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The MDDC Press Association offers the following programs, services and benefits to its members and to the general public where their accessibility serves the interests of newspapers, the First Amendment or the freedom of information.
The MDDC Press Service, the for-profit subsidiary of the Association, offers members the potential to earn regional and national advertising revenue in several ways:
- The Classified Ad Network offers members the opportunity to join together as a cooperative package providing classified ad space, earning thousands each year in ad space fees and commission.
- The 2x2 Ad Network, using the same cooperative package concept, pays ad space revenues and commissions for small display ad space.
For more on these advertising programs, see the MDDC Press Service page.
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The major work of the Association is done by committees of newspaper executives from throughout the MDDC region. In addition to marshalling and applying newspaper expertise in various disciplines, for most of the committees, participation is the main avenue to Association leadership.
For more on the Association's various committees, see the Committees page.
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- Association members receive a subscription to PRESS NEWS, the Association's monthly newsletter that keeps everyone posted on newspaper issues, activities and people in the region.
- MDDC's Web site is the first line of information for Association events and industry news. It will be the repository for any information of interest to member newspapers and their employees.
- MDDC produces a bi-annual directory of its membership which catalogs basic t vital demographic information useful to advertisers and agencies.
- Association members have access to MDDC's lending library which houses books and videos on topics such as First Amendment rights, postal issues and many others.
For the latest issue of Press News or for a link to the newsletter archive, see the
PRESS NEWS page.
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The Association sponsors annual editorial, advertising and new media contests to honor excellence in each discipline and culminating in award ceremonies every April to honor the winners.
For more on the contests, such as the entry timeline, category descriptions and more, see the Contests page.
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The MDDC Distinguished Service Award recognizes an MDDC volunteer whose extraordinary efforts serving the organization made a significant impact to the Association and its membership. The winner of the annual award is recognized at the Annual Membership Meeting and is commemorated with a portrait which is added to the permanent display at MDDC's headquarters.
For more on the award, including brief bios of the winners, see the Distinguished Service Award page.
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In its work on behalf of promoting journalism education, the MDDC Press Foundation sponsors two programs designed to encourage the next generation of journalists. The Reese Cleghorn Internship Program places college students in 8-week summer internships with member newspapers each year, and the Michael S. Powell High School Journalist of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding senior staff member of an area high school newspaper.
For more on either of these programs, see the Foundation's Awards & Programs page.
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Members of the association are able to submit vacancy announcements to the association for posting on the MDDC Website as well as in the print newsletter, PRESS NEWS.
To view the current listings, visit the Member Career Center page.
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The MDDC Legal Hotline is a free service to members of the Association, offering general legal advice on matters such as public access, open meetings, copyright issues and libel, and providing prepublication review of news copy, advertising, graphics, photos and more.
For more on the Hotline, including consultation procedures, see the Legal Hotline page.
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As a member of the MDDC Press Association, members have a voice in legislative initiatives relevant to the newspaper business. The Government Affairs Committee monitors legislative, judicial and executive agency activities affecting newspapers. The Freedom of Information (FOI) Subcommittee monitors press access issues involving open meetings and public records. MDDC retains lobbyists who work with Association leadership representing newspaper interests in the Maryland and Delaware General Assemblies.
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The Annual Membership Meeting, held each November, is a formal opportunity for Association members to collectively participate in charting the direction of the Association, meet with the Board of Directors, and join in forums for learning about timely topics of interest to the industry. At this meeting, the Board of Directors slate and the budget for the coming year are determined, and other critical business of the Association is discussed.
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MDDC annually honors one or more newspaper professionals whose careers were marked by excellence at newspapers in the MDDC region. The Hall of Fame, which lives in the journalism building at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism on the campus of the University of Maryland College Park, reflects the storied past of the Association and the dedication of the professionals in its membership and in the region.
For more on the Hall of Fame, including the nomination timeline and a list of Hall members, see the Newspaper Hall of Fame page.
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Association members are encouraged to take advantage of the professional workshops offered throughout the year. Varied topics such as copy editing, advertising sales, circulation and legal issues in the newsroom (to name just a few) are designed to provide practical advice and training in all aspects of the industry. The Professional Development Committee oversees and helps stage these workshops.
For a list of upcoming training opportunities, see the Event Calendar.
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MDDC established Public Notice Web sites for each of its membership regions so that newspapers can continue to provide their readers with a window into their local governments while keeping pace with technology and readership trends.
For more on these sites, their purpose and how they work, see the Public Notice page.
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