York reporters to testify to stories' accuracy
Two newspaper reporters who appeared headed for possible contempt of court sanctions if they refused to testify at the ongoing Dover intelligent design trial now intend to testify Oct. 6 under an agreement that does not compromise their First Amendment rights.

Joseph Maldonado, a correspondent for the York Daily Record/Sunday News, and Heidi Bernhard-Bubb, a freelance writer for The York Dispatch, went to federal court in Harrisburg Sept. 28 under subpoena.

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Philly publisher won't meet with pols on job cuts
State Sen. Vince Fumo has signed improbable treaties before, smoking (figurative) peace pipes with even his most unwavering enemies like electricians union chief John Dougherty.

But the peace gesture he made last week when he said he would work to save the jobs of reporters, copy editors and photographers at two Philadelphia newspapers seems destined for defeat.

Joe Natoli, publisher of Philadelphia Newspapers, Inc., which publishes the Daily News and Inquirer, said Sept. 29 that he would not meet with Fumo, Mayor Street and Gov. Rendell to discuss pending job cuts at the two papers.

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Capitol rally draws hundreds to protest pay raises.
More than 1,000 protesters turned out in drizzling rain Sept. 26 to demand the repeal of legislative pay raises of as much as 54 percent, and speakers urged them to follow through by voting out incumbents in next year's elections.

While members of the state House and Senate went about their business inside the Capitol for the first time since they approved the pay raise early on the morning of July 7, the demonstrators huddled beneath umbrellas on the steps outside, blowing whistles, waving signs and chanting anti-raise slogans.

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Westside Weekly is Berks-Mont's 8th community paper
Berks-Mont Newspapers, headquartered in Boyertown, Pa., announced Sept. 26 that the "Westside Weekly" will begin publication on Sept. 29.

James C. Webb, Berks-Mont publisher, said that the community newspaper will be the company's eighth weekly product and fifth in Berks County.

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Michael Phelps announces plans to leave Lee Enterprises
Michael E. Phelps, a vice president of Lee Enterprises, Incorporated, and publisher of the Quad-City Times, announced Sept. 23 that he is leaving to join Clarity Media Group as a general executive.

In addition to his responsibilities as publisher in Davenport, Phelps oversees newspapers in eastern Iowa, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Kentucky.

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Arden Skidmore, former AP and newspaper reporter, dies
Arden "Skid" Skidmore, a former reporter for newspapers and The Associated Press, has died. He was 91.

In his early career days, Skidmore was sports editor at The Dominion-News of Morgantown, W.Va. and the Clarksburg (W.Va.) Telegram. Later on, he worked for The AP in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Philadelphia bureaus and was eventually the wire editor and a staff writer for The Chester Times in Chester, Pa.

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Post-Gazette names Brant director of advertising
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is pleased to announce the hire of Randall S. Brant to the position of director of advertising. Brant joins the Post-Gazette with seventeen years of experience in the newspaper industry, most recently as senior VP of advertising for the Detroit Newspaper Joint Operating Agreement.

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Dan Hayes becomes Lee VP for communications
Daniel K. Hayes, director of communications for Lee Enterprises, Incorporated, has been appointed vice president for communications.

Hayes, 60, has overseen internal and external communications for the publishing company as it has increased its number of newspapers in recent years and expanded into online services.

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Please return your directory forms!
Don't forget to return your directory forms by Monday, Oct. 3, 2005. If you did not receive your forms, please contact PNA's Director of Marketing and Member Services Denise Ott at (717) 703-3067 or deniseo@pa-news.org as soon as possible.

Celebrate National Newspaper Week
Oct. 2-8, 2005
Since 1940, the Newspaper Association Managers have sponsored and financially supported National Newspaper Week (NNW), a week-long celebration showcasing the impact of newspapers on the everyday lives of our citizens.

This year's theme is “Your Newspaper: Your Community's Town Hall.” The Kentucky Press Association now has the 2005 NNW materials available for download on its Web site:

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Get Your Motor Running...at the PNA Annual Convention
In a city known for Harleys, help your newspaper hit the open highway towards success at the PNA Annual Convention, Nov. 2-4, at the Yorktowne Hotel, York. A slate of outstanding and valuable sessions have been planned to meet the needs of today's publishers and general managers. Don't miss this invaluable session at the upcoming Annual Convention:

Miles and Miles...The Future of Advo
Hear from an expert. Mark Hawley will tell you how Advo is trying to leave you in the dust on the advertising highway and what you can do to compete. Hawley is CEO of Tactician Media and has his finger on the pulse of this industry concern.

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Support the 2005 PNA Foundation Auction
Nov. 2, 2005
Yorktowne Hotel, York, Pa.
An entertaining "Harley-themed" night is planned for this year’s annual auction to benefit the PNA Foundation. Come dressed in your finest leather and be ready to bid!

We're asking for your support so the Foundation can continue to provide low-cost training and respected contests, as well as promote the newspaper industry to our youth. Please consider making a donation to the auction. Last year, your generosity helped us earn more than $25,000.

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Intro to Good writing
Oct. 20, 9:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
PNA headquarters, Cost: $85
Attention reporters, this is a seminar you won't want to miss! National writing coach Jim Stasiowski teaches reporters to liven up their copy and engage readers. For more information contact Teresa Shaak at teresas@pa-news.org or call 717-703-3012.

From the Hotline: 
Can an ad seeking a roommate state "Female seeking female to share apartment. No kids."?

PNA's General Counsel Teri Henning answers this question.

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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. 

[HOTLINE ARCHIVE]

Reporter, jailed for 3 months, is freed
Judith Miller, the New York Times reporter jailed since July 6 for refusing to identify a source, was released Sept. 29 and said she would appear before a grand jury Sept. 30.

"It's good to be free," said Miller, whose incarceration sparked a national debate on whether journalists should have the right to keep sources confidential.

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Work Continues on Federal Shield Law Effort
After a July 20 hearing before his committee, Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, instructed his staff to work on a revised federal shield law that would garner the support of a majority of the committee. Chairman Specter's staff has been in discussions with the staff of Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), sponsor of S. 1419, the Free Flow of Information Act, to flesh out concepts for a revised federal shield law.

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Review of Postal Rate Case Set to Begin
During the week of Sept. 26, the Postal Rate Commission is expected to begin its review of a proposed settlement of the pending postal rate case. Many mailer organizations have signed the proposed settlement with the Postal Service. If the commission approves the settlement, new postage rates are likely to go into effect Jan. 1, 2006.

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Citizen's Guide to the Freedom of Information Act
The House Committee on Government Reform has published a new edition of its popular "Citizen's Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act of 1974 to Request Government Records."

The Guide, first published in 1977, "is one of the most widely read congressional committee reports in history," the new edition says. Click for a copy of the updated guide:

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City, Metro Editors Look to Get Them SOME
For years, the top editors at America's newspapers signed up for ASNE, managing editors joined APME, and reporters -- from gays and lesbians in NLGJA to military writers at MRE -- have each had their own niche associations.

The Society of Metro Editors (SOME) is a newly launched organization that promises to represent nearly all lower-level newsroom leaders, including metro, city and news editors, according to a release sent out Sept. 26 from the American Press Institute, which helped create the group.

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