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Register today NENPA and NYPA Fall Publishers’ Conference Sept 19-21

Register now for the first-ever joint venture between the New England Newspaper and Press Association and the New York Press Association at the Fall Publishers’ Conference, September 19-21 in Providence, Rhode Island.

We’re excited to invite you to an engaging and informative event packed with opportunities to connect, learn, and celebrate excellence in journalism.

The networking and learning opportunities will be worth the trip with our dynamic conference program filled with presentations by industry leaders and experts in all areas of publishing!

Saturday at noon, we’ll celebrate excellence in journalism with the announcement of our most prestigious awards, including the New England Newspaper of the Year, Publick Occurrences, Allan B. Rogers Editorial Award, New England First Amendment Award, AP Sevellon Brown New England Journalist of the Year, Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award, and The Cornerstone Award.

Did we mention the food? We have made arrangements for group dinners. Gracie’s is a storied Providence institution and Hemenway’s is a renowned seafood favorite. WaterFire sets the river ablaze on Saturday night, featuring scenic gondola rides, cocktails, your choice of food trucks, seafood restaurants, unlimited Italian choices on Providence’s famous Federal Hill, and more.

Click here to register for the conference.

Click here to book your room at OMNI Providence for $209 per night. The cut-off date is September 4th.

Visit our conference page for the full program with session descriptions and times.

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with colleagues from seven states. Register today and secure your spot!

Program Highlights Include:

  • Thursday, Sept 19:
  • NENPA Board of Directors meeting followed by a “Getting to know you/Great idea exchange” networking session.
  • Enjoy cocktails and dinner at Gracie’s.
  • Friday, Sept 20:
  • Start the day with breakfast, followed by sessions on organizational excellence, AI in local journalism, effective newsletters, and promoting civil discourse.
  • End the day with a cocktail reception and dinner at Hemenway’s.
  • Saturday, Sept 21:
  • Explore strategies for digital revenue, adapting to evolving consumer preferences, setting a community-centric strategy, and mastering audience growth amid new challenges.
  • Celebrate excellence in journalism at the NENPA Awards luncheon.
  • Wrap up with an evening of fun at WaterFire, featuring cocktails, food trucks, and entertainment.

This conference is a must-attend for anyone passionate about the future of journalism. We hope to see you there!

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The Marshall Project Launches Investigate This!

The Marshall Project is launching a new initiative called Investigate This! to empower criminal justice journalism in local communities. We want to connect journalists and other newsrooms with resources and data to help with their creation of strong, original stories that have the potential for significant local impact.

Our team of reporters and editors has created story toolkits filled with reporting resources, data downloads, multimedia assets, shareable illustrations, FOIA guidance, expert sources, style guidance, and more. Each toolkit will include a live webinar and video demos to surface insights into the nuances and opportunities around covering the criminal justice system, incarcerated people and their loved ones.

Investigate This! is launching with toolkits that can help local newsrooms examine:

Read more

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Two things that will never change in advertising

John Foust Advertising
John Foust has conducted training programs for thousands of newspaper advertising professionals. Many ad departments are using his training DVDs to save time and get quick results from in-house training. Email for information: john@johnfoust.com.

Luke told me about a business panel discussion in which he participated. He represented the ad department of the local newspaper, and others represented industries like banking, accounting, and various office services.

The moderator asked each panelist to introduce themselves, identify their company and position, and then give a brief, one or two-sentence statement of one thing they would like the audience to know about their specialty. 

The brevity requirement was broken immediately. The accountant’s statement was several minutes long and, according to Luke, completely forgettable. The banker rambled for a minute or two and ended up saying how much she liked her job. The other panelists were equally vague and unmemorable until it was Luke’s turn. After introducing himself, he said, “People don’t buy features, they buy benefits.” 

That was it: People don’t buy features, they buy benefits. In one sentence, he summed up the most important thing that a salesperson needs to know – whether it’s selling through advertising or selling in a one-to-one conversation. 

Luke’s strategy was right on target. “My kickoff statement was easy to remember,” he said.  “Some of the people in the audience had never considered the concept of seeing products in terms of features and benefits. As the meeting progressed, their interest gave me a chance to cover important details about advertising. Some of them even wanted to set appointments.” 

His experience reminds me of the story of the old sea captain who was famous for his years of success in always delivering the ship’s cargo on time. In the face of countless storms and dangerously high seas, he never lost a ship, a crew member, or a passenger. 

Every morning, the old captain went through a strange ritual. He opened the safe in his quarters, opened an envelope, and pulled out a small piece of paper. After staring at the paper for a few minutes, he locked it up again and went about the day. 

When he retired, the first mate said, “Captain, we feel the secret to your success is on the piece of paper in your safe. May we see it?” The captain smiled and handed the key to him. A few minutes later, the first mate opened the envelope in front of the entire crew. 

They were stunned when they learned that the paper read, “Port left. Starboard right.” 

The old captain’s focus was on the most basic of sailing basics. From a canoe to a battleship, port is always the left side and starboard is the right side. That will never change. 

In advertising – as in any kind of selling – people don’t buy product features, they buy what those products can do for them. That’s the most basic of advertising basics. And that, too, will never change. 

As long as advertising people remember that in every sales presentation – and as long as they remember that in every ad they create – they’ll stay on course.

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Scrutinize letters during election season

Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks, and provides training on Community Newsroom Success Strategies. He is the author of “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in a Small-Town Newspaper.” He can be contacted at www.pumarlo.com.

Campaigns are in full swing as Election Day nears. Editors should pay extra attention to letters that give a thumbs up or thumbs down to candidates and other ballot initiatives.

Letter-writing campaigns have become as sophisticated and strategic as advertising campaigns. An unfortunate result is that many newspapers now charge for election-related letters. I appreciate the arguments for enacting the policy. It’s still disappointing, and I respectfully disagree.

The policy is perplexing as editors often bemoan the lack of reader interaction on opinion pages. Then, when election season swings around and letters naturally ramp up, newspapers limit debate to “paid opinions” only.

The pros and cons of paid letters could consume an entire discussion, but I pose one question as newspapers contemplate, and implement the policy: Where do you draw the line? Orchestrated letter-writing campaigns occur year-round on a variety of issues before local policy-making bodies. Are you accepting only “paid opinions” in these instances as well? It’s a surefire way to squelch the lively exchange of opinions and vibrant community conversation.

That debate aside, editors can and should diligently enforce letter policies – and even take extra steps – during election season. Here are a few guidelines to consider. Newsrooms should brainstorm to tailor policies to their circumstances:

Edit in ample proportions. For starters, it’s a good bet that the introductory and concluding paragraphs can be eliminated from most election letters. From there, feel free to edit aggressively for redundancy. The delete button on your keyboard should receive an extra workout as election day nears.

Limit the frequency and length of letters. Consider restrictions beyond normal letter policies. For example, limit individuals to one letter for the primary election campaign and one for the general election, or one letter per race for individuals weighing in on several contests. Set a word limit and make a few exceptions without strong justification. A lot can be conveyed in, say, 300 words.

Verify. Confirm all letters, preferably with a phone call. Be wary of letters coming from the same e-mail address, FAX number, or other social media account.

Set parameters for responses. The letters column is typically used to respond to issues raised in stories, editorials, and other letters. Letters usually should not be a forum for candidates to react to paid ads. The best guideline is that candidates respond to the message in the same avenue as the original message. There may be exceptions; an ad that contains misinformation or is terribly misleading may warrant a response in the letters column.

Establish deadlines. Deadlines are necessary to allow ample opportunity to debate issues. Set a separate deadline for letters that raise new issues. Publicize deadlines early and often.

Identify authors where appropriate. Some circumstances dictate that newspapers identify authors by position or relationship to a candidate. For example, school district business managers may write why it’s in their best interests to support a school levy referendum, or campaign managers might respond to criticism leveled against their candidates.

Set ground rules for rebuttals. Election season invariably produces letter-writing volleys. Don’t be afraid of implementing reasonable ground rules; it’s in the best interests of readers. A good rule of thumb – even in standing letter policies – is to limit each individual to an original letter and one rebuttal. Then kindly direct them to a private conversation. Dismiss any complaints that the other person had the last word; that will always be the case.

As an Eagle Scout, I always reacquaint myself with the Boy Scout Law during election season. I have memorized the credo: “A scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.”

I may be a bit facetious, but show me a candidate for elective office, and I can likely produce letters from supporters that extol values befitting of an upstanding scout.

Editors are increasingly challenged to separate the wheat from the chaff in today’s orchestrated letter-writing campaigns. Election season demands special guidelines to let writers have their say and still maintain some control over the letters column. It’s an opportune time to sound the alarm to candidates and readers alike.

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Webinar series: 5 strategies for useful, trusted election coverage

If journalists want our coverage to aid in civil discourse and civic engagement. We need journalists to commit to producing coverage seen as fair and even-handed by news seekers across the political spectrum — and for people who are not engaged at all.

In this training series, Trusting News focuses on quick, actionable steps journalists can take ahead of the 2024 election to help coverage feel credible and accessible to a larger audience.

Here’s what you can expect: In each session, we’ll spend 45 minutes focusing on how journalists can take action. We’ll include perspectives from partner journalists and show examples of how they’ve implemented these strategies in their newsrooms. Then we invite you to stick around for another 15 minutes if you have questions or want help brainstorming.

Register here and you’ll get access to all of the webinars, but feel free to pick and choose the sessions that feel most helpful for your work. Learn more about each webinar here.

  • Aug 15, 2024 01:00 PM – Reach beyond political junkies: Election coverage for news avoiders
  • Aug 29, 2024 01:00 PM – Depolarize the news: Avoiding common pitfalls that make coverage feel biased
  • Sep 12, 2024 01:00 PM – Bring your receipts: Explaining your reporting process
  • Oct 3, 2024 01:00 PM – Avoiding polarization when reporting on hot-button issues
  • Oct 17, 2024 01:00 PM – Lightning round: Tips for Election Day
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Paid Fall 2024 Internship with the National Press Foundation

The National Press Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C., that provides free professional development to journalists. NPF seeks a part-time fall intern to assist staff with varied projects. Intern will:

  • Improve the foundation’s social media presence (LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram and Threads), including crafting post/story language and graphics
  • Assist with graphic design production using Canva
  • Write stories based on expert speakers’ briefings on a variety of subjects
  • Assist with publishing content on nationalpress.org
  • Complete research, compile metrics and data as requested
  • Provide logistical assistance for journalism training programs

NPF would like to welcome a candidate with a journalism or communications background who is eager to take on diverse tasks. This is a wonderful opportunity for the right candidate to gain quality, hands-on work experience and to be an integral part of our small staff. The intern should be self-motivated, work efficiently, communicate frequently and think creatively. The right candidate could be an upper-level undergraduate, a graduate student or an early-career journalist or PR pro.

Pay is $18.00/hour for up to 20 hours per week from September to December. Hours are flexible. The internship may be extended if agreed upon by both parties with the possibility of becoming a permanent position. This internship is hybrid remote/in-person (may be fully remote for the right candidate).

Learn more

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Nominations for the 2024 Nyhan Prizes are now open

Do you know a highly-skilled, fearless journalist whose work illuminates the stories behind our politics and policymaking? The Shorenstein Center welcomes your nominations for the 2024 David Nyhan Prize for Public Policy Journalism!

Starting in 2024, the Nyhan Prize will offer two awards: one for achievement in public policy journalism, and one for emerging talents. The David Nyhan Prize for Public Policy Journalism assumes a substantial body of published work over time, while the David Nyhan Emerging Talent Journalism Award aims to honor early career and student journalists who show great early success, potential, and drive to do the kind of journalism the prize honors.

The deadline for submissions is September 23, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. ET.

Learn more and submit a nomination for the prize.

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Lenfest Institute and API release Beyond Print Toolkit

Across the United States local newspapers — from metro dailies to alt-weeklies and community publications — are making changes to their businesses that once would have been considered radical or a sign of decline: they’re reducing print frequency or even eliminating print altogether.

The decision to fundamentally change the product that has defined the medium for centuries can be a difficult one, but it is essential to newspapers’ long-term sustainability. If properly managed, however, the transition beyond print can be engaging for new readers, empowering to communities, and the foundation for the long-term growth of your business.

That’s why The Lenfest Institute for Journalism and the American Press Institute created the Beyond Print Toolkit. The guide is designed to help local newspapers build engaged digital audiences, create robust new revenue streams, and reimagine the role of print — all while continuing to produce essential journalism that serves their communities.

Learn more about the Beyond Print Toolkit
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Cecily Weisburgh

Cecily Weisburgh is executive editor-digital at The Keene Sentinel. She co-manages a 14-person newsroom and works on digital products including The Sentinel’s website, social media, newsletters, and the technology associated with each. She has also worked for the past few years to bolster The Sentinel’s audience engagement efforts and earn trust from the community through coaching and a fellowship project with Trusting News, an organization that helps newsrooms demonstrate credibility and actively earn trust. She is a member of The Sentinel’s audience engagement and paid readership and retention teams. 

She became executive editor-digital of The Sentinel in January 2022, and before that was managing editor-digital for two years. 

She joined The Sentinel in 2001 as a general assignment reporter and later covered the education beat.  She has held leadership positions including local news editor and digital content editor, and has served on The Sentinel’s editorial board. 

She is a graduate of Binghamton University, State University of New York, with a bachelor of science in biology, and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a master of arts in professional writing.

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Applications for Negri First Amendment Institute Close On August 23

The New England First Amendment Coalition will host its 14th annual investigative journalism institute from Oct. 20 to Oct. 22 at Northeastern University in Boston.

Named after the late trail-blazing Boston Globe journalist, the Gloria L. Negri First Amendment Institute (formerly the New England First Amendment Institute) is an intensive training program on freedom of information law and investigative reporting techniques.

The Institute is offered each year tuition-free and exclusively to 25 working New England journalists. More than 300 journalists from 100 local news organizations have benefited from the program since it began in 2011.

The deadline to apply is August 23, 2024. Application materials can be obtained here.

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