TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION
MEMBER SERVICES GUIDE

(content last updated July 2010)

The Tennessee Press Association is the trade association of Tennessee’s daily and non-daily newspapers, and it is the parent organization of Tennessee Press Service and Tennessee Press Association Foundation. It was founded in 1870-71 for the purpose of creating a unified voice for the newspaper industry of Tennessee.

Tennessee Press Association Mission Statement:
The Tennessee Press Association is the state’s foremost advocate of free press, open government and the people’s right to know.

The association nurtures a community for journalistic enterprise by providing members ways to meet, exchange ideas, enhance skills and honor excellence.

Members share a vital interest in sustaining the value of products they provide audiences, advertisers and communities; and to that end, TPA promotes activities to maintain quality, uphold integrity and adapt to the evolving business environment.

Today, TPA continues to provide assistance to its 124 member newspapers by monitoring legislative activities, providing training programs, issuing press credentials, maintaining a Web site and employment database, and providing regular meetings and forums to foster the exchange of information and ideas.


MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA
Membership in the Tennessee Press Association is open to newspapers meeting the following criteria:

1. 70 percent paid circulation as reported in USPS Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation or by independent audit.
2. Having been in publication for one continuous year.
3. Publishing once or more per week.

TPA also has an associate class of membership, which is open to vendors, suppliers, advertising firms and public relations firms wishing to stay in contact with our member newspapers. For all membership inquiries, please contact Robyn Gentile, member services manager, at (865) 584-5761 or
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ADVERTISING PROGRAMS
Through the Tennessee Press Service, TPA’s business affiliate, advertisers can reach Tennessee’s newspaper readership as easy as 1-2-3.

Advertising sales and placement
By placing one call to TPS, clients can select any or all of the state’s 124 member publications in which to advertise, or even go beyond with a regional or national placement. And, best of all, there are no fees to the advertiser. This one call-one order-one check service can save media buyers, traffic coordinators, accounts payable clerks and other personnel a tremendous amount of time while ensuring that they get the same competitive rates as if they had shopped each publication on their own. Making it easier and affordable to place in newspapers helps agencies and companies keep newspapers in their media mix.

All of this means one thing—more ad sales! Membership in TPA is like adding additional sales staff to your operation. The TPS staff handles sales calls to areas that may be cost prohibitive for your newspaper. TPS handles the rate negotiations, places the insertion orders, collects tearsheets and invoices the client. As a matter of fact, TPS typically pays its member newspapers before being paid by the advertiser, thereby eliminating the bad debt ratio for the newspaper.

TPS reinvests its profits back into the newspaper industry of Tennessee through support of projects like the public notice advertising Web site, training newspaper staff (both at TPA events and through Webinars and streaming videos), and by providing financial and staff support for the Association and Foundation.

For more information on advertising sales and placement, call TPS at (865) 584-5761 or e-mail
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Tennessee Statewide Classified Advertising Network
Through the TnScan network, advertisers can reach thousands of newspaper readers each week. It is a statewide network in which clients may place a classified ad through a participating newspaper or TPS and have that classified appear in all the participating newspapers across the state. Advertisers can place a 25-word classified advertisement in 89 Tennessee newspapers for $265. Regional buys are also available.

Participating newspapers who sell a TnScan ad retain a commission on ads placed through their paper. Participating newspapers also receive a quarterly commission from a pool of funds collected from advertisers. Since its inception in 1984, TnScan has been a proven success to advertisers as well as participating newspapers. For more information on placing a TnScan ad or to become a participating newspaper, call TPS at (865) 584-5761 or e-mail
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Tennessee Display Advertising Network (TnDAN)

This network enables advertisers to market their product or service effectively, easily and economically. For $1,035, clients can place a 2-column by 2-inch ad in 86 Tennessee newspapers. TPS can also accept one 2-column by 4-inch ad each week. Since space for a 2x4 ad is limited, it is on a first come, first served basis. The cost for a 2x4 ad is double that of a 2x2 ad. Participating newspapers can sell the ads into the network and retain a commission.

In addition to the commission, participating newspapers receive quarterly rebate checks from a pool of funds collected from advertisements placed into the network. Regional buys are also available. Since its formation in August 2002, this network has seen significant growth and has become indispensable for countless clients.
For more information on placing a TnDAN ad or to become a participating newspaper, call TPS at (865) 584-5761 or e-mail
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CLIPPING SERVICE
TPS offers to the general public a newspaper clipping service to keep customers current on whatever topics, people, or interests they select, legislative news, political news or advertisements, personnel changes, publicity releases, special events coverage, business trends, governmental bid letting and other public notices, what their competition advertises, or anything else. TPS clippers read each edition of the 27 daily and 99 non-daily Tennessee newspapers.

TPS also can coordinate article clipping from newspapers in other states. E-clips is a service to speed delivery by sending electronic files, thus eliminating the transit time for postal delivery. For more information on clipping services, contact Jeanie Bell or Jessica Price, TPS Clipping Bureau co-managers, at (865) 584-5761 or
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COMMITTEES
Whatever your area of newspaper expertise, TPA could use you on one of its 16 committees! Committee membership is open to any newspaper or associate member. The hard work volunteered by the more than 100 committee members makes our association one of the most active on both regional and national levels. Results from the committee actions are immediately evident in every facet of our industry, from successes in the state legislative arena to the development of high school newspapers to the availability of affordable training programs for our members.

Any member interested in volunteering for a TPA committee should contact the chairman of that committee for appointment. There are currently 16 committees, which are as follows: Advertising, Circulation, Constitution and Bylaws, Contests, Futures, Government Affairs, Hall of Fame (special process for appointment, not open to general membership), Journalism Education, NIE/Literacy, Membership, Nominating (current and past presidents only), Personnel, Postal, Press Institute and Winter Convention, Summer Convention and Technology.

CONSULTING/TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
With the constant changes in electronic pagination, layout and production taking place in our industry, the TPS Board of Directors created a staff position in 1998 to help members in a number of ways. Newspapers now have “someone to turn to” for advice or training in technical areas.

This position, which also serves as director of the TPS-UT Institute of Newspaper Technology, is responsible for coordinating statewide training programs for member newspapers. On-site consultation is also available to members at the following rates:
               Non-daily newspapers   Daily newspapers
Half day   $250                            $300
Full day   $400                            $500
Please see “Training” for information on the various types of technology training offered.

CONTESTS


Advertising/Circulation Ideas Contest

Similar to our state press contests, the annual advertising and circulation contest places a special focus on these two vital areas of our industry that help to finance our entire operations. Although extremely competitive, advertising and circulation departments across the state look forward to sharing ideas that can help to promote print media as a whole.

TPA-University of Tennessee State Press Contests
One of the highlights of the newspaper year in Tennessee is the presentation of the annual State Press Contests awards. This prestigious contest recognizes the best of the best in Tennessee newspapering, from layout and design to news coverage to photography and community features. The University of Tennessee has been a long-standing co-sponsor of these contests.

More than 75 newspapers compete in the different categories offered for competition and submit more than 1,400 entries each year. Newspapers are divided into five divisions by total weekly paid circulation to foster more specialized competition. Entries are taken to a different state each year to be judged by a panel of that state’s newspaper professionals. In turn, we assemble a panel of our members once a year to judge another state’s contest, which gives our leadership a chance to see ideas and trends from other areas as well. The top winner in each division is presented a General Excellence Award.

CONVENTIONS AND MEETINGS
TPA holds two major conventions per year, a Press Institute and Winter Convention in early February and a Summer Convention in late June.

The Press Institute and Winter Convention, held in Nashville every year, gives members an opportunity to meet with legislators to discuss issues pertaining to the newspaper industry. There are also a number of educational and/or training programs on everything from postal issues to software training to basic reporting and photography skills. A highlight of each convention is the governor’s address.

The Summer Convention is held in a different location each year. Members have a chance to socialize and explore different areas of our diverse state while conducting business as well. Our new TPA officers are elected and the new president is installed at the summer convention. Several off-site activities are always offered, which are a popular alternative for the many spouses and families attending.

In addition to the two major conventions, TPA also hosts a Fall Board of Directors Meeting, and the annual Advertising/Circulation Conference each spring and Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame ceremonies when inductions are to be made.

CREDENTIALS
Press cards (paper version), vehicle window decals and membership logos for publication are provided annually to member newspapers. TPA also offers a professional plastic identification press card to members for $5 per card. The card includes the photo and electronic signature of the newspaper employee. Download the order form at www.tnpress.com or contact Angelique Dunn, TPA administrative assistant, for information on how to order the press cards.

DRIVE-IN TRAINING
Drive-In Training, a day of concurrent training sessions in a variety of topics for newspaper professionals is offered in conjunction with the Winter Convention each February.

EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
As part of www.tnpress.com, this popular service can help potential newspaper industry professionals find a position with our member newspapers. In addition to browsing position openings throughout the state, one may post a resume on the site, as well as indicate the type of position he or she is looking for (e.g. editor, sportswriter, advertising, etc.). Resumes remain on file for six months and are accessible to any member newspaper in the state. This is a free service, and anyone may post or update a resume at no charge.

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Tennessee Press Association serves as the voice of the newspaper industry in our state. With more than 2,500 bills introduced into the session each year, Tennessee’s open records and meetings laws (the “sunshine law”) and the reporters’ shield law have come under constant challenge.

TPA retains a well-known and effective contract lobbying service to monitor activity on “The Hill.” Through frequent reports during the legislative session, TPA keeps publishers aware of what legislation could have an impact on our industry and lets publishers know how they can make a difference. The association hosts an annual legislative reception each year so members can develop a face-to-face working relationship with their elected officials. TPA works hand in hand with the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government.

Through these important efforts, TPA has been successful in protecting free speech, preserving the people’s right to open records and to knowing what their government is doing, and to avoiding bad ideas like taxes on circulation or advertising, which could curtail the free flow of information and hurt the state on many fronts. TPA is our industry’s voice both in Nashville and in joining forces with national organizations to uphold the same freedoms in Washington.

INSTITUTE OF NEWSPAPER TECHNOLOGY

The Institute of Newspaper Technology is an internationally recognized three-day intensive pagination training program. It is a joint project among the Tennessee Press Service, the Tennessee Press Association Foundation and the University of Tennessee.

Participants receive hands-on training in the latest software and methods currently available for newspaper pagination, all from top-notch instructors and specialists in the field. Classes are held every October in computer labs on the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville. An even bigger bonus to Tennessee member newspapers is the availability of tuition scholarships that reduce the tuition cost by up to 66 percent! These scholarships are available to Tennessee member newspapers on a first-come, first-served basis and are provided by the Tennessee Press Association Foundation. We are currently holding both introductory and advanced tracks of the Institute, on both Macintosh and PC platforms. www.newspaperinstitute.com

LEGAL HOTLINE
A huge money-saver for our members, this service allows a newspaper to contact the offices of TPA’s general counsel for quick advice. Whether your advertising staff has a question about what he/she can or cannot say in a housing ad, your school board has decided to meet behind closed doors, or you are being denied accident records at the local courthouse, this service provides fast, easy access to answers from the office of one of Tennessee’s most recognized experts in First Amendment law, Richard L. Hollow.

Formerly a subscription service, the TPA Board of Directors has made this service available to members at no charge since 2004. By taking advantage of this valuable service in conjunction with NNA’s group libel coverage, a newspaper may be eligible for a reduction in libel insurance premiums!

LIBEL INSURANCE
TPA endorses the National Newspaper Association’s (NNA) Group Insurance Plan with Walterry Insurance for libel coverage. TPA/NNA members are eligible for a 10 percent discount on their libel coverage under this program. (See Legal Hotline for information on saving even more off libel coverage.)

NEWSPAPER IN EDUCATION
TPA has an active Newspaper in Education (NIE)/Literacy Committee. Through the committee’s efforts, an NIE curriculum correlated to Tennessee state teaching standards (K-12) is now available for TPA members to give to teachers. The curriculum is available at http://www.tnpress.com/nie_page.html. Contact TPA for the access password.
The committee also periodically selects a serial story that is made available at no charge to the TPA membership. Contact TPA or visit www.tnpress.com for details.

NEWSSWAP

NewsSwap, a service for Tennessee Press Association member newspapers, provides a means of sharing stories that are of general interest for publication by other TPA members. NewsSwap is a place on the TPA Web site where editors and reporters can upload unusual news stories, features, photos and tidbits that appeal to all readers.

Proper attribution to the writer and contributing newspaper is one of the requirements of the NewsSwap terms of use. Members will need to agree to the terms of use and to enter the user name and password to access the site. Please contact TPA at (865) 584-5761 for password information.

PUBLIC NOTICE
TPS has also established and maintains www.tnpublicnotice.com, a Web site where all TPA member newspapers are encouraged to post the public notices that are published in their newspaper. The newspapers of Tennessee have long championed open records and transparency in government. In order to take that public service a step further, TPS has established this Web site to make all public notices published in Tennessee accessible to citizens online. There is no charge for citizens to access the information and notices are searchable by county. For information on how your newspaper can upload ads to the site, please contact Greg Sherrill at (865) 584-5761 or
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TENNESSEE NEWSPAPER DIRECTORY

At the beginning of each year, TPS publishes the Tennessee Newspaper Directory, which lists, by city, all member newspapers along with their circulation figures, addresses, telephone and fax numbers, e-mail and Web site addresses, county population and household information, key personnel, advertising specifications, publication schedules and ownership information.

Also included in the directory are all associate members, addresses and phone/fax numbers, a listing of member collegiate journalism programs and a national directory of press associations. Officers and staff for all three corporations are listed, and there is a visual map of all newspapers by county to help clients make smart advertising purchases. This truly is Tennessee’s most comprehensive print media guide, designed to allow advertising clients to cover any or all areas of the state with ease.

TENNESSEE NEWSPAPER HALL OF FAME
The Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame was established in 1966 as a joint project of the Tennessee Press Association and the University of Tennessee. The Hall of Fame honors those who have made an outstanding contribution to Tennessee newspaper journalism or, through Tennessee journalism, to newspaper journalism generally, or who have made an extraordinary contribution to their communities and region, or the state, through newspaper journalism. The Hall of Fame is physically located on the third floor of the Communications Building on the campus of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Information on all inductees may be found at http://www.cci.utk.edu/~jem/TNHF.html.

THE TENNESSEE PRESS
The Association’s monthly tabloid newspaper contains news of interest to newspaper executives throughout the industry. The Tennessee Press also covers important registration and meeting news for conventions and training sessions and provides updates on committee and legislative activities.

The Tennessee Press is circulated to management of each member newspaper, to all associate members and to members of the state legislature when in session, and is available for general subscriptions at just $6 per year. It is also an excellent way to reach the newspaper leadership with a display or classified advertising buy.

TENNESSEE PRESS ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION
The Tennessee Press Association Foundation was established in 1976. Its mission statement is as follows:
Raise and disburse funds to enable the Tennessee Press Association Foundation to be valued, and recognized nationally, as a statewide provider of quality educational opportunities for the benefit of Tennessee Press Association member newspapers by:
• Anticipating and meeting educational needs in the fields of journalism, first amendment issues, advertising, business and technology;
• Developing and promoting awareness of Tennessee Press Association member newspapers to the general reading public;
• Promoting a work environment at Tennessee Press Association member newspapers conducive to producing high quality, nationally recognized, community newspapers and related products for our readers and advertising customers; and
• Providing appropriate recognition of those Tennessee newspaper professionals who are selected for inclusion in the Tennessee Newspaper Hall of Fame.

TRAINING

Conventions
Educational sessions are offered in conjunction with TPA’s conventions and the Advertising/Circulation Conference.

Drive-In Training

Drive-In Training, a day of concurrent training sessions in a variety of topics for newspaper professionals is offered in conjunction with the Winter Convention each February.

On-site consulting/training
Kevin Slimp, TPS director of technology, is available to members for on-site consulting and training. See “Consulting/Technical Assistance” for details.

Video and Webinar training in technology
TPA members now have access to short training segments produced by Kevin Slimp, TPS director of technology. Topics include the latest software for pagination, photo-editing and Adobe’s Acrobat technology. Additionally, live training is offered via a Webinar each month. For only $30 per connection, members can receive quality training without leaving the office. Access these videos and Webinar registration information online at http://www.tnpress.com/training.html. Contact TPA for password.

WEB SITE
TPA’s Web site, www.tnpress.com (maintained by TPS), provides many services for members and clients. A searchable database of TPA member newspapers is a component clients find useful. The site offers information about TPA’s upcoming events and includes registration forms. Members will find helpful industry links and resources such as the Open Meetings, Open Records and Shield Laws. And the Employment Area allows member newspapers to list position openings, as well as browse resumes of individuals seeking employment. The site is also used by the TPS advertising department for transfer of advertising files to member newspapers.

TPS has also established and maintains www.tnpublicnotice.com, a Web site where all TPA member newspapers are encouraged to post the public notices that are published in their newspaper. The newspapers of Tennessee have long championed open records and transparency in government. In order to take that public service a step further, TPS has established this Web site to make all public notices published in Tennessee accessible to citizens online. For information on how your newspaper can upload ads to the site, please contact Greg Sherrill at (865) 584-5761 or
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