January 2014 Colorado Editor by Colorado Press Association

editor colorado

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

What in the world is going on at the CPA office? PAGE 7

January 2014

Attorney Zansberg to helm CFOIC First new president in 17 years; CPA’s Johnston joins board By Jeff Roberts Executive Director, Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition The Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition has a new president for the first time in 17 years, and the board of directors

and membership of the opengovernment alliance just got a lot bigger. Steven D. Zansberg was elected CFOIC president on Zansberg Wednesday. He succeeds Thomas B. Kelley, who has presided over the coalition’s board and membership since 1997. Both Zansberg and Kelley, partners in the law firm of

Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, have distinguished careers defending the First Amendment and access-toinformation rights of journalists and Colorado residents. “Steve brings to this post an extraordinary background of both expertise and leadership,” Kelley said. “He has been involved in more freedom-of-information litigation than any other Colorado lawyer and is regarded as the state’s premier expert in matters of citizen access to public places, meetings, tribunals and documents.”

Zansberg has represented the national news media in connection with coverage of the Aurora movie theater shootings case, the Oklahoma City bombing trials and the Kobe Bryant rape prosecution. On behalf of news media clients, he secured access to public records related to the murder of JonBenét Ramsey and the Columbine High School shootings. He has taught mass media at the University of Colorado and Internet law at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law. Prior to becoming a lawyer,

he was a freelance documentary producer in San Francisco. The CFOIC, founded as the Colorado Freedom of Information Council in 1987, is a non-partisan alliance of groups, businesses and individuals dedicated to ensuring the transparency of state and local governments in Colorado by promoting freedom of the press, open courts and open access to government records and meetings. Past presidents include the late CFOIC on page 7

CPA Board sees the future, and it’s all good By Cheryl Ghrist Contributing Editor

There’s news in them thar hills

Brian Clark

The South Park Sentinel is among the more than 30 buildings that make up South Park City, a reconstructed town/museum near Fairplay that highlights what life was like in Colorado during the late 19th Century Gold Rush era. Many of the structures that line the street in South Park were brought in from nearby towns and mining camps in Park County. The Sentinel building, the first structure relocated to South Park when construction began in 1957, was hauled in from Lake George, 45 miles away over Wilkerson Pass. All of the buildings in the town are filled with artifacts from the era, including the metal type, Lineotype machine and G.P. Gordon Press that give visitors a peek into what printing looked like in the late 1800s.

Interns not capitalizing on CPA scholarship dollars For at least five consecutive years, the Colorado Press Association Philanthropic Advisory Committee has allocated scholarship dollars for college students that largely go unused. Each year, the committee allocates up to six $2,500 scholarships for college students pursuing a career in journalism or media. Although the scholarship process is intended to be competitive, student interest seems to be less and less each year. “It’s hard for me to imagine that among thousands of journalism and media studies students in Colorado each year, there are only one or two who could use $2,500 in scholarship dollars,” said CPA Executive Director, Samantha INTERNS on page 2

CPA Scholarships • Who: Any full-time junior or senior at a four-year Colorado college or university who has declared a major in journalism or a related media field (multimedia, communications, filmmaking, public relations, etc.) who plans to begin a journalism or media career after graduation. • When: Deadline to apply is March 3, 2014. • Apply: http://www.denverfoundation.org/postfiles/ grantsscholarships/2014_CPA_College_Student_ Application.pdf. • Questions: Samantha Johnston, Colorado Press Associaiton, sjohnston@colopress.net or 303-571-5117

A few months ago, the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism released “The State of the News Media 2013 – An Annual Report on American Journalism.” Their overall theme was “Newspapers: Stabilizing, but Still Threatened.” An article about that report – by Rick Edmonds of the Poynter Institute, and Emily Guskin, Amy Mitchell and Mark Jurkowitz of the Pew Research Center – stated that “For the first time since the deep recession that began in 2007, newspaper organizations have grounds for a modicum of optimism,” adding to that a series of optimistic bullet points that mentioned the following: – New revenue streams “such as offering social marketing services to local businesses.” – Digital pay plans adopted at 450 of the country’s 1,380 dailies, plus small and mid-sized newspapers, “twinned with print subscription and single-copy price increases.” – A rise the previous year in share prices of publicly-traded newspaper companies. – Although sale prices are low, “newspapers coming onto the market are finding buyers.” – The shift to “new media,” along with increased auto, real estate and employment advertising. There are also “considerable dangers” – as the article also mentioned declining print advertising, the continued careful yet slow development of new digital/Web/mobile advertising, lingering debt and pension obligations, even downsizing the buildings newspapers call home. They concluded with this: “So the industry entered 2013

n By-law changes, board members to be highlights of annual meeting Page 8 with some positive signs but still dealing with difficult economic realities. The two biggest newspaper developments of the last year – digital paywalls and reduced print frequency – capture that odd mix of expansion and contraction now typical within the industry.” So where does that leave us now, at the end of 2013 and the beginning of a New Year? For a perspective closer to home, where else would you turn for a progress report – and a look at what’s ahead for the newspaper business in Colorado – than the CPA Board of Directors? In an effort to get a leg up on 2014, we posed a few pertinent questions to board members Brenda (Johnson) Brandt, Bryce Jacobson, Keith R. Cerney, Laurena Mayne Davis and Matt Lubich. Here’s what our own board of Colorado newspaper professionals see for their – and your – future: LET THE QUESTIONS BEGIN! What will 2014 bring Colorado newspapers? • BRANDT: Ongoing change, but enhanced stability and confidence. • JACOBSON: The New Year will bring increased revenues and profit from the innovation that our staffs are implementing each and every day. • CERNY: I project steady revenue growth. • DAVIS: We’re all looking to strengthen relationships with our readers and advertisers while FUTURE on page 8

colorado editor

January 2014

The business of buying, selling papers colorado editor ISSN #162-0010 USPS # 0122-940 Vol. LXXXV, Issue 1 January 2014 Colorado Editor is the official publication of the Colorado Press Association and is published monthly at 1336 Glenarm Place. Denver, CO 80204-2115 p: 303-571-5117 f: 303-571-1803 coloradopressassociation.com

Subscription rate: $10 per year, $1 single copy Staff Samantha Johnston Publisher/Executive Director sjohnston@colopress.net Brian Clark Design Editor Board of Directors OFFICERS Chair Brenda Brandt The Holyoke Enterprise bbholent@chase3000.com President Bryce Jacobson The Tribune bjacobson@greeleytribune.com Vice President Terri House The Pagosa Springs SUN terri@pagosasun.com Treasurer Keith Cerny Alamosa Valley Courier krcemail56@gmail.com Secretary Bart Smith The Tribune bsmith@greeleytribune.com DIRECTORS Mark Drudge Cortez Journal mdrudge@cortezjournal.com Laurena Mayne Davis The Daily Sentinel laurena.davis@gjsentinel.com Matt Lubich The Johnstown Breeze mlubich@johnstownbreeze.com Don Lindley The Durango Herald dlindley@durangoherald.com Larry Ryckman The Denver Post lryckman@denverpost.com

Periodical postage paid at Denver, CO 80202. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Colorado Editor 1336 Glenarm Place Denver, CO 80204-2115

By Cheryl Ghrist Contributing Editor The Concise Encyclopedia section of www.Merriam-webster. com defines a newspaper in part as follows: “Publication usually issued daily, weekly, or at other regular times that provides news, views, features, and other information of public interest and often carries advertising. Forerunners of the modern newspaper appeared as early as ancient Rome. Though preceded by official papers, James Franklin’s NewEngland Courant (1721) was the first independent newspaper in Britain’s North American colonies. By 1800, the principles of a free press and a basic formula for both serious and popular papers were taking root in much of Europe and the U.S. “In the 19th century the number of U.S. papers and their circulations rose dramatically, owing to wider literacy, broadening appeal, lower prices, and technological advances in typesetting, printing, communications, and transport. By late in the century, newspapers had achieved great power. Since 1900 newspaper publishing worldwide has expanded greatly; in large countries it has experienced consolidation driven by media conglomerates or through the acquisitions of smaller papers by larger ones.” One thing in particular that interests newspaper executives today is that last sentence, and it leads to two questions: What is the future of the smaller or independent newspapers? And what is the state of the industry regarding sales, mergers and acquisitions of newspaper companies in general? If you take a quick look on the Internet, you’ll find a number of companies that handle these transactions, along with the requisite appraisal work. You’ll find listings of newspapers for sale across the country, even one or two in Colorado. But there’s not much discussion on who’s selling what and to whom and how and why. The National Newspaper Association’s website (nnaweb.org) has a helpful article called “The Top Five (Or So) Things To Do When Preparing To Sell Your Newspaper,” by John T. Cribb, managing director of Cribb, Greene & Associates in Bozeman, Mont., a “publishing

company brokerage.” He noted that, “Nearly every newspaper owner will decide at some point that it is time to sell his/her publishing business. It may be time to retire, step up to a larger property, or push in a different direction entirely.” And when another broker was asked about such activity here in the West or Mountain regions, Owen Van Essen of Dirks, Van Essen & Murray, a newspaper industry merger and acquisition firm based in Santa Fe, N.M., said that although “We don’t track activity on a regional basis, nationally there was approximately $800 million in transactions” in 2013. So there is movement in newspaper buying and selling – but it can be tricky finding someone who knows your territory when you’re ready to make a move. In Colorado, there is one company that is taking on the task of making such moves go as smoothly as possible. Media Consultants is one of the oldest newspaper consulting firms in the country, according to Mike Lindsey, who bought the firm in 1988. “It was started in Arizona in 1958 by Dean Seller, then sold to Robert Houk in 1977. I moved the office to Cheyenne, Wyo., and then to Colorado.” In 1999, Terry Licence joined the firm following the sale of his newspaper, the Estes Park TrailGazette, where he’d been for more than 15 years. Lindsey resides in Pueblo, Licence in Loveland. Said Mike: “Both of us are longtime newspaper publishers who offer consulting services on the sale or acquisition of publications, provide appraisals, and consult with owners on financial conditions of their market. I was raised in a newspaper family and started as a printers’ devil (aka an apprentice) at age 10 in Sundance, Wyo. “I owned my first paper in Gillette, Wyo., in 1966. I went to work for Scripps League of Newspapers in 1970 and published daily newspapers for them in California and Pennsylvania until 1977, when we purchased the paper in Torrington, Wyo. We purchased six other Wyoming papers before selling in 1977, and also owned papers in Missouri, Arizona, Idaho, Washington and Alaska.” Licence has well-rounded industry experience as well. “I began as an ad sales rep at a Minnesota twice-weekly in 1969,” he said. “I

became ad manager, then business manager of the Minnesota operation, and consequently purchased a Montana weekly newspaper in 1979. I built that weekly over a five-year period into a top award-winner in the state.” Licence then sold that weekly and purchased the twice-weekly Estes Park Trail-Gazette in 1984. “After 15 successful years, I sold the Trail-Gazette to MediaNews Group (the Denver Post) and joined Mike at Media Consultants,” he said. Today, Lindsey and Licence do what they can to keep newspapers going, but things have definitely changed in the past few decades. Said Lindsey: “The high sales multiples for newspapers in the ’80s and ’90s are over. A good daily might have sold for 10 to 15 times the cash flow, where today sales are in the range of six times. Weeklies are fetching much less. “There is still a market for wellrun, small community weeklies but owner financing is the norm now, as banks are not loaning money. And these small papers usually offer a job to the buyer rather than a huge investment. Something akin to the owners in the 1940s-1960s who wanted to get involved in a small town and carve out a living.” Lindsey also noted that since 1988, “More than 100 publications have been sold for over $100 million with the largest transaction being $18.5 million. We’ve sold 27 Colorado publications, some more than once, with the rest being in the western states. Colorado sales were in the $30 million to $40 million total value.” He added that, “Small newspaper sales have been almost nonexistent in the last few years with many newspapers closing down due to the recession of 2007 and on. Last year we did an appraisal of a 60-unit newspaper group with values falling nearly 50 percent from a few years earlier.” His company’s services focus on the newspaper and its assets, but not including prepress or printing equipment. “That’s usually handled by (a company such as) Inland Machinery Company. There’s not much value in equipment as so much is available now.” Lindsey said that owners have to share responsibility for the trends in sales of their newspapers: “Newspaper group owners are responsible, in part, for the decline

of the industry. Greedy owners consolidated operations, cut staff, cut newsholes, raised rates, and killed circulation. Plus they gave away the news on the Web free of charge, and now they want to be paid for that mistake. They divorced the operations from the local community.” Those factors are mitigated today with the new directions of the Internet and social media, he noted. “The Internet, craigslist, instant news blogs and the need ‘to know it now’ is killing the printed publication. Papers surviving are now bringing news and advertising to their clients through a multiple approach of print, Web pages, video of events, instant updates on a regular basis and more in-depth reporting.” And still, he said, it’s the economy: “The economy isn’t helping newspapers survive. Case in point: A weekly/shopper purchased in 2006 grossed $1.8 million, had 40 employees and was turning a 20 percent profit. Along came the recession of 2007 and a government program of ‘Cash for Clunkers,’ which depleted the used car market and cut their auto advertising by $18,000 per month. The housing crunch and the financial crisis cut even deeper into the revenue stream. More and more mom and pop businesses were gone and in 2011 revenue for this company fell to $360,000. Staff was down to five. “The company still had a 20 percent cash flow but not enough to cover the purchase price of 2006, so the owners sold the assets to a competing publisher rather than continue to fight the battle. Such was the case across the country where there were many shutdowns and many bankruptcy filings.” But all is not doom and gloom. Lindsey sees a better future ahead: “History will show print will rebound at some point. Just look at all the major marketing companies using preprints to get their message out to the public. But to be successful, owners will have to operate on many information platforms and adapt at a faster pace.” Contact Mike Lindsey at 719569-7395; mlindsey337@gmail.com Contact Terry Licence at 970215-4897; tslicence@comcast.net

CPA drops previous internship requirement INTERNS from Page 1 Johnston. “Clearly we aren’t getting the message out appropriately, or we grossly misunderstand the financial situation of Colorado college students.” In a major change from previous years, CPA has dropped the requirement for applicants to have internship experience. “Many Colorado journalism programs require an internship as part of the course curriculum, so we know that most students will

complete at least one internship before gra duation,” Johnston said. “But the reality is that there are more journalism students sometimes than there are internship opportunities in the state. We don’t want a student with financial need to not be considered for a scholarship simply because they haven’t completed an internship yet.” Several CPA member newspapers host one or more interns annually. Yet those same interns aren’t applying for the

scholarship dollars either. “It seems like our own association members are a direct conduit to students who could apply for our scholarships dollars, but not even those students are applying,” Johnston said. “It’s my hope that every intern at a Colorado newspaper receives our scholarship application from his or her editor or supervisor the minute they fill out their paperwork on day one. It simply doesn’t make sense that these students are vying for the available dollars.”

APPLICATIONS

Applications for 2014-2015 scholarships are due March 3, 2014. All applications are submitted to The Denver Foundation, the foundation in charge of managing the CPA scholarship assets. Selection committee decisions are made on or before May 1, 2014. Scholarship dollars awarded are paid directly to the recipient’s college or university and are applied toward tuition and fees.

colorado editor

January 2014

from the president

CPA’s annual convention a time for education, networking, camaraderie It feels old hat to pen a column about why it’s important to attend the annual convention of your state press association. Yet every year, CPA members ask the same question when deciding whether to attend: What’s in it for bryce me? jacobson I’ve attended the convention every year for cpa almost a decade. I have president yet to leave a convention without a contact, or an idea or a piece of information that I didn’t have when I came. I thoroughly enjoy the conversations with my peers, insight from our speakers and the innovation that happens when brainstorming and idea generation and that one great quote from a speaker sparks conversation with people I rarely get the chance to engage with. I love the passion that our membership and visitors have about their newspapers and their communities

and I love the healthy debate about hot topics such as digital sales, paywalls and data focused newsrooms. I enjoy the college job fair. Not only is it an opportunity to meet some of the best and brightest young journalism minds, but it’s a chance to reflect on how important it is that I, and my peers, are good stewards of our industry; that we are willing to innovate and experiment and try things we don’t normally try so that we have opportunity to make the next industry breakthrough. I love talking to students and prospective employees about The Tribune and Swift Communications, Inc. But mostly, I appreciate that rare one-on-one engagement with students and professors. The awards ceremony is an annual convention tradition. This year, more than 4,500 entries were submitted to the contest in 10 circulation categories including monthly newspapers. The quality of Colorado journalism is high. And I’ll venture to bet that there isn’t a single person who leaves the awards ceremony without at least one idea about how to make their newspaper better. There’s no way to sit in a room full of winners

I’ve attended the convention every year for almost a decade. I have yet to leave a convention without a contact, or an idea or a piece of information that I didn’t have when I came.” and not think about how to be better. This year, we’ve combined the annual awards with the Colorado Associated Press Editors and Reporters Banquet (CAPER). The format will be different … and shorter … but the event should be exceptional. Yes, there will be a charge for dinner. We’ve tried this a lot of different ways and we’ve yet to find the perfect solution. But we think the cost of dinner is worth the investment we make in putting on a great awards ceremony to honor the individuals in Colorado who do amazing work day in and day out.

You’re going to hear some great speakers this year on topics ranging from generational content for both advertising and editorial and supervisory core competency to Freedom of Information and using social media to prospect for display sales. There is a tremendous line-up of great speakers … some you know, some you won’t. But you won’t be disappointed. Finally, we’re voting on some important things at the annual meeting, which will be held at 7:30a .m. Friday, Feb. 21 in Lawrence A. We’ll be electing new CPA board members and we’ll also ask our members to vote to remove the dues structure from the CPA bylaws to allow a membership committee to develop a dues assessment structure that is current, relevant and takes into account the changing dynamics of our industry – group ownership, consolidated operations, etc. Be sure to read the Page 1 story of this edition to for details about the upcoming vote. It’s important that your voice is heard. You should receive all of your convention registration materials this week. Sign up. It’s worth it.

colorado editor

January 2014

cpa board election The following slate of candidates will appear on the ballot during the annual board election to be held Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 during the annual convention. No nominations for board members were submitted this year. The board is actively seeking two additional members to be added to the 2014 roster. Regular CPA members may vote in person or by proxy at the annual meeting in February. Please request a proxy if you are unable to attend. The CPA Board of Directors seeks applicants for two 2-year appointments. Applicants must be a working Executive Committee Chair Bryce Jacobson Publisher, Craig Daily Press jacobson@ craigdailypress.com Bryce Jacobson started in the newspaper business at age 8, delivering the Journal-Advocate in Sterling. He later worked in the newspaper’s mailroom and circulation department, and was named circulation manager in 1998. Jacobson later worked in the circulation departments at the Star-Herald in Scottsbluff, Neb. and the Denver Newspaper Agency until he was hired as the publisher of the Craig Daily Press in 2006. Jacobson published the Daily Press until 2013 when he was named Advertising Director at the Greeley Tribune. He is a member of the Kiwanis Club of the Rockies, serves on various committees with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Weld County and is enrolled in Leadership Weld County through the Greeley Chamber of Commerce. Jacobson is the father of two children, Peyton, age 14 and Bayley, age 10. He has served the board as treasurer in 2011, vice president in 2012 and president in 2013. PRESIDENT Terri House terri@pagosasun.com Terri House began her newspaper career at The SUN at age 15, working in the mailroom. She held the positions of advertising manager, general manager and assistant publisher before purchasing the newspaper in 2003. Service to her community is of utmost importance to House. She received the Pagosa Springs Volunteer of the Year Award in 2008 and Citize of the Year in 1996. She has served as President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Colorado and received the Mashaw’s Magic Moment Award in 2010. House has served as Council Chair of United Way, board of directors of Archuleta County Fair, Western Heritage Committee producing the Red Ryder Roundup Rodeo, Operation Helping Hand Christmas charity, the Prevention Coalition and Reach for the Peaks balloon rally among other things.

member of the Colorado news media and hold an management-level position in advertising, publishing, circulation, editorial, or any other newspaper department at a CPA member newspaper. The CPA board of directors is seeking one daily and one weekly newspaper representative. To send a letter of interest, read the complete nomination form or find out any more information about the board, visit coloradopressassociation.com/about/board or contact Samantha Johnston at sjohnston@colopress.net or by phone at 303-571-5117.

She is currently the President of the Pagosa Springs Rotary Club and serves on the advisory council of Southwest Community College. Terri was elected to the board in 2009. She served as secretary in 2011, treasurer in 2012 and vice president in 2013. VICE PRESIDENT Keith Cerny Publisher, Valley Courier, Alamosa krcemail@aol.com Keith Cerny is publisher of the Valley Courier in Alamosa. He is also a division manager for News Media Corporation with oversight of eight newspapers in the San Luis Valley and one in Wyoming. Prior to moving to Alamosa in 1992, Cerny served on the Wyoming Press Association Board of Directors while publisher in Evanston and Lusky, Wyo. Cerny serves on the board of directors of the Adams State University Foundation, Adams State University Grizzly Club, Alamosa County Economic Development Board and is the Alamosa Rotary Club immediate past president. He also serves on the San Luis Valley Regional Council for El Pomar Foundation. Cerny previously served on the Creede Theater Board and the San Luis Valley Arts and Entertainment Committee. He was appointed to the CPA board in 2009. He served as secretary in 2012 and treasurer in 2013. TREASURER Bart Smith Publisher, Greeley Tribune bsmith@greeleytribune.com Bart Smith is the General Manager of Greeley Publishing Company & The Fencepost Company, which operate the Greeley Tribune, Windsor Now and The Fencepost in addition to several agriculture publications and websites in multiple states. After earning a journalism degree from the University of Wyoming and stints in Rawlins and Lander, Wyo., Smith filled editor and publisher roles in a variety of locations, including: Whitefish, Mont., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Roseburg, Ore. before coming back

to the Rockies. Smith got hooked on newspapers as a young U.S. Army correspondent in Vietnam in 1971. He is past president of the Montana Press Association and chaired the News Education Committee of the Oregon Newspaper Publishers Association. He is a former member of the National Press Photographers Association and the National Conference of Editorial Writers. Smith lives in Greeley with his wife and a daughter attending college. His oldest daughter is a reporter for the Summit Daily News in Frisco, Colo. SECRETARY Laurena Mayne Davis Marketing Director, The Daily Sentinel laurena.davis@gjsentinel.com Laurena Mayne Davis began her journalism career as a graduate assistant writing and editing stories for the Northern Arizona University’s Graduate College magazine. She later was a fulltime journalism lecturer at NAU with a news writing focus. Mayne Davis was hired as a copy editor at the Grand Junction Sentinel in 1994 and was promoted to features editor in January 2000. Mayne Davis left the Sentinel in 2003 to be an instructor of mass communication at Mesa State College (now Colorado Mesa University), where she continues as adjunct faculty. She also spent time at Community Hospital as a pool writer and editor. Mayne Davis returned to the Daily Sentinel and most recently served as Managing Editor. Mayne Davis was named Marketing Director at The Daily Sentinel in 2013. She holds a BA in Humanities from Mesa State College and an MA in English from Northern Arizona University.

Holdover Directors DIRECTOR Matt Lubich Executive Editor, Co-Owner, The Johnstown Breeze mlubich@johnstownbreeze.com Matt Lubich is the executive editor and co-owner of the Johnstown Breeze. He has co-owned The Breeze with his wife, Lesli Bangert, since 1997. The 108-year-old weekly newspaper has been covering the communities of

2014 CPA Annual Meeting Friday, Feb. 21, 2014 7:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Westin Denver Downtown (Lawrence A)

Johnstown and Milliken and surrounding Weld and Larimer Counties since 1904. Lubich grew up in Pueblo, where his first job in the business was driving a Sunday morning contract delivery route for the Pueblo Chieftain. Lubich graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1986 with a degree in journalism. Lubich worked at the Evans Star Press and for legendary Colorado editor, Percy Connaroe at The Lafayette News in the late 80s. Lubich returned to Colorado in 1991 from New Mexico. He wandered into the Breeze looking for freelance work and eventually became the paper’s editor before he and his wife purchased the paper from Clyde and Ardis Briggs in 1997. In 2002 and again in 2005, The Breeze won General Excellence from the Colorado Press Association. Lubich and Bangert have two daughters, Riley, a student at Montana State University in Bozeman, and Harper Lee, a senior at Roosevelt High School in Johnstown. Lubich was appointed the board in 2012 and elected to serve a two-year term in February 2013. DIRECTOR Don Lindley Managing Editor, The Durango Herald Dlindley@ durangoherald.com Don Lindley moved to Colorad in 2010 to become managing editor of The Durango Herald. Before that, he had a long career with daily newspapers in Florida working as an environmental reporter, editorial writer, managing editor and executive editor. He serves on the board of directors of the National Freedom of Information Council. In Florida, he served eight years on the board of the Florida Society of News Editors as its FOI chair. He also was a trustee of Florida’s First Amendment Foundation for 12 years and chaired the FAF board from 2006 to 2010. Lindley is currently the CPA Legislative Committee chair. A native of Milwaukee, Wis., Lindley holds a B.A. in political science from Yale University and a M.S. in journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He lives in Durango with his wife.

colorado editor

January 2014

tWo-YEar tErm DirEctor mark Drudge mdrudge@cortezjournal.com Mark Drudge started his newspaper career in 1986 with the Glenwood Post as a circulation district manager and quickly moved to the advertising department working as a sales account executive for several years. In the late 90s, he moved back to circulation working as a circulation director for the Western Slope Publishing Group. He held his first publisher position at the Rifle Citizen Telegram in 2000. Drudge left Colorado for a few years and worked as both a publisher and sales manager in York, Neb. and Newton, Iowa. Following his desire to return to the mountains to be closer to his children, Drudge joined the Cortez Journal as sales manager in March of 2010. Drudge holds a BS in Education Ball State University. He loves to trout fish and to get off road in his 1971 Toyota Land Cruiser. He has played the banjo since he was a child and he played and recorded in several working bluegrass bands over the years. He has two daughters, Kelly, in Battlement Mesa and Katie, in Guam with the United States Air Force. DirEctor Larry ryckman Assistant City Editor, The Denver Post lryckman@denverpost.com Larry Ryckman is an Assistant City Editor at The Denver Post. Larry spent 22 years at The Associated Press as a Moscow correspondent, National Editor and Assistant Managing Editor, among other postings. He covered the war in Chechnya and has overseen coverage of major events and disasters including hurricanes, wildfires, Columbine and the presidential election recount in Florida in 2000. He also has been Local News Editor at the Greeley Tribune and Managing Editor at The Gazette in Colorado Springs. Larry was appointed to the board in 2013.

You don’t need great art to create a dominant presence In last month’s column on design basics, I mentioned the need for a dominant photo. “Why?” you may ask. “My space is tight and I don’t get great photos. Most of our shots are pictures of kids in school, people at their jobs, check passings and the like. We’re a small newspaper in a small town and we don’t always get those award-winning photos you’re talking about.” Fair enough. But that doesn’t mean you have to underplay the ed photos you do get. Too henninger often, that school shot is so small readers can’t really see the faces in it. And there’s nothing wrong with clustering two or three of those pictures so they create a dominant visual element. Why scatter three school pix around a page? Instead, push them together to create some impact. And when you do get that strong photo, remember to use it with size. Here are some suggestions: Make it big: If it’s a house fire, you can certainly run it as large as the photo in the illustration with this column. If it’s a fire in the center of your business district, it may be worth the entire top half of your front page. What’s my idea of a “big” photo? For a vertical shot, go for three columns by eight-to-ten inches deep on a broadsheet page. For horizontals, at least four columns wide by six-to-eight inches deep. Make others smaller: Relative size is a factor. Your lead photo loses dominance and impact if the size of other photos on the page is nearly the same. Keep those other visuals smaller. Cluster photos: As mentioned earlier, you can often take two or three photos from one event and place them together to get more impact. Set it off: Especially in a lead news package or a feature display, consider placing extra space around the photo. This helps give it even greater impact. Crop tightly: Be sure to look for the photo within the photo. Crop out extra sky or earth where possible. The tighter you crop, the more readers can focus on the real content of the photo.

SEPT. 33, 2222

Yes, yours may be a small newspaper—but a large photo will help you deliver information, interest and impact to your readers.

SERVING THE ROANOKE VALLEY AND LAKE GASTON

www.rrdailyherald.com

BY PFRED PFREMELGARN THE DAILY HERALD

Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter—for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trick-

Hed here in 36 pt Antenna XCn Reg BY PFRED PFREMELGARN THE DAILY HERALD

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you comPfremelgarn pare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter—for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. NurSEE KEYWORD | A8

ery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for it is perennial as the grass. Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all.

Pwr hd 60 Antenna XCn Black Subhed 30 Antenna XC XL BY PFRED PFREMELGARN THE DAILY HERALD

RICH SQUARE—Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain

and bitter—for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the SEE KEYWORD | A8

Subhed 30 Antenna XC XL

PFRED PFREMELGARN | THE DAILY HERALD

This is the cutline it goes here in 9/10 Antenna Cond to be a cutline to go here with this photo the cutline goes here to go to be a cutline.

Headline in 42 point Antenna Cond Regular -10 track THE DAILY HERALD

HALIFAX COUNTY—Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak

your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter—for always

there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business

VOL 98 NO. 121 © 2222 THE DAILY HERALD

affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the

OUTSIDE TOMORROW Mostly cloudy, chance of rain, high in the 70s, low in the 60s. A4

PFRED PFREMELGARN | THE DAILY HERALD

This is the cutline it goes here in 9/10 Antenna Cond to be a cutline to go here with this photo. WHO’S IN THE VALLEY LOCAL NEED TO KNOW OBITUARIES

A2 A3 A4 A5

OPINION SPORTS FUN & GAMES CLASSIFIEDS

A6 B1 B6 B7

THIS IS AN AD

WANT A FREE evaluation of your newspaper’s design? Just contact Ed: edh@ henningerconsulting.com | 803-327-3322 IF THIS COLUMN has been helpful, you may be interested in Ed’s books: Henninger on Design and 101 Henninger Helpful Hints. With the help of Ed’s books, you’ll immediately have a better idea how to design for your readers. Find out more about Henninger on Design and 101 Henninger Helpful Hints by visiting Ed’s web site:

Fifty cents

More than 10,000 take in Saturday’s Ducky Derby

BY PFRED PFREMELGARN

Focus on optical center: When you can, place the lead photo over optical center of the page. Optical center is a bit above and to the left of dead center. It’s an area where the eye tends to first fall when readers first look at a page.

OH, MUDDER! Yellow Jackets top Knights in slopfest. B1

WEDNESDAY

www.henningerconsulting.com ED HENNINGER is an independent newspaper consultant and the Director of Henninger Consulting. Oﬀering comprehensive

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colorado editor

GETTING COLOR RIGHT

January 2014

It may be easier than you think

You’re replacing someone in sales . . . Now what?

all kinds of measuring devices and tools, but when they leave, we rarely see any real improvement in our photos. You came in for one day and taught us that all that kevin@ really matters is what we see on the kevinslimp.com page and the improvement in our photos iswhen pretty remarkable.” Many fans remember I was talking to Angela about her It seems to be on the Don’t get me theminds GreenofBay Packers hosted the wrong. There is early days at her newspaper. “When producDallas Cowboysnothing in the 1967 NFLwith measuring I moved into this sales job, a lot of newspaper publishers and wrong Championship game. TheStandards winner are important. clients asked about the person I tion managers everywhere. devices. would go on to play the AFL’s Oakland replaced. Most of them asked innocent Without a doubt, the second But when it comes to photos, the Raiders in the second Bowl. questions about how that person most requested task I’ve been given proof Super is in the pudding. What our This was the “icesee bowl, in page is what was doing. But some of them were by newspapers in recent months is famous readers on ”the the temperature was minus nosy and persistent. I figured the bestto improve the quality which of the color matters. Most of them don’t know (minus 25 strategy was to stay upbeat.” in their print products.13 degrees Fahrenheit the difference between a dot gain Celsius) at kickoff. Before the season, john As I jump on a plane this week and Rogaine. One thekeys keys gettinggood goodresults results from Photos newsprint One ofof the toto getting from photos onon newsprint is Green Bay coach Vince Lombardi had It’s a big challenge to step into a foust to head to Minnesota, I realize So what do all these pre-press is to  nd the perfect color settings for your press. to find the perfect color settings for your press. purchased an underground electric new position, whether it’s a result of folkssystem at thatand really mean? wasprinting supposedterms to keep account reassignments or a matter that a good number of grid Because newsprint is thin, this dot gain. They are there for a the event, sponsored by a major Here’s a primer for my friends Ad Libs the field from freezing. But on the of replacing someone who has left number is generally less than 100 reason. These dots give your ink newspaper printer in that part of who want to know more about day of the game, the system wasn’t the newspaper. By being upbeat, percent, because grays usually print someplace to go when it lands the country, are hoping to improve color: working, and the field was frozen Angela was on the right track. darker than they appear on the on the page. Setting dot gains for the sales way photossolid. printIt in pub-that Frank Color Gifford, Settings:who Since the early wastheir so cold People transition in and out of jobs and screen. newsprint used to be easier. Most wasannouncing also the casethe gamedays of open Photoshop, in an booth, there have territories all the time – and the new lications. person Thatwas Total Ink Limit refers to web presses tended to be about the in Tennessee, where visited said, “IIthink I’llwith take another coffee. ” settings has some control of how those changes are been bite waysoftomybuild color Dallas was leading 17-14, theThis Packers perceived. Here are three points to keep same. Not any more. I’ve seen dot the total ink used on the Cyan, the in staff of the Shelbyville Timesinto when photos. is true of other wereThere, facing Hugh third and goal on the Cowboys’ mind: MagentaGray and Yellow plates. Quite gains from 20 to 40 percent Gazette last week. photo editing applications, as well. and more. Even though we Color. 1-yard with 16 seconds remaining. often, someone will tell me getting that this on presses the past six months. And Jones, publisher, andline Sadie Fowler, Color settings, when used correctly, don’t print in RGB, It seems to be on the minds called for quarterback 1. Be positive. Never say anything negative their printer tolddifference the only way to editor, tasked Lombardi me with improving are builtBart intoStarr each to photo. Theyof newspaper setting right makes a big publishers and the in ball to the fullback, Chuck Mercein. like the dot about the person you’re replacing. “Early on, I of give them to keep their from know for everywhere. sure the quality photos their daily include information “We’ve had specialists when converting your colors production managers But Starr didn’t want to risk a handoff decided to avoid saying things that I newspaper. wouldn’t total ink limit whata doubt, the perfect gain, the blackand ink level, the color Without RGB to CMYK, so don’t take it the second from several press, paper decided – without telling anyone in the say if my predecessor were in the room,” dot gain onbeen a given I sometimes feel ill equipped ink level and more. If you wantmost requested lightly. under a particular taskisI’ve huddle – to run the ball himself. When guard Angela said. “There’s nothing to be gained by and ink companies overCMYKnumber. This Settings: The most press isintorecent run test by newspapers months is for the job. I mean, I don’t show to see how your color of scrimmage, he settings are criticism, even if that person left under negative Jerry Kramer got to the line the years. They comeimportant in is what color setting to improve thetest. quality of the color they areis the after That’s up with measuring devices, denset, go to Edit>Color Settings in couldn’t believe his good fortune in finding a circumstances. CMYK setting. Here, you let the in their print products. referring to. what we were dowith all kinds of measursitometers or other tools. Heck, I Photoshop. soft patch of turf. It was a foothold. Of course, “It’s smart to prepare some positive know what dot gain, As I jump a plane this week I could go on ing inonShelbyville don’t a computer forkey block,When you first ing deviceskevin and tools,application but type Kramer threw the Starr scored, andopen the comments – things that are true, things youeven bring separation and ink to head to Minnesota, I realize that slimp for hours, and Ilimits last week. the can assignment. Color Settings window, you’ll see can say with sincerity. For example, you say the Packers won. when they leave, we rarely should be builtexplaining into each photo. a good number of folks at the event, have, There are As Joe we were looking over the options for RGB, CMYK, Gray It all started withfi-Kramer’s foothold, which something like, ‘I appreciate your concern. Remember looking sponsored by a major newspaper see any real improvement the concept ofat pictures two separation nal great print tests gave in Shelbyville, Hugh more. Even him traction againstand Jethro Pugh, thethough we don’t developed some ad strategies which got and magazines printer in that part of the country, in our photos.” in bookscolor in photos.when you types in CMYK Cowboys’ superb defensive tackle. To this day, this setting results for his accounts.” Or ‘Joe told Jones me how said something quite memoprint in RGB, getting were a kid? Remember those white dots that are hoping to improve the way photos print Cowboy fans speculate on whatmakes couldahave much he enjoyed working with you. I’m However, it seems printing: Grey rablesure to me, “We’ve had technical right big difference when you would see in the photos? That’s your dot in their publications. That was also the case happened Pugh had had the soft patch his old accounts will miss him.’” I’ve reached my 800 word limit These for dots Component Replacement (GCR) support specialists from ifseveral converting yourofcolors from RGB gain. They are there for a reason. in Tennessee, where I visited with the staff turf. this column. and Undercolor Removal (UCR). press, paper and ink companies to CMYK, so don’t take it lightly. give your ink someplace to go when it lands of the Shelbyville Times-Gazette last week. There’s a lot slippery groundSettings: in the world 2. Don’t gossip. It’s human nature forthe years. They Letpage. me suggest if you I usedJones, to find that UCR, which over come in of with CMYK The most imporon the Setting that, dot gains for newsprint There, Hugh publisher, and Sadie to setting is the primarily mixes Cyan, Magenta, clients to want to hear the details – good as well of sales. The first step in getting traction talk topresses who- tended tantiscolor used to already, be easier.you Most web Fowler, editor, tasked me with improving the haven’t find the soft spot – the biggest and the best as bad – of why their former representative is press, Not whether you I’ve Yellow light daily amounts of black ever CMYK setting. Here, to beruns aboutyour the same. any more. quality of photosand in their newspaper. of which is self-interest. British statesman no longer handling their advertising. And it’s print in-house or send files on to createfeel gray areas of afor photo, seen dot gains from 20 toPDF 40 percent you let the application I sometimes ill equipped the job. Benjamin Disraeli said, “Talk to a man about natural to want to please their curiosity. That’s to figure what And the best presses the past sixout months. the only I mean, worked I don’t show measuring best up onwith newspaper presses. off-site, himself and he will listen for hours.” know There’swhat dot gain, why even the most innocent question calls for way tosettings know for sure what the perfect dot devices, densitometers or otherthe tools. color are for your pages. That’s not always case anyseparation type and ink great truth in these words – as long as we are self-discipline. gainItiscan on abepress to run test Heck, I don’t bring like a computer the the is difference be-after test. more.even It seems about afor third completely sincere in our interest. limits should be built “Just because people are curious doesn’t That’s what we were doing in last assignment. and of the presses I test print better on tween dull, lifeless, pictures Shelbyville each photo. Let’s look at some foothold areas into for sales mean I have to answer inappropriate week. As we were looking over the final photos that make your readers say, Remember looking newsprint using GCR, which uses questions,” Angela explained. “I found it helpful presentations: There are two separation types in CMYK print tests in Shelbyville, Hugh Jones said pictures 1. Advance research. Show thatatyou have in books and less Cyan, Magenta and Yellow and “Wow!” to say, ‘I appreciate your interest in Joe, but I printing: Grey Component Replacement something quite memorable to me, “We’ve more black ink when printing gray magazines done your homework on the company. Learn when you wasn’t here at the time, so I really can’t answer (GCR) and Undercolor Removal (UCR). had technical support specialists from areas. as much as you can before your first were meeting. your question.’ I kept my comments as neutral a kid? Remember I usedvisit to find that UCR, which primarily several press, paper and ink companies over Black Ink Limit refers to the Study the company’s web site. If it’s athose retail white dots that as possible.” mixes Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and light the years. They come in with all kinds of business, visit one of their stores. you would see in the Eleanor Roosevelt famously said, “Great amount of black used to print amounts ofat black to create gray areas of a measuring devices and tools, but when they email Kevin kevin kevinslimp.com minds discuss ideas. Average minds discuss solidreal black in a photo. photos? That’s yourleave, wesomething photo, worked best on newspaper presses. rarely see any improvement Kevin Slimp The News Guru

Color.

Getting color right may be easier than you think

kevinslimp.com @

events. Small minds discuss people.” Which leads us to the next point.

3. Help your clients look forward, not backward. Advertisers – like consumers – are motivated by self-interest. Change represents a possible threat to what was a predictable relationship with your paper. Here’s a new beginning. A clean slate. An invitation to discuss ideas. The first order of business is to reassure your accounts that you have their best interests at heart – and that their marketing is in good hands with your newspaper. “In the beginning it’s all about establishing rapport,” Angela said. “When I had initial conversations with existing accounts, I just tried to get to know them and let them see that I cared about their businesses. And like always, I was on the lookout for potential ideas and promotions.” “Funny thing about ideas,” she continued. “When you get good ones – ideas that generate business for your advertiser – they’ll stop talking about the good old days.”

Getting sales traction Traction is a key element in any business. Even the business of football.

2. On-the-spot research. In your initial appointment, ask a lot of questions. Get facts and opinions. What is the company’s marketing history? What kinds of ad campaigns have worked in the past? What hasn’t worked? What are their marketing goals? 3. Previous communication. If you’ve had conversations or an e-mail dialogue with your prospect, that’s a good starting point. If you’ve promised to bring specific information to the meeting, that’s even better. 4. Common interest. As long as you keep it brief – and as long as you avoid political topics – this can be a good rapport-building foothold. Did you grow up in the same geographic area? Do you have similar hobbies? Or...do you share an interest in football?

© Copyright 2014 by John Foust. All rights reserved. John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training videos to save time and get quick results from in-house training. E-mail for information: jfoust@mindspring.com

in our photos. You came in for one day and taught us that all that really matters is what we see on the page and the improvement in our photos is pretty remarkable.” Don’t get me wrong. There is nothing wrong with measuring devices. Standards are important. But when it comes to photos, the proof is in the pudding. What our readers see on the page is what matters. Most of them don’t know the difference between a dot gain and Rogaine. So what do all these pre-press and printing terms really mean? Here’s a primer for my friends who want to know more about color:

Color Settings: Since the early days of Photoshop, there have been ways to build color settings into photos. This is true of other photo editing applications, as well. Color settings, when used correctly, are built into each photo. They include information like the dot gain, the black ink level, the color ink level and more. If you want to see how your color settings are set, go to Edit>Color Settings in Photoshop. When you first open the Color Settings window, you’ll see options for RGB, CMYK,

That’s not always the case anymore. It seems like about a third of the presses I test print better on newsprint using GCR, which uses less Cyan, Magenta and Yellow and more black ink when printing gray areas. Black Ink Limit refers to the amount of black used to print something solid black in a photo. Because newsprint is thin, this number is generally less than 100 percent, because grays usually print darker than they appear on the screen. Total Ink Limit refers to the total ink used on the Cyan, Magenta and Yellow plates. Quite often, someone will tell me that their printer told them to keep their total ink limit under a particular number. This is what they are referring to. I could go on for hours, and I have, explaining the concept of color in photos. However, it seems I’ve reached my 800 word limit for this column. Let me suggest that, if you haven’t already, you talk to whoever runs your press, whether you print in-house or send PDF files off-site, to figure out what the best color settings are for your pages. It can be the difference between dull, lifeless, pictures and photos that make your readers say, “Wow!”

colorado editor

January 2014

cpa marketplace Advertising Sales Manager

The Gunnison Country Times, a small but vibrant community newspaper situated in an active, diverse and well-educated mountain valley, is seeking an advertising sales manager. Previous newspaper sales experience is beneficial, but not required. A successful candidate will possess boundless energy and enthusiasm, a positive attitude, be able to work independently, meet goals, and sustain keen attention to detail. An understanding of the realities of small-town businesses and a genuine desire to assist local clients is of utmost importance. While you won’t get rich, this is an opportunity to live in an incredible community and work in a rewarding, team-oriented and fun environment. Interested? Call or e-mail publisher/owner Chris Dickey at 970.641.1414; publisher@gunnisontimes.com.

Design and Digital Editor

Do you have a flair for creative page design, as well as the digital savviness to manage web and social media content? If so, The Garden City Telegram is looking for a design and digital editor who has the ability to handle both for our daily newspaper in southwest Kansas. Previous experience as a copy editor and page designer at a daily newspaper desirable. Knowledge of AP Style required. Working knowledge of digital content management systems and social media also preferred. Writing and reporting skills preferrable as this position could include some writing. To apply, send résumé and cover letter to: Brett Riggs, managing editor, The Garden City Telegram, 310 N. Seventh St., Garden City, KS

67846. For more information or to express interest in the position, send e-mail to: riggs@ gctelegram.com

Salary based on experience. Immediate opening. Send letter and resume to s.haynes@nwkansas. com and sfriedlander@nwkanas.com.

NEWS EDITOR

NEWSPAPER FOR SALE

Are you ready to step up in your career? News Editor needed for Kansas daily, about 4 hours east of Denver, near wildlife areas, fishing, hunting, outdoor sports. College town on I-70. This professional will be responsible for news content, supervision of two full-time and several part-time writers and correspondents, pagination, design and new coverage, reporting to publisher. Involved in award-winning series of joint news sections produced by regional group. This is a prime opening for a reporter or editor with some experience who feels they can step up and produce an award-winning newspaper.

For sale: Small Denver community newspaper. (Circulation 10,000, in print since 1999) Serious inquiries only. If interested, contact JR at jrbevans@gmail.com.

NEWSPAPER FOR SALE

Pikes Peak Bulletin the weekly newspaper in Manitou Springs is for sale. Owners retiring. 1,000 paidvweekly, adjudicated. $45,000. Contact Dennis Ingmire 719- 491-5969 or Bruce Schlabaugh 719 237-8530

Kelley will maintain role on CFOIC board CFOIC from Page 1

Denver Post editor Bill Hosokawa, Gannett Broadcasting President David Lougee, lawyer Andy Low and former state Sen. Martha Ezzard. The organization changed its name and expanded its mission in 2013 after receiving 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. The CFOIC hired former Denver Post reporter and editor Jeffrey A. Roberts as executive director last July and began calling itself a coalition, rather than a council, to better reflect the broad constituency it represents. Member organizations now include the American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado, the Associated Press, BillTrack50, the Colorado Bar Association, the Colorado Broadcasters Association, Colorado Common Cause, Colorado Ethics Watch, the Colorado Press Association, Colorado Press

Home away from home With general contractors for the under-construction Hyatt Place renting out the top floor of the CPA building, our staffers have been given the chance to familiarize themselves with the deep recesses of the CPA basement. 3 employees have been temporarily relocated. Here’s a look at some of what they found during the move.

Ethernet cables and phone cords that don’t appear to work or for which the source is untraceable

Old monitors removed from the “morgue” to make room for current computer set-ups

Polaroid cameras found in the “morgue” that still have film and work

Above: No desk drawers, but plenty of smiles for VP of Sales & Marketing Elizabeth Bernberg. Below: Controller Todd Mauldin sheds light on his new basement home.

278

Boxes of documents removed from the basement and shredded

Chairs tested before locating three with working hydraulics, wheels and unripped seat cushions

Women, the Independence Institute, the League of Women Voters of Colorado, the Public Relations Society of America and the Society of Professional Journalists. Members also include newspapers affiliated with the Colorado Press Association and broadcast stations affiliated with the Colorado Broadcasters Association. Re-elected to the coalition’s board of directors were Vice President John Fosholt, retired investigative news producer for KUSA-TV; Secretary Fred Brown, retired political editor of The Denver Post; and Treasurer Ruth Anna, CEO of Anna Public Relations Consultants. Kelley will continue to serve on the board of directors. “Tom has been an incredible leader and steward of this organization,” Zansberg said. “He is among the most knowledgeable, thoughtful and well-regarded champions

of transparency, not only here in Colorado but throughout the nation.” New board directors are: Jim Clarke, bureau chief for the Associated Press; Samantha Johnston, executive director of the Colorado Press Association; Dean Lehman, publisher of the Longmont Times-Call; Don Lindley, editor at Ballantine Communications; Peter Maroney, president/general manager of KDVR-TV/KWGNTV; Ann Penny, owner/president of Krystal 93 radio station in Dillon; Wick Rowland, former president/ CEO of Colorado Public Television; Justin Sasso, president/CEO of the Colorado Broadcasters Association; Bart Smith, publisher of the Greeley Tribune; and Nicole Vap, KUSA-TV executive producer. The CFOIC plans to add citizen members to the board of directors.

colorado editor

January 2014

Board members optimistic about industry in state FUTURE from Page 1

• LUBICH: I believe we are going to continue to see a resurgence in confidence and innovation at newspapers, as we all continue to come out of our … what I have called “Titanic survivor” mindset … that came as a result of The Great Newspaper Downturn. People are realizing that the good old days are over, but the coming days don’t have to be as bad as we thought (feared) they will be. And maybe even more importantly, that They Are What They Are, and if we’re going to continue to put out newspapers, we better quit whining and start working. I have a saying in my newsroom: “You can continue to stare angrily at the growing ball of light in the sky and stick out your lower lip and pout, or you can figure out how to get smaller and grow fur.” RESOLUTION TIME What have you resolved to do or change at your newspaper in the New Year? BRANDT: In the New Year, I resolve to pay better attention to changes in technology and approach to business, yet continue to weigh them with the age-old practices for a good balance. Most of all, to continue in the solid track of good, sound journalism ethics. JACOBSON: I plan to make event revenue a larger percentage of our overall revenue. CERNY: Improved local news coverage and additional Web revenue. DAVIS: It’s not a resolution, but we have momentum coming out of 2013 to continue to beef up our newspaper. We’ve added sections, columnists, photo galleries, reader games and more. The quality – and quantity – of our product is within

Our Panel of Experts BRENDA (JOHNSON) BRANDT, CPA Board Chairman, and Past-President; Publisher, The Holyoke Enterprise, and CoOwner of Johnson Publications, Inc., which includes The Holyoke Enterprise, as well as The Imperial Republican, Grant Tribune-Sentinel, and Wauneta Breeze in Nebraska

KEITH R. CERNY, CPA Board Treasurer; Division Manager/Publisher, Valley Courier, Alamosa

BRYCE JACOBSON, CPA Board President; Advertising Director, The Tribune in Greeley and Windsor Now

MATT LUBICH, CPA Board Director; Executive Editor/Co-Owner, The Johnstown Breeze

our control. We’re focusing on the best reader experience we can deliver. LUBICH: I’d like us to continue an effort we started in 2013 to use “video stories” on our website in conjunction with print stories more, and also explore more “long-form” stories that are more akin to what a weekly newspaper should be trying to do (covering the issues more indepth than perhaps a daily paper has the chance or ability to). LET’S TALK REVENUE What general or seasonal revenue forecasts have you made for 2014? BRANDT: I envision some general revenue increase from digital sales, with a push to increase that even more in 2015. I forecast more season projects to supplement the weekly or daily approach to ad and promotion sales. JACOBSON: Revenue will increase year over year. CERNY: Slow, steady growth in

LAURENA MAYNE DAVIS, CPA Board Director; Director of Marketing and Product Development, The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

advertising with a boost from our newest product: ShoppeLocal.biz – It›s a new form of local business directory that is user-friendly from almost any device. DAVIS: Wouldn’t that be a nice crystal ball to have! Realistically, unless someone strikes oil around here, we’re planning on small growth. We see numbers up a little in many sectors. LUBICH: I think advertisers (businesses) are also beginning to realize that “life has to go on” and we see them coming back to print advertising more. We also plan and hope to continue to increase the revenue we are getting from online subscriptions with our pay-wall system. FOCUSING ON THE FUTURE What new trends or projects are you looking at for future months? BRANDT: I’m looking to engage the very young readers, along with their parents and grandparents,

through social media approaches that tag them nicely and give them a reason to read newspapers. The form that the newspaper takes may be print, tablet or iPhone, but the future depends on young readers starting NOW to gain their news from newspapers. JACOBSON: We plan to revitalize a couple of existing projects, capitalize on growth available in classifieds and evaluate the opportunities available in the health care category. CERNY: See above (answer for Revenue question). DAVIS: Last year, as part of our 120th anniversary, we let our subscribers gift more than $270,000 in advertising credit to nonprofit organizations. We’re excited to see how we can help these nonprofits craft advertising campaigns that help them grow. LUBICH: Again, I’d like us to continue to be the “weekly newspaper” for our two small communities, and all that has entailed since 1904, but I would also like to see us explore more long-form writing projects, using video as a component. I would also like to see us continue to get our readership more involved in the content in the paper through continuing to offer them a chance to write stories themselves, take pictures, etc. WHAT DIRECTION DO WE GO? What is your prediction overall for the state of the newspaper industry in Colorado in 2014? BRANDT: My overall prediction for the state of the newspaper industry in Colorado in 2014 is one of much success provided the focus is to cover and follow our communities – whether big or small – in an accurate, thorough, timely

and interesting way. JACOBSON: The state of the newspaper industry in Colorado is healthy. The newspapers are fortunate to be served by an excellent organization, Colorado Press Association. If they take advantage of the things they offer, it will add to their bottom line. CERNY: Preserving our base, printed editions while focusing on increased revenue with Internetbased products. DAVIS: It’s heartening to see more and more newspapers put up paywalls. It’s like my husband told me when I was booking a band: Once you play for free, you’ve established your value. News is valuable and comes at real costs, most of it human capital. “Free” news won’t pay for that. LUBICH: I am optimistic. Again, we saw a major pulling back, both resources-wise, but more importantly, survivor mentalitywise, after The Great Newspaper Downturn. People for several years have been simply trying to hang on. I see that changing, both in my newsroom and in other newsrooms. People are figuring out how to work … and do our work … in the new realities of the business, and not only are they figuring out how to do what we used to do … but I see people starting to think about what else, new, we can do. The reality is, what we do for a living – provide information, tell stories – hasn’t changed. Likely won’t ever change. The manner and medium in which we are delivering it have, and continue, to change. I think in the next year we will see continued innovation toward keeping to that basic goal and purpose, while also taking newspapers to the next step of evolution.

By-law changes, board members to be highlights of annual meeting The Annual Meeting of the Colorado Press Association membership will take place at 7:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 in Lawrence A of the Westin Denver Downtown. A CPA Annual Convention tradition, the annual meeting is traditionally a time for the membership to vote on incoming board members, the next year’s board leaderships and other items of business that require a membership discussion or vote. The biggest item on this year’s voting agenda is a change to the association bylaws that would allow the CPA board of directors to modify the membership dues structure as necessary to best reflect current industry standards and the Colorado media landscape. Currently, the CPA bylaws require that dues be assessed based on the following: “Section A. REGULAR MEMBERSHIP DUES. Dues to be paid for membership in this Association shall be determined by three factors: weekly or daily publication, circulation as determined by postal or independent audit, and national commissionable advertising rates

136 Annual Meeting th

• 7:30 – 8:45 a.m. • Friday, February 21, 2014 • Lawrence A, Westin Denver Downtown • To request a proxy, contact Samantha Johnston at 303-571-5117 or by email at sjohnston@colopress.net.

as recorded by the Colorado Press Association on October 1 of the year prior to the dues period. Advertising rates for newspapers not converted to SAU measurements shall be computed for dues assessment by the following formula: The national commissionable advertising column inch rate will be divided by the newspaper’s pica column width and then multiplied by 12.375, the SAU column width. Each newspaper member shall be placed in one of the classifications below with the dues assessment to be based on the following schedule, except that no Weekly Newspaper

Member shall pay more than $1,200 dues per year: Weekly Newspapers under 1,500 circulation shall pay their national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches. Weekly Newspapers over 1,500 circulation shall pay $50 plus their national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches. Daily Newspapers under 2,500 circulation shall pay $150 plus their national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches. Daily Newspapers over 2,500 circulation shall pay $250 plus their national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches. Provided, however, should there be instances where one individual, partnership or corporation shall publish two or more legal newspapers under the publication laws of the State of Colorado, when Regular Membership dues shall have been paid for a regular Member Weekly Newspaper over 1,500 circulation

or for a Regular Member Daily Newspaper, the Regular Membership dues of the second or subsequent newspaper(s) of lesser circulation shall, regardless of circulation, be only its (their) national commissionable advertising rate converted to SAU measurements times 50 advertising inches. In no case, shall the annual dues of any Regular Member newspaper be increased by more than thirtythree and one-third percent over the total dues assessment for the immediate preceding year. Dues shall be paid annually, and shall be paid prior to the annual convention held in February. Said dues will include a one-year subscription to Colorado Editor and a print or electronic copy of the annual membership directory.” The proposed bylaw language is as follows: Dues to be paid for membership in this Association shall be determined by a formula voted upon by the Board of Directors and communicated with the CPA membership no fewer than 90 days in advance of changes taking effect.

“At the December board meeting, the board voted in favor of asking the membership to change the bylaws as mentioned with the understanding that the CPA membership committee will determine a 2015 dues structure prior to the June 2014 board meeting. Upon final vote at the June 2014 board meeting, the 2015 dues will be communicated to all CPA members and prospective members no later than July 2015,” said CPA President, Bryce Jacobson. “This change has been a long time coming. A formula that requires SAU conversions in 2013 is antiquated and irrelevant. Significant group ownership is a new reality that didn’t exist fifty years ago. And gross commissionable rates are a thing of the past for more than seventy-five percent of our current membership. It’s time to develop a dues structure that makes sense for everyone.” For more information about the annual meeting or how to vote by proxy if you will be unable to attend, please contact CPA Executive Director, Samantha Johnston, by email at sjohnston@colopress.net or by phone at 303-571-5117.