the readers.

• Improve the look of your paper. If I had to name one thing that could increase the popularity of many community newspapers, it would be improving the look of the product.

Looking over Roger’s paper, I see a lot of areas that could be improved: • Headlines aren’t consistent. Some are centered. Some are justified. The leading (space between lines) is too great in the headlines.

• Black & White photos are too dark

Newspapers ... the original Facebook.

and muddy. It makes the whole paper look dirty. That will probably change after a private lesson I gave Roger between classes.

• Get rid of the clip art. Clip art can make a newspaper look more like a church newsletter. I’ll have a talk with Roger about that.

• Even more local content. I would have more columns like “Students of the Month” and “An In-depth Look at the Life of Our State Representative” and fewer columns like “Are You Ready For Valentines Day?” and a few others.

I like Roger’s paper. He’s done some really good things. He’s got a religion page with a

column by a local clergy member that is full of ads from local religious groups. He has several stories about local athletes and ball teams. And I’m sure a lot of families pick up his paper for the kid’s page, which is very well done.

The keys to the future success of Roger’s newspaper aren’t that different from any other paper: local content that draws readers, continued updating of equipment and training to produce an attractive publication, plus consistent efforts to keep and attract advertisers.

I’ll look forward to checking out Roger’s paper in a couple of weeks and seeing if the training was worth it.

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Take my word for it, design matters When you look at a newspaper— ••• any newspaper, anywhere, anytime— “The details are not the details. what’s the first thing you see?

They make the design.”

Its design.

— Charles Eames For more than 30 years, ••• I have stressed the need— “Design is the method no, the demand—for good of putting form and content newspaper design. together. Design is so Maybe it’s just me. simple—that’s why it’s so Maybe it’s because I’ve been complicated.” — Paul Rand talking about good design ••• for so long that those who “Design works if it’s hear me are turning a deaf authentic, inspired and has ear. a clear point of view. It can’t ed So maybe you’ll give a collection of input.” henninger be more credence to others.

— Ron Johnson Maybe the following words ••• of design wisdom will help “Design is not for convince you. philosophy. It’s for life.”

Give these a read: — Issye Miyake ••• “Good design is good business.”

“A good designer must rely on — Thomas J. Watson experience, on precise thinking and ••• on pedantic exactness. No magic will “The artist in me cries out for do.” — Niklaus Wirth design” — Robert Frost ••• ••• “Designs of arbitrary nature “All problems are solved by good cannot be expected to last long.” design.” — Stephen Gardiner —Kenzo Tange

••• “Design is directed toward human beings. To design is to solve human problems by identifying them and executing the best solution.”

— Ivan Chermayeff ••• “Almost all quality improvement comes via simplification of design.”

— Tom Peters ••• “You can be a mason and build 50 buildings, but it doesn’t mean you can design one.” — John Malkovich ••• “There are three responses to a piece of design: Yes, no and WOW! Wow is the one to aim for.”

— Milton Glaser ••• “A designer knows he has achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

••• “I strive for two things in design: simplicity and clarity. Great design is born of those two things.”

— Lindon Leader ••• “Content precedes design. Design in the absence of content is not design. It’s decoration.”

— Jeffrey Zeldman ••• “Everything is designed.

Few things are designed well.”

— Brian Reed ••• “Good design is obvious. Great design is transparent.”

— Joe Sparano

••• “A designer is a planner with an aesthetic sense.” — Bruno Munari ••• “Design is intelligence made visible.” — Alina Wheeler ••• “A designer can mull over complicated designs for months.

Then suddenly the simple, elegant beautiful solution occurs to him. When it happens to you, it feels as if God is talking! And maybe He Is.” — Leo Frankowski

Newspapers part of rebirth of a media entity PRINT from Page 1 here for 100 percent of small-town papers just yet. They still cover the local business community, Little Leagues, perhaps people-oriented “gossip” columns, all to the best of their ability, and are still popular for news that’s not readily available on the Internet.

4. Interactive communities.

Also gaining popularity are polls and other avenues for feedback on community issues, a new wave of community-provided content, and interactive calendar features – anything to engage the reading public and keep them coming back to their local newspaper to keep up on news they can use on a daily basis. Print options and Internet capabilities can and should work hand in hand toward these goals.

5. Native advertising.

Remember the days of “advertorials”? (A term that Merriam-Webster says has been around since 1946.) Well, they appear to be back, just repackaged with a different moniker and vastly updated in style. New online options of the basic premise include platforms and web content tailored more precisely to a customer’s needs to promote their product or service.

Now they can walk an even finer line between editorial and advertising space, and the sophistication of a buy once looked at with a slightly disapproving eye from your editorial staff is now being embraced as a quantifiable revenue source. For those buying print, advertorials or other forms of sponsored content could find renewed interest as the concept of native advertising grows in popularity.

6. Bigger is better. Also back:

investigative reporting (deep research on a topic, aka “watchdog journalism”), enterprise journalism (coverage derived from established reporter sources), and substantive feature writing. In other words, longform writing is making a comeback, and while the Web is a good venue for articles that go longer (including graphics, art and even video support pieces), print offers something it can’t: a packaged, illustrated, graphically-enhanced format that people will actually save, read and read again, or pass along to a friend.

7. Digital support. Because the digital side of newspapers is in full swing, and will strengthen your net worth. Print and online both have value to offer readers, whether your publication is large or small, all-encompassing or tailored to a niche community. Web and mobile content complement core content, bolstered more and more by social media tie-ins. Add in the advantages of demographic data to survey both advertising and content possibilities, and it’s a partnership that can only improve both sides.

Specific to revenue, now with a few years of concentrated experience the back-and-forth issue of paywalls/ no paywalls/implementation should be solved soon, with added income where appropriate to pad the revenue side. What it all adds up to is the print-generation readers welcoming the digital-age readers into the fold of community journalism.

Their news-loving interests overlap with encouraging results!

8. No more fear factor.

Publishers are no longer

afraid to try something new. As new blood comes into the publisher and owner ranks, more and more of them are willing to replace or augment the traditional newspaper business models and try a wide variety of new options for added value for their readers. This includes the areas of content, advertising, online and even subscription models. Executives are taking up the banner of evolution – and survival of the fittest – with a new passion in the newspaper industry. Overall revenue success could help make it possible to continue with print costs longer than previous predictions.

9. Reliable surveys tell us so. The National Newspaper Association (NNA, www.nnaweb. org) released a survey in February titled “Small Town Residents Depend on Their Community Paper.” The survey was completed in partnership with the Center for Advanced Social Research of the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) at the University of Missouri. The survey, which began in 2005 and ended in 2013, “has consistently shown the community newspaper to be the information leader in smaller communities.” Households were contacted in communities with newspapers of 15,000 circulation or less.

Overall, researchers found that “two-thirds of residents in small towns across America depend upon their local newspaper for news and information.” These readers are using their newspapers’ websites much more than local TV stations’ sites, but they’re also holding on to the print tradition: “Local readers also like to share their newspaper with others. The ‘pass-along rate’ of the primary subscriber’s sharing with others rose in 2013 to 2.48, compared to 2.18 in 2012 and 2.33 in 2011.”

Another key point: “Striking was the finding that nearly one-third of households still do not have Internet access at home. The finding parallels similar conclusions from the U.S. Census Bureau and others that continue to report slow growth in Internet penetration across smaller and particularly rural communities.”

According to the NNA website article on the survey, NNA President Robert M. Williams Jr. “remarked that the RJI research consistently shows the community newspaper as the dominant information medium in their communities. The high levels of trust, the consistent passalong rate and the desire to find the newspaper in whatever medium the reader wishes to use – whether mobile, print or Web – demonstrate the value of good community journalism.”

10. People talk. Again, CPA member Brandt has a fix on what matters in a small-town atmosphere. She believes print will continue to be popular: “Because of the coffee-shop tradition of reading the news, seeing the advertising, and commenting and conversing about it with

fellow coffee-shop friends. That conversation expands to dinner tables, or perhaps even starts there to enhance the print edition and give the conversations validity.”

Add everything up and you can see that the once print-only newspaper industry leaders have changed their minds and their business models to adapt to the changing landscape. Some of us earned our journalism degrees in print. Today, owners and publishers are rebranding themselves Media experts, and acting the part with diversification into every new facet of newsgathering and publishing.

And it’s working. The days of print-only successes in the industry may be fading, but newspapers as a media entity are being reborn, and for now, print is still a big part of that process. As with magazines, souvenir or historical print editions will continue to be produced by the newspaper industry. Digital news is still growing and evolving, but didn’t replace its print counterparts overnight. That also is continuing to evolve. Some digital publishers, of magazines and newspapers alike, still offer a print version or special editions on some occasions.

Production processes are constantly being updated for both digital and print newspapers.

Revenue streams too. Content is also growing and changing as new journalists come into the fold. What it all comes down to is that the print news industry – newspapers at the forefront – is a business, a big business, and like its counterparts in other industries it will go on, adapting to the business landscape, and of course, to what we’re ultimately all here for: the readers who rely on long-trusted newspaper people to keep them informed about the world around them.

8

colorado editor

February/March 2014

Bylaw change gives board more flexibility MEETING from Page 1 calculate annual dues relies on SAU measurements, print circulation and national commissionable advertising rates that more than half of our membership no longer use,” said CPA Executive Director Samantha Johnston. “There’s nothing more telling about the progress, or lack thereof, of an organization than an antiquated standard by which all members are measured.”

The new bylaw language allows flexibility for the board of directors to determine what makes most sense and what applies most fairly and equitably to all CPA members.

“This change has been a long time coming,” CPA Chair Bryce Jacobson said. “In 2014, a formula that requires SAU conversions is antiquated and irrelevant. Significant group ownership is a new reality that didn’t exist 50 years ago. And gross commissionable rates are a thing of the past for more than 75 percent of our current membership. It’s time to develop a dues structure that makes sense for all of the stakeholders.”

The bylaw change, while giving the board flexibility to change dues and membership structure, requires that members be notified 90 days in advance of any dues change.

For information about the board of directors, bylaw changes or to express interest in serving on the Membership Committee, contact CPA Chair Bryce Jacobson at bjacobson@greeleytribune.com

Officers Bryce Jacobson The Tribune Chair

Terri House Pagosa Springs SUN President

Keith Cerny Alamosa Valley Courier Vice President

Bart Smith The Tribune Treasurer

Laurena Mayne Davis The Daily Sentinel Secretary

Original bylaw language “Section A. REGULAR MEMBERSHIP DUES. Dues to be paid for membership in this Association shall be determined by three factors: weekly or daily publication, circulation as determined by postal, independent audit, and national commissionable advertising rates a recorded by the Colorado Press Association on October 1 of the year prior to the dues period. Advertising rates for newspapers not converted to SAU measurements shall be computed for dues assessment by the following formula: The national commissionable advertising column inch rate will be divided by the newspaper’s pica column width and then multiplied by 12.375, the SAU column width.

Each newspaper member shall be placed in one of the classifications below with the dues assessment to be based on the following scheduled, except that no Weekly Newspaper Member shall pay more than $1,200 dues per year: Weekly Newspapers under 1,500 circulation shall pay their national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches.

Weekly Newspapers over 1,500 circulation shall pay $50 plus their national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches.

Daily Newspapers under 2,500 circulation shall pay $150 plus their national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches.

Daily Newspapers over 2,500 circulation shall pay $250 plus their national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches.

Provided, however, should there be instances where one individual, partnership or corporation shall publish two or more legal newspapers under the publication laws of the State of Colorado, when Regular Membership dues shall have been paid for a regular Member Weekly Newspaper over 1,500 circulation or for a Regular Member Daily Newspaper, the Regular Membership dues of the second or subsequent newspaper(s) of lesser circulation shall, regardless of circulation, be only its (their) national commissionable

advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches.

In no case, shall the annual dues of any Regular Member newspaper be increased by more than thirty-three and one-third percent over the total dues assessment for the immediate preceding year.

Dues shall be paid annually, and shall be paid prior to the annual convention held in February. Said dues will include a one-year subscription to Colorado Editor and a print or electronic copy of the annual membership director.”

New bylaw language

Effective March 1, 2014: Dues to be paid for membership in this Association shall be determined by a formula voted upon by the Board of Directors and communicated with the CPA membership no fewer than 90 days in advance of changes taking effect.

New Directors Joe Hight Joe Hight, an inductee in the 2012 Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, became the editor of The Gazette in 2012 after a 27-year career with The Oklahoman.

Hight began his career on The Vista at Central State University.

He worked at the Guthrie Daily Leader, the Lawton Constitution and the Shawnee News-Star before joining The Oklahoman in 1985 as a reporter. He held numerous reporting and editing positions at The Oklahoman before becoming a managing editor in 1999 and director of information and development in 2007.

Extremely active in community and professional organizations, Hight was president of the international Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, chairman of the MidAmerica Press Institute and member of the Associated Press Media Editors’ national board. He also serves on the advisory boards of the National Press Foundation, the Mayborn Conference for Literary Nonfiction, Ball State University and others. He’s written numerous booklets and articles for Dart Center, APME, collegiate textbooks and other journalism publications, and

been features in at least three books. He’s taught and lectured in several universities and media groups around the world. And he was involved in or led efforts that have garnered at least seven national awards from SPJ, APME and other organizations.

He and his wife, Nan, have two children, Elena, a Washington University in St. Louis graduate who is teaching at Amigos near the HondurasGuatemala border, and Elyse, a sophomore at Notre Dame and a goalkeeper for the Irish women’s soccer team.

Lisa Schlichtman Lisa Schlichtman was named Editor of the Steamboat Pilot & Today in July 2013.

In addition to her passion for the newspaper industry, Lisa has been actively involved in a variety of community projects and organizations, serving in leadership roles for many. She currently is a member of the Steamboat Springs Rotary Club, is involved with the Leadership Steamboat program and serves on the Yampa Valley Autism Program Advisory Board.

During Lisa’s 25-year newspaper career, she has

served in many capacities including: newspaper reporter, editor, owner and publisher of newspapers and magazines in Southwest Missouri.

She is a native of St. Louis, Mo., and a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism.

Lisa and her husband, Mike, owned the Cassville Democrat and Wheaton Journal weekly newspapers from 1995 to 2005, during which time Lisa served as editor and co-publisher of both publications. The Schlichtmans sold the newspapers to Rust Communications, and Lisa continued her career with the newspaper company. She helped oversee Rust’s acquisition of The Monett Times, being named editor and co-publisher of the four-day-a-week daily newspaper while retaining those same duties with the Cassville Democrat.

During her tenure, the Cassville Democrat and Monett Times won numerous awards from the Missouri Press Association Better Newspaper Contest.

Lisa was also instrumental in launching a monthly regional lifestyles magazine (Connection) and a quarterly outdoors magazine (Ozarks Outdoors) for Rust, serving as editor of both publications.

Lisa and Mike have two sons, Nicholas, who lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Ryan, who lives in Denver.

Lisa was elected to the CPA

board of directors in February 2014.

Beecher Threatt Beecher Threatt is co-publisher of the Ouray County Plaindealer.

Threatt and her husband, Alan Todd, purchased the Plaindealer and Ridgway Sun in Sept. 2010.

Prior to purchasing the Ouray and Ridgway newspapers, Threatt served as a legislative aide in the Texas House of Representatives in 1981. She then practiced law as a partner in an Austin, Texas firm from 1982-1991.

From 1991-1996, Threatt served as Executive Editor of a legal non-profit and adjunct professor of law at University of Texas Law School. She became licensed to practice law in Colorado in 1997, and worked for Killian and Associates in Grand Junction as a research and writing attorney until 2004.

Threatt was a columnist for Longview News-Journal in Texas from 2004-2008 and an adjunct professor at Kilgore College in Texas from 2007-2010.

Threatt still works part-time as a senior research attorney for the Texas Lawyers for Children.

Threatt was elected to the CPA Board of Directors in Feb. 2014.

The CPA board of directors meets quarterly in February, June, August and November. For information about the board of directors, or to attend a board meeting, contact Chair, Bryce Jacobson at bjacobson@greeleytribune.com.