Official Publication of the Arizona Newspapers Association for distribution to all employees of ANA-member newspapers
A N Ag r a m s
U.S. Army says journalists are a security threat Page 3
A community newspaper for community newspaper people.
August 2007
Briefs Arizona Republic consolidates operations The Arizona Republic has closed the production plant in Mesa, Ariz., and all printing will now be done in the Deer Valley plant. Independent Newspapers loses five The Anthem/Deer Valley, Arrowhead Ranch, Chandler, Gilbert and Northeast Phoenix Independents ceased publication on Aug. 1. A combination of factors --residential sprawl, competition and shifting advertising trends, forced the company to reassess the long-term prospects for those newspapers. “The move, while coming with a degree of sadness, will actually help our long-term plans,” said Vice President Bret McKeand. “Sometimes you have to take a step back in order to take two steps forward.” Independent Newspapers will continue serving nine other markets in the Phoenix area. Congratulations Carol La Valley Payson Roundup reporter Carol La Valley was awarded the Arizona Newspapers Association Outstanding Writing Award, presented by the Arizona Press Women last month. Happy Anniversary Congratulations to the Apache Junction/Gold Canyon News. They celebrated their tenth anniversary this year. Explorer welcomes competition The town of Marana, Ariz. has a new newspaper: the Marana Weekly News, owned by News Media Corporation. “I welcome the competition,” said Explorer editor Walt Nett. The Explorer has been providing news to residents of Marana and Oro Valley for the past 14 years. “It’s the best service to the First Amendment I can think of. It’s like Satchel Paige’s line about, ‘Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.’ That’s great inspiration, but when there’s nobody chasing you, it loses its effectiveness very quickly.” Journalism students remember Virginia Tech in upcoming book When the shooting began at Virginia Tech, a handful of students in one locked-down news writing class hurried to their computers. The students in professor Roland Lazenby’s class began reporting on the shootings in nearby Norris Hall for planetblacksburg.com, a student-run news Web site. Lazenby and seven student journalists eventually decided to publish the results of their reporting in a book: “April 16th: Virginia Tech Remembers”. It hits shelves Aug. 28.
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Arizona’s NIE Program wins 2nd place BY PERRI COLLINS
The Arizona Newspapers Association has been recognized in the 2007 National Newspaper Association’s Best of Newspaper In Education contest. ANA’s NIE program won second place and will be featured during NNA’s 121st Annual Convention in Norfolk, VA, Sept. 26-29. The last year has shown incredible growth of your program, perhaps not in numbers, but in materials and outreach thanks to the full-time NIE coordinator, who joined ANA just a year ago. According to the judges, “The tabs are phenomenal, the supplements offer newspapers flexibility in presentation, and the on-site workshops to nine areas that never before offered NIE programs shows that you are reaching out to communities that need this program.” NIE coordinator Pat Oso deserves a special “kudos” for her outreach to newspapers and class-
rooms across the state. Her efforts have rapidly expanded this program. Each year the National Newspaper Association recognizes the excellent effort made by community newspapers and press associations to
engage young readers in the pursuit of actively learning the important role newspapers play in our community. The 2007 winners also include Colorado (first place) and New York (Third place).
ANA Fall Convention to focus on today’s new media September 20-22 is the Arizona Newspapers Association 2007 Fall Convention, stressing Today’s New Media. Fall will be here sooner that you think, so mark your calendars and get ready for Photoshop training, Computer Assisted Reporting, advanced InDesign, Photoshop tips and tricks, learn how to get the most out of inexperienced reporters, find out about NewspaperNEXT, congratulate this year’s Zenger Award recipient, Jerry Mitchell, and of course – the big finale – the 2007 Better Newspapers Contest awards presentation! Register online at ananews.com or call (602) 261-7655 ext. 102 for more information. Reserve your hotel room at Chaparral Suites for the ANA special rate of $139, single or double. Hurry, because this rate is only good until Aug. 29. Call Chaparral Suites at (800) 528-1456. Take a look at what we have in store for you:
Kevin Slimp In addition to his Thursday and Friday sessions on Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop and InDesign, technology
guru Kevin Slimp will be speaking on “Digital Journalism: Convergence of Media” at the Publishers Reception and Dinner on Sept. 21.
work has helped put four Klansmen behind bars and inspired countless other investigations. Join us and the University of Arizona in honoring Mitchell with this prestigious award.
NewspaperNEXT American Press Institute’s Elaine Clisham will present API’s groundbreaking research into new business models for the newspaper industry. Learn how to become a master of innovation!
Zenger Awards Luncheon Since 1989, Jerry Mitchell, an investigative reporter for the Mississippi Clarion-Ledger, has worked hard to examine records and evidence about killings during the civil rights era. His ANAgrams Arizona Newspapers Association 1001 N. Central Avenue, Suite 670 Phoenix, AZ 85004 - 1947
Whales and Little Fish If you want to learn about creatures of the deep sea, go home and watch the Discovery Channel. If you want to examine the trend of big newspapers in troubled waters and smaller newspapers ability to thrive, attend this session by former (Minneapolis) Star Tribune editor and current Arizona State University professor Tim McGuire. See page 8 for the complete Fall 2007 convention schedule. “PRSRT STD” U.S. POSTAGE PAID PHOENIX ARIZONA PERMIT NO. 3429
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