National Newspaper Week Oct. 7-13

MPA is again partnering with press associations nationwide to organize the 2013 observance of National Newspaper Week. Newspaper Association Managers has sponsored the special industry event every year since 1940. The 2012 theme is "Newspapers: The Cornerstone of Your Community."

Through MPA's sponsorship, our member newspapers will be able to access special editorial content and promotional materials at the NNW website. Our thanks to the Michigan Press Association for serving as the coordinating state for this year's NNW toolkit.

We encourage all newspapers to take part in the only week-long observance that salutes newspapers. It is more important than ever to call attention to the meritorious efforts of our industry.

Click here to access the NNW website.

Statements of Ownership due
A reminder your Statements of Ownership, Management & Circulation are due to your local postmaster by Oct. 1. New this year is inclusion of online subscriptions as part of your overall paid distribution.

A paid subscriber, electronic or print, may only be counted once. A print subscriber with free access to the electronic version of your paper cannot be counted as a paid online subscriber.

Anyone publishing more than once a week should run the statement no later than October 10. Weekly newspapers must publish by Oct. 31.

A current copy of the ownership statement is a requirement for membership in MPA. Your ownership statement is used to update circulation statistics which MPS uses as verification of distribution for marketing purposes. These are also the figures that will be used for the 2013 Newspaper Directory.


Send us your statements with your 2012 Advertising BNC entries (due Oct. 2) or simply drop one in the mail to us: 371 Edgewood Terrace, Jackson, MS  39206. You can also fax your statement to 601-981-3676.

To download a Statement of Ownership form or to learn more about claiming electronic subscriptions, click here.

Customer service, digital top ArkLaMiss agenda
Improving customer service and digital strategies are two of the main topics on the agenda for the annual ArkLaMiss Conference Nov. 8-9 at the Ameristar Casino in Vicksburg.

Media strategist and motivational speaker Tony Marsella will be the keynote presenter, leading sessions on customer service and roundtable discussions. Conan Gallaty, executive vice president of WEHCO Media of Little Rock, will discuss digital product development and revenue strategies.

As always, ArkLaMiss mainstay Max Heath will be on hand to analyze postal statements and help you maximize savings. One-on-one sessions with Max will be available by appointment.

Education scholarships are still available through the MPA Education Foundation that will cover up to $100 in conference-related expenses, including travel and registration fees. Twenty scholarships are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Sponsors for the 2012 event include Entergy of Mississippi, Schermerhorn Bros. and Athlon Media.

Click here to learn more about the program or tuition scholarships or to register for the event.

IMB webinar set Nov. 3
Many members are aware of the transition to the USPS Intelligent Mail Barcoding requirements in the new year. And questions abound.

The MPA Education Foundation and the Online Media Campus will sponsor a one-hour webinar on the topic Friday, Nov. 3 at 1 pm.

The cost to participate in the webinar is $35 and should be a good investment for anyone who needs and wants to know more about this process. You can find out specific details here.

Mark your calendars for this important session.

MPA partners with Main Street on workshops
Newspapers in Brookhaven, Natchez and Philadelphia are partnering with MPA and the Mississippi Main Street Association to host retail workshops Oct. 1-3 on improving fourth quarter business strategies.

Nationally-known retail expert Margie Johnson will present the one-hour sessions as part of a pilot program conceived by MPA and MMSA leadership earlier this year.

"We expect the workshops to delver important information for small business owners relevant to their fourth quarter and holiday plans," said Layne Bruce, MPA executive director. "As part of the program, business owners will hear the important role local newspapers play in marketing retail establishments across the state."

Bruce said MPA and MMSA officials will report on the success of the workshops at the Mid-Winter Conference next February in advance of rolling out the program to more communities in the spring of 2013.

To read more about the workshops, click here.

Job Bank highlights
Find out more about job openings at The Meridian Star, The Clarion-Ledger, The Daily Leader and The Mississippi Press and gulflive.com on the MPA Job Bank.

Have a posting for the Job Bank? Email member services coordinator Monica Gilmer. It's a free listing for MPA member newspapers or professionals seeking employment in-state.

UPCOMING EVENTS

INDUSTRY HEADLINES

Court denies NAA's requested stay in USPS-Valassis case

From NAA
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has denied the emergency motion for a stay of the Postal Regulatory Commission’s decision on a special-rate deal for the U.S. Postal Service and Valassis Direct Mail.

Magazines finding their way with digital ads; papers lag behind

From eMarketer

Although both newspaper and magazine publishers are encouraged by positive trends in device adoption and consumer behavior, the continued growth of digital ad revenues has not yet made up for declines in print ad revenue for newspapers. But it has for magazines.

Interactive paper concept aims to bridge the gap between print, digital

From paidcontent.org

Lots of people are trying to bridge the divide between paper and the internet. Some efforts include augmented-reality playthings that enliven pages and QR codes that introduce hyperlinks to print, while many expect e-readers will evolve in to flexible, hi-res, connected digital “paper.” But what if the printed word could become digital today? That’s what a project called Interactive Newsprint is promising.