ASSOCIATION SERVICES FOUNDATION 2015 WVPA Annual Convention EMBASSY SUITES CHARLESTON, W.VA. AUGUST 13-15, 2015 wvpress.org West Virginia Press Association @wvpress #wvpress2015
A note from Don Smith, Executive Director: CHARLESTON, W.VA. Hello everyone, Welcome to the West Virginia Press Association s Convention 2015 and city of Charleston. We hope you ll enjoy both. Traditionally, our convention locations are the wonderful state parks around West Virginia, but Charleston, as the seat of state government and West Virginia s largest city, offers unique and outstanding opportunities to our membership. Convention 2015 provides the WVPA membership an opportunity to visit with state officials and the many business and industry representatives located in Charleston. It s important that the West Virginia newspaper industry is accessible to those groups. In 2015, the WVPA worked to bring our newspapers to Charleston. Following the industry s circulation tradition, we re offering state officials a WVPA version of newspaper home delivery. For our attendees, we hope you ll enjoy the array of seminars and events. From our awards events to the educational seminars on writing, circulation, advertising and revenue generation, we hope there is something for everyone. During Convention 2015, please take advantage of Embassy Suites facilities and outstanding amenities. The Embassy provides a unique hub for Convention 2015. It s within walking distance of Charleston Town Center Mall, Haddad Riverfront Park s Live on the Levee and hip, historic Charleston s restaurants and nightlife. Be sure to take the short walk to Capitol Street. From the Capitol Market to the Kanawha River, Capitol Street is a wonderful stroll. Once the site of the State Capitol building, it s now the heart of the city s entertainment section. Thursday night, our President s Reception is being hosted by the Culture Center and West Virginia Museum on the Capitol Complex grounds at 1900 Kanawha Blvd. The Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau is providing transportation to the Culture Center. The bus will depart Embassy Suites at 6:15 p.m. for those not wanting to drive to the Capitol. For those driving, we will have directions at the registration desk. It s an easy 1.5 mile trip. There is plenty of parking at the Capitol. If you have any questions or problems throughout the convention, please give me a call at 304-550-0454, e-mail at donsmith@wvpress.org or tweet at @wvpress. The WVPA thanks Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History for hosting the evening. We also thank our sponsors for the evening: AARP WV State Director Gaylene Miller and her staff; West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association Executive Director Corky DeMarco and his staff, Charleston Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Alisa Bailey and her staff, and the West Virginia Press Association Foundation. This weekend would not be possible without the support of those groups and the following sponsors and associate members. Convention 2015 sponsors: Professor Maryanne Reed and the West Virginia University s Reed College of Media; Director of Regional Media Dorothy Abernathy and The Associated Press; The West Virginia Lottery Commission. 2015 WVPA Associate Members: Asher Agency, Appalachian Power, West Virginia Public Broadcasting, Charles Ryan Associates, The Manahan Group, The State Journal, Frontier Communications, Alzheimer s Association of West Virginia, Contractors Association of West Virginia, WVONGA, Auto Round-up Publications, Sibray Public Relations, AARP WV, Highmark West Virginia, Bluefield State College, West Virginia University s Reed College of Media, and Own Local of Austin, Texas. Thanks for coming and enjoy Convention 2015. Don An investment in knowledge pays the best interest. Benjamin Franklin
THURSDAY, AUG. 13, 2015 3 p.m. in Embassy Suites Salon C: Convention Registration/ Information Desk opens Attendees can visit the registration/information desk to sign-in and pickup convention materials and updates. It s also a chance to visit the vendor booths and the WVPA Foundation Silent Auction area. 3 p.m. at the Embassy Charleston Board Room: The West Virginia Press Association and West Virginia Press Services board of directors meeting. 6 p.m.: Bus leaves Embassy Suites for The Culture Center for those not wanting to drive to the Capitol Complex. 6:30 p.m. at The Culture Center on the West Virginia Capitol Complex: President s Reception with Hall of Fame Presentation. President Matt Yeager, publisher of the Nicholas Chronicle, welcomes the members and guests to Convention 2015. The evening includes guest speaker Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., welcoming comments and the WVPA Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Thomas Colley and Thomas O Brien Flynn. 9 p.m. at the Embassy: The Hospitality Suite opens. FRIDAY, AUG. 14, 2015 2015 WVPA Convention Welcome to the WVPA Convention 2015 and The Embassy Suites, Charleston Program Planner 9 a.m. in Embassy Suites Salon C: Convention 2015 Registration/Information Desk opens. The center will serve as the convention hub where attendees can get convention information, updates, and socialize. All day: Visit Hip, Historic Charleston. Throughout the weekend, the WVPA has allowed time for attendees, spouses and family to visit downtown Charleston. Using breaks in the schedule, along with information included in your convention bag, guests can gain a better understanding of the activities, shopping and offerings of the city. Look for special information at the registration desk. 9:30 to 11 a.m. in Embassy Salon A: Pipelines. Drilling. Cracker plants. Get the latest on one of the state s hottest issues during an editorial board discussion with the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association. The WVPA has invited representatives of WVONGA and its membership to sit with a group of WVPA editors for a discussion of WVONGA s position on the issues facing West Virginia and the national gas industry. Issues such as pipelines, drilling, royalties, cracker plants and forced pooling are on the table for discussion. This is an opportunity for our industry to hear the latest update from industry officials. It also serves as a training opportunity for our editorial staff members and as an example of the WVPA s editorial page sharing initiative. 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. in Embassy Salon B: Want to make retaining subscribers easier? What if canceling your newspaper subscription also meant canceling your restaurant and theater discounts? Circulation and advertising staff members, along with publishers, are invited to learn about adding more customer value to your newspapers subscription. Rich Brest of Subscriber Promotions will outline a low-cost rewards program that combines circulation and advertising to attract, engage and retain current and future subscribers. Subscriber Promotions is now working with more than 100 newspapers. The program includes a national mobile rewards app providing newspaper subscribers with discounts to more than 25,000 businesses in 43 states. It s an interesting insight into today s marketing possibilities. wvpress.org West Virginia Press Association @wvpress #wvpress2015
10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in Embassy Salon B: Give your classified revenues a boost by giving customers access to a bigger classified marketplace. Publishers and advertising directors will want to hear about the increased revenue opportunities with wvjobfinder.com. The new online employment site gives newspapers another opportunity to increase and retain classified employment advertising. Founded by Charleston Newspapers and Shaker, a national recruitment-advertising agency, wvjobfinder.com is also being made available through the WVPA to its member newspapers. As a possible alternative or addition to your current online option or as a new online revenue stream for your newspaper this presentation will explain the advertising benefits of focusing on West Virginia jobs for West Virginia residents. Noon to 2 p.m. in Embassy Ballrooms D&E: West Virginia Press Association s Advertising Awards Luncheon. The top individual advertising efforts in the state are recognized, along with the top newspapers in each circulation division. Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is the guest speaker at the luncheon. 2:15 p.m. in Embassy Ballroom A: Legal and Election Advertising. Are you getting all the required legal ads? Can you do a better job of selling and explaining election advertising? This panel discussion will assist advertising staff in handling election advertising, ballot advertising and legal advertising. The panel includes representatives of Secretary of State Natalie Tennant s office, WVPS Advertising Director Samantha Smith, and Kent Gates, professional political consultant. 3:30 p.m. in Embassy Ballroom A: Alcohol/Festival/Beer Marketing Seminar. It s legal to market events that offer alcohol but the options for marketing sales at fairs, festivals, clubs, restaurants and craft beer locations are varied and the rules and regulations are complex. This panel discussion centers on the marketing and advertising for alcohol in West Virginia, especially at county fairs and festivals and with the new craft beer industry: Where are the opportunities for advertising and what are the limitations? Moderator Linda Arnold, an advertising and marketing professional with the Arnold Agency and a syndicated newspaper columnist, will lead the discussion. Panelists include Amy Goodwin, West Virginia Tourism Commission; Ken Linch, vice-president of the West Virginia Craft Beer Guild and co-owner/ brewer of Bridge Brew Works LLC in Fayetteville; Megan Roskovensky, director of communications and research for the West Virginia Beer & Wine Association; and Samantha Smith, advertising director of the West Virginia Press Association. 6 to 8 p.m. in Embassy Ballroom D&E: The WVPA Evening Social is an opportunity for convention attendees and guest to enjoy food, fun and conversation before an evening of music in Charleston. 7 p.m. Live on the Levee at Haddad Riverfront Park: The City of Charleston hosts a weekly outdoor music celebration on the Kanawha River. Just three blocks from the Embassy Suites, Live on the Levee gives attendees the chance to stretch their legs and enjoy an evening of live music. 8 p.m. at the Embassy: The Hospitality Suite opens. SATURDAY, AUG. 15, 2015 9 a.m. in Embassy Suites Salon C: Convention 2015 Registration/Information Desk opens. The center serves as the convention hub where attendees can get convention information, updates, and socialize. All day: Visit Hip, Historic Charleston. Throughout the weekend, the WVPA has allowed time for attendees, spouses and family to visit downtown Charleston. Using breaks in the schedule, along with information included in your convention bag, guests can gain a better understanding of the activities, shopping and offerings of the city. Look for special information at the registration desk. Visit our vendors and silent auction event!
9 a.m. in Embassy Salon B: WVPA General Membership Meeting. The WVPA administration will present updates on operations, dues, financial reports and budgets. 10:30 a.m. in Embassy Salon A: WVPA free archiving and back-up seminar. Worried about system crashes and loss of data? Membership in the WVPA now provides all newspapers with access to a text-searchable, off-site, back-up archive. Your staff and customers will want to hear how to utilize and access the service. The program is provided through Newz Group, which has operated the WVPA affiliated clipping service since 1998. This program also provides insurance against a catastrophic event or equipment failure that wipes out local archives. Publishers can download past editions from the servers, and be back in business within minutes. 10:30 a.m. in Embassy Salon B: How do we turn good ideas into great stories? A reporter s 10-step guide to finding good stories. WVPA News Editor Nanya Friend and a panel of journalists lead a discussion to help reporters think more creatively and thoroughly about the stories they tackle. Lunch: On your own. If you re not scheduled to join the Associated Press for its annual Lookahead Planning Meeting in the Hospitality Suite, now is a wonderful time explore the city and enjoy lunch on your trip to the Capitol Complex for the afternoon session. Saturday afternoon at the West Virginia State Capitol and Culture Center: The staff of the West Virginia Division of Culture and History will organize a tour of the state Capitol. Tour time to be determined. 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in Embassy Salon A: Looking for the best resources for your West Virginia features? Whether you are interested in reviewing old newspapers, checking facts or thinking about ideas related to the state s culture, heritage and history, some of your best sources are located in the Culture Center at the State Capitol. The West Virginia Division of Culture and History preserves many of the state s best primary resource documents and has experts who can help you with topics as diverse as state facts, historic preservation, arts and cultural programs. Deputy Commissioner Caryn Gresham, State Archivist Joe Geiger and Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer Susan Pierce will talk about some of these great resources and offer tips on what their staffs can do to help you put together a great West Virginia story. 3 to 4:15 p.m. in Embassy Salon B: The West Virginia Freedom of Information Update: Do you know what the changes in the Freedom of Information Act means to your newsroom? A WVPA Panel explains the recent changes to the state s Freedom of Information code. Learn how to file a FOIA request, what information is now considered public record, what to expect in related costs, and what the new FOIA database will mean to journalists. WVU Professor Tom Stewart will serve as moderator for a panel including W. Va. House of Delegates Speaker Tim Armstead, WVU Professor Pat McGinley, Charleston Gazette-Mail Co-Editor Rob Byers, and Don Smith, WVPA executive director. 6 p.m. in Embassy Salon C: Opening reception for the WVPA s Better Newspaper Contest Banquet. 6:45 p.m. in Embassy Salon A-C: The WVPA s Better Newspaper Contest Banquet. The top individual journalism efforts in the state are recognized. The WVPA will also honor the top newspapers in each circulation division and announce the Newspaper of the Year. The evening concludes with the announcement of the Adam R. Kelly Premier Journalist Award. 9 p.m. at the Embassy: The Hospitality Suite opens. wvpress.org West Virginia Press Association @wvpress #wvpress2015
We d like to thank our sponsors... West Virginia Oil & Natural Gas Association 1700 MacCorkle Ave SE, Charleston, WV 25314 Corky DeMarco, Executive Director demarco@wvonga.com Rebekah Hogue, Special Projects Coordinator rhogue@wvonga.com wvonga.com @WVONGA 304-343-1609 AARP West Virginia 300 Summers St, Charleston, WV 25301 Gaylene Miller, State Director gmiller@aarp.org Tom Hunter, Associate State Director and press aide, tphunter@aarp.org aarp.org @AARPWV 304-344-4740
We d like to thank our sponsors... n Professor Maryanne Reed and the West Virginia University s Reed College of Media n Director of Regional Media Dorothy Abernathy and The Associated Press n The West Virginia Lottery Commission n Charleston, WV Convention and Visitors Bureau n West Virginia Division of Culture and History n West Virginia Press Association Foundation... and our 2015 WVPA associate members n Asher Agency n Appalachian Power n West Virginia Public Broadcasting n Charles Ryan Associates n The Manahan Group n The State Journal n Frontier Communications n Alzheimer s Association of West Virginia n Contractors Association of West Virginia n WVONGA n Auto Round-up Publications n AARP WV n Highmark West Virginia n Bluefield State College n West Virginia University s Reed College of Media n Own Local of Austin, Texas n Sibray Public Relations CONVENTION GRAPHICS DESIGNED BY BRENDA PINNELL/HEPCATZ DESIGN HEPCATZDESIGN.COM