| October 2001 |
Page 1 |
Papers Oppose DC Newsrack Bill
A proposal to give the authority to private groups to regulate the location, appearance
and fees of newsracks in the District of Columbia was strongly opposed by a coalition of
local newspapers at an October 17 hearing before a District Council committee. |
Postal Rate Hike Likely Next Year
The United States Postal Service filed its rate increase request to the Postal Rate
Commission at the end of September. The in-county rate increase for newspapers in an
average of 1.7 percent, although early estimates were between 10 - 15 percent. A review by
the National Newspaper Association (NNA) shows that certain rates will even go down by 1 -
2 percent. |
| Page 2 |
Covering the News
Since Sept. 11
Newspapers are facing a number of challenges following the events of Sept. 11 including
increased restrictions on government information and changes in coverage other than news. |
Diamondback
Finances Questioned
The finances of The Diamondback, the University of Maryland campus daily, have become the
focus of a debate over the purpose and quality of the campus paper. |
Some Federal Court
Cases to be Online
A recent action by the judicial Conference of the United States will give citizens more
detailed access to federal civil and bankruptcy documents on the Internet. but cirminal
case information will not be available online. |
| Page 3 |
Internship
Program Proves Valuable Experience for UMD Student
MDDC set me up with The Montgomery Journal last summer and it proved to be the most
valuable expereience of my college career. |
Profile: John League
John started at The Herald-Mail in May 1979 as a
reporter. He has worked there as a copy editor, Sunday editor, city editor, managing
editor and executive editor before being appointed publisher in 1995. He currently serves
as secretary for the MDDC Board of Directors and is chair of the Professional Development
Committee. |
| Page 4 |
Circulation Make it Fun to Meet Your Goals
Sales, service and collections are what it's all about. This three-legged stool has not
changed since the dawn of newspapers. The only changes are the scenery around the stoll
and the way we go about achieving these goals. |
Technology Recycling More than Just Newspapers
Newspapers can recycle more than just newsprint, including a number of products used in
the production of the papers. |
| Page 5 |
Legal eFiling Advances in Maryland
Happily, good news has come out of the Maryland Courts Rules Committee and it bodes
well for the future of news gathering. MDDC was successful in getting an amendment passed
that guarantees access to court documents when eFiling is used. |
| Page 6 |
Advertising Keeping up with Changing Times
In the face of economic uncertainty, advertising reps must be more aggressive to beat
competition in the marketplace. Like the old saying goes "when the going gets tought
the tough get going," and sometimes that means going back to basic sales techniques. |
Advertising During a Recession
Sometimes we need to remind ourselves what the short-term benefits of advertising are -
during good times or bad - it creates sales immediately; it generates added business from
current customers; and it brings in new leads and prospects. |
| Page 7 |
Training
is More Important Than Ever
One response to these tough economic times has been to cut training budgets, an act I
consider self-defeating. |
Final Change for MDDC
Hall of Fame Nominations
MDDC Press Association Hall of Fame Committee Chairman Jim Flood, Sr. reminds members that
Nov. 1 is the deadline for nominations for election to the MDDC Newspaper Hall of Fame for
2002. |
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