Preview of '07 KPA convention program

Papers team up with high schools

Kentucky papers continue teaming up with the Kentucky High School Journalism Association ­ now in its 10th year -- to support their local high schools’ journalism programs. As of Oct. 21 ­ when this was written ­ 24 KPA-member newspapers have sponsored 52 schools across the state. Another 20 high schools paid their own memberships.

That means a local newspaper sponsors 72 percent of this school year’s KHSJA membership. That’s great news and up from last year’s number. And memberships are still coming in.

That means there’s still time to sponsor your local high school(s) in KHSJA. It’s a great opportunity for students to attend top-notch workshops, participate in the annual KHSJA journalism contest for print and broadcast and attend the annual state convention. By the way, the 2007 KHSJA convention is set for April 17 and 18 at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 9700 Bluegrass Parkway, Louisville. That’s on Louisville’s east side just off I-64 and Hurstbourne Parkway.

There’s still time to sponsor your local high school(s) in KHSJA. Sponsorship costs just $50 per school and you don’t even have to write us a check. We can bill you or even deduct the amount from your next KPS advertising revenue check. If you need a sponsor form, call me at (800) 264-5721 or send me e-mail and I will get one to you ASAP. The deadline is Nov. 4. Or if you want to sponsor a school and pay for it outright, we can do that too.

KPA CONVENTION PREVIEW

The 2007 KPA convention Jan. 25 and 26 at the Hyatt Regency in Louisville is shaping up to be one of our best. We start on Jan. 25 with a three-hour morning workshop with newspaper technical whiz Kevin Slimp and “What’s new in newspaper technology?” Noted newspaper design guru Alan Jacobson will then offer a three-hour afternoon workshop on putting the “Wow!” into your pages.

On Friday, Jan. 26, Mary Nesbitt of the Readership Institute presents information on improving your newspaper’s branding with specific editorial content enhancements.

Since 2007 is a gubernatorial election year in Kentucky, KPA and AP will sponsor a gubernatorial candidates’ forum. Retired Kentucky AP bureau chief Ed Staats will moderate.

Rural Journalism Institute executive director and Courier-Journal political columnist Al Cross will lead “Editorial Leadership in Community Newspapers.”

Experienced, longtime Minnesota community newspaper editor Don Heinzman will present “Writing for the reader.” His session will be presented in the morning and repeated in the afternoon.

On the advertising side, Kelly Wirges tells us the secrets of competitive selling against the Yellow Pages. Some don’t realize that the YPs are a formidable competitor taking many dollars annually out of all of our markets.

Innovative ways to generate more online revenue and retaining your top advertising sales people are two other advertising workshops on the day’s program.

On the circulation side, former Herald-Leader and current Charleston (S.C.) Post & Courier circulation guru Steve Wagenlander will present breakout sessions on home delivery, single-copy sales and customer service. Steve will be one tired fellow by the end of the day but Kentucky circulation staffers who attend his sessions will leave with a ton of great insight into how one of the best does business.

But that’s not all.

Steve Buttry from the American Press Institute will be on hand to present the results from API’s extensive “Newspaper Next” project. N2 as it’s called gives a blueprint for success for papers everywhere ­ courtesy of some of the greatest minds print journalism has to offer.

And Russell Viers, a frequent presenter at KPA conventions, will be back to tell us how InDesign shortcuts can save significant time in page production.

The noon luncheon will feature the traditional passing of the gavel from the outgoing KPA president to the incoming president. In addition, we will have special musical entertainment at the luncheon from Peter Yarrow, of Peter, Paul & Mary fame. Peter’s foundation, “Operation Respect,” located in New York City, takes a great interest in the newspaper industry’s NIE program. (For younger readers, Peter, Paul & Mary was a very successful 1960s folk-singing group.)

Your paper will receive details soon on the 2007 KPA convention. See you there.

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