Going after the competition
The five newspapers in BH Media's Alabama Group signed up 77 new advertising accounts in about six weeks last year through an in-house sales competition called "Let's Play Takeaway."
The goal is to win new accounts away from competitors and regenerate inactive accounts. Advertising representatives compete among themselves for prizes ranging from $75 for the person bringing in the second-highest number of new accounts up to $500 for the salesperson who generates the highest amount of new revenue.
The competition is about to begin its third year.
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HD Media announces leadership team
With its acquisition of Charleston Newspapers Inc. and subsequent merger now complete, HD Media Co. LLC has announced its leadership team for the combined operations.
That team, or Operating Committee, will be responsible for overseeing operations of The Herald-Dispatch (Huntington, W.W.), owned by HD Media; the Charleston (W.Va.) Gazette-Mail, which was owned by Charleston Newspapers Inc.; and several other publications.
The other publications include daily newspapers The Logan Banner and Williamson Daily News and the weekly newspapers Wayne County News, the Coal Valley News in Madison, the Independent Herald in Pineville, the Lawrence Herald and Putnam Herald. HD Media also publishes the bimonthly River Cities Magazine.
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Justin Smith named editor of The News Reporter
In the ever-changing media landscape, most newspapers, television and radio stations are shrinking. The News Reporter is taking a different track: we are expanding and naming Justin Smith as editor.
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Publisher Rex Maynor leaves OA News to pursue opportunity in Missouri
Opelika-Auburn News Publisher Rex Maynor has left the Alabama community to accept a position in Branson, Mo., where he will oversee operations for a group of community newspapers.
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Herald-Dispatch editor-publisher retires
Ed Dawson, editor and publisher of The Herald-Dispatch in Huntington, W.Va., has retired.
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Innovation in perspective
In Erica Smith's three years as online editor and director of digital strategy for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, change has been intended to make things easier in the newsroom and on the website, www.pilotonline.com. From creating a single app to keep track of a story to cutting the number of steps a reader must take to get a digital subscription, Smith wants the digital product to be accessible to readers and comfortable for the newsroom staff.
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NexGen Business Models: Finding Success Amid Today's Challenges
Panelists will be:
- Evan Smith, CEO, The Texas Tribune, Austin, Texas
- Jim Brady, founder and CEO, Spirited Media, Great Falls, Va.
- Sara Fischer, media reporter, Axios, Arlington, Va.
"It's a myth," Smith said, "that nonprofit news orgs can't be sustainable – we've proved that it's possible not only to survive but thrive for eight years-plus. A diverse set of revenue streams – a mix of major and member giving, foundation support, corporate underwriting, events sponsorship and earned income – funds our award-winning accountability journalism and allows us to maintain the largest newsroom covering a state capitol in the country. This model is a winner for us and can be scaled up or down to succeed elsewhere. I'm eager to tell all."
"If recent times have taught us anything," says Brady, "it's that media cannot make it on advertising alone, and that finding diverse revenue streams is necessary for survival. Hopefully, those of us on this panel can give some actionable information for those looking to expand into events, memberships and subscriptions."
Fischer will deliver a deep dive into the evolving trends reshaping the digital media – covering new media technology, industry IPOs and acquisitions, emerging user behaviors and the policy fault lines in between. Aside from her weekly newsletter, Fischer gives customized presentations about trends shaping the media landscape for an array of audiences that include corporate executives, Wall Street analysts, foreign policy professionals and journalists.
Register for the Mega-Conference
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Nine executives selected for 2017-18 mentor program
The SNPA Foundation has selected nine newspaper executives to participate in the 2017-2018 NEX GEN program. Each of the nine participants will be paired with one of the brightest talents in the newspaper industry.
The year-long NEX GEN program offers newspaper professionals with executive potential the opportunity to develop their industry knowledge, analytical skills and aptitude for innovation.
Meet the Class of 2017-18!
MOREMeet the NEX GEN class of 2017-18
Read bios of 2017-18 NEX GEN participants.
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Spartanburg editor Michael Smith offers three opinion page tips
By Tim Schmitt, project manager, GateHouse Media
Here are three takeaways from the executive editor of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal from a recent GateHouse Professional Development Series presentation he gave on keeping your opinion page as engaging as possible.
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We have a new website:
www.newspapers.org
America's Newspapers – the association formed from the merger of the Inland Press Association and Southern Newspaper Publishers Association – was ceremonially launched October 6 at its inaugural annual meeting in Chicago.
Dean Ridings will be its chief executive officer, effective Nov. 11.
America's Newspapers unites two of the oldest press associations to form one of the industry's largest advocates for newspapers and the many benefits to their communities, civil life, freedom of expression and democracy.
"Newspaper journalism provides a voice for the voiceless, challenges elected officials, shines a light on government, calls for change when change is needed, and exposes corruption and injustice," said Chris Reen, the president and publisher of The Gazette in Colorado Springs who will serve as the first president of America's Newspapers.
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New association launches today;
SNPA-Inland merger is complete
A new association formed by the consolidation of SNPA and the Inland Press Association was officially launched today. The name of the new association will be announced on Oct. 6 at the association's first annual meeting in Chicago.
Edward VanHorn, SNPA's executive director, said that the merger unites two of the country's oldest press associations into a progressive new organization that will use its bigger and more powerful voice to be an unapologetic advocate for newspapers.
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