The Indiana Publisher

Page 8 August 13, 2015 E very now and then it's a good idea to toot our own horns. It reminds those involved with Indiana newspapers about the value of member ship in the Hoosier State Press Association and lets those who aren't familiar with HSPA know what the associa tion does. First and foremost, HSPA exists for Indiana's paidcircu lation newspapers. A board of directors com prised of Indiana newspaper executives guides the associa tion. A similar board directs the activities of the HSPA Foundation. Repeatedly, Indiana news paper leadership has said the number one service provided by HSPA is representation of the industry before the Indiana General Assembly and other government enti ties. That's why HSPA was cre ated in 1933 – a time when there were four different organizations serving Indiana newspapers. The value of our voice for the industry and Hoosiers in general is hard to quantify. How many thousands of dollars have been saved because newspaper stories shined a light on fraudulent or wasteful spending of tax dollars or proposals to spend tax dollars by public officials? How many of those stories were possible because HSPA worked in the 1970s and '80s with key legislators to pass the Open Door Law and Access to Public Records Act? The battle to keep Indiana government as transparent as possible is a neverending project. No legislator advocates a repeal of either law, but there are arguments over whether this or that document should be confidential or this or that discussion should be allowed to be held behind closed doors. The value of public notice advertising is another con stant battleground before the state legislature. Some legislators don't appreciate the democratic responsibility for government units to inform the public through an independent third party about action those units are taking or contemplating. The recent loss of the publica tion requirement of local gov ernment budgets is a prime example. Another service HSPA pro vides Indiana newspapers is a free legal resource that helps all departments. HSPA is one of only four state press associations in the country to have an attorney on staff. I answer questions on a wide spectrum of topics – gov ernment transparency, libel, advertising regulations and postal rules, to name a few. Publishers who have moved to Indiana often comment on the speed of HSPA responses to queries compared to other press associations that rely on law firms to operate a legal hotline. Another direct impact HSPA has on its members is through the Midwest Advertising Placements ser vice. Pamela Lego, MAP adver tising director, serves as an extension of Indiana news papers' sales staffs. She's a cheerleader and educator of the value of newspapers to advertising agencies and advertising clients. MAP's onecall, oneorder, onebill system makes it easy for clients to place advertising in newspapers throughout the state. The service reduces the hassle that might lead deci sionmakers to go with a dif ferent medium to deliver their message. In 2014, MAP placed $1.15 million in advertising in Indiana newspapers – and no newspaper company had to spend a dime for additional personnel to benefit from MAP's representation. HSPA fully absorbs the manpower costs to staff the HSPA Foundation, led by director Karen T. Braeckel. Newspapers benefit from multiple programs of the Foundation, and I won't try to list them all in this column. The Foundation's Eugene S. Pulliam Internship Program places 10 student journalists each summer with Indiana newspapers for 10week paid stints of summer employment. The program furthers stu dents' educational experiences in print journalism and offers newspapers toptier journal ists. The enthusiasm and talent of these students is evidenced by the fact some editors have tongueincheek offered to keep the students and send back other employees to the universities. The Foundation annually recognizes the best of Indiana newspapers through contests for editorial and advertising excellence. The morale boost for the winners is another value hard to quantify. HSPA wants all our mem ber newspapers and their staffs to remember we're here for you. If you ever have a question or need, never hesi tate to reach out to us. For legal advice, email me at skey@hspa.com For advertising needs, email Lego at plego@hspa.com. For Foundation questions, email Braeckel at kbraeckel@ hspa.com. Not sure who to contact for your need? Call the HSPA office at (317) 8034772, and we'll direct you. Steve Key is executive director and general counsel for the Hoosier State Press Association. Key Points Steve Key HSPA has your back in legislature A colorful series of ads from HSPA promotes newspaper readership and public notices in Indiana. The advertising series touts public notices as a necessity for government transparency. The ads promote statistics from a 2014 survey of Hoosiers on newspaper readership, public notices and voting habits conducted by American Opinion Research. (HSPA distributed results of the survey last year. For more information, visit hspa.com or call the association at 317.803.4772.) The quarterpage ads inform readers that 85 per cent of adults surveyed said public notices should remain in newspapers, and almost twothirds agree that publication of notices is a good use of tax dol lars. To download the ads (pictured below), visit www. hspa.com. Another ad promotes the statistic that almost 80 percent of adults said they read a print newspaper each week, with 86 percent reading newspaper con tent in print or online. Ads tout newspaper poll Remind readers about importance of public notices

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