Hoosier State Press Association - The Indiana Publisher
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/84751
September 27, 2012 Access counselor rules on Logansport police log T he Indiana public access counselor said the Logansport Police Department failed to comply with the state's Access to Public Records Act regarding records sought by the Pharos- Tribune. The newspaper filed a complaint with the access counselor in early August when Police Chief Mike Clark changed the policy of providing police reports to the media and switched to providing a daily log only. As evidence to the access counselor, the newspaper provided the first page of a 25-page log that listed four calls the police responded to on Aug. 6, which listed times and the nature of the call but no locations. Joseph Hoage, public access counselor for Indiana, issued his advisory opinion Sept. 14. Hoage wrote that the police department failed to comply with the requirements of I.C. 5-14-3-5 and the newspaper should not have to make an additional request for the requirements of the police log to be fulfilled. A recent check of the daily log showed the majority of entries with the required information, according to the Pharos-Tribune. The newspaper's complaint followed a series of shootings into houses in July. The earliest shooting occurred July 16 and a press released was issued about it on July 28. Indiana law requires reports of crimes to be made available within 24 hours of an incident. The daily log can fulfill this requirement if it provides basic information such as time, substance, location of all complaints or requests for assistance. Among other things that are required by law are the time and nature of the agency's response. The law also states if the incident involves a reported crime or infraction, the police department must provide the time, date and location of occurrence and the factual circumstance surrounding the incident and a general description of any injuries, property or weapons involved. In all but sex crimes, it also requires the name and age of any victim. Twice in his advisory opinion, Hoage encouraged the newspaper and the police department to meet about weekend access to reports – another issue the paper has complained about – and receiving adequate information on police reports. The Pharos-Tribune has requested to meet with Clark on at least two occasions. – Pharos-Tribune (Logansport) M Member newspapers get free sales training at their fingertips newspapers have registered for free online sales training offered this year through a pilot partnership between the HSPA Foundation and AdMall. The Indiana Newspaper Advertis ing Executives Association reviewed several programs and even discussed developing a custom state- wide training package, said Foundation Director Karen T. Braeckel. ore than 80 advertis- ing staff members from 40 member lishers and ad directors could turn to any time they made a new hire." Registration for the free training continues through Dec. 31 at www.media salesbasics.com. The program provides tar- geted training for advertising sales professionals, said Denise Gibson, sales develop- ment manager with AdMall, a division of Westerville, Ohio- based Sales Development Services. ious options with staff mem- bers, the INAEA board select- ed AdMall's Media $ales Basics program. "The project grew out of a need to train new sales repre- sentatives year-round, not just at our annual confer- ence," Braeckel said. "We wanted something that pub- After months of testing var- "The program helps new account executives gain the foundational knowledge need- ed to sell in today's market- place," Gibson said. "It allows them to be the sales team that advertisers want to buy from." The program works for vet- erans as well. The Pharos Tribune (Logansport) and Kokomo Tribune required the online sessions as part of their ongo- ing advertising training, said Beverly Sams, regional sales director. "The reps found the train- ing very helpful, and we have a very seasoned sales staff in Logansport," Sams said. The director can see improvement in the staff's sales techniques and results. News in brief Publishers express confidence Publishers of U.S. dailies remain optimistic about the future of newspapers. In the largest survey of its kind, nearly two-thirds of responding publishers expressed optimism about the future of the newspaper industry. Forty percent said they were "somewhat optim- istic," while 25 percent identified themselves as "very optimistic." Thirty- one percent were neutral. Only four percent identified themselves as "not optimistic;" no respondent chose "not optimistic at all." The question was asked as part of the Reynolds Journalism Institute Publishers Confidence Index. The institute is housed at the Missouri School of Journalism. In the survey, 458 in-depth telephone inter- views were conducted with publishers, presi- dents, senior vice presi- dents or other senior managers or editors designated by the pub- lisher. The interviews represent one-third of the U.S. daily newspapers. In assembling the sam- ple, researchers were careful to ensure it reflected the distribution of circulation sizes across the industry. Page 3 More aspects of the sur- vey – relating to print and digital revenue, paid online models, mobile and tablet development and perceived threats to long-term success – will be posted at www.rjionline.org. Handbook will be available soon Copy for the updated Handbook on Indiana's Public Access Laws is in the hands of the printer. As soon as HSPA Foundation gets the booklets, it will make them available free to member newspapers. HSPA Foundation approved a $2,000 grant to help pay for the printing of the 64-page booklet that contains information on the Open Door Law and Access to Public Records Act. It includes explan- "The needs assessment really compliments another program we are working on called 'Brand Expand,' and it's helped them meet their goal for appointments in Logansport," she said. For more information on the program and an introduc- tory video, visit www.media salesbasics.com. For another copy of regis- tration instructions, email Shawn Goldsby at sgoldsby@ hspa.com. information about the role of the Indiana public access counselor. The copy is written and edited cooperatively by Public Access Counselor Joe Hoage; Matt Light and Anne Mullin O'Connor, deputy attorney generals in the office of Attorney General Greg Zoeller; and HSPA Executive Director and General Counsel Steve Key. ations of the two statutes, a sample letter for making records request and printing the booklets. The printer also produces the Berne Tri-Weekly News in northeast Indiana. EP Graphics is The Bloomington Postal Customer Council will conduct a postal education workshop Oct. 18. The event will provide information on regula- tions, plus food and prizes. The workshop will be from 8 a.m. to noon at the Indiana University Alumni Center, 1000 E. 17th St., Bloomington. To download a registra- tion form, visit hspa.com/ postal-tabbing. Stay ahead of your Some subjects that will be covered include: Get postal tabbing information • Tabbing, including – Reynolds Journalism Institute new rules effective in January • How to use the Busi- ness Customer Gateway • What's new locally and nationally with the U.S. Postal Service. Registration costs $20 per person. For more information contact John Butcher, Bloomington Postal Cus- tomer Council industry co-chairman, at (800) 422- 0070 or jbutcher@ heraldt.com. Indiana newspaper professionals are invited to a discussion-style work- shop, "Librarians and Journalists: Champions of Freedom." The event Nov. 12 pre- cedes the Indiana Library Fed eration's annual conference. It will be conducted at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 800.245.9278 | create@multiad.com multiad.com CreativeOutlet.com | Recas® | Creator Professional Meeting of journalists, librarians Organizers seek to bring Indiana librarians and journalists together to talk about the com- mon values, opportuni- ties and challenges of the two professions and to create agendas on which they can work together to provide information to a democratic society. For more information, visit www.ilfonline.org/ championsoffreedom. Send promotions, announcements, staff changes and other corporate news to mtuley@hspa.com.