It seems like a long time since the state House, by a 127-62 vote, passed House Bill 1876, the compromise proposal supported by the PNA, requiring newspapers of general circulation to upload public notices to a Web site and to lower rates for government public notice advertising. We need you to contact your senator now - and report back to Deborah Musselman, PNA's Director of Government Affairs.

Click here to read the story.

Your newspaper’s Web site has become a valuable part of your brand. Thousands of adults were surveyed about their expectations with regard to newspaper Web sites and user-generated content. Hear the results of the study and explore the benefits and risks of user-generated content. Guidelines and standards will be offered as well.

More than just a dynamic trade show, America East is your source for the latest and most important strategies and solutions. With more than 25 sessions and roundtables scheduled over three action-packed days in Hershey, you can explore advertising and marketing, online, circulation, editorial and production questions and answers. Various receptions, roundtables and user group meetings are also being held. 

Click here for details and to register.

PGN Publisher Mark Segal’s column “Mark My Words” won first place for Best Column Writing, photographer Scott Drake won first and second place for Best Feature Photo and reporter Larry Nichols won third place for Best Arts & Entertainment Writing-Feature.

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Click here for a full list of SNA award winners.

Gothie has been active with the PNA for much of his career, including his current service as secretary/treasurer of the PNA Foundation Board of Trustees and numerous terms on the PNA Board of Directors. He was elected President of the PNA in 1999, serving a two-year term, and remains an active member of the PNA Government Affairs Committee. He was named 2006 Publisher of the Year by the Journal Register Company.

In a staff-wide communication today, Mike Murray, senior vice president of circulation at the Journal Register Company, expressed sadness at Gothie’s retirement, along with great appreciation for his many contributions to the company and the newspaper industry. Gothie has agreed to be a consultant for the company going forward. His retirement is effective May 15, and a search for his replacement will begin in the next few weeks.

National Sunshine Week, a celebration of open government, runs March 14 to 20 this year, and the National Sunshine Week Web pages will soon have some Pennsylvania-specific columns any newspaper can use.

Kim de Bourbon, executive director of the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition, has written a column on the successes and the ongoing problems with the new state Right to Know Law. Winning entries in the statewide Sunshine Week college essay contest, sponsored by Bloomsburg University's Andruss Library Government Records Unit and the Keystone Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, are also available. Ads and logos can be downloaded as well.

"Average citizens usually don't think about open government until they run into a problem and find out they need to see government documents," said Susan Schwartz, state Sunshine Week coordinator. "Too often, legislators interpret that as a lack of support. There are already bills being introduced to roll back Pennsylvania's new Right to Know Law. Sunshine Week gives us a chance to remind people why it's important that this information remain public."

Click here for the Sunshine Week Toolkit Web site.

March 19 - Social Networking How-Tos, 1 - 5 p.m., PNA Headquarters.  Click here for details and to register.

March 25 - Investigative Reporting, 9 a.m. - noon, PNA Headquarters. With Holly Herman, Reporter, Reading Eagle and Mark Scolforo, Reporter, Associated Press. Click here for details and to register.

RESCHEDULED - April 9 - New Revenue Streams, 9 a.m. - noon, PNA Headquarters. With Randy Parker, Managing Editor, York Daily Record/Sunday News and Kim Noble, Advertising Director, Greater Philadelphia Media. Click here for details and to register.

No? Is it because you don’t have a designated NIE coordinator, you don’t have the sponsorship dollars, or you don’t even know where to start? Don’t despair! There is an abundant amount of resources available for your newspaper, so you can celebrate NIE throughout the entire year.

We encourage you to visit the PNA Foundation and NAA Foundation Web sites to access free downloadable information that will help you get started with NIE. Don’t forget to join the NAA Foundation NIE Forum where you can talk with other NIE coordinators from around the Commonwealth and nation. The PNA Foundation also hosts PA NIE Committee meetings every other month. You can join this toll-free teleconference and join the meeting.

For details, contact Janet Bevan at (717) 703-3004 or janetb@pa-news.org.

This spring, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation is partnering with colleges across the Commonwealth to present regional networking opportunities for journalism students and PNA members

These regional receptions provide the perfect opportunity for students to showcase their clips and portfolios, to interact with students from other universities and to develop a network of resources – including connections with PNA member editors and publishers. 

Currently scheduled receptions include:

March 24: 6 - 8 p.m., PNA Headquarters, Harrisburg. Click here for details.
April 6:  6 - 8 p.m. Widener University, Chester. Click here for details.