Retail expert to keynote Mid-Winter Conference

Nationally-recognized retail expert Margie Johnson will deliver the opening keynote at January's Mid-Winter Conference.

The annual event will be held Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at the Jackson Hilton on County Line Road and focus on a number of revenue-building programs and promotions.

Johnson has presented a series of workshops in the state over the past couple of years through a unique partnership between MPA and the Mississippi Main Street Association. During these "customer centered" training programs held in cities such as Philadelphia, Brookhaven and Tupelo, Johnson offered tips to local retailers on solving common programs encountered by small retailers.

At Mid-Winter, Johnson will reverse roles and work with newspaper sales professionals on helping retails achieve more with their local marketing plans. "What Retailers Need from Local Newspapers" will kick-off the conference at 10 am Friday, Jan. 31.

Johnson has 30 years of experience as an owner/entrepreneur in retailing.

Other highlights of the conference include a Friday night tailgating party, Silver Dollar Breakfast Idea Exchange and closing Better Newspaper Contest Advertising Awards Luncheon.

The conference theme will focus on football since it falls on the Friday and Saturday prior to the Super Bowl. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite team's attire and colors for the entire event.

Registration for Mid-Winter will open in early December.

Happy Thanksgiving from MPA-MPS

The board and staff of MPA-MPS wishes all our members and clients a very happy Thanksgiving. We will be closed Thursday and Friday for the holiday. Normal office hours will resume Monday, Dec. 2, at 8 am.

Send your rate updates to MPS

Newspaper members are reminded to send their rate updates for 2014 to MPS as soon as possible. Rate adjustments need to be entered into MPS' One System soon so that we can quote accurate figures to clients for the coming year.

Forward rate cards by email to Andrea Ross or by fax to 601-981-3676.

Time to update press credentials

MPA is offering photo ID badges for newspaper members for $10 each. The credit-card sized badges are laminated and include a photo of the staffer.

All cards issued bear the signature of the MPA executive director and are valid through Dec. 31, 2015. Click here for more information or to download the order form.

These special order badges do not replace the traditional MPA press cards that are mailed to each publisher in January. For more information, contact Member Services Manager Monica Gilmer.

PAPERNEWS

Picayune Newsmedia, LLC, a new Mississippi entity wholly owned by Carpenter Newsmedia, LLC [CNL] purchased The Picayune Item, The Poplarville Democrat and related publications from Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc. [CNHI] of Montgomery, AL… Jeff Schumacher has been named publisher of The Vicksburg Post. A native of Drayton, N.D., Schumacher most recently served as general manager of Mountaineer Publishing Co., in Waynesville, NC… The Sun Herald has asked a judge to hold Mississippi State Auditor Stacey Pickering and his office in civil contempt of court for failing to turn over records requested by the newspaper.


Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/26/4900783/ole-miss-project-wins-rfk-journalism.html#storylink=cpy
UPCOMING EVENTS

Nov. 28-29  Thanksgiving holidays. MPA office closed.
Dec. 5         MPA-MPS Board Meeting, MPA offices, Jackson
Dec. 5         Webinar: Covering Health Care Reform
Dec. 24-25  Christmas holidays. MPA office closed
Jan. 1          New Year's holiday. MPA office closed
Jan. 30        MPA Education Foundation Celebrity Roast
Jan. 31        MPA Mid-Winter Conference

Click here to visit the MPA Calendar

INDUSTRY HEADLINES

Why Black Friday bargains are a myth

From Los Angeles Times
Only a tiny percentage of Black Friday shoppers end up with the most desirable deals from retailers, but bargain hunters have plenty of alternatives to get items at low prices.
Publishing the name or address of a concealed gun permit holder or applicant is set to become a crime in Louisiana, under a pair of new laws recently signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. - See more at: http://www.rcfp.org/browse-media-law-resources/news/louisiana-criminalizes-publishing-gun-permit-information#sthash.xhejXo4V.dpufInvestor Warren Buffett says he didn’t buy the Washington Post because he didn’t want it to be a burden on his company or family.

Paid niche products offer hope for NYT revenue

From Newsonomics
Ken Doctor takes a look at how the Times’ upcoming projects on dining, morning news and opinion might attract niche audiences who don’t get the paper. “Each will express the mother brand,” CEO Mark Thompson said. For the brand-loyal subscribers willing to pay for more, the Times’ also is creating a yet-to-be-named “premium” subscription tier with extra access.

Read more here: http://www.sunherald.com/2013/08/26/4902860/sun-herald-files-new-suit-against.html#storylink=cpy

Welcome to the new world of the news publisher

From E&P
For the past few years, newspaper publishers have prowled their buildings, asking why, and getting some amazing answers. Institutional knowledge is wonderful, but institutional resistance is intolerable. We must invoke a brilliant strategy to conquer this new world. Burn the boats. There is no turning back.