CNHI buys Massachusetts-based Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company
After more than a century of Rogers family ownership, the Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company newspapers are being sold to Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. (CNHI), Eagle-Tribune Chairman Irving E. "Chip" Rogers III announced Wednesday, July 27.

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York Daily Record, in Contract Proposal, Wants to Silence Criticism From Workers
There's not a newspaper in the country where reporters and editors, at some time or another, haven't spouted off about what they didn't like about the place. Work-related griping over a beer at the neighborhood tavern - or nowadays in an e-mail among colleagues - is as common as spin control from a political flak.

But if the York Daily Record has its way, such outspoken opinions, either in the newsroom or at a nearby watering hole, may become a fireable offense. Among several proposals in the latest contract offer to Daily Record guild members is a provision that would ban disparagement of the company by employees.

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Susquehanna County officials take open-records requirements to heart
In light of a recent statewide survey, Susquehanna County has adopted a formal policy to make public information more public.

County commissioners adopted the policy July 27 after county workers denied a reporter access to records of jail overtime and county-solicitor fees — both public information — during an Associated Press survey in February. The results of that survey were published in May.

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AP's Scolforo wins Charles Rowe Award for state FOI survey
AP reporter Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg has won the prestigious Charles Rowe award from APME for his work on the statewide FOI survey and stories this spring. The award recognizes distinguished reporting in the state AP bureaus. It honors Charles Rowe, an influential figure in newspapering until his retirement as co-publisher and editor of The Free Lance-Star in Fredericksburg, Va.

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Journal Register Co. CEO Jelenic sick
Trenton, N.J.-based Journal Register Co. announced that its chairman and CEO Robert M. Jelenic has been diagnosed with what it called "a treatable form of cancer."

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Champion, Cope named co-presidents of Liberty Group Publishing
Scott Champion and Randy Cope have been named co-presidents and co-chief operating officers of Liberty Group Publishing, a Northbrook, Ill.-based company that owns more than 300 publications and newspapers in 15 states.

They will replace Ken Serota, Liberty's chief executive officer since 1998. Serota, who stepped down after an investment firm bought the company, will remain with Liberty as a consultant for a year.

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Schechter joins Citizens' Voice as managing editor for news
Claire Schechter has been appointed assistant managing editor for news at the Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Barre. A resident of Mountain Top, Schechter will oversee the news desk at the daily newspaper.

Schechter holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Syracuse University and has 23 years of newspaper experience at The Times Leader, where she served as a reporter, business editor, city editor, advertising account executive, advertising manager and training manager.

From Sunday Voice, July 3

Tankesley gives up the PNA financials
Jeff Tankesley, the PNA’s Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance, recently resigned to take a new job as Financial Control Manager with the Lancaster School District. Jeff's last day at PNA will be Aug. 2.

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Classified Advertising Contest
Deadline: Aug. 12, 2005
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Contact Tracy Metz at 717-703-3003 or tracym@pa-news.org with any questions.

Calling all newspaper professionals: Brighten the future of newspapers
The PNA Foundation is offering a mentoring program to unite students with Pennsylvania newspaper professionals. The goal is for students to develop and sharpen skills for a career in the newspaper industry. Students will be matched, as closely as possible, with a mentor in their related field of interest. We welcome mentors from all areas of the industry.

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From the Hotline: 
What are the public notice requirements for estate notices?

PNA's General Counsel Teri Henning summarizes the procedures for estate notices.

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Use this link to visit the Headlines & Deadlines page which groups and archives Teri Henning's weekly 'From the Hotline' columns. 

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SND Ad Design Quick Course (hosted by PNA)
Aug. 15, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., Hilton Garden Inn, Canonsburg, Pa., Cost: $95
High quality advertising content and design not only drives readership for the newspaper, it drives response for the advertisers. This one day workshop will reinforce the value of advertising as a provider of crucial content for our readers. Presented by the Society for News Design. This seminar is open to ad designers, classified designers, ad salespeople and ad managers.

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Keep your skills fresh with other seminars and workshops brought to you by the Pennsylvania Press Institute:

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Long-awaited postal reform approved by House; Senate to take up bill this fall
Adoption by the House of Representatives of the first reform of postal laws in more than 35 years is a major step toward a sound Postal Service for mailers—like community newspapers—who depend upon its viability, National Newspaper President Mike Buffington said July 27.

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Survey: No consensus among readers over protecting sources
Newspaper readers share no consensus over what reporters should do when forced to choose between jail time and revealing an anonymous source, according to an online Readers Speak survey sponsored by the Associated Press Managing Editors association.

Readers also had an equally mixed reaction to a federal protection for journalists in such a position.

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Consumer Networks Says Online Coupon Service Expanding
Consumer Networks, a network of newspaper development groups based in San Diego, says more than a dozen newspapers have recently signed on to Boodle, its online coupon solution.

A news release by the company says the recent additions bring the total number of papers using the Boodle service to over 300.

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Old MAN Press Celebrates 400 Years of Newspapers
Press manufacturer MAN Roland contributed a piece of printing history to an exhibit at the Gutenberg Museum, in Mainz, Germany, that celebrates the newspaper industry's 400th birthday this year.

Once a week, an 83-year-old MAN Roland web letterpress prints an eight-page souvenir newspaper that describes the anniversary exhibit -- "Black on White: 400 Years of Newspapers. A Medium Makes History."

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Study: Majority of U.S. Internet Users Unfamiliar with Podcasting, RSS Feeds
Podcasting and RSS feeds may be the buzzwords around the interactive offices of most major publishing companies today, but the vast majority of Americans still have no idea what the terms mean, according to a new study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project.

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Online News Consumers Become Own Editors
There is a growing breed of information consumers who use the latest Internet technologies to completely bypass the home pages of news sites and jump directly to articles that interest them.

Online news consumers are increasingly taking charge, getting their news a la carte from a variety of outlets. Rarely do they depend on a single news organization's vision of the day's top stories.

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Are Pennsylvania readers trusting less these days?
Dr. Randy Hines of Susquehanna University offers suggestions for keeping your readers' trust. Hines hints at decreasing the use of anonymous sources and cutting down on fact errors.

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