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The ‘blue shirt’ won. Is that the best we can do?

  • September 24, 2021
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By Jim Pumarlo
Newsroom Strategies Training

Local names and faces are the lifeblood of community newspaper content.

There’s no better way to spotlight your readers than through photos. After all, “a picture is worth a thousand words” – right? I …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • September 14, 2021
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Hiring is a hot topic that comes up when I am out meeting with newspapers. It’s not just the newspaper industry, but we do seem to have an extra stigma to overcome. The word ‘newspaper’ always seems to generate an …

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Time-saving design tools

  • September 1, 2021
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By Kevin Slimp
CEO, newspaperacademy.com

Tools that save time while increasing the appeal of your designs

My experience as a professional designer goes back quite a while. I suspect many folks who read my columns were yet to be born …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • September 1, 2021
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Happy September!

Today is the first day of September, which in some parts of the country marks the approach of Autumn and cooler weather. In Arizona, it means that we only have 2 more months of summer-YAY! BUT, it also …

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Free offers can generate big results

  • August 30, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

Generally speaking, there are two types of advertising. Image advertising, which is often referred to as institutional advertising, is designed to create a positive overall impression. Response advertising’s objective is …

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Are you telling your own stories?

  • August 30, 2021
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By Jim Pumarlo
Newsroom Strategies Training

I circulated a column celebrating community newspapers earlier this year in recognition of Sunshine Week. Its publication prompted a few comments.

One reader, who hailed from a Minneapolis suburb, read the column in his …

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NNAF establishes Max Heath Postal Institute

  • August 28, 2021
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 A new postal education program from National Newspaper Association Foundation will be named after its longtime mentor and trainer Max Heath of Kentucky.

The Max Heath Postal Institute becomes the new umbrella to train newspapers and printers for best uses …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • August 10, 2021
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I’ve just returned from the NAM (Newspaper Association Managers) Conference in Madison, WI. It was a two-and-a-half-day conference filled with many great seminars, and was highly informative. Like ANA, all the other state associations are facing challenges in matters of …

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Preparing for problems

  • August 2, 2021
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By Kevin Slimp
CEO, newspaperacademy.com

Limiting issues that pose threats to our deadlines

Assuming COVID-19 doesn’t rear its ugly head over the next few weeks in such a way that groups curtail travel and in-person meetings, I will be making …

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Lessons from a failed advertiser

  • July 29, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

I remember talking to Clark about his early days in advertising. When he started his then-small marketing business, one of his first clients was a fast-food establishment that needed help …

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Special projects energize staff, community

  • July 22, 2021
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By Jim Pumarlo
Newsroom Strategies Training

I fondly characterize newsrooms as organized chaos. That definition has aptly described operations for the past 18 months with the impact of COVID-19. The story has demanded constant attention, and there are likely fewer …

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Slower, more expensive mail in store for the US

  • July 21, 2021
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The Postal Service is good to go on its plan to slow down the mail and implement aggressive price increases, according to the Postal Regulatory Commission in a pair of decisions handed down this week.

The PRC expressed skepticism about …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • July 14, 2021
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We are in the middle of July and things are mostly quiet.

The state legislature is still buzzing over the ballot audit and Cyber Ninjas. And with what appears to be a packed field of primaries for several of the …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • July 7, 2021
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We are excited to launch the new look of “This Week @ ANA”, our weekly newsletter. We hope you like it! Shout out to Julie O’Keefe, who has worked hard to bring us this new look.

In last week’s newsletter, …

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How much is too much?

  • July 1, 2021
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By Kevin Slimp
CEO, newspaperacademy.com

Let’s talk about investing in the future of your newspaper

About 15 or so years ago, I received a call from a newspaper designer at a small weekly in Tennessee. She was panicked because of …

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A simple way to develop ad campaign ideas

  • July 1, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

Let’s say you’re meeting with a florist who has been running ads with the headline, “For all your floral needs.” Of course, you and I know this is an empty …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • June 23, 2021
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Hello Members,

Today marks the 162nd day of the Arizona State Legislative Session. Legislative business has been taking up a lot of my time as we are hoping to see a budget pass before a government shutdown takes place. 

The …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • June 16, 2021
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Hello ANA Members!

Just a quick note to update you on what we have been up to at ANA HQ.

All of the BNC & Excellence in Advertising entries are currently in the hands of our friends at the Oregon …

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Sharpen your editing with these press releases

  • June 11, 2021
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By Jim Pumarlo
Newsroom Strategies Training

The hyper partisanship in today’s political landscape was on full display with passage of the American Rescue Plan. It passed on a straight party-line vote.

A Minnesota congressman joined in the chorus of his …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • June 8, 2021
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Hi ANA Members!

It’s already into June and Phoenix is due for its first 110+ degree day of the year this weekend. I am excited to announce that we have just over 1,100 entries for our BNC contest. It looks …

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Notes from the ANA Director

  • June 2, 2021
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Hello ANA Members!

Here are some things we are keeping our eyes on. This last week at the Legislature the members were unable to come to a consensus and pass a new budget. Our lobbyist has been keeping a keen …

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Give your advertising some personality

  • June 1, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

Kirk likes to work directly with his ad clients on their creative strategies. “Making a sale is just the first step in the journey,” he said. “It’s a big part …

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Notes from the ANA Director, Lisa Simpson

  • May 26, 2021
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Hello ANA Members!

I have finished my first 30 days as your new Executive Director, and I wanted to send a note to let you know about my progress and goals.

On my second day, I met with our lobbyist …

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Start benchmarking performance of politicians

  • May 14, 2021
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By Jim Pumarlo
Newsroom Strategies Training

It’s customary to rate the president’s performance after the first hundred days in office. The stark contrast in personalities and policies of Donald Trump and Joe Biden provides plenty of observations and commentary. National …

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Attack of the morale-killing bosses

  • May 3, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

In my advertising and training career, I’ve observed – and heard about – a lot of boss-employee encounters. Some have been good, some have been bad.

All have been instructive. …

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A salute to those who wave the editorial banner

  • April 15, 2021
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By Jim Pumarlo
Newsroom Strategies Training

Last summer’s Grassroots Editor still sits in my stack of journalism publications. The edition announced the Golden Quill winners in annual competition sponsored by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors.

I have a …

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ANA appoints Simpson for executive director role

  • April 6, 2021
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Arizona Newspapers Association’s (ANA) board has appointed Lisa M. Simpson as its new executive director. Simpson will start her position on Thursday, April. 22, 2021.

For the last three and a half years, Lisa Simpson worked at the Arizona News …

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Advertisers’ blind spots

  • April 5, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

When we learned how to drive, we heard about blind spots. Those are the areas which are not visible in our rear and side view mirrors. As a result, we …

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Let government know who’s boss

  • March 8, 2021
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Ken Paulson_headshotBy Ken Paulson
Director of the Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University

When government fails, it’s the rare public official who says, “Oops. My fault.”

That’s human nature, particularly for officials in the public eye who may have …

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What makes a good headline?

  • March 4, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

Imagine the editors of a prestigious news organization sitting around a conference table discussing a breaking story. The story is written and all they need is a headline to convey …

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MIT launches new journalism fellowship

  • February 26, 2021
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MIT recently launched a new journalism fellowship and is reaching out to Arizona Newspapers Association with the hope of spreading the word to its local and regional newsrooms in our network.

The MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative has launched its inaugural …

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Initiate conversations with your readers

  • February 8, 2021
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By Jim Pumarlo
Newsroom Strategies Training

A reader questions your policy for reporting suicides. A retailer challenges your staff to produce timely and relevant business news. A reporter is confronted for printing a press release charging a candidate with unfair …

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12 ad copy tips

  • February 5, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

Once an ad’s graphic design attracts readers’ eyes, it has to say something of value. Otherwise, readers will skip the ad and miss the message completely. Here are a dozen …

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New reporters join the staff at Arizona Capitol Times

  • February 4, 2021
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Arizona Capitol Times hires two new reporters

Nathan Brown will be reporting on the Arizona House of Representatives for the Arizona Capitol Times. He started his journalism career covering various beats at the Adirondack Daily Enterprise and the Times Herald-Record …

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Make public affairs coverage relevant and timely

  • January 19, 2021
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By Jim Pumarlo
Newsroom Strategies Training

How many newsrooms have received complaints about coverage of local public affairs – specifically meetings? It might be the city council, school board, county board or one of the numerous other government bodies under …

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12 ad design tips

  • January 12, 2021
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Ad-libs
by John Foust
Newspaper Advertising Trainer – Raleigh, NC

Want to get more eyes on your ads? Let’s take a quick look at some ad design tips:

1. Keep things simple and uncluttered. The four basic elements of a …

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