You, too, can do newspapers right

Jul 2, 2012

Have you registered yet for the National Newspaper Association’s 126th Annual Convention & Trade Show? If you have missed the April, May and June issues of PUB AUX go back and read Page 2 for all the great things to do in Charleston, SC, and the program on Friday.

Have you registered yet for the National Newspaper Association’s 126th Annual Convention & Trade Show? If you have missed the April, May and June issues of PUB AUX go back and read Page 2 for all the great things to do in Charleston, SC, and the program on Friday.
We can’t rave enough about our venue for the Friday night Extravaganza. This is going to be a night to remember in the perfect setting at Boone Plantation. Charleston is so beautiful and rich in history.
Saturday, after you enjoy a complimentary breakfast offered by the Embassy Suites in their café, we will kick off three general sessions at 9 a.m.
Col. Harlan Sanders proclaimed, “We do chicken right!” Dink NeSmith, co-owner and president of Community Newspapers Inc., will be our keynote speaker during Saturday morning’s general session. He will tell you how CNI does Community Newspapers Right with a great recipe for small-town newspapers. Bring the news home, make it local and connect to the community in a compelling, must-read way.
NeSmith said that when an editor or publisher takes the helm, we say, “This is as close as you will ever come to owning your own newspaper without signing a note at the bank.” He added that “We provide the infrastructure and support that empowers our people to “do their newspaper right.” We believe that strong newspapers build strong communities. The foundation upon which to build is readership.” It’s all about readership, which attracts advertisers. Advertisers build readership and financial strength. CNI is based in Athens, GA, and publishes more than 30 newspapers in Georgia, Florida and North Carolina.
After a short break, join Robert M. Williams Jr., chair and publisher of Southfire Newspaper Group, for our most popular program each year—The Great Idea Exchange. This interactive session allows you and your peers to share cost saving and money making ideas. Many say this session alone pays for their registration. If you have a great idea to share, be sure to bring along a copy to leave behind for NNA’s Great Idea Database.
At noon we will have the annual business meeting, and all attendees are welcome to attend. Get insight on what your NNA board and staff have accomplished over the last year and hear the elections committee report. Following the meeting there will be a ticketed lunch in the same room where we will honor the best of the best in community newspaper people with the Amos and McKinney awards and the Daniel M. Phillips Leadership Award. At the conclusion of the luncheon, NNA President Reed Anfinson will pass the presidential gavel to Merle Baranczyk.
In the works is the last general session of the day: Public Notice: Meeting the Challenges. This is a hot topic with newspapers and state press associations today. A panel—yet to be announced—will discuss how public notice legislation has bedeviled the newspaper industry for more than a decade. Newspapers remain the primary vehicle for public notice, but the legislative battles have not abated. Some press associations, such as Illinois and Florida, have taken a new tack. These states are mandating Internet posting as well as publication. Hear how the “publish and post” requirements work and join in the discussions from the battlefront with experienced newspaper legislative experts.
The annual Toast to the Winners Awards Ceremony will close out the programing for the 126th Annual Convention & Trade Show. You can toast your newspaper’s achievements or cheer on your peers who have won as we present the awards in all of NNA’s newspaper contests. Enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly and light munchies. You are free to enjoy dinner on your own. The Embassy Suites will be providing four hours of free shuttle service from 6-10 p.m. to historic Charleston.
Your full registration brochure is included as part of PUB AUX on pages 13 and 14 or you can register online at www.nnaweb.org. Click on the convention logo in the right rail. We hope you will join us in Charleston Oct. 4-7.