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ANA News
Special Report
Contest deadline, June 1, enter now — don’t delay
Newsprint tariffs threaten newspaper industry, bipartisan group of ten senators introduce “PRINT” Act to protect publishers
Now is the time to get your contest entries in. The deadline is quickly approaching! The early bird discount may have expired, but individual entry fees for BNC categories 10 - 29, and advertising categories 1 - 12 are still at a very reasonable rate of $10 per entry.
In case you missed it, this year the ANA contest committee, over a period of several meetings, made some new improvements and updates to the yearly contest. One of the biggest and most noticeable updates is that you will no longer have to mail in any of your entries. ANA has joined in along with the majority of other news media associations and converted our contest to an e-operation only. The contest system (ACES) can
accept entry files up to 100MB per entry. Files larger than 100MB should be uploaded to Google Drive, Drop Box, issuu.com, etc., or your own hosting site. BUT, remember all URLs must remain active and accessible until October 7. Other updates included: NEW PRICING FEES: In an effort to encourage greater participation, the committee implemented an early bird rate of just $9*per entry, May 1 thru 15, 2018. Then, May 16 to close of contest, entries return to the regular price of just $10*. After that, a $12 late fee would apply to entries submitted (by approval only). NEW CATEGORIES: The special sections and newspaper supplement or magazine competition received an update too. Those will now be two separate categories: Special Sections, (BNC #7) and Newspaper Supplement or Magazine (BNC #8). NEW Divisions: Beginning in 2018 the contest will now have two separate divisions: – Professional Newspapers – College Newspapers/News Organizations Colleges** will still adhere to all See 2018 CONTEST, page 2
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The PRINT Act would suspend new tariffs currently being imposed on imported uncoated groundwood paper from Canada, which is the primary source of newsprint and other paper used by domestic newspapers, book publishers and commercial printers. Simultaneously, the legislation would require the Department of Commerce to review the economic health of the printing and publishing industries. Newspapers and printers across the United States have told Congress that the new import tariffs – as high as 32 percent – would jeopardize the viability of the industry and threaten to decimate the U.S. paper industry’s customer base. Many local newspapers and printers that use uncoated groundwood paper have experienced price increases and a disruption in supply since preliminary countervailing and antidumping duties were assessed earlier this year. Even as the Commerce Department investigation is ongoing, the duties are already being collected on imports, causing immediate economic harm to See Print Act, page 11
University of Arizona J-School inaugural Hall of Fame ���������������� page
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2018 Contest, enter now from page 1
the same categories, rules and pricing structure as set up for the professional newspapers. The General Excellence points they earn will be in their Division 6 only. This is the same rule as for all other divisions as well: no paper competes outside its division.
Add to your calendar … The 79th Annual Meeting and Fall Convention, October 6. It’s the event of the year for meeting up with other members from different parts of our state and for training-workshops related to today’s newsroom, advertising and graphics topics. This year ANA is proud to share that we have scheduled, known to all in the news industry as the ‘News Guru’, and an outstanding newspaper advocate, Kevin Slimp. Kevin plans on bringing his special
expertise in the areas of: Getting People to Pick Up Your Newspaper; Learning InDesign styles to Improve Your Design and Workflow; Advanced Photoshop Editing and Color Correction The day caps off with the big evening reception where FOI recipients and newsroom winners receive their plaques and certificates; and the exciting finale where newspaper of the year is announced. It’s a full day of something for everyone. Make sure to save the date! If you have questions or need help contact Julie O’Keefe at j.okeefe@ ananews.com or call her at (602) 261-7655, xt.110. *Good only on BNC categories: 10-29; Advertising categories: 1-12. **Colleges are excluded from competing in Story of the Year, Journalist of the Year and Photographer of the Year.
John Fearing, former ANA executive director, dies at 69
John Fearing Executive Director 1995 – 2007 Arizona Newspapers Association
John Fearing served as the Arizona Newspapers ssociation executive director from 1995 to 2007 and A then acted as deputy executive director through August 2009. In 1995, John brought a much needed organization to ANA and was the impetus to create the first aggregate Public Notice website in the country. John was the owner and publisher of the Eagle Lake Headlight in Eagle Lake, Texas as well as the Pacifica Tribune in Pacifica, California. An avid car enthusiast, especially of old Volkswagens, John loved to restore these vehicles. He is survived by his two daughters Amy and Cathy. Condolences can be sent to Amy and Cathy Fearing, 408 Clark Street, Eagle Lake, TX 77437.
Page 2 | ANAgrams ■ May 2018
ANAgrams is a quarterly e-publication produced by the Arizona Newspapers Association 1001 N. Central Ave., Suite 670 Phoenix, AZ 85004-1947 Office (602) 261-7655 • Fax (602) 261-7525 www.ananews.com
ANA Staff Paula Casey Executive Director / ext. 102 p.casey@ananews.com Julie O’Keefe Communications Manager / ext. 110 j.okeefe@ananews.com Cindy London Ad Placement Manager / ext. 112 c.meaux@ananews.com
The Arizona Newspapers Association (ANA) was established in 1930 and incorporated in 1956. It is the successor to the Arizona Press Association of 1905, and the Arizona Daily Newspaper Association of 1922. The Association is governed by an 11-member board of directors elected by the member newspapers. The ANA is a nonprofit trade association representing more than 115 A rizona newspapers.
ANA Board of Directors President Manuel Coppola, Publisher – Nogales International 1st Vice President Kyle Larson, General Manager – Larson Newspapers (Sedona) 2nd Vice President Jeanie Hankins Williams, Publisher – The Wickenburg Sun 3rd Vice President Colleen Brady, Advertising Director – Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff) Secretary / Treasurer Brian Kramer, Publisher – White Mountain Independent, Payson Roundup Jill Jorden Spitz, Editor Arizona Daily Star (Tucson) Lisa Reilly, Publisher Yuma Sun Cloves Campbell, Publisher Arizona Informant Open Position Phoenix Business Journal Anthony Bratti, VP Advertising – Arizona Republic/Republic Media (Phoenix) Past President Donovan Kramer Jr., Co-Publisher – Casa Grande Dispatch
c r a u l o e y n d k a r rs! a M
The 79th Annual Meeting and Fall Convention
October 6, 2018
Workshops and Training Sessions planned throughout the day.
Excellence in Advertising Awards presented at the afternoon luncheon.
Better Newspapers Contest Awards (BNC) presented during the evening reception.
Ideally located, less than 15 minutes south of Sky Harbor Airport and minutes from Tempe, Scottsdale and Chandler.
Wild Horse Pass Hotel & Casino 5040 Wild Horse Pass Blvd. Chandler, AZ 85226 All parking and valet is complimentary. Each room features one king size bed or two double beds, a 40” flat screen TV with premier channels, in-room safe, coffee maker, hair dryer, iron/ironing board and complimentary high-speed wireless internet. ADA rooms are available based on hotel availability. In room dining is always a phone call away, available 24-hours a day.
May 2018 ■ ANAgrams | Page 3
Member News
Publisher lived her ‘dream’ at Verde Valley Newspapers Great community When Miller arrived on the job in Staff Reporter, The Verde Independent/ Cottonwood, she knew that she “had been Camp Verde Journal blessed with an awesome opportunity to be involved in a great community.” “The business leaders and community It took Pam Miller about a dozen tries members had a to compose her rescommon goal — to ignation letter. But care for their neighbors retirement, the puband build on an already lisher of the Verde wonderful communiIndependent and the ty,” Miller said. Camp Verde Bugle said, With “niche publiwas about keeping cations, 24-7 news a promise she once coverage, digital admade to herself. vertising,” Miller said To retire at 55, Miller that she has watched said, was her goal. both the Independent Though she missed her and Bugle newspaper target date by almost grow “in so many two years, Miller had directions.” plenty of discussions “We continue to be with her husband, Len, the number one news and her best friend, source for the Verde Daurice, before she Valley, growing our made her decision offirelevance each day,” For the past 14 years, home for Pam Miller has been the Verde Independent office in cial – and irrevocable. she said. C ottonwood. After 35 years in the newspaper business, the last 14 as publisher of the “This has been my Though someone “more experienced” was chosen, Miller became his second-incommand. “I’ve been managing people since I was 23 years old,” she said. Daurice McMillan remembers when
By Bill Helm
life,” said Miller, publisher of the two Verde Valley newspapers since 2004.
Verde Independent and the Camp Verde Bugle, Miller will retire on May 18. (Photo by Bill Helm)
Management It wasn’t very far into her newspaper career – barely a year – when Miller knew she’d be in management. An advertising sales representative at the Daily Courier in Prescott back in 1984, Miller was barely two years out of journalism school at Northern Arizona University when she applied to be her paper’s advertising director. Related story Babette Cubitt takes over for retiring Pam Miller Click here to read.
Page 4 | ANAgrams ■ May 2018
she met Miller. McMillan, now the tax representative for Gilpin County, Colorado, was hired by the Courier in 1984. Still a sales representative, Miller asked her to lunch one day. “From day one,” McMillan said she knew that Miller wasn’t the average co-worker. “She always had answers,” McMillan said. “Opinions are sometimes a bad thing. But hers were a good thing, a guiding thing.” Miller eventually became the Courier’s advertising director. And she stayed in that role until 14 years ago when she was promoted to publisher of the newspaper Zorganization’s two Verde Valley newspapers. “Being publisher of a small community newspaper was my dream,” said Miller, who retires on May 18 after 35 years in the newspaper business.
Aspirations As a small child, Miller first entertained the idea of being a teacher. “I think I loved my second grade teacher,” she recalled. But Miller changed her mind while in high school. She signed up for a journalism class and found encouragement from the newspaper’s adviser. That boost of confidence played a role in Miller enrolling in the journalism program at Yavapai College, where she eventually served as both the newspaper editor and the magazine editor. At NAU, she discovered that though she enjoyed writing, maybe her aspiration outweighed her ability. “I decided that advertising and marketing was what I wanted to do,” Miller said. As it turned out, the university had an continues on page 5, See HER ‘DREAM’
Member News
Her ‘dream’ from page 4 a dvertising emphasis in its journalism program. Taking lead To Miller, leadership is about “taking responsibility for our staff.” “I’ve always managed with the idea that we’re a team,” she said. “I like to create a cohesive team, to encourage people to have empathy, to stand in someone else’s shoes and understand them. It’s not just that Miller wanted to be publisher of a newspaper, but that she wanted to publish a small-town newspaper. “I had no aspirations to publish a larger newspaper,” Miller said. But being a newspaper’s publisher after a career in advertising was a “new adventure” for Miller. “It meant an opportunity to grow in my position, an opportunity to expand what I’d always known,” she said. Miller said that Western News&Info, the parent company of the Independent and the Bugle, has been “a wonderful company to work for, always providing me with one opportunity after another to learn and grow in the publishing business.” The buzz “The buzz of the newsroom” is what Miller said she will miss most when she wakes up the morning of Monday, May 21 and is not in the employ of a newspaper. “You hear everything that’s going on in the community,” Miller said. “In the newspaper biz, you’re always in the know of things. I’m going to miss being in the know of things.” Western News&Info has selected Advertising Director Babette Cubitt to succeed Miller as publisher. Already at the Verde Independent offices in Cottonwood, Cubitt said that Miller is “an outstanding leader who immersed herself in the community.” “She definitely has a deep love and affection for this community,” Cubitt said. “If I can match her love of this community, that would be my desire.”
Article reprinted with permission: Verde Valley Independent.
Ilana Lowery stepping down as editorin-chief of Phoenix Business Journal By Angela Gonzales Senior Reporter, Phoenix Business Journal After more than 23 years with the Phoenix Business Journal, Ilana Lowery is stepping down as editor-in-chief. “I’ve enjoyed every moment, especially building the best newsroom I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” she said. But it’s time to move on, she said. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey, and I am thankful that my time here has given me so much professional growth, professional friendships and pure satisfaction,” she said. “Every day, I’ve been grateful for the opportunity to do good through the integrity of our journalism and through the impact of our community.” Lowery said she plans to take the summer to ponder her next move and spend quality time with her husband, Chris, and their Labrador Retriever, Harley. Her last day will be June 4. Lowery joined the Ilana Lowery Phoenix newspaper in 1995 as a reportEditor-in-chief, er, covering banking Phoenix and aviation. She Business Journal quickly moved up the ranks to managing editor in 1999 and then editor in 2001, replacing Don Henninger when he was promoted to publisher. She was named editor-in-chief in 2012. Phoenix Business Journal Publisher and Market President Ray Schey said Lowery became widely known in the community during her 23 years with the publication. “I specifically said ‘community’ and not ‘business community’ because of her work and passion with nonprofits that has defined who she has become as a person,” Schey said. “We’ll eagerly await her next move and will always support Ilana throughout her journey. She will certainly
be missed.” Under Lowery’s leadership, the Phoenix Business Journal newsroom has won a plethora of local and national awards. She also has received many professional awards, including the the Silver Circle Award from Society of Professional Journalists, a World Award from the Girl Scouts Cactus-Pine Council and was a Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce Athena Award finalist. Related story From the Editor: This is not goodbye, but a different kind of hello Click here to read. Lowery will continue to serve as an adjunct professor at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. The Phoenix Business Journal is part of American City Business Journals, the Charlotte-based media organization that counts business newspapers in 43 U.S. markets among its properties that reach 3.6 million readers across the country each week. ACBJ, which is part of Advance Publications, also has Sports Business Journaland SportsBusiness Daily under its umbrella. A national search will begin soon for her replacement.
Article reprinted with permission: Phoenix Business Journal.
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So, would you cancel your subscription if a hedge-fund was ruining your local paper?
From Marlene Krueger: “Subscribe. ‘Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter’ —MLK” From Karen Hansen: “It’s a tough call, like sanctions. Does it hurt the wrong people? I will say, though, I think there are a couple silver linings here. One: The Denver Post isn’t dying quietly. People are engaged, and, it seems, not just journalists. That doesn’t mean the problem’s solved, but at least that there’s desire to do so.” From Judith Holiday: “I subscribe because I want at least the few pages the wonderful remaining staff put out. I moved here in 1955 and subscribed to both papers from day one. The Post had great reporters covering all areas of interest, like the [Tampa Bay Times]. ... You guys saved news coverage in the Tampa Bay area (our son lives there); we need the like of you out here. If Detroit can support 2 papers we surely should too. Greed is killing our democracy in many ways.” Chuck Moozakis: “I dropped my daily [Denver] Post subscription last year after I could no longer justify — after 40 years of being a loyal subscriber —paying more for less and less content. Still have my Sunday subscription ($8 per month) but I’m seriously considering dropping that, too. The Sunday paper is pretty usel ess, but with my subscription I get access to the digital edition of The Post (which I read occasionally) and access to the digital edition of The Washington Post (more important).” University of New Hampshire’s Kathy Kiely had this thought on the future of the Denver Post and the city’s news eco-system: “We worker-bees of the
news biz aren’t going to be able to launch an institution capable of taking the place of a Denver Post unless and until we put silos, turf and ego aside and work TOGETHER to make it happen. What we have lost in ad revenues we must make up for in solidarity and collegiality. (Good on the Texas Tribune for leading the way). It’s as easy and as hard as changing generations’ worth of attitude. Here’s hoping there’s enough awareness of the critical times we live in to tip the balance in the favor of truth, justice and the American way.” Janice Paul: “I have read a local daily paper for 45 years ... However, when Alden laid off 30 percent of its remaining staff and THEN followed that up with a rate hike the same week — to a whopping $58.50 a month for home delivery, I canceled. ... It’s a very sad state of affairs to know that a metro area this size, and growing faster than almost any other area of the country, is not entitled to a quality newspaper.” From @RealMSA941: “It’s business. Hedge funds are not charities. If print journalism can’t cut it, then it will go the way of the horse and buggy (and it will).” Response by Bob McGovern Jr., a reporter who left the Alden-owned Boston Herald: “The problem is that these buggies are often the sole source of in-depth local news. This hedge fund also owns papers in cities like Lowell and Fitchburg. If those buggies go away, will there be cars to replace them?” Reprint permission: David Beard, Contributing Editor, Poynter Morning Media Wire. Want to get the ‘Poynter Morning MediaWire’ briefing in your inbox every weekday morning? Sign up here.
Newspaper Dominoes Fall Industry trends spur publishers to give serious thought about the future of newspapers
pened during those 10 days. At some point in the Kevin Slimp recent past, I realized I The News Guru had spoken at 60 of the 63 press associations in North kevin@kevinslimp.com America over the past 20 years. With so many trips to so many places, it’s only natural I would become friends So much to write about, with some of the folks I meet so little space. It’s been a along the way. Such was the whirlwind of a week for me, case during this trip. beginning in Knoxville, What stood out to me Tennessee, where I caught during my 10-day journey a flight for a “quick trip� to has been the number of inWinnipeg, before heading home for a couple of days, credibly deep conversations then heading to Sioux Falls, I’ve had with publishers and South Dakota and Lincoln, government officials in the Nebraska. U.S. and Canada about the On Saturday night, as I importance of what we do at prepared to make my journewspapers. They were not superficial conversations. ney home from Winnepeg, As I visited the legislature my plans were waylaid by of Manitoba (you have time a blizzard which shut down for things like that when the Minneapolis airport, you can’t leave a country), transforming my two-day at the invitation of Greg visit to Manitoba to five Nesbitt, a former publisher days. With my return flight and member of the legisrescheduled for Wednesday, there was no time to make lature, I saw faces I recogit home to Tennessee, then nized from the audience back to Sioux Falls, where I during their convention was scheduled to meet a clibanquet on Saturday night. Visiting with the leader ent on Thursday morning. of one of the political parties This column is about my in Manitoba, we discussed trip. Not the weather, althe crucial importance of a though understanding how free press, and even talked my schedule was altered about some recent decisions plays an important role in made across Canada which understanding what hap-
IInever more than 10,000 visitors to my website in Âearly neverexpected expected more than 10,000 visitors tonew my new website in early Since April. stateofnewspapers.com Since stateofnewspapers.com premiered I’ve April. premiered April 1,April I’ve 1, heard KHDUG national IURP QDWLRQDO EXVLQHVV OHDGHUV SXEOLVKHUV JRYHUQPHQW RĆąfrom business leaders, publishers, government Âofficials cialsothers and others deeply interested in issues related topress. free press. and deeply interested in issues related to free
I visited with Greg Nesbitt (left), former publisher and member of the Manitoba legislature, and Nebraska publisher, Rob Dump (right), during my journey through Manitoba and the U.S. Midwest in April.
could have disastrous consequences to a free press. He ripped off a piece of paper and gave me his email address and phone number. We plan to keep in touch. When I eventually made it to Sioux Falls, I was greeted with an overnight storm which measured close to a foot of snow. While most of the city was tucked in their warm homes, I took off to visit newspaper friends in the Sioux Falls area. Once again, our conversations turned serious, sharing concerns about a shortage of newsprint, the effects of venture capitalists on our industry and other matters. Throughout these discussions, I noticed a common thread. Not a single person seemed panicked about everything happening in our industry. The newsprint shortage is surely temporary. I even connected some friends in the U.S. with paper plants in Canada while I was there. The venture capitalists will eventually fire their lasts employees, sell their remaining buildings, and get out of the way. Scenes like we saw in Denver, Chicago, Knoxville, and San Diego over the previous week seemed to energize everyone in the newspaper business, even folks who work at those papers. In Winnipeg, I met Darrell, who has been starting
papers in small towns in Winnipeg. I connected him with Joey, who has been doing the same thing in Kansas. In Nebraska, I had a three-hour conversation with Rob Dump, one of my favorite community publishers, as we drove to Lincoln together for the Nebraska Press Association Convention. In Lincoln, the conversation continued as I met with Rob and his wife, Peggy Year, another of my favorite publishers, as we shared our concerns and dreams about our industry for more than three hours. Here’s what I learned during my 10-day trek to Manitoba, South Dakota, and Nebraska. In the 25 years I have been consulting with newspapers, I can’t remember a time when there was so much interest in what is happening in our industry among publishers, and so many people who are determined to change course from the pessimism of the past few years to doing whatever it takes to steer our industry in a positive direction. Life many of you, I believe there is no freedom without a free press. Like many of you, I’ve got my sights set on a future dedicated to protecting that freedom. Dominoes are falling. I, for one, can’t wait to see where they land.
May 2018 â– ANAgrams | Page 7
Jumping inside I am no fan of jumps. Anyone who has been to my workshops and/or followed my blog knows that. By Ed Henninger The main reaIndependen son why I don’t Newspaper like jumps is that Consultant readers tell us time and again that they don’t like jumps. Some won’t even start a story that jumps. If I owned your newspaper (don’t worry, no chance of that ever happening!), your last issue would be the last time you jumped a story. But…I’d have to show you how to direct your writers, write tighter and segment your stories. It wouldn’t be easy, but it would get done. But I don’t own your newspaper (lucky you!) and I accept the reality that most newspapers will jump at least a couple of stories from page 1 and/or the sports front. So, here are some suggestions to help you make jumps work better for readers: WRITE A JUMP HEAD that makes sense. Just a word, like “Police” or “City” or “Chase” doesn’t do the job. One-word jump heads assume that readers always read from front to back. Not true. Many will actually start at the opinion page or the sports front and then go forward. So a jump keyword with a “follow” headline (see illustration) gives readers something that makes a bit more sense…and makes the jump more compelling to read. TAKE ALL JUMPS to the same page. Readers can become frustrated when you take them to page 4 with one jump, page 7 with another and page 9 with still another. Designate one page Page 8 | ANAgrams ■ May 2018
Which of these two jumps are you most likely to read? Why?
as the jumps page and make sure it has enough space to handle all jumps— with visuals. INCLUDE A STRONG VISUAL. Readers are more likely to begin reading a jump page that has some photos or graphics on it. A sea of gray will cause many to leave the page without reading. MAKE IT WORTH going to the jump. I believe nothing is more frustrating to a reader than going to a jump that’s only seven or eight lines long. Readers will ask: “What? I came here for this? Why bother?” My suggestion: Use Ed’s “Rule of Eight.” Here’s how it works: Make sure you run at least four inches of text on the front. That should be enough to get readers into the story. Then, run at least four inches of jump. That’s enough to satisfy readers who make the trip to the jump page. So, four inches on the front and four inches on the jump. But…don’t jump an eight inch story! DON’T JUMP on a paragraph. Instead, always try to jump in the middle of a sentence. Readers are more likely to follow an incomplete sentence to the inside page. CHECK THE JUMP LINE. It’s confusing and frustrating for a reader to see a jump line that says “See CITY, Page 8” and discover that the jump head says “COUNCIL.” Make sure they agree.
CHECK THE JUMP. It happens now and then: You’ve got a jump line taking readers to the inside, but then you trimmed the story into page 1 … and forgot to remove the jump line. There’s no jump, despite your line that says “See CITY, Page 8.” And there are times when you get a more important story for the front page, deciding to move the original story inside. But in the rush of deadline, you forget to move that original piece. So, you have a jump to story that has no beginning. Stuff happens. Check and double-check. Readers would prefer we not jump our stories. Ever. But if we’re gonna do it, let’s work to do it right. WANT A FREE evaluation of your newspaper’s design? Just contact Ed: edh@henningerconsulting.com (803) 327-3322 IF THIS COLUMN has been helpful, you may be interested in Ed’s books: Henninger on Design and 101 Henninger Helpful Hints. With the help of Ed’s books, you’ll immediately have a better idea how to design for your readers. Find out more about Henninger on Design and 101 Henninger Helpful Hints by visiting Ed’s web site: www.henningerconsulting.com
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2018
directory Available
NOW!
Loaded with useful information. It’s your instant connection to the association and handy planning tool. • Member Newspaper listings • Member Printing Facilities • ANA Services & Benefits • ANA Advertising Services Media Kit • College & University newspaper listings • Arizona Broadcasters Assoc. listings • And much more Additional directories are available for $40, to order click here. Or call (602) 261-7655 Page 10 | ANAgrams ■ May 2018
A new look at an old sales technique Carla has been selling advertising for many years. She has researched and tried a variety of techniques to Ad-Libs a n swer o b j ecBy John Foust tions. “Just about everybody knows Newspaper Sales t h e F e e l - F e l tConsultant and Found formula,” Trainer she said. “When a prospect makes an objection – about price, for example – the response is, ‘I understand how you feel. Many others have felt the same way. Then they found that our paper offers good value for their investment.’ “In theory, it’s sound,” she said. “But most business people have heard it before. As soon as they hear ‘I understand how you feel,’ they know it’s going to be a canned explanation. The key is to avoid the words ‘feel,’ ‘felt’ and ‘found’ and use other ways to say the same thing. “The phrase that has been the biggest help to me is: ‘No one wants to _____.’ Just fill in the blank after the word ‘to’ and you’ve got a great lead-in statement.” Here’s a closer look: I understand how you feel. The p urpose of this phrase is to get in step with others, but it’s an overused statement that can sound mechanical and insincere “You shouldn’t say you understand unless you really understand,” Carla said. “This is where ‘no one wants to’ comes into play. It’s a safe statement that puts me on the same page with the other person. When
w w w. a n a n e w s . c o m
there’s a price objection, I say, ‘No one wants to pay more for advertising than they have to.’ It’s as simple as that. In all the times I’ve used it, no one has disagreed.” Carla explained that this works with any objection. “No one wants to schedule more ads than they need. No one wants to plan more meetings than they need. No one wants to sign a longer contract then they need. And so on.” Many others have felt the same way. According to Carla, this phrase is too vague. “It’s good to reassure other people, because we want them to know they’re not the only ones with that opinion. But this step in the process works better with a specific example. I like to say something like, ‘Others have had the same opinion. About a month ago, the XYZ Widget Company was concerned about our rates.’ That creates a bridge to the last step – where I talk about what that advertiser found.” Then they found. “Here’s where you turn that example into a testimonial,” Carla said. “Instead of referring to all the advertisers who had that same objection, talk about one advertiser’s positive experience. That has more impact.” Put it all together to get something like this: “No one wants to pay more for advertising than they have to. Other people have had the same concern. In fact, XYZ initially had questions about our rates. Then they discovered that we offer more coverage than other media choices. As a result, their business is up ten percent over the same time period last year. This comparison chart shows…” It’s hard to object to that strategy, isn’t it? John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training videos to save time and get quick results from in-house training. E-mail for information: john@johnfoust.com
Special Report
Print Act to protect publishers from page 1
printers and publishers. A final Commerce Department decision is expected on August 2. The new PRINT Act legislation would pause both the preliminary and any final duties while the Department completes its study. News Media Alliance President & CEO David Chavern stated, “We are grateful that Senator King, Senator Collins and the original co-sponsors of the bill showed leadership and stepped up to protect small publishers in local communities across America.”
Use NMA’s free ads to fight newsprint tariffs The News Media Alliance and the Stop Tariffs on Printers & Publishers (STOPP) Coalition have provided several new ads for newspapers to run in their publications. The ads educate readers on the negative consequences of the recent tariffs imposed on Canadian imports of uncoated groundwood paper, which includes newsprint used by newspapers.
How did we get here?
An anti-dumping case brought last summer by a northwestern US paper producer, NORPAC, claims that Canadian imports of uncoated groundwood paper (UGW), which is used for newsprint are being subsidized or shipments are being dumped into the U.S. which is what they believe is a significant problem to their business. NORPAC has asked for duties that range up to 50 percent on the purchase price of Canadian paper. NORPAC is an outlier, owned by a New York hedge fund, with no additional pulp or paper operations in the United States or globally. A majority of U.S. newsprint manufacturers, and even the trade association for the U.S. paper industry – the American Forest and Paper Association – as well as their U.S. customers, oppose the NORPAC petitions. A single paper producer, with less than 300 employees, is manipulating the trade laws, while threatening hundreds of thousands of workers and companies. May 2018 ■ ANAgrams | Page 11
Promoting literacy through a community newspaper 4th Annual Payson Book Festival Showcasing 80 Arizona authors and promoting literacy at a celebration of books for readers of all ages.
July 21, 2018
Free
Family-friendly Event 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Mazatzal Hotel & Casino, HWY 87, mile marker 251 Payson, Arizona By Marie Fasano Rim Country Chapter Secretary, Arizona Professional Writers
For the fourth year the Payson Book Festival, a major literary event in Northern Arizona, has had as its main media sponsor the Payson Roundup. When Gary Tackett, General Manager was asked why they continue to support the Festival, he said. “An informed readership is important. We are a big fan of the Payson Book Festival and we want to partner with them.” The Payson Book Festival, July 21, 2018 will showcase 80 Arizona authors as a celebration of books for all ages. The festival at the Mazatzal Casino Page 12 | ANAgrams ■ May 2018
Photo courtesy of Payson Book Festival
in Payson promotes literacy with the theme “Reading takes us to amazing places.” The mission of the festival presenters, Arizona Professional Writers Rim Country Chapter and Majestic Rim Retirement Living is to enhance the love of reading by providing a friendly environment that encourages personal interaction between Arizona authors and their readers of all ages. They have many award winning authors. A favorite is Buckshot Dot, an Arizona Culture Keeper, who entrances visitors with her cowboy poetry and songs. Pete Aleshire, Editor In Chief of the Payson Roundup encourages authors from the Arizona Professional Writers, Rim Country Chapter to share their stories in the newspaper. Teresa McQuery, long time reporter for the Payson Roundup, has always been helpful in getting the information to the Roundup’s readers. Teresa often shares her excellent ideas on the best way to present the Festival. The Payson Roundup supplies local schools with 150 papers per edition. Studies show that newspapers,
read at home , or used as a learning tool at schools, help readers of all ages improve language skills. Gary Tackett said, “Most people I respect learned to read at an early age and they support reading programs.” The Festival encourages participation by children with story times throughout the day provided by Story Monster, Cat in the Hat, First Things First, Rim Country Literacy and Read On Arizona. The goal is to help young children build skills they need to become successful readers now, while laying the foundation for lifelong literacy. A free ticket for prize drawings throughout the day will be given to every visitor. Arizona authors and businesses from Rim Country have donated some exceptional gifts for a silent auction, as well. Visitors to the Payson Book Festival enjoy a full schedule of workshops with many of their favorite authors presenting the inside story about the writing craft. Come spend July 21, a lovely summer day, in the cool mountain town of Payson. For more information visit: www.paysonbookfestival.org.
Arizona Journalism News
University of Arizona J-School inaugural Hall of Fame, inspiring Nearly 200 people listened to in- her mother, Nancy Guthrie, accepted spiring speeches as the University of her plaque. Arizona School of Journalism inducted You still can make a donation in honor 14 individuals and two couples into its of the inductees through the school’s inaugural Hall of Fame on April 7. general gift fund or specific funds A surprise guest, UA President Robert named in their honor. The money will Robbins, attended the go to student reportinduction brunch and ing projects, travel and two-hour ceremony at scholarships. the Center for Creative Alums are welcome Photography. to view the school’s “Absolutely one of perpetual Hall of Fame the most inspiring plaque on the third events I have attended. floor of the Marshall Congratulations. I am Building, 845 N. Park so impressed with your Ave. school,” Robbins said in The inductees were a note to David Cuillier, among dozens nomischool director. nated. The other canWatch the video, didates will be considfilmed by student ered for the next class. Michael Romero, and Nominees may include Click on image to open view a gallery of phoalumni (whether they program book tos shot by student Nick graduated or not) and Smallwood. In addition, former employees of check out the 36-page program, pre- the school, and should have made a ceremony slideshow and testimonials significant contribution to journalism for each inductee. For more coverage, and society. go to journalism.arizona.edu/hall18. To submit a nomination, describe in Tears flowed as the school 350 words or less why the candidate posthumously honored Donald W. is worthy. Email the letter to Mike Carson (‘54 alum), Hugh and Jan Chesnick, outreach coordinator, or mail it Harelson (Hugh, ‘52), Douglas D. to UA School of Journalism, P.O. Box Martin, Sherman R. Miller 3rd, Donald 210158B, Tucson, AZ 85721-0158. and Lou Edith “Luda” Soldwedel, and Read more about the inaugural event Bill Walsh (‘84). Family members and and find links to: friends spoke on their behalf. • Video of ceremony The rest of the class honored • Savannah Guthrie acceptance video were: Gilbert H. Bailon (‘81), Nancy J. • Photo gallery Cleeland (‘77), Richard H. Gilman (‘72), • 36-page program Florence G. Graves (‘76), Savannah C. • Pre-ceremony slideshow Guthrie (‘93), Jane R. Kay (‘61), Lynne • Ceremony testimonials, including all Olson (‘69), Mort L. Rosenblum (‘65), the bios and background histories of Jacqueline E. Sharkey (‘72) and Frank inductees by clicking here. O. Sotomayor (‘66). Reprint permission: Michael Gordon Guthrie couldn’t attend the ceremony, Chesnick, Outreach Coordinator, but the NBC “Today” show co-anchor University of Arizona School of taped a speech for the audience, and Journalism.
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Newspapers Deliver May 2018 ■ ANAgrams | Page 13
Production: Why running regularly scheduled press tests is crucial to your equipment’s health We have a responsibility to our and your press. customers, both internal and outside Maintaining Optimum Quality commercial accounts, to provide the There are tried and true tests that we can conduct withbest possible reproduction and top out calling in vendors. Anyone who’s been in the printing quality printing. It’s a competitive business has most likely either heard of or done these tests market, and unless we stay at the top sometime in their career. They provide a fairly simple and of our game, we’re jeopardizing rev- defining measure of how we’re printing at a given point in By Jerry Simpkins enue, customer satisfaction, and our time. advertising and commercial base. How often you conduct these tests can depend on sevVice President, Running regularly scheduled press eral different things: how often your press wanders out of West Texas tests to ensure we are operating as spec, how often you change vendors or supplies and how Printing Center, LLC efficiently as possible and maintain- committed you are to quality. ing the mechanical integrity of our I’ll apologize in advance for any confusion I may cause equipment is essential. in my explanations throughout this feature. You will find In many of my articles, I refer to contacting supply ven- me jumping between testing and maintenance often. I dors for specific testing and evaluation related to their believe they are inseparable and dependent on each other products on-press. I still believe this is one of the most to maintain print quality. productive manners in which to I’ve worked in shops where the maintain quality standards and enpress runs like a fine Swiss watch. courage you that if you have a reIn these shops, printing was My advice on most of this is that the printing process has been around for production issue (rooted in a compredictable; we didn’t have a lot of a very long time, and while there are modity such as ink, paper, fountain reasons to change. We’d set iron “new and improved” products being solution, blankets, plates, etc.) that to iron once in a blue moon, stick introduced daily, be careful not to your best option is to contact the with the same suppliers because e xperiment with too many innovative vendor and have them assist you in their products worked well and the products at the same time—you’ll soon testing/analyzing. press simply kept on producing a be chasing your tail. Outside of the more serious probwell printed sheet. lems with consumables, it remains On the other side of the coin, I’ve the responsibility of your press exalso worked shops that mechanical perts, management and crew to conduct regular press tests tolerances mysteriously wander from their settings one to maintain press conditions and ensure your equipment is day printing perfect and the next it seems like you have a operating at its peak. totally different press. These are the presses that are going Equipment wears out; we change vendors and vendors to need more T.L.C. and you’ll have to obviously gear your change formulas; we switch paper mills; often experiment testing schedule to your specific needs of your operation to willy-nilly with different blankets; and about once a month, preserve quality. I’m approached to test out a “new and improved fountain Before you start any testing, make sure that your press solution” from a vendor. is set-up as it should be. It’s important to realize that the My advice on most of this is that the printing process has testing is the easy part; preparing for the test can be the been around for a very long time, and while there are “new most difficult task. and improved” products being introduced daily, be careful Never test a press with old beat-down blankets, uncertain not to experiment with too many innovative products at mechanical tolerances, etc. Get your press set-up the the same time—you’ll soon be chasing your tail. closest you can to original manufacturer’s specs. I’m absolutely not saying don’t look into new products, Check/reset iron to iron, and then reset ink and but simply saying don’t take a shotgun approach when it micrometric rollers on all units that you are going to comes to experimenting. When you find something that test. Once iron is set correctly, it normally needs to only works well on your press and produces optimal quality, ap- be checked on an annual basis unless a serious wrap or preciate that fact and stick with it until you’re absolutely apparent impression issue occurs. Setting iron to iron alone positive that what’s being advertised is going to improve should allow operators to cut back on ink and get a more things and favorably interact with other vendor supplies even ink laydown for testing. Ink and lint should be cleaned Page 14 | ANAgrams ■ May 2018
off all rollers and they should be checked for hardness and surface damage. Any rollers that are above acceptable hardness specs (40 durometer or whatever your vendor recommends) should be replaced. A hard roller can be abrasive to copper roller surfaces and will affect your overall ability to maintain print standards, skewing test results. To prepare for testing, blankets should be thoroughly cleaned of all ink and paper dust (lint) and blanket heights should be double checked. Check with your manufacturer for their recommendations and also look up recommendations in your press manual. Blanket heights of .083 are common on an Urbanite/plus or minus .001 to maintain print quality. Replace worn blankets if necessary. Cleaning blankets at the end of each shift is also recommended to prevent glazing and/or becoming prematurely hard. Make sure your folder is ready as well. It will make any testing easier if you’re not jamming your folder during the test and if your test is running wrinkle free. Check for wear and slop in the folder. There may not be a lot you can do about wear once it’s occurred, but don’t encourage premature wear by running the folder dry. Your folding and cutting cylinder pin timing gears and cam should be lubed at least once a shift along with the cam followers to prevent premature wear and future pin timing issues. Press testing isn’t rocket science. There are only a couple of in-house tests that I know of that can provide quick feedback and let you know how your equipment is performing with very little effort. Poor registration can be the result of an endless list of issues: poor or inconsistent impression from unit to unit, iron to iron issues, roller settings, inadequate ink and water balance, lack of general maintenance, plate lock-ups problems, CTP issues, paper challenges…the list goes on. About the best you can do is establish a base and then follow a maintenance plan that keeps your equipment and processes at that base point—otherwise known as predictability. I have found that when it seems that quality appears to be spinning out of control, getting back to the basics of printing, the nuts and bolts of pressmanship often is all that is needed. Registration Problems and Solutions A grid test is my go-to test for registration problems. I’ve mentioned this test in a previous E&P article and feel it deserves repeating with a bit more detail. It is the core test to establish and maintain accurate color registration on any press.
First, have your prepress area output four plates with the exact same image. You’ll need a full page image with vertical and horizontal thin (one-point) lines every inch. You may also use registration targets within these squares. This will allow you to measure your registration side to side (sidelay) as well as up and down comps. I also like to print four solid bars within the test sheet to help establish ink density and ink/water balance. When you lock-up your plates across the four-high or webbed CMYK units, be sure to check your plate gaps for debris (clean if necessary) and carefully mount plates. Plate lock-ups can be a major contributor to registration issues and it’s important to make sure you’ve taken any haphazard locking up out of the mix. This is important so that if you do have a problem with lockups it will end up being a measurable and consistent issue that you can address by shimming if necessary. Make sure to zero all your units and run your press up to speed slowly. It’s important that once you get the press up to speed and warm you establish an acceptable ink and water balance. Too much water on the sheet will contribute to fan-out and poor registration on the edge of your sheet. If you see your grid from unit to unit lining up on top of one another in the center but misaligned as you go out to the edge of the sheet, and you’ve ensured that your mechanical settings are spot on, water can possibly be the culprit, skewing your test results. Of course, the benefits of this test are in the end result. If you’ve set your press correctly, i.e. establishing and following all mechanical settings, blanket heights, ink/ water balance, etc. and still have an issue with registration, you need to start troubleshooting. In order to “chase” any problems, you may have to run the test multiple times to be certain that you’re seeing the same thing, making multiple small adjustments to eliminate the issue. Unfortunately, while I often refer to the basics being key, presses are complicated and many things can contribute to poor registration on a daily basis. In no particular order, these are some commons problems I see with registration after running a grid test: • Cleaning debris out of the plate gaps can often correct slight registration challenges. It is important to be certain plates are fully falling into the lock-up and should be checked on a regular basis. • Checking the torque on bolts in the bars is one of the See Production: Testing, page 16 May 2018 ■ ANAgrams | Page 15
Production: Testing is crucial from page 15
first things to review before moving on to shimming. • Worn or bent plate lock-up bars. Often lock-ups get worn and even bent slightly and will need to be shimmed to correct registration. This is a process of hit and miss and can take multiple run-ups on press to realign. It’s a tedious process but a necessary evil. • Proper torque of the blanket bars is critical upon installation and it’s equally important to re-torque bars after running a few thousands impressions. I’ve seen a pressman tear a bar right off a blanket by over-torqueing. How accurate do you think that blanket height would have been? • Mixing blankets can also create problems when it comes to registration. As bizarre as it might sound, many pressrooms end up with mixed blanket brands on press. Maintaining blanket heights and changing out four-high towers of all blankets completely may be expensive, but not doing so can cause serious problems with registration. • As previously detailed, ink and water balance is a key to registration. Additionally the right fountain solution and conductivity can contribute to ink laydown, stripping, picking and a variety of issues, while also keeping the sheet as dry as possible by improving registration. Another simple press test for quality is measuring gain. All presses have dot gain/spread no matter how we try to minimize it. Dot gain is an inherent part of the printing process. Typical offset press gains range from 15 to 30 percent. Presses that are not maintained to specs can run well Page 16 | ANAgrams ■ May 2018
eyond this, creating mottled images clean highlights and open midtones/ b and poor reproduction of halftones. shadows. Too much press gain will grow your It’s important that you have a proper highlight dot, creating a lack of contrast working densitometer available and between highlight areas and low/mid- that the unit is zeroed to the paper. tones. I find midtone dots to be most While setting the densitometer to the affected by dot gain, causing photos high and low of the plate provided to look flat and again lacking contrast. with the unit, you must also take into With excessive account the press gain, shadshade of the ow dots will plug paper and adjust I’ve barely scratched the surface and create a mafor the cast of on press testing procedures for jor problem with the newsprint. quality reproduction. It’s a topic the overall look I’ve barely someone could write a book of the photo. scratched the on and still not address all the Since it can’t surface on challenges. be avoided, unpress testing derstanding how procedures for press gain affects quality reproducthe printed product is instrumental in tion. It’s a topic someone could write controlling the end result. a book on and still not address all the The degree of dot gain on each challenges. The tests themselves are particular press must be established in fairly simple, but interpretation of the order to correct and adjust for it. Once results can be very complex. you’ve established that the press is When carefully followed through printing with the minimal amount of on, the basic tests mentioned in gain possible, the correction must take this column can produce significant place on the front-end (prepress) to improvements in print quality and compensate for that gain. reliable reproduction. It comes down Following a similar path to to proper and consistent preventative registration, ink/water balance often maintenance and scheduled press is the biggest contributor to dot gain tests to ensure that print quality on press, followed by paper. Most of remains the very best your equipment us don’t adjust between press runs on is capable of producing. 27.6# news and 50# alternative offJerry Simpkins is vice president of set, and then we’re surprised when the West Texas Printing Center, LLC we have excessive press gain on a in Lubbock, Texas. Contact him on heavier sheet. LinkedIn.com or at simpkins@tds.net. The best test to measure press gain Reprinted with permission: is to obtain a test file (usually a PDF) Editor&Publisher. from your ink vendor and run it up on press (hopefully when your vendor can SAVE the Dates: be on-site to help analyze the results). ANA Board This test (made up of several color targets, halftones and solids) will give Meetings you an accurate evaluation of press July 26 – 1 p.m. / via conference call gain and a solid target to compensate for it on the front end. Since you’ll ofOct. 5 – 2:00 to 5 p.m. / As part of the ANA Fall Convention (held at ten have different gain from unit to hotel convention room) unit coordination with your prepress area to apply curves to compensate Oct. 6 – Annual Meeting /Luncheon for, dot gain can occur to produce As part of the ANA Fall Convention (held at hotel convention room) crisp, brighter, sharper colors with