January Editor 2016 by Colorado Press Association

editor colorado

2015

Official publication of the Colorado Press Association / coloradopressassociation.com / Vol. LXXXVII, No. 1

January 2016

He’s back

Year in Review By Cheryl Ghrist and Jerry Raehal

Busy. That’s one word that could be used to describe 2015 for the Colorado Press Association and its members. From changes to the convention and contest, to a new public notice website and changes to the membership as a whole, the CPA and its members had a busy year. Here are some highlights of 2015:

Gov. Hickenlooper to kickoff annual CPA convention; time to register Staff report

JANUARY Public Notice site launches

Courtesty photo

Having the Colorado governor speak to members of the Colorado Press Association has been a long-time tradition of the annual convention. That tradition has waned in recent years, as a conflict of schedules kept the governor from attending. But with the recent change in the convention schedule — moving the CPA’s 138th annual signature event from February to May 138th Annual CPA — the schedule is no longer a conflict, and Convention Gov. John Hickenlooper is slated to be the keynote speaker at the convention’s opening lunch on Friday, May 13. “We are honored Governor Hickenlooper has chosen to participate in this year’s Colorado Press Association ConvenSee pages tion,” said CPA Convention Chair Lisa Schlichtman, of the Steamboat Pilot & Today. “It has been a 6-7 for number of years since the governor has attended our speaker bios convention, and it’s always an exciting prospect when & topics you bring together the state’s top elected official and a room full of journalists. “We also hope the governor’s scheduled presentation will boost attendance at the kick-off luncheon, which marks the start of two days of great programs and networking opportunities as well as awards celebrations.”

Gov. John Hickenlooper sits ouside the Capitol. Hickenlooper is scheduled to present at the 2016 CPA annual convention in May.

See CONVENTION, Page 11

Newspapers have been aware that the government has been pushing for an online presence for legal notices for some time. And on Jan 1., 2015, government got what it wanted but in a way that benefits them, the public and Colorado newspapers. Public and legal notices, in a victory for the Colorado news industry, will still be published in newspapers. However, uploading them to the Public Notice Colorado website (www. publicnoticecolorado.com) is required by law as a second step in the process. Colorado Revised Statues 24-70-103 states, “When any legal notice is required by law to be published in any newspaper, the newspaper publishing the notice shall, at no additional cost to the person or entity placing the notice, place the notice on a statewide web site

See REVIEW, Page 8

NEWS YOU CAN USE

ADS, CIRCULATION SEE GROWTH

PRINT STILL PREFERRED

LOOKING FOR COLORADO’s BEST

The latest newspaper ad reports are good news for newspapers. Data company Sysorex reported that in November, newspapers enjoyed a 16 percent increase in ad spending over the previous month. It was the largest month-to-month gain in six months, and the third time in the past ﬁve months that ad sales rose month-to-month, spurred by a 38 percent gain in retail revenue – including retailers who had previously lowered their ad budgets for newspapers. Meanwhile, ZenithOptimedia reported on circulation ﬁgures, saying that despite a decline in its overall numbers, circulation revenue had actually gone up. The company attributed the increase to digital paywalls and higher print newspaper cover prices.

The Pew Research Center just released data indicating that approximately half of newspaper readers prefer to read printed versions of their favorite publications. The study looked at three metro areas in the United States – Denver, Macon (Georgia) and Sioux City (Iowa). It revealed that 46, 48 and 53 percent, respectively in those areas never access their newspaper online. On a national level, the number was 56 percent.

The Colorado Press Association is accepting nominations for its annual Member Awards and Innovation Awards. The deadline for nominations is Friday, Feb. 12. Winners will be announced at the CPA annual convention in May. Member Awards include: Newspaper Person of the Year, Service to the First, Friend of the First and the Rising Star. Innovation Awards include: Advertising innovation, Editorial innovation, and Newspaper innovation. For details on the awards and how to nominate someone, go to the contest tab on the CPA website.

colorado editor

January 2016

Colorado Newspapers

colorado editor ISSN #162-0010 USPS # 0122-940 Vol. LXXXVII, Issue 1 January 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 Public Notice Journalism Award contest accepting entries Public Notice Resource Center (PNRC) is accepting entries this month for the 2015 Public Notice Journalism award. Stories from 2014 or 2015 are eligible; editorials are not considered. Entries should be news or feature articles that highlight the importance of public notice. Judges give positive weight to the use or linking of the public notice involved when there was one. Entries may be made any time before Feb. 1 to carolpierce@americanpressworks.com. The award, including a $700 prize, will be presented in Washington, D.C., on March 17, 2016. The award is sponsored by PNRC, whose mission is “to collect, analyze and disseminate information on public and private notifications to the public through local newspapers, and to educate the public on the value and use of its right to know.”

Denver Post’s Frei sportswriter of the year for sixth time Terry Frei has been named the state’s sportswriter of the year for the sixth time. This is the third such honor for Frei while working for The Denver Post, where he regularly writes columns and is a beat TERRY writer covering the FREI Colorado Avalanche and Colorado State University football. He won the same honor three times while working for The Portland Oregonian. This latest award came Jan. 11 from the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Frei is also a novelist (with seven published fiction and non-fiction books, plus one book written in collaboration), historian and screenwriter. He grew up in Eugene, Oregon, where his father Jerry was on the University of Oregon football staff, including a stint as head coach. After his father joined the Denver Broncos staff, Frei attended Wheat Ridge High School and the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Health News website closes down Health News Colorado, an “independent media outlet dedicated to in-depth coverage of health and health-policy issues in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain West,” closed its news website in October. Said veteran journalist and Health News Colorado Editor Diane Carman: “After five years and hundreds of stories and opinion columns, Health News Colorado is clos-

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.”

ing … Some of our funders have changed direction and we were unable to fill the gap, so Senior Writer Katie Kerwin McCrimmon and I will be moving on. We want to thank our readers, contributors, sources, DIANE funders, our terrific CARMAN advisory committee and our hosts at the CU-Denver School of Public Affairs.” Carman has worked as a reporter and editor in Colorado, Ohio, Oregon and Wisconsin. She was a columnist for The KATIE Denver Post from MCCRIMMON 1998-2007, and on its Pulitzer Prize winning news team in 2000. She left The Post when she was named director of communications at the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs. McCrimmon previously was an award-winning reporter for the Rocky Mountain News, and the primary writer on that newspaper’s team that was a finalist for the 1995 Pulitzer Prize for spot news coverage, focusing on a Colorado wild fire. The website’s advisory committee included Jeanette Chavez, a professional journalist for more than 35 years, including 27 years at The Denver Post, the last 15 years as managing editor. Chavez is a former chairman of the board of Colorado Press Association.

Digital ad spending gaining on TV Interpublic Group’s Magna Global has predicted that digital media will be the top advertising choice in the United States in 2016 — and could reach $68 billion in sales, versus an anticipated $66 billion for television ads.

The company predicts that television will account for approximately 38 percent of the global ad market this year. It forecasts that digital ad spending will account for 13.5 percent in 2016, and will surpass television as the biggest advertising category by the end of 2017.

FTC issues native advertising guidelines The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently released “Native Advertising: A Guide for Businesses.” The guide supplements its Enforcement Policy Statement on Deceptively Formatted Advertisements by offering informal guidance from FTC staff to help companies apply the policy statement in day-to-day contexts in digital media. Its website states: “Marketers and publishers are using innovative methods to create, format and deliver digital advertising. One form is ‘native advertising,’ content that bears a similarity to the news, feature articles, product reviews, entertainment and other material that surrounds it online. But as native advertising evolves, are consumers able to differentiate advertising from other content?” Under the FTC Act: “An act or practice is deceptive if there is a material misrepresentation or omission of information that is likely to mislead the consumer acting reasonably in the circumstances. “A misrepresentation is material if it is likely to affect consumers’ choices or conduct regarding an advertised product or the advertising for the product.” The FTC issued a statement that, “An advertisement or promotional material shouldn’t suggest or imply to consumers that it’s anything other than an ad.” Native advertising should be disclosed as such in clear and unambiguous language as close as possible to the ads, in a font and color that is easy to read and in a shade that stands out against the background, the FTC noted. In addition, a publisher should disclose native advertising before consumers arrive at the main advertising page and the content must not be misleading as to its consumer nature.

colorado editor

January 2016

Q&A

10 questions with Doug Bell

‘A good editor is also a good coach’

By Cheryl Ghrist Contributing Editor This issue, “10 Questions” checked in with Doug Bell, editor of the four award-winning weekly newspapers based in Evergreen. A veteran of The Denver Post, Rocky Mountain News and the Daily Camera in Boulder, he is also an adjunct instructor at Metropolitan State University of Denver and a strong proponent of ethics and FOI issues. In his time off he plays tennis and hockey. He and his wife, Christa, who works in communications for United Launch Alliance, are raising an energetic canine. You went to Penn State University. What did you major in and how did that affect how you got your start as a sports reporter in that state?

Q A

I essentially majored in political science but graduated in journalism when that department proved far more generous with internship credit. As an intern for the Washington Observer sports desk for three years during college, I covered everything from Little League to the Pittsburgh Steelers, also including Penn State football. The importance of that internship can never be overstated, because legendary sports editor Byron Smialek taught me everything from page design to column writing to interviewing techniques to how to lead a staff — and all those things made possible the rest of my career on the news side.

You worked for two years as a copy editor at the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader before coming to Denver to put in five years as copy desk chief at the Rocky Mountain News, several years as managing editor at the Capitol Reporter, and seven years as copy desk chief at The Denver Post. For the benefit of those who don’t do it, can you explain what the attraction is in editing – and what are the rewards?

Editing is quite simply “checking every word,” as Joe Hudson, the best slot editor (a copy chief – the last editor to see stories before they hit print) I’ve ever known, once said. Fact-checking is a good fit with my meticulous (some would say anal) nature: I thrive on being the last line of defense, catching the content errors just before hitting the “publish” button. But a good editor is also a good coach, prodding his reporters over time to be the best writers they can be and shaping their stories with the equivalent of a thousand gentle taps from a ball-peen hammer. Headline writing is another thing I love – not just because many readers read only the “heds,” but because it combines creativity and brevity, two things I highly value.

Courtesy photo

Doug Bell plays goalie for numerous hockey teams, including Mellow Yellow, an over-40 league team in Westminster.

Now going on 10 years with Evergreen Newspapers, you run four weeklies covering 1,200 square miles west and south of Denver. How did you wind up in this job and what are the challenges?

I took a job as an administrator at Metro State in 2004, and it wasn’t a good fit (except for the students who worked in that office – they were fantastic). A friend of mine, the late Brad Bradberry, was the publisher here, and we’d always talked about wanting to work together. One day his editor departed, and he called me. About a week later I was right in the middle of an epic open-meetings battle between reporter Heath Montgomery (now DIA spokesman) and the Jefferson County government. It’s been a blast every day since, despite the challenges of covering a huge area with a small staff. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that I have the best staff on the planet.

Evergreen launched one of the state’s first websites for a weekly, including podcasts and daily news updates. How did that come about?

Those websites were the vision and brainchild of Brad Bradberry – I was just lucky enough to have them at my disposal when I took over here. The podcasts were the work of my former student and longtime colleague Noelle Leavitt, who is now managing editor of the Craig Daily Press (did I mention I have had the best employees on the planet?). I’ll take credit for pushing the daily updates, though. Updating four newspapers’ websites with daily news from a 1,200-square-mile coverage area is not easy with a small staff, but we manage to do it.

At Metro, where you’ve taught copy editing and reporting over the years, one class you designed and now teach is “How to Get a Media Job.” Give us the scoop: How did that start, and does it include tips on internships?

For several years I badgered journalism department head Deb Hurley Brobst (who works for me now – sensing a pattern here?) that we needed a class to teach students how to market themselves and the great skills we were teaching them.

She finally caved and let me teach it. We’re hoping that in the fall of 2017 it will be required for all journalism majors. Internships and just about anything else you can think of related to media jobs are on the syllabus, including my endless harangues about the need to network.

Q A

What is your favorite part of each of your jobs, and what is not so much fun but still rewarding?

Mentoring and developing a staff and my students — and then seeing those people go on to do great things — is hands down the best part of what I do. The sheer volume of stories that I edit in a given week — and I’m a pretty aggressive editor, as many of those staff members will attest — is exhausting. But I still enjoy it. Let’s talk hockey. You recently had surgery but couldn’t wait to get back in goal. Tell us about your hockey history and how being a goalie compares to being an editor. How do the two stack up regarding attention to detail and being in control?

See 10 QUESTIONS, Page 11

colorado editor

January 2016

Accepting scholarship applicants Four college, two high school journalism scholarships available Staff report For all the talk of a dying industry, there sure seems to be a lot of youth interested in journalism and the news field. Last year marked a high in the number of applicants for the Colorado Press Association’s annual scholarship program, with six $2,500 scholarships going to college students, and three $1,500 scholarships going to high school students entering college. “It’s an encouraging sign for our field,” said Jerry Raehal, CEO of the Press Association. The most recent scholarship program kicked off in January, and the CPA is offering up to four $2,500 college scholarships and two $1,500 high school scholarships for the 2016-17 academic school year. The number of scholarships being offered decreased in 2016, but that is hopefully a temporary issue, Raehal said. “We simply have not raised enough money in recent years for the program,” he said. Longtime Durango newsman Richard Ballantine donated $5,000 in 2015, setting up the $10,000 challenge for donations in hopes the scholarship numbers would remain the same, but to date, the funds have not been matched. “We’re hopeful we can raise the money on the challenge and in other ways,” said Raehal, noting they’re looking at some different plans to raise money at the annual convention in May. The CPA also raises money for the Foundation, which is managed by the Denver Foundation, with sales of the book, “Colorado Newspapers: A History and Inventory,” which was released last year, and can be purchased through the CPA website. Contact Raehal if interested in donating to the $10,000 challenge or if you have other questions.

COLLEGE STUDENT ELIGIBILITY College students who meet all of the following criteria are encouraged to apply: • Will be a full-time junior or senior (minimum 12 credits/ semester) at a four-year Colorado college or university in the fall of 2016 • Have declared a major in journalism or a media related

field (e.g. multimedia, technical journalism, documentary filmmaking, media studies, mass communications, etc.) • Are planning to begin a journalism or media career after graduation

Notes of appreciation: 2015 college scholarship winners

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ELIGIBILITY High School students who meet all of the following criteria are encouraged to apply: • Will graduate from a Colorado high school in the spring of 2016 •Have held at least one leadership position (e.g. editor, president, treasurer, etc.) in a student media organization like the high school newspaper, yearbook or media club during their senior year •Will attend an accredited four-year college or university in Colorado in the fall of 2016

SELECTION College recipients will be selected to receive a scholarship through a competitive process based on academic achievement (33 percent), the quality of writing or other samples of work submitted with the application (33 percent), and the applicant’s commitment, motivation, and potential for success in the field (33 percent). High school recipients will be selected to receive a scholarship through a competitive process based on the quality of the samples of work submitted with the application (25 percent), demonstrated leadership (25 percent), academic achievement (25 percent), and the applicant’s level of participation in his or her school’s newspaper, yearbook, and/or media club (25 percent).

AWARD Scholarship awards will be paid directly to a recipient’s college or university and can be applied toward tuition and fees only. Please note that award disbursement is contingent upon the outside scholarship acceptance policies of a recipient’s school. This award is not renewable. An individual may only receive this award one time. Awards must be used for the 20162017 academic year.

APPLICATION Applications are available at The Denver Foundation website (www.denverfoundation.org). The deadline to apply is March 7, 2016. For more information, please contact Jack Czarniecki at 303.996.7328 or at jczarniecki@denverfoundation.org.

Jhocelyn Avendano

Justin Fye

Marissa Isgreen

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Colorado State University

Dear Colorado Press Association, I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to you for making the Colorado Press Association Scholarship possible. I was thrilled to learn of my selection for this great honor and I am deeply appreciative of your support. I will be a college junior pursuing my bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism at the Metropolitan State University of Denver this upcoming fall 2015. The financial assistance you provided will be of great help to me in paying my educational expenses, and it will allow me to concentrate more of my time for studying. Thank you again for your generosity and support. I promise you I will work very hard and eventually give something back to others, both as a journalist and possibly a scholarship to future students like myself.

Dear Colorado Press Association, I am writing to thank you for the Colorado Press Association Scholarship. I was very happy and appreciative to learn that I was selected as the recipient of your scholarship. As a first generation Native American college student, I’m constantly seeking opportunities to help further my education. After experiencing an underprivileged upbringing, I am most appreciative of receiving this gift. The Colorado Press Association Scholarship will not only benefit my immediate education, but will decrease future debt. This scholarship has encouraged me to be a leader in the community and help others to move in the same direction. Your investment in my education will show through my academic success, community involvement, and leadership skills.

My name is Marissa Isgreen, and I recently received the Colorado Press Association Scholarship. I want to personally thank you for your generous donation. Your assistance will really help tame the financial burden of going to college. I come from a small rural town on the Western Slope of Colorado. I’ve been riding horses all my life and also love skiing. In addition to these two passions, I also have a love for communication. Next year I will be entering my last two semester at Colorado State University. I’m majoring in journalism and minoring in political science. ... Again I’d like to thank you for your support. ... With your support, there’s a really good chance I won’t have to take out private loans, and I can’t thank you enough for that. (Shortened for space)

Jose Salas

Matt Scofield

Jordyn Siemens

Metropolitan State University of Denver

Colorado Mesa University

University of Colorado Boulder

This time of year is usually a stressful, frustrating and anxious time for many students like myself. Needless to say, the email I received from the Colorado Press Association could not have come a better time. I want to thank you, not only for your financial support, but for your faith in students like me, your willingness to give back to those in need and most of all for your faith that your support will make a difference. Thanks to this scholarship I don’t have to worry about finances in the upcoming semester. I can continue to provide for my family without taking away from them. If one thing I would like you to know, it is that your financial support not only helps me with paying for higher education, but it has given me the boost that I needed as I go into my final college year.(Shortened for space)

I am deeply grateful for your consideration during this scholarship process. I was so excited when I found out that my application for the CPA scholarship was accepted! My wife and I have been living the typical college life, feasting mainly on microwaveable dinners and attempting to pay for school without going into debt. This scholarship has provided a way for us to stay afloat long enough for me to finish school debt free and begin working full time in the field of media, my passion. I don’t know you personally, but I thank you very much for helping me on my path to a career and beyond.

To the Colorado Press Association, Thank you for selecting me as scholarship recipient for the 20152016 academic year. As a journalism student at the University of Colorado, I am highly motivated to achieve my dreams of becoming a reporter and contributing to Colorado’s journalistic community and any others that I join in my career. You are helping to make my educational pursuits possible, and I am very grateful for the consideration. I plan to continue working hard and achieving at high standards through CU Boulder’s CMCI and the CU Independent as a junior. Have a wonderful day.

colorado editor

January 2016

From CFOIC:

CPA joins other media asking to for records

Members of the Colorado Press Association Board of Directors listen to a presentation by editor Chris Rotar, of Colorado Community Media, as part of tour during the board’s December Board meeting, held at CCM’s Highlands Ranch location.

The Colorado Press Association was one of more than two dozen news media organizations asking the Colorado Supreme Court to order an El Paso County District Court judge to unseal records in the case against accused Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Lewis Dear or justify their continued sealing under the First Amendment. The consortium argues that Judge Gilbert Martinez violated both the U.S. and Colorado constitutions by rejecting a motion to unseal affidavits of probable cause in Dear’s court file. Citing the ongoing criminal investigation and the privacy of victims and witnesses, the judge wrote on Dec. 30 that releasing the documents would be “contrary to public interest.”

Seeking board members The Colorado Press Association and SYNC2 Media have three board openings for the 2016-17 year. Deadline for nominations is Feb. 19. Chair Terri House, of the Pagosa Springs SUN, will leave the board following the expiration of her term in May. Also up for re-election are Beecher Threatt of the Ouray County Plaindealer; and Vincent Laboy of the Montrose Daily Press. They both plan to run for re-election. The executive committee is slated to be: • Board Chair: Keith Cerny of the Alamosa Valley Courier • President: Bart Smith of the Greeley Tribune • Vice President: Matt Lubich of the Johnstown Breeze • Treasurer: Larry Ryckman of The Denver Post • Secretary: Lisa Schlichtman of the Steamboat Pilot and Today Executive committee members have oneyear terms, and then move into the next position on the executive committee.

ABOUT THE BOARD The CPA and SYNC2 Board of Directors meet four times a year, typically on Fridays, but sometimes on Thursdays and Fridays. Three of the board meetings are in the Den-

ver/Metro area. Board members or their newspapers pay for travel, food and lodging. It is an action board, not an advisory board. In addition to attending board meetings, directors are assigned to CPA committees that meet variously throughout the year — typically on phone conferences. The Board of Directors is a “governing” board by law. The role of the board is to govern the organization and serve as its accountable body. Board roles include: • Help create mission, vision, values and policies • Provide financial oversight • Select and support executive director • Approve and review budgets • Ensure organization meets regulatory/ compliance requirements • Exercise due diligence

QUALIFICATIONS To qualify as a director, a person must be “actively and principally engaged as an executive at a Voting Member newspaper in good standing.” The Bylaws state, “No fewer than four of said eleven members shall represent weekly or semi-weekly Voting Members newspapers and no fewer than four shall represent daily Voting Member newspapers.”

Two of three 2016 seats must be filled by weekly or semi-weekly publications. The Bylaws state nominations must be in the form of a written letter signed by a Voting-member of the Association, and the nomination shall state the qualifications of the nominee and his or her consent to serve.” The Nomination Committee’s slate of candidates will be published in the March and April editions of Colorado Editor, and will be available online at coloradopressassociation.com beginning March 15, 2016, and emailed to each member newspaper publisher. The CPA membership will vote on the slate of directors at the annual business meeting held Friday, May 13, 2016, at the Denver West Sheraton. Nomination Process: 1.) A publisher or executive of a CPA member newspaper may write a nomination letter on behalf of the candidate; or 2.) the candidate may write a letter of interest, out lining their qualifications.

PLEASE SUBMIT ALL NOMINATIONS TO Jerry Raehal, CEO Colorado Press Association 1120 Lincoln St.; Suite 912 Denver, CO 80203 or by email to jraehal@colopress.net

But because Dear has been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation of his competency, which could take as long as nine months to complete, the media groups say Martinez’s order “will deprive the public of knowing the most basic facts of what prompted government authorities to arrest Dear, to search his residence, and to file the 179-count criminal complaint for more than one year.” Dear, 57, is accused of killing three people and wounding nine others during a shooting rampage at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado Springs on Nov. 27.

Sick leave public record Records showing a public school teacher’s sick leave are not part of a teacher’s confidential personnel file and must be disclosed to the public, if requested, the Colorado Court of Appeals ruled in January. Affirming a June 2015 district court decision, a three-member appellate court panel rejected the Jefferson County teacher union’s contention that teacher-absence records are private and protected from disclosure under the personnel file exemption of the Colorado Open Records Act. The Jefferson County Education Association ( JCEA) has been trying for nearly a year to block the release of names of teachers at four high schools who called in sick over two days in September 2014. Some of the teachers said at the time they were protesting proposed changes to the district’s Advanced Placement U.S. history curriculum and a teacher compensation proposal from the board. “We conclude that a record that documents a teacher’s request for sick leave is not part of the teacher’s personnel file,” the Court of Appeals’ ruling says. “CORA requires the custodian of such a record to disclose it upon request.” The Colorado Press Association, the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, Colorado Broadcasters Association, The Denver Post and the Associated Press submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in the case. These breifs are shortened versions from the Colorado Freedom of Information website. For full stories, go to coloradofoic.org

Notes of appreciation: 2015 high school scholarship winners Gretchen Cope

University of Colorado Boulder Thank you so very much for allowing me to continue on in my journalism education at the University of Colorado Boulder. I am very excited to learn and grow as a journalist in the new College of Media, Information and Communications. This scholarship will significantly help me in school & will help to make studying what I love possible. I am so grateful for this gift and am thrilled to have been selected to receive this going into my freshman year of college studying journalism.

Anna Blanco

University of Colorado Boulder I would like to thank you for awarding me the Colorado Press Association Scholarship (for High School Students). I have been a member of my high school newspaper for the past four years, and will be majoring in Media Studies at CU Boulder. I feel honored for having received this scholarship, because this is what I really love to do. Thank you so much for recognizing my hard work and journalism skills. I am very excited to start at the College of Media, Information, and Communication at CU Boulder next year.

Haasini Ravisankar University of Colorado Boulder

I am honored in my selection for this award and your recognition of my skills. The support your scholarship provides will enable me to begin my journey of academic and personal growth at CU Boulder, and for that, I will forever be grateful. It is so wonderful that there are organizations like yours that help encourage young people to pursue their dreams. I will certainly not forget your generosity in believing in my abilities. Thank you so much.

colorado editor

January 2016

Your 2016 annual convention speaker line-up Keynote speakers

Advertising

Penny Abernathy

Gordon Borrell

Dan Easton

Tim Smith

Jennifer Furda

University of North Carolina

Borrell Associates

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. Our corporate mission statement is “to provide our customers with quality classroom instructor led business skills training.

Colorado Springs Business Journal

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. 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. At Carolina, Abernathy focuses her expertise on 21stcentury economic models that will improve the ability of journalists to produce news in the public interest. Her book, “Saving Community Journalism: The Path to Profitability,” was UNC Press in 2014 and is based on five years of research.

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. He has appeared on CNN and other TV and radio programs discussing trends and forecasts for local media. Prior to starting Borrell Associates, Gordon was vice president for new media for Landmark Communications, where he worked for 22 years.

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, but 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.

TOPICS:

Transforming a Local Media Company

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’ mind and wallet share. Learn how to identify customers at their “ready-tobuy” 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 specifics 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. TOPICS:

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.

New this year

• Pay your registration dues online • More breakout sessions

Other sessions include: Ethics in the digital age, newsroom productivity, fact-checking open meetings, advertising exchange, photography ... and more

colorado editor

January 2016

Editorial/Ad

Editorial

Graphics

Jaci Smith

Jennifer Hefty

John Aguilar

Reed Eckhart

Delawareonlilne.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.

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.

See page 11 for costs breakdown, tentative schedule

Production workflow for a digital-first newsroom

TOPICS:

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 8 digital tools your hyperlocal level, giving the newsroom can be using: astute reporter a chance to broaden what appears to be a From live Twitter feeds to LiveStreams to Snapchat and neighborhood story to a wider more, learn new ways you can geographic area. This type of sleuthing for compelling engage your audience and expand your reach on existing stories goes beyond written agendas and meeting minand emerging platforms. utes. 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. ·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.

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

TOPICS:

The editorial writers briefcase: How your opinion page can lead

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. A learning newsroom — a contract that works for you

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. Let’s talk some theory,

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

Russell Viers 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.

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

colorado editor

January 2016

REVIEW Continued from page 1

published and maintained by an organization representing a majority of Colorado newspapers as a repository for the notices.” Colorado Press Association is that organization, and worked with newspapers across the state to get them uploading to the site. One of the benefits of the Public Notice Colorado is that it keeps newspapers as the public record-keeper for legal and public notices. One of the options originally considered was the government keeping their own public notice website, which is “the fox guarding the henhouse.” Newspapers are a necessary thirdparty for accountability. The new site proved beneficial during the 2015 legislative session, helping defeat of HB 1085, which would have allowed counties to publish financial information on their websites instead of as legal notices in newspapers (See May citation for more details).

FEBRUARY Convention sees attendance, sponsor increase Good news was on the horizon for the 137th Colorado Press Association Annual Convention. A total of 15 organizations had signed on to sponsor the annual event, helping to generate nearly $30,000 to be put toward the convention and CPA operating costs – a significant increase over past years and one of the better shows of support in the nation. In addition, the number of attendees increased, with early numbers showing a 60-70 percent increase over 2014. CPA CEO Jerry Raehal speculated that the increase might be due to changes in the works, including new fee structures to attend, changes in timing and location, and a blitz of communications to members.

photo by Thomas Cooper, lightboximages.com

Colorado Mountain News Media members hold up honors from the 2015 Innovation Lunch. From left, CMNM General Manager Jim Morgan was named CPA Newspaper Person of the Year; CMNM’s Ben Rogers was named CPA Rising Star; and Matt Sandberg and his team at the Summit Daily News earned the CPA’s Newspaper Innovation Award.

New book celebrating newspapers released A new, comprehensive book, “Colorado Newspapers: A History & Inventory, 18592000,” was being offered for sale through CPA. Former CPA President Wilbur Flachman was there in 1977 when the idea was hatched at a CPA Convention Past Presidents’ Breakfast. Sometime later, journalist and longtime CPA staffer Jane C. Harper was commissioned to compile a history of state newspapers, and the project was off and running. From 1988 into the new century, Harper gathered numerous clippings and photographs. In 2009, The Villager publisher Bob Sweeney, the Kenneth King Foundation and the Center for Colorado & the West in Denver stepped in to get the book published, bringing in Craig W. Leavitt (a King and CC&W fellow) to “prune, edit and fact-check” the work as his M.A. history thesis at University of Colorado Denver. He worked with UCD professor and director of Public History, Preservation & Colorado Studies Dr. Tom Noel for some additional editing and fact-checking to finalize the manuscript, which went on sale for the first time at the CPA Convention. Proceeds go to the CPA’s Foundation Funds, which is managed by the Denver Foundation.

2015 Year in Review

And the winners were Complete coverage of the 137th Colorado Press Association Annual Convention in February included the Friend of the First award honoring Russell Weisfield, whose lawsuit over the use of secret ballots by the Arvada City Council in the Denver metro area led to a change in the state Open Meetings Law. Major Member and Innovation Awards at the convention went to: • Newspaper Person of the Year – Jim Morgan, Colorado Mountain News Media • Newspaper Innovation Award – Summit Daily News • Rising Star – Ben Rogers, Grand Junction Free Press • Service to the First – Peter Roper and the Pueblo Chieftain In the 2014 Colorado Better Newspaper Contest, Best of Show winners were: • Advertising – Ashley Davis, The Denver Business Journal • Editorial – Charlie Brennan and John Aguilar, The Daily Camera (Boulder) • Online – Meghan Lyden, Mahala Gaylord, Aaron Ontiveroz and Helen Richardson, The Denver Post • Photo and Design – Michael Ciaglo, The Gazette (Colorado Springs)

Journalism scholarship applications increase In a related story, the number of high school and college students applying for the CPA scholarship program was expected to have “a significant increase” over recent years,

according to Jack Czarniecki, an associate scholarship officer with the Denver Foundation. Students began applying in January, with up to six $2,500 scholarships available for college students, and up to three $1,500 scholarships for high school students who would be attending a university in the state in the spring. In 2014, there were 28 applicants, a number already reached at this point in 2015.

MARCH Marijuana lawsuit dismissed Advertising regulations for retail marijuana businesses were in the spotlight with a pertinent lawsuit dismissal. CPA and Pueblo magazine Pulp filed the suit against the Colorado Department of Revenue (DOR) based on First Amendment issues, but the judge ruled CPA and Pulp did not have standing. The ruling did not change current practices, but newspapers should continue to stay in compliance with DOR regulations on such advertising. If an ad does not meet DOR criteria, however, the penalties would hit the retail business, not the newspaper. CPA advised newspapers to educate their client businesses on these regulations as well as why their newspaper meets those standards.

APRIL Digital tear sheet program launched CPA began to “tear apart” its longtime “physical” tear sheet program and go digital — benefits of which include the forprofit affiliate of CPA, SYNC2 Media, being able to process orders, billing and payments to newspapers faster. The move will also save time and postage or other delivery costs for member newspapers, who are required by CPA Bylaws to send either print or electronic copies of each edition (depending on membership type) to the CPA office for tear sheet and clipping purposes. CPA works with Newz Group, a digital

media tech company that processes the tear sheet program as well as clipping services through the print newspapers.

Fight for openness Several Colorado media organizations argued in a friend-of-the-court brief for public release of the names of teachers who called in sick for two days the previous fall in Jefferson County west of Denver, causing four high schools to cancel classes. The amicus brief was submitted on behalf of CPA, the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, the Colorado Broadcasters Association, The Denver Post and Associated Press. The brief contended that the school district should be allowed to release the teachers’ names because rather than information on absences being a private personnel matter, “the public has a compelling interest in being able to monitor the performance (or, as here, non-performance) of public employees’ public functions and the expenditure of public funds.”

MAY Regional trainings back CPA hit the road once again for Regional Trainings, scheduled for seven stops over two separate weeks in June and July. The trainings were used not only to expand educational offerings, but also as outreach opportunities to CPA members. The trainings had been put on hold due to the 2014 move of the CPA office in downtown Denver, and the scheduling of Leadership Training in Denver the previous year. Speakers included Jerry Raehal, CEO of CPA and SYNC2 Media, with the advertising program, “So I Hear Newspapers are Dead; Ways to Overcome Objections”; Jeff Roberts, executive director of CFOIC, regarding public records and open meetings; and Eve Byron, of the National Institute on Money in State Politics. Byron spoke at the three meetings on the Western Slope.

Continued on next page

colorado editor

January 2016

Legislature wraps up In May, the Colorado General Assembly wrapped up its session, adjourning after some notable bipartisan successes amid gridlock that comes with split control of the Legislature. CPA Lobbyist Greg Romberg reported the highlights of House bills related to Colorado Press Association: Request for Multiple Booking Photographs – Passage of HB 1137 to streamline and simplify acquisition of mug shots from law enforcement agencies. In 2014, legislation was passed when some businesses were suspected of forming for the sole purpose of putting booking photos on private websites, then charging people to have them removed. That legislation made the practice illegal and required anyone requesting mug shots to affirm they would not violate the law when requesting the photographs. HB 1137 now allows that affirmation can be made annually, instead of with each request. County Financial Information on Website – Defeat of HB 1085, which would have allowed counties to publish financial information on their websites instead of as legal notices in newspapers. CPA successfully opposed this bill, arguing it would make it harder for the public to see the information, would not be verified by a third party, and would have removed archive benefits. It was defeated in the House Local Government Committee. Privacy by Use of Emerging Technologies – Defeat of HB 1115 after it was amended. CPA participated in meetings in the fall of 2014 concerning privacy and the use of drones. The bill was amended to make it a Class 3 misdemeanor to make any photograph or audio recording of a person without consent when there is a reasonable expectation of privacy. CPA worked to eliminate the criminal offense element. Ultimately, the Senate sponsors concluded that the bill could not be fixed and killed it. Release Critical Incident Information – Removal of a provision in HB 1131 that would have allowed the Division of Youth Corrections to charge for its actual costs to redact information from reports. CPA supported the bill, but opposed the amendment to allow for these charges, noting that current law limits redaction charges to no more than $30 per hour with the first hour free. CPA successfully worked with sponsors to amend the bill to limit the charges to no more than is allowed under the Open Records Act. Stop Police Interference of Recordings – Passage of HB 1290 to prohibit law enforcement agencies from stopping or interfering with anyone making a lawful recording of their police activities.

JUNE Convention, contest get a reboot Big changes are planned for upcoming CPA Annual Conventions – including moving to a different month and at a new location. The convention had historically been held in downtown Denver during the month of February, and was expected to remain at the Westin Hotel through the 2016 and 2017 events. But a hotel project and a comprehensive CPA member poll changed all that. After careful research and site visits, CPA would reschedule the 138th Annual Colorado Press Association Convention for May 13-14, 2016, at the Sheraton Denver West Hotel in Lakewood, with the theme: “Keep Calm and Press On.”

The 2017 convention is slated to be at the Denver West Sheraton, but then is expected to travel around the state in future years, with a goal of it being in Denver every other year. Changes were ahead for the annual Colorado Better Newspaper Contest as well, when an online survey provided feedback asking that the awards be more competitive and therefore more significant. The plan was to cut the number of categories, and perhaps competition classifications as well. At its June meeting, the CPA Board of Directors approved the following considerations: Limiting awards to first and second places; changing the number of classifications from 10 to eight (four weekly, three daily and one monthly); reducing the number of categories; and looking at options to deal with categories with low entry response. In September, the Board voted to stay with the 10 classifications for the 2015 contest.

AUGUST A new way to communicate with members The new Colorado e-Editor was launched on a bi-weekly basis. Every two weeks, the new digital complement to the longtime CPA member newspaper, the Colorado Editor, will provide more timely updates as well as links to industry trends. To receive the e-Editor, members need only to contact Colorado Press Association.

$10,000 challenge kicked off

CPA and SPJ combine campus visits CPA and the Colorado Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists combined efforts for the annual campus visits, going to colleges across the state, including Metro, Colorado Mesa, University of Colorado, Colorado State University, and Colorado State University Pueblo. CPA, which invites members to present to the students, and SPJ have been conducting visits for years, but did so separately in the past. The visits are good outreach to students on the industry and good for members to gain insight on the upcoming talent.

Ethics committee formed The CPA Board of Directors approved a motion to form an Ethics Committee. The Committee will be initially charged with coming up with ways to promote ethics for its members, as well as looking at potential programs. Anyone interested in joining this, or any other CPA committee, is asked to contact CEO Jerry Raehal.

OCTOBER 30 plus year debate ends

It was hailed as “a step in the right direcCPA’s Philanthropic Action Committion” when the CPA Bylaws were amended tee kicked off a $10,000 scholarship chalOct. 23 during a special meeting of the lenge, with Richard Ballantine, chairman general membership to allow for a wider of Ballantine Communications, leading the range of news organizations, including free way with a $5,000 donation. In March, the publications, to attain full membership in the Press Association’s Foundation, run through association. the Denver Foundation, awarded $19,500 Membership status had been discussed for in scholarships to six college and three high more than three decades, most focusing on school students, all of whom have a focus on allowing free-distribution newspapers full journalism education. membership, but previous proposals failed to With a downturn in donations in recent win approval. years, the Committee was considering dropWith 44 of the 95 CPA members eligible ping the number of scholarships. In hopes to amend the bylaws represented at the that the Foundation can continue to offer all meeting, either in person or by proxy, the nine scholarships, Ballantine made his donamotion to amend the bylaws for a more open tion to start the challenge for the next round membership passed 43-1, with the lone nay of awards. vote citing concerns about online news websites. Legal publications (meeting standards set by the United States Postal Service and SEPTEMBER legislative requirements) had been the only Getting in SYNC 2 your training newspapers allowed to be full CPA members, needs and therefore eligible to vote at SYNC2 the meeting. ; Online Univerrs e p The amended a p s w sity debuted its n’t need ne o bylaws allow for a d I ” :“ t. g e in rn y Sa e Inte webinar series variety of differws from th for advertising I get my ne ent organizations representatives to become full and editorial members, referis the staffers across the enced in the bys a e sam state. laws as Voting In its 2016 saying Members. Full d e e strategic plan, CPA nd I don’t n A members will t? h g e ri , th w t “I kno food a identified trainy m t now include: e g I use ing webinars as a farmers; ‘ca Legal-Dese iv hr st et.” new online service #newspaper ignated Newssupermark members could paper; Free utilize, with the goal Distribution to offer one webinar & Paid, each in advertising Non-Legal and one editorial Designated Newspaper; webinar per month, Online News Website; and Monthly/Alterconducted by a mix of CPA/SYNC2 staff native Publication. members, representatives from CPA members The group also voted to change what used and industry experts. to be Associate Level members to NonWebinars were a response to members Voting Members. concerned about the costs and time associated with sending representatives to training sessions, particularly from a small staff. Most CPA gets social ... real social sessions are free to CPA members. CPA began a social media meme campaign SYNC2 U is a joint project of CPA and to promote the newspaper industry, and SYNC2 Media, a for-profit affiliate and started off with a bang. The first meme, “Get subsidiary of CPA.

your news from the Internet and farmers,” generated nearly 590,000 views, 865 likes on the CPA facebook page, and 5,100 shares. Plans are to produce at least one meme, and possibly more, every two weeks on CPA’s Facebook and Twitter sites, and also to make them available for use by members. The memes also allow member newspapers to post their logos. “To me, it showed the message resonates with people,” said Jerry Raehal, CEO of the CPA. “One of the things I said in an email to other press association people is, ‘I’m tired of sitting here and feeling like we’re taking punches about how we’re dying. I’m ready to throw some.’”

Best Practice and Resource Guide unveiled The Association created a comprehensive publication: “Public Notices: Best Practices and Resource Guide,” in addition to several white-label house ads, for CPA members to use to promote public notices. The 28-page guide and house ads are available through the CPA website. The Guide was developed at the request of members during the 2015 convention.

NOVEMBER Strategic plan unveiled The CPA Board of Directors developed a 2016 Strategic Plan with advocacy at its heart. The thorough, in-depth document outlines the association’s vision, future projects and finances, among other key elements. It can be broken down into three primary areas of emphasis: education, advocacy and enhancement – with 2016 CPA Board President Bart Smith calling the advocacy element “vital” to the state’s newspaper industry. Overall goals for the plan include “doing an excellent job for our members and building that value in CPA,” said Smith, who added that advocacy is important as there are ongoing challenges in the state Legislature to open records and public meetings laws, and in keeping the public involved in government.

DECEMBER New holdback for SYNC2 Media At the end of the year came a big plan for the new year, as SYNC2 Media announced plans to change its policy on advertising holdbacks. Historically, SYNC2 had used the same holdback rate for both member and non-member newspaper advertising placements. In 2016, SYNC2 would begin withholding 15 percent on placements into member newspapers, and 30 percent for nonmember newspapers. The change to two new rates was made possible due to an Endorsement Agreement, approved by CPA and the SYNC2 Media Board of Directors at board meetings this month. The 15 percent reflects a 5 percent increase over the 2015 rate. The new rate was to go into effect Jan. 1, 2016, with the 30 percent rate for non-members in place at the end of the first quarter.

Increase in contest registration The 2015 Colorado Better Newspaper Contest saw a 6 percent increase in entries with more than 4,300 logged – the secondhighest mark on record despite a change to 16 fewer categories. CPA members will be notified in March 2016 of contest winners, with places being revealed at the next CPA Annual Convention in mid-May.

colorado editor

Keeping tabs on the Legislature By Joshua Roberts for the Editor The Colorado Legislature opened a new session Jan. 13, and with it begins Greg Romberg’s 19th year working as a lobbyist on behalf of the Colorado Press Association. As such, it’s Romberg’s job to keep a finger on the pulse of potential legislation that may effect the state’s newspaper industry, but it’s inevitable that bills will spring up, seemingly at random and with little warning. In either instance, he said, it pays to be nimble when it comes to reacting to the whims of 100 legislators from all corners of the state. “It’s some of both,” Romberg said. “Sometimes, if people are going to do something that we oppose, we’ll hear from them ahead of time GREG and we’ll work ROMBERG with them to see if we can find some kind of middle ground.” Or, he added, “there are times when things get introduced that they don’t talk to us about at all, and we have to react.” The experienced lobbyist recently outlined some of the potential legislative movement he’s eyeing at the outset of the new session. One issue that could arise, and would be of immediate concern to Colorado newspapers and journalists, relates to emerging technology and privacy, Romberg said, a similar bill to one that was introduced, opposed by CPA, and ultimately died a year ago. The bill proposed making it a crime when taking someone’s picture or recording them without their permission when “they had a reasonable expectation of privacy,” he said. “We continued to work with the sponsor of the bill, and she’s looked at some other options, and there’s likely to be something related this year,” Romberg said. “I don’t think it will be criminal this year, it’ll just be civil. “We’re trying to make sure when people are gathering news in the normal course of their news operation that they wouldn’t be considered to be violating somebody’s privacy.” Perhaps the biggest issue CPA is keeping tabs on this session is a bill concerning digital records. There are concerns, CPA’s lobbyist said, about records being changed over into hard copy before being distributed to the public or news outlets. CPA is pushing for the records being released digitally. “One, it can drive substantial costs because you end up paying a per copy charge for it to come in,” he said. “And secondly, it’s harder to actually use the records in that format. If people can get them in a digital format, they can get them more quickly, they can get them less expensively, and they can get them in a form that they can analyze and do more with the record.” A third bill Romberg will be watching for is a “cleanup” from legislation passed

See ROMBERG, Page 11

January 2016

marketplace SEEKING CLASSIFIED CALL CENTER MANAGER Do you have a positive attitude with a solid work ethic? If so, we may have the perfect position for you. Prairie Mountain Media, the leading source of local news and advertising information in the Boulder/Longmont/ Loveland market is searching for a Classified Call Center Manager to head a call center team. This position is perfect for the person who is a selfstarter and goal-driven with the ability to deal with customers in an efficient, professional manner while supporting a staff in the achievement of revenue goals and client retention. This position is primarily responsible for overseeing an active, high-volume inbound and outbound call center as well as managing obituaries and legals for Prairie Mountain Media’s 15 news brands. On a daily basis, this position covers for all positions in the Classified Call Center during breaks, lunch hours and paid time off, and therefore, must be knowledgeable about all products, processes and systems. The successful candidate will be comfortable managing the team while also serving as a daily call center representative. We are looking for someone with experience in hiring, managing, and coaching in a call center with previous success in a team-based environment. Successful experience managing queuing systems and metrics to manage tele-sales is desired. A high school education or equivalent is required; Bachelor’s degree is preferred. This position offers competitive pay and excellent benefits including a choice of medical insurance, dental and vision insurance, life & AD&D, managed disability insurance, a 401(k) investment savings plan, and immediate eligibility for paid time off. Interested individuals may apply by sending a resume with cover letter and salary requirements, telling us why you are the ideal candidate for our team, to jobs@dailycamera.com or fax to 303449-2063.

SEEKING AD DIRECTOR IN SUMMIT COUNTY Do you have a track record driving media sales successes and are ready for the next step in your career? Do you have a passion for the Rocky Mountain lifestyle and are looking for a career opportunity to complement this passion? Do you understand the importance of audience engagement to drive growth in a media operation? The Summit Daily News is seeking and Advertising Director to lead its media advertising team. This is also a rare opportunity for the right candidate with strong leadership skills to advance into the role of Publisher. If you have experience in advertising sales and marketing, strong leadership, organization and team-building skills, this may be a great opportunity to further your career while living in one of the most beautiful communities in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado.

The ideal candidate will have an established record of innovation, results attainment, sales staff development and delivery of superior value to clients. Experience in a ski-oriented resort community will set you apart from other candidates.

key audience. As Editor you will utilize your knowledge, experience and ability to implement innovative ideas that will result in growth of the Gazette’s print and digital audience, including the daily newspaper, non-daily publications and digital platforms.

To apply, please visit www.swiftcom. com/careers and select job 1185.

The successful applicant must have exceptional core journalism skills with a proven record of coaching, mentoring and developing an enthusiastic and energetic staff to create consistently compelling storytelling, eyecatching photography and design. The candidate must exhibit leadership skills that encourage new ways of thinking about the changing media landscape and a proven business acumen.

COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE SEEKING CITY EDITOR The Colorado Springs Gazette, Colorado’s second-largest newspaper and a 1990 and 2014 Pulitzer Prize winner, is seeking an experienced city editor to manage and inspire a local and business news reporting and editing team. The successful candidate will have a proven record of developing compelling and timely content for print, online, social media and platforms yet to come as well as rallying a reporting team for daily, weekend and project work, watchdog journalism, exclusives, breaking news, community engagement and the occasional brite. Our new city editor must have displayed an ability to use creativity and leadership to increase local content while maintaining quality, and must be an excellent planner and communicator, well-organized, a mentor to editors and reporters alike and able to create a culture of teamwork, new thinking and high standards. The successful candidate must possess strategic, consumer-focused insight and news judgment and will demonstrate strong, incisive editing skills with both daily and project copy. Colorado Springs is home to five military installations, the USOC, a thriving arts community, a number of non-profits, a growing entrepreneurial economy and four higher-education institutions. The national forest is 10 minutes from the office. All of this provides a rich environment for journalists willing to become embedded in the community to develop relevant and interesting new content for readers. Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in journalism or equivalent experience, minimum five years of experience on a metro daily newspaper, proven supervisory experience and award-winning editing. Send cover letter, resume and work samples to ivy.morris@gazette.com with “city editor” in the subject line. No phone calls. Applications due by 5 p.m. January 31, 2016.

COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE SEEKING EDITOR The Colorado Springs Gazette, the premier source of news and information for Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak Region, seeks a proven leader to direct and oversee our newsroom. The Editor will lead the newsroom in providing consistent high quality content that engages readers while aggressively using data and analysis to drive decisions in covering the topics and issues most important to our

Responsibilities include:

• Lead and direct newsroom to develop story ideas, track issues and events, select reporters for coverage and other projects and initiatives • Engage in substantial daily handson roll up the sleeves newsroom leadership • Coach, mentor and develop newsroom staff to make strategic decisions about coverage plans • Create, manage and grow multiple digital and print products in an effort to retain and gain audience • Partner with the Gazette Leadership team to initiate new and innovative strategies to respond to the changing media landscape • Implement new initiatives within the newsroom to ensure that content creation is aligned with consumer demands Qualifications:

• A background in managing a dynamic newsroom with the ability to bring innovative solutions to help grow audience • Proven record of solid writing and editing • Ability to perform well under pressure • Self-directed and motivated with great work ethic and a positive attitude • 10+ years of applicable experience •Bachelor’s degree in journalism or related field required The Gazette is the number one media source in Colorado Springs, reaching consumers through a daily newspaper, a network of websites, mobile and tablet apps, a weekly mailed shopper, weekly and quarterly specialty publications. Located at the foot of Pikes Peak and 60 miles south of Denver, Colorado Springs ranks in the top 5 of many national rankings including human resources, military boom town and job creation. The community focused reporting makes The Gazette an essential advertising source reaching an integrated audience of more than 229,000 people weekly. For consideration, send resume, cover letter, salary requirements and work samples to ivy.morris@gazette. com with the subject line Editor.

colorado editor

January 2016

CONVENTION Continued from page 1

Courtesy photo

Christa and Doug Bell on a hiking outing.

10 QUESTIONS Continued from page 3

I had my right hip replaced in late July and returned to the ice on Oct. 2. My surgeon and physical therapist had said it would be at least four months before I could attempt a comeback, but I did it in about 10 weeks. This created some interesting challenges, not the least of which was explaining to people several times a day that I hadn’t taken leave of my senses. Mainly, though, it has been a lesson in humility: I’m not and won’t be close to 100 percent for several more months, so I can’t let every goal I surrender tear my heart out like I normally would (some of my teammates would disagree and say I’m earning an “F” in humility, though). Ultimately, being a goalie and being the editor are about the same thing: When you screw up, everyone knows it, and your team pays the price.

You’re very active in ethics and First Amendment issues, speaking to college classes, and you were one of the authors of The Denver Post’s ethics policy. Currently, you serve as advocacy chair for the board of the Colorado Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, which honored you with the SPJ First Amendment Award in 2008. What’s the job description for an advocacy chair look like?

I try to keep the SPJ board informed of ongoing FOI/ethics issues in the state. (And) speaking gigs are about all I can squeeze in around my full-time job and teaching. I’m even speaking to middle school classes now – why wait to shape the minds that will hold the feet of our future government officials to the fire? It’s no secret there are now fewer newspapers and so fewer reporters making sure the sunshine laws are followed. And there is certainly no shortage of government officials who want to make policy behind closed doors. It’s all about vigilance and not giving them an inch (and frequent calls to Jeff Roberts at the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition). And I continue to believe the education element is key – in the last year I’ve spoken to classes everywhere from Grand Junction to CU to Metro State to West Jefferson Middle School.

Q A

How did your top three mentors throughout your life influence you?

I owe pretty much everything I am to my father, an immigrant who loved this country — and its right to freedom of expression — with a fervor forged in his roles as a blue-collar worker and a soldier and a community leader. He never finished college but could write circles around me any day of the week. I mentioned Byron Smialek above — one of the toughest, most profane, demanding and unreasonable editors I have ever served under. And yet his staff would have followed him, in gasoline-soaked clothing, through a wall of fire. Finally, my current and former staffers here and in all the newsrooms where I’ve been a boss for the past 30 years have taught me many things. The most important being that, as a boss or a goalie, you’re only as good as the people who surround you.

Q A

10 – Neat desk(s) or not – at work or home – and what would we see there? Neat desks everywhere, with the occasional stray hockey puck, thank-you card or stuffed penguin. And yes, I’m a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Gov. Hickenlooper — in office since 2011 — is one of four keynote speakers/events at this year’s convention. Other keynote speakers include Gordon Borrell of Borrell Associates, author and professor Penny Abernathy, and a special Pulitzer presentation of The Denver Post. “It’s exciting to have some big names in as presenters,” said Jerry Raehal, CEO of the CPA. “In general, I think this year’s convention is a great core of speakers. The speaker line-up is a strong mix of nationally recognized industry leaders as well as some of Colorado’s home-grown talent, a mixture of theoretical to the practical, and a mixture of digital and traditional newspaper media.” The theme of this year’s convention, the core of which is scheduled for May 13-14, is “Keep Calm and Press on.” “The theme is about how the ‘press’ industry is changing and how the word ‘press’ is being redefined,” Raehal said. “But even with that change, there are still core traits of the written word and reporting that help us stand out.” And while many speakers have been lined-up, the search is not over. “We have two or three more speakers we’re still working to bring in,” Raehal said.

Time to register Registration for the convention has officially begun and email packets have been sent out. The deadline to register is April 19. Registrations that come in after April 19 are subject to a $50 late charge. For more details on how to register, go to www. coloradopressassociation.com/news-events/annualconvention/registration. You can register and pay online, or you can download a pdf and mail in registration information. Registration rates depend on attendance, and if the attendee is eating the lunches and dinners, and range from $50 to $175. Registration to attend the full convention remains the same as last year — $175 — but includes an additional lunch. The cost to attend the Awards Dinner on Saturday decreased in cost by $25, down to $100 per attendee. A new option is to buy a table for 10 people to the Saturday night awards dinner, with a total cost of $800. For non-member rates, go to the CPA website.

Get your place to stay The convention is moving to the Denver West Sheraton, which provides a lower rate — $125 — than last year, and also provides free parking. The deadline to reserve a room is April 19. To reserve your room, call 303-987-2000 and ask for the CPA rate. Or register online at https://www. starwoodmeeting.com/Book/colopress2016 Details provided by the hotel include: The hotel is located six miles West of downtown Denver at the crossroads of I-70, C-470, US 6 and convenient to I-25 for easy accessibility. It offers a full service restaurant and lounge, La Cave, for breakfast, lunch and dinner and are within walking distance to a variety of restaurants, from fast food to fine dining. It also provide a complimentary shuttle that will take you within five miles of the hotel for outlet

ROMBERG Continued from page 10 several years ago concerning the theft of newspapers for the “purpose of keeping the public from seeing them,” Romberg said. There was a criminal and civil component to the crimes, but in 2013, the civil aspect was inadvertently repealed. In this year’s session, he said he anticipates the civil component being reinstated, allowing a news-

If you go … What: 138th Annual Colorado Press Association Convention When: May 12-14 Where: Denver West Sheraton 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 $230280), 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

Tentative Schedule Friday 10 a.m. Annual meeting 11:30 Governors Lunch 1-2 Breakout sessions 2:15-3:15 Breakout sessions 3:30-4:30 Breakout sessions 5:30 Reception for AP/CAPER 6:45 CAPER Awards 7:30 Pulitzer presentation at Denver Post Saturday 7-9 Past Presidents Breakfast 9-10 Keynote: Gordon Borrell 10:15-11:15 Breakout sessions 11:30 Lunch — Penny Abernathy 1-2 Breakout sessions 2:15-3:15 Breakout sessions 3:30-4:30 Breakout sessions 5:15 Awards reception, 6:15 Dinner 7:15 Awards Presentation shopping at Colorado Mills (www.coloradomills. com) or upscale boutique shopping at the Belmar (www.belmarcolorado.com.), cinemas, nightlife, restaurants, offices and area attractions. There also is the W-Line, light-rail station, located behind the hotel with transportation directly to downtown Denver. It is a 20 minute ride to connect to Downtown Denver’s Union Station with stops at Sports Authority Field as well as the Pepsi Center. The hotel also offers an indoor lap pool, a fitness center, a business center, and is pet-friendly —dogs up to 80 pounds (max of two dogs) are welcome in traditional room types only.

paper, advertiser or reader to sue the offending party in civil court. CPA supports the measure. One battle Romberg doesn’t expect this year — a fight over whether governing bodies should continue to be required to publish legal notices. “I would guess that I’ve probably had to fight those 15 times,” he said. “I don’t think we’re going to see that one this year. Typically they come through Colorado Counties (Inc.), and I know there’s no initiative coming from Colorado Counties this year.”

colorado editor

January 2016

Thank you sponsors

KEEP CALM AND

PRESS ON

We look forward to seeing you at the convention

COLORADO PRESS ASSOCIATION 138TH ANNUAL CONVENTION • MAY 13-14, 2016 DENVER WEST SHERATON

#CPAPressOn