Another newspaper asks for WSJ order review

Another Virginia newspaper has filed requests to vacate orders allowing The Wall Street Journal to publish Virginia legal notices

The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg is asking judges in Stafford and Spotsylvania counties to vacate previous orders allowing the national business newspaper to publish those counties’ notices. Hearings on The Free Lance-Star’s requests are set for Aug. 5 in Spotsylvania Circuit Court and Aug. 7 in Stafford Circuit Court.

Last month, the Richmond Times-Dispatch filed motions to vacate WSJ publishing orders in Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield. The Richmond hearing is set for July 15.

The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk also has asked for a hearing on the publication order for Virginia Beach.

The Washington Post has asked a Prince William court to disqualify the WSJ from publishing Prince William notices based on low WSJ circulation numbers in that county.

Last spring, Dow Jones & Co., The Wall Street Journal’s owner, received permission from several Northern, Central and Tidewater Virginia localities to publish legal notices in the newspaper’s Washington-Baltimore region. Those localities include the cities of Norfolk, Richmond and Virginia Beach; and the counties of Arlington, Chesterfield, Henrico, Fairfax, Loudoun, Prince William, Spotsylvania and Stafford.

Sale closed on Leesburg Today, other ACN papers

The parent company of three Northern Virginia newspapers emerged from bankruptcy protection last week when it closed the sale to its creditors.

Texas-based American Community Newspapers was the seventh newspaper company to file for protection but the first to emerge.

The new parent company, American Community Newspapers II, now owns Leesburg Today and the Sun-Gazette newspapers in Arlington and Fairfax counties, as well as other newspapers in Minnesota, Ohio and Texas.

The bankruptcy emergence plan was approved in early June by a federal judge in Delaware. Among ACN’s creditors were General Electric Corp. and the Bank of Montreal.

At the time of its original filing, ACN claimed to have $102 million in debt.

In a company memo, ACN II CEO Gene Carr said the new ownership not only has reduced the debt, but also “places us in a much better position to execute on our business strategy, serve our communities, and provide ample opportunities for our employees.”

VPA/SNPA Webinar registration begins today

Registration for the next slate of VPA/Southern Newspaper Publishers Association Webinars opened today.

The first Webinar, “Social Networking: The New Content Model,” will be held July 15. That will be followed by “Mobile: From Content to Ads” July 29; “The Online Insert” Aug. 12; and “Video Online: Implementing & Selling” Aug. 26.

Cost to register will be $75 per session or $250 for the entire slate. For more information and registration, click here.

Webinars focus on video, vibrancy

VPA has joined forced with the Inland Press Association to present an ongoing series of Webinars aimed at newspaper training. The next two sessions are as follows:

• Putting Stories, Sales in Motion via Video — 11:30 a.m. July 14: Today’s storytelling can’t be confined to simple headlines and text. Advertising cannot be limited to trying to make an impact in a fixed, three columns- by-10-inch space. Attracting readers online and getting results for advertisers require building messages that “move for readers on the move.” There will be discussions of the video tools and training you’ll need to connect with today’s action-oriented, visual audience. Leaders: Chris Krug, general manager, vice president of news and content, Shaw Suburban Media; and J. Tom Shaw, vice president of Market Development, Shaw Suburban Media.

• How Does a Newspaper Cultivate and Profit From a Vibrant Local Marketplace Directory? — 3 p.m. July 15: Discover how to create a profitable online community for those advertisers in your market who would traditionally not look to your print or online product as an advertising resource. Develop a user-friendly source for your community advertisers with upsell options to grow their business and your bottom line. Leader: Sara Wilhelm, vice president, sales and business development, Lawrence (Kan.) Journal World & News

Inland is extending its member rates for all webinars and workshops for all VPA members. When VPA members register for the Webinars, they will pay the Inland fee of $75 per session, instead of the $125 non-member rate.

A complete Webinar calendar can be found by clicking here. To register for any Webinar, click here.

For more information about the Inland Webinars, contact Elaine Lange at (847) 795-0380.

It’s not too early to register for October training

The American Press Institute’s “Upholding Ethical Standards” will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 9 at VPA Headquarters in Glen Allen.

The session will be led by Steve Buttry, editor of The Cedar Rapids (Iowa) Gazette. It will focus on ethical issues related to such aspects of digital journalism as online comments and discussions, audio/visual journalism, blogging, accuracy, breaking news coverage, links, databases, revenue generation and transparency.

Cost is $70 for VPA members and $100 for nonmembers, and lunch is included. VPA has a special 2-for-1 attendance offer — members who pay for one attendee can send a second at no cost.

Contact Kim Woodward at (804) 521-7574 for more information and registration.

‘Sweet Home Alabama’ — NNA convention in Mobile

The National Newspaper Association will host its 123^rd annual convention Sept. 24-27 at the Renaissance Riverview Plaza Hotel in Mobile, Ala.

In addition to the educational sessions and roundtable discussions, there also will be a trade show.

For more information, call (800) 829-4662 or visit the NNA convention Web site.

VPS needs rate cards

Virginia Press Services needs newspapers’ 2009 rate cards for both print and online ads.

They can be sent via e-mail to Diana Shaban. Hard copies can be mailed to Diana Shaban, Virginia Press Services, 11529 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059.