March 2016 Colorado Editor by Colorado Press Association

editor colorado

Official publication of the Colorado Press Association / coloradopressassociation.com / Vol. LXXXVII, No. 3

March 2016

From Columbine to Aurora

CPA, SYNC2 Media could undergo structural board changes

A look at how Pulitzer-winning reporting has changed with the times

By Joshua Roberts For the Editor The Colorado Press Service was established in the 1940s as a “one-stop shop” for businesses to advertise across multiple newspapers in the state and nationally. At its core, the Press Service model remained virtually untouched for more than six decades, until 2012 when it was rebranded SYNC2 Media to reflect expanded services in the rapidly changing times of the newspaper industry. Four years later, SYNC2 could be poised to undergo a second major foundational change. The for-profit SYNC2 is a subsidiary of the not-for-profit Colorado Press Association. The organizations, however, are governed by the same board of directors, but that could soon change, depending on feedback from CPA’s general membership and board members. Non-profit attorney Cara Lawrence advised CPA staff that having one board oversee both organizations, though legal, is “not considered a best practice.” The issue, she said, concerns “piercing the corporate veil,” — or two corporations being so intertwined they effectively exist as one corporation, a risky practice concerning liability. In the 1990s, for example, an Internal Revenue Service audit of another state’s Press Service operations recommended the press service have a mostly-independent board. Raehal said other Press Associations and Services are split between operating under one board or two separate boards, based on his research.

Photo by Lindsay Pierce , The Denver Post

Pulitzer-winning journalism is on display in the Denver Post’s newsroom, including coverage the Columbine and Aurora theater shooting tragedies. The Post is hosting a presentation on May 13 that will look at the two tragedies and how the Post covered them. It is part of the 100-year celebration of the Pulitzer Award, and marks the kickoff of “campfire sessions” to be held throughout the year in Colorado cities. It also is the keystone Friday evening event for the Colorado Press Association’s annual convention.

Series highlights Pulitzer milestone, showcases state’s journalistic excellence

#newspapersthrive A

SERIES

#newspapersthrive is a series focused on success and/or transition stories of CPA members. These stories are available for reprint by members. By Joshua Roberts For the Editor

See SYNC2, Page 10

he aftermath of the 1999 Columbine and 2012 Aurora mass shootings defined dichotomy for many Pulitzer Prize-winning Denver Post staffers.

Their work, though recognized with the most prestigious award in journalism, came at a cost, said Kevin Simpson, a writer who worked on both staffs. “You’re proud of the way you per-

formed as a news gathering organization and (at the same time) you’re just unbelievably sorrowful of the idea that this even happened at all,” said Simpson, a veteran journalist who has been at the Post for 31 years. “I remember for the Columbine one, we had I guess what you’d call a celebration, but it was so muted, and again, it really reflected that dichotomy. We were all proud of the work we’d done and we were horrified by the circumstances that made it necessary.”

See PULITZER, Page 10

NEWS YOU CAN USE

USPS POSTAL RATES TO GO DOWN

PUT IT IN PRINT

INSIDE THIS MONTH’S EDITOR

The United States Postal Service (USPS) on Feb. 25 ﬁled a notice with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) that stated it will reduce prices for market-dominant products – including Standard Mail and Periodicals. The reduction is due to the end of the exigent surcharge USPS has been collecting since 2014 as a way to recoup lost revenue caused by a recession. USPS said its recovered revenue will reach $4.6 billion by April 10 – the point at which the PRC requires the surcharge to end. Postal rates for total market (TMC) coverage products at high-density plus rates and dropped off at local post ofﬁces should decline by 4.3 percent, and newspapers at within-county periodical rates by 3.75 percent.

With the industry changing, a lot of focus is on digital. But our core products need to continue to improve, too. Looking for ideas how? Look no further. “25 ways to improve your print products in 2016” is free for CPA members to download http://25printideas. creativecirclemedia.com

Q-&-A WITH GOV. HICKENLOOPER Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is speaking at this year’s convention. Read what he has to say about the industry, marijuana and open government. See page 3 CONVENTION CENTRAL All you need to know about the upcoming convention, including speaker lineups, schedule and more. See pages 5-9

colorado editor

March 2016

Colorado Newspapers

colorado editor ISSN #162-0010 USPS # 0122-940 Vol. LXXXVII, Issue 3 March 2016

Colorado Editor is the official publication of the Colorado Press Association and is published monthly at 1120 Lincoln St., Suite 912 Denver, CO 80203 p: 303-571-5117 f: 303-571-1803 coloradopressassociation.com

Subscription rate: $10 per year, $1 single copy Staff Jerry Raehal Chief Executive Officer jraehal@colopress.net Board of Directors OFFICERS Chair Terri House The Pagosa Springs SUN terri@pagosasun.com President Keith Cerny Alamosa Valley Courier krcemail56@gmail.com Vice President Bart Smith The Tribune bsmith@greeleytribune.com Treasurer Matt Lubich The Johnstown Breeze mlubich@johnstownbreeze.com Secretary Larry Ryckman The Denver Post lryckman@denverpost.com DIRECTORS Mike Wiggins Grand Junction Daily Sentinel mike.wiggins@gjsentinel.com Beecher Threatt Ouray County Plaindealer beecher@ouraynews.com Lisa Schlichtman Steamboat Pilot & Today lschlichtman@steamboattoday.com Jason Woodside Colorado Community Media jwoodside@ coloradocommunitymedia.com Vincent Laboy The Montrose Daily Press vincentl@montrosepress.com Matt Sandberg The Summit Daily News msandberg@cmnm.com Periodical postage paid at Denver, CO 80202. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Editor 1120 Lincoln St., Suite 912 Denver, CO 80203

In the News Jacobson promoted to publisher of The (Greeley) Tribune Bryce Jacobson will handle dayto-day operation of The Tribune in Greeley following his promotion to publisher. Formerly the general manager and director of advertising, he will oversee all digital and print aspects, BRYCE including news, JACOBSON events, marketing and advertising, classifieds, production, circulation and audience development. Jacobson takes over for Bart Smith, who will now concentrate on his overall general manager duties, with top-level oversight of the BART Greeley Publishing SMITH Co. (GPC), Fence Post Co. (FPC), and Countryside Publications. Smith credits Jacobson for leading The Tribune to “impressive growth” in digital business. Said Jacobson: “The digital growth that we have seen has not only been on our dot.com sites, but also in advertising on extended networks and ancillary products such as email, social, etc. Specifically in the last year, our greatest digital accomplishment has been the improved communications with our subscribers, some automated, some not, but ultimately we are communicating more efficiently with them throughout the cycle of their subscription.” As for the future, he added: “The digital focus for media (formerly newspaper) companies will continue to focus on sharing news and information in a manner that is conducive for our readers. The technology changes but the mission never does.” Jacobson joined Greeley Publishing in 2013 as director of advertising and was promoted to general manager in October 2014. A Sterling native, he was publisher of the Craig Daily Press, 2006-2013, and is a former chairman of the Colorado Press Association board of directors. Smith joined The Tribune as publisher in 2007, adding the job of group manager of GPC and FPC the following year. He is the incoming president of the CPA board and is on the board of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition.

Bzdek in at editorial helm of The Gazette Vince Bzdek will take over the post of editor-in-chief of The Gazette in Colorado Springs on April 4. He replaces Joanna Bean, who left her post as editor and vice president of content in January to join the University of Colorado/Colorado Springs as assistant director in the University Communications and Media Relations department. Bzdek is an editor at large for The Washington Post, where over the past 10 years he

What’s new in Colorado news? The Colorado Editor wants to hear from you. We’re on the lookout for news about your staff, publications and businesses for our all-new columns and features in the Colorado Editor – your monthly membership newspaper from Colorado Press Association. Send us your “breaking news” on: • New Hires • Promotions • People Moving On • Anniversaries • Retirements • Contest or Staff Awards & Honors

• New Building or Equipment Projects or Updates • Meetings, Seminars and Training • Community Projects • College-Related News and Events • Industry news that affects you • And any other personal news your staff members might want to share

Send your news items of 150 words or fewer (photo also welcome) to Cheryl Ghrist – caghrist@comcast.net – using subject line “Colorado Editor News.”

has worked various jobs, including news director, digital political editor and front-page editor. A Colorado native and graduate of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, he previously was deputy managing editor VINCE at The Denver Post, BZDEK where he was a member of a team that won a Pulitzer Prize for coverage of the beginnings of the war in Iraq. He has also written for the Wall Street Journal and Wired magazine. Bzdek is a published author (including two JOANNA books, “Woman BEAN of the House: The Rise of Nancy Pelosi” and “The Kennedy Legacy: Jack, Bobby and Ted and a Family Dream Fulfilled”) and has lectured on journalism and politics at several colleges and universities. Bzdek, his wife and two children are moving to Colorado Springs this month.

Franks new production manager for Colorado Community Media Erin Franks was named production manager for Colorado Community Media (CCM), in Highlands Ranch, Colo., on Feb. 29. He replaces former Production/Marketing Manager Scott Andrews, who left CCM to become creative director for Innovative Learning Concepts Inc. in Colorado Springs.

Franks earned a bachelor of fine arts, concentrating in illustration, at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Lakewood, Colo., in 1996. He worked for Gart Sports and Sports Authority before becoming a graphic designer for the community newspaper group Mile High Newspapers Inc. (Golden Transcript, Wheat Ridge Transcript,

Arvada Press and Lakewood Sentinel) from December 2006-2012. Since 2012, he has been a graphic designer for CCM, which now includes the Mile High group. A Colorado native, Franks lives in Lakewood and he and his 15-year-old daughter, Lili, are big fans of “nerd culture,” the Denver Comic Con and the band Twenty One Pilots.

Meyer leaves Denver Post editorial staff Denver Post editorial page writer Jeremy Meyer recently resigned to become assistant director of communications in the Communications Division of the Colorado Department of Education in Denver. His 26-year journalism career also included newspapers in Oak JEREMY Harbor, Walla Walla MEYER and Yakima, Wash., and The Gazette in Colorado Springs. Said Meyer via Facebook: “I hang up my pen to switch careers…I am sad to leave journalism but am excited for the new challenge and adventure of learning a new profession…Thank you for reading me, editing me, criticizing, answering my questions, taking my phone calls and teaching me. It has been an amazing career.” Meyer has reported on everything from features and sports to news and opinion. After studying journalism at Western Washington University in Bellingham, Wash., he went to work as a reporter for the Yakima Herald-Republic (1995-1999), then moved on to a reporter job at The Gazette (2000-2004). While there he completed the Scripps Howard Institute on Environmental Journalism in May 2000. He also became a “red-card firefighter” – earning an Incident Qualification Card certification for wildland firefighting – in 2004. He went on to work as a reporter for The Denver Post in July 2004, changing jobs to editorial page writer in December 2013, where his work included daily editorials, weekly columns and issue-oriented articles for the Sunday Perspective page. He also contributed to Post blogs.

colorado editor

March 2016

Q&A

10 questions with Gov. John Hickenlooper

‘I’ve always had a suspicion that I could have been a good journalist’ included in an email but have nothing to do with the investigation, but that’s just the cost of making sure we have a good democracy.

By Cheryl Ghrist Contributing Editor This issue, “10 Questions” checked in with John Hickenlooper, the 42nd governor of the State of Colorado, and opening speaker at the 2016 Colorado Press Association Annual Convention on May 13. Born in Narberth, Penn., he went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s in geology at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. Hickenlooper was first sworn in as governor on Jan. 11, 2011, and for a second term on Jan. 13, 2015. A member of the Democratic Governors Association and the Western Governors’ Association, he currently serves on the Executive Committee and the Economic Development and Commerce Committee of the National Governors Association.

Speaking of those issues, this question is from CFOIC Executive Director Jeffrey A. Roberts: What are your thoughts on the question of whether public records maintained in database formats ought to be available to the public in formats that allow for searching, sorting and aggregating by the user?

That depends on the details and the situation. If government is collecting data as paper records, to have those records digitized when they may not need to be seems like a waste of money to me.

Regarding FOI issues in general, have you noted an increase in interest from the media and the general public during your terms in office, and if so, to what would you attribute this?

With a pretty good record as a professional, a businessman and a politician are there other industries or education you wish you could experience to check off more goals on your “wish list”?

If anything, I would say there has been less interest by the public. Obviously there are not as many reporters as there once were, but there are so many different ways that people get their news. Often, they’re just picking up headlines from Twitter or Facebook, and I think that erodes people’s interest in civic affairs.

I think success in the restaurant business and success in politics both reflect customer service to an extent. It’s about really trying to see what people want and need. One of the places we can improve in public service is in apprenticeship programs, where when kids turn 16, they can go to work for three days a week, and then go back to high school or community college for two days a week, and learn at their school things that are applicable, or at least give a context for, what they are pursuing on the business side. It could be as simple as reading a newspaper, or studying economic trends or world affairs. That goal is tied to my work in public service. If I go back to the private sector, I think I would probably want to build stuff. I think I’d want to take old buildings and renovate them again. It’s always been my real love.

It’s been a few years since you’ve addressed the state’s journalists at the Colorado Press Association’s annual Convention. What are your thoughts on what it’s like to be back “center stage,” and do you enjoy being among the members of the press in a more social setting than usual?

In college I came very close to studying journalism and having a summer job working for the Trentonian in Trenton, New Jersey with Gil Spencer. I’ve always had an inclination towards journalism and one of the great things about restaurants – and about politics – is I get to see a lot of journalists all the time.

With various honors and board work, you’ve been in the national media spotlight during your political career. What is your opinion of

As a leader and a businessman who has opposed all marijuana legalization efforts in the past, do you have a different view now, or are you still monitoring the effects of the industry and reserving a change in opinion?

Courtesy photo

Gov. John Hickenlooper sits outside the Capitol. Hickenlooper is scheduled to present at the 2016 CPA annual convention in May. journalists and their industry in Colorado and how they compare with their counterparts across the country?

Journalism has changed so dramatically in the last five or ten years. And it’s happened everywhere. I think Colorado has held its own pretty well, but The Rocky Mountain News no longer exists. The Denver Post has about a third of the number of people on staff as they had ten years ago. It’s hard not to be disheartened. Just as Teddy Roosevelt – and I’m not comparing myself to Teddy Roosevelt – but just as Teddy Roosevelt worked with the muckrakers and the journalists of his time to help him create good government, we have tried to do that at the state level. With fewer journalists, it’s harder to do. One of the challenges for all of us is to look for new revenue streams so that journalism

can reward enough people to go out there, investigate and report.

Since you’ve advocated transparency of government during your terms as mayor and governor, do you have an affinity for freedom of information issues – general freedom of the press, open courts, and access to government records and meetings – and the work of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition?

Yes, I recognize that making sure that the media can get access to records, and they can come to meetings if you’ve got more than two politicians in a room, I think that works toward making a better democracy. It can be burdensome to go back through all of your files and redact information to protect citizens who may be mentioned or

A couple years ago, I would have said let’s flip the vote over if I could have. Now I think we’ve made a lot of progress, and it’s possible to imagine this regulatory system actually working to the point where we dramatically diminish the number of drug dealers. To me, that’s the real key. If we can do that, then that’s a pretty good thing. And if we can demonstrate that young kids and teenagers aren’t getting into pot more than they were before legalization, that also is a very good thing. So I’m cautiously optimistic.

Q A

And how is working with not only a Denver Office of Marijuana Policy but also a Marijuana Editor at the Denver Post?

If you ever told me that we were going to have a marijuana editor at a time when we are cutting 60 percent of the journalist jobs here, I would have laughed. But then again, I never would’ve imagined that we as a state would have legalized recreational marijuana.

See 10 QUESTIONS, Page 11

colorado editor

SYNC2 Media Update Lots of exciting new opportunities to learn and earn over the next few months. Here is a quick look at what SYNC2 Media — a for-profit affiliate of the Colorado Press Association — has in store for you:

SYNC2 U webinars ad trainings to have digital feel SYNC2 U Ad Sales 101 training webinars will have a new media feel for the next few sessions. “Selling Digital, Talking the Talk” led by Ad Taxi’s Alana Pawloski was March 24 and Doug Hay is available on demand. The next SYNC2 Media, digital sales VP of Marketing session, “Competition and Exchanges,” also led by Pawloski, is tentatively scheduled slated for noon April 21. In this session, you will learn who the digital competition is, what Exchanges are and how they work. The final digital sales training, “How to add value to print with digital” is slated for noon May 19. In this session, you will see

how digital solutions are the perfect tool for up selling your current clients. Learn the best ways to present a media mix to your clients. We will be sending sign-up details via email blasts. Or contact me for more details.

2 new initiatives to help drive political ad revenue The Associated Press is offering all CPA members who also are AP members the opportunity to have the AP election widget placed on their site. Your paper does a great job of covering all the local elections, now you can keep those readers on your site longer with AP coverage of the national elections. SYNC2 Media will be selling the ad space on the page with a revenue share for all participating CPA/AP member papers. Colorado TV (CTV) is a long term, collaborative project between CPA, SYNC2 Media and Denver Post (Colorado)TV that will enable our industry to unite our resources and compete for eyeballs and revenue with the big digital outlets like Google and Yahoo for years to come. As a CPA member paper, you can place a customized video player on your site at no charge to you. You can then share video content from your paper’s site throughout the state on CTV, driving traffic to your site. SYNC2 Media will sell pre roll video advertising on the player with a revenue sharing program for all participating

papers. Your staff will have the ability to sell into the CTV program, too. Imagine seeing all of the 15 and 30 second political commercials you see on TV (and the revenue associated with them), on your site this political season. Contact Doug Hay at 720-272-7173 or dhay@sync2media.com to learn more about how to participate in any of these programs.

Three newspapers earn Second Street honors

The Tribune in Greeley, Steamboat Pilot & Today and The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction were honored recently in the 7th Annual Second Street Awards for outstanding performance and results in online promotions. The awards were handed out Feb. 17 via webinar, honoring media companies across North America and the EU in 26 categories for contests, ballots, quizzes and e-commerce programs. The Tribune earned “Best Small Market Promotions Program” and “Best Sponsored Quiz.” Steamboat earned “Best Hashtag Photo Sweeps” and “National Sports Contest.” The Sentinel was awarded “Best Niche Ballot.” A release from the St. Louis-based Second Street noted: “Borrell Associates’ research shows online promos will grow to an $80 billion industry by 2017, which the results represented in the Second Street Awards demonstrated to be true.”

March 2016

New member for SYNC2 Media team After a plethora of interviews, Judy Quelch has been hired a new account executive for SYNC2 Media. “Judy has the ability to connect immediately with prospects and clients and takes the job of delivering results for them personally,” said Doug Hay, VP of Marketing for SYNC2 Meida. “Her professionalism and love of the industry shows in everything she does.” Born and raised in Southern California, Quelch earned her BSBA in the Midwest and has been a ColoJUDY rado resident for more QUELCH than two decades. Trained in print and online sales by Gannett at the Fort Collins Coloradoan, Judy earned the coveted ‘Salesperson of the Year” award in her first full year at the newspaper and was promoted to Sales Supervisor soon after. She has more than 25 years experience in retailing, sales management and B2B sales, and worked with Hay while at the Coloradoan. “I am excited to be working with Judy again,” Hay said. “Her friendly, efficient and enthusiastic manner have not changed since we worked together at the Fort Collins Coloradan in the early 2000s. Our prospects and clients are getting a world class consultant and partner.” You can reach Quelch at jquelch@sync2media. com or her direct line at 720.274.7172.

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March 2016

2016

colorado editor

Colorado Press Association Annual Convention May 12-14 • Denver West Sheraton • #CPAPressOn

Convention changes lead to questions I must admit, I’m proud of last year’s convention. We had a great speaker line-up, increased attendance and we nearly tripled sponsorships. But I also admit planning the Colorado Press Association’s premier annual event this year has given me pause. We’ve moved the timeframe from February to May 12-14, moved it to a new hotel — the Denver West Sheraton — and have made the contest more competitive. All these changes were at the membership’s request, but they are significant. And such changes leave me with questions. HOW WILL THE NEW TIMEFRAME AND LOCATION IMPACT ATTENDANCE? With better weather and roads and a lower room rates (no parking fees) at the hotel, I hope it increases attendance. WILL MEMBERS BRING AS MANY PEOPLE IF THEY’RE NOT WINNING AS MANY AWARDS? Changes made to the contest did the job: The contest is more competitive as the awards show will be shorter. But the contest has meaning for members, and some only send those to the convention who have

won awards. I agree the contest is important, but in today’s day and age, I think continuing education is even more so. Which leads me to the next question. CAN WE TOP LAST YEAR’S SPEAKER LINEUP? Jerry Raehal On this count, I’m confident this year’s speaker line-up Colorado Press, is one of the best CEO around. Beyond Gov. John Hickenlooper scheduled to kickoff the convention, we have nationally acclaimed speakers, such as Penny Abernathy and Gordon Borrell, who in addition to giving keynote speeches also will be providing workshops. The diversity of topics is wide ranging. On both print and digital platforms, we have a variety of speakers on editorial and revenue enhancement. There are sessions on productivity as well as on employee relations. We’re even offering free

Costs ...

one-on-one design consultations on your print product, and two sessions devoted on ways to improve your website. I feel confident saying that if you come, you will leave with valuable insight. CAN WE INCREASE SPONSORSHIP? In a word, yes. We are up 460 percent over two years ago, and up 42 percent over last year. If you’re looking at how to make your paper run more effectively, we have a great cross-section of sponsors who can help. SO WHAT ARE THE DEADLINES? The deadline to register is April 19, which is also the same deadline for special room rates at the Denver West Sheraton ($125). After that there is $50 late fee on registration for the convention, and the room rates go to the season rate. You can register online at https://coloradopressassociation.formstack.com/forms/2016_convention_member Or download a print form at: http://www.coloradopressassociation.com/img/ site_specific/uploads/2016_convention-signup_2.pdf For more details on the convention, go to the CPA’s website coloradopressassociation.com.

Cost for CPA members: Friday only: $50 Friday (includes lunch): $90 Saturday only (no dinner or lunch): $65 Saturday only (includes dinner and lunch): $150 Full convention (not including Saturday dinner and lunch): $80 Full convention (including Saturday dinner and lunch): $175 Meals only: Friday lunch only: $45 Saturday Night Awards (dinner only): $100 per person, or a table of 10: $800 Room rates: $125 (Normal price $230-280), no parking costs. To reserve your room, call 303-987-2000 and ask for the CPA rate. Or register online at https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/colopress2016

Colorado Press Association Tentative Schedule • 2016 Annual Convention • May 13-14 • Denver West Sheraton

Friday

General

10 a.m.

Annual meeting

11:30 a.m. Lunch

Gov. Lunch — Gov. John Hickenlooper will present during the lunch

1-2 p.m.

2:15-3:15 p.m

College tract

7:30 p.m.

Pulitzer presentation at the Denver Post

Saturday

General

7-9 a.m.

past presidents brkfst — by invite only

9-10 a.m.

Keynote The Future of Local Media GORDON BORRELL, Borrell Associates Gordon Borrell

10:15-11:15

Fact-checking yourself and your sources

Saving Public Notices

Native Advertising on a Shoestring

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

JACI SMITH, Delawareonlilne.com

2:15-3:15 p.m

3:30-4:30 p.m.

5 p.m. 6 p.m. 6:45 p.m.

Awards reception Awards dinner begins Awards presentation begins

Finding magnificence in the mundane

Advertising Round Table

News Design 101

JOHN AGUILAR, Denver Post

Moderated by Doug Hay, SYNC2 Media

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

The editorial writers briefcase

Media Buyers Panel

D. REED ECKHART, Wyoming Tribune Eagle

JON BROSS, KATIE ENGERMAN, Vladimir Jones

25 Design Things They Say You Can't Do...But You Really Can! ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

Keynote Bonus Session

Editorial

Rev. Enhancement

How to Become a 'Media Company of the Future'

Newspaper Ethics in the digital age ELIZABETH A. SKEWES , Associate professor in Journalism and Media Studies at CU

Keynote-Three Epiphanies about Saving Community Journalism PENELOPE MUSE ABERNATHY, University of North Carolina

1-2 p.m.

Digital-editorial

ERIN JORDAN, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

GORDON BORRELL, Borrell Associates

11:30 a.m. Lunch

Design & Graphics

DOUG BELL, Evergreen Newspapers

3:30-4:30 p.m.

AP reception Ap Awards/CAPERS

Rev. Enhancement

How to get a Journalism Job

Job Fair

5 p.m. 6 p.m.

Editorial

Leading Change: Successful Strategies and Tactics

Newsroom Productivity: Feeding Your Passion While Feeding the Beast

Selling Personality Styles

PENELOPE MUSE ABERNATHY, University of North Carolina

ERIN JORDAN, The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

TIM SMITH, Tim Smith Consulting

A learning newsroom – making the contract work for you D. REED ECKHART, Wyoming Tribune Eagle

Newspaper Events and Programs: Added Revenue Opportunity JENIFER FURDA, Colorado Springs Business Journal

What Can You Do, and What Should You Do, in Social Media and Online: Legal Rights and Ethical Wrongs. STEVE ZANSBERG, Attorney at Levine, Sullivan, Koch and Schulz, LLP

Digital Edit and Rev. Enhancement

Employee relations

Mobile Strategies

Beyond The Margins: Recruiting and Retaining in 2016

MARKUS FELDENKIRCHEN, ppi JAMES MCDONOUGH, Human Resources Research Medis US, Inc. Consultant, MSEC Competing On the Web Part 1: Tools and Techniques KEVIN BRIDGES, newmedia

Of new labor laws and freelance writing CURTIS GRAVES, Staff Attorney, MSEC

Building a digital-first newsroom

Competing On the Web Part 2: Strategy and Connection

JACI SMITH, Delawareonlilne.com

RICK MANELIUS, Newmedia

Design & Graphics

Digital-editorial

Digital Rev. Enhancement

Creating and packaging relevant consumer content

8 digital tools your newsroom can be using:

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

Russell Viers

JENNIFER HEFTY, Fort Collins Coloradoan

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

Consulting Available

Building your Newspaper Faster using Creative Suite

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

RUSSELL VIERS

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

Production workflow for a digital-first newsroom.

Transforming a Local Media Company

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

JENNIFER HEFTY, Fort Collins Coloradoan

DAN EASTON, Victoria Advocate

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

Selling Print in a Digital World, and Bundling Digital and Print

Video, how to stream and monetize

Powering Digital Agency Success

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

TIM SMITH, Tim Smith Consulting

JENNIFER HEFTY & RYAN YOUNG, Fort Collins Coloradoan

DAN EASTON, Victoria Advocate

ED HENNINGER, Henninger Consulting

colorado editor

March 2016

Your 2016 annual convention speaker line-up Keynote speakers

Graphics

John Hickenlooper

Penny Abernathy

Gordon Borrell

Colorado Governor

University of North Carolina

Borrell Associates

BIO: John Hickenlooper is a former geologist and entrepreneur who champions innovation, collaboration and efficiency. When he was inaugurated Governor of Colorado in 2011, having run on his history of collaboration for community good, he became the first Denver mayor to be elected governor in 150 years.

BIO: Penelope (Penny) Muse Abernathy, a journalism professional with more than 30 years of experience as a reporter, editor and media executive, became the Knight Chair in Journalism and Digital Media Economics in 2008.

He also became the first geologist to become a governor in the history of the nation, and the first brewer since Sam Adams in 1792. Again he has recruited talent from all quarters, and is redefining the relationship between a state government and its business and civic communities. Since taking office in 2011, the Governor and his team have endeavored to make Colorado the most pro-business state, with the highest environmental and ethical standards.

New this year • Pay your registration fees online • More breakout sessions

Abernathy is a former executive at The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, and specializes in preserving quality journalism by helping the news business succeed economically in the digital media environment. Her book, “Saving Community Journalism: The Path to Profitability,” was published by UNC Press in 2014 and is based on five years of research.

TOPICS Keynote: Three Epiphanies about Saving Community Journalism

Abernathy will lay out a path for renewal for community newspapers in the digital age. It builds on the research that she and her team have conducted during the last 7 years with more than two dozen papers from around the country. It looks at the three strategies that will help papers not only survive, but thrive. Workshop: Leading Change: Successful Strategies and Tactics

Change is difficult. This session asks this question: “If you succeed, how will you look to your customers, employees and shareholders?” It will explore how publishers and editors identify the processes and procedures that must change, and then set up a system of measuring against goals and motivating others.

BIO: Gordon Borrell is a sought-after speaker for conferences and company meetings and one of the media industry’s leading analysts. He is ranked in the top 2 percent among Gerson Lehrman Group’s 150,000 consultants worldwide and is quoted frequently in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Ad Age, Forbes and other publications. TOPICS:

Keynote address: The Future of Local Media

The media industry has experienced wrenching changes in the past decade, but Gordon Borrell isn’t one to use a ruler to make forecasts. In fact, he sees some longstanding trends likely to start reversing themselves. With the help of a whole lot of adspending data, a 300-member forecasting panel, and a dose of historical perspective, Borrell offers a unique look at where it’s all headed, and how today’s newspapers are uniquely positioned evolve into even stronger entities. How to Become a ‘Media Company of the Future’

Following up with his keynote presentation, Gordon Borrell will stick around for a 60-minute workshop on what it takes to become a “Media Company of the Future.” This highly interactive session will start with a look at what other companies are doing to bolster revenue. What are the key products, and who’s selling them? What about profit margins? Organizational structure? Come prepared to ask questions and take a lot of notes.

Russell Viers

Ed Henninger Henninger Consulting

BIO: Russell Viers is an international speaker who, since 1997, has presented in 22 countries for publishing events including the HOW Conference, InDesign Conference, IFRA, PepCon and many more including AdobeMAX, where he was honored as an AdobeMAX Master. TOPICS:

Creating and packaging relevant consumer content

Readers’ have more options than ever to get the news and we have to be innovative and exciting to grab their attentions. In this session, Russell will challenge you to rethink your newspaper design and how you present your news to your readers. Building your Newspaper Faster using Creative Suite

Adobe has built into Creative Suite (now Creative Cloud) tools that help automate and streamline production that can save you HOURS, if not DAYS in front of the computer doing repetitive tasks. Want to automate building the Graduation Edition…simple. Want to format headlines, bylines, drop caps, body and more in a click?…no problem. Want to create a parallel workflow where your writers can use word and AUTOMATICALLY have the text go into InDesign already formatted?… yep, it can do that, too! Want to see how you can quickly sort through hundreds (or thousands) of digital photos to choose the best ones, and process them quickly? There is so much to learn in even this two-part class.

BIO: Henninger Consulting has served hundreds of dailies, weeklies, business journals, church-affiliated newspapers and niche publications throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. Founded in 1989 by independent design consultant Ed Henninger, our mission is to provide high-quality newspaper design services and consultation. Nationally-respected newspaper consultant Ken Blum calls Ed “the nation’s foremost design expert for large and smaller hometown newspapers, period.” TOPICS:

Saving Public Notices

Here is a new and powerful weapon in the battle to retain legal advertising by showing them in innovative design approaches. News Design 101: All Basics, No Bull 25 Design Things They Say You Can’t Do...But You Really Can! BONUS! Free Newspaper Design evaluations on Saturday

One of the nation’s premier community newspaper design experts, Ed Henninger, will be providing 20-25 minute, one-on-one sessions with requesting members to go over designs of their newspapers. This is a first sign up, first offered deal, so register soon. To sign-up, email Ed directly at edh@henningerconsulting.com, with the subject line: “CPA Design Evaluation.” Bring 3-4 hard copies of recent publications to the session.

colorado editor

March 2016

Editorial

Jaci Smith

Jennifer Hefty

John Aguilar

Reed Eckhart

Erin Jordan

Delawareonline.com

Fort Collins Coloradoan

Denver Post

Wyoming Tribune Eagle

BIO: Jaci Smith is the digital planner for Gannett's Delawareonline.com (The News Journal). Before joining Delawareonline three months ago, she was the managing editor of a small newspaper in Minnesota and a fellow with the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute. She has been a newsroom warrior for 25 years in five different states from New Jersey to California with the bumps, bruises and awards to prove it.

BIO: Jennifer Hefty is the planning editor for the Fort Collins Coloradoan, part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. She started at the Coloradoan as a copy editor and moved into web production before becoming planning editor in 2014. In this role, Jennifer helps lead the digital team at the Coloradoan and oversees the digital and print production workflows for the newsroom.

BIO: John Aguilar has been in the daily newspaper business for more than a decade. He has been a reporter with The Denver Post for two years, primarily covering the suburbs, politics and education. He was a reporter at the Boulder Daily Camera for 7 1/2 years and, before that, was at the Rocky Mountain News for more than two years.

BIO: D. Reed Eckhardt is the executive editor and editorial page editor at the Wyoming Tribune, a paper he has guided to being a product that regularly wins awards on the national stage, including in NNA, Inland and Associated Press competitions.

The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)

TOPICS:

Finding magnificence in the mundane

TOPICS:

Native Advertising on a Shoestring

This session will go in-depth on what native advertising is, what it isn’t and will provide you with a step by step guide on how you can sell it and create it at your paper. Building a digital-first newsroom

So you’ve got a Facebook page and a Twitter account ... now what? Learn how to improve all types of content by growing engagement, crowd sourcing and using analytics to help determine a coverage plan.

Production workflow for a digital-first newsroom

·Best practices for creating a workflow that meets the needs of the print product, while first focusing on serving and expanding your digital readership. In a digital era, it’s important to serve your audience where they are – be that on desktop, mobile or in print. Prioritizing live coverage efforts on digital platforms first, and making digital/social presentation a staple in planning discussions will help make content sing across platforms. 8 digital tools your newsroom can be using:

From live Twitter feeds to LiveStreams to Snapchat and more, learn new ways you can engage your audience and expand your reach on existing and emerging platforms. Video: Ways to shoot, ways to increase revenue

Video is one of the best revenue options for newspapers. This session will look at ways to shoot and ways to monetize your efforts.

To register for the convention • Register online at https://coloradopressassociation.formstack.com/ forms/2016_convention_member • Download a registration form at http:// www.coloradopressassociation.com/ news-events/annual-convention/registration

TOPIC:

City council agendas are not the most scintillating reading you'll come across during the week, but they are a staple of the daily newspaper reporter trying to keep track of what's going on in a community and of what public officials are up to. If you're discerning enough, you can often find jewels of stories hidden amid the abstruse wording typically associated with government business. Marijuana policy, oil and gas disputes and countless other subjects that have appeal to a wider readership are often dealt with on the hyperlocal level, giving the astute reporter a chance to broaden what appears to be a neighborhood story to a wider geographic area. This type of sleuthing for compelling stories goes beyond written agendas and meeting minutes. Keep your eyes open in the community you cover -- you'll be amazed at all the back stories and interesting twists that are hidden in the most mundane quarters.

TOPICS:

The editorial writers briefcase: How your opinion page can lead

BIO: Erin Jordan is an investigative reporter for The Gazette, where she covers topics ranging from tax breaks and business incentives to hospital management and food waste at public institutions. She received the Iowa Newspaper Foundation’s Harrison “Skip” Weber Investigative Reporting Award in 2012. TOPICS:

So what does it take to be a strong opinion writer? Join us to see what it takes to write solid, engaging editorials and columns. But be forewarned: This is not a lecture. Rather, it will be a wide-ranging discussion in which you and your fellow session-mates will share your ideas and try to figure out what should be in every opinion writer’s briefcase. We also will talk about strategies to enrich your newspaper’s approach to community leadership from the editorial pages.

Newsroom Productivity: Feeding Your Passion While Feeding the Beast

A learning newsroom — a contract that works for you

Fact-checking yourself and your sources

Having a successful newsroom is all about fulfilling a contract between you, as a manager, and your employees. Yes, they want to get paid, and they want to see their bylines on the front page. But what they really want is to get better, learn, grow, and be professionals. They want to move on to bigger and better things. And it is your job to help them get there. You have to have a plan, and you have to work the plan, regardless of how busy you are or what your bosses are demanding of you.

Reserve your room • Call 303-987-2000 and ask for the CPA rate. • Or register online at https://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/colopress2016

Your days as a reporter are jammed with meetings, hearings and interviews on stories that are worthwhile, but assigned by someone else. How do you identify and find time for stories that inspire you? We’ll talk about extracting enterprise stories from your beat, chipping away at passion projects and convincing your editor these stories are worth it.

Journalists build credibility story by story, but careless mistakes or unchecked source statements can erode that credibility. We’ll talk about how to fact-check sources as well as review our own work to reduce errors. Sleep soundly once you put your story to bed knowing you’ve done your best to bullet-proof your copy.

Stay up to date • By checking out CPA’s convention page • Following the CPA’s convention Facebook page

colorado editor

March 2016

Revenue Enhancement

Dan Easton

Tim Smith

Jenifer Furda

Victoria Advocate

Tim Smith Consulting

BIO: Dan Easton currently serves as Publisher of the Victoria (Texas) Advocate. He represents the third generation of ownership of the newspaper, and has led much of transition to a digital media company.

BIO: Tim Smith Consulting is an employee and management training organization located in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Their corporate mission statement is “to provide our customers with quality classroom instructor led business skills training.

Colorado Springs Business Journal

TOPICS:

Transforming a Local Media Company

Jon Bross and Katie Engerman Vladimir Jones

Brooklyn Baggett Warehouse 21 TOPIC:

Media Buyers Panel

With emerging ad technology, increasingly fragile client relationships and aggressive competition – the role of media planners and buyers is constantly evolving. Join our Media Buyer’s Panel discussion to learn what it takes to demonstrate true value in a proposal, offer the concepts and ideas that media buyers need in their campaigns and most importantly, build lasting and mutually beneficial buyer/ seller relationships. Our panel of strategic planners and buyers have experience buying all media types from traditional to digital/social, and across more than 20 different industries. What You Will Learn

• The role and duties of a Media Planner & Buyer • How successful relationships develop between media buyers and sellers • The planning process – achieving goals, accountability and measurement • The top (5) elements of a proposal • Candid Q&A to help offer insight into some of your own challenging buyer/seller relationships

Dan Easton will present about the culture, success stories, lessons learned and plan for his company. Easton was new to the industry four years ago. Armed with a background in technology, he set out to “do things differently” and boy has he. It has been impressive to watch. Their digital revenue percentage is among the highest in their peer group. They are selling over six figures in native advertising. Don’t miss this session that is sure to inspire and provide great ideas. Powering Digital Agency Success

Digital agency services are seen as an opportunity for publishers to diversify and grow their revenue— but it’s a complicated world out there with pure plays, verticals, agencies, and other media all vying for SMBs’ minds and wallets share. Learn how to identify customers at their “ready-to-buy” moment, and target them with the custom content and campaigns.

TOPICS:

Selling Personality Styles

You want to make sells? It’s more than the product. It’s the customer ... and it’s you. This fun, interactive session will focus on understanding different selling and buying styles and how to adapt our selling style to match your clients buying style. Selling Print in a Digital World, and Bundling Digital and Print

For the vast majority of newspapers, print is still the bread and butter. This session will focus on specific questions and skills on how to sell print in a digital world. It will also look at bundling together your products, based on your customer’s needs, using the eight steps presentation process.

BIO: Jenifer Furda is the Associate Publisher for the Colorado Springs Business Journal and manages circulation, advertising and events. She attended the University of Northern Colorado for both her Bachelor’s and her Masters degrees. She has won numerous awards from Top 40 Under 40, Women of Influence and Staff Person of the Year for the Western United States Chamber of Commerce Association. TOPIC:

Newspaper Events and Programs: Added Revenue Opportunity

Come and learn how through events and programs you can earn extra revenue through sponsorships, ad sales and attendance. AND you can create more power and influence for your paper as well.

Markus Feldenkirchen CEO ppi Media US, Inc BIO: Markus Feldenkirchen follows changes in the business models of American publishers intensively. At ppi Media, he is decisively involved in the development of new products that enable publishers to monetize print and digital services. Markus Feldenkirchen will become a member of the management board at ppi Media GmbH (Germany) as of July 1, 2016. TOPIC:

Mobile strategies: Editorial and revenue

Mobile use is growing at a breakneck pace, and shows no signs of slowing down. Do you have a strategy to reach readers there? What about ways to capture revenue? This session will go over a variety of options for you to consider and reach your readers and clients where they are at.

The Denver Post presents a Pulitizer Forum The Internet and the public’s reliance on the latest information has changed the way journalists cover stories, and there is probably no better case study for how much their work has changed than in the coverage of breaking news. The Denver Post won a Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News in 2000 for its coverage of the Columbine High School shootings, and one in 2013 for its coverage of the Aurora Theater shootings. Members of The Post staff who worked both of these tragic events will offer their thoughts on how the coverage and presentation of the two events differed -- and what journalistic tools will never go out of style. The moderated Q&A session will be at The Denver Post auditorium.

colorado editor

March 2016

Ethics & Legal

Web presence

Employee relations

Elizabeth Skewes

James McDonough

Curtis Graves

Kevin Bridges

Rick Manelius

Associate professor in Journalism and Media Studies at CU

Human Resources Research Consultant, MSEC

Staff Attorney at Mountain States Employee Council

newmedia

BIO: Elizabeth A. Skewes research focuses on media sociology and news practices, the media’s role in electoral politics, and politics in popular culture. She also is working on new research involving media coverage of mass tragedies and the victims of those events.

BIO: As a Human Resources Research Consultant, James McDonough conducts research on a wide variety of topics to assist staff and members of Mountain States Employers Council. He also writes articles, blogs and conducts presentations and trainings on various HR and business topics. Previously, James worked for 10 years in the public sector as Executive Director of Corporate Training and workforce program manager at the Community College of Denver and Arapahoe County.

BIO: Curtis Graves is an employment law attorney for Mountain States Employers Council, headquartered in Denver. MSEC is a non-profit membership organization of more than 3,000 employers in 11 states throughout the Rocky Mountain region and beyond. MSEC provides advice, counsel, information, representation, training, and education in all aspects of the employment relationship.

BIO: Chief Technology Officer Kevin Bridges is a longtime Internet veteran who became involved in application and systems development in 1992. He has been instrumental in delivering some of the largest and most complex Drupal websites in existence, including brands like Popular Science magazine and Examiner. com.

BIO: Chief Operating Officer Rick Manelius, a valuable member of the newmedia team since 2012, graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he coached track and field, with a B.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering. If you’re ever curious about the quantum electrodynamic interactions of carbon nanotube systems, he’s your guy.

TOPIC:

Newspaper ethics in the digital age

TOPIC:

Beyond the Margins: Recruitment and Retaining

Many employers complain that finding and keeping great employees is tough. Maybe tougher than ever for newspapers in the age of digital media. What’s going on and how can employers effectively respond?

Steve Zansberg

BIO: For two decades, Zansberg has represented media companies, online publishers, and individuals in defending claims based upon content, fighting subpoenas, and seeking access to government information and proceedings. He represented the national news media in connection with coverage of the Aurora theater shooting case, the Oklahoma City bombing trials, and the Kobe Bryant rape prosecution, and he secured access to public records related to the murder of JonBenet Ramsey and the shooting at Columbine High School. Steve also litigates copyright and trademark matters. TOPIC:

Law and libel in social media and in print

#CPAPressOn

Attorney at Levine, Sullivan, Koch and Schulz, LLP:

Learn new strategies to build a strong team in 2016 and beyond

TOPIC:

New labor law and freelance writers: What you need to know and when

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Final Rule on overtime and white-collar employees, expected as early as May 2016, is just one of many challenges facing today’s publishing community. The rule, if published in its current form, could mandate a minimum salary of $50,440 for exempt employees. Will your organization be able to absorb the cost, and are there any alternatives? What about your salespeople? Very few are exempt from minimum wage and overtime. This session will teach you what you need to know to comply with the various labor laws. Finally, the IRS and many states view independent contractors as a form of tax evasion. If you use freelance writers, government agencies can’t wait to slap you with crippling fines for misclassification. Is compliance even possible?

TOPIC:

Competing On the Web Part 1: Tools and Techniques

Ultimately, the goal of a website is to make an impact by connecting one’s message to as many people as possible. Unfortunately, many sites fall short in many regards: They are not flexible enough to create new formats of content; they cost too much update; they do not provide meaningful analytics regarding customer behavior across multiple properties; and so on. Worst of all, some sites may provide a terrible user experience on mobile media platforms or may not display correctly when shared on social media platforms, resulting in many missed opportunities. This talk is the first in a twopart series. Here we will focus on important considerations at the content management system (CMS) level that allows your site to play nice with social media platforms (through metadata), return better search results with google (through microdata), and provide the flexibility to create and consume different types of content across the web. By investing this time up front, you will have the foundational components that will allow you to stay competitive in this space and open the door to follow the strategies discussed in part two.

TOPIC:

Competing On the Web Part 2: Strategy and Connection

Technology by itself is meaningless without proper execution. Even in 2016, we’re seeing big brands ineffectively leverage their expensive websites and social media presence to connect with their audiences. This is particularly troubling given that the transition from mass media to niche and local communities has been occurring for decades, with only a fraction of companies willing to fully commit to new strategies necessary in this new reality. In part two of this talk, we will cover strategies that focus on building a strong connection between your brand and your audience. After all, in a world where we are drowning in information, strengthening your audiences’ trust and connection with you is the only thing that is going to keep them from going elsewhere. Finally, while each individual strategy may be useful in and of itself, many of them will have a shelf life of a few years before they become ineffective in the ever-changing landscape. Therefore, part of this talk will focus on the overarching mindset necessary to stay competitive.

colorado editor

March 2016

PULITZER Continued from page 1 It’s those types of insights, along with an examination of industry changes in the years between shootings, that Simpson and other Post panelists will share with the public May 13 at the newspaper. The event kicks off a series running throughout the year around the state. The Pulitzer Project is a joint effort — partners include the Post, Colorado Press Association, Society of Professional Journalists and the Colorado Springs Gazette — to bring Pulitzer winners to Colorado communities for showcases on the state’s excellence in journalism. Details about the series, including confirmed speakers, are being finalized. Additional dates are June 16 in Colorado Springs, Sept. 15 in Fort Collins, and late September in Grand Junction. The series commemorates this year as the Pulitzer’s centennial, a milestone that “offers a unique opportunity to focus worldwide attention on the best of American journalism,” Pulitzer administrators reported. “It is an opportunity not only to celebrate the Prizes’ history, but also to spark a national conversation about how we, collectively, can strengthen the values represented by the Prizes as we move into a new era.” Jerry Raehal, CPA chief executive officer, said there are a few core messages he hopes the public takes home from the Pulitzer series. “Hopefully it shines through that journalism still matters, that what newspapers are doing has a significant impact on the community, a far-reaching impact,” Raehal said. “And that newspapers continue to be the living history of our society, and they are the ones that dedicate their resources and people to these community changing and defining stories.” The primary theme for the May 13 Post panel will be changes in reporting and the newspaper industry in the 13 years between the mass shootings at Columbine High School and Century 16 movie theater in Aurora. The differences, Simpson said, include the migration of news from print to digital, social media’s influence, and the reduction, in some cases dramatically, in newsroom staffing. For the Post, there was also a shift in competition. The rival Rocky Mountain News, which won its own Pulitzer for Columbine in breaking news photography, was shuttered in 2009. “In 1999, we were a daily paper competing against another daily paper, by and large, and to some extent, local and national TV,” he said. “Now, you’re competing against everybody — everybody with a website is your competitor, so in a way, the competition has not diminished.” In 2006, seven years post-Columbine, the Post had 310 newsroom staffers. Today, the number is 135, making the newspaper “a shadow of our former selves in terms of just raw numbers,” Simpson said. As most newspaper editors and executives

SYNC2 Continued from page 1 CPA staffers are currently researching and crafting a proposal to separate the boards. The CPA board and general membership will discuss the idea during the 10 a.m. May 13 annual meeting, and if approved, a separate SYNC2 board could be in place by January 2017. Until then, CPA is seeking membership feedback. “CPA and SYNC2 have gone through a lot of changes over the past year and a half, and this is an-

Photo courtesy of the Denver Post

Chantel Blunk, wife of Jonathan Blunk, waits on the tarmac at Denver International Airport as her husband’s body is prepared to be flown to Reno, Nevada, for his full military funeral. Blunk, a five-year U.S. Navy veteran, was killed when James Holmes opened fire at a crowded movie theater.

If you go … What: Pulitzer Presentation at the Denver Post When: 7:30 p.m. May 13 Where: Denver Post auditorium Cost: Free Transportation: Busses available to shuttle people from the convention to the Denver Post building.

CONFIRMED FUTURE EVENTS Colorado Springs, Fort Collins and Grand Junction can attest, staff reductions require “harder and harder choices,” he said. The Post, he added, didn’t hesitate in allocating resources necessary to thoroughly cover Columbine and Aurora, major events felt deeply in Denver and throughout Colorado. “It’s a never-ending puzzle you have to solve of how much do we devote to this story and what do we have left to cover everything

other big change,” said Jerry Raehal, CPA and SYNC2 chief executive officer. “We want to make sure that one, people are informed, and two, people have their voice heard one way or another. At the end of the day, we want our membership to understand what we’re doing, why we’re doing it, and to let us know what they think.” CPA has 11 board members. Staffers are considering proposals for SYNC2 to have a five- or sevenmember board, with two to three CPA directors carrying over. Raehal estimates the idea of having two boards was debated for

else,” Simpson said. “You make the best choices you can. Certainly, for a story of the scope of Columbine and Aurora, I don’t think there was any doubt that we would throw whatever resources we felt necessary to cover those. They were the stories of the day.” Raehal said industry changes — the print to digital transition, and diminishing resources, specifically — that will be discussed May 13 at the Post can help provide a blueprint, of sorts, that other newspapers can emulate. “As journalists, we can choose to look (and lament) at our resources … or we can embrace it and say, ‘Look at how many great ways we can tell a story now and how many platforms we can reach people at,’” he said. “As we go through this Pulitzer project, the thing that’s interesting to me, particularly with the Post one, is that with Columbine it was print (centric) and they addressed it that way. With Aurora, you had social media at play, and it changed the dynamic entirely.” The Post panel might also give audience members a look at the Columbine and Aurora stories not so prominently told — that of the emotional toll the work took on reporters. Simpson said Post staffers, first and

months by the current 11-member board, and there are concerns. “The biggest concern is, do we have enough volunteers to make up two separate boards?” he said. “It’s been a fascinating debate. … There has also been concern about the CPA board giving up power. But, in general, I think the overarching (sentiment) is (board members) feel good about the concept. I can’t say all the board members feel that way because they don’t.” Beecher Threatt, co-publisher of the Ouray County Plaindealer and a CPA board member, said she supports splitting the boards, following

foremost, felt a responsibility to tell the story accurately and responsibly. However, Columbine and Aurora were always seemingly changing with new angles and questions emerging. “We were, as reporters, constantly in the position of needing to call people for victim reactions to whatever the news of the day was,” he said. “And that was certainly taking a toll on the people we were calling, obviously, but it was also taking a toll on us as reporters. We dreaded seeing an editor coming toward our desk because we knew it was going to be, ‘We need victim reaction on such and such.’” Several weeks into the Columbine coverage, he said, the newspaper brought in counselors, who helped the journalists reconcile their professional responsibilities with the emotional turmoil covering the story was creating. “People thought maybe they weren’t being professional because they were emotionally affected by this,” Simpson said. “… What the counselors pointed out was that everybody was going through this and it was perfectly normal. Just knowing we weren’t alone in having difficulty with the trauma was helpful.”

legal advice. “Anytime an attorney recommends something, I think you should take it seriously,” she said. “And I do see a potential for conflict of interest between the two entities, and also a potential for one having to take on the liability of another, if it’s determined that they’re actually the same entity because they have the same board.” Threatt said she sees potential for CPA and SYNC2 to grow by having two separate boards. “We can have some overlap between the two boards, and I think we would get people who are more

advertising and business oriented to serve on the SYNC2 board,” she said. “The CPA board could be more geared toward the editorial side.” Raehal said a separate SYNC2 board could focus more on revenue enhancement, and provide the organization more attention. Either way, he believes the organizations will emerge from the debate stronger. “Even if it doesn’t happen, if the second board isn’t created, I think we’ve acknowledged some of the (SYNC2) concerns through this process,” he said.

colorado editor

March 2016

marketplace TELLURIDE NEWSPAPERS, INC., SEEKS A FULL-TIME ASSOCIATE EDITOR. Telluride Newspapers, Inc., publisher of the award-winning Telluride Daily Planet and The Watch, is seeking a full-time Associate Editor. The candidate who gets the job will have solid writing and editing skills, a strong work ethic and the ability to juggle multiple tasks. We are seeking a team player with a willingness to communicate well with colleagues and community members. Besides reporting, responsibilities may include pulling wire stories, organizing content, copy editing, fielding phone calls, helping oversee freelancers, and covering everything from public meetings and politics and business to sports games, regional energy issues and the lively festivals that unfold in this beautiful mountain town. Command of AP style is a must, average or better photo skills are required and at least two years experience at a daily paper and journalism degree are preferred. The Planet publishes Sundays, Wednesdays, Fridays, while the regional Watch publishes on Thursdays. Telluride Newspapers also publishes several successful glossy magazines throughout the year. Courtesy photo

Gov. John Hickenlooper poses for a photo.

10 QUESTIONS Continued from page 3

Please send cover letter, resume, references and 5 clips to tellurideeditors@gmail. com

EDITOR WANTED AT TAOS NEWS In the quickly-changing world of multimedia, we have an immediate opening for an

editor for a 10,000-circulation, family-owned weekly newspaper located in beautiful Taos, New Mexico. The Taos News has won the General Excellence award from the New Mexico Press Association 14 times in the last 15 years and was voted the best weekly newspaper in the United States by the National Newspaper Association in 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2014. Unparalleled opportunity to do good work, contribute to exciting changes, and have fun. You’ll work hard, too. Searching for a versatile, smart, collaborative editor to oversee a staff of nine full-time employees. Applicant must have a nose for hard news, strong design and headline writing skills, love community journalism and work well with a team of professional journalists. A degree in journalism, communications or related field is required, plus a minimum three years of newsroom experience. Our priorities are a passion for news and community, detailed planning skills and excitement about the multiple platforms for reaching audience. This is a full-time position with full benefits: 401-k plan, medical/dental/vision, vacation/holiday pay, plus spa membership. Come live, work and play in one of New Mexico’s most beautiful cities with a thriving arts community and unlimited outdoor recreation opportunities. Send your resume, cover letter and three references to: Chris Baker, Publisher, The Taos News, 226 Albright Street, Taos, New Mexico 87571. No phone calls. See full job listing at https://www.journalismjobs.com/job-listings/1628325

So it makes perfect sense. It’s something people care about, they want more information about it and I think it’s a good thing for our Office of Marijuana Policy that there is that media interest in our work.

Q A

We’re assuming you have staff to help you monitor and report on news pertinent to your job as governor. But as a private citizen, where do you get your news – print, web, TV, radio, mobile – and what percentages of each do you read or enjoy?

I have always been a print person. The Denver Post I always read on paper. It gives me such pleasure to turn the pages. I look at the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times online. And if I get home early enough, I like to look at one of the local TV stations for their news, especially if we are aware that they are carrying a local story. I like to see how our TV stations cover local policy issues.

Q A

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Well part of what attracted me to being a journalist was I thought it was cool. Back then, when I was a kid in college, I thought I would never have a girlfriend. So being a journalist seemed cool because you got to be a writer, and to a skinny guy with thick glasses and acne, that seemed like a way to make myself more attractive, and plus I’d get to meet really interesting people and deal with important issues. Gil Spencer was my little league baseball coach; he went on to win a couple of Pulitzers at the Trentonian and one at the Daily News and he was just a really exciting, cool guy. I’ve given it a lot of thought, and despite the various ups and downs of my life, I’ve always had a suspicion that I could have been a good journalist.

Q A

SearchBooks give you instant access. Images, designs and ideas in a unique presentation designed to inspire.

What goals for the coming year do you have that would especially interest our state newspapers?

This whole education revamp we’re doing – creating more apprenticeships, what we call experiential learning – I think that’s a big deal. We’re working with the Markle Foundation and LinkedIn to build a digital platform on which kids can create a living resume. As they learn a new skill – whether it’s how to do inventory at WalMart, how to do customer service at Starbucks or how to write copy for a newspaper – once they get trained, they can add it to this digital record of accomplishments that can be shared with potential employers. I think that’s a good thing for everybody and I hope it will get a lot of interest from reporters.

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colorado editor

March 2016