The Indiana Publisher

December-2017-ip

Hoosier State Press Association - The Indiana Publisher

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The challenges are the same for news organizations across the state when trying to generate revenue — the solutions might be the same, too. In 2017, the Indiana Newspa- pers Advertising Executives Asso- ciation launched a quarterly con- ference call opportunity for HSPA member newspapers. The calls are a chance for staff members at newspapers large and small to share programs and products that are growing revenue. The calls were initiated by Pete Van Baalen, general manager of Fort Wayne Newspapers. They bring to- gether people who have the same experiences, goals and challenges — which is good for both morale and inspiration, Van Baalen said. "If you get around creative people, it gets your blood pumping." By joining the call, participants can hear about innovative projects from colleagues and get fresh ideas for ap- proaches to established products. "You'd be surprised what might work in somebody else's market," Van Baalen said. One idea he adopted from a call was a staff contest launched by Lau- rie Ragle, advertising director at the Herald-Times (Bloomington). Ragle started a selfie contest where ad reps took pictures with customers. Ragle said she noticed that younger reps of- ten interacted with customers through email or text rather than in person. The idea was to get them engaging one-on-one with customers to build and strengthen relationships "I said, 'Everybody go out and I want you to see your customers face- to-face. I want you to take a selfie of you with the person you're working with on advertising and send them to me,' " Ragle said. "I printed them out and put them on a big board. The person who sold the most got a $100 bonus." Second and third place win- ners were given a kitchen towel that said, "Believe in your selfie." "It was a lot of fun and brought a little extra energy to the department." Ragle said. "All the other newspa- pers I tell this to say, 'I'm doing this.' " Van Baalen was one of the people who adapted Ragle's idea. Pete Van Baalen: Managers need to lead, set expectations. Page 2 Key Points: Attacks on journalism corrosive, dangerous Page 4 Hey, can they do that? Steve Key answers your legal questions. Page 3 In memoriam: Jeff Washburn, Max Showalter Page 2 INSIDE Publisher The Indiana Volume 82, Issue 12 • December 2017 Published on second Thursday monthly Judy O'Bannon presents the Frank O'Bannon Sunshine Award to Greenfield Police Chief Jeff Rasche. The honor is named for the late Indiana Governor who was an advocate of the people's right to know throughout his political career. O'Bannon's widow present- ed the award to Rasche who was nominated by the Greenfield Reporter for his help and transparency with public records. HSPA working with legislators on 2018 bills Proposed bills for the 2018 General Assembly haven't been released yet, but HSPA already has worked with state senators and representatives on four pro- posals that will be introduced. The bills will cover freedom of press, public notice advertising, Open Door Law and Access to Pub- lic Records Act. Public Notices Sen. Sue Glick, R-LaGrange, has agreed to introduce a bill that would restore the requirement that local government units publish their pro- posed budgets as part of the notice of their public hearing on their budgets. This requirement was ended by the state legislature at the request of the Department of Local Gov- ernment Finance, which suggest- ed posting on their website as a better way to inform the public. The result, according to HSPA executive director Steve Key, is that the budgets were seen by 7,000 individuals over six months who went to the relevant website pages, compared to the 2.9 mil- lion Hoosiers who read a printed newspaper every week – where the budgets used to be printed. Open Door Law Rep. Mike Karickhoff, R-Koko- mo, reached out to HSPA to improve language in the Open Door Law ad- dressing "administrative functions" language that allows county com- missioners and town boards (with no mayor) to skip the 48 hours notice for internal management meetings. "Current law spells out what they can't do in an administrative functions meeting, but fails to give any direction as to what can be discussed," Key said. "Rep. Karickhoff's proposal would help improve the situation. Hoosiers celebrate journalistic excellence at annual awards, seminar Legislative Preview See Preview, Page 4 The state Board of Accounts has released its charts for public notice advertising line rates in 2018. The charts reflect a 2.75% in- crease compared to the 2017 rates. The increase is part of leg- islation that HSPA worked on with Sen. Jim Buck, R-Kokomo, several years ago. HSPA emailed a copy of the charts to ad directors of mem- ber Indiana newspapers. It also will be posted on our website at hspa.com. If anyone has trouble reading the charts for your particular newspa- per or if your newspaper's column width isn't included in the SBOA charts, contact HSPA executive di- rector Steve Key at either (317) 624-4427 or skey@hspa.com. He will be glad to help you navigate the charts or get your column width rates determined for 2018. 2018 public notice rate charts available online Revenue sharing conference calls an opportunity for innovation Download a copy of the 2017 Better Newspaper Contest Awards booklet at hspa.com. At the Herald-TImes (Bloomington), Advertising Director Laurie Ragle initiat- ed a selfie contest where ad sales reps photographed themselves with clients in an effort to reach out and establish stronger relationships. The idea was shared on a conference call and has been adopted at other newspapers. Jack Pate, retired president and publisher of the Evansville Courier & Press, receives HSPA's Charlie Biggs Commitment to Community Award. Indianapolis Star staff members Stephen Beard, Shari Rudavsky, Tim Evans and Justin Mack listen to speakers at the start of the annual Better Newspaper Awards lunch. Beard and Mack accepted the James W. Brown Digital Drive Award for the Star's web show, "The Drop with Justin Mack." The Times-Post (Pendleton) and the Evansville Courier & Press took top honors as 2017 Nondaily and Daily Blue Ribbon newspapers. HSPA Executive Director Steve Key and Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt field ques- tions about reporters' access to information. Tom and Kelley French conduct a two-part semi- nar on using the tools of narrative writing. Professional and student journalists from across the state attended workshops focusing on report- ing, photography and digital media Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017 during the annual HSPA Newsroom Seminar and Better Newspaper Awards lunch at the Indianapolis Marriott North. See Call, Page 3

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