Digital Divide, Dynamic Duo and Deadlines: Virginia’s E-Press for October 19

OCTOBER TRAINING SPOTLIGHT
Nationally known speaker Jan Hargrave brings her body language expertise to VPA on Nov. 10
What's your body saying? Find out when "Body Language Lady" Jan Hargrave, a nationally known speaker, author and talk-show guest, returns to VPA on November 10!
Working with thousands in the field of personal growth and self-expression through seminars and workshops for the past 10 years, Jan continues to inspire many of today's leading corporations. She'll lead you through lessons in nonverbal communication that combine validated silent messages with fun and laughter to help you and your organization increase productivity and produce successful teams. Sit back, relax and let Jan do the talking as you realize what your body has been communicating to the world around you.
In this workshop, Jan will present three of her most popular and often-requested programs:

Strictly Business Body Language

Negotiating Successfully Through Understanding Personality Differences and Nonverbal Communication

Strategic Listening
Don't miss this opportunity... Jan's powerhouse program wowed VPA members the last time around! Sign up today. We need significant member support for this member-requested program, so that we can welcome this nationally recognized speaker with a full house when she returns to Virginia!
Read more at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/education/article/23621/
Registration Form: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/111011JanHargrave.pdf

Don't miss Friday's deadline for the Dynamic Duo's workshop on advertising sales basics!
The "Dynamic Duo" of advertising sales, Carolyn Cullen of The Daily Progress and Jim Gainey of the Northern Virginia Daily, return with another information-packed, hands-on, back-to-basics sales workshop. If you haven't yet participated in a workshop led by Carolyn and Jim, mark your calendar NOW and get ready to sharpen your selling skills. And if you have, get ready for new twists that will reignite your sales efforts!
Selling print with online requires a different approach than what you may be using currently; Carolyn and Jim will use real-life scenarios and role-playing in this session so you can make your own selling style adjustments for increased success. They'll also teach you how to understand the sales process, sell in a down economy, generate new business and do background research on your customers -- and why it is important -- before you call on them. Past workshop participants have given Carolyn and Jim have earned kudos for their focus on current market issues, tips on handling grumpy clients and advice on language and behavioral styles that get successful results.
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21
Read more at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/education/article/23651/
Registration Form: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/102711AdBasics.pdf

Coming events:
December 8: Paywalls with Bobby Ford, Chris Muldrow and Scott Bateman
Read more at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/education/article/23645/
Registration Form: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/120811Paywall.pdf
March 15: Postal Savings with Max Heath
Read more at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/education/article/23630/
Registration Form: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/031512MaxHeath.pdf
June 21-22: Community Journalism Workshop
Save the date and watch for details!

The Virginia Newspaper Academy has more great workshops in the works for 2011-12! For more information about these and other training opportunities, please visit our Training page at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/education/, or contact Kim Woodward at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 804-521-7574.

KEEP THE LIGHT ON PUBLIC NOTICES
How significant is the "Digital Divide" when public notices are involved? Proponents of moving public notices out of newspapers to government websites cite increased accessibility as a reason for the change. Twenty-two percent of Virginia households, however, don't have access to broadband Internet, compared to 32 percent nationwide. While it is true that many Virginia communities are now online, and companies like Comcast and Cox Communications have made efforts to provide affordable Internet services to Virginians who need them, there are still many Virginians who aren't connected to the Internet for various reasons.
Two recent studies have examined the state of Virginia's "Digital Divide." This summer, researchers at VCU's Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs released a report on Internet access in the Richmond metropolitan area (http://richmonddigitaldivide.wordpress.com/our-research/), while the Investigative Reporting Workshop (IRW) at American University analyzed Internet use in the Washington, D.C., region (http://investigativereportingworkshop.org/connected/story/culture-income-location-affect-broadband-adoption).
Cost is a major factor in the "Digital Divide." Low-income households subscribe to broadband service at a significantly lower rate than their more affluent neighbors. In a 2010 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) survey, 36 percent of respondents who had not adopted broadband stated that cost was their main reason for not doing so.
Both the VCU and IRW studies found urban areas that had low Internet access and use levels. The IRW found that even affluent suburbs can score low in broadband adoption because of large lots and sparsely populated tracts.
According to the FCC survey, people ages 65 and older are less interested in using and/or less able to afford broadband connections. The VCU study estimated the "unconnected by choice" population -- people who could easily access the Internet, but choose not to do so -- at approximately 27 percent. Education also plays a role: the lower the education level in a particular area, the more likely it is to have a lower level of broadband use.
In February 2011, the Pew Hispanic Center found that 45 percent of Hispanic households use the Internet at home, compared to 65 percent of whites and 52 percent of African-Americans.
John Horrigan, an authority on broadband trends who served on the team that created the FCC's National Broadband Plan, told the IRW that without broadband, "you are disadvantaged in a way you couldn't have been even 10 years ago."
If public notices were pulled from newspapers and posted strictly online, how many Virginians would be disadvantaged, and to what degree?
Government cannot, and should not, notice itself. Citizens have a right to know what their government is doing. And the best way to keep citizens informed is to publish notices in newspapers and on newspaper websites, which together attract the broadest spectrum of readers and online visitors. Please contact Ginger Stanley, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or Caroline Cardwell, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), with any ideas, information, stories or firsthand accounts that you think will be helpful in our efforts.
Your newspaper can help VPA keep public notices in Virginia newspapers! Post your published notices on http://www.vapublicnotice.com. It's easy, it's free and it provides a central location for public notices that are published in Virginia newspapers. For more information, contact VPA at 804-521-7570.

THIS WEEK'S PUBLIC NOTICE CAMPAIGN RESOURCES:
More online versions of VPA house ads; please contact Caroline Cardwell at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for copies.

TIP OF THE WEEK: How long have public notices been around? Early civilizations posted notices in public squares. When the first modern English language newspaper, the Oxford Gazette, was published in 1665, it became the medium of choice. Renamed the London Gazette, the paper carried notices from the royal court and government officials. Publishing notices in newspapers crossed the ocean to the American colonies. In 1789, the Acts of the First Session of the First Congress required the Secretary of State to publish all bills, orders, resolutions and congressional votes in at least three publicly available newspapers. (PNRC)

More information is available on our "Keep the Light Shining" page at http://www.vpa.net. Look for the flashlight!

Help VPA keep public notices in newspapers -- post your published notices on http://www.vapublicnotice.com. It's easy, it's free, it provides a central location for public notices that are published in Virginia newspapers and it's a great way to help VPA in its work on behalf of public notices. For more information, contact VPA at 804-521-7570.

ASSOCIATION NEWS
Virginian-Pilot's Chesley receives first place in SNPA's commentary competition
Roger Chesley, local columnist for The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, has received first place for newspapers with over 50,000 circulation in the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association's (SNPA) Carmage Walls Commentary Prize competition. Chesley wrote about the death of a homeless man, Michael Knockett, who was run over by a Virginia Beach municipal trash truck while sleeping in a chair on the beach.

PW Business, News & Messenger honored for newspaper business development by Inland Press
The Inland Press Foundation has named PW Business, published by the News & Messenger in Manassas, as the second-place entry in its 2011 Newspaper Business Development Contest (stand-alone publications, 10,000-50,000 circulation). Judges praised the "Nice outreach to business community. Good, clean design and mix of stories."

VIRGINIAN OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS
Your hometown has a star community servant; nominate him or her for Virginian of the Year
NOMINATION DEADLINE: November 1, 2011
Since 1967 (except for one year), VPA has presented its Virginian of the Year Award for outstanding community service. Most recipients have been cited for public service or celebrity. Last year, VPA directors voted to expand the nominating process and encourage members to participate.
If you think someone in your community deserves this recognition, the VPA Virginian of the Year Committee asks that you write a letter of nomination identifying the person, persons or organization and describing briefly his/her/their achievements. Accompanying documents might more thoroughly describe the nominee's service. VPA members may also encourage community involvement in the nominating process. Special consideration will be given for humanitarian deeds or to individuals or groups whose good works have improved the lives of others. See a list of past Virginians of the Year at http://www.vpa.net.
Nominations should be submitted by Nov. 1, 2011, to Virginian of the Year 2012, c/o Virginia Press Association, 11529 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059. Questions should be directed to VPA.

VIRGINIAN OF THE YEAR AWARD
QUALIFICATIONS FOR NOMINEES
Nominees must have been born in Virginia or must be a resident of Virginia at the time he/she is nominated.
GUIDELINES FOR SELECTION

Members of the Virginia Press Association in good standing may nominate an individual or an organization for this award.

An individual or an organization may submit a nomination for this award providing the nomination is sponsored by a Virginia Press Association member.

Each nomination should include a thorough description of the nominee(s), including name, age, address, place of birth, place of residence and specifics related to reasons for the nomination.

Each nomination should be submitted with a cover letter on a newspaper letterhead, signed by either the publisher, editor, managing editor or another news executive. Such letter should describe in detail the method used in selecting the nominee or the reason the nominee was chosen.

Participating Virginia Press Association members may encourage community involvement in the selection of nominees. Virginia Press Association members also may select nominees.

Each Virginia Press Association member may submit only one nomination per year.

Special consideration will be given for humanitarian service or to individuals or groups whose work(s) have improved the lives of others.

VPA CONTEST INFORMATION
If getting your VPA contest entries together squeezes your schedule, there's an easy solution... Set aside your best work NOW so that you won't have a sour experience in January!
Watch for our weekly contest tips and updates to start arriving in your inbox later this fall! News Contest rules are now online, along with publication codes and division information, and Ad Contest rules are coming soon: http://www.vpa.net/index.php/association/article/vpa_contests/

2012 CONFERENCE REGISTRATION
It's your time to shine in Virginia's Star City...
be an Early Bird and catch a great discount on registration!
Click here for the form: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/2012conferenceregistration.pdf

The 2011 Reporters' Guide to the Virginia Freedom of Information Act is now available on http://www.vpa.net as a PDF and a mobile app.

USPS Form 3526 publishing deadlines
The deadline to file the Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation (Form 3526) with the post office was Saturday, Oct. 1.
After filing, the statement must be published according to the following timetable, depending on frequency of publication:

Publications issued more frequently than weekly, such as dailies, semi-weeklies and three times per week issues, should publish no later than October 10.

Publications issued weekly, or less frequently, but not less than monthly, publish by October 31. This applies to weeklies.

All other publications publish in the first issue after October 1. This applies to infrequent publications such as quarterlies, bimonthlies, etc.

All periodical-class authorized publications must publish the statement. A reproduction of the Form 3526 submitted to the Postal Service may be issued for publication. Failure to file could result in the suspension of the eligibility to mail at the periodicals class rate.

Each VPA member filing Form 3526 should send a copy of the completed form to VPA no later than November 15.
This week, the following newspapers' forms were received at VPA: Suffolk News-Herald, The News Virginian, Washington County News, Rappahannock Times, Rappahannock News, The Post, The Union Star, The News-Progress, The Star-Tribune, The Dickenson Star, The Hopewell News, Page News & Courier, Richlands News-Press, The Smithfield Times, The Gazette-Virginian, The South Hill Enterprise, Eastern Shore News, The Kenbridge-Victoria Dispatch, Fauquier Times-Democrat, Smith Mountain Eagle, The Free Press, The Mecklenburg Sun, Rappahannock Record, The News-Gazette, Powell Valley News, Powhatan Today, Southside Sentinel, Northern Neck News, The Shenandoah Valley-Herald, Wytheville Enterprise, The Warren Sentinel, Coalfield Progress, Times-Virginian, The Daily Progress, The Farmville Herald, The Virginia Mountaineer, Virginian Review, Altavista Journal, Brunswick Times-Gazette, Central Virginian, Bedford Bulletin, The Enterprise, Virginian Review and The Carroll News. Thanks, everyone!

Ad networks can pay off
Join the Statewide Classified Ad Network and/or the 2x2 Display Ad Network! Publications that participated in the classified network in 2010 received $765.07 in rewards and publications that participated in the 2x2 network received $836.40. If you are not participating in the network reward programs and would like to begin, or if you are only participating in one of the networks and would like to participate in both networks, please contact Adriane Long, Statewide Classified/2x2 Coordinator, at 804-521-7585 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Watch for our weekly contest tips and updates to start arriving in your inbox later this fall! News Contest rules are now online, along with publication codes and division information, and Ad Contest rules are coming soon: http://www.vpa.net/index.php/association/article/vpa_contests/

VCOG meets Oct. 29 at Monticello
The Virginia Coalition for Open Government (VCOG) will hold its annual conference on October 29 at Monticello in Charlottesville. You must register directly with VCOG; click here for registration information: http://www.opengovva.org/component/fabrik/form/18?random=0.
That evening, VCOG will host a gala tribute to Bob O'Neil, the coalition's founding president and the recently retired director of the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression. Click here for details: http://www.tjcenter.org/about/tribute/.

Are you eligible for VPA's Golden 50 Club?
Are you eligible for VPA's Golden 50 Club? Do you know someone who has been in the Virginia newspaper industry for 50 years? The VPA Golden 50 Club is an "honor roll" of individuals who have spent a minimum of 50 years in the Virginia newspaper industry. Click here to download a nomination form (PDF): http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/Golden50.pdf. Then fill out the form and send it, along with any other materials you feel appropriate, to VPA by December 31. The Golden 50 Club will induct its new members at the VPA News and Advertising Conference luncheon on April 21, 2012, at the Hotel Roanoke.

Job hunting? Start with VPA classifieds
If you're job hunting, VPA's online classifieds at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/classifieds/ are a great place to start. Listings are added each week; check back often to see the latest opportunities. And if you have a position to fill, remember that VPA members can post classifieds for free.
Know a student who's just starting out? VPA also lists daily (http://www.vpa.net/index.php/services/article/daily_internships/) and non-daily (http://www.vpa.net/index.php/services/article/non_daily_internships/). Keep your listing up to date to attract the best and brightest!

Expert Advice: Ask the Columnists
Newspaper Technology: Kevin Slimp
Common Sense Journalism: Doug Fisher
Writing Matters: Jim Stasiowski
Design for Readers: Ed Henninger
Ad-libs: John Foust
Visit http://www.vpa.net/index.php/education/article/expert_advice_ask_the_columnists1/ for contact information!