0606

Official Publication of the Arizona Newspapers Association for distribution to all employees of ANA-member newspapers

Readers can access 10 years’ Times

June 2006

Page 3

New daily sections

A N Ag r a m s

Tucson Citizen readers have ‘new’ paper

By SAMMIE WICKS ANAgrams Writer

A well-established southern Arizona newspaper has just completed a major remake in content and design, ushered in by full-page ads in bright yellow to alert readers of the change.

A “fundamental, front-to-back change in what we cover and how we cover it” was Tucson Citizen Editor and Publisher Michael Chihak’s descriptive phrase for the most thorough remake his publication has ever undertaken.

Announcing what he called a “new Citizen” in a March 18 column, Chihak listed declining readership among print news media nationally as the reason his newspaper has been redesigned and rethought from the bottom up.

“People have other information sources that meet their needs and are without time for newspaper reading or are turned off by the traditional newspaper in an ever-changing media world,” Chihak wrote.

Changes among today’s readership prompted the Citizen to include news in a far different form than yesterday’s simple newsprint model, says Chihak.

“We feel we have to make

changes to attract the younger reader,” says Chihak, “without in any way compromising our commitment to those who are our core readership: traditional newspaper readers.”

With a long-time reputation for painstaking local news coverage, Chihak assured loyal Citizen readers the best of the former Citizen will remain intact.

“This is not to say we’ll only provide just short takes on the news,” says Chihak, “we’ll also continue to provide in-depth coverage of the news, true to our 135-year tradition.”

A key aspect of the Citizen’s redesign is its online presence, according to the publisher To provide local news in a new form, “instant news and information on a newly designed Web site” that of course will be available 24 hours a day, Chihak noted in a recent column.

Two years of research and planning paved the way for the revamped Citizen, says Chihak, and reader feedback was invited through a series of focus groups and discussion meetings.

“There was not a lot of guesswork in the changes we instituted.”

Chihak says, “We prepared for it by

InDesign classes June 2, 3 ANA’s “extra” set of classes that focused on InDesignwere a big hit for members on June 2 & 3 in Phoenix.

Normally the association offers computer application classes for news during the Spring and the Fall conferences. Usually Russell Viers or Kevin Slimp is the trainer.

Viers, who taught PhotoShop at ANA’s Spring conference, has moved to Europe. But Slimp told ANA he would be in the area and wanted to know if ANA would host him.

Paula Casey, ANA business manager who schedules and manages the educational opportunities, contacted members, found they were interested, and signed Slimp to come to Phoenix.

She said that more than 70 people came to the friday-Saturday sessions.

Several newspapers are transitioning to InDesign, and a number of students affiliated with the Arizona Interscholastic Press Association, which ANA assists as their “back office,” also attended.

Slimp may return in November.

There will be no classes prior to the October Fall Convention.

conducting eight focus groups and inviting readers in to the office on several occasions to speak candidly and give us their views.”

That same reader feedback, says the publisher, will be an ongoing aspect of the new Citizen.

“I have actually started a blog to provide daily information to readers and to create an interactive environment where they can respond to what’s there,” says Chihak. “This way readers can continue to talk to

us about what we’re doing.”

After its commitment to local news, the Citizen’s popular opinion columns, comics, and sports will remain fully exploited features, Chihak says, but with design features that invite quick-take reading.

The Citizen’s modernized front page will feature something called “RealFast,” a pithy collection of information bytes on the top news of the day.

Continued on Page 3

Classified word ad aggregation on way Association to pay costs for six months

Free classsified ad aggregation for perhaps as many as 50 member newspapers is a new program that was approved June 7 by the ANA/Ad Services executive committee.

Board members believe it will allow newspapers to increase revenue and be a tool to compete with online-only classified ad web sites.

The board committed to spend up to $30,000 from ANA’s Ad Services company to seed acceptance among members.

The contract is with Verican, a silicon valley company that created a classified advertising network in conjunction with the California Newspaper Publishers Association.

Many Arizona newspapers already do business with Verican, which provides them an online classified ad order web site.

Dick Larson of Western Newspapers chairs the ANA Marketing Committee that researched the proANAgrams Arizona Newspapers Association 1001 N. Central Avenue, Suite 670 Phoenix, AZ 85004-1947

gram and recommended Verican. He and other Western employees are developing marketing materials for the association to use in explaining the program to members, and signing them up.

The first newspaper to sign up for the aggregation is Today’s News Herald in Lake Havasu City. Its publisher, Mike Quinn, is the ANA president who pushed the program’s development and suggested ANA pay the fees for six months.

When members sign up, a Verican employee will contact them.

Uploading the word ads can be done several ways.

The result is that members will point thier website classified ad links to a URL supplied by Verican. Their technicians say such pages show all the ads in the system, sorted by distance from that newspaper.

ANA also will create a statewide site to display the ads.

“PRSRT STD” U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX ARIZONA PERMIT NO. 3429

ADDRESS CORRECTION REQUESTED

JUNE 2006

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Like a traveling salesman...

Summer ANA visits starting up

I really did feel like a traveling salesman. But that is OK, since what we are “selling” are items that benefit an association member’s newspaper.

The biggie that wasn’t in the presentation, because it was just approved this week, is a brochure about the new Classified Word Ad aggregation database on the internet.

Members can sign up (ANA pays the first six months) now and begin uploading their ads. Watch our web home page for the link.

The ads go into a single database that anyone can search.

The search and display of the combined notices appears when someone click’s a link on a newspapers website. The link is to a page that is branded with that newspapers’ banner. There also will be a state clas-

One of my management goals for 2006 is to visit member newspapers. Three a month to be exact.

I am a little behind.

A couple of weeks ago I had a great visit with Thom and Shirin McGrahm in Bullhead City. They John own and operate the Bullhead City Fearing Bee as well as a Executive Mohave County Director Economic Journal.

Having been in an operation where it was me and my wife, and a couple of other employees, I know how much work that can be. But they love it.

I had dinner with them the next evening at a Rotary Club district con-

ference. Yep, I am a gung ho believer that you should give something back to society. What cartoon character said “No man is an Island.”

Then on Monday morning I spent part of an hour yucking it up with Chuck Rathbun, President and Publisher of the Mohave Valley Daily News and related publications.

He talked about people who call about misspellings in the newspaper. About 30-seconds later he pointed to a brochure I had proudly presented, and noted a bit of a typo I had made.

On the way home, I stopped in Wickenburg to see my friend Kevin Cloe at the Wickenburg Sun. At all three stops I lead them through a little presentation on new, and some on-going activities of the association. It is a flip chart booklet easy to set on someone’s desk.

ANA/Ad Services Board of Directors

Find your name here

President Mike Quinn 2-Year Director/At-Large Today’s News-Herald (928) 453-4237 ...... quinn@havasunews.com First Vice President Pam Mox One-Year Director/Non-Daily Green Valley News and Sun (520) 625-5511 .............. pmox@gvnews.com Second Vice President John Wolfe One-Year Director/Non-Daily Independent Newspapers Inc. (Phoenix) (480) 497-0048 ..................... jsw11@aol.com Third Vice President TBD Two-Year Director/At-Large The Glendale Star/Peoria Times (623) 842-6000 ........wtoops@star-times.com Secretary/Treasurer William Toops Two-Year Director/Non-Daily The Glendale Star/Peoria Times (623) 842-6000 ........wtoops@star-times.com Directors Tom Arviso Two-Year Director/Non-Daily Navajo Times (928) 871-7359 ...tomarviso@thenavajotimes. com Ward Bushee Two-Year Director/Daily Arizona Republic (Phoenix) (602) 444-8087 ......... ward.bushee@arizonarepublic.com Don Rowley Two-Year Director/Daily Arizona Daily Sun (928) 774-4545 ............. drowley@pulitzer.net Michael Chihak One-Year Director/Daily Tucson Citizen (520) 806-7735 .mchihak@tucsoncitizen.com Dick Larson One-Year Director/Daily Western Newspapers (928) 634-5898 .. dlarson@westernnews.com Julie Moreno Past President The Sun (Yuma) (928) 539-6840 ....... jmoreno@yumasun.com

Arizona Newspapers Foundation Board

Objectives The foundation is an educational, charitable nonprofit corporation for education. Its primary mission is to teach newspaper people and teachers how to use a newspaper in a classroom. Its goal in 2006 is to become revenue independent.

Vice-Chair Josie Cantu-Weber, Tucson Citizen (928) 453-4237 ....jweber@tucsoncitizen.com

If you would like to have your name included on our list of committees, ask your publisher to send an email to j.fearing@ananews.com. The collective intelligence of our members is how ANA improves its service.

There are several vacancies on committees so there is no waiting.

Secretary Lee Knapp, The Sun (Yuma) (928) 183-3333 ..........lknapp@yumasun.com Treasurer Mike Quinn, Today’s News Herald (928) 453-4237 ...... quinn@havasunews.com Directors L. Alan Cruikshank, Fountain Hills Times (480) 837-1925 .................alan@fhtimes.com Steve Doig, Cronkite School of Journalism, Arizona State University (480) 965-0798 ..............steve.doig@asu.edu Bret McKeand, Independent Newspapers, Inc. (623) 972-6101 .................. SCIbret@aol.com Joann Carranza, Territorial Newspapers (520) 294-1200 ............jcarranza@azbiz.com Dick Larson, Western Newspapers., Inc. (928) 634-5898 .. dlarson@westernnews.com Open Seat Open Seat

ANA Staff

Executive Director John F. Fearing ...................................... Ext. 105 j.fearing@ananews.com Business Manager Paula Casey .......................................... Ext. 102 p.casey@ananews.com Media Buyer Cindy Meaux ......................................... Ext. 112 c.meaux@ananews.com Network Advertising Manager Sharon Schwartz ................................... Ext. 108 s.schwartz@ananews.com Network Ad Sales Representative Don Ullmann ...........................................Ext. 111 d.ullmann@ananews.com Contest/Directory Coordinator Sandy Wilkinson .................................... Ext. 110 s.wilkinson@ananews.com NIE Coordinator Pat Oso ................................................. Ext. 110 beartracks@cox.net ANAgrams Writer Sammie Ann Wicks ............................... Ext. 105 s.wicks@ananews.com Receptionist/Tearsheets

Lorraine Bergquist ..................................... Ext. 0 l.bergquist@ananews.com

Committees

Marketing, Member Revenue

Objectives ANA revenue enhancements; Assist members with political advertising sales; ANA directory/other sales activities; Develop statewide buys; Statewide online classified (protecting member revenue); Public Notice promotion; Effective communications to members; Digital archiving of newspapers; Recognize advertising business partners in ad awards contest; and refine Agency awards.

The Committee Dick Larson, Chairman, Western Newspapers; Don Rowley, Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff); Steve Stevens, Today’s News Herald, Lake Havasu City; Lisa Miller, The Sun (Yuma); Mark Bollin, Green Valley News & Sun; Terry Alvarez, East Valley Tribune (Mesa); Blake Dewitt, Western Newspapers; Cindy Meaux, Ad Placement Manager, ANA; Sharon Schwartz, Network Advertising Manager, ANA.

Government, Public Policy

Objectives Build on 2003, including creating a formal plan for 2005/6; Re-craft Legislative Alert; Note key legislation that requires editor/publisher calls; Simplify way editors/publishers can send an email to key legislators on issues; Create a grid noting each legislator’s committee assignments; Match legislative leadership to Editors & Publishers; Host Legislative Breakfast in January 2006 instead of Legislative Lunch in Fall; Further build allies/government access groups; Continue “Public Access Counselor” legislation and emphasize “Training;” Support banning suits against public records requestors.

The Committee John Wolfe, Chairman; Independent Newspapers (Phoenix); Janet DelTufo, Wickenburg Sun; Melanie Larson, The Explorer (Tucson); Tery Hayt, Arizona Daily Star (Tucson); David J. Bodney, Steptoe & Johnson, Phoenix; Ward Bushee, Arizona Republic (Phoenix); Tom Arviso, The Navajo Times (Window Rock); John Moody, ANA Legislative Counsel, Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, Phoenix.

sified ad website where those elusive 20-somethings can find the ads.

Also in the flip chart was a brochure about our program to put your newspaper archives on a website in word searchable form, even if it is originally a printed page. (See Times story next page).

I was maybe too late for Kevin.

He already has some of his microfilm turned into jpegs to preserve them. I hope he decides to do others as word searchable PDFs through ANA. Another part of the flip chart talked about our nearly decade-old PublicNoticeAds.com website where members upload their public notices.

It is a good reminder for publishers when I talk about it.

The Press Card progam was mentioned too. When I showed that page to Tom, he jumped up, grabbed his and Shirin’s picture for me to take back. He now has new ANA press cards.

I’ll be visiting you place soon, especially if there is a golf course.

Heritage and (Contests)

Objectives For our contests, study PDF contest entries and at least develop an on-line contest submission form; Possibly add Journalist/Photographer of the year (Need criteria); Re-study and re-shape Hall of Fame criteria, make them less subjective and Improve bios; have a Hall of Fame display at the convention; Zenger Award – Work with UofA to improve; FOI – broader distribution of news release to improve publicity; Improve ad agency category; Sell more ANAgrams ads. Begin internship.

The Committee Julie Moreno, Chairman, The Sun (Yuma); Bill Toops, Glendale Star & Peoria Times; Pat Oso, Az. NIE coordinator, ANF; Paula Casey; Business Manager, ANA; Sandy Wilkinson, contest coordinator, ANA.

Education

Objectives Conventions: Spring Marketing Workshop in May (Wed-Fri) and Fall Convention in October (Thur.Sat), First two days of both are computer training and half-day of sessions eliminated; Regional Education – Need trainers; On-line training -- too expensive? List Serves for various professions; NIE – fund raising; curriculum; marketing; Update Public notice laws and Ad guidelines; Constitution Day Sept. 17 – create NIE material; NIE Training at conventions; half-day session; NIE Regional North/South full day NIE training. Need additional volunteer members.

The Committee Pam Mox, Chairman, Green Valley News & Sun; Michael Chihak, Tucson Citizen; Pat Oso, Statewide NIE Coordinator, ANF; Paula Casey, Business Manager, ANA.

First Amendment Coalition

Objectives Provide journalists from member newspapers with educational information and a legal hotline for access issues. ANA is responsible for 12 seats on this board of directors.

ANA Appointees Dan Burnette, Arizona Capitol Times; Joseph Reaves, Arizona Republic; Terry Ross, Yuma Daily Sun; Josie Cantu-Weber, Tucson Citizen; David Bodney, Steptoe & Johnson; Ben Hanson, Daily Courier; John Wolfe, Independent Newspapers; Linda Wienandt, Associated Press; Randy Wilson, Arizona Daily Sun; Mark Kimble, Tucson Citizen, and open seat.

ANAgrams is published every-other month by the Arizona Newspapers Association 1001 N. Central Ave., Suite 670 Phoenix, AZ 85004-1947 (602) 261-7655 • Fax: (602) 261-7525 www.ananews.com www.publicnoticeads.com

JUNE 2006

NIE contest invites entries

Each year more and more community newspapers and their state press associations produce outstanding programs to engage young readers.

To recognize these efforts, the National Newspaper Association invites newspapers, associations and state NIE committees to submit entries into its Best of Newspaper In Education Contest.

The contest is open to all newspapers and July 1 is the deadline.

The primary goal of this contest is idea exchange. Winners will be featured in NNAs trade publication, Publishers Auxiliary, which is mailed monthly to 4,500 newspapers. It also is distributed to every member of Congress in Washington, DC. The contest was created to be easy to enter and entries can be as simple as one good idea. Entries should reflect accomplishments from July 2005 through June 2006. The contest has three classes, Innovation Awards, General Excellence and State Programs and two circulation divisions, Daily and Non-Daily.

To learn more about the contest or to download entry forms, visit www.nna.org or contact Sara Dickson at NNA at (573)882-5800, saradickson@nna.org.

Thirty-one newspapers and two state associations were honored in 2005 for their efforts to reach young readers. This year’s winning entries will be announced during the National Newspaper Associations 120th Annual Convention in Oklahoma City, Oct. 11-14.

Join the NIE E- Forum

Do you have questions about NIE? Do you have answers about NIE? Do you want to be able to send a message to more than 300 NIE coordinators with just a few key strokes? Do you want to learn about the newest NIE activities?

Then you should be a member of the NIE E-Forum, a free service of the NAA Foundation. To become a member follow the these directions: 1. In your Web browser, type this address: nie@e-forum.nna.org; 2. Near the top of the page you will see a menu. Click on Foundation; 3.

Under NIE on the Foundation page, click on the underlined part of the second listing: If you wish to subscribe, please click here; 4. On the subscription page, follow the directions. Some choices are optional; 5.

Select send at the bottom of the page.

As soon as you are approved by the list administrator, Jim Abbott, you will receive a message welcoming you to the list.

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A serialized story to publish in summer Missouri Press Foundation has just released its 22nd story, An Old Secret, which is an 8-chapter historical fiction serialization for young readers set in the summer of 1952.

While picking watermelons on his fathers Oklahoma farm, Joe Porter finds a piece of the past buried

in the watermelon patch. As he digs into the history of his fathers farm, Joe learns an old secret that was held by two families.

Missouri Press offers affordable, short historical fiction stories that have appealed to readers of all ages in more than 300 newspapers

across the U.S. and abroad.

Visit our website for story descriptions and sample chapters. Or contact the Missouri NIE Director, Dawn Kitchell, for more information.

Pricing is based on circulation and rates for newspapers: Circulation 5,000 or less, $35; Circulation up to 20,000, $65; Circulation up to 50,000, $95; Circulation up to 100,000, $175; Circulation up to 200,000, $240, and Circulation more than 200,000, $300.

Ms. Kitchell may be reached at the Missouri Press Association, 19753 Valley View Dr., Marthasville, MO 63357. Phone and Fax: (636) 932-4301, kitchell@yhti.net.

Citizen retains its coverage tradition

10-years of newspapers on line, word searchable

ColorMax, the service that turns printed newspaper pages into word-searchable PDFs, is putting a decade worth of newspapers on the Web for the Fountain Hills Times.

It is the first newspaper in the state to take advantage of the special offer through the Arizona Newspapers Association. The basic cost is $50 a month. Five years of the newspapers were put on line, at no additional cost, with the PDFs the Times saved each week. The older five years will be photographed in the ANA office for 42-cents a page, and those files sent to ColorMax for processing. The company uses a specific OCR program to create the text files.

Duke Kirkendoll, the Times online manager, handled the project and said it was much easier than he thought. Originally they thought he would have to spend time re-distilling the pages. But, he worked with ColorMax and the conversion was done in their computers.

In essence, all Kirkendoll had to do was rename the files according to ColorMax specifications. That was no easy task but he said he found a program to assist him and make it go much quicker.

ANA members that would like to preserve their archives and make them useful to the staff and public online, should contact John Fearing at ANA, (602) 261-7655, Ext. 105.

Continued from Page 1 With an eye again toward modernized design, the Citizen’s wellread editorial pages now will be renamed “Citizen voices,” and will appear in the newspaper’s first section.

Chihak says another of the Citizen’s strengths, its area sports coverage, will continue to be emphasized.

“Our sports section, recently named for the fifth time in six years as one of the top 10 in the country, will continue in-depth coverage of the University of Arizona and high school athletics and roundups of pro sports in season,” Chihak wrote in a recent story, adding that “a new feature, The Bounce, will offer news, commentary and chatter,” and will offer readers a chance to interact with staff and news-makers.

The newspaper also will offer revamped specialty sections designed to appeal to local residents, including Body Plus, a guide to exercise and nutrition; Family Plus, a family guide to Tucson; Taste Plus, with information on Tucson food and dining; Calendar Plus, an entertainment guide appearing weekly; and Weekend Plus, with information about weekend activities emphasizing family fun.

Chihak noted the revamped Citizen is being advertised through articles in the newspaper, online, and in a television and radio advertising campaign.

JUNE 2006

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LEGAL SERVICES FOR ANA MEMBERS Advertising, Newsroom and Circulation AnswerLine Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, P.L.C. Phoenix (602) 495-2713 www.jsslaw.com

First hour free to ANA member newspapers (publishers, editors, circulation managers, advertising managers).

Coverage: Political advertising/public notices; general advertising issues; libel; fair reporting and editing; privacy; circulation; Web sites.

AzFAC Media Hotline

Perkins Coie Brown & Bain Phoenix (602) 351-8000 www.perkinscoie.com Funded by First Amendment Coalition of Arizona Inc., of which ANA is a member. Available to all bona ďŹ de journalists in the state. No cost up to initiation of litigation.

Coverage: Access to federal and state records and meetings; access to court proceedings and records; access to public places; opposing gag orders; protecting conďŹ dential sources; opposing subpoenas and search warrants; obtaining camera access inside courtrooms.

ANA Human Resources Hotline

Steptoe & Johnson, L.L.P. Phoenix (602) 257-5200 www.steptoe.com Up to two hours of consultation and advice available to publishers and department heads of ANA-member newspapers.

Coverage: Laws and regulations governing employment and labor relations. Issues such as sexual harassment; disability, gender, age, race and religion discrimination; Americans with Disabilities Act; drug and alcohol testing; union campaigns; wrongful discharge claims; employee discipline; wage and hours issues.

JUNE 2006

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Gayle Carnes say press responsibility more important than power With so much public discussion taking place around the issue of the press’s access to government officials and information, one community newspaper editor has a simple solution: get to know your public servants.

“I guess I’m old-fashioned—I believe in the axiom, the responsibility of the press is much more important than the power of the press,” says Gayle Carnes, editor of the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, and Superior Sun. “I myself believe we should use the responsibility of the press like a tool, to serve the people in our communities.”

The daughter of one of Arizona’s journalism legends, the 30-year newspapering veteran is no stranger to the issue of open records and public access.

“My dad, John Feater, helped write the open meeting regulations while he was the editor of the former Arizona Record,” says Carnes, “so you might say I grew up with the value of open government and the

access of the press on my dinner table.”

The press’s responsibility to serve all community constituencies led Carnes to successfully navigate a recent story with the potential for political fall-out.

“We had a recent story emerge that impacted school kids,” said Carnes, “and some press people took it as an opportunity to get an attitude when they didn’t get the kind of cooperation they thought they should from officials.” Carnes says that since her publications’ own problems getting information ultimate were resolved, she doesn’t refer specifically to the people involved — but feels her approach helped her get an accurate story out.

“Instead of focusing on the people who were presenting problems, I took it from another angle instead — what the school kids were experiencing,” says Carnes. “This took all the sting out of it and let people relax and be responsive.”

Carnes adds the fact she takes

James and Gayle Carnes with their newspapers the time to get to know not only government and school officials in each of the towns her publications serve, but the townspeople as well, helps the newspapers be functioning members of their communities.

“I drive between our newspapers all the time, and cover each and every council and school board meeting, and every other source of news possible,” says Carnes, “so people know I’m committed and there for them.” Carnes covers all the news in

her communities and writes and edits all the copy for her and her husband’s publications. “People wonder why I’m so often on the move,” says Carnes, “and if they understood how far apart each of our towns are, they would see why. If I’m not constantly working to get things covered, it won’t get done.”

Carnes took over the San Manuel Miner in 1976, and runs her three publications with her husband, James.

Seemeyer maintains dedication to community

By SAMMIE WICKS ANAgrams Writer

Karen Seemeyer says her first days as a small-town newspaper publisher were large on hope and short on savvy.

“When I made the decision to take on this paper, believe me, I didn’t know anything,” says Seemeyer of her family’s growing community newspaper, the Desert Advocate. “But I got lucky. Other people who knew a lot about running a newspaper were generous enough to give me good advice.”

Seemeyer says watching the original newspaper start to fail first moved her to take action.

“Before we got the Advocate, I kept watching it decline and felt that, if that newspaper failed, the community would not have a voice,” says Seemeyer, “and I didn’t think I could watch that happen.”

The publisher says her original hopes for the newspaper were not for financial gain, either.

“At the time, my husband’s business as a court reporter was doing very well and I was helping him run it,” says Seemeyer, “but for some reason I felt a calling to take on the paper. So I told my family, ‘I’m going

to commit to this newspaper and to the community.”

Seemeyer’s family situation soon changed, however.

“Not long after we took over the paper, my husband, Tom, was in a very serious accident,” says the publisher, “and as it turns out, having the newspaper was a good thing for us to be doing.”

Seemeyer says family members, including her daughter Christian, worked to improve and expand the newspaper and serve the area community with one special focus: humanitarian outreach.

“At first we came out twice a month,” says Seemeyer, “and then we went weekly in 1998-99. And always we had as a central goal community service.”

Seemeyer’s publication went on to become a major sponsor of many area community events involving numerous philanthropic and nonprofit groups and community organizations, including Habitat for Humanity, East Valley Child Crisis Center, Fiesta Days Rodeo, the Smithsonian’s Wings and Wheels exhibition, Anthem Days, and others.

Seemeyer says the philanthropic focus of her newspaper got its origi-

nal inspiration from the local community.

“It all started with the churches,” says Seemeyer. “One day I got a $10 check in the mail from a local pastor for an ad, and I started thinking, ‘Well, what can I do with this?’ So I picked up the phone and told him ‘You keep your money—you can have a free ad.” Seemeyer says the Advocate’s policy toward churches continued after that.

“We’ve never charged churches for advertising in our newspaper,” Seemeyer says, “and never will.”

As far as the newspaper’s ability to make a profit and still sponsor humanitarian organizations, Seemeyer says her community-first motto has never been a hindrance.

“We’ve never really promoted ourselves, and we’ve done just fine,” says Seemeyer, “our newspaper just kind of happened.”

The publisher says the circle of community aid is extended to include even the Advocate’s advertisers.

“We encourage our advertising clients who want to do business with us to also do work that benefits the community,” says Seemeyer, “and we’ve gotten a very warm response.”

Seemeyer says her first weeks as a newspaper publisher were stressful, but marked by the generosity of a veteran newsman from Fountain Hills.

“In the beginning I was working 12 to 14 hours a day, seven days a week,” Seemeyer remembers, “but when I would get completely stressed, Alan Cruikshank, publisher of the Fountain Hills Times, would encourage me, give me advice, and help me to focus. I owe so much to him.”

Seemeyer also had to shop for the equipment necessary to put out a newspaper.

“We didn’t even have a computer back then,” she says, “and I had to locate a used one. I also hadn’t done layout, but knew a man who had Corel, and when we’d get an ad, he would walk me through putting it together. It was four years, probably, before we had a graphic designer.”

Thereafter, the Advocate took its own path, says Seemeyer, and the rest is history.

“I never ran this paper to make money” she says, “I had planned on getting it in good order, and then close it down. But Providence had other plans for us.”

Continued on Page 12

JUNE 2006

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Member News

New GM at Daily News News West Publishing, a division of Brehm Communications and publisher of the Mohave Valley Daily News, has appointed Paul Stubler as general manager, according to Wayne Agner, Daily News managing editor.

Stubler started in March.

The new GM’s responsibilities include overseeing not only the Daily News, but the company’s other newspapers: the Booster, a twice-weekly shopper; the Laughlin Entertainer, a weekly casino guide, and the Weekender, an entertainment tabloid that appears weekly on Fridays.

A life-long journalist, Stubler began working just after high school at the Altoona Mirror in Pennsylvania, where his father was in charge of production.

After graduating from Pennsylvania State University, Stubler worked in circulation and advertising at the Pennsylvania Mirror, and went on to become Marketing and Advertising Manager after the organization was acquired by Thompson Newspapers.

After serving as Vice President of Advertising for Media News Group in Pennsylvania, Stubler took a job as Advertising Director for Hearst Newspapers in Michigan before accepting the Bullhead City job.

Stubler’s wife and 13-year-old son will join him in Arizona.

Bajo el Sol brings music An ANA Spanish-language member newspaper in San Luis is using music and free public events to create strong ties to its readership.

“We do events all the time in our community,” says Maria Chavoya, editor of Bajo el Sol, “and we do them as a service—they’re all free, and all the performers donate their time.”

Chavoya says a favorite band of area residents recently appeared at a Bajo el Sol community festival.

“We were fortunate to have Los Auténticos Cadetes de Linares de Alfredo Guerrero de la Cerda in town to play for our festival in early March,” the editor says. “They’re a

Paul Stubler traditional group that’s really popular here, and they did this as a favor to us.”

Chavoya says the festival was held to mark the presence of farm workers in the San Luis region.

“This event was a farewell to our farm workers, who were in their last weeks with us,” she says. “We thought it would make a good sendoff.”

Five local bands also played for the festival, held on the Cocopah Casino grounds.

Another community event benefitting children is planned for late March, and according to Chavoya, it mirrors similar events held annually in Latin America.

“We’re hosting our Day of the Child Festival on April 28, while the traditional Día del Niño is held on April 30 in Mexico and Latin America,” says Chavoya.

The editor says the event is expected to draw up to 1,500 adults and children, who come to hear the music, enjoy refreshments, and win prizes.

“We give out raffle tickets at the door for this free event, so everyone can have a chance to win donated prizes,” Chavoya says, “like the toys and bicycles donated from Target and Wal-Mart.” She adds special T-shirts also are handed out.

“Each year we give out T-shirts to the first 1,000 people who show up to commemorate the festival,” says Chavoya.

In addition to Chavoya’s staff, other community non-profit organizations donate their time to help with the festival.

“We have volunteers like Chicanos por la Causa to help us, “ Chavoya says, “and this time the young people in Rotary Interact are going to provide security.”

Non-profit organizations also can participate free, she adds.

“We provide up to 25 booths free for non-profit organization volunteers to come and provide activities for the children,” says Chavoya.

SCC offers diverse media instruction

New facilities and increased opportunities to interface with campus broadcast media has journalism students at Scottsdale Community College excited.

“We just moved into a brandnew newsroom, and that’s had a really positive effect on our student journalists,” says Chris Ferguson, faculty advisor for Campus News, SCC’s student newspaper. “We’re participating in MCTV, which is produced out of the studios at SCC and goes out over the Cox cable system,” Ferguson reports. Though chiefly involved with print media, her students take part in the broadcast medium.

“Our newspaper students write it, produce it on air, and send it out,” Ferguson says, adding knowledge of media other than print is important to well-rounded journalism students.

“Our requirements stipulate that students planning to go into RadioTelevision-Film must have basic newswriting skills,” says the advisor.

“Most of them realize they’ve got to be more than just a one-trick pony.”

After gaining basic journalism skills at SCC, many students go on to earn higher degrees at other schools, such as Arizona State University, Ferguson adds. “This is the area where we’re lucky to have such a good relationship with ASU.” MCTV Production Coordinator James O’Brien says student news crews gather news with mobile equipment.

“We go out with a single camera and a 35-foot production truck, doing segments on site,” O’Brien says, “and the resulting segments are pretty much finished products. But if voiceover or editing is needed, we have production rooms for that.”

O’Brien’s office administers the district’s cable partnership with Cox Communications.

Review hires two people The Chino Valley Review has hired two new staff, according to Managing Editor Salina Sialega.

“We’re glad to have Paul Mitchell as our new reporter,” says Sialega, “and look forward to his layout skills as well as his reportage.”

Mitchell joins the staff at the same time the Review has hired a

Matt Santos veteran news photographer.

“We’re lucky to have signed on an awesome photographer, Matt Santos, who will be freelancing but doing lots of work for us that we need done,” Sialega says.

Santos says his future as a news photographer manifested at an early age.

“I started doing photography in 1981 as a high school student and just kept at it all the way up to 1996,” Santos recounts, “mainly doing advertising and industrial work, shooting product shots. I also shot a lot of weddings, just to keep working and pay my way as a photographer.”

Opportunities to string for local newspapers helped him continue his career, he adds.

“The local paper in San Francisco’s East Bay, the Argus, merged with the Times-Star, so I did stringer work for them,” Santos remembers.

After 20 years in Santa Cruz, Mitchell joined a security company in 1997, transferred with the company to Arizona and found he enjoyed life here, although he didn’t stay with the company. Later he and his wife, Sandra, bought a house and began living and working in the Chino Valley area.

Mitchell, after a long career in sales and living a life on the road, settled in Arizona and went back to an early vocation.

“I was a college journalist, and later on, an offset printer,” says Mitchell. “So this job seems very comfortable.” Mitchell is a credentialed teacher and holds a B.A. in Community Studies from the University of California-Santa Cruz.

With a background in printing that gave him a thorough grounding in digital graphics, Mitchell is quickly learning InDesign software in order to help paginate the Review.

In addition to layout, Mitchell will cover schools and education and community activities and news in and around Paulden.

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New digital books offer better readability Entries Reach 10Year High Contest entries are now tallied for the 2006 Better Newspaper Contest (BNC) and Better Newspaper Advertising Contest (BNAC).

“We received 3,126 entries for the Better Newspaper Contest and 387 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest for a total of 3,513 entries. These figures represent the greatest number of entries received in both contests over the past 10 years,” said Special Events Coordinator, Sara Dickson.

Entries were received from 253 member newspapers in 39 States and the District of Columbia. Missouri had the most combined BNC/BNAC entries with 374, followed by California with 371. The category receiving the most entries – 70 – was Best Feature Story or Series, Non-Daily Division, circulation 10,000-14,999.

“NNA’s Better Newspaper and Better Newspaper Advertising contests provide the nation’s community newspapers a way to compete with the best in the business as they continually strive to improve,” said Contest Committee Chairman, Reed Anfinson, publisher of the Swift County News-Monitor in Benson, MN. “That competition leads newspapers to find new ways to entice readers to subscribe and convince businesses that their publications are still the best investment of their advertising dollars.

Judging the contest is always difficult due to the high quality of so many of the entries. Each year I wait for my turn to judge the contest knowing how much I will learn in the process,” he said.

Entries are currently being sorted and shipped to judges. Judges have until June 19th to return winning entries to NNA. Winners will be notified in July and invited to attend the “Toast to the Winners” award reception held Friday, Oct. 13 during NNA’s 120th Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Renaissance in Oklahoma City, OK, Oct. 11-14. NNA thanks those who submitted entries in the 2006 BNC and BNAC. Established in 1885, the National Newspaper Association is the voice of America’s community newspapers and the largest newspaper association in the country.

The nation’s community papers inform, educate and entertain nearly 150 million readers every week.

Step onto a Metro train any given morning and it’s easy to find people feeding their appetites for information.

Commuters regularly have their faces buried in newspapers, magazines, novels—and sometimes even Web-enabled cell phones—during the ride to and from work. Soon, they could be “flipping through” an electronic book reader, a cross between a handheld flat-panel monitor and a real-life book or newspaper.

Perhaps most comparable to an iPod for books, e-book readers—a breed of upcoming devices designed to hold thousands of text files and display them at the same resolution of a printed page—could change the landscape of how books are both purchased and read.

The readers, generally priced in the $250 to $400 range, are about the

same size as a soft cover novel.

Based on E Ink technology, each reader is capable of accurately mimicking the way light reflects on paper.

But moving beyond the functionality of an ordinary book, the reader can enlarge text for the visually challenged as well as provide features normally found in a laptop or tablet computer, such as wireless Internet access, memory card storage and text search.

Sony and iRex Technologies are among the first to manufacture and sell eBook readers.

The $350 Sony Reader (www. sony.com/reader), which is expected to hit online and retail stores in the coming months, will accommodate USB, Memory Stick and SD memory card slots and will offer both wired and wireless Internet connectivity.

IRex Technologies’ iLiad Reader

(www.irextechnologies.com/), which is scheduled for release later this month, is expected to include similar features.

Both devices are expected to support multiple file formats, allowing Web sites, pictures and Adobe PDF files to be viewed and MP3 files to be played.

E-book readers are new and still smewhat pricey. But a growing number of books are available for purchase and download.

For users looking to download free texts to an ebook reader, Project Gutenberg (www.gutenberg.org/) is an Internet-based effort that has placed more than 17,000 public domain books online for download -- everything from the Bible and “Hamlet” to “Don Quixote” and “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” -- By Chris Barylick, Special

New columnist shines at Lake Powell Well, the Lake Powell Chronicle went looking for a columnist and got themselves a bona fide humdinger.

“My column isn’t about me—I just try to notice things that are going on and tell people about them,” Elaine Parker says modestly.

But it’s not only modesty that endears her to her readers: it’s the fact that she’s so darned NICE. You get this right away. Parker calls her column “In My Humble Opinion.” She says things like “congratulations,” “hip, hip, hooray,” “thank you,” “kudos,” and “sis, boom, bah,” gives a “pat on the back,” a “round of applause,” and praise for “doing a bang-up job” in almost every installment, and once was heard pressing townspeople to do something because “it’s the right thing to do.”

She has, it seems, praise and encouragement for just about everything but drivers blowing through school zones.

In her short time as featured columnist at the Chronicle, she’s expressed unqualified respect for the very people and places some call “trailer trash” and “trailer parks”— especially a local park and its residents trying hard to clean up neighborhood blight.

True to the Old West way, Parker never has a discouraging word to say to people with thankless, sometimes dangerous jobs: she commends the town mayor, police, and fire department for their service and calls on townspeople to contact their officials and work “interdependently” to solve problems.

She even nominated the local

Radio Shack for Best Business of Year in Page’s Chamber of Commerce contest because the store’s employees are “extremely helpful when it comes to answering questions about electronics.”

Yes, there’s a bit of the cheerleader in Elaine Parker. But she’s a GOOD cheerleader: never sugarcoating it, yet always managing to come up with accolades for something done by someone somewhere in her town.

So committed is she to covering good news that she’s genuinely dismayed by what is now standard fare on the networks.

“It seems to me that the big city media always emphasize the bad news, the gore,” says Parker, “when there’s so much good that goes on, especially with young people, that they could write about. But they don’t.”

Parker’s concern for the young as a mother and teacher is found in almost every word she writes.

“Emphasizing the negative and the sensational is just glorifying criminal acts and violence in the eyes of our young people,” Parker says, “and what’s worse is running stories about kids out in the community doing these horrific crimes. I don’t think this is good, either for kids or for us.”

After a life that was anything but easy, this Lake Powell booster has found her voice as the one on the megaphone reminding her fellow townsmen and women they have a lot to be thankful for.

“There are so many shocking and negative things going on the world that people forget how good it

is where they are,” Parker says. “In spite of everything, we have it pretty good in this country. And Page is a great place to live.”

The Chronicle’s work culture apparently matches Parker’s own habitual emphasis of the bright side.

“Luckily, our local newspaper leans toward the positive,” says Parker.

And in spite of her hammering away (politely) at local issues, her editor says Parker’s twice-monthly narratives sit very well with his newspaper’s readers.

“People come up to her all the time at the store to give her their opinions on something she’s written,” says Chronicle Editor Lee Pulaski.

“Heck, they even come up to me.”

Pulaski describes Page’s Elaine Parker phenomenon as “a smashing success,” obviously delighted that his hunch about his new writer has paid off.

“It sounds simple, but Elaine talks about things like providing good customer service to tourists, and somehow makes it sound interesting,” Pulaski muses, pleased that his hunch about his new columnist has paid off.

“When I first came here, I noticed that, except for Letters to the Editor, we didn’t have much in the way of local voices,” Pulaski explains, “and that’s why I brought Elaine in. I knew she was someone who would not be afraid to give her opinion.”

Continued on Page 12

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8 8

ANF’s Pat Oso is instructor

Workshop helps teachers use newspapers in classrooms

Bell and Cummins were among 15 teachers from schools in SahuaFriday, Feb. 17, 2006 rita, Continental and Vail who turned Reprinted with permission out for the program, which is sponTime spent in an Arizona News- sored by the Arizona Newspapers papers in Education workshop Sat- Foundation. urday provided Kelly Bell with It is designed to offer teachers hands-on tips and innovative ways to curriculum ideas she deliver information Newspapers in can definitely can use about their commuEducation is the focus nity, the state and in her classroom. of the Arizona News- the world using the “It was a wonderful workshop,” papers Foundation. If newspaper to fortify Bell, a Sahuarita you would like Pat Oso the student learning High School Engto present a teacher- experience. lish teacher, said of In addition to workshop in your town, the Feb. 11 program using the newspaper call John Fearing, ANA in the classroom, the at the La Perla comExecutive Director, Green Valley News plex at La Posada in Green Valley (602) 261-7655 Ext. and Sun publishes “I’ll use it with special sections that 105. my sophomores for cover specific topics AIMS preparation,” related to the stuBell said, noting that the letters to dents’ environment. the editor and fact-finding in the For example, sections have been newspaper articles will be particu- created on mining, native peoples, larly helpful. agriculture, science, astronomy and Elizabeth “Lily” Cummins, a the surrounding environment. They fourth-grade teacher at Sahuarita assist teachers in their lesson plan Intermediate School, finds the NIE creation and classroom activities. workshops full of good, practical The NIE program is supported ideas. by a joint effort of the Green Valley Her students are using the News and several other key sponnewspapers for identifying parts of sors: Phelps Dodge Sierrita, Walgrammar, silent reading, learning Mart, Cox Communications, FICO about current events and sharing with and TRICO. La Posada provided family members. the workshop set up and continental

By Karen Walenga From the Sahuarita Sun

MARK BOLLIN | SAHUARITA SUN

LEARNING ABOUT the Newspapers in Education program at a recent Arizona Newspapers Association workshop at La Posada are, from left, teachers Lilly Cummins, Stephenie Jackson, Nancy Wilde and Kasey Hughes. breakfast.

The NIE curriculum meets all Arizona state standards for education, and teachers receive professional certification credit for completing the workshop.

Teachers also received classroom “goodie bags” filled with all

sorts of items used in the classroom.

For more information, contact Pat Oso, NIE coordinator for the Arizona Newspapers Foundation, (480) 586-1593, or Green Valley News Publisher Pam Mox or Mark Bollin, marketing director, (520) 625-5511.

Daily Dispatch, Wal-Mart give flat-screen television

One lucky reader of a southern Arizona newspaper now owns a 51one-inch flat screen television set, and didn’t have to spend a dime.

“To kick off the Super Bowl we did a really successful promotion with our local Wal-Mart in the raffle of a big TV,” says Douglas Daily Dispatch Assistant Editor April Martin. Martin says her newspaper didn’t charge for the promotion’s raffle tickets.

“We printed raffle coupons in

the newspaper and let people cut them out and submit them,” says Martin, “and Wal-Mart donated the huge TV.” The promotion was a win-win situation for both the newspaper and local retailer, adds Martin.

“Wal-Mart got ad space for doing this with us,” says Martin, “and we ran it well in advance of the game--three weeks.”

Andy and Betty Escarcega were the TV raffle winners.

Business Journal takes ‘Eagles’

Phoenix’s The Business Journal recently was honored with two Eagle awards from its parent corporation, American City Business Journals.

Garnering the ACBJ awards were Jim Poulin for Best Use of Photography, and Adam Kress for his story on Alcor Life, a Scottsdale cryogenics company.

New staff

The Business Journal also has added one new staff member and made several promotions and reas-

signments.

“Chris Casacchia has just been hired to cover banking, finance and residential real estate for us,” says Managing Editor Cathy Luebke, “and Editorial Assistant David Wylie has replaced Leslie Donaldson as research reporter.”

Donaldson was named the Journal’s research director after the retirement of Judy Trunnelle, a 21-year veteran of the Journal who formerly held the post.

JUNE 2006

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Arizona Press Women Contest winners announced

Winners of the 52nd annual Communication Contest were proclaimed at a ceremony May 20 at the Fiesta Inn Resort in Tempe.

Awards including the ANA Outstanding Writing Award among others divided into a varying list of categories were presented. Award recipients are as follows: Arizona Newspapers Association Outstanding Writing Award, Rebecca I. Allen; APW Sweepstakes Winner, Betsy Rice; APW Sweepstakes RunnerUp, Rebecca I. Allen.

In the category of Sweepstakes winner, Betsy Rice of the Maricopa News Reporting in a Monitor, Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. non-daily newspaper: 1st place Rebecca I. Allen In the category of investigative for “Volunteers rise to challenge; aid reporting: 2nd place Laurie Fagen victims and firefighters” published for “Castle crumbling in fraud case,” in The Desert Advocate; 2nd place “Felon coached CNLL AAAs” pubRebecca I. Allen for “Councilman lished in SanTan Sun News. accused of exploiting committee” In the category of special series: published in The Desert Advocate; 1st place Betsy Rice for Municipal 3rd place Betsy Rice for “Chamber administration published in Maricopa challenges move of landmark” pub- Monitor; 3rd place Lindsey Gemm lished in Maricopa Monitor. for Homeschooling series published In the category of News in Maricopa Monitor.

Reporting in a general or specialIn the category of features in ized publication: 1st place Laurie a non-daily newspaper: 1st place Fagen for “Alleged cancer fraud Rebecca I. Allen for “Anthem ‘mirbilks hundreds in S. Chandler,” acle baby’ returns home” published “‘No more victims,’ says resident” in The Desert Advocate; 2nd place published in SanTan Sun News.

Betsy Rice for “Builders struggle to In the category of continu- keep up with demand” published in ing coverage or unfolding news: Maricopa Monitor; 3rd place Rebecca 1st place Rebecca I. Allen for I. Allen for “Pioneering nuns continue Cave Creek parents want out of desert prayers despite threats from Deer Valley Unified School District snakes, heat and fire” published in published in The Desert Advo- The Desert Advocate. cate; 2nd place Rebecca I. Allen In the category of features in a for Residents vs. condo developers: daily newspaper: Honorable Mention Deer Valley Commission to decide Candace Hughes for “Opening the published in The Desert Advocate; parks to all” published in The Arizona 3rd place Betsy Rice for Fire Depart- Republic. ment administration published in In the category of features in a Maricopa Monitor. general or specialized publication: 1st place Lynda Exley for “Feeding Finicky Eaters” published in Arizona Parenting; 2nd place Sharon Magee for “Geronimo: Man of Mystical Powers” published in Arizona Highways; 3rd place Carol Osman Brown for “Celebrating Past, Present and Future: The Heard Museum at 75” published in Native Peoples Magazine.

In the category of personality profile: 1st Bing Brown presents the ANA Award to Rebecca place Rebecca I. Allen for Allen of Glendale, a freelance journalist.

“Anthem mom gets second chance Rebecca I. Allen for “Governments at college degree” published in The agree on expansion plans for I-17, Desert Advocate; 2nd place Rebecca area roads,” “Planners seek long-term I. Allen for “Senior runner prepares fix for Carefree Highway and I-17” for grueling race” published in The published in The Desert Advocate; Desert Advocate; 3rd place Lind- 2nd place Rebecca I. Allen for “Is sey Gemme for “Superintendent Carefree Highway the next Bell announces retirement” published in Road?” “Residents dealt blow by Maricopa Monitor.

Planning Commission” published in In the category of special articles the The Desert Advocate; Honorable on business: 1st place Kaye Patch- Mention Betsy Rice for “Public input ett for “Connecting with Hispanic needed on council vacancy,” “Haddad Market Includes Respecting the appointed to fill vacant four-year Culture,” “Assisted Living Industry council term” published in the MariExploding in Arizona” published in copa Monitor.

Tucson Business Edge.

In the category of special articles In the category of special articles on history: 1st place Sharon Magee on arts and entertainment: 2nd place for “Ira Hayes: The Reluctant Hero,” Rebecca I. Allen for “Guitarist strums “Wild & Wacky Governor” published to contest finals,” “Artist’s work in Arizona Highways; 2nd place preserves world, before inevitable Sharon Magee for “From Riches to change” published in The Desert Rags,” “The Man Behind the Name” Advocate. published in Arizona Highways; In the category of special arti- 3rd place Sharon Magee for “Phoecles on health: 1st place Lynda nix’s bloody summer,” “Mob hit on Exley for “Raising Nonsmokers,” Monte Vista?” published in Arizona “Exercising Before and After the Highways; honorable mention Jane Baby” published in Arizona Parent- Eppinga for “Dr. Rosa Boido, M.D.,” ing; SWEAT Magazine; 2nd place “The Roosevelt Dam” published in Joan Westlake for “Eat Your Veg- Arizona Capitol Times. gies,” “Using Nature to Heal” pubIn the category of special artilished in SWEAT Magazine. cles, reviews: 1st place Lindsey In the category of special articles Gemme for “‘Turtles Can Fly’ tells on education: 1st place Rebecca I. story of life on the other side of Allen for “Parents want voters to war,” “‘Saving Face’ breaks through pass school district ballot measure,” stereotypes, explores identity and “Voters pass Deer Valley school dis- independence” published in Maritrict override” published in The Desert copa Monitor; Advocate; 2nd place Rebecca I. Allen 2nd place Patricia Myers for for “High schools try to curtail senior “IAJE 2005,” “Newport Beach Jazz hijinks,” “Yearbook pornography Party” published in All About Jazz. debate spurs censorship concerns” In the category of special articles written on published in social issues: The Desert 1st placeCathAdvocate; erine J. Rourke 3rd place for “Crossing Betsy Rice the double for “District yellow line – A scrambles life hangs in to meet election the balance,” “The future of deadline,” work in Sedona “Search for – Experts ananew school superinten- Communicator of Achievement Eleanor lyze the probdent under- Mattausch, publisher of The Oracle. lems and posway” pubsibilities” published in lished in The Maricopa Monitor.

Red Rock Review; 2nd place Betsy In the category of special articles Rice for “Couple finds price of new on food: Honorable Mention J o a n home higher after destroyed by Westlake for “Juice Up Your Nutri- arson,” “Residents outraged by high tion,” “Beyond GORP Trail Food” electric bills” published in Maripublished in SWEAT Magazine. copa Monitor; 3rd place Christina In the category of special articles Powers for “Guide dog changes Pine on government or politics: 1st place resident’s life,” “Living with a guide Candace Hughes for “Gilbert, QC dog” published in Payson Roundup. libraries not in cards for San Tan In the category of special articles residents,” “Libraries struggle to keep on sports & leisure: up with population growth” published Continued on Page 12 in The San Tan Monthly; 2nd place

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MCC’s Legend moves toward podcasts Like The Voice at Glendale Community College, Mesa Community College’s Legend soon is to begin podcasting news, according to Faculty Adviser Jack Mullins.

“By the end of this semester, we’ll have our news segments available for download by students from our web site to hear on their iPods,” says Mullins. “Our journalism students are very excited to start using this popular technology.”

Newspaper, non-profit team up A newspaper in Clifton has gotten involved in its community by assisting an area non-profit organization.

“We’ve been giving as much support as we can to the Duncan PRIDE, mainly contributing advertising to them,” says Walter Mares, managing editor of Clifton’s Copper Era. “People are really trying to do something there, and we want to help any way we can,” Mares says the need for community improvement was the result of both natural and man-made events.

“In 1978 Duncan was devastated by a huge flood, and then in 1981, the copper industry bottomed out,” Mares recounts. “They’ve had an economic downturn ever since.”

The non-profit organization just helped rebuild and modernize Duncan’s downtown, he adds.

“Recently the Duncan PRIDE has been working to establish a recreation trail in Justice O’Connor’s name, and we’ve also been supporting that effort,” says Mares. (Duncan is the birthplace of Sandra Day O’Connor, who served on the U.S. Supreme Court from 1981 to 2006.)

Mares began his association with the Copper Era more than two decades ago through a chance happening.

“In 1983, the Copper Era was wiped out by a flood,” Mares recalls, “and as it happened, I was in the area, stringing for UPI, covering the stories of that disaster. They were at a loss about what to do, so I asked the woman who was then running the

Member News

paper if she at least had a typewriter.

She said she did, and we got busy and put out a newspaper. And here it is 2006, and I’m still here.”

The area’s river is part of what challenges its small town economically, Mares explains.

“The San Francisco River runs right through the heart of Clifton, fed by the Blue River,” Mares says. “In those times when it rains for days and days, the water moves through like a torrent and we get flooded.”

Economic difficulties in his area make it an anomaly in a state otherwise experiencing record growth and prosperity, he adds.

“In other areas of Arizona, there’s an economic boom—but our county is the only county that hasn’t experienced that yet,” Mares says.

“Some people say we haven’t been discovered yet.”

Peggy Crotts, a founding member of the Preservation, Restoration In Duncan’s Enhancement (PRIDE), says her community organization began its life dedicated to historical preservation.

“We formed our group in 2001, after getting the news that a historical building downtown had been torn down without out knowledge,” Crotts says.

“Our heritage is important to us, and we decided we didn’t want to let that happen again. We also wanted to let people know we’re proud of our community.”

The group frequently announces its activities online, she says.

“Our website, www.duncanpridesociety.org, keeps people informed of things involving the town,” says Crotts. Her group’s connection to local government makes its activities run more smoothly, she adds.

“We now work closely with the Town Council and the Duncan Valley Economic Development Foundation,” Crotts says, adding area residents still are committed to improving the quality of life in their communities.

“Economically, we’re having a struggle, but we hope one day we’ll take off,” Crotts says.

Crotts, one of only five women to have been promoted to manager at the former Valley Bank, eventually was named a vice president at Bank One before she retired. But Crotts says retirement doesn’t keep her from participating in her treasured organization.

“With relatives I help care for, I have a lot of family obligations,” she declares, “but I’ll always find time to do PRIDE.”

Yuma Sun introduces tabloid, website

A Yuma newspaper has launched a new tabloid publication complemented by a strong online presence.

“We just started a new publication called 33.10, in a tabloid format,” says Terry Ross, editor of the Yuma Sun. The new newspaper has a light touch, he adds.

“In this publication we’re doing light-hearted entertainment and quick reads,” Ross says, “in a graphically intense presentation that has color on every page.”

The Sun embarked on the new tab after its lackluster experience with direct mail, Ross notes.

“We started the new publication to replace the direct mail piece we had been doing,” says Ross, “because that wasn’t giving us the value that we wanted.”

33.10 the newspaper soon will go online at www.3310online.com, which Ross says will invite browsers to get involved with the publication.

“We want to create a lot of interactivity in the online version through the use of contests, as well as things like user-submitted items,” he says.

And the tab’s title?

“The term 33.10 is the generic latitude for our area,” says Ross, “and gave us the inspiration for the our slogan for it: “The latitude with attitude.”

Business Journal adds publications A number of special supplemental publications have been developed recently by Phoenix’s Business Journal, according to Randi Weinstein, Journal projects editor, among them a special Corporate Giving magazine.

To fill out the supplement with current information, Weinstein and staff are looking at the Valley’s larger companies to see how much, in donated dollars, they are giving, and also will investigate which local nonprofit and other community organizations are receiving the money.

A new luxury living magazine also was put together by the Journal containing examples of homes, offices, and expensive special collections enjoyed by the Valley’s most prestigious residents.

Still another supplemental publication was developed, containing information about Phoenix’s best

places to work and based on the findings of an out-of-town research firm, Quantum Marketing Research.

Weinstein reports Quantum tabulated and analyzed the online responses of hundreds of employees working for Valley firms, with data that included company highlights and “cool perks.”

Like a local version of Fortune Magazine’s similar ranking, the local information is a detailed study drawn from responses and views of current company employees.

The Journal also is planning a special Women in Business publication, researched and written by reporter Laura Newpoff.

Sahuarita’s new Star

A new community Web site has been launched by the Arizona Daily Star, according to Assistant Managing Editor Jill Jorden Spitz.

The Star’s Andrew Satter serves as the site’s online editor.

Launched March 2, the Star’s site provides information specially aimed at residents of Sahuarita, a town twenty miles south of Tucson experiencing high levels of growth.

“Our site, SahuaritaStar.com, will operate in conjunction with a new zoned print edition written by Arizona Daily Star staff and distributed once a week,” Satter says, adding the site also features articles from the Star’s print version, with one difference.

“The site really will represent an online community,” says Satter, “because most of the information and pictures will be submitted by readers, community organizations, churches, schools, clubs, and other area groups.”

The new online editor says Star management wants the site to be patronized regularly and function like a community forum.

“The goal is for the site to act as a round-the-clock destination for site members to read about and discuss issues of importance,” says Satter, “and we expect members will also share photos, ask questions, and offer advice online, too.”

He adds the connection between the online venue and the print section will continue.

“Each week the print section will feature original user-submitted content from the Web site, and will offer many new tools so members can Continued on Page 14

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Editor to Join Cronkite Journalism Faculty Tim J. McGuire, the former editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune and a leading voice in newspapers for more than 20 years, will join the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication as the Frank Russell Chair, Arizona State University announced earlier this year.

McGuire, 56, was editor and senior vice president of the nation’s 17th largest daily newspaper from 1992 until 2002, when he retired to become a syndicated columnist and consultant. He previously served as the newspaper’s managing editor, helping to lead it to the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting in 1990.

McGuire was president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors in 2001-2002. He also has served as Pulitzer Prize juror six times. He will join the faculty in August 2006.

The Frank Russell Chair was created in 2000 through a $1 million gift from Central Newspapers Inc., which owned the Arizona Republic

and the Indianapolis Star before selling the newspapers to Gannett Corp. Then-Arizona Republic Publisher John Oppedahl led the effort to create the Russell Chair in honor of the former Republic publisher.

Oppedahl hoped the Russell Chair would help give Cronkite School

lahan said McGuire is an ideal choice for the Russell Chair.

“Tim McGuire represents the best values of the Cronkite School.

He is a great and innovative newsroom leader with a passion for news and an adherence to the highest ethical standards and values,” Callahan

journalism students an understanding of the business side of the news industry.

Cronkite Dean Christopher Cal-

said. “And Tim has long been a leader in the call for finding the right balance between editorial responsibility to readers and financial responsibility to shareholders. He truly embodies the spirit of the Russell Chair that both Frank Russell and John Oppedahl envisioned. We’re thrilled to have him join us.”

A graduate of Aquinas College and the William Mitchell School of Law, McGuire started his journalism career when he quit his newspaper route on a Saturday at the age of 17 and began writing sports for his local newspaper in Mount Pleasant, Mich., the following Monday. Later he was a reporter at the Dowagiac (Mich.)

Daily News, and at the Birmingham (Mich.) Eccentric. He held top editing positions at the Ypsilanti (Mich.)

Cronkite School commissioned to conduct analysis of Latino coverage in magazines The National Association of Hispanic Journalists, the nation’s leading organization for Latino journalists, has commissioned the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University to conduct an in-depth analysis of coverage of Latinos by the nation’s three leading news magazines.

Cronkite researchers, led by Dr. Dina Gavrilos, will conduct a content analysis of all 2005 issues of Newsweek, Time and U.S. News and World Report. The study will explore news trends and portrayals of Latinos and Latino-related issues by these magazines. Results of the research will be unveiled at NAHJ’s 24th annual convention, June 14-17 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. “We look forward to our partnership with the Cronkite School on this important study,” said NAHJ Executive Director Iván Román.

“The three news magazines we are examining help to shape the national news agenda every week. This is why we believe it is long overdue to examine their coverage of Latinos.”

The new study was the idea of Rafael Olmeda, an assistant city editor at the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale) and NAHJ’s vice president for print.

“We’re very enthusiastic about

this project and eager to see the results of the research,” said Olmeda.

“We also look forward to discussing the results with the editors and publishers of the news magazines.”

“We are very excited to be participating in this important study,” said Cronkite Dean Christopher Callahan. “We believe this is just the kind of research journalism schools and journalism educators should be conducting in order to help better the news industry, with the goal of making U.S. news products truly reflective of our diverse nation.”

The NAHJ study is the latest Cronkite School initiative related to Latinos and journalism. In the spring, advanced photojournalism students will travel to Mexico to produce an in-depth photo essay of the children of the borderlands region. Next year, the school will launch the nation’s first specialization in the coverage of Latino issues. A veteran journalist will join the faculty in the fall semester to launch that program.

“We believe Latinos and issues related to Latino communities are poorly covered by today’s media,” Callahan said. “The Cronkite School hopes to improve that coverage nationally through its research, curriculum and professional programs.”

Continued on Page 12

Press, Corpus Christi (Texas) Caller and Lakeland (Fla.) Ledger before joining the Minneapolis Star Tribune as managing editor in 1979.

Since retiring as editor of the Star Tribune, McGuire has written a weekly column for United Media called “More Than Work” that is published in 33 newspapers nationwide.

The column focuses on ethics, spirituality and values in the workplace.

He also was the inaugural Donald W. Reynolds Distinguished Visiting Professor at Washington and Lee University earlier this year and was the James Batten Visiting Professor in Journalism and Public Policy at Davidson College in 2003.

“I remember discussing the Frank Russell Chair with John, and I was intrigued by his vision,” McGuire said. “I never imagined I would someday occupy the chair, and it’s truly an honor.”

McGuire replaces Tom Goldstein, the former journalism dean at Columbia University and the University of California at Berkeley who was the inaugural Russell Chair.

McGuire lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Plymouth, Minn., with his wife Jean. They have three adult children including Jeff who will graduate from the Cronkite School in December.

The Cronkite School is a nationally accredited school that focuses on professional journalism education on the undergraduate and master’s levels. The school, which was named in honor of long-time CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite in 1984, has finished in the top 10 of the highly competitive Hearst intercollegiate journalism awards for the past four years.

Ulrich receives inaugural Dean’s Award for Outstanding Service Dean Christopher Callahan presented Donald Ulrich the first-ever Dean’s Award for Outstanding Service in recognition of Ulrich’s years of advocacy on behalf of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

“Over the years, many people worked hard to make the Cronkite School independent. But no one worked harder – or was more influential – than Don Ulrich,” Callahan said. “Don was one of the most vocal and most persistent supporters of the Cronkite School. His endless debating and lobbying on behalf of the Cronkite School over many years laid the groundwork for the Cronkite School’s independence.”

Ulrich received the award on Dec. 16 at the Cronkite School’s

winter convocation, the school’s first convocation since President Michael Crow made the school an independent entity on July 1.

Ulrich is a former member of the Arizona Board of Regents and is a member of the Arizona State University Foundation Board of Directors.

The Cronkite School, which was named in honor of long-time CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite in 1984, is a nationally accredited school that focuses on professional journalism education on the undergraduate and master’s levels. The School has 1,900 majors and premajors and has finished in the Top 10 of the highly competitive Hearst intercollegiate journalism awards for the past four years.

JUNE 2006

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2006 Communication Contest winners list Continued from Page 9 2nd place Joan Westlake for “Anthem Holiday 2004 Classic,” “What’s New in Sports Medicine” published in SWEAT Magazine.

In the category of special articles on travel: 1st place Vera Marie Badertscher for “Celebration on the Salzach,” “Hotel Monteleone” published in Steinway & Sons, Hoosier Home & Away; 2nd place Candace Hughes for “Enchanting sanctuary,” “Horseback Heaven: Riding in Superstition Mountains” published in The Arizona Republic; 3rd place Jane Eppinga for “Niagara Still Attracts Millions of Visitors Each Year,” “Their Long Ago Guest Created the Coca-Cola Santa Claus Art” published in Lovin’ Life After 50.

In the category of special articles on faces in the crowd: 1st place Catherine J. Rourke for “Somebody’s gotta do it. The low-down on cleaning Sedona’s public restrooms,” “Waste Deep: A tribute to Sedona’s trash collectibles” published in The Red Rock Review; 2nd place Kerri S. Smith for “Mindy McCready’s Downward Spiral,” “Next Moves: After Jen Brands Him Insensitive” published in People magazine.

In the category of personal columns, general: 1st place Gail Fisher for “Every day Bike Week for couple,” “Childsplay to perform to 3 millionth patron” published in The Arizona Republic.

In the category of personal columns, informational: 1st place Lynda Exley for Parents Ask published in Arizona Parenting; 2nd place Patricia Myers for Riffs: News from Out & About published in Jazz Notes –Jazz in Arizona, Inc. In the category of personal columns, specialized: 1st place Catherine J. Rourke for “Minimum wage,

maximum shame,” “Education in the trenches – Pearls of wisdom from the working class” published in The Red Rock Review.

In the category of page(s) editor, lifestyle or entertainment in a non-daily newspaper: 3rd place Betsy Rice of Maricopa Monitor.

In the category of page(s) editor, other than lifestyle or entertainment in a non-daily newspaper: 3rd place Betsy Rice of Maricopa Monitor.

In the category of page(s) editor other than lifestyle or entertainment, feature: 1st place Lindsey Gemme for “Karate Kids” published in Maricopa Monitor; 2nd place Lindsey Gemme for “Learning the ropes” published in Maricopa Monitor; 3rd place Betsy Rice for “Summer Storm” published in Maricopa Monitor.

In the category of page(s) editor other than lifestyle or entertainment, rotating subject: 1st place Betsy Rice for “To the rescue” published in Maricopa Monitor.

In the category of photographer-writer: 1st place Betsy Rice for “Brush fires keep firefighters busy” published in Maricopa Monitor; 2nd place Lindsey Gemme for “Unique program draws interest from educators across state” published in Maricopa Monitor; 3rd Lindsey Gemme for “Maricopa Elementary suffers damage from severe storm” published in Maricopa Monitor.

In the category of web content writer, nonprofit or educational organization sites: 1st place Kerri S. Smith for “‘Deviant Management’ Can Turn a Losing Company into a Winner” published in Knowledge@WPCarey, ASU; 2nd place Kerri S. Smith for “PetSmart’s Bare-Bones Epiphany Ushers in Services for Pet Parents” published in Knowledge@WPCarey, ASU.

In the category of web content writer, personal, vanity ot hobby sites: 3rd place Deborah Hamel published in BusinessMinority.com.

In the category of web content writer, commentary: 1st place Catherine J. Rourke for “Turning ‘Rage’ into ‘Cou-Rage’” published in Rebel with a Claus Blog.

In the category of website or section edited by entrant, nonprofit or educational: 1st place Nancy Maneely of Knowledge@WPCarey ASU-Seidman Research Institute.

In the category of website development/creation, nonprofit or educational: 1st place Mary Kim Titla for NativeYouthMagazine. com; 2nd place Nancy Maneely for Knowledge@WPCarey ASU-Seidman Research Institute.

In the category of marketing program or campaign for new or existing service or product: honorable mention Ann Marchiony for Annual Renaissance Holiday Food & Gift Market.

In the category of brochure, four-color: 2nd place Carol Osman Brown for “Devine Awakenings” of Carrington Communications.

In the category of single release, feature: 3rd place Patricia Myers for Nancy Gee concert.

In the category of multiple news or feature release: 1st place Patricia Myers for Danny Long concert.

In the category of non-fiction book, history: 1st place Kaye Patchett for “Robert Goddard: Rocket Pioneer”; 2nd place Jan Cleere for “More Than Petticoats: Remarkable Nevada Women.”

In the category of non-fiction book, memoir: 1st place RuthAnn Hogue for “Good-bye, Walter: The Inspiring Story of a Terminal Cancer Patient.”

Outreach humbles Advocate

Continued from Page 5 As the community around the Advocate has grown, so has the newspaper, says Seemeyer.

“From just a small start we’re soon to move to new quarters in Carefree, and in the near future we’ll be constructing our own building,” says Seemeyer. “And I could not have imagined in the beginning that we would be number 10 overall in the State, the third weekly, and first in rank in Maricopa County, but we are.”

Seemeyer says her newspaper’s success still takes a back seat to community service, however.

“I don’t even know how many thousands we’ve contributed toward community causes,” says Seemeyer, “and it doesn’t really matter. We’ll continue operating in the same way, serving the community, just like always—we think it’s our responsibility.”

Cronkite School studies Latinos in media Continued from Page 10 NAHJ is the largest association for Hispanic journalists in the country with more than 2,000 members.

Founded in 1984, the mission of NAHJ is to increase the number of Latino journalists working in the nation’s newsrooms and to improve the media’s coverage of the Latino community.

Parker offers genial opinions at Chronicle Continued from Page 7

With columns that run only about ten paragraphs, Parker seems to understand the adage that good stories be long enough to lay out a theme and short enough to pique the reader: she gets get to the point, tells the whole story, and quickly closes up shop before people tire of what she’s saying.

Working earnestly to get her community’s stories told right, Elaine Parker reminds us of something we’ve all but forgotten: those days when your community was a group of friends and families, when people walked up and down Main Street and talked to (and about) each other some-

where and something we thought was gone forever.

She’s also a Greek Chorus in populist American garb, someone whose community trusts her to take their public dialogue and reflect it back to them in clearer, truer form.

Parker knows this very well.

“When I write, I feel I’m just giving voice to what the majority is thinking, but is afraid to express,” she says.

And when she can’t be nice, Parker raises problems in language that points the way to a solution.

Problems like speeders.

“Not all of the topics that come to me are positive,” says Parker.

“Sometimes it’s anything that comes

to mind that aggravates me—like motorists rushing through our school zones and endangering kids.”

Even then, Parker doesn’t shake a finger at the offenders, asking them instead to just change their ways before lives are tragically affected.

Parker has the same feel-good, make-better response to those inevitable readers who take issue with her.

“People often call me with comments on my column, or to disagree with me,” she says, “but I don’t mind—after all, this is America!

When I hear criticism, I regard it as constructive criticism, and try to learn from it, to improve on what I’m doing.”

Improving on what she’s doing is what drives Parker to read and reread her past columns and report back to her readers, always with an eye towards making them feel included in the discussion.

After getting a call from a reader who disagreed with something she’d written about that deteriorating mobile home park, for instance, Parker began her next column with an apology.

“After our conversation, I reread my column and realized that I had perhaps painted too pretty a picture,” Parker wrote, and went on to list the well-taken points made by her critic.

Continued on Page 14

JUNE 2006

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Arizona high school journalism students win awards Arinational competition sponzona Press sored by the National FederaWomen, a tion of Press Women. professionThe APW traveling alism orgasweepstakes trophy went to Salpointe Catholic High nization, School, Tucson, for scoring honored the highest total points in comoutstanding high petition. Carl Hayden High school jourSchool, Phoenix, won second nalism stuplace and the Bourgade Cathodents from lic High School, Phoenix, won throughout third place. the state at Christine Cowman of a luncheon Centennial High School, ceremony Peoria, won the $500 Betty on May 20, Latty- Hulburt Memorial 2006, at the Scholarship, named for a Fiesta Inn Valley newspaper reporter.

Resort in A senior at Centennial High Tempe.

School, Cowman plans to Eleven major in journalism at the Unifirst-place versity of Arizona next fall. winners Following is a list of in writing, winners of the 2006 High graphics School Journalism Contest by and photogcategories: raphy cat- High school scholarship winner, Christine Cowman of Centennial In the category of news egories will High School, Peoria, accepts the award from Pam Stevenson, writing: 1st place Virginia Tena, Carl Hayden, The Cornerstone; advance to contest chairman.

2nd place Carson Carter, Salpointe Catholic HS, The Crusader; 3rd place Melissa Green, Salpointe Catholic HS, The Crusader; honorable mention Brian Klug, Salpointe Catholic HS, The Crusader.

In the category of features: 1st place Caitlin Clifton, Salponte Catholic HS, The Crusader; 2nd place Lisa Malecky, Catalina Foothills HS, The Falcon Voice; 3rd place Anna Meier, Salpointe Catholic HS, The Crusader; honorable mention Sofia Tirado, Salpointe Catholic HS, The Crusader; honorable mention Tom Petrola, Bourgade Catholic HS, The Eagle’s Eyrie.

In the category of reviews: 1st place Matt Tompson, Salpointe Catholic HS, The Crusader; 2nd place Kim Roland, Bourgade Catholic HS, The Eagle’s Eyrie; 3rd place Ranelle Holder, Globe HS, The Papoose.

the bottom area of the workspace.

Text is created within each balloon or box. You can even move a balloon’s tail by moving it with your mouse.

My favorite aspect of Comic Life is the ability to use filters to create a “look” for your comic. I selected “Color Pencils” to give my creation the look of an old-fashion comic book.

When completed, files can be saved in tiff, jpeg and other formats.

Why would a newspaper be interested in Comic Life? First, it’s an easy way to be creative with advertising. Let’s face it. We only have so much time to spend on each ad. Why not dazzle your client with an ad that looks hand drawn, but takes only ten minutes to create? And second (are you sitting down?), The price. Comic Life retails for $30 US / $35 CAN / $50 AUS. I can’t remember a prod-

uct that offered so much potential at such an affordable price.

Comic Life is available from most Apple software vendors or you can order it from www.freeverse. com. For more information, visit www.freeverse.com.

Continued on Page 14

Designing newspaper ads doesn’t have to be dull

by Kevin Slimp, April 2006

I’m in a familiar predicament.

There are at least a dozen new software applications on my desk, all waiting to be reviewed.

There’s backup software, drive rescue software, photo editing software and word processing software, Kevin not to mention a pile of books.

I decided to go Technology with the most unique looking box. Comic Life, by Freeverse Software, fit the bill.

At first, you might think this is an application a newspaper would never use. Not so, my friends. I installed and opened the applica-

Slimp

tion. Within fifteen minutes, I had created my first comic. The comic I provided with this column was my second effort. It took about ten minutes to create. Let me tell you how it works.

After installing the software, I immediately opened Comic Life. The workplace was very user friendly.

Basically, the left half of the screen is the template for your comic. I counted 16 templates to choose from or you can create your own. The right half includes a library of photos and all the tools. Comic Life gets its photos from your iPhoto library. Yes, this application is only available on the Mac platform. I added the photos I wanted to use to my iPhoto library, then headed back to Comic Life.

Laying out a page is as simple as dragging photos from the library into frames on the template. Once in the frames, pictures can be manipulated by dragging a handle, much as you resize photos in pagination applications. Each “cell” of your comic contains an image.

Comic balloons, bubbles and boxes are added to cells by choosing styles from

JUNE 2006

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Knowledge@W.P. Carey: a business writer’s best friend In a world where markets change in nanoseconds, business and economic knowledge is a source of competitive advantage. Knowledge@W. P. Carey is an internet-based guide through this volatile environment – an invaluable resource for reporters and editors who need information, and need it now, according to information from the school.

Knowledge@W. P. Carey is a biweekly online resource that offers the latest business insights, information and research from a variety of sources. These include analysis of current business trends, interviews with industry leaders and W. P. Carey faculty, articles based on the most recent business research, book reviews, conference and seminar reports, links to related Web resources. The Web site presents information in layers so that users can pursue their interests to whatever depth they wish. An in-depth searchable database of related articles and research abstracts allows access to information through simple mouse clicks.

Of special interest to Arizona business writers is “Business West,” an ongoing series of topical articles reporting on issues close to home.

Some recent Business West topics include immigration, economic policy, health-care technology and the regional real estate market.

Knowledge@W. P. Carey is easy to use. Its editorial content is divided into 14 sections covering areas of critical interest to business writers and editors. Moreover, information is organized at four levels. The top layer provides brief summaries; the second offers short articles written by professional business journalists in plain, jargon-free language; the third consists of academic papers; and the last layer links to related Web resources.

Among Knowledge@W. P. Carey’s most useful features is its search engine, which allows both simple and advanced searches. The database can be searched by keywords, author names or other criteria. A series of icons helps users navigate through results and quickly find relevant information.

Access Knowledge@W. P. Carey at http://knowledge.wpcarey. asu.edu . For further information, contact Elizabeth Farquhar, managing editor, at (480) 965-3963, or email her at liz.farquhar@asu.edu.

Web site supplements Sahuarita newspaper

Continued from Page 10 easily make a contribution to the site and have fun at the same time.”

Some members will be key participants in the new venture, Satter says. “Registered users will become Community Correspondents via their own online journal or diary,” says Satter, “and they can write about whatever they want.” Satter says the Star hopes Community Correspondents will use their online journals to communicate directly with other participants on the site.

“We’re encouraging participants to ask questions and seek advice,” says Satter, “and then have their neighbors respond to create a forum of discussion on topical issues and areas of community concern.”

Online discussions will be sorted issue by issue, he adds.

“The site will use the increasingly popular tagging system as a way to categorize journal entries so that correspondents create the categories they think are most relevant for their posts,” says Satter.

Satter says the Star hopes even photo sharing also will take on the character of community discussion.

“Correspondents of course will be able to share their photos with their neighbors,” says Satter, “and again, they can share any photos they want. But we will be encouraging them to focus on news, events and snapshots from around town.”

Online participants will submit information not only by personal computer, he notes. “Correspondents with camera cell phones also will be able to send pictures directly from their phones to our site,” Satter says.

Star staff will make important additions to content, he adds.

“The site also will feature frequent updates from town and school district officials,” Satter says, “and we’ll also be including weather updates, useful links and phone numbers, an extensive town profile, and a detailed community calendar.”

After the site is fully launched, Satter says other components will be added. “As time goes on, we hope to develop more fun features in the future like user-submitted audio greetings, videos, and podcasts,” Satter says.

Parker well received in Page Parker is clearly happy with her work, and responds almost meditatively to what some would regard as a high-pressure occupation.

“Writing the column actually helps keep my blood pressure down,” she says. “I’ll be sitting there with my fingers flying across the keys, and pretty soon I feel better. It helps me to vent.”

But this woman is not just nice; she’s interesting ultimately because of the kind of life she has led.

How many other columnists have lived and worked in Europe, improved upon Bon Appetit recipes, started high-end catering businesses, worked tirelessly off-hours for organized labor, written a regular column for the local newspaper, taught college classes, and held a full-time job while raising children and running a household as a single mother?

Her job as a columnist for the Chronicle apparently started with an unannounced visit by Pulaski to her office at Coconino Community College, where she serves as administrative assistant to the Dean.

“I have always taken care of the newspaper advertising for the college and wrote a few articles about campus news,” says Parker, “but I didn’t know what to think when Lee showed up on one particular day with this funny little smile.”

Pulaski reportedly was looking for that proverbial needle in the hay stack: a columnist who can write stimulating pieces about the local community without even a hint of controversy or bad taste.

“Lee told me he wanted to try to have a columnist for the paper,” Parker recalls, “and I responded by saying, ‘Well, I just can’t think of anybody.’ Then he laughed and said, ‘I meant YOU, silly.’”

“The next thing I said was, ‘I’m a nobody,’ Parker continued. ‘How could somebody like me write a column?’” But Pulaski, says Parker, was not to be denied.

“As we talked, Lee gradually brought me around to his view that I would be ideal for the job,” Parker says, “and so I took it, with

the understanding that I could start sometime in the future. But when I asked him, ‘When is the first column due?’ he responded, ‘Oh, in about a week.’ And with that, I was off and running.”

So pleased is she with her afterday job that Parker sees no end to it. “Until I get a death threat or a Molotov cocktail thrown at me, I’ll keep doing it,” she declares, “and if I ever feel I’m not doing a service to my community, I’ll call a screeching halt to it.”

Parker’s comments about her personal life are characteristically understated.

She admits to being “a pretty decent cook,” but neglects to mention she’s a former professional caterer with a high-end clientele to whom she purveyed dishes of her own crafting, including those extravagant things she calls “exotic desserts.”

Her vocation as a chef and gourmand began as serendipitously as her start as a newspaper columnist.

“When my young family and I were living in Germany, I once went looking for an American-style birthday cake for one of my kids,” Parker remembers, “and there simply weren’t any. So I dug up the ingredients and produced a spectacular one myself.”

As word spread about Elaine and her cakes and people started calling her with orders, Parker discovered she had a thriving cake decorating business. After that, she catered sweets and cakes to lavish private parties, and then added other dishes.

Back in her native St. Louis, after abandoning her catering in favor of a regular job with benefits for the sake of her children, Parker still found time to work for local labor organizations and take business classes at Ranken Technical College, where she later served as an adjunct instructor.

She came to Page in 1999 at the invitation of an old boss, who thought she was special enough to import to Arizona.

So thanks, congratulations, kudos, and a pat on the back for a job well done, Elaine Parker.

Continued from Page 13 In the category of cartooning: 1st place Pablo Jimenez, Carl Hayden HS, the Cornerstone; 2nd place Ayram “Van” Manhardt, Sedona HS, The Sting; 3rd place (tie) Angela Couet and Leslie Konyha, Bourgade HS, The Eagle’s Eyrie; honorable mention Joseph Ward, Sedona HS, The Sting.

In the category of editorials: 1st place Ann Meier, Salpointe Catholic HS, The Crusader; 2nd place Virginia Tena, Carl Hayden HS, The Cornerstone.

In the category of sports: 1st place Nik Rodriguez, Salpointe Catholic HS, The Crusader; 2nd place Virginia Tena, Carl Hayden HS, The Cornerstone.

Continued from Page 12

APW scholarship winners

JUNE 2006

Tucson Weekly goes blogging Another community newspaper in southern Arizona also is making changes to its operation to include online offerings.

“We’ve instituted a new classified approach that’s part of our effort to increase our online presence,” says Tucson Weekly Editor Jimmy Boegle. The editor says the site also will include a popular format for internet aficionados.

“We’ll soon launch a blog, too,” says Boegle.

A blog, short for “Web log,” is a format not unlike an internet diary that allows internet visitors to write at length about their opinions, problems, views, and experiences and receive responses from others online.

The new classified venture, says Boegle, makes listing ads online easier for the Weekly’s readership.

“Our Tucson Weekly Classified has launched its new-and-improved online site, which offers visitors the ability to place free online ads,” Boegle says, adding site visitors also will have the option of publishing their ads in the Weekly’s print publication.

“Visitors will be able to upgrade free online listings with paid options going into our print publication, and in online photos, preferred placements, hyperlinks and more,” he says.

Site designers made sure ads are easy to find and read, Boegle notes.

“Our site is e-commerce ready, user-friendly, and has a search option, which lets readers find ads quickly and easily,” he says.

Launched in February, Boegle says the site has proven a good investment for the company.

“The site began producing online revenue within a few hours of its February launch,” Boegle says, “and we couldn’t be happier.”

Boegle reports the Weekly also has begun published a special dining guide.

“The winter 2006 edition of the Weekly’s twice-a-year-dining guide, Yum!, coincided with the launch of a new Yum! Web site,” says Boegle, “developed primarily by Art Director Hugh Dougherty and Director of New Media Paul Bucalo.”

The editor says the dining publication continues to evolve as it is patronized by more and more readers.

“The new Web site is a work in progress,” says Boegle, “featuring all of our Yum! editorials, along with an interactive map of all the restaurants in the Weekly’s Chow Scan

15 restaurant listings.” Boegle says the online publication is beneficial to the Weekly’s advertisers as well.

“The web site also includes a section for Yum! advertisers, along with their menus and advertisements,” says Boegle, “and we’ve even included a PDF version of the Yum! print publication.”

Those who wish to view the Weekly’s classified or dining sites can be browse to the following links: Classified web site: http://www.tucsonweekly.com and http://classifieds.tucsonweekly. com Dining web site: http://yum.tucsonweekly.com

Viers offers free online training

Some of you probably remember Russell Viers from the InDesign training he offered in Arizona.

This time he’s taken the zany antics of his live training seminars and made them available for free through his new site http://www. yabb-adobe-doo.com/.

The focus of the new site is Adobe’s InDesign and the world that revolves around it – Creative Suite. Viers is an Adobe Certified Instructor who specializes in print production. He has been a training resource for press associations in the United States and Canada for more than nine years, although he recently moved to Europe..

Some of the things you can expect to find at www.yabbadobedoo.com include training videos, a blog, an opportunity to ask questions and a bumper crop of Viers’ own brand of humor. And it’s free.

Sales manager at Sonoran News

Cave Creek’s Sonoran News has hired a new sales manager, according to Publisher-Editor Donald Sorchych.

“We’ve hired our first sales manager ever, Charles Anthony, and expect him to make a huge positive difference on our advertising side,” says Sorchych.

The publisher says he also has hired two additional key employees, Dana Johnston, who will serve as Office Manager, and Judy Amsbury, who will be the News’s new receptionist. “Dana and Charles both have a lot of newspaper experience,” says Sorchych, “and the kind of experience that will enable them to integrate into what we do quickly.”

Anthony in the mid-90’s managed a variety of shopper and advertising direct mail products, and owned and operated his own advertising publications in Arizona.

Online ad placement improves revenue, customer service

point where each reduced the staff of At lunch the other day, a friend its phone-room staff by two reps. told me about the ad he Some newspapers placed in the South Florida have built their own online Sun-Sentinel to rent a conad-placement tools, but dominium. “I’d been thinkmost home-grown softing of placing a three-line, ware we’ve seen doesn’t six-day ad, and expected measure up. Several venit to run $100 to $200,” dors – AdLizard; AdStar; he said.

Creative Circle AdvertisBoy, was he surprised. ing Solutions / AdQic, and More important, though, Future of News / Place the Sun-Sentinel was surMy Ad, among others Peter M. prised, too – by what hap– provide well-designed, pened next. Instead of calleffective online ad sales ing the paper’s telephone products. It costs far less Advertising room, he went to its Web to buy one than to build Trends site. your own – and those “They had all these companies maintain, supnice additions, such as bold and shad- port and upgrade their services on a ows and boxes that could be added to continuing basis. see it live on the Web. So I kept workEven at newspapers that offered ing on it, and by the time I was done effective online ad placement, it my six-day ad cost me $640,” he said. was generally well-hidden. Most we “Did I run the ad at that price? Yes I spoke to admitted in-paper promotion did – because it definitely stood out was limited or non-existent; online from the crowd, and you can’t really promotion was rarely more than a say everything you need to in three “place an ad” button or line somelines anyway.” where on the paper’s home page.

Pardon me for harping on this Back to my friend with the condo topic, but newspapers are leaving a lot for rent: Did his ad work? In fact, it of money on the table – and wasting didn’t. But, he wasn’t unhappy about a lot of staff time that could be spent it. “I’m not saying that it’s the fault more productively – by encourag- of the ad. If I had to run it again, I’d ing people to call their phone rooms do it just the same way. “I don’t buy instead of placing ads online. those enhancements from a phone When you call Delta Airlines to rep because it makes me feel like I’m buy a plane ticket, you hear a record- being ‘sold.’ This way” —designing ing: “Lower fares may be available at his own ad online—“just makes me Delta.com” If you speak to a human feel creative. I felt like I was creating to buy a ticket, it’ll cost you more. a work of art.” When was the last time Also, there’s an additional $10 sur- one of your private-party customers charge for telephone bookings. Yet told you they thought their ad looked when Classified Intelligence tested like “a work of art?” newspapers’ online ad sales tools, In a recent report about online we found many of them confusing ad placement, we offered 17 tips for or lacking. making sure your system is as good They didn’t tell whether the as it should be. But even before you ad would appear in print, online, test your app against our 17 recomor both, they didn’t show you what mendations, make sure you take the the ad would look like in print; they basic first step and offer an effective, didn’t let advertisers add photos … clear, user-friendly, “what you see is well, you get the picture (or not, as what you get” online tool for placing the case may be). ads in your paper.

One newspaper – get this! – told Peter M. Zollman is founding us it charges more for ads placed principal of Classified Intelligence, online because it has to pay the com- a consulting group that works with pany that provides the Web interface. newspapers, dot-coms and vendors Gee, we thought, “What are they to improve classified advertising thinking? Don’t they realize they services. The company’s report have to pay the reps in the phone about online ad placement is availroom who handle the calls?” able through ClassifiedIntelligence.

As more ads are placed online, com. Zollman can be reached at newspapers find they can convert reps 1+407.788.2780, pzollman@classif from inbound “ad takers” to outbound iedintelligence.com. sales reps – making sales as opposed Disclosure: Zollman is on the to “taking orders.” And two papers board of directors of AdStar, one we know of report that online ad of the companies mentioned in this placement volume has grown to the month’s Interactive Insider.

by Peter M. Zollman, April 2006

Zollman

JUNE 2006

16 16

ANA Job Bank www.ananews.com/jobbank

Positions Available GENERAL ASSIGNMENT REPORTER: Casinos, the Colorado River and Lake Mohave. All await an enterprising reporter who can do it all. News West Publishing is seeking a general assignment reporter for its Laughlin, Nev., weekly. We’re looking for someone who can handle high school baseball and local government with equal aplomb. You’ll also get a chance to provide coverage to the Laughlin Times’ sister paper, the Mohave Valley Daily News.

Laughlin is located at the southern tip of Nevada on the banks of the Colorado River, across from Bullhead City, Ariz., and a mere 10 minutes from Lake Mohave. Send cover letter, resume, clips and references to Editor Robin Richards, 800 W. Broadway, Needles, CA 92363; or e-mail info to needlesde sertstar@citlink.net. (June 5) PUBLISHER POSITION: Highlymotivated, enthusiastic publisher sought in central high desert area of Arizona. We have three established weekly newspapers and are expanding into specialty publications. The right candidate will be advertising and sales-oriented, with

ANA can help you Our Job Bank helps journalists and others find openings at Arizona newspapers. Call ANA (602) 2617655, Ext. 103.

1. Positions Available are published once in ANAgrams and provided to prospective applicants for 30 days, unless the newspaper asks the ad be continued. Ads from ANA members are published free.

2. Positions Wanted are published once in ANAgrams at no cost.

Ads should be mailed or faxed to: Arizona Newspapers Association, 1001 N. Central Ave., Suite 670, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1947, Fax: (602) 261-7525.

Or e-mail them to Sandy Wilkinson, s.wilkinson@ananews.com.

3. Only ANA-member newspapers may advertise help wanted. All ads posted on the ANA Web site.

a newspaper background. Part of a growing media chain with more than 500 papers. Great chance for an advertising director who wants to move up. Paid vacation, sick leave. Medical, dental, life insurance, 401K available. Salary commensurate with experience. Send resume to azbelt@cableone.net or mail to: Publisher, Arizona Silver Belt, PO Box 31, Globe, AZ 85502.

(May 31) PUBLIC SAFETY REPORTER — The Mohave Valley Daily News in Bullhead City is seeking a public safety reporter ready to delve into the myriad stories a fast-growing community has to offer. We’re looking for someone who can explain the nuances of police work and crime stats to our readers, as well as detailing the excitement and heartbreak of a major fire. The beat will concentrate on police, fire, paramedics and river/lake patrol (yes, part of your beat will be on the water). The Mohave Valley Daily News is a morning newspaper with a circulation of 10,500, published six days a week. The paper is located in northwest Arizona on the banks of the Colorado River, right across from Laughlin, Nev., and a mere 15 minutes from Lake Mohave. Send cover letter, resume, clips and references to Managing Editor Wayne R. Agner; Mohave Valley Daily News; 2435 Miracle Mile; Bullhead City, AZ 86442; or e-mail info to editor@npgcable. com. (May 25) NEWSROOM EDITOR: for large weekend in northern Maricopa County. Applicant must have prior experience. E-mail resumes, salary history and professional references to kseemeyer@thedesertadvocate. com (May 22) 2 POSITIONS – REPORTER: The Phoenix Business Journal, the Valley’s No. 1 source for local business news, is hiring for two reporter positions. We are a 15,000-circulation highly respected and well-read weekly publication looking for energetic, aggressive self-starters to report news for our weekly business newspaper and for The Business Journal Web site.

Reporters must gather news and information to develop exclusive, breaking business stories. Business Journal pieces must be thoroughly reported, well balanced, and concisely written. Stories must be error free and must meet deadline.

Mastery of spelling, grammar and AP style is expected. Business Journal reporters are expected to become the local experts in the

industries they cover. They should demonstrate continuous effort to learn about their beats through sources, trade publications, meetings and conferences. For more information, contact Editor Ilana Lowery at 602-308-6513 or send your resume and writing samples to ilowery@bizjournals.com. (May 15) CIRCULATION MANAGER: Wick Communications is looking for a circulation manager for its newspaper operations based in beautiful Safford, Ariz. The Eastern Arizona Courier is a twice weekly newspaper based in Safford, Ariz., and the Copper Era is a weekly newspaper based in Clifton, Ariz.

Responsibilities include the dayto-day operation and supervision of our circulation department and mail room, rack and dealer billing/collections and the overseeing of our newspaper carriers. The right candidate must have strong customer service and computer skills. we offer competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, dental, vacation, help with relocation expense and a 401K retirement plan. Send resume, cover letter and references to Rick Schneider at the Eastern Arizona Courier, 301 East Highway 70, Safford, AZ 85546, or e-mail material to schneider@eacourier.com. (May 2)

Positions Wanted ADVERTISING PROFESSIONAL seeks opportunity in Arizona. As a Regional Sales and Market Development Manager, Director of Advertising or Business Development Manager I helped newspaper account executives exceed their goals via specialized training, coop/vendor support and the development of niche products. For more information or a copy of my resume please contact: Jeffrey Weigand, JRWeigand98@aol.com, (Cell) 916.759.2435 (May 30) SALES AND AUDITOR: I am looking to relocate in the end of summer to Phoenix area. I have been working with MARCOA Publishing as Sales auditor, traffic coordinator, sales coordinator and executive assistant through the years. I am sales support and I would be interested in a position that can utilize my talents as both support and auditor. Please feel free to contact me, or pass my resume on. Jeannie Soverns, Sales Auditor-Communications, 800-8542935 ext 201 (May 22 )

Calendar Calendar Each Friday in January, 9:30 a.m. – ANA Legislative Committee conference call.

Jan. 9 – Opening Day, 47th

Arizona Legislature, 2nd Regular Session.

Jan 10, 11 a.m. Monthly ANA/ Ad Services Marketing Committee Conference Call.

(Usually on First Tuesday each month) January 23 – Publishers make appointments with Senators and House members then attend 4:30 to 6 p.m. reception with Legislators at Arizona Capitol Times Jan. 15 – Entry packet for ANA 2006 Excellence in Advertising/Newspaper of the Year to be in mail to members.

Feb. 2 • 10:30 – 11:30 a.m., Executive Committee • Noon - 1:30 p.m., ANA & Ad Services Board of Directors meeting.

Both in ANA offices.

Feb. 19-22, NAA Marketing Conference, Orlando, Fla Feb. 23-25 – Inland Weekly Newspaper Publishers Conference, St. Petersburg, FL, Hilton.

Feb. 28 -- Deadline for receipt of entries in ANA Excellence in Advertising contest.

May 10 & 11 – ANA semiannual computer application training, Fiesta Inn Resort, Tempe, AZ May 11, 1 p.m. – ANA & Ad Services Board of Directors meeting, Fiesta Inn Resort, Tempe.

May 12 – ANA Spring Marketing Workshop & Excellence in Advertising winners awards happy hour, Fiesta Inn Resort, Tempe, AZ

Oct. 12-14 ANA 67th Annual Meeting and Fall Convention, C ha pa r r a l Suite s Resort, Scottsdale, AZ