On Saturday, Sept. 17, an 18-wheeler filled with food and supplies headed north, from Okeechobee, Florida, to Franklinton, La.
The Okeechobee community has “adopted” Franklinton, a rural community that was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Many Okeechobee News staffers were among the community volunteers who helped make the project a success.
Newspaper coverage of the project inspired a number of community members and organizations to participate.
Eric Kopp, Katrina Elsken, Lorna Jablonski, Dee Hamilton, Linda Cannon, Pete Gawda, Audrey Blackman, Karmen Brown and Angie Bridges donated their time before and after work, picking up boxes of donations from businesses, and sorting and packing canned goods and supplies during the week-long relief drive. Many other staffers donated food or supplies. Eric, Katrina, Lorna, Karmen and Angie also helped load the truck on Saturday, Sept. 17.
The hurricane relief effort was personal to Okeechobee News staffers who suffered their own hurricane losses last year. They know what the people in Franklinton are going through. The small town of Okeechobee made sure the residents of their adopted town knew that someone cared.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Florida publishes new magazine
By Judy Kasten
If there's one thing hotter than the weather in Florida, it's the real estate industry.
Florida, especially interior Florida is growing by leaps and bounds. Independent’s daily and weekly papers are attracting an increasing amount of advertising from real estate companies and related industries.
Several years ago, the Okeechobee News started the Lake Okeechobee Real Estate Magazine, monthly real estate magazine. This has grown over the past few years into a very attractive 28 page tab with 8,500 circulation. This magazine is inserted in the home delivery copies of the Okeechobee News on the first of each month and is free standing at businesses, racks and stores throughout Okeechobee County. Kay Sheedy is the team leader of the sales effort.
The continuing success of the Lake Okeechobee Real Estate Magazine led the Florida groupto consider a real estate magazine in the other communities where Independent has weekly publications.
The area in Hendry County served by the Clewiston News and the Caloosa Belle appeared ripe for such a product, as they were showing good growth in residential real estate. Based on this belief that an "underserved market" existed in real estate, plans for the Hendry GladesReal Estate Magazine were hatched.
The plan for the new publication is to cover the other communities around Lake Okeechobee, including Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, Clewiston, Glades County, LaBelle and Immokalee, and eastward towards Lee County.
Papers involved in this project are the Sun, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, Caloosa Belle and Immokalee Bulletin. Unlike the Okeechobee magazine however, this new magazine would be free-standing only, distributed to businesses and stores in these markets.
The sales teams in the south lake office; Brenda Jaramillo, Wanda Graham, Melissa Agee and Lauren Adams, and the Caloosa Belle; Barb Calfee and Dale Conyers were involved in planning the new magazine and eager to start selling. Armed with samples of the Okeechobee magazine and a rate card, the sales staffs blitzed through their markets, aiming for a magazine to hit the streets the first Thursday in March. Kay Sheedy coordinated the sales efforts and Karmen Brown helped with production.
The advertisers' response to the not yet published magazine was phenomenal.
"We felt it was important to get our real estate publication on the street ahead of some competitors who were said to be planning their own real estate products for this underserved market," said Tom Byrd, Florida Operations VP.
"Another exciting thing about this project was the fact that we were able to mesh the existing local knowledge about our market and experience in Okeechobee with the planning template created by Chris Engel,” Byrd added. “This Model Guide for Real Estate Publications prepared by Chris was very helpful not only in organizing our thinking but in simplifying the decision making."
The goal was to launch the product with 12 pages and instead the first issue of the Hendry Glades Real Estate Magazine had 20 pages and several full color ads!
"The niche marketers creed, is 'identify a need and fill it', and we were able to bring this idea to market extremely quickly," Byrd said.
Response to the magazine once it hit the street has been great and we look for a larger magazine next month.
"The entire Florida advertising and circulation team did a great job of implementing the successful launch of the new real estate publication, Hendry Glades Real Estate Magazine", Byrd said.
If there's one thing hotter than the weather in Florida, it's the real estate industry.
Florida, especially interior Florida is growing by leaps and bounds. Independent’s daily and weekly papers are attracting an increasing amount of advertising from real estate companies and related industries.
Several years ago, the Okeechobee News started the Lake Okeechobee Real Estate Magazine, monthly real estate magazine. This has grown over the past few years into a very attractive 28 page tab with 8,500 circulation. This magazine is inserted in the home delivery copies of the Okeechobee News on the first of each month and is free standing at businesses, racks and stores throughout Okeechobee County. Kay Sheedy is the team leader of the sales effort.
The continuing success of the Lake Okeechobee Real Estate Magazine led the Florida groupto consider a real estate magazine in the other communities where Independent has weekly publications.
The area in Hendry County served by the Clewiston News and the Caloosa Belle appeared ripe for such a product, as they were showing good growth in residential real estate. Based on this belief that an "underserved market" existed in real estate, plans for the Hendry GladesReal Estate Magazine were hatched.
The plan for the new publication is to cover the other communities around Lake Okeechobee, including Belle Glade, Pahokee, South Bay, Clewiston, Glades County, LaBelle and Immokalee, and eastward towards Lee County.
Papers involved in this project are the Sun, Clewiston News, Glades County Democrat, Caloosa Belle and Immokalee Bulletin. Unlike the Okeechobee magazine however, this new magazine would be free-standing only, distributed to businesses and stores in these markets.
The sales teams in the south lake office; Brenda Jaramillo, Wanda Graham, Melissa Agee and Lauren Adams, and the Caloosa Belle; Barb Calfee and Dale Conyers were involved in planning the new magazine and eager to start selling. Armed with samples of the Okeechobee magazine and a rate card, the sales staffs blitzed through their markets, aiming for a magazine to hit the streets the first Thursday in March. Kay Sheedy coordinated the sales efforts and Karmen Brown helped with production.
The advertisers' response to the not yet published magazine was phenomenal.
"We felt it was important to get our real estate publication on the street ahead of some competitors who were said to be planning their own real estate products for this underserved market," said Tom Byrd, Florida Operations VP.
"Another exciting thing about this project was the fact that we were able to mesh the existing local knowledge about our market and experience in Okeechobee with the planning template created by Chris Engel,” Byrd added. “This Model Guide for Real Estate Publications prepared by Chris was very helpful not only in organizing our thinking but in simplifying the decision making."
The goal was to launch the product with 12 pages and instead the first issue of the Hendry Glades Real Estate Magazine had 20 pages and several full color ads!
"The niche marketers creed, is 'identify a need and fill it', and we were able to bring this idea to market extremely quickly," Byrd said.
Response to the magazine once it hit the street has been great and we look for a larger magazine next month.
"The entire Florida advertising and circulation team did a great job of implementing the successful launch of the new real estate publication, Hendry Glades Real Estate Magazine", Byrd said.
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Purposeful Neutrality
Journalists don’t pitch, catch, bat or judge
Chief Justice nominee John Roberts recently equated a judge’s role to that of the umpire at a baseball game: not to pitch, catch or bat the ball, and not even to make the rules --- but to interpret the rules. It’s an interesting distinction.
Similarly, it’s important for those of us in journalism to understand our role --- and far too many don’t! Our job is not to pitch, catch or bat in the ballgame of civic life. Too many journalists fall into the mistaken belief that they are part of the local power structure, or that their job is to sit in judgment.
Actually, ours is a higher calling. We serve through journalism --- and good journalism can’t be a part of any power structure. Good journalism is humble. It helps a community make informed decisions. But it shouldn't attempt to influence outcomes except by providing trustworthy information, even-handed reporting, and fair-minded facilitation of the community's forum for discussion.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author, journalist and media critic Ben Bagdikian (who also served two terms as a trustee of Independent’s non-profit holding company) had this to say: "Letting a maximum number of views be heard regularly is not just a nice philosophical notion. It is the best way any society has yet discovered to detect maladjustments quickly, to correct injustices, and to discover new ways to meet our continuing stream of novel problems that rise in a changing environment."
That’s a need we’re filling with our newspapers, with newszap.com, and with the Public Issues forums we’re providing to our communities at newszap.com. But we can’t play that role unless we do it with a full commitment to purposeful neutrality. The national media is abandoning even the pretense of neutrality, apparently as part of their marketing and profit strategies. I fear this is a huge mistake.
Journalists should not be participants in the news we cover. But try telling that to the network celebrity newsreaders.
Our job should be to facilitate the public’s discussion of public issues, not to dominate the discussion. But try telling that to power-seeking publishers, columnists and editorial boards.
At Independent, we’re trying to prove the merits of keeping journalism pure, independent, humble and neutral. And by doing this successfully even in smaller communities (where the pressures to take sides can be most pervasive), it can be a sterling example indeed.
Pure, independent, humble and neutral journalism requires restraint and ego control, but it’s important, exciting and rewarding.
Without journalism, decisions are made in the darkness of ignorance or manipulation instead of the enlightenment of objective knowledge and consideration of opposing viewpoints. Without journalism, a community’s "social relationships" can be nasty, with little chance of progressing to mutual caring, shared ideals and cooperation.
Journalism can be the conduit that allows people to talk to one another, share their dreams and concerns, develop a sense of caring and a sense of community, celebrate successes and discuss what's wrong and what might be done to make things better. (But if the community’s newspaper or website takes side or dominates the debate, it can’t be trusted as the conduit.)
Some of what we do can seem pretty mundane, like simply letting people know about the routines of community activities: who's meeting when and where, about what, and where goods can be purchased and services obtained. Some of it can be inspiring, like encouraging readers to discuss who's doing wonderful things in the community. Some of it can be heart-breaking --- who's suffering, who's hungry, who's lonely, who's dying. Some of it can be pretty frustrating: when communities pull apart instead of together, when people shout at one another without listening, when some battles are won with power instead of logic, selfishly instead of with mutual respect and a sense of fair play.
But all of what we do is vital to the community --- the mundane, the heart-breaking and the frustrating. It's part of the ongoing process that allows communities to form, to become worthwhile and even to aspire to greatness.
The best journalists are those that see themselves as humble servants of the evolving community and as purposeful facilitators of an ongoing political process --- not as part of the current community leadership, and not as power players in the politics of the moment.
Chief Justice nominee John Roberts recently equated a judge’s role to that of the umpire at a baseball game: not to pitch, catch or bat the ball, and not even to make the rules --- but to interpret the rules. It’s an interesting distinction.
Similarly, it’s important for those of us in journalism to understand our role --- and far too many don’t! Our job is not to pitch, catch or bat in the ballgame of civic life. Too many journalists fall into the mistaken belief that they are part of the local power structure, or that their job is to sit in judgment.
Actually, ours is a higher calling. We serve through journalism --- and good journalism can’t be a part of any power structure. Good journalism is humble. It helps a community make informed decisions. But it shouldn't attempt to influence outcomes except by providing trustworthy information, even-handed reporting, and fair-minded facilitation of the community's forum for discussion.
The Pulitzer Prize-winning author, journalist and media critic Ben Bagdikian (who also served two terms as a trustee of Independent’s non-profit holding company) had this to say: "Letting a maximum number of views be heard regularly is not just a nice philosophical notion. It is the best way any society has yet discovered to detect maladjustments quickly, to correct injustices, and to discover new ways to meet our continuing stream of novel problems that rise in a changing environment."
That’s a need we’re filling with our newspapers, with newszap.com, and with the Public Issues forums we’re providing to our communities at newszap.com. But we can’t play that role unless we do it with a full commitment to purposeful neutrality. The national media is abandoning even the pretense of neutrality, apparently as part of their marketing and profit strategies. I fear this is a huge mistake.
Journalists should not be participants in the news we cover. But try telling that to the network celebrity newsreaders.
Our job should be to facilitate the public’s discussion of public issues, not to dominate the discussion. But try telling that to power-seeking publishers, columnists and editorial boards.
At Independent, we’re trying to prove the merits of keeping journalism pure, independent, humble and neutral. And by doing this successfully even in smaller communities (where the pressures to take sides can be most pervasive), it can be a sterling example indeed.
Pure, independent, humble and neutral journalism requires restraint and ego control, but it’s important, exciting and rewarding.
Without journalism, decisions are made in the darkness of ignorance or manipulation instead of the enlightenment of objective knowledge and consideration of opposing viewpoints. Without journalism, a community’s "social relationships" can be nasty, with little chance of progressing to mutual caring, shared ideals and cooperation.
Journalism can be the conduit that allows people to talk to one another, share their dreams and concerns, develop a sense of caring and a sense of community, celebrate successes and discuss what's wrong and what might be done to make things better. (But if the community’s newspaper or website takes side or dominates the debate, it can’t be trusted as the conduit.)
Some of what we do can seem pretty mundane, like simply letting people know about the routines of community activities: who's meeting when and where, about what, and where goods can be purchased and services obtained. Some of it can be inspiring, like encouraging readers to discuss who's doing wonderful things in the community. Some of it can be heart-breaking --- who's suffering, who's hungry, who's lonely, who's dying. Some of it can be pretty frustrating: when communities pull apart instead of together, when people shout at one another without listening, when some battles are won with power instead of logic, selfishly instead of with mutual respect and a sense of fair play.
But all of what we do is vital to the community --- the mundane, the heart-breaking and the frustrating. It's part of the ongoing process that allows communities to form, to become worthwhile and even to aspire to greatness.
The best journalists are those that see themselves as humble servants of the evolving community and as purposeful facilitators of an ongoing political process --- not as part of the current community leadership, and not as power players in the politics of the moment.
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Sussex Post
By Andy West
Managing Editor, Delmarva Group
The Sussex Post has been sporting a new flag and a new attitude.
Earlier this year, the Sussex Post’s News Plan was re-written, better defining the newspaper’s unique position as the only weekly in a crowded market to serve all of the Indian River School District.
The goal was to position the 20,000 circulation newspaper and its online services as the must-reads in central Sussex County, focusing heavily on news from the Indian River School District and the communities within its boundaries.
The Sussex Post is uniquely positioned as the only paper with distribution throughout the Indian River School District. Its neighboring competitors have limited coverage areas, with one concentrating on news in Georgetown and others concentrating on news from the Quiet Resorts in the southeastern portion of the county.
It’s no small undertaking for the news, advertising and delivery teams.
The Indian River School District covers 360 square miles and its population continues to grow. The district’s student population stands at more than 7,600 students, up nearly 15 percent over the past decade.
“All feedback has been positive,” said Sussex Post News Editor James Diehl.
James, who lives in Seaford, joined the Sussex Post in January after returning to the area from Indiana. His previous experience with one of the Post’s competitors allowed him to hit the ground running. He made visiting the schools’ leaders and other community leaders a top priority, asking for their ideas and contributions.
The key to our success has been finding stories of interest to everyone in the readership area, particularly students and parents in the school district.
“We strive to have two or three school district stories in each edition,” James said.
The Sussex Post newspaper and its supplementary online services at newszap.com appeal to the large majority of readers throughout the district each week, striving to have great lead stories on development, growth, schools, business, agriculture and community affairs. The area, once predominantly farmland, has been experiencing a huge housing boom as people flock to Sussex to enjoy low property taxes and life along the river.
The newspaper staff has increased coverage in the communities within the district, not only with staff-generated material but also with a greater amount of submitted news, including news gathered from community blogs and links.
To draw readers into the Sussex Post, a flag change was in order. Webmaster and volunteer graphic artist Linda Snyder stepped in to help. She came up with several scenarios and one, the playful mallard, was a surprise choice that really spoke volumes about the area the paper serves. So many people are drawn to Sussex County for its rural setting and scenic beauty along the banks of the Indian River.
Kitt Parker, a native Sussex Countian, has been the News Services arm of the Sussex Post and The Leader & State Register since January. More and more people are filling the sussexpost@newszap.com e-mail in-box with submissions.
“There’s a lot more than when we started,” said Kitt.
The weekly newspaper is the only source for a complete Indian River schools calendar. Getting one started required calls and reminders to key contacts at each school. Now, we’re getting lots of submissions.
Sports, too, saw a huge increase in content.
Jeff Mitchell, another Sussex County native and graduate of Delaware Technical and Community College-Owens Campus in Georgetown (right in the heart of the Sussex Post territory), joined the staff part-time in the summer.
His mission is to cover scholastic and community sports in the area. The Sussex Post’s coverage area is home to a 600-plus member youth soccer program (River Soccer Club), three Little Leagues (Georgetown, Millsboro and Roxana), two Pop Warner football programs (Georgetown and Lower Sussex) and three high schools (Indian River, Sussex Central and Sussex Tech).
“The sports content adds to the legitimacy of the paper now,” said James.
With increased news and advertising content, the Sussex Post has been averaging 20 pages per edition, up from 12 and 14 pages from last year. The percentage of space has been about 40 percent editorial.
Doris Shenton and Joyce Ramsey are advertising managers for the paper. Nancy Niblett and Jenny Keim serve on the advertising services side.
“The advertisers are pleased with circulation, readership and most importantly the news content which is always up to date and has the local flavor which all the Sussex Countians love to read,” said Doris, who has been selling advertising for the Sussex Post for about eight years.
Doris Shenton
“The Post prides itself on news content and making the readers aware of the sports and local activities in the area,” said Doris. “Just recently the Post went to being paid on the newsstand which is giving proven readership thought out the communities.”
Joyce Ramsey
In April, the Sussex Post discontinued the practice of bulk drops at retail locations in favor of selling the newspaper for 50 cents per copy at newsstands and vending machines. However, delivery continues to be free to thousands of homes in Georgetown, Millsboro, Selbyville, Milville, Clarksville and Dagsboro.
”We purchased 35 used vending machines, had them repainted and the Sussex Post Logo put on them,” said Don Clendaniel, distribution manager. “Locations had to be found for the 35 vending machines and 21 more stores to handle the Sussex Post. We are currently putting an average of nine papers in each store location and 92 papers in each vending machine. There is a total of 16,320 free home delivered, giving us a total of 20,000 Sussex Post delivered each week.
“This was a major project which involved the setup of the vending machines, mapping the home delivery routes, finding locations for the vending machines and stores,” Don said.. “Zed Postles and Bill Dodd played a major part in getting this project up and running.”
The synergy created with improvements to news, advertising and delivery has been very positive.
“Over the years, I can only say that I have seen this area grow and the Sussex Post has really handled the growth and the future of the area,” said Doris. “The Sussex Post is the BEST newspaper in Sussex County.”
Managing Editor, Delmarva Group
The Sussex Post has been sporting a new flag and a new attitude.
Earlier this year, the Sussex Post’s News Plan was re-written, better defining the newspaper’s unique position as the only weekly in a crowded market to serve all of the Indian River School District.
The goal was to position the 20,000 circulation newspaper and its online services as the must-reads in central Sussex County, focusing heavily on news from the Indian River School District and the communities within its boundaries.
The Sussex Post is uniquely positioned as the only paper with distribution throughout the Indian River School District. Its neighboring competitors have limited coverage areas, with one concentrating on news in Georgetown and others concentrating on news from the Quiet Resorts in the southeastern portion of the county.
It’s no small undertaking for the news, advertising and delivery teams.
The Indian River School District covers 360 square miles and its population continues to grow. The district’s student population stands at more than 7,600 students, up nearly 15 percent over the past decade.
“All feedback has been positive,” said Sussex Post News Editor James Diehl.
James, who lives in Seaford, joined the Sussex Post in January after returning to the area from Indiana. His previous experience with one of the Post’s competitors allowed him to hit the ground running. He made visiting the schools’ leaders and other community leaders a top priority, asking for their ideas and contributions.
Sussex Post staff includes ad services staffers Nancy Niblett and Jenny Keim, news editor James Diehl and sports writer Jeff Mitchell (standing from left) and News Services writer Kitt Parker (seated).
The key to our success has been finding stories of interest to everyone in the readership area, particularly students and parents in the school district.
“We strive to have two or three school district stories in each edition,” James said.
The Sussex Post newspaper and its supplementary online services at newszap.com appeal to the large majority of readers throughout the district each week, striving to have great lead stories on development, growth, schools, business, agriculture and community affairs. The area, once predominantly farmland, has been experiencing a huge housing boom as people flock to Sussex to enjoy low property taxes and life along the river.
The newspaper staff has increased coverage in the communities within the district, not only with staff-generated material but also with a greater amount of submitted news, including news gathered from community blogs and links.
To draw readers into the Sussex Post, a flag change was in order. Webmaster and volunteer graphic artist Linda Snyder stepped in to help. She came up with several scenarios and one, the playful mallard, was a surprise choice that really spoke volumes about the area the paper serves. So many people are drawn to Sussex County for its rural setting and scenic beauty along the banks of the Indian River.
Kitt Parker, a native Sussex Countian, has been the News Services arm of the Sussex Post and The Leader & State Register since January. More and more people are filling the sussexpost@newszap.com e-mail in-box with submissions.
“There’s a lot more than when we started,” said Kitt.
The weekly newspaper is the only source for a complete Indian River schools calendar. Getting one started required calls and reminders to key contacts at each school. Now, we’re getting lots of submissions.
Sports, too, saw a huge increase in content.
Jeff Mitchell, another Sussex County native and graduate of Delaware Technical and Community College-Owens Campus in Georgetown (right in the heart of the Sussex Post territory), joined the staff part-time in the summer.
His mission is to cover scholastic and community sports in the area. The Sussex Post’s coverage area is home to a 600-plus member youth soccer program (River Soccer Club), three Little Leagues (Georgetown, Millsboro and Roxana), two Pop Warner football programs (Georgetown and Lower Sussex) and three high schools (Indian River, Sussex Central and Sussex Tech).
“The sports content adds to the legitimacy of the paper now,” said James.
With increased news and advertising content, the Sussex Post has been averaging 20 pages per edition, up from 12 and 14 pages from last year. The percentage of space has been about 40 percent editorial.
Doris Shenton and Joyce Ramsey are advertising managers for the paper. Nancy Niblett and Jenny Keim serve on the advertising services side.
“The advertisers are pleased with circulation, readership and most importantly the news content which is always up to date and has the local flavor which all the Sussex Countians love to read,” said Doris, who has been selling advertising for the Sussex Post for about eight years.
Doris Shenton
“The Post prides itself on news content and making the readers aware of the sports and local activities in the area,” said Doris. “Just recently the Post went to being paid on the newsstand which is giving proven readership thought out the communities.”
Joyce Ramsey
In April, the Sussex Post discontinued the practice of bulk drops at retail locations in favor of selling the newspaper for 50 cents per copy at newsstands and vending machines. However, delivery continues to be free to thousands of homes in Georgetown, Millsboro, Selbyville, Milville, Clarksville and Dagsboro.
”We purchased 35 used vending machines, had them repainted and the Sussex Post Logo put on them,” said Don Clendaniel, distribution manager. “Locations had to be found for the 35 vending machines and 21 more stores to handle the Sussex Post. We are currently putting an average of nine papers in each store location and 92 papers in each vending machine. There is a total of 16,320 free home delivered, giving us a total of 20,000 Sussex Post delivered each week.
“This was a major project which involved the setup of the vending machines, mapping the home delivery routes, finding locations for the vending machines and stores,” Don said.. “Zed Postles and Bill Dodd played a major part in getting this project up and running.”
The synergy created with improvements to news, advertising and delivery has been very positive.
“Over the years, I can only say that I have seen this area grow and the Sussex Post has really handled the growth and the future of the area,” said Doris. “The Sussex Post is the BEST newspaper in Sussex County.”
Andy West
ANNIVERSARY PROFILE
15 YEARS
Andy West coaches soccer in the Kent and Sussex Soccer Club, based in Harrington. The Force, his Under-12 team, includes standing from left, are Spence Bradford, Logan Timson, Joey Mejia, Rick Emory, Coach Andy West, Andrew Voshell and Cody Sapp; and front from left, Jorden Dennis, Taylor Clark and Andy West Jr.
Andy also coaches an Under-10 team called the Newsmakers.
Name: Andy West
Newspaper: Delmarva Group
Position: Managing Editor
Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: 25
Job description: Leading, organizing and encouraging meaningful coverage of high-interest issues and content that will lead readers to seek out, use and enjoy our newspapers and online services.
What I like best (about my job): The never-ending search and chase for great stories.
Most memorable moment with INI: Without question, it was the President's Day snowstorm of 1993. We had 31 inches of snow. We were deep in great news stories and deeper in production and delivery challenges.
Hobbies/Interests: Coaching and refereeing youth soccer; sandcastle building; following sports (especially Phillies, Blue Hens, Red Wings); listening to the music of my outlaw heroes (Hank Williams, Hank Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd).
Fun fact (about myself): Writing well for the Wicomico High school newspaper and getting cut from my school's baseball team led to my newspaper career. A family friend suggested I give up on baseball and write for the Daily Times in Salisbury, Md. A few months later, I asked then-sports editor Rick Cullen to give me a shot. Despite the fact that I had no idea how to type, he welcomed me with open arms and pried open the Thomson Newspaper chain's tight checkbook. The pay was great -- 25 cents an inch.
15 YEARS
Andy West coaches soccer in the Kent and Sussex Soccer Club, based in Harrington. The Force, his Under-12 team, includes standing from left, are Spence Bradford, Logan Timson, Joey Mejia, Rick Emory, Coach Andy West, Andrew Voshell and Cody Sapp; and front from left, Jorden Dennis, Taylor Clark and Andy West Jr.
Andy also coaches an Under-10 team called the Newsmakers.
Name: Andy West
Newspaper: Delmarva Group
Position: Managing Editor
Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: 25
Job description: Leading, organizing and encouraging meaningful coverage of high-interest issues and content that will lead readers to seek out, use and enjoy our newspapers and online services.
What I like best (about my job): The never-ending search and chase for great stories.
Most memorable moment with INI: Without question, it was the President's Day snowstorm of 1993. We had 31 inches of snow. We were deep in great news stories and deeper in production and delivery challenges.
Hobbies/Interests: Coaching and refereeing youth soccer; sandcastle building; following sports (especially Phillies, Blue Hens, Red Wings); listening to the music of my outlaw heroes (Hank Williams, Hank Jr., Lynyrd Skynyrd).
Fun fact (about myself): Writing well for the Wicomico High school newspaper and getting cut from my school's baseball team led to my newspaper career. A family friend suggested I give up on baseball and write for the Daily Times in Salisbury, Md. A few months later, I asked then-sports editor Rick Cullen to give me a shot. Despite the fact that I had no idea how to type, he welcomed me with open arms and pried open the Thomson Newspaper chain's tight checkbook. The pay was great -- 25 cents an inch.
Pam Sabbato
ANNIVERSARY PROFILE
10 YEARS
Name: Pam Sabbato
Office: DPC
Position: Insert scheduler/charge person of the mailroom
Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: 10 years
Job description: I schedule all inserts & I am second in charge of the mailroom
What I like best (about my job): I like working with the different departments, working on the computer, & everyone in the mailroom
Most memorable moment with INI: When I was recognized for my performance by receiving an excellence award
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy watching movies, camping, swimming & reading if it is something that is interesting to me
Fun fact (about myself): When I mailed a bill back to myself.
10 YEARS
Name: Pam Sabbato
Office: DPC
Position: Insert scheduler/charge person of the mailroom
Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: 10 years
Job description: I schedule all inserts & I am second in charge of the mailroom
What I like best (about my job): I like working with the different departments, working on the computer, & everyone in the mailroom
Most memorable moment with INI: When I was recognized for my performance by receiving an excellence award
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy watching movies, camping, swimming & reading if it is something that is interesting to me
Fun fact (about myself): When I mailed a bill back to myself.
Internet Traffic Ads are Delmarva team effort
by Heather Cregar
Delmarva has seen a recent upswing in advertising on newszap.com for a variety of customers of all sizes and categories.
Ad Manager Laura Owens works with the Real Estate companies at the Delaware beaches, and she recently signed up five local Realtors for an Internet traffic ad to link to their websites.
Laura details her success, "Most of the Realtors I've interviewed credit 'the Internet' as their greatest lead source. Whether it be a national site like realtor.com, a comprehensive brokerage site, or their personal site, most feel that potential buyers and sellers start the process online. Having sold a handful of tile ads lately, I've found that if a Realtor tells you that the majority of their client leads come from the net, it isn't too difficult to convince them that the Internet sells! A tile ad is a logical marketing method. Additionally, many agents are proud of their sites and enjoy showing them off."
Ad Manager Joyce Ramsey has also seen success in the Real Estate market for Internet traffic ads. Joyce recently signed an agreement with a large, elaborate housing community for an Internet traffic ad on all three of the Delmarva community homepages. She points out that the number of newsap.com visitors and the choices of different community homepages are her top selling points.
"Everyone is very aware of the Internet now!" Joyce explained. "This is just one more way the customer can use a tool they have in front of them every day to reach a vast market, and they know people search the Internet."
Lorraine Luongo is another Ad Manager that successfully closed a sale for all three of the homepages with an exclusive country inn that offers hunting and fishing for the outdoor sportsman. Lorraine has found that it's helpful to demonstrate newszap.com for the customer. "When presenting the proposal, it is helpful to have a computer nearby so that the customer can view newszap.com and all it has to offer. Customers are impressed with the main home page with all the different areas represented."
Lorraine adds that a little competition can help spark a sale, too. "When they go to the community websites and view the existing advertisers this generates even more interest because they want to be on there, too. The advertisers like the options of linking to either their website or their email address. In addition, advertisers state that Newszap is a cost effective way of reaching farther than just their own area and creating awareness of their business in other markets."
Major Accounts Advertising Manager Diane Cahall has also found that viewing newszap.com with the customer is a great way to show its benefits. Diane explains that when a customer has a website, newszap.com is part of every advertising proposal. "While obtaining the information for the customer's confidential marketing profile, I always ask about their website. I make sure to visit their website before presenting the proposal and take a few notes on what caught my eye. At the end of my proposal I mention that I am so glad they told me they had a website, or I probably wouldn't have known. I try to mention something specific on the site and emphasize the importance of visitors...since so much of their time is contributed to maintaining the site. Then I explain the benefits of advertising on newszap.com. If there is a computer at their desk, I will asked them to pull up Newszap.com and we can view the site together."
Our newszap.com sales on Delmarva aren't limited to Real Estate or resort-related businesses. Recently Major Accounts Advertising Manager Tim Gary and Vice President of Advertising Darel LaPrade made a joint presentation to Boscov's Department Stores. Boscov's operates about 40 stores in the eastern United States and is also one of Independent Newspapers, Inc. largest advertising accounts.
Historically this client has contracted to use retail display and preprints in most of our Delmarva publications. This time Tim and Darel not only proposed increasing usage in these same areas, but added newszap.com banner ads to reinforce the marketing effort. The customer liked the idea and felt newszap.com was an excellent way to support his overall message.
Tim was pleased to report, "The full proposal was agreed to, including newszap.com banner ads on the three homepages for Central Delaware, Sussex County, and the Maryland Eastern Shore. New incremental website business totals several thousand dollars annually!"
But, newszap.com isn't just for the big businesses either. Ad Manager Jaclyn Fuller worked with Fifer Orchards to show them the benefits of a tile ad on newszap.com. Fifers has been in business since 1919 and offers a variety of local home grown produce and fresh baked goods. They have a high-quality website with constantly updated information about the availability of their produce, their history, special events, and lots more.
"Even though this customer wasn't a regular visitor to newszap.com, she saw the value in reaching out to more potential customers through our website,"Jaclyn said. "Plus they liked that even though they were a small business they could afford a color ad online and have unlimited reach to anyone 24 hour a day, seven days a week. This is a nice supplement to their print ads in the Delaware State News."
The success of newszap.com for Delmarva is rounded out by the ad services team. Sherry Luff is the Ad Services Specialist who has the important job of keeping the customers happy and satisfied with their advertising on newszap.com. Sherry has found that most customers are impressed with the high number of monthly visitors to newszap.com, in addition to the reasonable price.
Sherry says, "Since we do have a large amount of visitors per month, the customer always agrees that this is a great way to get the word out about their business." Sherry also hears plenty of compliments from the customers about the ad designs by Graphic Artists Angi Hicks and Brian Dawson. "The customers are always happy with their ad design. We make sure the ad is the exact way they want it before we post it on newszap.com."
Selling Internet traffic ads on Delmarva is a team effort.
Delmarva has seen a recent upswing in advertising on newszap.com for a variety of customers of all sizes and categories.
Ad Manager Laura Owens works with the Real Estate companies at the Delaware beaches, and she recently signed up five local Realtors for an Internet traffic ad to link to their websites.
Laura details her success, "Most of the Realtors I've interviewed credit 'the Internet' as their greatest lead source. Whether it be a national site like realtor.com, a comprehensive brokerage site, or their personal site, most feel that potential buyers and sellers start the process online. Having sold a handful of tile ads lately, I've found that if a Realtor tells you that the majority of their client leads come from the net, it isn't too difficult to convince them that the Internet sells! A tile ad is a logical marketing method. Additionally, many agents are proud of their sites and enjoy showing them off."
Ad Manager Joyce Ramsey has also seen success in the Real Estate market for Internet traffic ads. Joyce recently signed an agreement with a large, elaborate housing community for an Internet traffic ad on all three of the Delmarva community homepages. She points out that the number of newsap.com visitors and the choices of different community homepages are her top selling points.
"Everyone is very aware of the Internet now!" Joyce explained. "This is just one more way the customer can use a tool they have in front of them every day to reach a vast market, and they know people search the Internet."
Lorraine Luongo is another Ad Manager that successfully closed a sale for all three of the homepages with an exclusive country inn that offers hunting and fishing for the outdoor sportsman. Lorraine has found that it's helpful to demonstrate newszap.com for the customer. "When presenting the proposal, it is helpful to have a computer nearby so that the customer can view newszap.com and all it has to offer. Customers are impressed with the main home page with all the different areas represented."
Lorraine adds that a little competition can help spark a sale, too. "When they go to the community websites and view the existing advertisers this generates even more interest because they want to be on there, too. The advertisers like the options of linking to either their website or their email address. In addition, advertisers state that Newszap is a cost effective way of reaching farther than just their own area and creating awareness of their business in other markets."
Major Accounts Advertising Manager Diane Cahall has also found that viewing newszap.com with the customer is a great way to show its benefits. Diane explains that when a customer has a website, newszap.com is part of every advertising proposal. "While obtaining the information for the customer's confidential marketing profile, I always ask about their website. I make sure to visit their website before presenting the proposal and take a few notes on what caught my eye. At the end of my proposal I mention that I am so glad they told me they had a website, or I probably wouldn't have known. I try to mention something specific on the site and emphasize the importance of visitors...since so much of their time is contributed to maintaining the site. Then I explain the benefits of advertising on newszap.com. If there is a computer at their desk, I will asked them to pull up Newszap.com and we can view the site together."
Our newszap.com sales on Delmarva aren't limited to Real Estate or resort-related businesses. Recently Major Accounts Advertising Manager Tim Gary and Vice President of Advertising Darel LaPrade made a joint presentation to Boscov's Department Stores. Boscov's operates about 40 stores in the eastern United States and is also one of Independent Newspapers, Inc. largest advertising accounts.
Historically this client has contracted to use retail display and preprints in most of our Delmarva publications. This time Tim and Darel not only proposed increasing usage in these same areas, but added newszap.com banner ads to reinforce the marketing effort. The customer liked the idea and felt newszap.com was an excellent way to support his overall message.
Tim was pleased to report, "The full proposal was agreed to, including newszap.com banner ads on the three homepages for Central Delaware, Sussex County, and the Maryland Eastern Shore. New incremental website business totals several thousand dollars annually!"
But, newszap.com isn't just for the big businesses either. Ad Manager Jaclyn Fuller worked with Fifer Orchards to show them the benefits of a tile ad on newszap.com. Fifers has been in business since 1919 and offers a variety of local home grown produce and fresh baked goods. They have a high-quality website with constantly updated information about the availability of their produce, their history, special events, and lots more.
"Even though this customer wasn't a regular visitor to newszap.com, she saw the value in reaching out to more potential customers through our website,"Jaclyn said. "Plus they liked that even though they were a small business they could afford a color ad online and have unlimited reach to anyone 24 hour a day, seven days a week. This is a nice supplement to their print ads in the Delaware State News."
The success of newszap.com for Delmarva is rounded out by the ad services team. Sherry Luff is the Ad Services Specialist who has the important job of keeping the customers happy and satisfied with their advertising on newszap.com. Sherry has found that most customers are impressed with the high number of monthly visitors to newszap.com, in addition to the reasonable price.
Sherry says, "Since we do have a large amount of visitors per month, the customer always agrees that this is a great way to get the word out about their business." Sherry also hears plenty of compliments from the customers about the ad designs by Graphic Artists Angi Hicks and Brian Dawson. "The customers are always happy with their ad design. We make sure the ad is the exact way they want it before we post it on newszap.com."
Selling Internet traffic ads on Delmarva is a team effort.
Gilbert Excellence Awards marking 10 years in 2005
By John S. Wolfe
Has it been 10 years?
That seems to be the most common comment when anyone begins to discuss the 10th annual Gilbert Community Excellence Awards, to be held Oct. 22 at the Trilogy golf course in the southern part of this fast-growing town.
It was the fall of 1995 when Ed Dulin of Independent Newspapers and leaders of the Gilbert municipal government, the Gilbert school district and the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce came together with the idea to honor individuals making a difference in the community.
That first banquet had a Western theme and was held under a tent along Main Street.
In the years since, the event has grown, both in terms of the honors bestowed and the number of participants. More than 250 people are expected to attend this year's event.
Each sponsor -- the original four and the Higley school district -- use the ceremony to present annual recognition awards.
Each school district salutes an educator of the year, a volunteer of the year and a support staff member of the year.
The town recognizes a neighborhood of the year, a public service employee of the year, and a municipal volunteer of the year. The mayor also selects recipients of special awards.
The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce honors small and large businesses of the year and a volunteer of the year.
The Gilbert Independent selects a community volunteer of the year, a hero from the past year, and a winner of a community beautification award.
In addition to the award presentations, the event features a "Taste of Gilbert" buffet, with almost a dozen restaurants showcasing their specialties.
"What's most significant about this event is that it's truly a community event," said Kathy Langdon, the Chamber's president and CEO. "It brings together the major entities to celebrate excellence in the community."
She added that the Independent plays a major role in the event.
"They are our direct contact with the residents in the community," she said.
"They also focus on the community in general with their awards, whereas the others tend to focus on their own organizations."
Has it been 10 years?
That seems to be the most common comment when anyone begins to discuss the 10th annual Gilbert Community Excellence Awards, to be held Oct. 22 at the Trilogy golf course in the southern part of this fast-growing town.
It was the fall of 1995 when Ed Dulin of Independent Newspapers and leaders of the Gilbert municipal government, the Gilbert school district and the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce came together with the idea to honor individuals making a difference in the community.
That first banquet had a Western theme and was held under a tent along Main Street.
In the years since, the event has grown, both in terms of the honors bestowed and the number of participants. More than 250 people are expected to attend this year's event.
Each sponsor -- the original four and the Higley school district -- use the ceremony to present annual recognition awards.
Each school district salutes an educator of the year, a volunteer of the year and a support staff member of the year.
The town recognizes a neighborhood of the year, a public service employee of the year, and a municipal volunteer of the year. The mayor also selects recipients of special awards.
The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce honors small and large businesses of the year and a volunteer of the year.
The Gilbert Independent selects a community volunteer of the year, a hero from the past year, and a winner of a community beautification award.
In addition to the award presentations, the event features a "Taste of Gilbert" buffet, with almost a dozen restaurants showcasing their specialties.
"What's most significant about this event is that it's truly a community event," said Kathy Langdon, the Chamber's president and CEO. "It brings together the major entities to celebrate excellence in the community."
She added that the Independent plays a major role in the event.
"They are our direct contact with the residents in the community," she said.
"They also focus on the community in general with their awards, whereas the others tend to focus on their own organizations."
Queen Creek Independent marks 1st anniversary
By John S. Wolfe
A year ago at this time, the small but growing community of Queen Creek, Ariz. received its news in the form of a monthly publication, which had recently changed hands.
Seeing an opportunity to serve the area in the far southeast valley of metropolitan Phoenix, Independent Newspapers launched the Queen Creek Independent on Oct. 6, 2004.
Distributed to 12,000 homes in the town of Queen Creek and adjacent Pinal County communities of Johnson Ranch and San Tan Heights, the Independent has made a difference.
"It's hard to believe it's been a year," Queen Creek Mayor Wendy Feldman-Kerr. "What struck me is that it's good to have competition, to have another viewpoint."
The paper has quickly become a favorite with advertisers, averaging between 18 and 20 pages a week.
Submissions from the community, particularly town news and calendar items, have been plentiful.
The Public Issue blog for Queen Creek has also been well-received, with a continuous back-and-forth on issues like incorporation in the San Tan area and the pressures of development.
The whole area has been undergoing change, with farms and fields replaced by housing subdivisions. The population has increased from 6,000 or so to an estimated 20,000 in five years. There are predictions that the number will increase to 100,000 in the next decade, despite the area's considerable distance from downtown Phoenix.
The newspaper has been a key piece in Independent's East Valley strategy.
The Queen Creek product is a bridge between the company's Chandler and Gilbert newspapers and the East Mesa and Apache Junction newspapers.
The combined distribution of 113,000 is unmatched in the area.
A year ago at this time, the small but growing community of Queen Creek, Ariz. received its news in the form of a monthly publication, which had recently changed hands.
Seeing an opportunity to serve the area in the far southeast valley of metropolitan Phoenix, Independent Newspapers launched the Queen Creek Independent on Oct. 6, 2004.
Distributed to 12,000 homes in the town of Queen Creek and adjacent Pinal County communities of Johnson Ranch and San Tan Heights, the Independent has made a difference.
"It's hard to believe it's been a year," Queen Creek Mayor Wendy Feldman-Kerr. "What struck me is that it's good to have competition, to have another viewpoint."
The paper has quickly become a favorite with advertisers, averaging between 18 and 20 pages a week.
Submissions from the community, particularly town news and calendar items, have been plentiful.
The Public Issue blog for Queen Creek has also been well-received, with a continuous back-and-forth on issues like incorporation in the San Tan area and the pressures of development.
The whole area has been undergoing change, with farms and fields replaced by housing subdivisions. The population has increased from 6,000 or so to an estimated 20,000 in five years. There are predictions that the number will increase to 100,000 in the next decade, despite the area's considerable distance from downtown Phoenix.
The newspaper has been a key piece in Independent's East Valley strategy.
The Queen Creek product is a bridge between the company's Chandler and Gilbert newspapers and the East Mesa and Apache Junction newspapers.
The combined distribution of 113,000 is unmatched in the area.
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Layoffs avoided by Operation Silver Lining
Because newspapers have historically been quite profitable, most of them have been bought up by huge corporations whose primary interest is profit instead of service. When profits decline, they show their true colors by laying off people ruthlessly to fulfill their unrealistic promises to Wall Street.
It's perfectly natural that newspaper profits aren't as high as they once were --- and they shouldn't be. The truth may be that newspaper publishing will never be as easy, or as profitable, as it once was. Newspapers no longer enjoy a monopoly (and in the long haul that'll be good for us and good for the country).
There has been a proliferation of new sources of information, and new forms of merchandising. And there are emerging technologies that are sure to change newspapers even more, and to threaten those that fail to change (or that make the wrong changes). Wall Street had better get used to lower profits, or they're going to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
Independent is owned by a non-profit journalistic trust. We don't have to meet Wall Street's profit expectations. Because we don't have to pay dividends, we can thrive on modest profits. We still need profits to continue to invest in the company's future growth, to service our debt, and to maintain adequate cash reserves. But we are free to reinvest every penny of after-tax profits back into the company and its journalistic mission.
We are making significant investments in the company’s future. And to pay for those investments, we are currently scrambling (just like the rest of the industry) to improve our profits. Yet there are significant differences in how we do it.
For example, our company has not had a mass layoff of personnel in over 35 years. This is remarkable for a company of any size, and should be a special source of pride for all INIers.
It is sad that so many American companies are addicted to a “boom or bust” mentality. They over-hire when things are going well, and then are far too quick to engage in mass layoffs. This seems to be a never-ending cycle that continues without any consideration of the human suffering that it causes. It’s also a clueless way to do business because it is demoralizing (even to the people who don’t get laid off) and destroys long-term trust in the company.
INI’s people are aware of the many other companies that have chosen layoffs as the path to profit improvement, and they're appreciative that their company rejects such "easy" solutions and instead pursues more creative and compassionate approaches.
Our people continue to prove that this layoff nonsense simply isn’t necessary. Yes, we too must reduce our workforce at times. But we do it by engaging in what we call “Operation Silver Lining” --- a proactive plan that allows us to make workforce adjustments without victimizing innocent people.
Operation Silver Lining requires some sacrifices by the company and its people. But one of the things I’ve always loved about INI’s people has been their unfailing willingness to make these sacrifices so we can avoid layoffs.
Here’s how they do it:
1. The company resists the temptation to engage in massive layoffs. Payroll is our biggest controllable expense, so layoffs would provide a “quick fix” and would improve profits faster and more dramatically. But we feel it would be a breach of faith with our people, so we’re willing to take a slower and more difficult route. Instead….
2. We terminate staffers who aren’t productive. (We don’t engage in layoffs, but we do terminate employees who still aren’t productive despite our coaching. This should be ongoing, but sometimes we get lazy about it. When workforce reductions are necessary, it forces us to be more diligent.)
3. We identify positions that could be eliminated either permanently or temporarily, via transfer or attrition, and we try to identify individuals in those positions who might be flexible enough to succeed (at least temporarily) in positions other than the ones they currently occupy.
4. We ask some individuals to accept temporary transfers to other departments --- or even other offices --- to revenue-producing areas and/or to fill essential positions where we have openings that would otherwise have to be filled with a new hire.
5. We do not automatically fill open positions, and there are no new hires without the express permission of the appropriate vice president and president. (This allows us to seize every opportunity to reduce workforce via attrition or transfer.)
I'd love to hear from you at JoeSmyth@newszap.com. Do you agree or disagree with the thinking outlined above? Do you feel your company is taking the right approaches to prepare for a prosperous future? What can you personally do to help? Could you become a candidate for a temporary or permanent transfer under “Operation Silver Lining”, or do you have other ideas you think we should consider?
It's perfectly natural that newspaper profits aren't as high as they once were --- and they shouldn't be. The truth may be that newspaper publishing will never be as easy, or as profitable, as it once was. Newspapers no longer enjoy a monopoly (and in the long haul that'll be good for us and good for the country).
There has been a proliferation of new sources of information, and new forms of merchandising. And there are emerging technologies that are sure to change newspapers even more, and to threaten those that fail to change (or that make the wrong changes). Wall Street had better get used to lower profits, or they're going to kill the goose that lays the golden egg.
Independent is owned by a non-profit journalistic trust. We don't have to meet Wall Street's profit expectations. Because we don't have to pay dividends, we can thrive on modest profits. We still need profits to continue to invest in the company's future growth, to service our debt, and to maintain adequate cash reserves. But we are free to reinvest every penny of after-tax profits back into the company and its journalistic mission.
We are making significant investments in the company’s future. And to pay for those investments, we are currently scrambling (just like the rest of the industry) to improve our profits. Yet there are significant differences in how we do it.
For example, our company has not had a mass layoff of personnel in over 35 years. This is remarkable for a company of any size, and should be a special source of pride for all INIers.
It is sad that so many American companies are addicted to a “boom or bust” mentality. They over-hire when things are going well, and then are far too quick to engage in mass layoffs. This seems to be a never-ending cycle that continues without any consideration of the human suffering that it causes. It’s also a clueless way to do business because it is demoralizing (even to the people who don’t get laid off) and destroys long-term trust in the company.
INI’s people are aware of the many other companies that have chosen layoffs as the path to profit improvement, and they're appreciative that their company rejects such "easy" solutions and instead pursues more creative and compassionate approaches.
Our people continue to prove that this layoff nonsense simply isn’t necessary. Yes, we too must reduce our workforce at times. But we do it by engaging in what we call “Operation Silver Lining” --- a proactive plan that allows us to make workforce adjustments without victimizing innocent people.
Operation Silver Lining requires some sacrifices by the company and its people. But one of the things I’ve always loved about INI’s people has been their unfailing willingness to make these sacrifices so we can avoid layoffs.
Here’s how they do it:
1. The company resists the temptation to engage in massive layoffs. Payroll is our biggest controllable expense, so layoffs would provide a “quick fix” and would improve profits faster and more dramatically. But we feel it would be a breach of faith with our people, so we’re willing to take a slower and more difficult route. Instead….
2. We terminate staffers who aren’t productive. (We don’t engage in layoffs, but we do terminate employees who still aren’t productive despite our coaching. This should be ongoing, but sometimes we get lazy about it. When workforce reductions are necessary, it forces us to be more diligent.)
3. We identify positions that could be eliminated either permanently or temporarily, via transfer or attrition, and we try to identify individuals in those positions who might be flexible enough to succeed (at least temporarily) in positions other than the ones they currently occupy.
4. We ask some individuals to accept temporary transfers to other departments --- or even other offices --- to revenue-producing areas and/or to fill essential positions where we have openings that would otherwise have to be filled with a new hire.
5. We do not automatically fill open positions, and there are no new hires without the express permission of the appropriate vice president and president. (This allows us to seize every opportunity to reduce workforce via attrition or transfer.)
I'd love to hear from you at JoeSmyth@newszap.com. Do you agree or disagree with the thinking outlined above? Do you feel your company is taking the right approaches to prepare for a prosperous future? What can you personally do to help? Could you become a candidate for a temporary or permanent transfer under “Operation Silver Lining”, or do you have other ideas you think we should consider?
Judy Kasten
ANNIVERSARY PROFILE
25 YEARS
Name: Judy Kasten
Newspaper: Independent Newspapers of FL
Position: Advertising Director/INI Florida, team leader of the Okeechobee News.
Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: 25
Job description: Coach and support our ad managers and ad services teams.
What I like best (about my job): The people --we have a great group of employees in Florida and many of us have worked together for a number of years. Our team is strong and committed to doing the best they can, be it advertising, customer service, editorial or circulation.
Most memorable moment with INI: There have been lots of interesting things but probably the funniest thing happened shortly after I started working for INI at the Arcadian 25 years ago as customer service representative. Two young boys came into the front office holding a live, 2 1/2 foot alligator. They asked to speak to a reporter. When the reporter came to the front office, she told them she could take a picture of them with their alligator but if it was printed in the paper, they would be arrested for catching a gator. They dropped the alligator--right in front of my desk. The frightened alligator ran under my desk and I climbed on top of my desk. That was the closest I had ever been to a live alligator!
Hobbies/Interests: I like to garden. Working with plants and moving dirt around is a real stress reliever. I also spend as much time as I can with my children and grandchildren.
25 YEARS
Name: Judy Kasten
Newspaper: Independent Newspapers of FL
Position: Advertising Director/INI Florida, team leader of the Okeechobee News.
Number of years in the newspaper or printing business: 25
Job description: Coach and support our ad managers and ad services teams.
What I like best (about my job): The people --we have a great group of employees in Florida and many of us have worked together for a number of years. Our team is strong and committed to doing the best they can, be it advertising, customer service, editorial or circulation.
Most memorable moment with INI: There have been lots of interesting things but probably the funniest thing happened shortly after I started working for INI at the Arcadian 25 years ago as customer service representative. Two young boys came into the front office holding a live, 2 1/2 foot alligator. They asked to speak to a reporter. When the reporter came to the front office, she told them she could take a picture of them with their alligator but if it was printed in the paper, they would be arrested for catching a gator. They dropped the alligator--right in front of my desk. The frightened alligator ran under my desk and I climbed on top of my desk. That was the closest I had ever been to a live alligator!
Hobbies/Interests: I like to garden. Working with plants and moving dirt around is a real stress reliever. I also spend as much time as I can with my children and grandchildren.
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