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Texas Press Association
e-Newsletter
Publishers’ help essential
to protecting public notice
Dece
mber
2014
BY: DONNIS BAGGETT
TPA Executive Vice President
Public notices in Texas notices are once again under attack,
thanks to a bill pre-filed for the
upcoming legislative session.
TPA expected this, and we’ve
been lobbying hard against the
measure for two years. Now we
need our publishers to engage
in the fight. Now – before the
holidays and before the session
begins — is the time for you to
contact your legislators and tell
them you strongly oppose House
Bill 139.
As expected, the bill was filed
by Rep. Jonathan Stickland, RBedford, who pushed a similar
measure last session. HB 139
would require public notices to
be posted on the state comptroller’s website and would make
newspaper publication of the full
notice optional in most cases.
Instead of having the full notice
printed in the paper, a governmental entity could simply run a
small blurb in the paper to give
readers the website address for
the notice. For election notices,
however, a full-fledged newspaper notice would still be required.
Below is a list of talking points
to help make the case for full
newspaper publication of public
notices. Below the talking points
is the text of HB 139.
I urge you to contact your representative and senator as soon as
possible. Tell them this measure
and others like it would be terrible
public policy. Please send me an
email afterward and let me know
their response.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If you simply send an email to the address
listed on an officeholder’s website, your lawmaker may never
see it or even hear about it from
staff. Call the lawmaker’s office
first. Tell them you need the address that the senator or representative personally uses. Leave
your contact information and tell
them you want to hear back from
your lawmaker after he or she
sees your email.
We’re counting on your help in
this important fight. Our grassroots lobbying has proven very
effective in the past, and it can
be in 2015 as well. But that will
only be the case if our members
are personally engaged.
Please let me know if you have
any questions. Thanks for all you
do.
TALKING POINTS FOR
PRINTED PUBLIC NOTICE
1. The purpose of public notices is to make citizens aware
of governmental actions and intent. That’s why the Texas Constitution and numerous Texas
statutes require them. There’s
no more effective way to notify
➤ CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
JOIN US IN GALVESTON!
For the Texas Press 2015 Midwinter
Conference & Trade Show - Moody Gardens
The Texas Press guest room rate is $119 per night.
The deadline for room reservations is December 30, 2014.
Call 1-409-741-8484 and mention “Texas Press” for the room rate.
➤ Register for the conference on page 5.
1
➤ FROM PAGE 1
large numbers of people than with
newspapers, which publish the
notices both in print AND online.
2. Newspapers’ readership far
exceeds that of any other medium. The number of print readers,
combined with our online readers,
makes total newspaper penetration most attractive to anyone who
must reach a mass audience.
3. Regardless of the market size,
newspaper online traffic is consistently much higher than readership of governmental websites.
While newspapers — in print and
online — are seen as a “go-to” independent source for reliable and
consistent local information, local
governmental websites have a
very small sliver of readership.
and could be found only by those
who (a.) have online access, (b.)
are aware of each of the myriad
of governmental entities whose
sites they should scour for notices (Harris County alone has 496
entities), and (c.) have the expertise to locate notices that may be
buried clicks deep within a governmental website. A newspaper
notice published only in the area
affected, however, can and often
is “discovered” by a reader who is
simply reading the paper with his
morning coffee.
8. “Discovering” a governmental
notice in the newspaper may be
how a citizen first hears of governmental plans that have an impact on him — actions such as
annexations, zoning changes,
school attendance zone revisions, tax increases, bond issues,
large governmental purchases,
4. Newspaper readers are most or planned projects with environlikely to be involved in local civic mental or quality-of-life impacts
such as landfills, etc.
activities — and to vote.
5. Texas newspapers not only
publish public notices on print
and on their websites, but they
combine all their notices into a
free, searchable statewide website. Readers can even sign up
for email notifications whenever a
notice is filed regarding an area of
interest to them. All this is at no
extra charge to the governmental
entity.
6. Texas law requires that newspapers print public notices at their
lowest published classified rate,
so the taxpayer is getting a bargain. The fees are used to help
defray the hard costs of paper,
ink, delivery and the personnel
cost of producing the pages and
online components.
7. Many governmental entities
already post their notices online,
in addition to publishing them in
the newspaper. There’s certainly
nothing wrong with doing that. But
if the notices were only available
on those government sites, they
would be seen only by citizens
who actively seek them out —
9. The elderly, the poor, minorities
and rural residents are statistically
less likely to have internet access
than other groups. Eliminating
print notice would effectively disenfranchise these citizens from
civic involvement.
TEXAS PRESS
E-NEWSLETTER
Texas Press Association
305 S. Congress Ave.
Austin, TX 78704
(512) 477-6755 phone
(512) 477-6759 fax
www.texaspress.com
2014-2015
TPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OFFICERS
President Randy Mankin, The Eldorado
Success; First Vice President Glenn Rea, The
Cuero Record; Second Vice President Randy
Keck, The Community News; Treasurer Pat
Canty, Odessa American; Chairman Greg
Shrader, The Lufkin News
BOARD MEMBERS
Elected: Jeff Berger, Hondo Anvil Herald; Neice
Bell, New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung; Sue Brown,
Pleasanton Express; Bill Crist, Snyder Daily
News; Mike Winter, The Bowie News
Appointed: Laurie Ezzell Brown, The Canadian
Record; J.D. Davidson, Paris News; Brenda
Miller-Fergerson, The Pasadena Citizen;
Hank Hargrave, The Normangee Star; Bret
McCormick, The Vernon Daily Record; Jim
Moser, Jackson County Herald-Tribune; Melissa
Perner, Ozona Stockman; Danny Reneau,
Silsbee Bee
Regional Presidents: Don Treul, Tri County
Leader, NETPA; Jeff Blackmon, County StarNews, PPA; Tania French, Port Lavaca Wave,
TGCPA; Mindi Kimbro, Olney Enterprise, WTPA
Regional Vice Presidents: Jessica Woodall,
Kilgore News Herald, NETPA; Ashlee Estlack,
Clarendon Enterprise, PPA; Kathy Cooke,
Rockdale Reporter, STPA; Sue Brown,
Pleasanton Express, TGCPA; Carlina Villalpando,
Kerrville Daily Times, WTPA
10. The independent third-party
approach to publishing and archiving public notices is a key element of government transparency
and accountability. If governmental entities are allowed to “publish”
and archive their notices on complex governmental websites that
are designed, maintained and op- TEXAS PRESS ASSOCIATION
erated by the government itself,
Joel Allis, Periodicals Consultant
citizens could lose much more Fred Anders, Information Technology Director
Donnis Baggett, Executive Vice President
than the few dollars involved in
Diane Byram, Advertising Manager
the cost of newspaper public noStephanie
Hearne, Controller / Office Manager
tices.
11. Income from published legal
notices generally runs about 1
to 5 percent of total revenue at a
Texas newspaper. If that revenue
should disappear, newspapers
will be hurt, but they will survive.
➤ CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
2
Micheal Hodges, Executive Director
Allison Rentfro, Publications Editor
Donna Shaw, Administrative Assistant
Ed Sterling, Member Services Director
following groups want to preserve
and protect printed public notice:
Governmental transparency and AARP, Americans for Prosperity
accountability to taxpayers, how- Texas, ACLU of Texas, Associever, will be terribly diminished. ated General Contractors, Freedom of Information Foundation of
12. All the above reasons that the Texas, League of Women Voters
➤ FROM PAGE 2
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of Texas, Public Citizen, LULAC,
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, Student Press
Law Center, Texas Campaign for
the Environment, Texas NAACP,
Texas Press Association and the
Texas Society of Architects.
H.B. No. 139
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the posting of certain notices for political subdivisions on
the comptroller ’s Internet website.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.Chapter 2051, Government Code, is amended by adding
Subchapter E to read as follows:
SUBCHAPTER E. NOTICE BY POSTING ON INTERNET FOR POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS
Sec.2051.151. NOTICE BY POST- 48 a week for four consecutive weeks
ING ON COMPTROLLER ’S INTERNET
49 the Internet address of the web
WEBSITE. (a) This section does not 50 page on the comptroller ’s Interapply to notice of an election.
51 net website at which the political
(b) political subdivision
52 subdivision ’s notices may be loshall provide to the comptroller
53 cated.
an electronic copy of each notice
54 (d)The comptroller shall esrequired by law to be published
55 tablish and maintain a web page on
by the political subdivision in a
56 the comptroller ’s Internet webnewspaper. The political subdivi57 site to post notices provided unsion must submit the notice to the 58 der Subsection (b). The comptrolcomptroller in the format required 59 ler shall post the notices on the
by the comptroller not later than
60 web page, in the format that the
the third day before the date the
61 comptroller determines is appropolitical subdivision is required
62 priate, not later than the third
to first publish the notice in the 63 day after the date the political
newspaper.
64 subdivision provides the notice to
(c) A political subdivision
65 the comptroller.
shall determine by official ac66 (e) The comptroller shall
tion if the political subdivision
67 establish a system to allow a perwill exclusively provide notice in 68 son on request to receive an ethe manner provided by Subsection
69 mail alert for an update to a cat(b) or continue to provide notice
70 egory of notices on the web page
by publication in a newspaper in
71 established under Subsection (d).
addition to providing notice in
72 The comptroller shall maintain an
the manner provided by Subsection
73 electronic archive on the comp(b). If a political subdivision
74 troller ’s Internet website of nodetermines to exclusively provide
75 tices posted on the web page.
notice in the manner provided by
76 (f) The comptroller may adopt
Subsection (b), the political sub- 77 rules necessary to implement and
division is exempt from any re78 administer this section.
quirement to provide the notice
79 SECTION 2.(a) Except as proby publication in a newspaper. A
80 vided by Subsection (b) of this
political subdivision that deter81 section, this Act takes effect
mines to exclusively provide no82 September 1, 2016.
tice in the manner provided by
83 (b) Section 2051.151(f), GovSubsection (b) shall publish in a
84 ernment Code, as added by this
newspaper of general circulation
85 Act, takes effect September 1,
in the political subdivision once
86 2015.
3
Rivera and Reynolds win 2015 Texas
Newspaper Directory cover contest
The winners of the 2015 Texas Newspaper Directory Cover Contest are Melissa Rivera and Jennifer Reynolds of
the Galveston County Daily News.
Melissa Rivera has been with The Daily News since 2004 and has worn many
hats in her 10 years with the newspaper, serving as an editorial assistant,
copy editor and news editor. Jennifer
Reynolds has been photo editor for The
Daily News since 2007.
The winning cover, which was designed by Rivera and photographed by
Reynolds, shows Josh Greer, a cowboy
waiting in line outside the Galveston
County Fairgrounds in Hitchcock on
Sept. 8, 2007.
“Greer and his friends were there for
the annual Cowboy Fest, with bull riders
on the National Professional Bull Riders
tour,” said Rivera. “Close to 40 bull riders from around the country competed.”
The Cowboy Fest was one of several Galveston County Fairgrounds, but it
non-rodeo season events held at the was discontinued.
Recycled Newsprint Survey due Jan. 31
It’s time for Texas newspapers to file
their annual newsprint recycling report.
Each year, the Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) collects
data on recycled newsprint. Texas laws
requires that newspaper publishers submit their report for 2014 to the TCEQ
by January 31, 2015. More information
about the reporting requirment is available in the Texas Health and Safety
Code, Section 361.430.
The current survey form is available
online ( http://www.tceq.texas.gov/p2/
recycle/newsprint.html ) for publishers
to fill out and return to the TCEQ.
To access the 2014 survey form and
for more information about the program, visit texaspress.com. If you have
questions or need assistance completing the survey, please contact Jennifer
Amelang at the TCEQ by phone, 512239-3143, or by email at recycle@tceq.
texas.gov.
Deadline approaching for Barbara Jordan Media Awards
The deadline for the annual Barbara
Jordan Media Awards is Jan. 15 and
submissions must have been published
and/or distributed in Texas in the 2014
year. The award, which is provided by
the Texas Governor’s Committee on
People with Disabilities, presents several different categories, including print
feature, Internet, photojournalism, etc.
There is no fee for entries. Winners
are selected by a panel of professional
journalists, people with disabilities, and
professionals in the field of disabilities.
The Barbara Jordan Media Awards
seek to spotlight journalists who portray
people with disabilities in a respectful,
positive manner. Organizers believe that
journalists help shape our culture and
our perceptions; well-produced, creative
stories showing a person with a disability as a person first benefits us all.
For more information and submission
guidelines and entry forms, visit the
contest website by clicking here. While
there, you can take a look at the most
recent winners and previous winners.
4
CALENDAR
Dec. 30, 2014:
Hotel registration deadline for
the Texas Press Midwinter
Conference - Texas Press room
rate is $119 per night.
Call 888-388-8484 for
accommodations
Jan. 15, 2015:
Deadline for the Barbara Jordan
Media Awards
Jan. 22-24, 2015:
Texas Press Midwinter
Conference & Trade Show, Moody
Gardens Hotel, Spa & Convention
Center, Galveston
Feb. 2 - March 27, 2015:
The 2015 Better Newspaper
Contest entry acceptance and
deadline.
April 9-11, 2015:
North and East Texas Press
Association Annual Convention,
Denton
April 16-18, 2015:
South Texas Press Association
Annual Convention, Port Royal
Ocean Resort, Port Aransas
April 23-25, 2015:
Panhandle Press Association
Annual Convention, Holiday Inn
West, Amarillo
May 14-16, 2015:
Texas Gulf Coast Press Association Annual Convention, Holiday
Inn, Galveston
ADVERTISE IN THE
Texas Press Messenger
AND IN THE
e-Newsletter!
Contact Diane Byram
[email protected]
TPA Mobile Lab travels to Livingston
TPA information technology director
Fred Anders held a Mobile Lab training
session featuring InDesign and Photoshop on Nov. 12 in Livingston.
“We were so excited to have Fred
come to Livingston and teach the
seminar to our group of newspapers,”
said Kelli Barnes of the Tyler County
Booster. “The crowd consisted of a
graphic designer and display classified
person from Houston County Courier,
two graphic designers and one reporter
from Polk County Enterprise, the new
editor of the Trinity Standard and also
our classified/page layout person from
that paper, the editor of the Corrigan
Times and Groveton News, and the
graphic designer of the Tyler County
Booster, plus myself.”
If your newspaper would like to schedule a Mobile Lab training session, take
note of the following requirements for
holding workshops include: the host
must provide a room for at least 10
people; the host must organize and
open the event to newspapers in their
area; and there is a minimum of three
member newspapers that need to participate in the free training, otherwise a
training fee is assessed to the host.
TPA’s Mobile Lab offers workshops
on InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat and
Dreamweaver.
Contact Fred Anders at fanders@
texaspress.com or 512-477-6755 to
schedule a workshop. To learn more,
visit our Member Services section at
texaspress.com.
Moody Gardens, Galveston
2015 Midwinter Conference &
Trade Show
Click here to Click here for Click here for
view the
Member
TexSCAN
Trade Show Registration
Member
vendors
Registration
Click here to Click here Click here for
visit Moody
for Past
Conference
Garden’s
President Registration
website
Registration
5
BUY, TRADE
OR SELL
Classifieds appear here as a
free service to member newspapers. Non-member newspapers
and out-of-state newspapers can
place ads for $25 for two months.
Email ads along with a billing address.
Newspapers for Sale:
THE TIMPSON & TENAHA NEWS
FOR SALE:
Small town, county-wide weekly
newspaper in East Texas, covering the communities of Timpson,
Tenaha, & Garrison. Been in
business since 1885 under several different names including The
Timpson Times.
One of two print newspapers in
Shelby County. Shelby County
is a rural county located between
Nacogdoches and Panola County.
The economy is mostly poultry
with some natural gas drilling in
the area.
The newspaper is a good opportunity for a retired couple who
wants to be involved in community
activities. Email serious inquiries
only to [email protected]
with “Newspaper Purchase” in
subject line.
Equipment for Sale:
ADOBE CREATIVE SUITE 3
DESIGN PREMIUM GENUINE
ADOBE SOFTWARE for MAC OS
platform! - $180.
This is a FULL version with SERIAL NUMBER (Not an Upgrade).
Included are the APPLICATION
DISC, the CONTENT DISC, and
the VIDEO WORKSHOP DISC,
complete, original and in excellent
shape.
Adobe Creative Suite Web
Premium CS3 Includes full version
of: Dreamweaver CS3, Flash Pro
CS3, Indesign CS3, PhotoShop
Extended CS3, Illustrator CS3,
Fireworks CS3, Acrobat Pro 8,
Contribute CS3, Bridge CS3
Includes Serial Number. Contact
Barbara Green, Bowie News, 940872-2247.
Texas Better Newspaper Contest 2015
The 2014 Texas Better Newspaper Contest will open on
Feb. 2 at www.betterbnc.com and closes March 27.
More rules and instructions will be sent at the
beginning of February.
In continuation with last year’s digital
format, Texas Press Association will
partner with SmallTownPapers to deliver a faster and more efficient platform
to submit and judge entries.
Each newspaper is encouraged to log
onto the online contest platform early
to ensure any challenges are resolved
before the deadline. As a reminder, the
contest is open to all newspapers that
were members of TPA during the entirety of 2014.
Entries are made by member newspa-
pers, not individuals. The content must
have been produced by full- or part-time
members of the newspaper staff. The
entry fees have not changed since last
year – they are still only $3 per entry.
This year TPA’s entries will be judged
by the Maryland/DC Press Association. The Better Newspaper Contest
swap is a great opportunity for an open
exchange of ideas between two state
press associations.
The MDDC editorial contest will be held
in February and their advertising contest
DIVISIONS
➤
➤
➤
➤
➤
DIVISION 1
• Large dailies,
circulation
99,001 or more
➤
DIVISION 2
• Dailies,
circulation
7,000 - 99,000
➤
DIVISION 3
• Dailies,
circulation less than 7,000
DIVISION 4
• Semiweeklies,
circulation
4,001 or more
DIVISION 5
• Semiweeklies,
circulation less
than 4,000
➤
DIVISION 6
• Weeklies,
circulation
break based on
number of
newspapers
that enter
DIVISION 7
• Weeklies,
circulation
break based on
number of
newspapers
that enter
➤
➤
DIVISION 9
➤
• Weeklies,
circulation
break based on
number of
newspapers
that enter
➤
➤
DIVISION 10
➤
• Weeklies,
circulation
break based on
number of
newspapers
that enter
➤
DIVISION 8
will be held in the fall — further details to
come as that deadline approaches.
A brochure detailing the finer stipulations will be mailed out and available at
the registration table of the Midwinter
Conference at Moody Gardens, Galveston, Jan. 22-24 2015.
Currently, the rules from the previous
two years are still in place for the 2015
contest - should you have any suggestions, contact the Contest Chairman,
Sue Brown, editor of the Pleasanton Express.
CATEGORIES
ADVERTISING ➤ EDITORIAL ➤ NEWS
WRITING
BEST
➤ FEATURE
➤ PAGE DESIGN
WEBSITE
PHOTO
BLUE MOON
SPECIAL
SECTION
COLUMN
WRITING
COMMUNITY
SERVICE
➤
FEATURE
WRITING
➤
GENERAL
EXCELLENCE
➤
➤
HEADLINE
WRITING
NEWS PHOTO
POINTS
• Weeklies,
circulation
break based on
number of
newspapers
that enter
FIRST PLACE ............. 100 points
➤ SECOND PLACE .......... 75 points
➤ THIRD PLACE ............. 50 points
➤ FOURTH PLACE .......... 25 points
➤
6
➤
ROUTINE
SPECIAL
SECTION
➤
SPORTS
COVERAGE
➤
SPORTS
PHOTO
JOB BANK
DIGITAL SALES MANAGER - The
fastest growing local news organization in Texas has expanded its suite of
digital products to provide local businesses with the most comprehensive
online marketing products to connect
with their customers. To help us put
these tools to work quickly for our local
businesses we are looking for a digitalsavvy, motivated, effective Digital Sales
MAJOR ACCOUNTS MANAGER, Manager to join our existing team.
McAllen, TX - Rio Grande Valley Media Please submit resume to: txmediajob@
Network is seeking a strong hands-on, gmail.com. 12/08/2014
experienced Major Accounts Manager
to manage and sell ROP, pre-prints, REPORTER, Dallas-Forth Worth, TX
digital products and services, as well - The Texas Jewish Post, a weekly
as print for our suite of newspapers and newspaper in continuous publication
websites. This role involves generation since 1947, has an immediate openand maintenance of major accounts ing for a full-time reporter to cover the
revenue for multiple publications and Jewish community in the Dallas-Fort
websites in dynamic, growing mar- Worth area. Perfect opportunity for a
kets in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas. recent grad with intern experience.
Publications include The Monitor, a Proficiency in InCopy and social media
daily in McAllen; Valley Morning Star, is a plus. Email resume, work samples,
a daily in Harlingen; The Brownsville references to sharonw@texasjewishHerald, a daily in Brownsville; The Mid- post.com.. 12/08/2014
Valley Town Crier, a twice weekly in
Weslaco; El Nuevo Heraldo, a Spanish ADVERTISING CONSULTANT, Austin,
language daily; El Extra, a Spanish TX - Texas Press Association is looklanguage weekly and Coastal Current, ing to fill a multi-task position requira weekly entertainment publication in ing excellent computer skills, data
South Padre Island. To apply, submit a entry, research, ad placement and clicover letter, resume and salary require- ent development. Our representatives
ments to Armando Martinez, Regional work directly with other press assoHuman Resources Director at amarti- ciations, newspapers and ad [email protected]. AIM Media cies. Excellent benefits, competitive
Texas, LLC is an equal employment salary. Send resume to Diane Byram,
opportunity employer. 12/11/2014
Advertising Manager, 305 S. Congress
Ave. Austin, TX 78704 or email: dbyMANAGING EDITOR, Columbus, TX [email protected]. 12/04/2014
- The Colorado County Citizen is seeking a managing editor who can be a STAFF WRITER, Enid, OK - The awardleader in both the newsroom and in winning Enid (Okla.) News & Eagle is
the community. The person we hire hiring for a staff writer position coverwill be responsible for working with the ing education, health and nonprofits,
publisher in planning special sections, with an emphasis on features. Please
and developing ideas into stories. The email a cover letter, resume, published
successful applicant will directly be clips and three journalism references
responsible for the editorial product – to Executive Editor Rob Collins at rcolfrom planning to production - as well as [email protected]. 12/04/2014
managing our full-time reporter and one
editorial stringer. You must have had at MANAGING EDITOR, Rosenberg, TX
least two years of experience at a com- - The Fort Bend Herald in Rosenberg,
munity newspaper or in the newspa- Texas, is seeking experienced appliper business. Please e-mail a resume, cants for managing editor. The mancover letter, and salary requirements to aging editor will supervise a staff of
[email protected]. six employees and be responsible for
the entire content of the newspaper,
12/09/2014
The TPA Job Bank is updated as positions become available. The Job Bank
is a free service for all TPA members
and job seekers. Listings will remain
on the Job Bank for 30 days or until
notified to remove. E-mail job listings
to: [email protected] or fax to
512-477-6759. Questions? Call 512477-6755.
7
from assigning stories and editing to
writing, page design and the newspaper’s website, www.fbherald.com. The
company offers a competitive salary,
paid vacation, health insurance and a
401(k) plan, along with opportunities
for promotion. Please e-mail resumes
to Clyde King at cking@hartmannews.
com.12/02/2014
REPORTER, Sealy, TX - The Sealy
News, a weekly newspaper serving
Sealy and Austin County to the west
of the Houston/Katy area, seeks a fulltime, professional reporter. Must be
able to work flexible hours and cover
everything from city hall and school
boards to community events and feature stories. Photo skills preferred.
InDesign and PhotoShop helpful. Some
page design and website management
included. Please send cover letter and
resume to [email protected]. No
phone calls please. 12/02/2014
WEB SERVICES COORDINATOR,
Taylor, TX - Full-time web services coordinator needed for newspaper creative
services department in Taylor, Texas.
Primary responsibility involves managing advertising workflow for newspaper
web sites and building effective advertising for numerous newspaper web
sites in a deadline-oriented environment, and other promotional materials.
Must be able to work with existing concepts as well as creating new ideas for
a variety of clientele. Send resume and
samples of work to Brandi Chionsini,
Granite Publications, [email protected]. No phone calls, please.
12/02/2014
PRODUCTION MANAGER, Brownwood, TX - The Brownwood Bulletin
is seeking a production manager,
who can fulfill a variety of duties. Key
Responsibilities: Lead direct reports to
achieve company goals, produce print
and packaging jobs of the highest quality, manage print and packaging schedules for greater efficiency and more.
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent business experience required. Send cover
letter, resume and salary expectations
to: [email protected]. 12/01/2014
Giving sources preview of story
JIM PUMARLO | www.pumarlo.com
It’s probably happened to every journalist as least once. You’ve just completed an interview, one that took an
extra coaxing to land. As you’re wrapping up, the subject asks, “Could I see a
copy of the story before it goes to print?”
The story touched on a sensitive subject, and the person already had asked
to have his quotations read back to him
over the phone. We obliged on that request, but declined on a personal preview of the entire story.
We never received additional feedback, so assumed the person was satisfied.
It’s routine policy at most newspapers
not to let a source read a story ahead of
time. But by no means is it an absolute
rule. We evaluated requests and circumstances on a case-by-case basis.
There can be some advantages to having an article reviewed, especially when
it deals with complex, technical subjects in fields such as business, medicine and science. Editors and reporters
would much rather correct an error in
fact or clarify what otherwise might be
a confusing section in advance rather
than be red-faced after the fact.
It’s also worthwhile to consider the
source. We’d be more open to considering a prepublication review when
dealing with individuals not accustomed
to dealing with the press. Public officials
and other individuals who were regular-
ly in the news didn’t get very far in their
requests.
If you do share a story in advance,
it’s good practice to stipulate that the
review is solely for purposes of accuracy. Sources should not expect to be
making “editorial” suggestions such as
reframing the focus of the story, or adding or eliminating a quote.
It’s one thing if a story is written from a
single source – for example, a personality profile – and that person is simply
reviewing his or her exchange with the
reporter. The greater hazard in allowing someone to sign off on a story is if
the source takes exception to information and quotes supplied by other individuals contacted for the story. You can
soon find yourself in a quagmire.
Newspapers frown on a source signing off on a story for that basic reason.
The source can take control of the story if the reporter isn’t careful. In some
markets, there is a genuine fear of the
source taking the story to the competition.
On a practical level, it can be too timeconsuming, especially if it’s done regularly, and it has the potential to raise
havoc with publication deadlines. Do it
once – and the word gets out - and it
might come to be expected as routine
practice. At some point that likely will
lead to an argument between the writer
and the source. That could undermine
8
a relationship worse than if the reporter
issued a blanket refusal to show any
stories ahead of time.
Editors face the most difficult of predicaments when sources demand their
“right” to review a story – after the fact–
as a requisite for publication. Your initial
response, justifiably so, may well be,
“You agreed to the interview. We’re running the story.”
No doubt, you’re on solid ground legally to publish the story. But community
journalists should think twice about the
ethical ramifications. Pay attention to
balancing your right to report the news
with the impact on the relationships of
your sources – your everyday customers, your friends and neighbors. Finding
common ground will pay long-term dividends for everyone in your community.
Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom
success strategies. He is author of
“Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and
Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and
Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town
Newspapers.” He can be reached at
www.pumarlo.com and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.
com.