MPA members will vote on proposed bylaw changes

Missouri Press Association members will vote on proposed bylaw changes at the Sept. 25 business meeting held during the 160th Annual Convention and Trade Show. The proposed changes will reduce the number of membership categories from seven to four.

The proposed bylaw changes were voted on by the MPA Board of Directors earlier this year and effectively streamlines the language that defines the Association’s various categories of membership. Current MPA bylaws can be found online at www.mopress.com/mpa-constitution-bylaws/.

First among the proposed bylaw changes will be combining both Active and Active Online categories into one “Active” category that includes both print and digital organizations. The new category being proposed is:

Active (includes both print and digital). The news organization must be registered with the Missouri Secretary of State’s office, unless acting as a sole proprietor or general partnership. The names of the owner or owners must be publicly disclosed. Membership dues will not change for those moving from print to digital only. The current digital dues would increase from $300 to $550.

To be eligible for MPA membership, the news organization either must publish a printed edition at least weekly, or publish at least three locally produced articles weekly on its website or platform. The news organization must abide by the stated purpose of MPA: promoting and improving the profession of Journalism, and the development of the literature, history, science, information, skill and intellectual culture of the profession of Journalism and to make it more beneficial in every way to the people of the state. The news organization also must adhere to the quality, system, and purpose of a newspaper.

News organizations applying for MPA membership will receive a provisional membership upon approval by the MPA board. The MPA board will vote on whether to affirm formal membership at the next regular board meeting. Any MPA member with a concern or grievance against a provisional member should notify the MPA office.

A publication shall be published for at least one year, regularly and consecutively, prior to application for membership. It shall be published at least weekly.

Language in the above proposed bylaw change reflects the recently signed legislation, House Bill 1940, that changes the length of time for successor newspapers and newly established newspapers to be considered legal newspapers, qualified to publish public notices in their communities. Going into effect Aug. 28, HB 1940 changes the timeframe for publishing legal notices to one year, down from three.

With the change to the “Active” membership category, Article V, Section 3 of the bylaws will be amended to reflect that members in that category are entitled to voting rights.

The new Active and Specialty Publication member categories will be entitled to the benefits listed under Article V, Section 4 of the bylaws.

Per Article V, Section 5 of the bylaws, every Active member will continue to be required to send digital copies of every issue to MPA, or MPA’s designee, for archiving and billing purposes. Members receiving advertising through Missouri Press Service should remember that uploading digital editions is key to ensuring they receive prompt payments for insertion orders placed through Missouri Press.

The other membership category changes include:

- Creation of an “Affiliate” category that encompasses honorary members and individuals. Honorary members, such as past MPA presidents, will not be charged membership dues, while individual members will be charged $50 for dues.

- Create an “Executive” category of membership for corporate members interested in supporting Missouri Press Association’s mission. Dues for this category will be $300.

- Rename to “Specialty Publication” the category that encompasses those publications, such as magazines, which do not fit into the Active category. Dues for this category will be $300.

Missouri Press’ annual business meeting is currently scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 25, at Atrium on 10th, as part of the regular agenda for the 160th Annual Convention and Trade Show. The business meeting will also include voting on the 2027 officers and directors, and a proposed slate can be found on Page 3 of this month’s Missouri Press News.

To register for the convention, please visit www.mopress.com/convention/, follow the links and be sure to read all the instructions if you plan to bring multiple staff members to take advantage of this year’s current offer for reduced registration costs, as well as Friday and Saturday meals.