Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
Whew! It’s been a bit of a whirlwind in my life for the past month or so with so many conventions and conferences to attend.
Don’t get me wrong. I love going to the Missouri Press Association’s annual convention, especially this year when it was in my own backyard. I look forward to the annual National Newspaper Association convention, held this year in Minnesota. And the grand tour ended with the Ozark Press Association meeting in Cassville. This was a first for me – both the meeting and the community.
For me, attending these newspaper meetings is publisher therapy. Throughout the year, I spend my time on the weekly grind necessary to put out a newspaper. There are deadlines to meet, bills to pay, advertising revenues to worry about, subscribers to retain, readers to inform. The cycle reruns week after week. It’s hard to share the chaos that makes newspapers so fabulous with most people. If you don’t live it, you don’t understand it.
At the MPA convention in Wildwood, I had the joy to spend part of one evening with firefighters – oh, wait, that’s a different story. If you don’t go to conventions, you miss out on some of the best stories. Yes, there were firefighters, but I didn’t spend any time with them during the fire alarm evacuation. I did, however, have the honor to help induct four new members into the Missouri Press Association Hall of Fame.
I also spent some after-hours hours with a collection of young journalists who reminded me why we do what we do. Journalists have the best job. We get to tell our communities what’s happening, the good and the bad. Plus, we get to help build connections in our communities. It can be exciting. It’s always important.
In Minneapolis, I shared in my fellow publishers’ concerns about newsprint prices, postal delivery issues and the closure and consolidation of local newspapers and newspaper printing operations.
But there are successes also. This national organization lobbies on our behalf on Capitol Hill. At this year’s convention, we celebrated the success of a national advertising initiative. After loads of discussions with the National Newspaper Association, the Department of Health and Human Services spent some of its advertising budget with local newspapers, including a few in Missouri. The efforts continue for the next federal business with HHS and perhaps the Department of Agriculture.
This is a huge win for newspapers across the country. I had the joy of listening to these newspaper pros deliver idea after idea of promotions, news projects and events that are working.
In Cassville, I was honored to hear from both a Pulitzer Prize winner and a Pulitzer Prize judge. I heard so many great ideas from newspapers, big and small, who are serving their communities. We also heard a request from newspapers for even more training. Stay tuned.
It’s not cheap to attend these meetings. I know that not everyone has the luxury of packing away for a couple of days to attend. But, if ever you have a chance, please do it.
Perhaps a one-day regional press association meeting near you would be an option. Break away for a day or even just part of a day. You will meet some of the best people and make friends with others in our business who can help you learn more about our business. Celebrate some publisher therapy.
