Walter E. Hussman Jr. is determined to save the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, one iPad at a time
Walter E. Hussman Jr. is banking on technology to save the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
The newspaper publisher has bought thousands of iPads to give to subscribers in parts of the state who no longer receive print editions of the Democrat-Gazette. Some of those subscribers still receive the printed edition of the Sunday newspaper.
The efforts come as Hussman is being celebrated Thursday as the Arkansan of the Year by Easterseals Arkansas. And Hussman is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Arkansas Gazette.
MORETampa Bay Times delivering magazines through Doorfront Direct
The Tampa Bay Times is now delivering national monthly magazines in the Tampa-St. Petersburg market through the Doorfront Direct network.
"Delivering monthly magazines broadens the services we offer and adds a new revenue source for our delivery organization," said Ben Hayes, director of operations for The Tampa Bay Times.
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Northeast Alabama newspaper cluster sold
For the first time in more than 60 years, The Times-Journal of Fort Payne, Ala., has new ownership.
Patrick Graham, who previously served as the managing editor of The Times-Journal from 1996 to 2000, has purchased the newspaper and its related products from the Walls Family and Southern Newspapers, Inc. of Houston, Texas. Southern, which continues to own and operate 12 newspapers in Texas and Oklahoma, had owned The Times-Journal since 1956.
In addition, Graham acquired The Jackson County Sentinel in Scottsboro and The Sand Mountain Reporter in Albertville, sister papers to The Times-Journal, from Southern as part of the same purchase agreement.
Cribb, Greene & Cope, under the direction of John Cribb and Senior Associate Jeffrey Potts, represented the seller in the transaction.
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Rochester Sentinel changes hands: Paxton Media Group acquires daily
Rochester Sentinel owner and publisher Sarah O. Wilson has announced the sale of the Indiana paper to the Paxton Media Group. Cribb, Greene & Cope represented the Wilson family in the sale.
The sale was effective Wednesday, May 1. A price was not disclosed.
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Newscycle Solutions announces its new brand identity as Naviga
Newscycle Solutions has announced a comprehensive rebrand, changing its name to Naviga. The rebrand includes a new company identity, logo, visual design, website and mission. With its "Venture Forward" tagline, the name Naviga reinforces a commitment to partnering with global customers to move toward digital expansion and success in rapidly shifting markets. The rebranding also reflects the company's recent growth and vision for the future.
"Over the six years since our company was formed, the industries we serve have evolved dramatically," said Naviga CEO Scott Roessler. "To keep pace with this transformation, we have also evolved, expanding our solution suite through numerous acquisitions and strategic initiatives. Our new company identity reinforces our continued focus on accelerating progress so our customers can focus on growing their businesses."
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AP joins global initiative to expand reporting on religion
The Associated Press is joining with the Religion News Service and the nonprofit publisher The Conversation to form a global initiative to expand news reporting on religion in the United States and around the world.
The collaboration is being funded by an 18-month, $4.9 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to the Religion News Service's parent organization, the nonprofit Religion News Foundation. The grant represents one of the biggest investments in religion news coverage in decades.
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University of Florida announces $25,000 Collier Prize for State Government Accountability
The University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications has announced the creation of The Collier Prize for State Government Accountability, a prize that will be awarded annually at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner starting in 2020.
The $25,000 prize, one of the largest journalism prizes in the nation, is designed to encourage coverage of state government, focusing on investigative and political reporting.
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Stillwater News Press photographer wins national sports picture award
The Society of Professional Journalists has awarded its top sports photography award for 2018 to David Bitton of the Stillwater (Okla.) News Press. The Stillwater News Press is a CNHI newspaper.
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Growing circulation and audience starts and ends in the newsroom
Executives who addressed this month's topic were:
- Jeff DeLoach, president of the Chattanooga Times Free Press.
- David Kirkman, vice president of audience services, Richmond Times-Dispatch.
- Mark Adams, audience acquisition and retention manager, The Post and Courier, Charleston, S.C. Adams also is a member of the NEX GEN Class of 2018-19.
- Retaining current subscribers is much more efficient than acquiring new ones.
- Utilizing value-selling techniques with each subscriber touch point is critical – especially with incoming calls.
- Reader revenue, both print and digital, has growing importance for future financial health, not only audience needs.
- Traditional sales channels will remain important, enhanced with innovative digital marketing (email and social media).
- Market audience leadership through quality content is essential.
Fairbanks paper becomes early adopter of Brainworks' Stratica system
Brainworks Software has announced that the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner has once again taken its relationship with Brainworks to the next level. The News-Miner first installed Brainworks' advertising system in 2004. This 15-year partnership continues with the paper's commitment to be an early adopter for Brainworks' new Stratica Advertising and CRM system.
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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.
MoreSNPA's staunchest advocate honored for 43 years of service
Edward VanHorn, who went to work for SNPA 43 years ago straight out of the University of North Carolina, will be honored at next week's SNPA-Inland Annual Meeting as this year's recipient of the Frank W. Mayborn Leadership Award. The award is named for the Texas newspaperman who helped shape SNPA in the early 1950s and served as president from 1961 to 1962.
"He's been that silent leader behind the newspaper industry and SNPA," said SNPA President PJ Browning, president and publisher of The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C. "We're honored to have the opportunity to give him this award as he's retiring. We thought it was very fitting."
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