| April 2002 |
Page 1 |
MDDC's Public Records Bill Moving in the Legislature
Legislation that would improve compliance with Maryland's Public Information Act by
clarifying several of the law's provisions passed the House of Delegates and was awaiting
Senate Action early this month as the 2002 legislative session moved toward its April 8
adjournment. |
| Page 2 |
Court Records
Access Plan Sent to Chief Judge for Review
The report from a judicial advisory panel that would keep Maryland court records,
especially eelctronic records, open to the public has been presented to the state's chief
judge following a 30-day public comment period that resulted in no change to the
recommended plan. |
Inland Updates
Weeklies Survey
Inland Research has revampedt he National Cost and Revenue Study for Weekly Newspapers to
simplify the process of submitting the data and provide more comprehensive information on
compensation and general operations. |
| Page 3 |
Republican
Celebrates 125 Years
The Republican, a weekly publication serving Garrett County, celebrated its 125th
anniversary last month. The first issue was published on March 3, 1877. |
Profile: Mary Kimm
Mary Kimm is publisher, editor and chief operating
officer of the Connection Newspapers, a group of 15 weeklies and parent company of the
Potomac Almanace. Mary, who has live in Potomac since 1967, began working for the Potomac
Almanac (the only Connection paper in Maryland; the other 14 are in Northern Virginia,and
members of the Virginia Press Association) as a writer in 1988. IN 2001, she led the
Potomac Alamanac to 16 MDDC Editorial Contest awards, including Newspaper of the Year, an
accomplishment she calls a "bright spot." |
| Page 4 |
Newspaper Groups
Speak Out About Privacy Rule Changes
The National Newspaper Association (NNA) and other media organizations spoke out on March
22, in favor of a review of health record privacy laws, urging policymakers to remember
the importance of public access to information during accidents and disasters. |
| Page 5 |
Legal News
Journal, Gazette and Post Prepare for Shield Law Appeal
In the first case presented to any Maryland appeals court on the merits of the
Maryland shield law since 1984, The Prine George's Journal, The Washington Post, and
Gazette Newspapers, will argue that the Maryland shield law and the First Amendment
qualified privilege were correctly applied to protect their reporters from testifying in a
disciplinary hearing against Prince George's Police Offcier Brian Lott.
- St. Mary's Publisher's Lawsuit Against Sheriff Dismissed
A federal judge has dismissed a Maryland newspaperman's lawsuit against the St.
Mary's County state's attorney, the Board of County Commissioners, the county sheriff and
seven of his top deputies who had been accused of trying to prevent circulation of a local
newspaper of Election Day in 1998.
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| Page 6 |
Editorial
Conference Draws Top Journalists
There were award winners and top newspaper executives, and even the President of the
United Staets, on-hand as the MDDC Editorial Conference, formerly the Winter Convention,
returned to Washington, DC, Feb. 28 - March 1. |
| Page 7 |
News
Briefs
Video on Women in News Available
SHE SAYS: Women in News, a one-hour video about the role of women in today's journalism,
is available to borrow from the MDDC library.
- Toolbox is Useful Journalist Resource
Looking for information on a specific topic or story? The Journalist's Toolbox is a Web
site with more than 7,500 links organized by beats and topics.
Scholastic Press has Summer Courses
The Maryland Scholastic Press Association will offer seven courses as part of its summer
journalism program for students. Held at the Philip Merrill College of Journalism, June
24-28, the program is co-sponsored by The Washington Post. |
| Page 8 |
Advertising
News
Prospecting for Additional Sales
Whether advertising revenues have been weak or strong every paper needs to be working
consistently to develop new business. Your sales staff has to work to develop new business
just to remain even. If you plan to grow revenue, your staff is going to have to work even
harder at prospecting for new business.
- Ad Spending Continues Decline in 2002
Newspaper advertising expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2001 totaled $12.3 billion, a
decrease of 11.9 percent from the same period the year before, according to estimates from
the Newspaper Association of America. Total ad spending for 2001 was $44.3 billion, down 9
percent from 2000.
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| Page 9 |
Circulation
News
Collecting Subscriber Bad Debt
About every three months for the past year and a half, Mrs. Jones orders the newspaper.
Sometimes she is solicited by telemarketing, sometimes she calls the order in herself.
After each order, her request is verified for authenticity and her delivery is checked
after her first week of service. Mrs. Jones will receive seven weeks of service and two
invoices. Her service will stop after the seven-week grace period if she does not pay her
bill. |
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