PNA applauds Gov. Rendell for appointment of Mutchler to Office of Open Records
The PNA wants to commend Gov. Rendell for his appointment yesterday (April 23) of Terry Mutchler to executive director of the newly created Office of Open Records.

Mutchler's background as a reporter, AP bureau chief, media lawyer and public access counselor in Illinois lead us to believe that she has the right approach to access. As Mutchler stated to The (Harrisburg) Patriot-News, “… I can assure the citizens of Pennsylvania, that if and when I make an error, it’s going to be on the side of openness.”

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For a closer look on Terry Mutchler, read The Patriot-News' story and interview by Jan Murphy.

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Easton officer accidentally killed in 2005; Express-Times seeks autopsy report since 2006
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court heard arguments on April 16, in The (Easton) Express-Times' appeal to obtain the autopsy report of slain Easton police officer Jesse Sollman.

The newspaper requested the report in February 2006, nearly a year after Sollman was accidentally shot by fellow officer Matthew Renninger at the Easton police station March 25, 2005.

Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim denied the request in February 2006.

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From the Legal Hotline:
Stay tuned for a new hotline question next week.

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

[HOTLINE ARCHIVE]

Notes from the Capitol: Business as usual?
All that work on Act 3, the Right to Know Law of 2008, and now Terry Mutchler's been appointed by Rendell to lead the Office of Open Records, but have you noticed it sort of looks like business as usual when it comes to allowing voters to keep tabs on what's being planned before it happens? Read on for the Uniontown Herald-Standard's analysis of that 'shoppers' proposal.

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Foundation Update: Pencil in these summer dates for professional training
Spring is here and everyone is starting to make plans for the summer. So here's a bird's eye view of all the professional training opportunities that the PNA Foundation will be offering in the coming months. There's something for everyone.

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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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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!

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LAST CHANCE! 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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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 28: Lehigh County
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April 28: Bucks County
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April 29: Chester County
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April 29: Lancaster County
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May 1: Lycoming County
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May 1: Huntingdon County
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For additional locations and dates, view the brochure:

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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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AP goes mobile with new Mobile News Network
The AP is going mobile. The nonprofit news cooperative, which recently beefed up its entertainment news staff, announced the formation of the Mobile News Network, which will deliver news to smart phones including Apple's iPhone.

The network is the first product from the AP’s Digital Cooperative, which was formed to identify digital opportunities for AP content. It is currently being tested with a small number of Digital Cooperative participants and is expected to launch on a wider basis this summer.

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