Virginia's Press

Inside

VPA leaders

Central Virginian

VPA Conference

for 2013-14 Page 4

Schedule in this issue Pages 6, 7, 12

Celebrates 100 years Page 9

Virginia’s Press www.vpa.net

Spring 2013

Virginia Press Association 11529 Nuckols Road Glen Allen, VA 23059 Volume 100 • Number 1

Six public notice bills defeated in 2013 General Assembly If the title hadn’t already been used a movie version of the Virginia Press Association’s experiences during the 2013 General Assembly could have been named “The Fast and the Furious.”

The 45-day, fast-moving “short session” was punctuated with furious efforts to defeat six bills aimed at public notices in newspapers and amend others that sought to limit access to government. It was highlighted by the first-ever VPA Day at the Capitol on January 17, when publishers of VPA member newspapers came to Richmond to meet with legislators and raise the association’s visibility in Capitol Square.

It was also marked by a handful of hard-fought, unsuccessful battles in the access arena, such as the passage of a bill that closed access to all concealed handgun permits after a quickchange substitute was reported from a House committee, and of a bill that reversed the basic premise that records are open unless closed, requiring an opt-in for parents registering their children for parks and recreation department activities.

Once again, VPA members mobilized to fight the challenge to public notices with editorials, house ads, news coverage, visits, emails and calls to legislators. Members of VPA’s Public Notice Task Force planned strategies and conducted research to bolster the association’s legislative efforts.

VPA was buttressed by other organizations which joined its coalition and/or offered support, including the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, the Society of Professional Journalists, the American Civil Liberties Union, the Virginia Conservation Network, the Virginia Library Association, Associated General Contractors of Virginia, Fairfax County Water Authority, AARP Virginia and the Virginia League of Conservation Voters.

All 2013 bills monitored by VPA are included on the online legislative charts at www.vpa.net. Highlights of key bills of interest are listed here, as follows: HB 1373, Del. Christopher Head (R-Roanoke); incorporated HB 1378, Del. Mark Cole (R-Fredericksburg): This bill would have allowed localities with a population of 30,000 or greater to meet certain notice requirements by utilizing their websites, radio, or television instead of a newspaper of general circulation.The bill, opposed by VPA, failed in the House

VPA representatives discuss strategies over coffee and position papers during VPA Day at the Capitol on January 17. L-R: Craig Merritt, Ginger Stanley, Michael Phelps, Keith Stickley, Nick Cadwallender, Jim Maxwell and Matt Paxton.

Counties, Cities and Towns Subcommittee #2.

HB 1426, Del. Israel O’Quinn (R-Bristol) and SB 765, Sen. Charles Carrico (R-Galax): These companion bills would have allowed the towns of Damascus and Glade Spring to publish required legal notices on their website instead of advertising them in a newspaper having a general circulation in the locality. VPA opposed both bills. HB 1426 failed in the House Counties, Cities and Towns Subcommittee #2; SB 765 was defeated in the Senate Committee on General Laws and Technology.

HB 1823, Del. Ronald Villanueva (R-Virginia Beach), and HB 2170, Del. Mark Cole (incorporated into HB 1823): This bill, virtually identical to HB 1193 from 2012, would have required local public bodies to post required procurement notices on the Department of General Services’ central electronic procurement website and would have made newspaper publication or posting on other appropriate websites optional.

Del. Villanueva later offered a substitute bill that would have required DGS to provide data files of procurement notices to requesting newspapers. VPA opposed all versions of the bill, which failed 10-3 in Senate General Laws.

HB 1524, Del. Ronald Villanueva: This bill reverses the default rule of FOIA that certain parks and recreation records of minors are subject to the mandatory disclosure provisions of FOIA unless the parent or an emancipated person who is the

subject of the record requests in writing that the record not be disclosed. Under the bill, these records would be exempt from public disclosure unless and until the parent or emancipated person who is the subject of the record waives the protection.

VPA opposed the bill, which passed both houses.

SB 1335, Sen. Mark Obenshain (R-Harrisonburg): As originally introduced and passed by the Senate, the bill would have prohibited the clerk of a circuit court who issued a concealed handgun permit from disclosing any information, including all personal identifying information contained in the protected person’s permit application, for a person who is protected by a protective order. VPA did not oppose this bill. When the bill was heard in the House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety, it was quickly exchanged for a substitute bill that would close access to ALL concealed handgun permits (similar to HB 25 from 2012), which VPA opposed. The substitute bill was reported from committee before opponents, including VPA, could testify against it. Despite forceful opposition, the substitute bill passed the House and was adopted by the Senate.

HB 1790, Del. Scott Garrett (R-Lynchburg), and SB 1138, Sen. Jeffrey McWaters (R-Virginia Beach): These companion bills establish the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium Au-

Continued on page 5

Walter Segaloff, VPA Virginian of the Year 2013 His dream has helped young people achieve theirs

Photograph by Judith Lowery; courtesy of Daily Press

In 1992, Newport News businessman Walter Segaloff had a dream.

He believed that a good education could improve the lives of at-risk children in urban neighborhoods.

And to that end, he founded the Achievable Dream Academy, beginning with programs at four city elementary schools.

Flash forward 20 years: The program, which has expanded to middle and high schools and become a yearround institution, has produced approximately 500 grad-

uates who have gone on to two- or four-year colleges or military careers.

Every student and his/her parents, in order to remain in the school, are required to sign a contract to study hard and avoid drugs and pregnancy.

The Achievable Dream schoolday is longer than that of regular public schools, including additional coursework in money management, conflict resolution and etiquette.

www.vpa.net

Continued on page 4

VPA Board of Directors Officers President

Keith Stickley The Free Press, Woodstock

President-Elect

Nick Cadwallender The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg

Vice President

Jay Bondurant The Bedford Bulletin

Secretary

Eric Lieberman The Washington Post

Treasurer

Anne Adams The Recorder, Monterey

Immediate Past President

Peter Yates Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg

Asst. Secretary/ Treasurer

Ginger Stanley VPA

Directors Daniel Finnegan, Richmond Times-Dispatch Gail Harding, The Enterprise, Stuart Steven Kaylor, Danville Register & Bee Cindy Morgan, The Progress-Index, Petersburg Bill Owens, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk Matt Paxton, The News-Gazette, Lexington Marisa Porto, Daily Press, Newport News Steve Stewart, The Tidewater News, Franklin Michael Stowe, The Roanoke Times Jenay Tate, The Coalfield Progress, Norton Steve Weddle, The Central Virginian, Louisa Diane White, Womack Publishing, Chatham

VPA/VPS Staff Ginger Stanley, Executive Director Kim Woodward, Assistant Director Diana Shaban, Advertising Director Caroline Cardwell, Editor Ron Clark, Accounting Manager Janet Madison, Member Services Manager Adriane Long, Advertising/Network Coordinator Diane Spencer, Tearsheet Coordinator How to reach us: Phone: (804) 521-7570 Fax: (804) 521-7590 or (800) 849-8717 Website: www.vpa.net

VOLUME 100, Number 1 (USPS 621-640) VIRGINIA’S PRESS (ISSN 0887-5227), the official publication of the Virginia Press Association, is published four times a year.

Subscriptions are $15 per year in Virginia, $20 per year out-of-state, by Virginia Press Association / Virginia Press Services Inc., 11529 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059, (804) 521-7570.

Periodicals class postage paid at Glen Allen, VA, and additional post offices.

POSTMASTER, please send change of address to: Virginia Press Association 11529 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059 Copyright 2012, Virginia Press Association

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

OUR MISSION

2

The mission of the Virginia Press Association is to support our membership through responsive services and resources. We champion the common interests of Virginia newspapers and the ideals of a free press in a democratic society.

OUR PURPOSE We connect our members through valuable business services, effective representation, practical communication and information, and relevant education and recognition.

OUR VALUES The values important to the work of the VPA are fairness, dedication, integrity and honesty.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Did Goliath really bring the stones?

Driving into Downtown Richmond at have replaced the requirement with an op6:15 a.m. on a dark, cold and rainy winter tion that would allow those notices to be posted to government websites. day is not my idea of a pleasure trip.

HB 1373 was one of six bills introduced A bus driver laid on the horn as I steered my black sedan through a turn and into a this General Assembly session that would one-way street. He must have wondered if have changed the public notice requirement.

That executives of Virginia’s newspapers I was suffering the ill effects of a long night had gathered at the state capitol was a waout.

The intermittent wipers went off to reveal tershed event. The jury was still out on the a warning that the parking garage I finally eventual result of VPA Day at the Capitol.

Newspapers were not alone in this fight. had found was not a public facility. Th e rear of my car was still in the lane of traffic. More The Virginia Municipal League, the Virginia Association of Counties, city and county athorns sounded.

This is no place, I thought, for one whose torneys and lobbyists representing governdaily commute passes more farm animals ment entities statewide had joined the fray, than humans. It was a 15-minute walk in all of them on the other side and each carbone-chilling temperatures to the Virginia rying a tax-supported checkbook. If financGeneral Assembly Building for a 7 o’clock ing the adversary is fair play, Goliath surely hearing of the House of Delegates Subcom- brought the stones.

At introduction, HB 1373 would have mittee on Counties, Cities and Towns. given the public noOnce inside, I tice option only to folded a rain-soaked about 40 counties, umbrella and caught hat executives of cities and towns an elevator to the statewide or those fifth floor. FamilVirginia’s newspapers had with populations iar faces greeted me gathered at the state capitol greater than 50,000. as I entered a small, By the time it had low-ceilinged room was a watershed event. reached the House where the committee subcommittee hearwould soon convene. ing, however, its paGinger Stanley, the long-time Virginia Press Association ex- tron had amended it to reduce the populaecutive director, had been here many times. tion threshold to 30,000. He wanted to be She was no stranger to those who would de- certain the City of Petersburg no longer cide that morning whether or not to pass would be required to post its notices in the out of committee a bill that would inflict local paper. What the bill’s patron didn’t say yet more economic harm on the Common- was that reducing the population requirewealth’s newspapers and, more important, ment would extend the option to many of reduce public access to the workings of gov- Virginia’s rural communities whose website management often is either unfunded or unernment.

Virginia’s newspapers were well repre- derfunded and often a burden neglected.

(On the day of the committee hearing, sented. Tom Silvestri, publisher of the Richmond Times-Dispatch, was there and so too the website for my county, Shenandoah, a were David Mele of the Virginian-Pilot, Mi- community of 42,000, listed one of Virginchael Phelps of the Washington Examiner, ia’s two U.S. Senators as John Warner, called Jim Maxwell of the Pulitzer Prize-winning attention to a public hearing “to be held” Bristol Herald-Courier, Digby Solomon of in 2008 and listed the address of the local the Daily Press, Matt Paxton of the Lexing- chapter of the American Red Cross, an ofton News-Gazette and Paul Fletcher of Vir- fice that closed two years ago. Though a new commonwealth’s attorney had taken office ginia Lawyers Weekly.

House Bill 1373 would have removed the 12 months earlier, the website for that office statutory requirement that public notices be was still under construction.)

Employees and lobbyists for the citpublished in a newspaper. The bill would

“T

In memoriam: Del. Clifton A. “Chip” Woodrum Virginia lost a longtime champion of open government on February 19, when former Del. Clifton A. Woodrum of Roanoke, better known as “Chip,” died at 74. Woodrum was known as one of Virginia’s brightest (and wittiest) legislators during his years (1980-2003) in the House of Delegates, often spicing his remarks with allusions to history and literature.

He helped create the Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council and served as its chair; he also established the Virginia BirthRelated Neurological Injury Compensation Program, among other accomplishments.

Woodrum is remembered as a lawmaker who had the respect of allies and adversaries alike

for his “humor, dedication, fairness, intelligence and compassion,” as stated by Gov. Bob McDonnell in his statement following the announcement of Woodrum’s death.

“When times were really tense, Chip would always remind us of the better nature of ourselves,’’ Sen.Creigh Deeds said of his former colleague in an interview with the Associated Press.

ies, counties and towns argued that HB 1373 and other similar bills would save money and that print media “is a dinosaur.”

Most Virginians, they contend, get their news online, and that money now being spent on newspaper adver- Keith Stickley tising could be put to better use. They didn’t specify what that might be.

VPA’s Stanley objected on the basis that far more Virginians still read newspapers and their websites than any other published source of news and information and that no compelling reasons exist for changing the publishing requirement. It has become a familiar refrain, the remaining theme of a fight in its last rounds.

Curiously, one member of the committee asked the City of Petersburg manager how those without Internet service and those who have no intentions of securing it would find public notice ads confined to the web.

The lawmaker identified himself as one such person. Reacting as though he had encountered an alien, the city manager offered no reply.

HB 1378 was rolled into HB 1373 and killed in this same subcommittee a week later. A similar bill, HB 1426, was presented and defeated on a 10-3 vote.

Any of these would have effectively repealed the requirement for public notices in newspapers. During the protracted fight over these and similar measures in the Senate, Virginia newspaper folks weighed in, phoning or emailing legislators seeking support.

VPA’s Stanley, meanwhile, remained in the Capitol daily, testifying before committees in both houses on behalf of Virginia’s newspapers. Only one public notice bill made it to the Senate. It died there on a 10-3 vote in committee.

A line had formed at the coffee machine

Continued on page 5

CORRECTION The quote, “‘The first provocative, justice-advocating edition of the Richmond Free Press hit the streets on Jan. 16, 1992,’ began the first article in the Richmond Free Press’ 20th-anniversary section,” featured in the Virginia’s Press article on newspapers’ milestone anniversaries in the Winter 2012 issue, was written by Raymond H. Boone. Since the newspaper’s founding 21 years ago, 99 percent of Free Press editorials were written and edited by Raymond H. Boone. The second quote in the article was from a story, also in the special anniversary section, by Free Press staff member Jeremy M. Lazarus.

FOR THE RECORD

Minutes, VPA Board of Directors

October 19, 2012, Hampton Inn & Suites, Woodstock, Virginia The Virginia Press Association Board meeting was held on October 19, 2012, at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Woodstock, Virginia.

Board members in attendance: Keith Stickley, Jay Bondurant, Eric Lieberman, Anne Adams, Peter Yates, Ginger Stanley, Danny Finnegan, Gail Harding, Bill Owens, Matt Paxton, Marisa Porto, Steve Stewart, Michael Stowe, Jenay Tate, and Diane White.

Ron Clark, VPA accountant, was also present at the meeting.

Call to Order: President Keith Stickley called the meeting to order at 9 a.m.

Minutes: Minutes of the July 13, 2012, board meeting at The Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach were presented by Secretary Bondurant for approval. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board approved the minutes without amendment.

Financial Report: Treasurer Anne Adams, along with Ron Clark, presented association financials through July 31, 2012. The consolidated financial statement for VPA and VPS showed operating revenues at 14.74% above budget and 19.84% above last year at this same time; operating expenses at 19.96% above budget and 21.61% above last year; operating revenues over expenses at 3.17% below budget and 12.86% above last year; and net income at 2.45% above budget and 25.31% above last year. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board approved the financial statements. Treasurer Adams and Mr. Clark next presented the audit report for the year ended June 30, 2012. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board approved the audit report. The Board also reviewed VPA’s 2011 income tax returns and Form 990.

President’s Report: President Keith Stickley made his report to the board. He said that the current financials for the association were good. But he cautioned that the financial future of VPA is not secure so long as the association depends heavily on advertising revenue to fund its operations. He said that the association does not have a separate foundation to help fund its activities, accept gifts from estates, defray association expenses, and reduce overall tax liability. Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board authorized staff to investigate the possibility of establishing a foundation as an additional source of funding.

Stickley said that he hoped the idea would be vetted during Winter 2013 and prepared for a board vote in Spring 2013.

Executive Director’s Report: Executive Director Stanley reported that the association had a good first quarter. She said that the annual staff job review took place in July for the first time as a group, open floor discussion rather than one-on-one meetings with individual staff members, that it went well, and that it provided an opportunity for everyone to understand the financial challenges in VPA’s future. She further reported that VPA’s committees are working hard on their various programs. She then asked the Board to submit nominations for various VPA awards so that peers and special citizens could be recognized at the April meeting. Stanley also noted that VPA honored Randy Jessee with a surprise luncheon on October 4 at VPA headquarters to recognize his contribution to the association. Stanley also asked the board to review a proposal she circulated to sell sponsorships at various levels with corresponding benefits for VPA’s 2013 annual conference.

Legislative Report: Executive Director Stanley reported on several important legislative developments. First, she reported that the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission approved a Negotiated Services Agreement for Valassis Direct Mail Inc. that would provide a special low contract price for postal delivery of a new shared mail advertising program. The Valassis NSA puts newspaper preprint revenue at risk. She described the actions she has taken on behalf of the association to reverse the agreement or mitigate its potentially harmful effects on the industry. She also asked Board members to monitor the Valassis direct mail packages in their communities for signs that Valassis is selling the new shared mail program authorized by the NSA. Stanley next reported on the activities of the FOIAC subcommittees. The subcommittee appointed to study access to Parole Board records disbanded rather than holding an interested stakeholders meeting to draft legislation to bring the board under the Va. FOIA. The Electronic Meetings subcommittee considered a draft bill in September that would allow all public bodies to meet without a quorum present in one physical location so long as other members of the public body participated by audio and video. Stanley said she strongly opposed any such legislative proposal, but expressed a willingness to explore whether the rules could be relaxed for state subcommittees. She told the subcommittee that VPA would not budge

Need a new press ID? Has your press ID expired? Fallen apart? Press ID application and renewal forms are posted on the Membership page at www.vpa.net. The form must be completed, signed by the publisher and notarized. The application can be faxed or emailed if the notary seal is in ink; if it is em-

bossed, it must be mailed to VPA. Photos can be emailed to carolinec@ vpa.net along with the application.

Images must be head-and-shoulder shots and a minimum of 300 dpi. IDs are processed by the Virginia State Police and mailed to the publisher’s attention.

on the issue of whether local public bodies should be able to meet without a quorum being physically present in one location. The Criminal Investigative Records subcommittee was considering legislation that would curtail current access to 911 tapes. Stanley said that Craig Merritt would prepare a rebuttal to the proposal and she did not think the FOIAC would recommend it. Finally, Stanley mentioned two legislative proposals that VPA would oppose -- one to give law enforcement discretion over whether to release adult arrestee photographs, and the other to exempt certain meetings of more than two members of a public body from the requirements of Virginia’s open meetings law.

Calendar of Events: President Stickley presented the calendar of important VPA/ VPS dates through July 2013.

Committee Reports: Audit Committee: VPA received an unqualified opinion from its auditors at its meeting on September 27, 2012.

News Awards Committee: The News Awards committee recommended eliminating the requirement that a freelance reporter or photographer be published in a publication at least three times during the contest year in order to be eligible for the contest. The Board considered the recommendation but decided to retain the current requirement.

Conference Program Committee: The Conference Program Committee is exploring whether grant monies are available to defray the cost of speakers for the annual conference program.

Contest (Ad) Committee: Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board approved the 2012 Advertising Contest rules as proposed.

First Amendment Trustees: The First Amendment trustees approved spending $2000 expenditure from the First Amendment Fund to join an amicus brief in Hunter v. Virginia State Bar, a case pending before the Virginia Supreme Court. The case involves a challenge to the constitutionality of disciplinary sanctions imposed by the State Bar on an attorney based on the contents of his blog.

Legislative Committee: The Public Notice Task Force met in August to prepare for the 2013 General Assembly session. The Board discussed a number of issues relating to public notice legislation, including but not limited to the following: the need to collect information by filing FOIA requests on the amount that state and local governments spend on public notices; the fact that other state press associations have decided to write compromise legislation on public notice advertising; the fact that some newspapers in Virginia are charging their highest rates for public notice advertising; the fact that Illinois and Florida passed legislation to require all public notices to appear on newspaper websites and on government websites; the need for easy accessibility to public notices on member newspaper websites; and the possibility of seeking a four-year moratorium on changes to current public notice requirements. The Board decided to ask the Public Notice Task Force to recommend

acceptable compromise legislation, if needed.

Membership Committee: Upon motion duly made and seconded, the Board approved FauquierNow.com’s application for membership.

Virginian of the Year: The Board discussed the need for members to submit nominations for the 2013 Virginian of the Year award.

Staff Reports: Advertising: VPA sold $570,000 in political advertising for the month of October 2012, and expects to sell even more political advertising revenues before the election season ends. VPA’s advertising networks are growing with the addition of new members. VPA’s additional holdbacks are helping stabilize the association’s finances. VPA sold approximately $12,000 in advertising for the 2013 Total Media Directory versus $800 in advertising in the prior year before it was reformatted. VPA is making efforts to recruit more college newspapers as members.

Old Business: None.

New Business: VPA received a thank you letter from VCOG for renewing its membership.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:51 a.m.

Proposed bylaws change: repeal of one-year rule for associate members The association’s bylaws currently stipulate that a publication must issue for a full year before being eligible for membership, either active or associate. The VPA Board of Directors has approved a proposed change to the bylaws that would repeal this rule for associate members.

VPA members will vote on the bylaws change at the annual breakfast business meeting at the Marriott Norfolk Waterside in Norfolk on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at 8:30 a.m.

PROPOSED CHANGE TO VPA BYLAWS III. MEMBERSHIP 2. ASSOCIATE a. Scientific, legal, medical, educational, religious, fraternal, trade or other publications which have an average non-advertising content of 25 percent or more, have been in business for at least one year and that are published for the public in Virginia as often as four times per year may apply for associate membership. These publications include free circulation newspapers, unless they are required to apply for Active membership under Section 1f. above. b. The Virginia Associated Press may also apply for associate membership. c. An associate member shall pay dues and shall be entitled to all privileges of the association except those of voting and holding office.

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

Minutes submitted by Secretary Eric Lieberman

3

VPA leadership slate announced for 2013-14

Cadwallender

Bondurant

Lieberman

The 130th meeting of the Virginia Press Association will convene at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 20, 2013, at the Marriott Norfolk Waterside.

The election of officers and directors of the Virginia Press Association/Virginia Press Services, Inc., Board of Directors for the 2013-14 fiscal year is among the business items to be taken up during the meeting.

The following slate of officers has been nominated for election: President: Nicholas J. Cadwallender, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg; President-Elect: Jay Bondurant, Bedford Bulletin; Vice President: Eric Lieberman, The Washington Post; Secretary, Anne Adams, The Recorder, Monterey;

Adams

Stowe

Stickley

Treasurer: Michael Stowe, The Roanoke Times; Immediate Past President: Keith Stickley, The Free Press, Woodstock; and Assistant Secretary/Treasurer: Ginger Stanley, Virginia Press Association, Glen Allen.

Maria Hileman of The Winchester Star has been nominated for a three-year term, replacing Peter Yates of the Daily News-Record, who rotates off the board.

Hileman has been a journalist for 38 years and worked at newspapers in New England and New York before becoming managing editor of The Winchester Star in April 2008. She served for 10 years as assistant managing editor for projects and investigations at The Day in New London, Conn., and for five years as metro editor of the Democrat and Chronicle in

Stanley

Hileman

Tate

Rochester, N.Y. She has received more than 30 national and regional awards for her work.

Jenay Tate, publisher of The Coalfield Progress in Norton, has been nominated for a second three-year term on the board.

There will also be a membership vote on a proposed VPA bylaws change at the meeting. The association’s bylaws currently stipulate that a publication must issue for a full year before being eligible for membership, either active or associate.

The VPA Board of Directors has approved a proposed change to the bylaws that would repeal this rule for associate members.

Questions about the Annual Meeting should be directed to Ginger Stanley at (804)521-7575 or gingers@vpa.net.

‘Awesome’ or not, it’s gonna be a heckuva party It’s being billed as “The Awesome Party.”

In reality, though, it could defy description.

Hundreds of Virginia newspaper folk from both sides of the craft’s political aisle (that would be news and advertising) are expected to gather in The Piano Lounge of Norfolk’s Waterside Marriott Hotel in the final hours of Saturday, April 20 to celebrate.

What they choose to celebrate will be optional: a) I have a job, b) I am still being paid in U.S. currency, c) It beats working on the trash truck, and d) One of the eight people who share my garden apartment is moving out.

Of course, some of the nearly 500 people being invited to The Awesome Party might have reason to celebrate: They just won an award!!!

Not an Oscar or an Emmy, mind you, but an award nonetheless.

The Awesome Party is the next generation of the After Program Party, a bash that typically follows the awards program at the Virginia Press Association spring convention.

Two years ago, party-goers wore icicles aboard a cruise on an all-too-chilly evening in Norfolk. They celebrated by creating goose bumps.

A year ago, the party moved to the Hotel Roanoke where a DJ worked the crowd through a home-grown version of The Electric Slide. No goose bumps reported. This

year, organizers promise plenty of heat and no choreography.

The Awesome Party will get underway at 10 p.m. or about a half hour after the VPA awards program adjourns. Party goers should make their way to the second floor above the hotel’s main lobby where a DJ will spend the evening tempting those reluctant dancing shoes. A few beers or a glass or two of wine, compliments of the hosts, will make his job a lot easier. Besides complimentary beer and wine, The Piano Lounge bar will be open on a cash basis for mixed drinks, bottled beer and specialty beverages.

Each hour, tickets will be drawn for cash door prizes ranging from $50 to $100, all compliments of the hosts.

The Awesome Party is planned until 1 a.m., but will end when the last keg runs dry and the last glass of wine is poured.

Hosting the party will be the Suffolk NewsHerald, Tidewater News, The Free Lance-Star, The News-Gazette, American Hometown Publishing, The Roanoke Times, Womack

Walter Segaloff Continued from page 1

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

And all students learn to play tennis, in order to develop confidence, character and sportsmanship.

“I have visited these schools and am always impressed with the poise, confidence and engagement these kids possess,” wrote Daily Press publisher Digby Solomon in his letter nominating Segaloff as VPA Virginian of the Year for 2013.

“None of this would have happened without the efforts of Walter Segaloff.”

And Segaloff continues to pour his efforts into the academy, raising funds through an annual benefit, the “Tennis Ball,” and rallying support from the community.

Achievable Dream’s partners include local businesses, military personnel, law enforce4

ment agencies and Riverside Health System.

“We’re trying to build law-abiding, successful, productive citizens. That’s our business, that’s our goal,” he told the Daily Press in 2007.

“And all during that journey, you’re going to have ups and downs, you’re going to have good years and bad years. But it’s the long run, it’s the marathon, we’re after.”

Segaloff, 78, is a former chief executive officer of women’s specialty stores and a longtime leader of the Peninsula’s civic and business communities. He’s accustomed to taking on big projects, and achieving big results, through creative thinking and a can-do approach.

In the 1990s, he organized a Peninsulawide salute to military personnel returning from Desert Storm.

“I don’t know of many men who can close

an entire airport to hold a party for our military people,” said Edna Haggerty, then-president of the York Exchange Club. “But Walter Segaloff did it and the citizens were right behind him.”

That spirit of camaraderie is also evident among students and alumni of Achievable Dream, as demonstrated by comments from recent graduates.

At the school’s 2012 commencement ceremony, salutatorian Jeshon Copeland, who had attended Achievable Dream since kindergarten, described his class as “family,” adding, “We are the ones that we are waiting for.”

Senior class president Christine Robinson agreed, noting her classmates’ willingness to work hard: “I know we are capable of achieving anything.”

Including their dreams.

Publishing, Pilot Media, Lakeway Publishers of Virginia, The Recorder, The Progress-Index, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Daily Press Media Group, The Washington Post and The Free Press of Woodstock. Each of those companies is represented on the VPA Board of Directors.

Times Community launches new PW newspaper Times Community Media launched Prince William Times on January 9. The company already covers the western part of the county with Gainesville Times.

Prince William Times is also directed by Gainesville Times’ Managing Editor Tara Donaldson, and will expand her responsibilities into Manassas and the central and eastern parts of the county.

Gainesville Times features hard news plus school, business and community issues in addition to high school and youth league sports. Prince William Times will offer a similar model, but will focus on Manassas and areas to the east.

Six public notice bills defeated in 2013 General Assembly Continued from page 1 thority as a political subdivision of the Commonwealth and direct its board of directors of the Authority to form a nonstock, nonprofit corporation, referred to as the Virginia Nuclear Energy Consortium. Both bills, which passed, create a blanket FOIA exemption for the consortium. VPA sought to amend both bills but was unsuccessful in its efforts.

HB 1639, Del. Thomas Greason (R-Leesburg): This bill exempts working papers and correspondence of legislative aides of members of the General Assembly when the aides are working on behalf of their respective members. VPA-proposed amendments added the clarification: “‘Member of the General Assembly’ means each member of the Senate of Virginia and the House of Delegates, and their legislative aides when working on behalf of a member.” The bill passed the House and Senate.

HB 1952, Del. Steven Landes (R-Verona): This bill, supported by VPA, adds specific topics to be covered during educational programs for governing boards and requires such programs to be delivered by the State Council of Higher Education annually. The bill also requires each board of visitors to adopt bylaws with certain provisions relating to the Freedom of Information Act, among other activities to increase trans-

parency. It was amended in the Senate and adopted as amended by the House.

HB 2280, Del. Jeion Ward (R-Hampton): This bill creates FOIA exemptions for records of hospitals and nursing homes regulated by the Board of Health that reveal disaster recovery plans or evacuation plans for such facilities. Records of executed evacuation plans may be disclosed. VPA sought to amend the bill, which passed both the House and Senate.

SB 802, Sen. Thomas Garrett (R-Hadensville): The bill provides that a telephone call between two electoral board members in preparation for a meeting shall not constitute a meeting for Virginia FOIA purposes if the discussion otherwise would not constitute a meeting, and that the same applies to the State Board of Elections. VPA was neutral on this bill, which passed both the Senate and House.

SB 1334, Sen. Thomas Norment (R-Williamsburg): VPA successfully proposed amendments to this bill, which provides an exemption from the mandatory disclosure requirements of FOIA for records of the Commonwealth’s Attorneys’ Services Council, “to the extent such records are prepared for and utilized... in the training of state prosecutors or law-enforcement personnel, where such records are not otherwise available to the public and the release of such records would reveal confidential strategies, methods or procedures to be

employed in law-enforcement activities, or materials created for the investigation and prosecution of a criminal case.” The bill passed SB 1263 and 1264, Sen. Richard Stuart (R-Montross): These bills, on which VPA was neutral, were recommendations of the Virginia FOIA Council and both were passed. SB 1263 authorizes an advisory public body to meet electronically without a quorum assembled at one location, provided that the meeting is conducted utilizing a combined audio and visual communication method, in addition to other requirements. It also allows a member of any public body to participate in a meeting electronically due to personal matters under certain circumstances. SB 1264 reorganizes Virginia Code Section 2.2-3706 relating to access to criminal records and other records held by law-enforcement agencies. The bill expands to state law-enforcement agencies the ability to withhold portions of noncriminal incident information and allows law-enforcement agencies to make a verbal response for requests for criminal incident information. It also clarifies that personnel records of employees of a law-enforcement agency are not noncriminal records, but are subject to personnel records and background investigation records exemptions.

Legislators return to Richmond on April 3 for the reconvened (veto) session.

President’s Message in the sixth floor of the General Assembly Building when the committee meeting ended. A cheerful cashier greeted a newspaper contingent that by then had grown. Terry Jamerson of the Lynchburg News had arrived, as had Lawrence McConnell of the Daily Progress at Charlottesville, Nick Cadwallender of the Free Lance-Star, Joy Monopoli of Richmond Suburban Newspapers, and Craig Merritt, the Richmond media lawyer who has been at the forefront of VPA’s legislative effort for years.

After caucusing around a table in the snack bar, the publishers visited delegates and senators representing the districts in which their papers circulate, seeking support for the association’s position on public notice and access legislation.

At 11 a.m., the group headed to the Capitol and specifically to the House of Delegates.

After a box lunch, the newspaper delegation was ushered into the House gallery and introduced as participants in “the first annual Virginia Press Day at the Capitol.” Introductions were not being edited, at least not on that day.

Thirty-seven days later, when the sun had

set on the 2013 session of the Virginia General Assembly, all six bills that would have repealed the law requiring that public notice ads be published in newspapers had been defeated.

On public access, VPA lost just one fight and that was one that flew beneath the radar of the association’s effort. As a result, Virginians no longer will know the names of those permitted to carry concealed weapons.

Senator Mark Obenshain, the Republican aspirant for attorney general, gleefully introduced that bill.

How Virginia newspapers take their message to the General Assembly in the years ahead will be increasingly important. Ensuring public access to the workings of government at all levels is a strong objective, one the Virginia Press Association must continue to defend.

Confounded by new economic realities, however, newspapers face daily challenges to their very existence, leaving precious little time to accomplish much more. In the ongoing legislative effort, having an enduring ally in the halls of the Virginia General Assembly is something the Commonwealth’s newspapers and those who run them should not take lightly.

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

Continued from page 2

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VPA/The Associated Press Ne

with the Society of Professional J

Marriott Norfolk Water Thursday, April 18 5:30 p.m.

Board of Directors Reception, Presidential Suite 6:30 p.m.

VPA/VPS Board Dinner, TBA

Friday, April 19 8 a.m.

VPA Registration Desk Opens, Norfolk Foyer 8 a.m.-3 p.m.

VPA Contest Display Room/Vendor Exhibits Setup, Norfolk V-VI 8:30 a.m.

Board Meeting/Breakfast Buffet, Norfolk I 9:30-11 a.m.

VPA Session, Hampton Roads IV “What’s the Point of Social Media?” with Elizabeth Conner, Columbia Missourian The answer? It depends. Are you trying to grow your audience? Increase loyalty to your brand? Find story ideas? Your strategies will differ with each answer. Don’t think of social media platforms as an additional responsibility. Think of them as a way for you to accomplish your audience goals, and for your audience to seamlessly interact with your content.

11:10 a.m.-Noon VPA Session, Hampton Roads IV “Apps for Journalists” with Jenn Burleson Mackay, Virginia Tech The presentation will explore which mobile apps have become useful tools for journalists in Virginia. The presentation will draw from the survey responses of journalists from across the state.

11 a.m.

Program Committee Meeting, Washington Noon-1:15 p.m.

Lunch on your own 1:15-2:45 p.m.

VPA Session, Hampton Roads IV “It is True: Offline Dollars Translate Into Digital Dimes” with Stephanie Padgett, Missouri School of Journalism It is true: offline dollars translate into digital dimes, but you don’t have to settle for a loss. Learn how you can start stacking up digital dimes from your online content by implementing a variety of advertising tactics that will increase your online revenue.

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

3 p.m.

VPA Contest Display Room/Vendor Exhibits Open, Norfolk V-VI

6

Reserve a room with a view at the Marriott Norfolk Waterside VPA members are encouraged to reserve rooms for the conference at the Marriott Norfolk Waterside early, as the contracted room block space is limited. Please note that registration with VPA does not include hotel accommodations. Single and double rooms are available at a special room rate of $136; be sure to ask for the VPA conference rate when you call 1-800-874-0264 or (757) 627-4200. The deadline for both hotel reservations and conference registration is March 28, 2013.

3-4:30 p.m.

VPA Session, Hampton Roads IV “Best Practices for Paid Content” with Brian Steffens, Reynolds Journalism Institute Three years ago, only a handful of newspapers charged for access to online content. Now, half the dailies in the country have launched pay models, and weeklies are following suit.

What are the emerging best practices? What do publishers need to know about pricing and establishing a paid model?

Most important, what’s the best strategy to fit your newspaper and your audience? This session is intended to give participants answers to these questions, or the tools necessary to identify the answers.

5:30 p.m.

Reception–Hospitality Suite, Presidential Suite 6:30–9 p.m.

VPA Virginian of the Year/AP Banquet, Norfolk III Honoring Walter Segaloff of An Achievable Dream, 2013 VPA Virginian of the Year 6-10 p.m.

SPJ Reception at Trilogy Bistro, Norfolk Cash bar with complimentary hors d’oeuvres

Saturday, April 20 7:30 a.m.

VPA Registration Desk Opens, Norfolk Foyer 7:30 a.m.

VPA Contest Display Room/Vendor Exhibits, Norfolk V-VI 8-8:30 a.m.

SPJ Coffee and greetings from Virginia Pro Chapter President Paul Fletcher, Hampton Roads III 8:30–10 a.m.

VPA & AP Breakfast Business Meeting, Norfolk II Speaker: Bill Burke, The Associated Press Learn how newspapers can manage costs while ramping up a video operation and look at examples of newspapers that are successfully using video to make money. Discover how to incorporate video into your daily workflow and see some results of AP’s recent survey on newspapers and video.

8:30-10 a.m.

SPJ Morning Supersession: Social Media, Data Journalism and the New Normal, Hampton Roads III Moderator: Nicole Livas, WAVY-TV, Norfolk Panelists: Jeff South, Virginia Commonwealth University; Bob Bennett, WAVY-TV, Norfolk; Justin Karp, WJLA, Washington, D.C.; Sean Kennedy, digital editor and online producer, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk 10 a.m.–Noon VPA Session, Hampton Roads I-II “Our (Very) Mobile Future: So what’s the business model?” with Gordon Borrell, Borrell Associates From smartphones to tablets, the media world has suddenly become untethered. As print and broadcast media rush to publish content on mobile devices, is there a viable business model? This session will separate the merely cool from the really smart stuff, exploring what media companies across the country are doing to capitalize on the mobile phenomenon – with an emphasis on quantifying their “success.”

10 a.m.-3 p.m.

SPJ Silent Auction SPJ will present a silent auction to support the SPJ,SDX Educational Foundation Scholarship Fund. Bids close at 3 p.m.

Photograph by Keith Lanpher, Virginia Tourism Corporation

10:30-11:45 a.m.

SPJ Breakout Sessions A, Hampton Roads III How to Go Above and Beyond on Any Assignment Quick tips and tricks to incorporate multimedia, and get ahead of the competition on any platform.

Panelists: Bob Bennett, WAVY-TV, Norfolk; Justin Karp, WJLA, Washington, D.C.; Ross Taylor, photojournalist, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk; and more TBA

How I nabbed my first job (Hint: It didn’t start at the interview!)

Reporters within their first five years on the job talk about what they did in school, internships and job interviews to nail down that critical first job. Presented by the SPJ Generation J Committee.

Panelists: Vanessa Remmers, The Progress-Index, Petersburg; Greg Linch, The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.; Anne McNamara, WAVY-TV, Norfolk.

Noon-1:45 p.m.

VPA Luncheon, Norfolk II Speaker: Andy Waters, Columbia Daily Tribune Presentation of VANAA & Golden 50 Club Noon- 1:30 p.m.

SPJ Mark of Excellence Award Luncheon, Hampton V Welcome from SPJ Virginia Pro Chapter President Paul Fletcher Video presentation from Region 2 Director Brian Eckert Keynote speaker to be announced Presentation of Mark of Excellence Awards by senior SPJ leadership 1:45- 3 p.m.

SPJ Breakout Sessions B, Hampton Roads III Covering College: Watchdogs on Campus Should watchdogs be placing more attention on the boards that govern colleges? The University of Virginia’s board of visitors essentially fired the university president through one-onone phone calls that often misled board members. Protests later resulted in the president being reinstated and the college’s accreditation being questioned because of its its actions. Other

ews & Advertising Conference

Journalists, Region 2 Conference

rside, April 19-20, 2013 The Military after Afghanistan - and the Hometown Stories You’re Missing After Iraq and as Afghanistan draws to a close, stories of soldiers and veterans abound. Military reporters share their experience in finding the not-so-obvious stories your readers need to know.

Panelists: Kate Wiltrout, military editor, The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk; more TBA. 2–4 p.m.

VPA Session, Hampton Roads I-II “Morphing Media: What Hath Digital Wrought?” with Gordon Borrell, Borrell Associates Digital media has forged dramatic changes to the local media landscape. Newspapers are delivering video. TV stations are delivering classified ads. And the entire community has its fingers in the “news” production business. Where’s it all headed? This session takes a unique look at what’s happening to local media and shows that many are morphing quickly into companies that no longer control the news, but have found ways to harness the Internet to become powerful information and marketing organizations.

schools in the Mid-Atlantic have been up to hijinks, as well.

Moderator: Dick Hammerstrom, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg Panelists: Frank LoMonte, Student Press Law Center; more TBA

3:15-4:30 p.m.

SPJ Breakout Sessions C, Hampton Roads III Our final sessions of the day will focus on hands-on workshops to be announced, including some that will head out from the hotel (weather permitting).

“YouTube editing on the fly” with Dr. Markus Pfeiffer, Regent University, Virginia Beach An increasing number of field reporters use smart phones for video or photo shoots. In the past, expensive and sometimes complicated video editing software was necessary, but YouTube has launched a powerful online video editor tool perfect for quick editing needs. This session will provide a hands-on demo of how to edit footage directly on YouTube.

“Codex Decoded: Understanding the WordPress Manual” with Matt Rosenburg, Richmond Times-Dispatch 5 p.m.

Reception & Cash Bar, Norfolk Foyers 6 p.m.

VPA News/Editorial and Advertising Awards / Lifetime Achievement Awards Banquet, Norfolk Ballroom I-IV 10 p.m.–1:00 a.m.

“The Awesome Party”; The Piano Lounge (second floor, Marriott Waterside). Cash door prizes, DJ, free beer, wine.

Watch vpa.net and ePress for updates to conference schedule As the conference schedule is finalized, updates will be published in Virginia’s ePress and posted to www.vpa.net.

Many Thanks

to Our Conference Sponsors

Meet Our Speakers

Bill Burke, director of U.S. video products for The Associated Press, joined the AP in 1997 as product manager for ENPS, which is AP’s broadcast newsroom software. He managed development and major customer accounts with ENPS until 2008, when he began working for AP’s online video business. Before joining AP, Burke was a news director, manager and producer at a number of local television stations, primarily in South Florida.

Elizabeth Conner is a faculty editor on the interactive copy desk at the Columbia Missourian, the city’s morning newspaper and a lab for Missouri School of Journalism students. In cooperation with the community

outreach team, she develops and executes strategies for the Missourian’s social media accounts. Elizabeth spent nearly four years at the Columbus (Ga.) Ledger-Enquirer as a copy editor and designer, business editor and copy desk chief. She also spent time at a financial news service based in Charlottesville as a web editor. She is a graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism.

Jenn Burleson Mackay is an assistant professor of multimedia journalism in the Department of Communication at Virginia Tech. She has worked as a journalist in television and newspapers in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Her research considers how technology influences journalism. Mackay also researches journalistic ethics. She has an undergraduate degree in journalism from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She attained her M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Alabama.

Stephanie Padgett is an assistant professor at the Missouri School of Journalism where she teaches media strategy and planning. She was a RJI Fellow and studied how small to mid-size papers can increase online revenue. Prior to arriving at Missouri, Padgett spent 20+ plus years in advertising. She planned and implemented campaigns for Nicorette, Nicoderm, Roto-Rooter and others at Empower Media Marketing in Cincinnati, Ohio. She served as the Ohio Market Manager for The Media Audit and helped sales staffs at the

Columbus Dispatch, Clear Channel, Toledo Blade, Cincinnati Magazine and other local media outlets increase sales through effective use of qualitative research.

Brian Steffens, director of communications for Reynolds Journalism Institute, oversees the conversations with and among the various constituents and audiences of RJI. Steffens was previously executive director of the National Newspaper Association (NNA).

Earlier at the Missouri School of Journalism, he was associate director of the New Directions for News (NDN). As senior vice president and editor of the Editor & Publisher Company, he repositioned the magazine and its website. He also edited Quill magazine, published by the Society of Professional Journalists, and worked for more than two decades in the newspaper industry.

Andy Waters has worked at the Columbia Daily Tribune as a general assignment reporter, business writer/editor, city editor, head of online operations and general manager, his current position. His first exposure to the newsroom came as a reporting intern during summers off from Washington and Lee University. After graduating with a journalism degree, Waters worked four years for The Associated Press in Kansas City, Los Angeles and Portland, Ore. He came back to Columbia to join other family members at the Tribune full-time in 1995.

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

Gordon Borrell, CEO of Borrell Associates, is one of the media industry’s leading analysts and a sought-after speaker who is frequently quoted in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Ad Age, Forbes and other publications. He has appeared on CNN and other TV and radio programs discussing trends and forecasts for local media. Prior to starting Borrell Associates, he was vice president for new media for Landmark Communications, where he worked for 22 years. Borrell started his career as a reporter and editor for The VirginianPilot. He is a member of the executive board of the Local Media Association and is past president of the Newspaper Association of America’s New Media Federation.

7

TRAINING

The Virginia Newspaper Academy at VPA

Six scholarships available for Community Journalism Workshop, June 20-21 at VPA

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

The Community Journalism Workshop (CJW), which returns June 20-21 to the Virginia Press Association headquarters, has been described as a “boot camp for new reporters” that should be mandatory.

And for the second year, VPA will offer six scholarships to reporters from VPA newspapers who wish to attend. More details and an application will soon be available via Virginia’s ePress and www.vpa.net.

Past participants have utilized information learned in the intensive two-day training to advance in their careers; Mike Jones of The Washington Post, an alumnus of the very first CJW, returned last year as keynote speaker. Others regularly collect awards in VPA’s annual news contests and have risen to leadership positions at newspapers.

The workshop is geared for both new journalists and those wanting a skills refresher. Sessions are led by seasoned instructors and experienced editors Lou Emerson of FauquierNow.com, Anne Adams of The Recorder, Jeff Lester of The Coalfield Progress and Katrice Franklin Hardy of The Virginian-Pilot.

Topics include interviewing skills, narrative storytelling, the Freedom of Information Act, photography, maintaining a beat and lede writing. Ethics gets special attention. In addition to group interaction, workshop participants benefit from one-on-one critiques. Plus, each attendee receives a “tool box” of resources to take home and use on the job.

The cost for two days of sessions, dinner on Thursday, lunch on Friday and the takehome tool box: $99 for VPA members, $250 for non-members.

“This is a bargain,” states Lester.

“It’s a steal,” agrees Adams.

Overnight accommodations, including breakfast, are available at the Comfort Suites Innsbrook at a special rate of $74.

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Is there something you’d really like to learn? A new skill set you’d like to develop and hone? VPA’s Virginia Newspaper Academy wants to hear your thoughts, ideas and feedback! Please contact Kim Woodward at kimw@vpa.net with your visions for future workshops and training sessions. We want to hear from you!

Community Journalism Workshop REGISTRATION FORM June 20-21, 2013 • VPA Headquarters, Glen Allen Name of Newspaper:

_____________________________________________________________

Contact Person:

_____________________________________________________________

Mailing Address:

_____________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip:

_____________________________________________________________

Phone:

____________________________ Fax: ____________________________

Email:

_____________________________________________________________

Special price:

$99 for VPA members and $250 for non-members (price does not include hotel reservations)

Name(s) of those attending

E-mail address

________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Please note any dietary restrictions of attendees (food allergy, vegetarian, etc.) ________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________ The deadline for workshop registration is Friday, May 31, 2013.

Bill me ______ Check enclosed _____ (payable to the Virginia Press Association)

Mail form to: Fax: Email: Questions?

CJW, 11529 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059 804-521-7590 kimw@vpa.net Call Kim Woodward at (804) 521-7574

H O T E L

R E S E R V A T I O N

of Innsbrook 4051 Innslake Drive Glen Allen, VA, 23060

Email three stories you are working on that have not been edited to kimw@vpa.net by May 31 for discussion during the one-on-one critique session.

I N F O R M A T I O N

Special CJW Rate:

$74 Single/Double

(3.5 miles / 6-minute drive from VPA)

Call (804) 217-9200 / (800) 228-5150 to reserve your room (Ask for VPA rate) Space is limited, so register early!

ALL ABOUT MEDIA

People, events in the news

The Central Virginian celebrates centennial The Central Virginian of Louisa County celebrated its 100th anniversary in December with a nostalgia-filled issue that included interviews with retired CV staff, selected ads and stories from the past and a retrospective on a local crime story that the newspaper covered over 36 years -- from the abduction and killing of a local family in 1959, until the death of the accused in

1995.

“The style of writing and layout [of early issues] is very different from what readers see today,” wrote Paula Parrish, noting how the design and content of the paper changed over the decades.

“Current technology allows The CV to cover news as it breaks...Social media also allows The CV to share other important

community information with readers.

“While The CV’s content, composition and communication methods may have evolved through the course of its first 100 years, the paper remains dedicated to providing full-coverage news for Louisa County.”

-- www.thecentralvirginian.com

The Free Lance-Star changes its digital offerings The Free Lance-Star Publishing Co. announced several changes to its digital business line on February 4, when it launched a daily news website, freelancestar.com. It will serve as a tablet edition of the daily print newspaper The Free Lance-Star. The site was designed for tablet devices and will look and feel more like a magazine. Subscribers have unlimited digital access.

The family-owned, multimedia company also redesigned its community/breaking news website, fredericksburg.com. The new design will adapt based on whether it’s being viewed on a laptop, tablet or smart phone.

The company also decided to make free-

lancestar.com and fredericksburg.com metered websites that track page views. More frequent users will eventually reach a page that asks them to buy a subscription to read additional stories. Digital only and print subscriptions are available. All subscriptions include unlimited digital access.

“Our company’s vision is to be the indispensable information source for our community, and that means we have to constantly evaluate the job we’re doing to make sure we’ve got the right people, products and resources in place to get you the information you need, when and where you need it,” said Nick Cadwallender, publisher and CEO of

the company.

“As we create these new products, however, we need to make sure we’re running a healthy business. We employ more than 330 local people to put our products together every day. We are a locally owned, locally run, multimedia organization. That’s rare in the news business these days, and we intend to keep it that way.”

Current subscribers can access their unlimited digital access at login.freelancestar. com. Anyone interested in subscribing can get more information and pricing at join.free-

lancestar.com.

“We know this is a big step for us to take when we’ve offered free access to fredericksburg.com for so many years,” said Cadwallender. “But we’re committed to offering the best products we can, and we’ll work tirelessly to earn your business. As we watch the world of journalism and the local news shift, we have to constantly change to keep pace. We still don’t know what our online business will look like five or 10 years down the road, but we think these changes will keep us on the right track.”

Sunshine Week 2013 set for March 10-16 Sunshine Week is set for March 10-16, 2013, featuring events to spotlight open government, special news reporting and release of freedom of information studies.

The nationwide Sunshine Week was launched in 2005 by the American Society of News Editors (ASNE), and the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has been a national co-sponsor since 2012.

“Our ongoing mission is to ensure that government at all levels remains transparent for the public and for reporters in all platforms.

This is a great opportunity to engage many different partners in open government education and discussions,” said Reporters Committee Chairman Tony Mauro, U.S. Supreme Court

correspondent for The National Law Journal.

“Of course open government is important to journalists. But even more, open government is really at the heart of democracy by giving citizens the information we all need,” said ASNE President Susan Goldberg, executive editor of Bloomberg News in Washington.

The Sunshine Week website, www.sunshineweek.org, has been revamped to streamline access to the toolkit and its resources, all of which are offered free to participants.

Sunshine Week 2013 is made possible by a continuing endowment from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, which has funded Sunshine Week since its 2005 launch, and by a 2013 donation from Bloomberg LP.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch has donated $2,672.90 to the American Diabetes Association on behalf of Richmond-area Walgreens stores.

The Times-Dispatch and Walgreens partnered on a promotion to offer the Sunday newspaper at the discounted price of $1.25 from August 26 to December 30, 2012. As part of the promotion, a portion of the proceeds from each newspaper sold was donated to the American Diabetes Association.

The check was presented by Times-Dispatch Publisher Tom Silvestri and Scott Saylor, Walgreens district manager, to American

Diabetes Association Director Nancy Castrina and Manager of Fundraising Margaret Lam at The Times-Dispatch’s downtown offices on February 6.

“This successful promotion is a testament to the value of newspapers in our community.

We thank our readers for their support, which allowed The Times-Dispatch and Walgreens contribute to this worthy cause,” said TimesDispatch Single Copy Manager Scott Payne.

The Times-Dispatch and Walgreens have worked together to benefit other local charitable organizations through similar promotions in the past.

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

Times-Dispatch, Walgreens partner to support the American Diabetes Association

9

MEMBER NEWS Rev. Deacon Edward W. Jones has been appointed as secretary and chief of staff of the Diocese of Virginia. Jones, a former VPA president, has just been ordained to the vocational diaconate after serving his practicum at St. Mary’s, Colonial Beach. As secretary, he will manage the governing bodies of the Diocese, including Annual Council, and will provide oversight of communications and public relations in the Diocese. He will also serve as senior adviser to the bishops and as point of contact for the legal team on issues pertaining to litigation, employment and real estate. As chief of staff, Jones will supervise and support 22 diocesan staff members. He will soon retire as editor of The Free Lance-Star, where he has worked for 40 years, and will commence his work out of the diocesan offices at Mayo Memorial Church House in Richmond the week of March 25.

Richard Leggitt has joined The Journal as a staff reporter covering Westmoreland County government and courts, King George County courts and sports at Washington and Lee High School in Montross.

Karen Keene has joined the Loudoun Times-Mirror and Times Community Media as an advertising media consultant.

William Ramsey and Deona Houff have joined the staff of The News Leader. Ramsey, who worked at The News Leader from 1998 to 2004 as a copy editor and then news editor, is the new local editor. Houff, the former editor and publisher of eightyone magazine, is the new community conversations and engagement editor.

Bill O’Donovan has stepped down as publisher of The Virginia Gazette and Tidewater Review. Digby Solomon of the Daily Press Media Group is the new publisher of the two newspapers.

Barbara Adolfi, Sperryville columnist for the Rappahannock News, has left the newspaper after six years for other pursuits of interest.

Carla Gutridge has joined The Journal, following the retirement of Carol Barber. Gutridge will sell for The Journal, ChamberLink and The Source, and will edit Getaway Magazine.

Mike Gruss has joined the staff of Space News, covering military space, missile defense and policy matters. He previously worked at The Virginian-Pilot.

Hawes Spencer, founder, publisher and editor of The Hook, has left the Charlottesville newspaper in a planned transition after more than a decade. Anna Harrison is the new publisher and Courteney Stuart is the new editor.

Mark Thompson has been named sports editor of the Martinsville Bulletin. Thompson is a graduate of the University of North Carolina, where he was a senior writer and assistant sports editor of The Daily Tar Heel. He won the 2011 N.C. College Media Association Award for Best Sports Story and the Larry and Carolyn Keith Award for Sports Journalism.

Mosby L. “Chip” Wigginton Jr. has become associate publisher of The Caroline Progress and Herald-Progress. He was previously publisher of The Daily Southerner in Tarboro, N.C. Cathy B. Wilson has been named regional manager of Womack Publishing Company’s South Hill Group newspapers in Virginia and North Carolina: South Hill Enterprise, Independent-Messenger, The News-Progress, Brunswick Times-Gazette, Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer and Warren (N.C.) Record.

Elizabeth Ashley is the new editor of the Yorktown Crier and Poquoson Post.

James Peacemaker Jr. is the new managing editor of The Hopewell News and The News-Patriot.

2013 legislative resolutions honor VPA members Public notice and access bills weren’t the only measures VPA followed in the 2013 General Assembly; a number of legislative resolutions (patrons in parentheses) honored and memorialized persons and organizations with VPA connections, as follows: House Joint Resolution (HJ) 591, celebrating the life of John Robert Slaughter Sr. (Del. C.T. Head).

HJ 628, celebrating the life of Anne Folkes Miller (Del. B.B. Carr).

HJ 641, commending Benton Communications, Inc. (Del. J.M. Scott) HJ 714, celebrating the life of William Henry Wood (Del. D.J. Toscano).

HJ 779, commending The Central Virginian (Del. P.F. Farrell) HJ 780, celebrating the life of Robert H. Haskell III (Del. D.W. Merricks).

HJ 817, commending Walter Segaloff, VPA Virginian of the Year for 2013 (Del. D.E. Yancey).

HJ 835, celebrating the life of George L. Barton IV (Del. J.T. May).

HJ 943, commending the Old Bridge Observer (Del. R.L. Anderson).

House Resolution (HR) 170, celebrating the life of Anthony David Blankley (Del. B.J. Comstock).

Senate Joint Resolution (SJ) 291, celebrating the life of John Robert Slaughter Sr. (Sen. J.S. Edwards).

SJ 376, celebrating the life of William Henry Wood (Sen. B.E. Reeves).

SJ 378, celebrating the life of George L. Barton IV (Sen. R.H. Black).

SJ 383, commending The Central Virginian (Sen. T.A. Garrett).

Senate Resolution (SR) 37, commending Walter Segaloff (Sen. J.C. Miller).

SR 40, commending William C. O’Donovan (Sen. J.C. Miller).

Full text of these resolutions is available online at lis.virginia.gov.

OBITUARIES Russell Carder Russell H. Carder, 90, retired pressman for the Culpeper Star-Exponent, died January 15. Known for his good nature and strong work ethic, Carder joined the Star-Exponent in 1953 and worked there until his retirement in 2004. During his career, he saw many changes from hand pressing letters to learning the use of computers to do these things.

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

Robert H. Haskell Robert H. Haskell III, 73, died January 4. He had been publisher of the Martinsville Bulletin since 1989, the year the newspaper marked its 100th anniversary. Each day under his leadership, the newspaper reaffirmed its commitment to covering local news, sports and people. Haskell was born into the newspaper business. His grandfather was Charles Edward Marsh, editor and publisher of the Austin (Texas) American Statesman and other newspapers. His parents were Antoinette Haskell, who was an officer of the Bulletin, and Robert J. Haskell Jr., a previous publisher of the Martinsville Bulletin.

Haskell, a graduate of the School of Journalism at the University of North Carolina, worked as a reporter for several Washington, D.C. area publications before he joined the Bulletin in 1970. In addition, Haskell served on the board and chaired the finance committee of the Public Welfare Foundation in Washington, D.C., an organization founded in 1947 by his grandfather, according to the book, “Anonymous Giver, A Life of Charles E. Marsh.” The foundation was created to ensure that 10 people in need receive fundamental rights and opportunities.

W. Marshall Johnson W. Marshall Johnson, 92, a retired sportswriter for The Associated Press, known as a “walking encyclopedia” of Virginia high school sports records, died February 20. A native of Manassas and a graduate of Washington and Lee University, Johnson flew 55 missions in a B-24 Liberator over Europe during World War II and reached the rank of captain.

Among his commendations were the Distinguished Flying Cross and a Bronze Star. He began his career with newspaper jobs with the Lynchburg News and the Manassas Journal before joining the AP in Richmond in 1949. As Joe Macenka of the Richmond Times-Dispatch noted, Johnson “spent his professional career on a tireless quest to chronicle individual and team achievements of high school athletics in Virginia.” Johnson was inducted into the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame and the Virginia High School League Hall of Fame, and honored by the Virginia High School Coaches Association.

Robert A. Redmond Jr. Robert A. “Rob” Redmond Jr., 45, died February 13.

Redmond was a graduate of George Mason University, where he played intramural lacrosse. He was a Realtor with Century 21 New Millennium in Chantilly. Redmond was previously a newspaper advertising sales associate with the News and Messenger. Survivors include his mother, Mary Moye Rose of Fredericksburg, formerly an employee of the Stafford County Sun.

Harold J. Stone Harold J. Stone, 85, retired staff member of the Courier-Record, died December 13. Stone worked at the Courier-Record from 1958 until his retirement in 2008, running the linotype machine, setting up and producing print jobs, operating the newspaper labeling machines and doing “everything else that was asked of him.”

Michael Tate Michael Tate, 47, the former co-owner of The Dickenson Star and a longtime Dickenson County civic volunteer and leader, died January 15. Tate was the president and co-owner of Norton Press Inc. from 1998 until 2005, and he served as a consultant to new owners American Hometown Publishing until 2006. Tate was vice president of Norton Press in 1991 when it purchased the Star, and led the day-to-day management of the newspaper for seven years. He later helped negotiate the purchase of The Cumberland Times and oversaw its merger with the Star. Tate had left full-time work in the newspaper industry, but continued to cover sports for the company’s three Virginia newspapers and wrote the popular “Dope Bucket” weekly football prognostication column that was founded by his father, the late publisher Carroll Tate. Tate won numerous VPA awards for newspaper and advertising design, including a non-daily newspaper best in show award for advertising in 1997. He served on the VPA board of directors (2000-05) and was a member of the VPA advertising committee (1994-99), serving as co-chair during his final year.

VPS advertising networks pay off for participating newspapers Network rewards checks for calendar year 2012 were mailed in February to each publication that participated in either the Statewide Classified Ad Network (SCAN) or the 2x2 Advertising Network during the year.

Publications that participated in the classified network received $569.53 and publications that participated in the 2x2 network received $419.26.

Virginia Press Services is proud to announce that 21 additional member publications joined

one or both of the networks in 2012.

If you are not participating in the network reward programs and would like to begin, or if you are only participating in one network and would like to participate in both, please contact Adriane Long, VPS networks coordinator, at (804) 521-7585 or adrianel@vpa.net, for more information.

We are pleased to salute the newspapers that participate in SCAN, 2x2 or both networks, as listed below.

Active Daily Newspapers Bristol Herald Courier: SCAN Culpeper Star-Exponent: SCAN, 2x2 Daily News-Record: SCAN, 2x2 The Daily Progress: SCAN, 2x2 Danville Register & Bee: SCAN The Free Lance-Star: SCAN Martinsville Bulletin: SCAN The News & Advance: SCAN, 2x2 The News Leader: SCAN The News Virginian: SCAN, 2x2 Northern Virginia Daily: SCAN, 2x2 The Progress-Index: SCAN, 2x2 Richmond Times-Dispatch: SCAN The Roanoke Times: SCAN, 2x2 The Southwest Times: SCAN, 2x2 Suffolk News-Herald: SCAN, 2x2 Virginian Review: SCAN, 2x2 The Washington Examiner: SCAN, 2x2 The Washington Times: SCAN, 2x2 The Winchester Star: SCAN, 2x2

The News & Record: SCAN, 2x2 The News-Gazette: SCAN, 2x2 The News-Messenger: SCAN, 2x2 The News-Progress: SCAN, 2x2 The Northern Neck News: SCAN, 2x2 Northumberland Echo: SCAN, 2x2 Orange County Review: SCAN, 2x2 Page News & Courier: SCAN, 2x2 The Post: SCAN, 2x2 The Prince George Journal: SCAN, 2x2 Radford News Journal: SCAN, 2x2 Rappahannock Record: SCAN, 2x2 Rappahannock Times: SCAN The Recorder: SCAN, 2x2 Richlands News-Press: SCAN The Richmond Voice: SCAN, 2x2 Salem Times-Register: SCAN, 2x2 Scott County Virginia Star: SCAN, 2x2 The Shenandoah Valley-Herald: SCAN, 2x2 The Smithfield Times: SCAN, 2x2 Smyth County News & Messenger: SCAN The South Hill Enterprise: SCAN, 2x2 The Southside Messenger: SCAN, 2x2 Southside Sentinel: SCAN, 2x2 Sussex-Surry Dispatch: SCAN, 2x2 The Tidewater News: SCAN, 2x2 The Valley Banner: SCAN, 2x2 The Vinton Messenger: SCAN, 2x2 The Virginia Mountaineer: SCAN, 2x2 Virginian Leader: SCAN, 2x2 The Warren Sentinel: SCAN, 2x2 Washington County News: SCAN

If you’re looking for a new job, or searching for a new hire, start with VPA’s online classified ads at www.vpa. net under the “Jobs” tab.

You’ll find ads there for Help Wanted and Position Wanted. Postings are free to members; non-members pay $15 for the first 25 words and $1 for every three words thereafter. Listings run online for one month and in one issue of Virginia’s Press if the schedule permits.

Job listings include news, advertising, production and management positions. Internships may also be posted on the Jobs page. Listings change frequently and new ones are posted, so please check back often.

For additional information, please contact individual newspapers or companies in which you are interested.

For the latest listings, visit www.vpa. net/index.php/classifieds, or scan the QR code at right for easy access.

Westmoreland News: SCAN, 2x2 Wytheville Enterprise: SCAN Yorktown Crier/Poquoson Post: SCAN, 2x2 Associate Newspapers Alexandria Gazette Packet: 2x2 Arlington Connection: 2x2 Burke Connection: 2x2 Centre View Northern Edition: 2x2 Centre View Southern Edition: 2x2 Fairfax Connection: 2x2 Fairfax Station/Laurel Hill Connection: 2x2 Fluvanna Review: SCAN, 2x2 Frederick County Report and Warren County Report: SCAN, 2x2 Great Falls Connection: 2x2 McLean Connection: 2x2 The Metro Herald: SCAN, 2x2 Mount Vernon Gazette: 2x2 The News-Patriot: SCAN North Fork Journal: SCAN, 2x2 Nuevas Raices: SCAN Oak Hill/Herndon Connection: 2x2 Reston Connection: 2x2 Rocktown Weekly: SCAN, 2x2 The Shenandoah Journal: SCAN, 2x2 Springfield Connection: 2x2 Stafford County Sun: SCAN, 2x2 Tazewell County Free Press: SCAN, 2x2 Vienna/Oakton Connection: 2x2 Non-Member Shenandoah Valley Hit: SCAN, 2x2

Lawyer for News Publishers Licensed in Virginia, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Difficult Story?

Call here for legal advice and risk assessment.

Alice Neff Lucan Crozet, Virginia 434 823 4131 website: newslaw.com email: newslaw@newslaw.com

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

Job transition?

Start with VPA classifieds

Active Weekly Newspapers The Amelia Bulletin Monitor: SCAN, 2x2 Amherst New Era-Progress: SCAN Bedford Bulletin: SCAN, 2x2 The Bland County Messenger: SCAN Brunswick Times-Gazette: SCAN, 2x2 The Caroline Progress: SCAN, 2x2 The Carroll News: SCAN, 2x2 The Central Virginian: SCAN, 2x2 Clinch Valley News: SCAN Clinch Valley Times: SCAN, 2x2 The Coalfield Progress: SCAN, 2x2 The Declaration: SCAN, 2x2 The Dickenson Star: SCAN, 2x2 The Enterprise: SCAN Falls Church News-Press: 2x2 The Farmville Herald: SCAN, 2x2 The Fincastle Herald: SCAN, 2x2 The Floyd Press: SCAN The Free Press: SCAN, 2x2 The Gazette: SCAN, 2x2 The Gazette-Virginian: SCAN, 2x2 The Greene County Record: SCAN, 2x2 Herald-Progress: SCAN, 2x2 The Hopewell News: SCAN Independent-Messenger: SCAN, 2x2 The Lebanon News: SCAN, 2x2 The Madison County Eagle: SCAN, 2x2 The Mecklenburg Sun: SCAN, 2x2 The Monitor: SCAN, 2x2 Nelson County Times: SCAN The New Castle Record: SCAN, 2x2

11

2013 CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES BENEFITS: Recognition on 2013 conference materials/emails sent to VPA members Recognition on VPA website as a sponsor of the 2013 conference Recognition in VPA weekly E-Press when 2013 conference is mentioned Recognition in VPA quarterly newsletter as a sponsor of the conference Listing with your sponsorship level in program to be handed out at conference Logo on sign at VPA headquarters that you are a 2013 conference sponsor Display of company logo on sponsorship sign at 2013 conference Meet many potential customers and business referrals Live recognition of your sponsorship from VPA during the Annual Meeting Two complimentary copies of VPA's 2013 Virginia Total Media Directory Advanced list of attendees sent to you 2 weeks prior to the conference Complimentary registration fee to the conference Inclusion of company representatives in list of attendees for the conference Your logo and link to your website on VPA website under 2013 conference sponsors Opportunity to have printed materials displayed at the conference Free 2x5 advertisement in VPA's quarterly newsletter Opportunity to place company giveaways at each lunch seat Saturday Opportunity to place company giveaways at each banquet seat Saturday night Table at the conference near VPA's registration desk to display your information Tickets to attend VPA Conference Banquet, April 20, 2013 Free half-page ad in Virginia's Press Opportunity to have printed materials displayed at VPA headquarters for 6 months Ad on VPA website for 30 days prior to the 2013 conference

DIAMOND $7,500

PLATINUM $5,000

GOLD $2,500

SILVER $1,250

BRONZE $500

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓(2) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ (8) ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓(2) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ (2)

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓(2) ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓(1) ✓

✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Ginger Stanley, VPA Executive Director, gingers@vpa.net or (804) 521-7575.

2013 VPA/ The Associated Press Advertising & News Conference Marriott Norfolk Waterside April 19-20, 2013

Name of Newspaper:

Conference Room Rate $136.00 Single/Double

Contact Person:

Make your reservations early; contracted rooming block space is limited!

NOTE: Registration with VPA does not take care of an overnight room with the hotel; room reservations must be made directly with the hotel. Reserve your room directly with the hotel by calling

Email: Mailing Address: City, State, ZIP: Phone:

Fax:

1-800-874-0264 or 757-627-4200

VPA MEMBER PRICING

REGISTRATION FEE

FRI. DINNER

SAT. BREAKFAST

SAT. LUNCH

SAT. BANQUET

Early Bird by 3/8/13

$60.00

$48.00

$22.00

$28.00

$53.00

By Deadline 3/28/13

$65.00

$50.00

$25.00

$30.00

$55.00

After Deadline

$70.00

$55.00

$30.00

$35.00

$60.00

NON-MEMBER PRICING

REGISTRATION FEE $100.00

FRI. DINNER $75.00

SAT. BREAKFAST $45.00

SAT. LUNCH $60.00

SAT. BANQUET $100.00

Flat Rates FULL NAME OF ATTENDEE

ATTENDEE’S EMAIL ADDRESS

REG. FEE

FRI. DINNER

SAT. BKFST.

Virginia’s Press • Spring 2013

12

MARCH 28, 2013 Would you like to pre-order bottles of wine for your table on Saturday night?

Contact Kim Woodward, kimw@vpa.net, 804-521-7574.

Deadline to pre-order is April 2, 2013.

SAT. LUNCH

(Please print as it should appear on name badge)

Please note any dietary restrictions, such as food allergies or vegetarian needs:

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ • Members who attend more than one meal event should pay the registration fee.

• Spouses/guests not active in the business pay for the events attended but not the registration fee.

• NO REFUNDS UNLESS CANCELLATION IS MADE BY NOON ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2013.

• Coming for the banquet only? Attend the afternoon sessions on Saturday after lunch at no charge!

Be sure to ask for the VPA conference rate!

Conference Registration/ Hotel Reservation Deadline:

IMPORTANT: Registration confirmations are emailed to the contact person to confirm receipt of your registration. If you do not receive a confirmation, we did not receive your registration and you are not registered for the conference.

Contact Kim Woodward, 804-521-7574, if you do not receive a confirmation five days from date submitted to VPA.

SAT. BANQUET

TOTAL PER PERSON

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE: ___________

Mail form to: Virginia Press Association, 11529 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059 Fax form to: 804-521-7590 or (800) 849-8717