Post-Gazette sues WVU over access to records
On April 15, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette sued West Virginia University for failing to comply with the state's open records law.

The newspaper alleges the university committed numerous violations in its response to requests for documents related to the school's decision last fall to retroactively award a master's of business administration degree to Mylan Inc. executive Heather Bresch, daughter of West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin.

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Judge extends order on merger of Philly newspaper pensions
A U.S. district court judge extended his temporary restraining order on the merger of two pensions at The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.

Judge Berle Schiller, who issued the ruling late Thursday, April 10, extended the order until May 23. It would not unravel the pensions' merger, but would stop the papers' owner from commingling their assets.

The Newspaper Guild of Greater Philadelphia is suing Philadelphia Newspapers LLC, a unit of Philadelphia Media Holdings, for merging two pensions without its consent. The union said merging a fully funded pension into a severely underfunded pension would not be in the best interests of pension beneficiaries.

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Morning Call: How will newspapers survive in Internet age?
Over the past 30 years, changes in newspaper production have been significant, even stunning: from linotype machines and hot lead type, typewriters and grease pencils, to computer terminals, satellite transmissions, digital cameras and online editions. And the ability to get news online, instead of from the traditional printed newspaper, may be the most dramatic change of all.

Online ''newspapers'' make it easy for readers to share stories from The Morning Call, as well as, regional and national newspapers, with friends and colleagues. While the Internet offers newspapers a greater reach, though, many newspapers are losing readers and some are struggling to stay profitable. What should newspapers do to stay relevant in this information-is-free-on-the-Internet era?

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Journal Register Co. receives NYSE delisting notification
Journal Register Company (NYSE: JRC) announced April 14, that the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) intends to suspend trading in the Company’s common stock prior to the NYSE’s opening on April 16, and that the NYSE will commence procedures to delist the Company’s common stock.

The NYSE determined to suspend trading based on the abnormally low trading price for the common stock, which closed at $0.265 on April 11. The Company does not intend to take any further action to appeal the NYSE’s decision and therefore, it is expected that the common stock will be delisted after completion by the NYSE of application to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

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MediaNews Group ending SEC disclosures
Closely held MediaNews Group, owner of The (Hanover) Evening Sun, Lebanon Daily News, Chambersburg Public Opinion and the York Daily Record/Sunday News, and the nation's fourth-largest newspaper chain, is becoming even more private -- telling the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) that it will no longer file financial and other reports.

In an SEC filing, MediaNews said it had reached agreements with The Bank of New York regarding senior subordinated notes that released it from its obligation to file disclosures on a voluntary basis.

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From the Legal Hotline:
An advertiser wants to place a memorial ad and include a poem taken from a Hallmark greeting card. Can we use the poem if we include the copyright symbol following the poem?

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Use this link to visit the PNA Legal Department's archive of "From the Legal Hotline" columns.  

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Please respond by: April 25
Help us help you find online success; your response needed in online survey
PNA wants to help our members find success online, which is why we need your help! Over the past few months we have been conducting a survey of Pennsylvania newspapers, in conjunction with Mid-Atlantic Newspaper Services Inc. (MANSI), to find out where you stand in the online world. The information gathered will provide a more complete picture of were we stand as a community, so that we can better serve you in your online endeavors.

Only a small portion of you have responded to this survey so far, so please take a few moments and go to the link listed below. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Matthew Caylor at (717) 703-3040 or matthewc@pa-news.org.

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Foundation Update: Classroom election guide available to PNA members
The PNA Foundation and the state Newspapers in Education (NIE) Committee are proud to provide schools with a quality classroom guide to the election. The Let's Take a Vote 2008 kit is an all-encompassing kit that is ideal for several different grade levels. Teachers can choose from a variety of themes and different modules that can enhance the election experience for kids.

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PNA survey reveals positive outlook for future journalists in Pennsylvania
The PNA Foundation recently conducted a member survey to get a better feel for what career opportunities lie ahead for future journalists in Pennsylvania. While newspapers tend to get a fair amount of negative press these days, our members revealed a rather healthy industry in Pennsylvania. This data is key for student newspaper advisers and students -- our future journalists.

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PNA/IAMA Display Advertising Conference
April 23-25
Seven Springs Mountain Resort
Seven Springs, Pa.
Join us for a schedule packed with great sessions -- negotiation, Newspaper Next 2.0, leadership, getting inside the mind of a media buyer. There's something for everyone. This two-day conference provides informative and interactive sessions featuring retailers and industry leaders discussing how to remain competitive in the changing marketplace. Various registration options are available beginning at just $99!

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Pennsylvania Press Conference
May 2-3
State College, Pa.
Prepare yourself for two days of riveting learning sessions that revolve around the theme, "Working with Change." Sessions include the first Pennsylvania presentation of Newspaper Next 2.0, the groundbreaking study by the American Press Institute, and a panel of industry leaders talking about the change they've seen and what they're working on, with insight from Newsroom Leadership Group trainer Ed Miller, just to name a few.

And don't forget the much-anticipated Keystone Press Awards banquet, featuring a multimedia presentation from the new Newseum in Washington and best work by Pennsylvania newspapers.

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Carrier Golf Outing
May 15
Fayetteville, Pa.
Spend a day playing golf while benefitting the PNA Foundation's Newspaper Carrier of the Year contest. Each year, carriers of all ages, enter the contest to compete for the title of being named one of the best.

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Foundation Golf Outing
June 18
Hershey Country Club
Hershey, Pa.
This tournament is a fun and unique way to support the work and mission of the PNA Foundation. It’s one of
the Foundation’s biggest annual fundraisers, ensuring that we can continue to offer you training programs, student resources and much more! For details, contact Manager of Foundation Services Bev Hendry at (717) 703-3003 or beverlyh@pa-news.org.

April 18: Pennsylvania's New Open Records Law (via video teleconference)
Join PNA's General Counsel Teri Henning as she discusses how the new Open Records Law will impact newspapers. This is the first of four video teleconferences.

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The Open Records Act
Get a better understanding for what you’re responsible for under the newly revised Open Records Law. This workshop is designed to help you understand how the Open Records Law has changed and what steps local government officials will need to take to be in compliance with the new law. Here are the dates and locations for the workshop:

April 23: Luzerne County
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April 23: Lackawanna County
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April 24: Bedford County
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April 24: Schuylkill County
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For additional locations and dates available throughout April and May, view the brochure:

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April 23-24: Northeast Regional NIE Conference - Mystic, Conn.
Sponsored by the New England Newspaper Association, this is a key conference for NIE managers, circulation directors, publishers ... anyone interested in NIE and its future.

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June 12: PNA On the Road - York
PNA is coming to your city, and carving a niche for your small market newspaper is the name of the game. Speakers will cover various topics, including legal issues, branding your small market newspaper, advertising techniques for the small market newspaper and localizing your Web site. All this for only $15!

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June 17: Techniques for Backpack Journalism - Harrisburg
Join Robb Montgomery for a beginner's class on podcasting, filming basic video reports and field producing digital story components with mobile phones and Web browsers.

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June 25-26: AP Newstrain - Harrisburg
Frontline editors, bone up on editing and managing the news online. We'll cover news video production, audio slideshow production, ethics and values, and how to set priorities when times are tight.

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Shortsighted cutbacks pose a serious threat to the future of newspapers
Newspapers are cutting back. Newsroom layoffs are widespread. News space has shrunk as newspapers consolidate sections and eliminate customary features. Circulation, on the wane since the late 1980s, is being deliberately reduced to eliminate unprofitable delivery in areas far from core markets.

True, a lot of the stuff that no longer appears in print can now be found on newspaper Web sites for those with the ability and patience to look for it, using time that could be spent actually reading a newspaper. Web television listings are a particular pain, requiring multiple manipulations to learn what a glance at a printed page provides.

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Papers tailor online content to increase audience, ad sales
With classified revenue dwindling, the news industry must get better at tailoring articles and display advertising to online readers, several newspaper executives said Tuesday, April 15.

Papers must more aggressively "slice and dice" content to readers' particular interests, Leon Levitt, vice president of digital media for Cox Newspapers Inc., said during a panel discussion at the annual conference of the Newspaper Association of America.

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Newspapers' financial outlook tied to their ability to attract new, younger readers
Newspaper company valuations will remain depressed until the industry figures out how to connect with younger readers, private equity firm Quadrangle Capital Partners said on Wednesday, April 9.

Finding that new model, which is heavily dependent on the Internet and other electronic technologies, is crucial for publishers who want to remain relevant to younger readers, said Joshua Steiner, Quadrangle managing principal, at the Reuters Hedge Funds and Private Equity Summit.

"So unless newspapers can ... engage readers, especially readers under the age of 40, the long-term prospects for the industry are not great," he said.

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