editor colorado
June 2016
Official publication of the Colorado Press Association / coloradopressassociation.com / Vol. LXXXVII, No. 6
10 questions with Zant Reyez
About due time
Q&A
CPA moving forward with new membership dues structure
Zant Reyez, of the Johnston Breeze, talks about his work and winning the Colorado Press Association’s Rising Star Award during May’s 2016 CPA annual convention at the Denver West Sheraton. In the background, Matt Lubich looks on. Lubich nominated Reyez for the award. Photo by Thomas Cooper lightboximages.com
CPA Rising Star:
‘My work has to be pushed to another level’ By Cheryl Ghrist Contributing Editor This issue, “10 Questions” checked in with Zant Reyez, reporter since 2013 for The Johnstown Breeze, and the 2016 recipient of the Rising Star award at the Colorado Press Association annual convention this May. Named for Lynyrd Skynyrd lead singer and founder Ronnie Van Zant (“Mom is a huge fan”), here’s this Rising Star's take on things, past and present: Where did you grow up, and how did you decide on Colorado to pursue your career? I was born in good old Greeley, Colorado. I spent the first few years of my life growing up in Fort Morgan before moving back to Greeley. With Greeley being home and the University of Northern Colorado being in my backyard, starting my career in the state was the natural thing to do. Fun facts: I share my birthday, Feb. 20, with Kurt Cobain, Charles Barkley, Cindy Crawford and Rihanna.
You majored in journalism with a minor in writing at the University of Northern Colorado. What experiences turned you toward journalism? For as long as I can remember, I’ve just been able to write pretty well – at least that’s what all my teachers and professors told me. I’ve always wanted to tell stories, and as I got older people kept saying I should find a way to make a career out of writing. After I graduated from Northridge High School, I enrolled at Aims Community College and that’s when I really started to take an interest in journalism. I did a story on my professor, Jim Crandall, for my magazine writing class and it was selected to run in the Aims Magazine. So that was a good indicator that journalism was right for me. How does it feel to be a Rising Star? Did you feel differently about yourself, your work, the day after you received the award? When I got the award and got to take a picture with Governor John Hickenlooper, I thought that would
be the highlight of my day. But when everyone at the CPA convention came up to me throughout the day to congratulate me and speakers at workshops pointed me out, I was kinda taken aback by all the attention I got. I’m just now starting to grasp how big of an achievement the award is. I’m honored to have received it, and view it as a marker in my young career that I’m doing something right. As the Rising Star, I feel now that my work has to be pushed to another level. I feel that I’ve done good work the last three years here at the Breeze, but now with my name being tied to this award, I feel now I have to go from doing good work to doing great work, which I fully embrace. What's it like working for Johnstown Breeze co-owner and executive editor Matt Lubich (who nominated you for the award) and how has he encouraged your career? Working for Matt “Dude” Lubich (I call him Dude or Grandpa) has been an experience I cannot put
See 10 QUESTIONS, Page 3
By Joshua Roberts For the Editor Vincent Laboy, chairman of the Colorado Press Association’s membership committee, said he had two primary directives when it came to overhauling the CPA membership dues structure. “Simplify it and get it done,” the Montrose Daily Press publisher said. His committee, which includes about 12 people, met almost monthly for about a year on the task, and in May, they accomplished those goals. The CPA Board of Directors voted to establish a new rate structure and bringing an end to a decades old organizational debate. “That was our mission and we tackled it,” Laboy said. “We hit the topics hard, we debated hard. We went back and forth on ideas, but in the end, we always kept moving forward, kept moving the discussion along. “We had unanimous support at the end, but as we were working through this, there were a lot of questions, a lot of debates. They were all healthy discussions, but it took us a long time to get to where we were unanimously behind one idea or one concept.” The new structure the committee approved is a circulation-based formula, resembling that used by CPA for its annual contest. The structure also implements caps on increases and decreases, avoiding wild budgetary swings. However, the circulation-based model is short-term: CPA’s goal is to phase in a readership model based on print circulation and online readership in two to five years. “The (CPA) board was very receptive to (the new structure) and very happy that after such a long time we’ve been able to come to a conclusion,” said Jerry Raehal, CPA/SYNC2 Media CEO. “Vincent deserves a lot of credit for making sure it got pushed through.” Some fast facts about the new structure: • There is a 10-percent max increase/decrease over 2016 dues for members who paid legal members dues before 2015 bylaw changes. • There is a 50-percent max increase over
See MEMBERSHIP DUES, Page 3
NEWS YOU CAN USE
NEW WEBSITE COMING
SYNC2 MEDIA WEEKLY REMINDERS
IS INTERNET AD BLOCKING UNLAWFUL?
The Colorado Press Association and SYNC2 Media are slated to have one new combined website soon. Currently, the organizations have two different sites. The goal for the new site is be more user friendly, and to blend the two organizations while giving both entities autonomy as separate businesses. The site, with a tentative launch date in late July or early August, will be mobile adaptive, and offers a "Members Only" section with additional resources for CPA members and SYNC2 Partners. The CPA is a 501-(c)6 non-profit. SYNC2 Media is a for-profit corporation, and is the wholly owned subsidiary of the CPA.
In a continued effort to improve accuracy of ad placement, SYNC2 Media — the for-profit affiliate of the Colorado Press Association — will be sending a weekly reminder each Thursday to all papers with whom ads have been placed for the following week. This is just a reminder to newspapers and their staffs to ensure placement of all SYNC2 generated business. There is nothing newspapers need to send back to SYNC2 based on this reminder unless there are questions or concerns with the ads noted in the reminder or if they have not returned a signed insertion order.
In May, Newspapers Association of America filed a Complaint and Request for Investigation with the FTC alleging that certain ad blocking technologies and related services violate Section 5 of the FTC Act as unfair and deceptive trade practices. NAA requested the FTC investigate ad blockers that offer “paid whitelisting,” substitute ad blockers’ own advertising for blocked ads, claim that subscription services prevent publisher harm, and facilitate the evasion of metered subscription systems. For full story, go to naa.org.
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colorado editor
June 2016
Colorado Newspapers
colorado editor ISSN #162-0010 USPS # 0122-940 Vol. LXXXVII, Issue 6 June 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 President Bart Smith The Tribune bsmith@greeleytribune.com Vice President Matt Lubich The Johnstown Breeze mlubich@johnstownbreeze.com Treasurer Larry Ryckman The Denver Post lryckman@denverpost.com Secretary Lisa Schlichtman Steamboat Pilot & Today lschlichtman@steamboattoday.com Past President Keith Cerny Alamosa Valley Courier krcemail56@gmail.com DIRECTORS Mike Wiggins Grand Junction Daily Sentinel mike.wiggins@gjsentinel.com Beecher Threatt Ouray County Plaindealer beecher@ouraynews.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 Becky Justice-Hemmann Berthoud Weekly Surveyor becky@berthoudsurveyor.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
New editor, VP of advertising at work at The Denver Post
Lee Ann Colacioppo, former news director for The Denver Post, is now officially its new editor – and its first woman editor in 124 years at that. After a search to replace former editor Gregory L. Moore, LEE ANN who resigned in April COLACIOPPO after a 14-year stint, interim editor Colacioppo was named to the post on May 31. She previously worked as city editor and investigations editor over her 17 years with the newspaper. A graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, she was also an editor at The Des Moines Register in Iowa. Also on May 31, Reid S. Wicoff was named senior vice president of advertising at The Post. His advertising background includes newspaper, television, radio and digital. He has served as director of REID S. digital sales at CBS WICOFF Local-Seattle, director of strategic sales and marketing at EntercomAustin, director of digital and local sales at The Austin American Statesman, and most recently vice president of digital at The Post.
Three Denver monthlies join under one business entity Three free metro Denver monthly newspapers – Washington Park Profile (WPP), Life on Capitol Hill (LOCH) and Neighborhood Life (NL) – have joined together under one entity, The Profile LLC, owned by Jill and Jay Farschman.
Students will work in teams led by qualified adults, participating in age-appropriate newsgathering experiences, then post their work on the Our Youth Journalism website. The best articles will be published in the Colorado Kids section of the Tuesday Denver Post. Youth J-Day participants can continue as a Colorado Kids youth reporter for the next school year upon request. The day includes breakfast, lunch and a Tshirt. Friends and family will join the students at 4 p.m. for a show and tell session on what they learned and produced that day. For more information, visit The Denver Post website or ColoradoNIE.com.
Combined monthly circulation will be 50,500 and serve the neighborhoods bordered by Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Quebec Street, E. Hampden Avenue and S. Santa Fe Drive. Current WPP Editor Haines JAY Eason will assume an FARSCHMAN expanded role across all print publications and online platforms for the new company. LOCH was founded in 1974 by Stuart MacPhail and acquired in 1995 by then-editor Rory Seeber and his wife JILL Hilleary Waters, FARSCHMAN who co-published the newspaper until it was purchased by Shanna and Keith Taylor in 2015 along with NL, founded by Seeber and Waters in 1999. WPP was founded in 1978 by Deborah Wiig. After working for years as an advertising executive, writer and editor, Paul Kashmann became the new publisher in 1983. The Farschmans bought WPP in 2015.
Denver-focused digital startup launches daily newsletter
Students spend the day with pros at Youth Journalism Day July 21 Join The Denver Post and Colorado NIE (Newspapers in Education) for Youth Journalism Day, set for Thursday, July 21, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. at Metropolitan State University in Denver. Students ages 8-13 will have the opportunity to spend an "intense and fun" learning day with professionals. Budding journalists, writers and photographers will learn in sessions titled: What Makes a Good Story, Getting Ready for an Interview, Asking Good Questions, Writing Tips, and Taking Good Photographs.
Denverite, a Denver-focused media site, was set to begin a daily newsletter this June with the idea to break news and offer explanations that matter to people who want to take full advantage of living in the city. DAVE At the helm of BURDICK the site's new parent company are Kevin Ryan, founder of Business Insider; Gordon Crovitz, former publisher of The Wall Street Journal; and publishing consultant Jim Friedlich, a former WSJ executive who runs Empirical Media. Editor-in-Chief Dave Burdick is the former deputy features editor for The Denver Post. He has also worked as a digital-site editor at The Huffington Post. Said Burdick: "The mission of Denverite is to provide our subscribers, followers and readers with the finite amount of information that really matters right now." Also reportedly on staff are former Boulder Daily Camera city-beat reporter Erica Meltzer. The site is expected to expand to a website and mobile site by the end of June, and is expected to carry no advertising for its initial months of operation. The new site is expected to employ 10 staffers and cost $1 million in its first year of operation.
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 and 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.”
colorado editor
June 2016
10 QUESTIONS
MEMBERSHIP DUES
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 1
into words. From him taking me under his wing when I first showed up to showing me how to better my writing … it is something I’m truly grateful for. He and his wife Lesli Bangert have let me take risks and have creative control on my stories. But working here has and will benefit me and my career more than I can explain or ever tell them. Working for a small-town paper has its ups and downs, but I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve enjoyed getting to know residents in the Johnstown-Milliken communities. Like I said, I can’t even begin to write what working for Matt is like. I just know he has helped me improve as a writer and has had a profound influence on my career and life. And when I get to read his writing, whether it’s in the paper or away from it, it gives me motivation to keep improving my work so one day I can say, “I think I’m almost as good as you, dude.” How and when did you start work at The Johnstown Breeze, and what was your first duty or assignment? I started as an intern at the Breeze in January 2013. Matt and his friend, who happened to be my UNC professor Lynn Klyde-Silverstein, met for dinner in the winter and she told him about me. As Matt’s story goes, she told him I was this great writer who was questioning if journalism was the right path for me and asked him if he could possibly keep me in the field. My first story at the Breeze was on a student at Roosevelt High School who had a band that was selected to play in Nashville for a big-time blues festival. The student went on to win another contest a year later and got to open up for Kid Rock and Joan Jett at Cheyenne Frontier Days. You seem to cover a variety of beats, including news, features and local sports, via writing, tweeting and talk radio. What do you enjoy about each of those beats, and if you could do just one, what would it be and why? If I could do just one, it would be sports. Covering the Roosevelt High School Rough Riders in Johnstown for the last two years has been a tremendous ride. From seeing the football team make it to the state title game in December to getting to cover the state wrestling tournament at the Pepsi Center. Just seeing the pure joy the students get out of playing their sport in front of their parents and peers is great.
Photo by Thomas Cooper | lightboximages.com Rising Star honoree Zant Reyez shows his award to Governor John Hickenlooper at the 2016 CPA convention. The live-streaming and tweeting of the RHS games is the new way sports are covered in today’s society. People want scores and updates in an instant, and it was time for us as a paper to start doing so. Matt always says when he covered RHS sports years ago, he would cover a game, write his story, and it would wait to go into the paper the following Thursday. Now the games (when I can get to them) are tweeted out and a story is up on our website the same day. When you were in college, you had a Google+ blog titled "Lean With It." Are you still working on it or anything similar outside of your reporting duties? Oh man … talk about a blast from the past. I’m betting this was for Professor Lynn’s class. I think that blog was for Greeley City Council meetings we covered for her class. As far as work outside of the office, I’m trying to get at least one of my short stories from my creative writing class at UNC submitted to a publication. When I have
free time I pull up the stories to edit and tinker with. Hopefully I’ll get one submitted here soon. When you're not on the clock, what do you like to do? During the summer and fall, I play softball. I like to go to concerts. I try to read as much as possible, although I’ve hit a slump in the last few months. I watch the Broncos, The University of Arizona Wildcats, Nuggets (even though they make me sad most of the time), and whatever good game is on. Other days when I’m feeling lazy, I turn on Netflix and try to find something good. Neat desk or not, and what would we see there? Most days my desk is kept in order. Right now it’s semi-clean. On my desk you’ll find an AP Stylebook, a Webster’s College Dictionary, a phone, a stack of miscellaneous papers, my water jug, and sometimes wrappers from my lunch.
2016 dues for members who paid associate member fees before last year’s bylaw changes. • The Freedom of Information Fund will no longer be listed as a separate, dedicated fund. Instead, it will be incorporated into the overall membership dues. • Newspapers that received group membership discounts in 2016 will continue to see a benefit, as the max increase/decrease is based on 2016 dues. • A new multi-flag group discount has been established which members can petition the board for if they meet the criteria. The new dues structure will apply to new members this year and to current members in 2017. CPA has about 150 members currently. Raehal said membership criteria changes last year could allow that number to expand, as the organization has opened up to online outlets, free weeklies and monthlies. “If we can provide the value, we know we’ll get the members,” he said. If they have not done so already, members are encouraged to send the CPA their 2015 Statement of Ownership (legal publications) or a press run report. These numbers will be used for CPA for contest and dues, and by SYNC2 Media on ad placements. If you have questions, contact Jerry Raehal at 720-274-7171.
Membership Rates Effective 2017 for current members, effective immediately for new members Weekly print publication rates Circulation Membership rate 7,000 + $1,550 4,001-7,000 $1,300 2,000-4,000 $1,200 1,000 to 1,999 $1,000 999 and fewer $800 Daily print publication rates Circulation Base rate 200,000 + $18,000 30,000-199,999 $6,500 15,001-50,000 $3,500 6,001 to 15,000 $1,750 6,000 and fewer $1,250 Monthly print publication rate Standard rate $850 Online only publication Standard rate
A Facebook post on The Johnstown Breeze site last October said "The Hell With Al Gore. Zant Reyez … The Man Who Brought The Internet (live-streaming football) to Johnstown." What does that mean and how is it connected to all the live tweeting mentions of local sports we also see?
$1,000
CAPS ON CURRENT MEMBERS: 10 percent increase/decrease over 2016 rates For members who have paid full legal member rates for two years or more 50 percent increase/decrease over 2016 rates For members who have paid associate or associate transition rates in 2015 and 2016, respectively
As we say here at the Breeze, we’re living like the Jetsons. Last year, I made a connection with Mike Rey, owner of Radioactive247, who livestreams events. After talks among us, Mike and officials at Roosevelt High, Radioactive came out for the first time in late October for a Rough Riders football game. To my and Matt’s knowledge, it was the first time something like this had been done in the area, so as Matt said, “we’re living like the Jetsons,” and I brought the Internet to Johnstown, or at least live-streaming.
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Courtesy photo Zant Reyez at his family reunion, July 2010 in Fort Morgan, standing directly under the photo of his great-grandparents, Mary and Joe Reyez.
MULTI-FLAG GROUP DISCOUNT A group of publications under common ownership, working primarily out of the same office, with shared staff and shared content, may petition the Board for a multiple-flag group rate. Contact the CPA office for more details.
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colorado editor
June 2016
Government employee records in Colorado: What’s confidential, what’s not? By Jeffrey A. Roberts CFOIC Executive Director Colorado’s open-records law is clear: A government employee’s personnel file is off limits to the public. But which records, exactly, are part of that confidential file? News organizations battle governments and governmentemployee unions over this question all the time, even though rulings by the Colorado Court of Appeals provide rather clear guidance. The personnel files issue will be back in court soon when two Cherry Creek school district unions try to block the release of school bus driver disciplinary records sought by 9NEWS. School district administrators initially refused to release the records, requested by reporter Kevin Vaughan as part of a wideranging investigation of crashes involving school buses in Colorado. They relented after attorney Steve Zansberg, president of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, suggested they had “misread” the applicable law. That’s when the Cherry Creek Transportation Employees Association and the Cherry Creek Education Association decided to sue. “The requested records constitute ‘personnel files’ and are therefore exempt from disclosure to anyone other than” the bus drivers themselves and their supervisors, the unions’ lawsuit claims. If the records are released to 9NEWS, the suit adds, the school district’s records custodian “would be violating her duty” and the bus drivers would be “irreparably injured.” The unions also say the school bus drivers “have legitimate and reasonable expectations of privacy concerning the records.” If the controversy in Cherry Creek sounds familiar, you might be recalling another recent personnel records flap in the Jefferson County school district. In September 2014, after teachers at four high schools collectively called in sick to protest school district policies, a parent requested some of the teachers’
names under the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). The Jeffco district twice rejected Kyle Walpole’s request, claiming the sick-leave records were personnel and medical information exempt from disclosure under CORA. The district reversed its decision following a letter from a CFOIC volunteer attorney, and the Jeffco teacher’s union sued after another parent requested the names of all the teachers who called in sick during those two days in fall 2014. A district court judge ruled last year that records related to a teacher’s paid absence are not private “personnel files,” and the Colorado Court of Appeals upheld that decision in January. The Colorado Supreme Court hasn’t yet decided whether to hear the union’s appeal. Both the Jeffco and Cherry Creek lawsuits hinge on CORA’s definition of “personnel files” that must be withheld from the public. The statute defines the term to mean “home addresses, telephone numbers, financial information, and other information maintained because of the employer-employee relationship.” It also lists what a confidential personnel file does not include, such as performance ratings, job applications, employment agreements and records related to “any compensation.” The definition is open to interpretation by some governments, Zansberg said, because “the statute isn’t that transparent, even though the Court of Appeals has construed it consistently and we agree with their construction.” The most relevant case, prior to the Jeffco school district ruling, was Daniels v. City of Commerce City, in which the Court of Appeals in 1999 interpreted a key phrase in the statute – “ information maintained because of the employer-employee relationship” – to mean information “of the same general nature as an employee’s home address and telephone number or personal financial information.” The Colorado Municipal League, in an FAQ on personnel records requests, recognizes that the Daniels decision restricts
the personnel exemption to “personal demographic information.” But some governments and government-employee unions still question why the statute includes a list of employee records that aren’t off-limits if it is meant to allow inspection of all employee records related to job performance. “That’s the argument on the other side,” Zansberg said. “But thus far, every court that has reviewed it has said that’s an indication of some of the materials that must be disclosed. It’s not an exhaustive listing of all of the materials that must be disclosed.” That’s why many records custodians often release, upon request, documents that aren’t specifically listed in the statute as open for inspection, such as letters of resignation and internal affairs files on allegations of improper employee conduct. In 2009, the Colorado Supreme Court ordered the El Paso County sheriff to release, in redacted form, an 1,100-page internal affairs file on a former deputy. The justices never suggested the document was part of the deputy’s personnel file or that he had any reasonable expectation of privacy regarding portions of the document that discussed his on-duty performance. Unlike the federal Freedom of Information Act, CORA does not require governments in Colorado to balance a government employee’s personal privacy against the public’s interest in disclosure of particular personnel information. “There is no balancing” under CORA, Zansberg said. “If it fits within the definition (of personnel files), it cannot be disclosed.” The Colorado Court of Appeals construes the personnel files definition narrowly. Unless the legislature changes it or the Colorado Supreme Court rules otherwise sometime in the future, Zansberg said, “that’s the law.” Follow the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition on Twitter @CoFOIC. Like CFOIC’s Facebook page.
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colorado editor
June 2016
Analysis
Open-government wins, losses in 2016 legislative session
n Wage-law violations
By Jeffrey A. Roberts CFOIC Executive Director Colorado lawmakers in 2016 rejected an opportunity to bring the state’s open-records law into the 21st century. They also decided that wage-law violations should remain “trade secrets” and that internal affairs files on judicial branch employees should remain confidential, which isn’t the case for other state government workers. On matters affecting public information, the General Assembly did little during this year’s session to improve access. The most significant legislative win for government transparency doesn’t actually affect governments. That would be SB 16-038, which requires financial disclosures and state audits for nonprofits that get millions of dollars of taxpayer money to coordinate services for Coloradans with developmental and intellectual disabilities. The bill is a major accomplishment for advocates and family members who fought to open the books of Colorado’s 20 community-centered boards after a scathing Denver city audit of Rocky Mountain Human Services. Late last year, Denver Auditor Tim O’Brien found “unreasonable spending and poor accounting practices” at the Denver-based CCB, such as overcharging the city $650,000 for administrative expenses, reimbursing staff members for home internet and providing staff with annual Costco memberships. As introduced by Sen. Irene Aguilar, a Denver Democrat, SB 16-038 would have made CCBs subject to the Colorado Open Records Act. But Aguilar agreed to remove the CORA provision after the CCBs and other nonprofits that receive government money balked at the open-records mandate. Instead, the enacted version requires the state auditor to conduct a performance audit of each community-centered board that receives at least 75 percent of its funding from public sources (all 20 qualify). It also requires the online posting of CCB agendas, meeting minutes, tax returns, government contracts and financial audits. If a request is made, CCBs will have five business days to provide copies of annual budgets, annual summaries of revenues and expenditures and financial policies and procedures. “I think it’s a good outcome,” said Maureen Welch, the mother of an 8-year-old son with Down syndrome. “It’s a good start for us to get a window into the operations of the CCBs.”
n Database records
CORA still includes references to microfilm and online bulletin boards, and the provision that ensures access to public records “kept only in digital form” – last amended in the 1990s – is antiquated and nonspecific. That’s why Sen. John Kefalas, D-Fort Collins, introduced SB 16-037. Too often, journalists and members of the public are denied records in in a format that allows for searching, sorting and aggregating. And public records kept in databases and spreadsheets sometimes are withheld entirely because governments say they aren’t required to redact confidential information and release public portions. “I believe that records made and maintained by governmental entities belong to the public,” Kefalas said during testimony. “And with exceptions that are delineated in CORA…the public must be able to access, review and analyze such records to better understand governmental activities.” But the Senate State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee killed the bill on a 3-2 vote after government lobbyists voiced concerns about its impact on costs and data security. The Colorado Press Association and the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition, which supported the bill, already are in talks with government representatives and other stakeholders in an effort to produce compromise language for next year’s legislative session.
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It is illegal, under the state’s interpretation of a 100-year-old law, for the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to disclose whether an employer has cheated its workers. Rep. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge, introduced HB 16-1347 to make citation and assessment information on wage-law violations available for inspection under CORA after an employer has exhausted all appeals. Nobody testified against the bill, which passed a House committee unanimously and won bipartisan support on the House floor. But at the end of session, with no discussion, the Senate Business, Labor and Technology Committee killed it on a 5-4 partisan vote. “They gave no reasons for voting against such a commonsense transparency measure,” said Danielson, who plans to re-introduce the measure next session.
n Judicial branch employees State courts have ruled that Colorado’s judicial branch is not covered by CORA, so the Colorado Supreme Court last year wrote rules for the public release of the judiciary’s administrative records. Those rules are similar to CORA in many respects, but treat the records of judicial branch employees differently than CORA treats the records of those who work for the executive and legislative branches and all local governments in Colorado. HB 16-1346, introduced by Rep. Polly Lawrence, R-Douglas County, would have made civil or internal investigative files on judicial department employees subject to CORA. Under the open-records law, internal affairs files on the conduct of public employees are presumed to be open for public inspection, except for portions that contain highly personal or private information unrelated to work performance. The bill died in the House State, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on a party-line 5-4 vote. Gerald Pratt, testifying for the Colorado Bar Association, told lawmakers they would risk “not respecting the separation of powers in our (state) constitution” if they applied CORA to the judicial branch.
n Campaign finance HB 16-1282 aligns campaign-finance disclosures in school board elections with those of other races in Colorado. Prompted in part by untraceable spending from outside groups in recent Denver metro races, the bill requires preelection disclosure of independent expenditures of more than $1,000. It also requires disclosure of spending on advertisements, billboards and direct mailings. Lawmakers also passed SB 16-186, which temporarily sets disclosure requirements for small-scale committees that support or oppose ballot issues. The limits are to be repealed in 2019 because of a pending federal court case. A third campaign disclosure measure died. HB 16-1434 would have required independent groups and individuals to disclose expenditures when they buy ads, billboards and mailings that mention only political parties. Disclosure currently is required when such communications mention candidates, but not when they generally suggest that you support Democrats or Republicans.
n School board violations SB 16-101 would have created a school board ethics commission in the state Department of Education to hear alleged violations of CORA and Colorado’s Open Meetings Law. Sen. Andy Kerr, D-Lakewood, introduced the bill in response to allegations made during last fall’s recall election in the Jefferson County school district. Under current law, going to court is the only way to challenge denials of access to public records and public meetings in Colorado. Two Douglas County parents testified for the bill, saying the Dougco school board has a history of making decisions behind closed doors and stonewalling open-records requests. Joanne and Alex McDaniel, testifying with their two young daughters, made numerous allegations about a charter school board in Jefferson County.
But Sen. Owen Hill said the measure would have created a commission “appointed by politicians” to oversee school board members who are elected directly by the people.
n Sunshine Law exception Gov. John Hickenlooper signed HB 16-1259, which allows the trustees of Colorado Mountain College to make decisions electronically under limited circumstances. Glenwood Springsbased CMC asked for the change because the college’s 11 campuses serve a large geographic area that is often difficult to travel, especially in winter. The Open Meetings Law, aka the Sunshine Law, effectively bars email discussions of public business among three or more elected members of a local government body because it’s difficult, if not impossible, for the public to “attend” that meeting and monitor what is discussed. The bill lets the CMC board take action using email, fax “or other form of wire or wireless communication” if proper notice is given beforehand. The board is not be allowed to meet electronically if any one board member objects in writing or if a member of the public requests that the proposed action be discussed during a regular or special meeting.
n Whistleblowers A Senate committee killed HB 16-1078, which would have extended state employee whistleblower protections to employees of municipalities, counties and school districts. The legislature passed a separate whistleblower bill, SB 16-056, which prohibits the discipline of state employees who reveal confidential information while reporting instances of waste, mismanagement of public funds or abuses of authority to a designated “whistleblower review agency.” That will be the attorney general’s office in most circumstances. “Who’s in a better position to know about fraud, waste and abuse in government than state employees?” said Rep. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, the bill’s House sponsor. “Who’s in a better position to know about mismanagement of public funds and illegal and unethical practices but the actual state employees who are involved in the agencies? “But unless we provide them with meaningful protections against retaliation or harassment within their agencies, we will not get the candor or disclosures that we need.”
n Breathalyzer data SB 16-132, which was sent to the governor in late April, closes personally identifying portions of the state’s database of breath-alcohol test results. The bill, however, doesn’t affect information available in law enforcement reports on drunken driving arrests. An individual’s breathalyzer results “will still be in police reports,” said Sen. John Cooke, the Weld County Republican who introduced the measure. “When someone gets arrested, everything will be in there, just as it has been. And it will always be in court documents, obviously.”
n Child victim records The governor signed SB 16-110, which deletes the names of children who are victims of serious crimes from criminal justice records before those records are released to the public. “Victims who are children are further victimized when their name is made public, when their neighbors, their friends at school, their community find out about whatever has happened to them,” said Sen. Laura Woods, R-Arvada, the bill’s sponsor. The Colorado Criminal Justice Records Act already requires the deletion of sexual assault victims’ names prior to the release of those records. Child abuse records are confidential under a separate statute. SB 16-110 covers some of the most serious crimes against children, including: internet sexual exploitation of a child, enticement of a child, internet luring of a child, soliciting for child prostitution and human trafficking of a minor for involuntary servitude.
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The shadow knows During the past few years — and only for certain clients — I’ve been suggesting they get away from the traditional half-point frame for photos. The option I recommend is a photo frame with a soft drop shadow. Why? A few reasons:
ED IT’S DIFFERENT HENNINGER Not many other newspapers use this approach, so the new look makes you stand out—especially if you’re in a community where you’re competing against another paper. It’s certainly an idea to consider if you want to redesign.
IT’S APPEALING Readers may not be able to articulate the difference, but the soft shadow tends to make your photos just a bit more friendly, more comfortable to look at. IT’S MORE “FEATURISH” Some editors may think the soft shadow takes away from the impact of a hard news photo, such as a fire or an auto accident (or the mug shot of a serial killer!). That’s OK—you can drop the soft shadow on such photos if you wish. But for most photos in community newspapers, a soft shadow frame will do just fine. IT’S THREE-DIMENSIONAL The soft shadow helps push the photo off the surface of the page, giving the photo a bit more impact. The half-point frame doesn’t do that.
On the left, a photo with a traditional half-point frame. On the right, a photo with a soft drop shadow. Here’s a suggestion: Try the drop shadow look on an upcoming photo page or in a special section. See how it looks to you. Does it give you a feel you’d like to see throughout your entire publication? If so, you know what to do. And another suggestion: Don’t use the InDesign default specifications for the shadow. Those specs create a shadow that’s too dark, too big. Here are the specs for the shadow on the photo with this story: Blending mode: Multiply Opacity: 50% Distance: Ignore. Offsets will create distance. X Offset: 0p3 Y Offset: 0p3 Angle: 135º Size: 0p5 Disregard other options.
Courtesy photos
One last detail: If you’re placing a photo with a soft shadow at the right edge of the page, be sure to nudge it left about a pica. Otherwise, the shadow may fall out of the print area, leaving you with no shadow at all. The soft shadow photo frame can give your newspaper a more comfortable, more friendly design. It’s worth a look.
ED HENNINGER is an independent newspaper consultant and the Director of Henninger Consulting. On the web: www.henningerconsulting.com. Phone: 803-327-3322.
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obituaries military conflicts and natural disasters. He had covered Iraq and Afghanistan since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on Washington and New York.
David Gilkey
Former Daily Camera photographer David Gilkey, who began his journalism career with the Daily Camera in Boulder, was killed on assignment June 5 while working as a photographer and video editor for National Public Radio in southern Afghanistan. He and an Afghan translator died after their convoy came under fire by Taliban forces while traveling with an Afghan army unit in Helmand province. He was 50. An award-winning photojournalist for NPR, Gilkey studied journalism at Oregon State University. His first job was with the Camera, covering local assignments for that newspaper, then overseas assignments for Knight Ridder. He later joined the Detroit Free Press until he went to NPR in 2007 as a staff photographer and video editor covering national and international news. His awards include Michigan Photographer of the Year, White House News Photographers Association Still Photographer of the Year in 2011, and an Emmy for a video series on a group of Marines from Michigan in Iraq. In 2015 he was the first multimedia journalist to receive the Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of international breaking news,
Myra Kay Krider
Former Pikes Peak Courier advertising manager Myra K. Krider, a 15-year resident of Woodland Park, Colo., died March 22, 2016, in hospice care in Colorado Springs. She was born Jan. 10, 1958, in Sikeston, Mo., to Joseph and Byrdine Mills. She attended Southeast Missouri State University, then began a long career in marketing, advertising and business liaison, including being advertising director for the Pikes Peak Courier from 2003-2007. During her life, she lived in Galveston Island, Texas, and on a ranch in Idaho. While living in Nashville, Tenn., she met and married her husband Jason, a career military man. Together they lived in Kentucky, North Carolina and Louisiana, as well as two assignments in Germany and at Fort Carson, Colo. Krider was very involved in her communities, as a Girl Scout leader, Honor Queen of Job's Daughters and as a lifelong member of
Order of the Eastern Star. She was a Family Readiness Group Leader at battalion and brigade levels, led USO tours in four European countries, and worked in military Morale, Welfare and Recreation services. She was a supporter of the Special Forces Association and the Special Forces Charitable Trust. She was a board member of the Greater Woodland Park Area Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of an annual Oktoberfest. As a supporter of the arts (and a piano player herself since childhood), Krider worked with the Colorado Festival of World Theater and the Colorado Springs Symphonic Guild supporting the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. She was the recipient of many civilian and civilian-military awards, including The Colonel Maggie Raye Volunteer Award. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband; a sister, Karen ( Jim) Ramsey of Brentwood, Tenn.; a brother, Dan (Evelyn) Mills of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; and niece and nephew Stacy ( Jake) Mills of St. Louis, Mo., and Jeff (Kristin) Ramsey of Nashville. A ceremony took place on April 9 in Madison, Tenn., followed by a wake May 6 in Colorado Springs.
David Keith Martin Former AP reporter, Rocky Mountain News editor
David Keith Martin, 83, of Arlington, Va., died Feb. 19, 2016. Early in his career, he worked as a journalist, covering politics and elections for Associated Press. Martin grew up in Kearney, Neb., going on to graduate from Dartmouth College in 1954. He went on to earn a master's degree at Columbia
Journalism School and studied for his Ph.D.
at the University of Colorado. Martin's career included journalism with a focus on politics, along with government public information and private-sector public relations. He worked on Capitol Hill on both the House and Senate sides with committees and individuals, and was a campaign finance and lobby reporter for Roll Call Report Syndicated. He also worked in radio and television in Omaha, Neb., and was news editor and book review editor for the former Rocky Mountain News. He wrapped up his career as a senior press officer for FEMA.
Martin was a 36-year resident of Arlington. After he retired in 2006, he was invited to be a foreign election observer, going on two missions to Serbia, three to Azerbaijan and two to the Ukraine during the Orange Revolution. Over the next 10 years, he also traveled extensively with his wife, Crista. He performed as an actor in community and professional theater, in both dramatic and musical roles, and was a member of the Denver Press Club, The National Press Club and the Cosmos Club of Washington, D.C. Martin is survived by his wife; daughters Melanie Mclean and Mollie Martin; a sister, Patricia Malone; and a granddaughter, Taylor Cullom.
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marketplace MANAGING EDITOR NEEDED Time to move up. Managing editor needed for award-winning High Plains daily about three hours from Denver. Work with and train staff of three, plus part-time writers, plan news coverage, photos, design news pages, write some stories, deal with public, online and Facebook pages. Journalism degree preferred, not required, plus two-three years experience. Send resume by email to Kansas Press Association, steve.haynes@nwkansas.com. EOE.
REPORTER NEEDED Reporter needed for plains weekly. Hard-working journalist needed to plan news and photo coverage, coordinate work of small part-time staff, cover stories and features, meetings, design and lay out pages, post to web. Journalism degree or some newspaper experience, if possible. A great way to learn what they didn't teach you in school. Pay to match experience and ability, benefits, 3-4 hours to Denver. Send resume by email to Kansas Press Association, steve.haynes@nwkansas.com. EOE.
SALES ASSISTANT FOR SYNC2 MEDIA SYNC2 Media — a print and digital media buying and advertising agency — has an opening for a sales assistant. The ideal candidate will have 1-2 years of customer service and office administration experience. The person will be detail oriented, organized, proactive and work well in a team. A background in newspaper or digital ad placement is preferable, but not necessary. Candidate must be able to lift at least 25 pounds. Job Responsibilities include: • Working with sales staff to produce ad quotes.
• Fulfilling orders and ensuring proper placement of sold advertising programs into newspapers statewide including print ads, free standing inserts and online ad placement. • Answering and addressing client service issues by communicating with clients and member newspapers in a timely and professional manner. • Communicating and placing orders. • Communicating any new sales opportunities with current clients to Sales. • Managing incoming calls and inquiries. • Organizing and maintaining SYNC2 Media’s library of current member newspaper publications • And working with the accounting department on tear sheeting process. Pay range is $28,000 to $35,000 depending on qualifications. We also offer a health, dental and vision insurance plans and a simple IRA plan. SYNC2 Media is a full service media buying company leveraging its affiliation with the Colorado Press Association to deliver results through advertising placement on all media platforms. Our clients and prospects include, but are not limited to, regional and national advertising agencies, retailers, major employers and other state press associations. When applying, please submit a cover letter, resume and three references. Email applications to jraehal@colopress.net.
ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Evergreen Newspapers is now accepting applications for an Advertising Account Executive. Evergreen Newspapers is comprised of three paid mail delivery weekly papers – Canyon Courier serving Evergreen area, Clear Creek Courant serving Idaho Springs area, and High Timber Times serving the 285 corridor area and one free carrier delivery weekly paper,
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Columbine Courier serving the Columbine area. In addition, Evergreen Newspapers publishes a mail delivery weekly 285 Hustler shopper. This is a salaried position with commission, bonus and mileage. Evergreen Newspapers offers a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, 401(k) and paid time off benefits. Evergreen, Colorado is just 27 miles west of downtown Denver and 52 miles west from Denver International Airport. Evergreen is a foothills/mountain town that offers many outdoor recreation activities. Websites for the individual publications may be found at www.canyoncourier.com, www. clearcreekcourant.com, www.hightimbertimes.com, www. columbinecourier.com, and www.285hustler.com. Qualifications • Sales experience • Good organizational skills; detail oriented • Demonstrated high energy level; self-motivated • Ability to develop, plan and implement sales presentations • Ability to overcome objections and meet deadlines and quotas • Excellent customer service attitude • Must possess computer proficiency, including working knowledge of Excel and PowerPoint • Team oriented behavior • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills • Must have valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to make sales calls Essential Functions • Sell advertising to new and existing accounts, increase existing advertising revenue and obtain new advertisers. • Order, correct and approve ads for all papers and special sections in timely and accurate fashion. • Know and service customers in assigned territory: handle errors and questions. Conduct needs analysis, develop relationships, prospect new businesses, write proposals. • Work with other departments (accounting, production, editorial) to solve problems and improve processes. • Keep paperwork and files current and accessible. • Accept assignments as required, such as: captain special section, serve on task force or committees. • Improve company by suggesting new ideas, processes, publications, projects • Consult clients on ad concepts and marketing campaigns • Handle other Account Executive’s desk when needed, serving as “vacation buddy.” Interested persons should resume to: Kristin Witt Director of Advertising Sales Evergreen Newspapers kristin@evergreenco.com Interested persons should send cover letter and résumé to Kristin via email by June 28th. Equal Opportunity Employer
Advertise Immediately and Effectively Colorado Press Association Member Rates • $20 for 70 words • Includes: 30 days online, one print edition of Colorado Editor • Additional words .07 per word Non-Member Rates • $30 for 70 words • Includes: 30 days online, one print edition of Colorado Editor • Additional words .07 per word Place Your Advertisement • Call Jean Creel at 303-571-5117 • Or email: coloradopress@colopress.net