Payraise Payback? 'All-Out Assault' Planned On Media, Lawmaker Says
The Pittsburgh Channel, WTAE-TV 4, has a voicemail recording of Democratic State Rep. Tim Solobay, of Canonsburg, saying that state lawmakers are preparing an all-out assault on the media. Solobay hints that the first volley is a bill that would start charging sales tax on all advertising in Pennsylvania.

Solobay left the voicemail message for editor Cody Knotts, who works at The Weekly Recorder, in Claysville, Washington County.

In the message, Solobay says, "But you know, for the most part, the majority of the legislative feeling about the media right now is if there's something they can do to screw them, you can imagine it may occur."

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Erie Times-News to cut 24 positions
The Erie Times-News, citing stagnant revenues and rising costs, announced Jan. 16 it is eliminating 24 positions and folding two of its three weekly "Neighbors" community news sections.

Jan. 18 marked the final editions for the affected sections -- one focusing on eastern Erie County, and the other on southern and western Erie County --and nine employees will be laid off as a result of the move.

The moves are part of a larger effort by the newspaper to cut its staff by about 8.5 percent in 2006, according to its publisher, Jim Dible.

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Tribune-Review newspapers and Trib Total Media announce 2005 Newsroom Awards
The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. and Trib Total Media are proud to announce winners of the 2005 Newsroom Awards. Editor Frank Craig recognized his staff and their dedication to overall newsroom excellence in 2005, as judged by an Editors’ Committee and awarded on December 21, 2005 in Pittsburgh.

Categories of the 2005 Newsroom Awards include Best Investigative Reporting, Best Team Effort, Best Editing, Best Page Design and Best Photography. The awards were given to staff members at the Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, the Trib p.m., Valley News Dispatch, Kittanning Leader Times, Connellsville Daily Courier and the Valley Independent of Monessen.

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Greene County Messenger GM Morris leaves for new position
Greene County Messenger General Manager Daniel V. Morris recently left the newspaper to accept a position with Yellow Book USA.

Morris served as GM for the past three years, but his connection to the newspaper goes back to the newspaper's humble beginnings.

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Paddock named managing editor of Times Observer
Eric Paddock, the longtime city editor of the (Warren) Times Observer, has been named the newspaper's managing editor.

Paddock replaced Jude Dippold, who left the paper on Dec. 30 to accept a position with Blair Corp.

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Longtime Patriot-News community service director, Lunsford, dies
For some, retirement means an end to working. For William T. "Bill" Lunsford, it meant shifting gears.

Lunsford, a former director of The Patriot-News' community service department, died Jan. 13 at 84. Friends and associates who recalled his achievements said death was probably the only way Lunsford would ever have stopped working.

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Trollinger, retired Reading Eagle editor, dies at 71
Gary L. Trollinger, retired editorial page editor and theatrical reviewer employed by Reading Eagle Company, died Dec. 28 in the Highlands at Wyomissing Skilled Nursing Unit.

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Journal Register names Beck senior vice president, CFO
Newspaper publisher Journal Register Co. named Julie Beck senior vice president and chief financial officer, the Trenton-based company said Jan. 3.

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Jim Ruth of Lancaster Sunday News retires
Jim Ruth, longtime editor of the Lancaster Sunday News Entertainment section, retired on Jan. 1.

In the course of his 40-year career, Ruth's passion has encompassed everything from editor of what is now the Sunday News TV Week television section, where he once had to “censor” a picture of navel-baring Barbara Eden in her “I Dream of Jeannie” outfit, to covering beats ranging from police to politics and “everything but sports,” Ruth said.

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Government Affairs Conference can't be missed!
Jan. 31-Feb. 1, 2006
The Hilton Harrisburg and Towers
Registrations are still being accepted for the upcoming PNA Government Affairs Conference. Various registration options are available, starting at a mere $39.

It sounds as though the simmering property tax debate will be coming to a boil, and publishers, editors and capitol reporters should not miss this opportunity to hear what's happening in Harrisburg. Leadership from all four caucuses will be on hand for a Q&A as usual, and you’ll have a chance to grab some one-on-one, face-to-face time with your hometown legislators, too.

For more information and to register, please visit the PNA Web site at: www.pa-newspaper.org.

America East: Sweeter than Ever!
March 27-29, 2006
The Hershey Lodge and Convention Center
The America East Newpaper Operations and Technology Conference and Trade Show is on track for another successful year. America East currently features 103 exhibiting companies with more expected to sign up soon. There are 18 companies new to the show in 2006, including Dover Flexo Electronics, Fusion Systems International, Landen Strapping, MyNewsPhotos.com, PrintMail Systems Inc, Relationals and Southern Lithoplate, to name a few. For a complete listing of exhibitors, visit: www.america-east.com/exhibitors/exhibitors.htm.

Registration packets have been mailed and should be in your hands soon. Please plan to attend. For more information on sessions and registration, visit www.america-east.com or call Elissa Doyle at (717) 703-3069.

Borrower Beware for Journalists— Reporting on Frauds, Scams and Other Consumer Concerns: Tools and Ideas for Journalists on Any Beat!
Jan. 24: PNA headquarters, Harrisburg, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Feb. 15: PA Institute of CPA’s, Philadelphia, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

This interactive session will touch upon key areas of credit and borrowing—including the pitfalls consumers can face as they finance their lives. This program will provide information on hot topics like frauds and scams—and ideas to help journalists on any beat identify personal finance angles for their stories.

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Keystone Press Awards
Deadline: Jan. 27, 2006
The 2006 Keystone Press Awards contest is now under way. Don't miss your chance to enter. Visit the Contests and Awards section of the PNA Web site, www.pa-newspaper.org, for more details.

For any questions, please contact Tracy Metz at (717) 703-3003 or tracym@pa-news.org.

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Newspaper Excellence in Cyberspace
Deadline extended: Jan. 27, 2006
Find out how your newspaper's Web site stacks up against its competitors. This national competition recognizes outstanding newspaper Web sites in 10 categories. Awards are presented at New Media World during America East in Hershey, Pa.

For any questions, please contact Tracy Metz at (717) 703-3003 or tracym@pa-news.org.

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Display Advertising Contest
Deadline: Feb. 13, 2006
The 2006 Display Advertising Contest rules have been mailed. For any questions, please contact Tracy Metz at (717) 703-3003 or tracym@pa-news.org.

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From the Hotline: 
We received an ad from a Canadian pharmacy. Are there any problems with running it?

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. 

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Chicago Sun-Times nets Google ad deal
Google Inc., the new-media giant, now has a decidedly old-media partner: the Chicago Sun-Times.

In a quiet and small-scale experiment, Google is running classified-like ads in the pages of the Sun-Times, which so far is the only newspaper participating in the Web-search behemoth's test.

The deal, terms of which were not disclosed, allows Google to fill what's known as "remnant space" in the Sun-Times — unsold space where the paper would normally run in-house ads. Google fills those spots with its own ads. The Google connection is hardly trumpeted: "Ads by Google" appears at the top of each box of ads in very small type.

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Baumer Electric signs Plumtree to distribute laser copy counters
Baumer Electric, a global leader in industrial sensing, recently signed Plumtree Company to distribute their full line of SCATEC laser copy counters for the printing, publishing and graphics industries in the USA . SCATEC laser copy counters are sensors designed for non-contact counting of newspapers, magazines and other printed media.

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