Download 2015 Convention Program
KEVIN SLIMP | Friday
Slimp – Adobe Bridge Handout
Slimp – Design Tips Handout
Slimp – InDesign Handout
Slimp – Photoshop Handout
A Backpack Full of Tools for Newspaper Designers
During this session, Kevin will share tools often overlooked by users of InDesign, Bridge, Acrobat and more. Good for users of any version of these apps. You will need two notepads for this session!
Tips for Improving Page and Ad Design
Kevin has been teaching classes in design since back in the 90s and he and his buddy, Ed Henninger, have even joined forces to critique newspapers for groups over the past few years. Join Kevin as he discusses some of the basic and not-so-basic tips that can improve the design quality of your publications.
More Than You Ever Thought You’d Know About Color Correction and Photo Editing
Over a two-month period, Kevin visited with newspaper printers from California to Rhode Island to test new methods for improving color and photos on pages. What he learned surprised him and will probably surprise you. Papers, inks and processes have changed so much in recent years that the way we edit photos needs to change, as well. Bring two pens for notes. You’ll need them.
JILL GEISLER | Thursday
Feedback with Impact: From the Delightful to the Difficult
Jill Geisler hears it wherever she teaches: employees are hungry for more feedback – positive and negative. They want to know where they stand. In this session, Jill will demonstrate how to improve your feedback. She’ll show you how keep from undercutting your positive messages with what she calls “praise erasers.” Then, she’ll focus on the all-important but difficult conversations that managers often avoid or execute poorly. In a series of real-time, improv exercises, she’ll outline a process that leads to a better outcome for all parties.
Managing Your Multi-generational Team
One generation feels blessed to have a steady job. Another generation has a free-lance mentality. A generation in between feels overlooked. And it’s your job to manage them all.
In this session, Jill Geisler will look at the forces that shaped the people in your workplace, how they see the world of work, what motivates them and what you as a leader can do to hold them accountable and them succeed. This goal of this session isn’t to stereotype people. Instead, we’ll see how history, technology and culture influences people and how to strategically reach across difference to strengthen your team’s performance.
JIM PUMARLO | Thursday
Developing Community Beats & Covering Sensitive Issues
Confrontations are unavoidable if newspapers are doing their jobs reporting both good and bad news. Relationships don’t always have to be rocky; however, connecting with sources is a two-way street. This session offers practical tips on how to develop community beats, and how to foster an understanding so traditional and nontraditional sources will be equally forthcoming with all the news. This session also will share some examples of developing and implementing policies for coverage of sensitive issues.
DIANE CIOTTA | Friday
A bit against the norm and quite outside the box, Diane Ciotta has been successfully presenting captivating skills refinement seminars exclusively to print advertising sales consultants and sales managers for 25 years.
Sessions include:
I. Consultative Opening Sales Conversation & Relationship Building
(Good-bye “Salesperson”…hello “Consultant”!)
-comfortable/professional approach to initiating new business
-identification & avoidance of trigger words that cause objections
-importance of follow-up, follow-through and a “license to proceed”
II. Specifically Identifying Prospect’s Business Needs vs. Advertising Wants
(This One’s for you!)
-detailed listing of (trademarked) 8 Specific Business Needs derived through large group participation
III. Professional Budget Calculations for Long-term Commitments
(Show Me the Money!)
-increased confidence in discussing reasonable & comfortable investment amounts
-proven successful budget calculation based on NAA statistics
IV. Confidently Handling Unavoidable Objections w/Conviction
(Confidence is the Cure for the Common “No!”)
-differentiating initial vs. successive rejection
-categorizing the 4 P’s of objections
-benefit driven objection handling technique
V. Consistently Closing with Consistency
-recognizing non-verbal buying signals
-comfortable closing techniques for use “after you’ve sold”
-closing the sale…opening the relationship
DR. MICHAEL OSTERHOLM | Thursday Lunch
Dr. Michael Osterholm, a prominent public health scientist and a nationally-recognized bio security expert, is a former MN State Epidemiologist and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy. He is also a member of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academy of Sciences and the Council of Foreign Relations. In June 2005 Dr. Osterholm was appointed by Michael Leavitt, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to the newly established National Science Advisory Board on Biosecurity. Dr. Osterholm has been an international leader on the critical concern regarding our preparedness for an influenza pandemic. He has also been an international leader on the growing concern regarding the use of biological agents as catastrophic weapons targeting civilian populations. In that role, he served as a personal advisor to the late King Hussein of Jordan. Dr. Osterholm provides a comprehensive and pointed review of America’s current state of preparedness for a bioterrorism attack in his New York Times best-selling book, Living Terrors: What America Needs to Know to Survive the Coming Bioterrorist Catastrophe.
NORWOOD TEAGUE | Friday Lunch
Norwood Teague, the director of athletics for the University of Minnesota will be on-hand Friday to give an overview of Gopher programs, facilities update and campaign update. Teague was introduced as Minnesota’s director of athletics on April 23, 2012. In his short time in the Twin Cities, Teague is already dramatically changing the landscape of Golden Gopher Athletics. Recognized as one of the nation’s most innovative administrators prior to his hiring at the University of Minnesota, Teague is continually assessing and improving Gopher Athletics efforts across the board. With a big picture mentality and dedication that encompasses all student-athletes and programs, he brings his energy to every aspect of running an innovative and trailblazing department.
BRAD HILL | Thursday
Brad Hill is the president at Interlink, a Michigan-based independent software company focused on meeting the needs of community newspapers in the areas of circulation, delivery and ad management. Initially hired as a network engineer, Brad’s 13 years with the company have seen him in a number of roles including project management, product development, customer service and sales.
Brad will be reviewing USPS changes that have happened recently and those on the horizon. He’ll also be sharing money saving tips for submitting your periodical postage forms. If you’d like him to review your current form, bring it along!
MARK ANFINSON | Thursday & Friday
Thursday, join Mark Anfinson and Sandy Neren for a session focused on public notice. You’ll leave this session with tools to talk to legislators and local government leaders about the importance of public notice, and you’ll get a complete update on the current status of public notice in the state.
Friday, join Mark Anfinson for the popular 2015 Legal Update. Mark will provide a broad report on the current status of FOI issues, important legal cases, and a preview of 2015. Bring your questions for Mark to this session.
J.Ed. Committee Session | Friday
Business and Economic Reporting Nuts & Bolts
Business/economy/jobs reporting is one of the most important areas of coverage for community newspapers. The economy and business impacts every reader. Yet there are nuances and challenges that make it difficult to get business news. Hear from a panel of working journalists from news organizations big and small on what works, Get story ideas, tips for getting good business stories and resources for navigating the business landscape.
Panelists include:
- Sarah Stultz, Albert Lea Tribune
- Jessica Harper, Burnsville/Eagan Sun Thisweek
- Jim Pumarlo, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce
Moderated by Joe Spear, Editor, Mankato Free Press.
TIM SMITH | Thursday
Eliminate “Stinking thinking” & Communicate to match the buyers style.
Great for classified and display salespeople!
In this session, Tim will talk about how to stay positive and upbeat, eliminate “stinking thinking” from the outside world – “nobody reads a newspaper anymore” or “the last ad didn’t work”. You’ll also learn about understanding different selling and buying styles and how to adapt your selling style and communication tools (texting , phone, email, face to face) to match the clients’ buying style.
Selling Print Advertising in a Digital World
With print being our bread and butter learn how to bundle together your products, based on your customer’s needs, using the eight step presentation process. This session will cover specific questions and skills on how to sell print in a digital world. In the bonus round you’ll be given the answer to the frequent, “I have a Facebook page” objection and other common objections.
JOE SUTTNER | Thursday
Consumer Sales
The session will focus on the various circulation sales sources available to both small and large papers; examining their effectiveness and cost-per-order. Joe will provide examples of what has/hasn’t worked at Gannett’s Wisconsin dailies and also examine what does/doesn’t work for the newspapers in attendance. Attendees will walk away with ideas to take back and use at your newspaper.
Tech Tools Session | Thursday
This session, lead by Lisa Schwarz of the St. Cloud Times, will give attendees a new digital and social media toolbox to take back to the newsroom. A panel of experts from Minnesota newspapers – large and small, daily and weekly – will share their favorite tech tools, what’s working (and what’s not working) in their newsrooms, and answer your questions. This session will be helpful for the beginner just getting started, to the more advanced user.
Panelists include:
- Josh Moniz, Mankato Free Press
- Dick Crawford, Southwest Newspapers
Moderated by Lisa Schwarz, Content Strategist/Audience Analyst, St. Cloud Times
BEN GARVIN | Friday
Take Better Photos & Video with your Mobile Device
Reporters and photographers alike often find themselves on the scene of news with just a smart phone camera in their pocket. In this session, learn how to stop taking crappy photos and video with your phone!
In April 2014, Ben used his iPhone exclusively to shoot the Twins’ home opener (it was harder than he thought it would be). He also put down his DSLR at Twins Training Camp last year to shoot for a day exclusively with his iPhone. During this session, Ben will share his top 10 tips and tricks for using your smartphone to improve your visual reporting skills (and maybe even get inspired). Bring your phone and your questions to this session.
BRIAN BASHAM | Friday
Tips and Tools for Better Photos
Award-winning photographer Brian Basham will share his most useful tips and tricks for better photography at your newspaper. Whether you are a seasoned photographer or a multi-tasking multimedia reporter, you will take away something useful from this session. There will be plenty of time for you to ask Brian your questions, and hear from other attendees as well. Bring your camera if you’d like and your questions.
MATTHEW WOLCANSKI | Thursday
Carrier Recruitment/Route Profitability
Matthew will discuss various carrier recruiting methods through your own product, special events and subscriber incentive ideas. In addition, he will discuss ways of looking at route profitability and ways you can improve carrier profits. Matthew joined the Green Bay Press-Gazette in 1998 and has held a number of positions in the group, most recently being promoted to Distribution Supervisor for Manitowoc in the fall of 2013.
JACI SMITH | Thursday
Native Content on a Shoe String
Wonder how to tap into this new revenue source when your resources are slim? Jaci Smith, managing editor of the Faribault (Minn.) Daily News and Reynolds Journalism Institute Fellow, will show you how. She’ll provide a step-by-step method for a community newspaper to implement a native advertising program. Bring your questions!
JULIE BERGMAN | Friday
Focus on Small Newspapers
What about Buying and Selling Newspapers in Today’s Market?
Newspaper company sales have gone through much turmoil in the past ten years. The market bottomed out and is now stabilizing, there are signs that valuations are inching upwards again. Whether you are curious about what your newspaper is worth in today’s market or are considering an acquisition to grow your company, find out what the market is doing. Julie Bergman is a Senior Associate with W.B. Grimes and Company, a national newspaper brokerage company. She will give an overview of recent sales history and offer tips on how to maximize your newspaper’s valuation.
Challenges and Exciting Opportunities for Small Newspapers
Julie will lead an informal discussion on the challenges and exciting opportunities” facing small newspapers. This session is so popular that it has become an annual tradition. Discussions will center on improving your newspaper’s bottom line while maintaining quality. We will explore ideas for special sections, promotions and new revenue streams as well as look at ways to reduce costs. This session is designed mainly for managers and publishers.
TARA BRANDL | Thursday
Download entry/idea sheets and samples
The Best Just Got Better
Introducing a new format for 2015! Revenue Ideas can now be entered in one of two distinct categories to accommodate a wider variety of sales initiatives.
Category #1: Inside Sales/Telemarketing Ideas – “Create Today, Sell Tomorrow” – One Week Sales Cycle
Category #2: Special Sections/Seasonal Ideas – “Advanced Planning Required” – Long Term Sales Cycle
All attendees may register up to two (2) NEW revenue ideas, which will be presented at the “The Best Just Got Better” session on Thursday afternoon. Each attendee will be allowed 4 minutes to explain their new revenue generating idea and answer any questions. Please make sure ideas are unique and have not been presented in the past.
For more information and download The Best Just Got Better – Entry Form 2015
MNPublicnotice.com Training Sessions | Thursday & FridayJanuary 29 & 30 at 8:30 a.m. – Veranda 1-2