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See the VPA's stances on VPA’s Hitting the Road! Virginia’s E-Press for May 2
VPA / May 03, 2012
VPA HITS THE ROAD!Publishers asked to share input at regional meetings
Virginia Press Association is taking to the road! Five "VPA Roadshow" meetings are planned over the next few weeks in various Virginia locations, and member publishers have been invited to join association staff for discussion and idea-sharing.
The small, informal meetings will offer opportunities for publishers to brainstorm and exchange thoughts. There is no cost to participate, although pre-registration is requested, and all ideas and projects are encouraged. Registration Form: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/VPARoadshow.pdf.
"We believe this is a good opportunity for member awareness of services currently offered by VPA and the opportunity to hear what VPA could do for members," said Ginger Stanley, VPA executive director.
"Just because VPA has been doing things a certain way for years, we understand it may not be the way of the future, and a new direction could benefit everyone."
Meetings are scheduled for the following dates, times and locations:
A report from these meetings will be produced and given to the VPA Board of Directors at its next meeting in July.
Publishers may RSVP to Kim Woodward at VPA, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), phone (804) 521-7574. fax (804) 521-7590.
SPRING TRAINING SPOTLIGHT
MAY 10: Learn How to Put Data Online Without Programming
This workshop, led by Jeff South, Chris Young and Abdellatif Boudaouch, will show participants how to put data online -- so readers can easily view and search lists of information, such as campaign donations, crime statistics, school test scores and census demographics -- with mostly free tools that don't require programming or computer-server resources.
NOTE: This workshop is a go! Additional registrations are still being accepted, even though our May 1 deadline has passed.
Read more at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/education/article/23703/
Registration Form: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/51012DataOnline.pdf
For more information about training opportunities, please visit our Training page at http://www.vpa.net, or contact Kim Woodward at 804-521-7574 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
CJW SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE
Six Community Journalism Workshop scholarships are now available; apply by May 15 to be considered
It's been described as an investment in one's career, a bargain and a steal... and now, for six lucky journalists, it'll be more affordable than ever.
Six scholarships are available for this year's Community Journalism Workshop (CJW), June 21-22 at VPA headquarters in Glen Allen.
Scholarships are open to staff from VPA member organizations. Each scholarship includes the $99 cost of the two-day workshop and one overnight with breakfast ($74 VPA rate) at the Comfort Suites Innsbrook on Thursday, June 21.
The scholarship application, including criteria, is available online at http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/CJWScholarshipApplication.pdf. The deadline to apply for scholarships is Tuesday, May 15. Winners will be notified by May 30.
The CJW is an intensive two-day program aimed at beginning journalists and those who want to refresh their skills. Interns and copy editors also benefit from the workshop. The emphasis is on the fundamentals of reporting and writing, with special attention to ethics. Participants also receive a take-home "tool box" of resources to use in their daily reporting.
CJW alumnus Mike Jones, Washington Redskins beat writer for The Washington Post, will be this year's keynote speaker.
NOTE: The registration deadline is June 1.
Read more at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/education/article/23202/
Registration Form: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/2012CJWregis.pdf
INDUSTRY NEWS
Daily Press announces production agreement with Media General Inc. for three DPMG papers
The Daily Press Media Group (DPMG) announced on May 1 that it has reached a production agreement with Media General Inc. to print and package its three newspapers, Daily Press, Virginia Gazette, and Tidewater Review at Media General's production facilities in Hanover County.
"The decision to move our printing and packaging operations will enable us to focus our efforts entirely on community journalism and marketing, reaching consumers through the media channel that suits them best-in print, online, or via their mobile device," said Digby Solomon, DPMG's president, publisher and chief executive officer.
Media General's plant currently prints the Richmond Times-Dispatch, The Daily Progress and other newspapers. It will print all editions of DPMG's three newspapers.
The agreement will result in the elimination of positions in DPMG's printing and packaging division; the company will provide severance and outplacement assistance to displaced employees. DPMG contractors and employees will continue to lead the company's delivery and customer service operations. Read more at http://www.dailypress.com/news/breaking/dp-nws-printing-0502-20120501,0,3004240.story
VPW announces communications contest winners
Virginia Press Women has announced the winners of its 2012 Communications Contest. There were a total of 158 awards (63 first place, 47 second place, 27 third place and 21 honorable mention) and 39 award recipients. Marty van Duyne of Falmouth was the sweepstakes winner. Entries that received first place advance to the National Federation of Press Women contest. Full list of winners: http://www.virginiapresswomen.org/home/2012-winners
ABC finds digital circulation boosting daily papers
Daily circulation for some 618 newspapers crept up during the six months ending March 31 fueled primarily by increases in digital circulation, according to the Audit Bureau of Circulations semiannual report released on May 1. Circulation for the 532 newspapers reporting comparable Sunday data increased 5%.
On average, digital circulation now accounts for 14.2% of newspapers' total circulation, up from 8.66% a year ago, according to the ABC. Read more at http://www.netnewscheck.com/article/2012/05/01/18472/abc-digital-14-of-newspapers-total-circ?utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=ABC%3a+Digital+14%25+Of+Newspapers%27+Total+Circ&utm_campaign=ABC%3a+Digital+14%25+Of+Newspapers%27+Total+Circ
NAA sees increases in newspaper website traffic
Newspapers improved upon their website traffic in the first quarter of 2012 with a 4.4 percent increase year-over-year in adult unique visitors (113 million) and a 10 percent increase in adult average daily visitors (25 million), according to the Newspaper Association of America (NAA).
Further, newspapers achieved a more than 7 percent increase in unique visitors ages 21 to 34, with average daily visits by this age group up 17 percent and total visits rising by 15 percent, an analysis performed by NAA with data provided by comScore reveals. Young audience engagement with newspaper websites also is demonstrated by a 10 percent increase in average daily visitors in the 18-to-24 age group. Read more at http://www.naa.org/News-and-Media/Press-Center/Archives/2012/Newspaper-Websites-See-Increases-In-Unique-And-Average-Daily-Visitors-In-First-Quarter.aspx
Executive Management Retreat registration information is now available online!
July 13-14
The Cavalier
Virginia Beach
Click here: http://www.vpa.net/images/pdf/EMRagenda12.pdf
2011 VPA Contest Gallery now online!
Click here to access the gallery: http://omnicontests4.com/gallery-search.aspx?gallery_id=11
VPA approves online memberships
VPA members approved bylaws changes that open membership to online members at the annual breakfast business meeting in Roanoke on April 21.
The membership requirements for the newly created Online Newspaper/Publication category are available online at http://www.vpa.net/index.php/membership/article/constitution_bylaws_vpa/.
Visit the Public Notice Resources page for VPA members on http://www.vpa.net to access online and print ads, our general information page, and more!
Ad networks pay off: join one or both today!
The Statewide Classified Ad (SCAN) and 2x2 Networks recently welcomed the following new members:
SCAN: The Lebanon News, Martinsville Bulletin, The Richmond Voice
2x2: The Lebanon News, Page News & Courier, The Richmond Voice, Shenandoah Valley-Herald, The Smithfield Times, The Valley Banner
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, please contact Adriane Long, Statewide Classified/2x2 Coordinator, at 804-521-7585 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Job hunting starts 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/).
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!