Ken Blum has been involved with paid and free circulation community newspapers and a variety of other publishing ventures for 43 years.
For 30 years, he was the editor and manager of a group of newspapers, shoppers and specialty publications operated by Dix Newspapers in Ohio. In 1997, he launched Butterfly Publications, his own publishing, speaking and advising firm related to the community newspaper industry.
Blum has written two monthly columns for Publishers’ Auxiliary, the official publication of the National Newspaper Association: Editor’s Notebook and Black Ink, which covers all aspects of running a community newspaper, that has appeared since 1982. He has written more than 400 columns about the operation of hometown newspapers. Numerous state associations run his columns in their newsletters.
Blum’s book "Black Ink/The Book" was released in late 1998 and is a best-seller in the community newspaper industry in the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia. The book focuses on hundred of methods to improve hometown newspaper products and profits. His e-mail newsletter, Black Ink/The Newsletter, goes to more than 2,800 newspapers.
Blum has been a guest lecturer at The American Press Institute in Reston, Virginia and speaks at state press association meetings and seminars across the country every year.
He will have four sessions on Sept. 9 and 10 during the MPA Convention in Branson. Blum will speak on "101 Easy Ways to Boost Yoru Bottom Line" at 9:45 a.m. Friday. At 2 p.m. he’ll join Bill Miller Jr. of the Washington Missourian for a discussion titled "You’re on the Jury: Is Print a Dead Duck?"
At the Weekly Newspapers Breakfast on Saturday, Blum will present "Dr. Blum’s Group Therapy for Community Newspapers." At 10:30 he’ll address reporter/photographers with "Get Close, Shoot Fast and Don’t Be Afraid to Bite the Dust."