The Oklahoma Publisher

Transcription

1 The Oklahoma Publisher Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association INSIDE Vol. 83, No Pages November 2012 Election coverage, newspaper style INTELLIGENT MAIL BARCODE: If you plan to continue claiming automation rates, you must start using the IMb by Jan. 18. Learn how to get started. PAGE 6 DONATE TO ONF RECEIVE THIS PRINT: Donate $500 or more to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation and receive a framed, matted print of this Will Rogers painting. PAGE 10 Election related front pages from the Tulsa World, The Purcell Register, The Norman Transcript and the Sequoyah County Times. Election season is finally over. Attack ads are off the air, yard signs are in the trash and all that s left to do is hope that our decisions at the polls will be beneficial for the state and country. Like in elections past, local newspapers were there to educate readers about the issues and candidates and to cover the results. LOCAL COVERAGE Papers across the state all took to different methods to report the election. At the Sapulpa Daily Herald, we continued to cover Creek County as a priority, said Angene Gibbs, managing editor of the Sapulpa Daily Herald. That is where we kept our focus. The Herald also looked at how Creek County voters compared with voters around the state in regards to judicial retention and state questions. The paper also sent reporters and photographers to candidates watch parties. The McAlester News-Capital produced a candidate forum for the town s candidates for sheriff, state senate and U.S. Congress. A city official also was on hand to pitch McAlester s bond issue. The Choctaw Times, which publishes every Wednesday, was unable to run an immediate recap of the election before they went to press. We will run detailed articles on important county elections, assuming readers have already heard plenty about national and state elections, said Ryan Horton, managing editor of the Choctaw Times. We try to focus on writing more in-depth articles with plenty of comments from local candidates who did not get as much coverage from larger news media. Charles Biggs, editor and publisher of the Tulsa Beacon, said his newspaper focused a lot of its coverage on the six state questions and judicial retention. Even though the judicial retention votes are non-partisan, we thought it was important to tell readers the voter registration of each judge and which governor Republican or Democrat appointed them to that position, said Biggs. I wish we had the resources to examine the decisions of judges on cases, but it is too difficult. NEW TECHNOLOGIES Many papers turned to their websites, Facebook and Twitter to report on election results. We did post updates on local races on our website and Facebook page a couple of times, but not as much as in the past since everything is available on the state site, said Gloria Trotter, editor and copublisher of The Countywide & Sun. Since Choctaw would be publishing election coverage a week later, they updated their Facebook page throughout Election Day to remind readers to vote and to update them on the results. John D. Montgomery, publisher of the Purcell Register, Continued on page 4

2 2 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 UP, UP AND AWAY! By Jeff Shultz, Garvin County News Star Earnest plopped down the money he had after draining his savings account and was now the proud owner of a Ford Roadster. He was exhausted almost to the point of insanity of his desk job at the Washington Daily News. He took a sabbatical from his desk job and crisscrossed the nation with his wife by his side before coming back to the Daily News. In 1934, he and his wife took another trip, this time to California. The trip was meant to help him recover from a bad bout with the flu. When he came back to the Daily News his editor suggested he write a few travel pieces on his trip to California in order to have some travel columns while the paper s normal travel editor was on vacation. The series of 11 columns became an instant hit, inspiring a Scripps- Howard editor to proclaim Earnest s articles as having a Mark Twain quality that knocked my eye out. But it wasn t his travel pieces that brought Earnest notoriety. Six years later he was sent to Great Britain to cover the Nazi bombing of London. Earnest s coverage of the bombing gave him war correspondent status and when America entered the war a year later he was given the assignment of covering the United States involvement in the war. But instead of reporting on troop movements, battlefield stats and the other mundane facts about the war, Earnest wrote about the average soldier and the effects the war was having on them. You probably guessed by now that I m talking about Ernie Pyle. Pyle reported not from a distance, but was right on the front lines in Europe, Africa and wherever the war took him and the soldiers he was with. He reported what he saw and how it affected the men he was with. He was the connection between a soldier and his family back home, often giving details other war correspondents left out. The men are walking. They are fifty feet apart, for dispersal. Their walk is slow, for they are dead weary, as you can tell even when looking at them from behind. Every line and sag of their bodies speaks of their inhuman exhaustion, he wrote on one occasion. All the rest of us you and me and even the thousands of soldiers behind the lines in Africa we want LEGAL ADVICE is just one of the benefits of being a member of the Oklahoma Press Association s Legal Services Plan. Remove the worry of needing professional advice by enrolling today. For more information contact: OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION S LEGAL SERVICES PLAN or terribly yet only academically for the war to get over, was a line included in another report. His description of war life was often gritty and honest. If you go long enough without a bath, even the fleas will leave you alone, he said in one column. Pyle s most famous column was The Death of Captain Waskow and was written as the Allied forces were under heavy fire at the Anzio beachhead in Italy. Pyle reported how the unit honored Waskow, who was killed in action during that battle, as they brought his body back down from the mountainside. In that one column, Pyle captured the horrific tragedy of war while also showcasing the comradeship that would win the war. In 1944, Pyle won the Pulitzer Prize in journalism for his war reporting. However, he wasn t in New York to receive the prestigious honor. Instead, he was giving reports straight from the battlefields during the D-Day invasion. Early in 1945, Pyle went to the Pacific to cover the war there. He admitted he didn t relish going there, that his heart was still with the soldiers in Europe. But he felt an obligation to the men and women serving in the Pacific to tell their story. It was a fateful decision as on April 18, 1945, Pyle was killed by a Japanese machine gunner while riding in a jeep on an island northwest of Okinawa Island. His death came six days after FDR s death, and the nation felt the war had taken the two best friends the U.S. ever had. Pyle was buried between two soldiers who were also killed in the line of fire. Soldiers who attended the short 10-minute service included those from the Army, Navy, and Marine Corps. (Pyle s body was later moved to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific located in Honolulu.) This is the month we remember our veterans of war and those who served their country without any loss of courage. Thanks to Ernie Pyle and his brave and unique reporting, generations to come will know how special the Greatest Generation was. Ernie Pyle was by far a great newspaper hero. OPA CALENDAR OF EVENTS Complete Listing of Events at THU., NOV. 29, McALESTER OPEN MEETING/OPEN RECORDS ACTS SEMINAR Attorney General Scott Pruitt, the Oklahoma Press Association and Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation invite you to attend a seminar designed to deal directly with your questions and concerns about Oklahoma s Open Meeting and Records Acts. Oklahoma First Attorney General Rob Hudson and Communications Director Diane Clay will present the seminar. It s free and open to the public. The seminar will be held six times in 2012 across the state. For more information, a press release or a letter from the attorney general s office, visit okpress.com/eventscalendar. Other dates of seminars include: THU., DEC. 6, Tulsa, OK THU., DEC. 13, Enid, OK FRI., JAN. 11 ONF APPLY TO HOST AN INTERN Get connected with a student who wants to work at an Oklahoma newspaper this year. Host newspaper applications to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation internship program are due Jan. 11. At least 19 newspapers will receive funding to host a journalism student for eight to 10 weeks in summer For more information and to download an application, go to OkPress.com/ internships. FRI., FEB. 15 ONF APPLY FOR AN INTERNSHIP OR SCHOLARSHIP The Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation awards several internships and three $1,500 scholarships to Oklahoma journalism students each year. Applications for the school year are due by Feb. 15. University of Oklahoma students are also eligible to apply for the Breeden scholarship. View eligibility requirements and download all applications at JUNE 13-15, MIDWEST CITY OPA ANNUAL CONVENTION The OPA annual convention will be held June 13-15, 2013, at the Sheraton and Reed Center in Midwest City. For more information on upcoming events, visit the OPA website at or contact Member Services Director Lisa Potts at (405) , or LPotts@okpress.com.

3 The Oklahoma Publisher // November Mustang Times applies for OPA membership The Mustang Times has applied for a business membership in the Oklahoma Press Association. The Times is currently a sustaining member of the OPA. The weekly publication lists Steven Kizziar as publisher and Steve Coulter as general manager. The Mustang Times periodical mailing permit has been in effect since Oct. 26, The application lists the Times office as 553 N. Mustang Road, Mustang, OK 73064; phone (405) The Oklahoma Press Association Board of Directors will vote on the application at their next meeting on Jan. 17, Any current member wishing to object to the application of the Mustang Times must do so in writing to the OPA at 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK , by Jan. 7, Role expands for Claremore publisher Bailey Dabney, publisher of The Daily Progress in Claremore, is taking on some new duties. In addition to serving as publisher of The Daily Progress, Dabney will also serve as publisher of The Pryor Times. Both newspapers are located in northeast Oklahoma. Bailey joined The Daily Progress in He previously served in circulation management positions in markets including Charleston, S.C., Tallahassee, Miami and St. Louis. He graduated from South Carolina s Erskine College. Bailey and his wife, Kim, have three daughters and a son. SOUTHEAST KANSAS WEEKLY NEWSPAPER FOR SALE Newspaper of record for multiple entities, solid subscription and advertising base. Good opportunity for individual wanting to be own boss or addition to current news organization. Send inquiries to seller546@yahoo.com. County withholds IRS documents requested by The Norman Transcript Officials in Cleveland County continue to fight the release of documents received from the Internal Revenue Service to The Norman Transcript. The documents question construction costs for the new $52 million county jail. The IRS says that a tax entity could release the documents if they desired but the IRS is prohibited from making the records public. Cleveland County officials confirmed that the IRS did send county commissioners two Information Document Requests. The questions relate to a bond issue approved by voters in 2008 for a new county jail originally estimated to cost $52 million. It turns out the actual cost of constructing the new jail was $24 million. The IRS wanted to know whether the $52 million amount of issuance was appropriate, according to Carol Dillingham, assistant district attorney assigned to the case. The IRS said that a taxpayer that receives information from the IRS has Ed Kelley leaves Washington Times The Washington Times recently reported that it was replacing its top editor. Editor Ed Kelley, who was named to the job 15 months ago, stepped down to pursue new opportunities, the option of releasing that information to the public. If a taxpayer wants to share information, that is entirely up to the taxpayer, said David Stell, IRS spokesperson for Arkansas and Oklahoma. To the IRS, taxpayers and tax entities are considered the same. A tax entity includes trusts and other entities of the state of Oklahoma and counties, such as Cleveland County. Dillingham cited a provision in an Oklahoma statute that allows documents to be kept from the public in anticipation of litigation or for trial by or for another party. The Oklahoma Open Records Act states that access to records shall not be denied because a public body or public official is using or has taken possession of such records for investigatory purposes. The Transcript requested the release of the IRS documents through the Open Records Act. Dillingham said the statutory law she cited supersedes the Open Records Act. said the paper s new president and chief executive Larry Beasley. Prior to moving to Washington, D.C., to accept the new position, Kelley had worked at The Oklahoman for more than 35 years. The Oklahoma Publisher ISSN X Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association PUBLISHER Mark Thomas mthomas@okpress.com EDITOR Jennifer Gilliland jgilliland@okpress.com OPA OFFICERS Jeff Shultz, President The Garvin County News Star Jeff Mayo, Vice President Sequoyah County Times Gracie Montgomery, Treasurer The Purcell Register Mark Thomas, Executive Vice President, Oklahoma City OPA DIRECTORS Rusty Ferguson, Past President The Cleveland American Jeff Funk, Enid News & Eagle Robby Trammell, The Oklahoman Dayva Spitzer, Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat Brian Blansett, Shawnee News-Star Mike Brown, Neighbor News Ted Streuli, The Journal Record 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK (405) Toll-Free in Oklahoma: (888) news@okpress.com SUBSCRIBE TO THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER $12 PER YEAR THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER (USPS ) is published monthly for $12 per year by the Oklahoma Press Association, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK Periodicals postage paid at Oklahoma City, OK. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE OKLAHOMA PUBLISHER, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK

4 4 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 City of Tulsa reviews records policy The city of Tulsa is reviewing its open records policy, which was last updated in Tulsa is looki ng to other cities for input, said Tulsa Mayor Dewey Bartlett, and in April created a records manager position in the city s Finance Department. The outdated policy fails to address modern changes to open records, including s. The Tulsa World requested s regarding a Tulsa Police Department project to replace the computer system in police vehicles in late December. After the s were selected through a keyword search, they were given to the city s Legal Department Lone Grove citizen calls for school audit Saying too many things don t add up, Tommy Spradling has been working on a petition to have Lone Grove Schools audited by the Oklahoma State Auditor and Inspector s Office. The petition cites examination in seven areas including possible violations of the Open Meeting and Open Records Acts; possible double-dipping for reimbursement by school district personnel; possible misuse of 2008 bond funds for purposes not specified in the bond proposal; possible use of district personnel and students to affect the outcome of school bond election; possible irregularities in hiring practices and possible irregularities regarding fund balances of various investments and other financial accounts. Election Continued from page 1 kept readers informed through Twitter as the results came in. ADVERTISING REVENUE Election season also means an uptick in advertising revenue for many state papers as candidates try to reach as many voters as possible. Keith Neale, editor of the Stilwell Democrat-Journal, said his paper charges an extra $1 per column inch for political ads and saw a definite increase in revenue in the run up to the election. At The Countywide & Sun, Trotter for review. About 8,000 s were provided to the World in April. In a summer project by Tulsa World interns, a request for a single day s worth of s to-and-from Bartlett took six weeks to provide 43 s. Another request from the World for s regarding recent TPD promotional exams took about six weeks before about 250 s were provided to the newspaper. We are updating the executive order that addresses how we process such requests to ensure we are as efficient as possible, Bartlett said. We are mindful that open records requests must be filled within a reasonable amount of time. The petition asks that the auditor examine the period from July 1, 2007, through November 30, If approved, the audit will cost the district an estimated $28,000 to $42,000, according to the state auditor. The petition requires 402 signatures, or 10 percent of the registered voters in the school district. Petitioners have until 5:00 p.m. Nov. 28 to acquire the required number of signatures, which will then be presented to the state auditor s office. The petitions will then go to the Carter County Election Board for verification. Only original petitions with original signatures will be accepted, said a spokesman from the state auditor and inspector s office. said the paper offers special promotions for political advertisements. We offered all candidates our Vote- Pak, which gives them a discounted inch rate for a commitment of a large number of inches that they can use as they choose over an eight-week period. The paper also offered a color 2x5 ad for eight weeks for $520 on its local front page for the primary elections. There were only six of these ads available and they sold out in two days, Trotter said. State s Pardon and Parole Board secretly hires defense attorney The Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board has secretly hired Mack Martin, a prominent Oklahoma City defense attorney, to represent the agency and its board members while they are under investigation. The board agreed to pay Martin $19,999 in public funds. All five members of the board signed the contract even though they never officially voted on the hiring and never discussed hiring representation at their last two public meetings. The Oklahoma County district attorney s office and the Oklahoma attorney general s office both have investigations underway concerning the pardon and parole board. Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater is investigating possible violations of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. Prater began his investigation after learning the board had given no notice to the public in many instances where inmates were considered for early release. After his removal from the Kiowa Board of Trustees, trustee member Ray Goss has been reinstated. Goss was initially removed from the board after failing to attend a statemandated training class for all newly elected officials. The law states that a newly elected official must attend the mandated training within a year of being elected. Goss was elected in April 2011 and Yukon Public Schools must pay $18,203 in legal fees as a result of an open records dispute in regards to the schools Future Farmers of America (FFA) programs. Randy and Debbie Wright sued the district in January after the district denied them access to an audit of the Yukon vocational agriculture program. Yukon Superintendent Bill Denton ordered the investigation after receiving numerous complaints from parents and other stakeholders. The complaints Attorney General Scott Pruitt is conducting a separate, similar investigation. Martin is charging the board $250 an hour for his services. His normal rate is $400 an hour. Martin cannot be paid with public money to represent the board if they are ever charged. Board chairman Marc Dreyer defended Martin s hiring, saying the staff handled it just like any other contract. We don t review or, even for that matter, get a report about any contracts that the agency negotiates, from the Xerox contract to contracts with the Office of State Finance to run our payroll or whatever, said Dreyer. Dreyer went on to say that board members could not talk about hiring the defense attorney during their meetings because of a legal reason. Tracy George, general counsel for the board, said the agency was and is prohibited from disclosing the existence of what Mr. Martin has been retained for because of a court order. Kiowa board reinstates dismissed trustee was removed from the board in September The class that newly elected officials are required to attend covers topics including the Oklahoma Open Meeting and Open Records Acts and procedures for conducting a meeting. As of his reinstatement in late October, Goss had not yet attended the mandated training. School must pay legal fees in open records dispute alleged skimming by instructors who charge parents more for livestock than breeders and instructors with bank accounts that included both public and private funds as well as favoritism by the district staff. The Wrights were awarded $15, in attorney fees and $3, in costs to plaintiffs. The couple did not seek damages and say they offered to settle with the school district for $15,000 but the offer was rejected.

5 PLAYER PROFILE Name: BRIAN BLANSETT, Publisher, THE SHAWNEE NEWS-STAR The Oklahoma Publisher // November EDUCATION: Graduated from Latta High School and East Central University with a major in history FAMILY: Wife, Dianna; son, Brice (Firelake Grand Casino); daughters, Brittany (Shawnee Youth and Family Services) and Brooke (Firelake Grand Casino) NEWSPAPER EXPERIENCE: Stratford Star covered high school sports while in college in 1977, but had to quit because it cost me more in gas than I was getting paid. Ada Evening News Started in circulation while going to college, then moved to the sports desk during football season of Sulphur Times-Democrat Reporter; The Daily Ardmoreite Editor. Waco Tribune-Herald City editor. Oklahoma Press Association Advertising director. Shawnee News-Star 2008-current. Publisher Each month, The Publisher will profile a newspaper executive in this space. Learn more about your peers from all corners of the state. To request the questionnaire for your Player Profile, jgilliland@okpress.com. Q: What s something most people don t know about you? A: I was a bull-rider in a previous existence. Q: What s the best/most unusual part of your job? A: Getting to work with a great team, and the daily variety. Q: What civic activities are you involved in? A: Shawnee Economic Development Foundation, Shawnee Chamber of Commerce, OBU Advisory Board, Youth and Family Services and the Kiwanis Club. Q: Who s had the biggest influence on your career? A: The late Lee Porter, who hired me to be the editor at The Ardmoreite way back when. He was a great mentor. Q: What would you describe as the three most important responsibilities of your job? A: Since I m the publisher, my most important responsibility is to make sure we hit our budget. After that, hiring good managers and then letting them do their jobs. Q: What about newspaper publishing gets you out of bed in the morning? A: I still enjoy putting out a newspaper. It s fun and it matters. And I enjoy it when strangers stop me in the store and ask if I m the guy who writes for the newspaper. Q: What s the biggest obstacle you ve overcome in your career? A: The most trying times are right now, when we are trying to balance the needs of readership against the current budget realities. Q: What are you most proud of? A: In the early 1990s in Waco, we had an astonishing run of news, most of which was tragic. In October of 1991, Georges Hennard crashed into a Luby s restaurant in Killeen, then shot and killed 23 people and wounded another 20 before killing himself. In 1992, a serial killer named Kenneth McDuff was arrested and brought back to Waco for one of a suspected 14 murders he had committed. In February of 1993, the ATF assaulted the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, setting off a 52-day siege. Four ATF agents and six Davidians were killed during the assault and 82 more Davidians died during the fire on April 19. Operating for most of three years under intense pressure, our reporters performed at the highest levels and made me proud to work with them. We won several national awards and two of my reporters were finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in investigative reporting, but, even more importantly, we gave our local readers a first-class newspaper every day of the week. Q: What are your hobbies? A: Playing bluegrass music, gardening, raising chickens and turkeys. Q: How does your newspaper play an important part in the community? A: We keep our readers informed on things that are important to them. Q: What type of annual events is your newspaper involved in? A: We host the annual Taste of Home cooking school every April and contribute to other community events. Q: What challenges are facing your newspaper today and in the future? A: The biggest challenge is to maintain the quality of reporting despite budget cuts. Chickasha hosts hair raising contest The Chickasha Express-Star is inviting its readers to participate in a No Shave November charitable donation event. Those who choose to participate were asked to stop shaving any facial hair on Nov. 1 and to let it grow continuously for all 30 days in November. At the end of that period, participants are asked to send photos of their beards to the newspaper. All photos received will be posted online on Dec. 10 where readers can pay a $1 donation to vote for the best beard. All proceeds will go to the Express-Star s Newspapers in Education program. The beard that receives the most votes will be awarded with a $100 Visa gift card, courtesy of The Express- Star. The contest is based on the honor system and no beard pictures will be accepted after Dec. 7. Express-Star managing editor James Bright plans to compete in the competition. I can grow a pretty healthy beard in a month, he said. Looking for a Complete Combination Solution fully-templated, full-color print special sections & companion, ready-topost online MicroSite sections from Metro Editorial Services! for Print and Online Special Sections? Now you can get Metro Creative Graphics, Inc View samples and get more information from metrocreativeconnection.com, call Metro Client Services at , or send an to service@metro- .com

6 6 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 SWITCHING TO IMB FOR AUTOMATION DISCOUNTS Newspapers that plan to continue claiming automation rates on Periodicals postage must switch to the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) by Jan. 28, The new barcode stores more information than the previous POSTNET barcode. In addition to the 11-digit delivery point on the POSTNET barcode, the IMb contains 20 digits of additional identifying and tracking data. The primary reason for converting to the IMb is the savings of claiming automation rates. To calculate your savings, use the charts at right and input your circulation figures from Postal Statement 351, Part A (In-County) and Part C (Outside County - Barcoded). ACQUIRE A MAILER ID The first step to transitioning to the IMb is to acquire a Mailer ID through the Business Service Gateway into PostalOne! If you don t already have a Gateway account, sign up for one at gateway.usps.com. The Mailer ID (MID) is a 6- or 9-digit number that identifies each mailer. Most newspapers will want to request the 9-digit ID. After logging in to the Gateway, click on Mailer ID under the Design & Prepare section. If you already have a Mailer ID, it will be shown in the Mailer ID section. If you don t already have an ID, click on the Request a MID button. On the next page, pull down to the 9-digit setting and enter 1 as the quantity of MIDs requested. Intelligent Mail Barcode POSTNET Barcode On the final page, check the Full- Basic service option at the top right and click submit. You will now be shown your Mailer ID. CHECK YOUR SOFTWARE Now that you have a MID, you need to make sure your software is capable of generating IMb coding. Recently updated software will probably work, but it s a good idea to check with your vendor. In addition to software compatibility, your printing equipment will need to compatible. If you re already printing on a laser printer, there shouldn t be a problem. Labels currently printed on dot matrix printers could experience problems since there are no dot matrix printers with native IMb fonts. However, some vendors may have workarounds for this. Since the IMb is slightly larger than the POSTNET barcode, you may have to redesign your labels. The maximum width of the IMb is 3.475, which will work with a 3.5 label. If you want to save money and already have a software vendor, it s probably worth the effort to convert to the Intelligent Mail barcode. PS FORM 3541, PART A, IN-COUNTY Basic Nonautomation $0.133 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Automation Flats $0.117 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ 3-digit Nonautomation $0.121 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Automation Flats $0.109 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ 5-digit Nonautomation $0.108 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Automation Flats $0.102 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ NONAUTOMATION TOTAL $ AUTOMATION TOTAL $ PS FORM 3541, PART C, OUTSIDE COUNTY (MACHINABLE) Mixed ADC Barcoded $0.414 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Nonbarcoded $0.446 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ ADC Barcoded $0.387 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Nonbarcoded $0.411 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ 3-digit Barcoded $0.372 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Nonbarcoded $0.394 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ 5-digit Barcoded $0.285 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Nonbarcoded $0.294 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ BARCODED TOTAL $ NONBARCODED TOTAL $ PS FORM 3541, PART C, OUTSIDE COUNTY (NONMACHINABLE) Mixed ADC Barcoded $0.580 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Nonbarcoded $0.625 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ ADC Barcoded $0.482 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Nonbarcoded $0.507 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ 3-digit Barcoded $0.420 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Nonbarcoded $0.431 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ 5-digit Barcoded $0.310 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ Nonbarcoded $0.311 X # of Addressed Pieces = $ NEWSPAPER BROKERS, APPRAISERS, CONSULTANTS Serving the Newspaper Industry Since 1966 BARCODED TOTAL $ NONBARCODED TOTAL $ When the time comes to explore the sale of your community newspaper, you can count on us. We offer decades of experience and a record of success in community newspaper sales. Community newspapers still have good value. If you re ready to sell, call us for a confi dential discussion. THOMAS C. BOLITHO P.O. Box 849, Ada, OK (580) bolitho@bolitho.com EDWARD M. ANDERSON P.O. Box 2001, Branson, MO (417) brokered1@aol.com NATIONAL EDIA ASSOCIATES After putting the figures in for your publication, add the Part A (separately for automation and nonautomation) and multiply by the number of issues you produce each year. Subtract the nonautomation from the automation. This is the amount you will save each year for in-county pieces by implementing the IMb. Do the same for Part C (using either the Machinable or Nonmachinable table). After subtracting the total barcoded from nonbarcoded, and multiplying by the number of issues, you will see the savings for outside county pieces. Add the savings for Part A and Part C together for the total savings you will receive if you implement the Intelligent Mail barcode.

7 The Oklahoma Publisher // November Edith Gaylord Kinney receives honor Edith Gaylord Kinney is one of the seven inductees into the 85th class of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. She was inducted into the hall posthumously on Nov. 15 at the Renaissance Tulsa Hotel and Convention Center. Other inductees were Suzanne Warren, Tulsa; Stan Clark, Stillwater; Bart Conner, Norman; Tom L. Ward, Edmond; Lee R. West, Edmond; and Ronald H. White, Oklahoma City. Gaylord was a pioneer journalist and philanthropist with a lifelong passion for the news business. She is the daughter of Inez Kinney Gaylord and E.K. Gaylord, the editor and publisher of The Daily Oklahoman Oklahoma Watch has hired David Fritze as the nonprofit s new executive editor. Fritze was a senior editor at The Arizona Republic in Phoenix, Ariz. Fritze grew up in Oklahoma City and graduated with a journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma. He worked at several Oklahoma newspapers and was a writer and editor at Oklahoma Monthly magazine. He was a reporter at the Dallas JAMES CLAUDE RES RESNEDER, who was publisher of the Washita County Enterprise in Corn for many years, died Oct. 29, He was 63. Resneder was born June 17, 1949, in Hobart. He graduated from Hobart High School in Times Herald until he was hired by The Republic in Fritze worked in a variety of highlevel positions at The Republic including business, metro and national editor as well as senior reporter. For the last six years, Fritze s focus at The Republic had been major projects. These included a probe into a network of non-profits tied to a Phoenix televangelist who exploited federal tax and charity systems and an in-depth investigation into probate court abuses where elderly wards of the state were stripped of their assets. He also played a leading role in DEATHS LEE BELL, former managing editor at the Stillwater NewsPress, died Oct. 20, He was 80. Bell was born on Jan. 22, 1932, in Rogers, Ark. He married Ila Faye Jordan in Stillwater on Jan. 26, In 1955, Bell graduated from Oklahoma A&M College. He served in the Army from 1956 to Bell was editor for the Muskogee Phoenix and Times from 1955 to He then returned to Stillwater to join the NewsPress where he served first as managing editor and later as the special editor until retiring in Resneder bought the Washita County Enterprise in He also started his own photography business in Corn, specializing in wedding photos. He served the Town of Corn for over 20 years as a volunteer fireman and and The Oklahoma City Times. She attended Colorado College, where she later became a trustee, and graduated from Wells College in She was the first woman on the general news staff of the Associated Press Washington bureau. An early assignment to cover first lady Eleanor Roosevelt s news conference blossomed into friendship, and she became Eleanor Roosevelt s media liaison and, later, the secretary of the first lady s Press Conference Association. She was elected president of the Women s National Press Club in Gaylord supported a variety of organizations and projects, often anonymously. Her interests were broad-ranging, including education, health, the arts and the environment. She created two foundations in 1982 to continue her philanthropy. The Inasmuch Foundation continues to lessen suffering and enrich the quality of lives it touches, the release notes, while the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation builds the ethics, skills and opportunities needed to advance principled, probing news and information. So far, giving from both foundations totals more than $130 million. Gaylord died in Oklahoma Watch names Fritze as executive editor The Republic s coverage of the January 2011 Tucson shooting that left six dead and 13 wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The Republic was a Pulitzer Prize finalist in Breaking News Reporting for their coverage of the shooting. Oklahoma Watch is Oklahoma s only nonprofit public-affairs news team dedicated to the production and delivery of watchdog journalism across a range of platforms. It was launched in 2010 and its principal funders are the George Kaiser Family Foundation and the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and Kiwanis Club where he served as president. Bell is survived by his wife of 58 years, Ila Faye; son David Bell of Stillwater; and daughter Carolyn Bell Causley of Stillwater. later became the town clerk of Corn, a position he held until his death. He is survived by two brothers, Jon and wife Marcia of Frederick, and Robert and wife Norma of Emory, Texas; two sisters, Kristen Doran and husband James of Altus, and Susan Allen of Hobart. THANK YOU to the following individuals and organizations for their recent donations to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation: In memory of Chub Bellatti: BECKY & JIM MAYO TOM & SHERRY MUCHMORE PONCA CITY PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. A donation to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation will support its efforts to improve the state s newspaper industry and quality of journalism. ONF s programs include training and education for professional journalists, scholarship and internship programs for journalism students, and Newspaper in Education efforts. ONF relies on donations and memorial contributions to fund these programs. If you would like to make a donation, please send a check to: OKLAHOMA NEWSPAPER FOUNDATION 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd. Oklahoma City, OK 73105

8 8 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 OPS ADVERTISING INSERTION ACCURACY Oklahoma Press Association recognizes the 157 business member newspapers that successfully ran all ads placed by Oklahoma Press Service for the third quarter of 2012 (July through September). Congratulations for a job well done. The (Afton) American The Altus Times The Anadarko Daily News The Antlers American The Apache News The Ardmoreite Atoka County Times The (Barnsdall) Bigheart Times Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise The (Beaver) Herald-Democrat The (Bethany) Tribune Blackwell Journal-Tribune The Boise City News Bristow News & Record-Citizen Broken Bow News (Buffalo) Harper County Journal The Canton Times The Carnegie Herald The Chelsea Reporter The Cheyenne Star The (Chickasha) Express-Star Chickasha Leader Choctaw County Times Choctaw Times Claremore Progress Clayton Today The Clinton Daily News Collinsville News The Comanche County Chronicle The Comanche Times The Countywide & Sun Coweta American The Cyril News The Daily Elk Citian The Davis News The Delaware County Journal The Dewey County Record Drumright Gusher The Edmond Sun El Reno Tribune The Ellis County Capital Enid News & Eagle The Fairfax Chief The Fletcher Herald Fort Gibson Times The Frederick Press-Leader The Freedom Call The Gage Record Garber-Billings News Garfi eld County Legal News The Geary Star The Grove Sun Guthrie News Leader Guymon Daily Herald The Haskell News The Healdton Herald The Heavener Ledger The Hennessey Clipper The Hinton Record The Hobart Democrat-Chief Holdenville News The Hollis News The Hominy News-Progress The Hooker Advance (Idabel) Southeast Times Inola Independent Johnston County Capital-Democrat The Kingfi sher Times & Free Press Kiowa County Democrat The Konawa Leader Latimer County News -Tribune The (Laverne) Leader Tribune The Lawton Constitution The (Lawton) County Times The Lincoln County News The Logan County Courier The Lone Grove Ledger The Madill Record Mangum Star-News Marietta Monitor The Marlow Review McAlester News-Capital McCurtain Daily Gazette McIntosh County Democrat Meeker News The Mooreland Leader Morris News Muskogee Phoenix Mustang News The Newcastle Pacer The Newkirk Herald Journal Northwest Oklahoman & Ellis County News Nowata Star The Okarche Chieftain Oklahoma City Friday (OKC) Capitol Hill Beacon (OKC) The City Sentinel (OKC) The Journal Record The Okeene Record Okemah News Leader Okmulgee Times Oologah Lake Leader Owasso Reporter Pauls Valley Democrat Pawhuska Journal-Capital The Pawnee Chief The Perkins Journal Perry Daily Journal The Piedmont-Surrey Gazette The Ponca City News Poteau Daily News The Prague Times-Herald The (Pryor) Paper The (Pryor) Times The Ringling Eagle The Rush Springs Gazette The Ryan Leader Sequoyah County Times Sand Springs Leader Sapulpa Daily Herald The Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat The Seminole Producer The Sentinel Leader The (Shawnee) County Democrat Skiatook Journal Spiro Graphic Stillwater NewsPress Stilwell Democrat-Journal Stroud American Sulphur Times-Democrat Talihina American Taloga Times-Advocate The Thomas Tribune The Tonkawa News Tulsa Beacon Tulsa Daily Commerce & Legal News The (Tulsa) Oklahoma Eagle Tulsa World (Tulsa County) South County Leader The Tuttle Times The Valliant Leader Vian Tenkiller News The Vici Vision Wagoner Tribune The Walters Herald Watonga Republican Waurika News-Democrat Woods County Enterprise Weatherford Daily News The Weleetkan The Westville Reporter (Westville) Weekly Express The Wewoka Times The Wilson Post-Democrat Woodward News The (Yale) Phoenix Yukon Review OKLAHOMA PRESS ASSOCIATION 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK (405)

9 The Altus Times announced in October that Denny Koenders, a longtime news and military veteran, had taken over as publisher of the Times. Koenders was born in South Dakota and has spent 46 years in the newspaper industry. He has worked at papers in Alabama, Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, South Carolina and New Mexico. Along with the Altus Times, Koenders will oversee the Times sister paper, the Frederick Press-Leader. I want to make sure the community of Altus feels and understands the local newspaper belongs to them, said The Oklahoma Publisher // November New publisher at Altus Times Koenders. I want the public to know they are free to come to The Altus Times at any time to express their thoughts and opinions openly. Koenders has always been an avid supporter of chambers of commerce throughout his newspaper career. He served on chamber boards and as president in Alabama. He is also a longtime Rotary Club member. Koenders, who is a Vietnam War veteran, is also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. Karen Goodwin, publisher of the Rush Springs Gazette, stands beside a 1938 Chevrolet in front of the newspaper office. The car belongs to her husband, Conn, who owns an automotive service. A friend of the Goodwins originally restored the car years ago with Conn s help. The car was later sold and sat for nearly 10 years before Conn bought it in June He had to go all through it and replace just about everything to make in road worthy and safe to drive, said Karen. We drive it everywhere. It s a conversation piece so everywhere we go we get to meet a lot of people. It has a back seat so friends sometimes go with us. We have a lot of fun with it. Deadline for IMb coming soon Postal Notes by Bill Newell OPA Postal consultant bnewell@okpress.com As you know, effective Jan. 28, 2013, in order to receive automation discounts (in county) and barcoded discounts (out-of-county) you must use the basic Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb). If you have not already done so, you should contact your software vendor for assistance and/or your local USPS Business Mail Entry manager. You will find more in-depth information on how to use the IMb code on page 6 in this month s issue of The Oklahoma Publisher. If you do not currently claim automation or barcoded rates, then this does not affect you. EXCEPTIONAL DISPATCH If you currently use the Exceptional Dispatch option to add consistency to your mail delivery, it may be time to review the volumes that you dispatch using this option and update them as necessary. If this is an option you wish to consider, feel free to contact me for assistance in how to apply for exceptional dispatch. It s a good tool that is worth considering. Although you may only break even money wise, you can still come out ahead by providing consistent delivery service to your customers.

10 10 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 OWN AN ICONIC PRINT OF WILL ROGERS Just in time for Christmas gift giving is this opportunity to own a piece of Oklahoma newspaper history. By making a $500 or more donation to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation, you will receive a matted, framed print of the All I know is what I read in the papers portrait of Will Rogers by artist Charles Banks Wilson. Donations of $100 to $499 will receive an unframed print. Now you can display All I Know is What I Read in the Papers in your office or home while proudly recognizing your contribution to journalism education and the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation. Will s commentary and wit in his syndicated newspaper columns made him a leading journalist of the early 20th century. Charles Banks Wilson s portrait of Will Rogers has had a spectacular history. In the early 1950s the Gerlach-Barklow Co. commissioned the painting and used it as a calendar illustration. NBC then purchased the rights to reproduce the picture and sent out color mats of the portrait. The picture was featured on the covers of the Sunday magazine sections of 72 large metro newspapers across the nation. It has appeared in several exhibitions, including at the New York s World Fair in 1962 and at the Will Rogers Memorial in The portrait was purchased in July 1962 by the Oklahoma Press Association to showcase in the lobby of its new building. Will s famous quote All I know is what I read in the papers, has long been the official emblem of the association. The original portrait is there for you to see whenever you visit OPA headquarters. The portrait is completely accurate, in the clothing Will wears, his spectacles, his typewriter even the news columns portrayed depict authentic news stories of Will s day. If you re looking for a unique gift for someone in the newspaper industry or a gift for yourself don t miss this opportunity to own a copy of this painting featuring Oklahoma s favorite son, Will Rogers. YOUR DONATION HELPS SUPPORT THE OKLAHOMA NEWSPAPER FOUNDATION The Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation was formed in 1959 by members of the Oklahoma Press Association. ONF is a non-profi t organization created for educational and charitable purposes and supported by private donations. These generous contributions support the foundation s efforts to improve the state s newspaper industry and quality of journalism. ONF PROGRAMS: JOURNALISM EDUCATION WORKSHOPS: Multiple workshops are provided each year at a low cost to OPA members thanks to foundation funding. These educational seminars are an opportunity for staffs to develop journalistic skills and exchange ideas. SCHOLARSHIPS: A total of $5,500 in scholarships is awarded each year to journalism students at Oklahoma colleges and universities. ONF awards $4,500 in scholarships while the Bob and Marion Breeden University of Oklahoma Journalism Student Aid Fund awards a $1,000 scholarship. INTERNSHIPS: Approximately 20 college students are hired each summer to work at Oklahoma newspapers and gain valuable hands-on experience. A grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation provides funding for student salaries while ONF administers the program and covers most additional costs. UNIVERSITY EMERGENCY FUNDS: A budget of $1,500 per year assists selected journalism students in fi nancial need at Oklahoma State University, University of Central Oklahoma and University of Oklahoma. CONVENTION REGISTRATION SCHOLARSHIPS: Students and faculty advisers of college newspaper programs are invited to attend OPA s annual convention each year. ONF covers all registration costs for students to attend the educational sessions and network at the social events. NEWSPAPERS IN EDUCATION: ONF provides materials and tools for NIE coordinators as well as newspaper activities for teachers to use in the classroom. Kid-friendly features are often made available for newspapers to print during important NIE events, such as NIE Week and Constitution Day. AWARDS: The annual Beachy Musselman Award, named for the late two-term OPA president and editor of the Shawnee News-Star, recognizes an outstanding journalist for his or her contribution to printed journalism and the community. The recipient receives a plaque and $1,000. The Joseph H. Edwards Outdoor Writer of the Year Award, named for the late publisher of the Bartlesville Examiner- Enterprise, recognizes a writer whose work exemplifi es a passion for outdoor scenery, abundant wildlife and/or all sports afi eld. The recipient receives a plaque and $500.

11 The Oklahoma Publisher // November THE OGE PHOTO CONTEST The Main Street Mavericks performed twice at Charley Adams Day. One Maverick used a bottle to smash another s head during the performance. Photo by SCOTT CLOUD, Newkirk Herald Journal, Sept. 13, 2012 SEPTEMBER 2012 DAILY WINNER: DAVID BURGESS, Vinita Daily Journal SEPTEMBER 2012 WEEKLY WINNER: SCOTT CLOUD, The Newkirk Herald Journal The September 2012 contest was judged by a member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. ENTER AND WIN A $100 CHECK FROM OGE ENERGY CORP. View contest rules and all winning photos at Vinita eighth-grader Alex Kauffman stretches the football toward the pylon as Nowata s Michael Velasco undercuts him at the 2-yard line on a 16-yard touchdown run. Photo by DAVID BURGESS,Vinita Daily Journal, Sept. 1, 2012 It s time for OG&E ss new SmartHours Price Plans OGE.COM MIDNIGHT MONEY- SAVING OFF PEAK NOON PEAK TIME, WATCH YOUR USE MIDNIGHT PEAK OVER. START SAVING 2012 OGE Energy Corp.

12 12 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 Final six interns share experiences PART 3: The final six of the 18 student interns who worked at Oklahoma newspapers this summer are featured this month. All 18 journalism students learned new skills at Oklahoma newspapers, thanks to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation s internship program. The paid internships were made possible by a grant from the Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation. The ONF s internship program promotes the value of working at Oklahoma newspapers and benefits students as they begin their professional careers. MARY NEWPORT, East Central University, Interned at ELK CITY DAILY NEWS The intern woke to the insistent beeping of her communication device. Instantly awake and alert, she flipped out of bed with the grace of a puma, impeccably dressed in an unwrinkled black skirt suit. Her chestnut hair fell in sleek waves around her face as she opened the communicator and found an urgent message waiting for her. Report to headquarters at once. This message will now self-destruct. The end of a rope ladder suddenly plopped to the ground and Newport stepped onto it, rising into the air as the helicopter above her ascended. It carried her over the city swiftly, going about six blocks before she suddenly jumped. Newport was just high enough to deploy her parachute before crashing through the plate glass window of the Elk City Daily News, showering her startled coworkers with glass. She strode to the chief s office, finding the door open, which saved her from breaking it down. Come in, the chief told her, and close the door. This is important. I can t do that, Newport said suavely. My parachute is in the way. Journalistic ethics require me to tell you the above is not really an average day at the Elk City Daily News. I never take the helicopter to work it s terribly fuel inefficient. Working at a daily newspaper is a high-adrenaline activity. To someone accustomed to a weekly paper, it feels like a constant race against the clock. Though many articles can be planned in advance, all too often important news pops up hours before press time. Even getting a story one day before it s due can seem a hassle to someone used to five. There s less time to write, edit, revise and review, making it difficult to turn out truly polished pieces. Once you adjust to the pace, however, there are few things more exhilarating than working at a daily. Some stories require an epic battle with the clock, but each and every one hits the hands of the readers while it s fresh. Every day brings a thrilling feeling of being on the leading edge of knowledge. The Daily News is the beating heart of Elk City, pumping information down the winding streets. Readers pick it up and soak it in, using their newfound awareness to change their lives, improve their town or just find a good garage sale. Photo by Mary Newport To be part of the process, to bring the news to the community, is an amazing feeling kind of like walking slowly away from an explosion to slap a ninja. It gives you a warm, fuzzy glow and the occasional wrist sprain. JAMES POLING, Oklahoma State University, Interned at ENID NEWS & EAGLE I was expecting to be eased into the first week of my internship at the Enid News & Eagle. No, it was trial by fire. My first week consisted of counting ballots and calling coaches about the all-region high school baseball team, covering the start of the NCJAA Div. II World Series and attending the preliminary hearing of a murder trial. The first week was more than a crash course in journalism. It was an introduction to the city of Enid. Whether it was volunteers at the baseball tournament or judges and courthouse workers, these people were proud to call Enid home and made my job easy with their efforts to make sure I was helped. My coverage of the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA finals is what I consider my most successful part of the internship. Instead of the sports angle, I was asked to find stories about the local effect the team was having in Enid. In a span of a week I wrote stories on how local merchandise sales soared during the playoffs, how bars and restaurants became places to watch games and the success of the watch party at the baseball stadium, which drew an estimated 1,500 people. I am grateful for how Rob Collins, the executive editor, and Dave Ruthenberg, the sports editor, created a work schedule allowing me to continue my background in sports while enhancing my ability to cover hard news. I expressed a concern about my resumé being too sports-centric with not enough experience in other fields when I first met with the two in April, and they made sure I was able to achieve a balance between both subjects. In the sports department, I appreciate the support I received from Bruce Campbell and Lee Coleman. Bruce was a walking encyclopedia of area sports. He had results of local sports back to the 1970s written in an entire filing system, and was always quick to remember when I needed to know information such as the year two eight-man football schools last played each other. Lee was my companion in the press box during the World Series, always had a coach s number available for me when needed and, as a Georgia native, was always ready to talk about our favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves. On the news side, I owe gratitude to Cass Rains and Phyllis Zorn for taking me to the courthouse, police station and other administrative parts of town. They introduced me to the officials I needed to talk to and discussed what information I needed to compile. They also told some great stories about past crimes they covered. Thank you ONF and Enid News & Eagle for providing a summer I will never forget.

13 The Oklahoma Publisher // November KYLE SPADE, Northwestern Oklahoma State University, Interned at THE CHEROKEE MESSENGER & REPUBLICAN To learn to swim you have to jump in the deep end. As an intern at the Cherokee Messenger & Republican I got the opportunity to cover a whole slew of activities from county commissioners meetings to accidents to the latest arrest. The Messenger & Republican has been a local newspaper for decades, and it is run by a man that is no stranger to the newspaper business, Steve Booher. His knowledge of the operation of the newspaper is a goal for me one day. My first week at the newspaper was a very busy week. It was the senior edition paper so it was a large issue. That week I got the chance to attend a county commissioner meeting, a school board meeting and a city council meeting. Attending all those meetings gave me an opportunity to meet all of the officials that make the local county, city and school run. I covered county government every week. County commissioners met every Monday morning. This allowed me the chance to learn about the operations of local government. When July came around I was assigned to take pictures of Cherokee s Fourth of July activities. I covered the races and competitions in the city park, the turtle races, carp catch and the fireworks. Every time I turned in a story or picture, it was edited then someone explained what improvements needed to be made. This proved to be valuable to my education. This internship has provided me with more than just education. During my time I have developed a friendship with the staff of the Messenger & Republican. I have met some amazing people on my path this summer, people that the community has no clue about. Also, I have reaffirmed my career choice in journalism. So I say thank you to the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation for the chance to be an intern. I say a big thanks to the Cherokee Messenger & Republican staff for the education and assistance, but also the willingness to trust me with assignments. Thank you, Steve, for all you have done to help me this summer. I would also like to thank my family, friends and the community for all your support. MITCHELL TILLISON III, Oklahoma State University, Interned at THE COUNTYWIDE & SUN In my life I have identified myself with many titles son, brother, student, soldier, stoner, health care professional, husband, father. I never thought that one day I would call myself a reporter. Reporters were mythical figures. Clark Kent and Lois Lane were reporters. Peter Parker was a news photojournalist. Reporters are the foils for seedy politicians in Hollywood dramas. Or they are the heroes who bring truth into the light like Julia Roberts character in Pelican Brief. They are not an almost 30-year-old, late-to-the-party college student with a life full of questionable decisions. And yet, this summer that s exactly what I got to be a bona fide reporter. Not that I didn t do some reporting for my school paper, The Daily O Collegian, but it s not like they have a rigorous selection process to choose their staff. I pretty much walked-on like a wayward high school football player on a community college football team. Wayne and Gloria Trotter, editors of The Countywide & Sun, saw the potential in my clips, and although I was not a traditional journalism student in fact I m not a journalism student at all they chose me to join the Countywide staff as the ONF intern. Let me just say, it s one thing to putz around the university, ask a few professors and students some easy questions and write up something short and sweet, but it s another thing entirely to find the cracks in the big boy world of real life and peer into the underpinnings of everyday existence, and to report what I see there to a public who is hungry for those secrets. And I m not necessarily speaking of nefarious, life-altering secrets either. Merely those people, places and choices that make a city tick or tell a story about it that readers do not or cannot see on their own. Secrets like Clifton Hill in Shawnee, who owns a fantastic car museum. He has a story for each of his vehicles, and many of those stories are woven into the fabric of Shawnee history. Secrets like Chaz Partin, an area native, who wishes to bring graffiti into Shawnee not as an eyesore, but as a high art to be valued and accessed by everyone. Secrets like the savage pump of the veteran heart that is at the center of so much life in Pottawatomie County, a beat that could be felt in the streets of Shawnee as the Patriot Guard Riders roared down the road as an escort for a locally raised fallen sailor. And yes, even some of those darker secrets, like the trailer parked behind a house across the street, a literal stone s throw from Tecumseh High School, that served as the distribution point for so much of Pottawatomie County s meth. I m no superhero, but this summer I joined those mythical reporters, and while Wayne and Gloria were missing the acerbic tongue of Perry White, they were fabulous editors nonetheless. Now I can call myself a reporter. LAURA TOMAH, Southeastern Oklahoma State University, Interned at THE RINGLING EAGLE Where did the summer go? I can t believe August is already here. Seems like a few days ago I was walking through the door for my first day at The Ringling Eagle. My time here has been invaluable because of the people I have met and the knowledge I have gained. Members of the Ringling community have made me feel welcome and took time to get to know me. Many have helped me when I was out covering a story or taking photos. The same goes with many advertisers who were patient with me so I could get their ad information just right. This summer I got to explore different parts of the newspaper business. For example, a couple of months ago I had no clue about the advertising process and what went into it. Now it comes almost natural to look at the tasks involved and get going. From selling and designing advertising that I am pretty proud of to covering events in the community, my experience this summer will prepare me for the future. Some of my most memorable experiences include taking pictures at the Ringling Community Benefit Roping, covering city council meetings and reporting on the Independence Day celebration. Taking photographs at the roping was almost a welcome home present for me. It tied together two things that I love. I participated in rodeo before college, and I discovered my love for photography in college. Continued on Page 14 Photo by Laura Tomah

14 14 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 SUMMER INTERNS LAURA TOMAH, Continued from Page 13 From that day, I knew that everything would be amazing this summer. Covering the city council meetings let me submerge myself into the community and know the issues it was facing and the changes it was going through. The Independence Celebration on July 3rd was breathtaking because of the fireworks and the meaning of the holiday--celebrating the brave men and SAMANTHA VICENT, Oklahoma State University, Interned at THE DRUMRIGHT GUSHER When I made the 40-minute commute from Stillwater to Drumright earlier this summer, I had no idea what to expect. I was fresh off working a year on the crime beat at The Daily O Collegian, so I was looking for a change of pace. However, I wasn t quite sure how I would feel about taking on a new title: intern. Drumright is a town of just under 3,000 people. My hometown of Corpus Christi, Texas, is 100 times larger; any one of the area high schools has 3,000 students. Even Stillwater, with its college population, is nearly 20 times larger, so I braced myself for a culture shock. All those worries were dispelled when I met my co-workers at the Drumright Gusher for the summer, publisher Barbara Vice and designer Tera Boswell. From day one, both of them treated me like an equal. They made me feel as though I were a fulltime staff member, taking my input into account and allowing me to carry out my ideas for the newspaper. I was able to write about what I found interesting, from local entrepreneurs to the 90-yearold lifelong area resident. While working in Drumright, I saw something unknown to me as a big-city kind of girl: nearly everyone in the city knew each other. If I needed a contact for a story, I needed only call someone women that defend our country so I can do what I love write. This event allowed me to see the whole community out with their families celebrating the holiday. These amazing moments will stay with me and be treasured. Now as I pass through Ringling on Highway 70 during my travels across the state, I can tell whoever is with me the fantastic memories I made this summer. I made so many memories and learned so much working alongside Photo by Samantha Vicent Melissa Grace and Giohna Price. Without Melissa and the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation, I would have never had this amazing opportunity to learn and explore the newspaper industry full throttle. At this moment I am not sure what God has in store for the next part of my journey, but I know it will be great. I feel so blessed to have had this chance and sincerely want to thank everyone who made this possible and made me feel welcome. else I already knew for information. I will never forget that feeling of family. Among other events, I covered some of Drumright s Centennial events, Alumni Weekend and the Fourth of July Oil Patch Festival. The City of Drumright is 100 years old, so everyone went out in full force to make this year one to remember. Also, the Oil Patch Festival is hosted by the CEO of Keystone Gas Corp. each year for free. It was mind-boggling to me that a person would throw an all-day party for an entire city and I loved that Drumrighters and beyond came out in droves to support an American tradition. Toward the end of my stint at the Gusher, fires ravaged the cities surrounding Drumright, so we spent several late nights telling the stories of the firefighters who risked their lives to keep everyone safe. I was glad to cover a wide variety of topics, learn different writing styles and expand my portfolio. After completing my internship at the Gusher, I can now sell ads, shoot my own photos for a story, design a paper from start to finish and write about nearly anything that comes my way. I now know what it is like for a newspaper to be in tune with its community. I cannot thank the Oklahoma Newspaper Foundation and my coworkers enough for granting me the opportunity to grow as a student, journalist and person. OUR THANKS TO THE ETHICS AND EXCELLENCE IN JOURNALISM FOUNDATION for the grant that provided the opportunity for 18 students to work at Oklahoma newspapers this past summer. OPA files amicus curiae in video appeal Legal Notes by Michael Minnis OPA Attorney In September 2011, the Bartlesville Police Department was called to a hospital to control an intoxicated person. The officers detention of the suspect was filmed by the hospital security cameras. Later, the Bartlesville Police Department obtained a copy of the surveillance film and turned it over to the OSBI. When the OSBI investigation led to charges arising out of the incident, the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise asked for access to the video under the Oklahoma Open Records Act (ORA) from the Bartlesville Police Department, Washington County District Attorney s Office and the City of Bartlesville. When all of the entities refused to release the video, the newspaper sought a writ compelling production of the video. In granting the writ, the Washington County District Court held that the Bartlesville Police Department was required under Section 24A.8 (A) (2) [ Facts concerning arrest ] of the ORA to produce the video. A stay was immediately sought but denied. The video was released to the Examiner- Enterprise. Nevertheless, the Bartlesville district attorney filed an appeal seeking a reversal and a declaration that the decision below was not precedential. The Examiner-Enterprise moved to dismiss the appeal because the video had already been released making an appeal moot and because the district attorney had not been ordered to do anything so he had no standing to appeal the order. The Supreme Court reserved ruling on this motion until the briefing had been completed. The OPA has successfully sought and received permission to file a brief as an amicus curiae in support of the newspaper. The OPA amicus brief is due on or before December 3rd this year.

15 The Oklahoma Publisher // November Black Friday deals to start earlier this year Computer Notes from the road by Wilma Melot One of the best times of the year to look for good, inexpensive computers is the day after Thanksgiving, but this year they re starting the sales at 8:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving day. Put on your comfortable shoes and get ready to stand in line. If you re in the market for an inexpensive PC, it s important to know that it s probably going to have Windows 8 installed on it. That means your current software may not run on the new operating system. Microsoft has a little program that can be downloaded so you can check to see if your software is compatible. Go to windows-8/upgrade-to-windows-8 to check. Even if the application says your program won t run with the new operating system, there s a chance that it might. Office starter programs like Word and Excel run just fine in Windows 8 as an upgrade at least for now. If you want to shell out some bigger bucks for a PC to try Windows 8 on, look for one that has the Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor. AMD and other processors work with Windows 8 but may not give you the performance you want. Intel processors generally have a longer life cycle. Don t forget to look for a good video board to run the graphics in Windows 8. All the computer makers want us to buy a touchscreen monitor in the next few years. While you re out shopping, give one a try and see what you think of it. HP and Dell touchscreen monitors are highly rated in the lower price range. They start at around $260 and go up from there. I predict the price will come down as the newness of the touchscreen wears off. With that said, it s the prime time to look for really good deals on regular monitors since most stores will be trying to unload those in favor of the touchscreens. If you re looking for a second monitor for your laptop or desktop computer, start now and continue your search into early next year. All the hot new tablets are now out and this is a great time to pick up last year s model at a closeout price. Don t expect to see any of the new ones on sale. Whichever brand you choose, pick one that does what you need. Good WiFi and bluetooth are a must, and you need enough storage space for everything you plan to put on it. How about speech to text? It might be a great tool for you. Does it work well with your favorite client? (By the way, Nexus 7 works great with Gmail.) Can you read the screen clearly while outdoors? How about the camera is it important to you? Don t be afraid of Android tablets but if you don t want to face another learning curve, opt for a tablet with an easy interface, like the Kindle. Maybe it s a printer you need. If you find the HL-5450dn Brother printer on sale, pick one up. It has a large 8,000- page replacement toner cartridge. That s the most sheets for the money I could come up with. The legal paper tray will hold up to 250 sheets of paper at one time. There s an optional paper tray that holds 500 sheets. This printer sells for around $200. Happy shopping! And if you don t want to get up early to stand in line in the cold for that great deal, try looking online. Many brick-and-mortar stores offer the same deals online. WINDOWS 8 TIPS Windows 8 has so many major changes that I m going to offer some tips on adapting to the new system for the next few months. After you start to recover from the initial shock of not having a start menu, look at the corners of your screen to get to the navigation elements. If you re looking for a way to make Windows 8 more like you re used to in the previous versions, right click on the new start menu. This gives you a pop-up menu that lets you restore some older items like the control panel and Windows Explorer (called File Explorer). Another way to get to an application or folder you don t see in the Start window is by following these steps: 1. Go to the lower right corner of the screen and touch the minus sign with your mouse. 2. In the pop-up menu choose search and type Control Panel. 3. Once you have the results, right click on the icon for the Control Panel and at the bottom of the screen you will see a pop-up menu that lets you pin the Control Panel to the start menu. Use those steps to add any program to the start screen. You know how much I love keyboard shortcuts so without further ado, here are some of my favorites: Windows +D returns you to the desktop if the Start screen is up. The Windows key by itself will return the Start screen if you are on the desktop (Windows 7). Windows key: Swap you back and forth between the Start screen and the desktop. Windows 8 gives you more control over multiple monitors. Two separate task bars can be added to each monitor. Once again, right click the task bar to set it up. Some new shortcuts in Windows 8 for two monitors are: Windows + Arrow keys: Snaps window to one side or the other. Windows + Page Down or Page Up: Swaps full-screen Windows 8 applications to different displays. Those of you who have not tried Windows 8 yet may be asking just what is a Windows 8 application. A Windows 8 application is a native program that was written for the new operating system. The menus work by using the corners of your screen to get to the menus in the program. It s like something you would expect to see on a phone or tablet. In fact, these applications work on Windows tablets and phones as well as your computer. An example is a calendar that syncs to your phone and computer. If you re comfortable installing apps on your tablet or smartphone, installing the new Windows applications will be a snap. If you re not familiar with it, expect to be led to the Windows store, which looks a lot like the Android store, for downloads. Very soon this is probably the way we ll be installing all apps, which will have to be Microsoft approved. Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 and 6 applications do not require updates to be compatible with Windows 8, but make sure you have the latest product updates installed. You can verify your updates by choosing Help > Check for Updates in the product menu. Earlier versions of the Creative Suite probably won t run very well if at all on a Windows 8 computer. Don t forget to back up your computer to an external drive before installing Windows 8. Deactivate and reinstall programs like Creative Suite. And give yourself a way back to Windows 7 for now just in case you need it. OPA Computer Consultant Wilma Melot s column is brought to you by the Oklahoma Advertising Network (OAN). For more information on the OAN program, contact Oklahoma Press Service at (405) NEWSPAPER & PUBLICATION BINDING Before you have your next issue bound, give us a call. We offer exceptional quality, competitive pricing and fast turnaround times. With three generations of experience, we have the knowledge and skill to get your job done. Other services include Bible binding and restoration, embossing and much more. ACE BOOKBINDING CO. 825 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK (405) or Toll-Free at AL@AceBookbinding.com

16 16 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 CLARK S PRESS PRIMER ON POLLING Clark s Critique by Terry Clark Journalism Professor, University of Central Oklahoma, TClark@uco.edu It s a long way from the banner headline Dewey Defeats Truman in the Chicago Trib. I m not talking about politics and the press, but about something else most Americans are probably sick of about now, polling. Back in 1948, public opinion polling was in its infancy, contributing to that journalistic fiasco. In the just concluded election, we were deluged with more polls than ever, and they remarkably foretold the results, correctly predicting the electoral outcome in every state. How? Forget the poo-pooers who argued with what they showed because they disagreed or didn t want to believe, or thought they were biased. Forget your political views of Huffington Post. But its poll aggregator of hundreds of polls nailed the results /11/07/2012-poll-accuracy-obama-models-survey_n_ html? utm_hp_ref=@pollster It is a fact that most Americans don t understand scientific polling, and I think it is up to newspapers to help make that clear as to what can be trusted and what can t. Hence, here s the prof s press primer on polling, part one. Definition of terms is first. POPULATION The group to be surveyed, such as likely voters, residents of Hennessey, Thunder season ticket holders. Oklahoma newspapers cover Veterans Day like no other media. A sampling of some of the state s publications include The Meeker News, The Antlers American and Elk City Daily News. On facing page are The Bigheart Times (The Pulse), Stillwater NewsPress and Vinita Daily Journal. Also featured is The Oklahoman s cover page about the Thunder s James Harden being traded. RANDOM Random does not mean haphazard. It means that every person in the population has an equal chance of being chosen. It s easy in a classroom you put every name in a hat and have a few names pulled out. Bigger groups require phone numbers or addresses, all more easily available than ever with computer data. SAMPLE The portion of the population to be chosen randomly to ask the poll questions. VALID A poll is valid if the results collected from the sample can be applied to the entire population. MARGIN OF ERROR Expressed as a plus and minus percentage. Every poll has flaws and variables that will affect the accuracy of the results, but the larger the sample, the lower the margin of error. (If you poll everyone in the population there will be no margin of error, but that isn t possible in most cases). Now the key question how big a sample do you need to conduct an accurate poll? You re not going to believe the answer. So first things first. Timing, wording of questions, training of the pollsters, polling methods and other factors also affect a poll s validity, not just the sample size. And sample size is not dependent on population size. That said, to get a sense of how people in Stillwater might vote on any issue, or people in Oklahoma on another issue, or people in the United States, for a five percent margin of error, you need roughly only 400 registered, or likely, voters selected randomly. Yep, that s all. Here s how the margin of error figures. Suppose the results come back showing Panhandle residents favor seceding from the state by a percent margin. The results are within the margin of error so the election could go either way it could be 52-43, or 47-52, or any combination. If, on the other hand, it was 75-25, Oklahoma, you have a problem. Most national polls try to have a sample of about 1,200 people that produces a margin of error of about plus and minus three percent. Also important in polling is the timing. A poll or electability two days after Romney winning the first debate is valid that day. But as fast as things change in this digital news country, it wouldn t be valid in five days. Other factors can affect outcome. People who say they will vote and don t show up. Or a hurricane could shut the place down. Or you could live in Florida. As with everything in journalism, sources also matter in polls. Who conducted it? But that s a separate subject next month, an American s checklist for evaluating a poll (an editor s checklist before you publish its results). Hint: USA Today once ran a story and Continued on Page 17

17 The Oklahoma Publisher // November Clark s Critique Continued from Page 16 Star, and two stories and a photo on the front page of the Sapulpa Daily Herald. The Hominy News-Progress covered the front page with an American flag photo. Other papers incorporated the holiday into the newspaper flag, including The Rush Springs Gazette and The Freedom Call. headline at the top of the page about most American women wouldn t remarry the same man, based on a Women s Day survey. What was wrong with that? CLARK S CRITIQUE: If newspapers want a gold mine of stories and headlines to tell that no other media can match and attract readers, Veteran s Day is it. If you re not covering it, you re missing out. It s good to see so many newspapers carrying local stories, strong writing, photos, special sections and packages. Here s some inspiration and prodding for next year. Once a soldier, always a soldier, Weatherford Daily News story by Jenna Mariani. Her lead: The auditorium seats filled up quickly as parents and students hurried to find their seats. As veterans walked in, adorned in their medals and old uniforms, people vacated their seats to make room near the front and children rushed to help some of the older soldiers up the stairs. Remember what we fought for, Vinita Daily Journal s Denton Thomason story. The lead: Imagine fighting for months on end from the confines of a 32-ton tank rolling through European battlefields, pushing relentlessly with Gen. Patton s army as it raced toward Berlin. / For one venerable old cowboy who was born and raised in Vinita, those memories are as fresh today as they were more than six decades ago. John A. Small, in the Johnston County Capital-Democrat. The lead: It s a little difficult to accurately describe the look in A.B. Elrod s eyes when he talks about his experiences in World War II. / To be sure, there is a large degree of pride and love of duty and country reflected in his expression. There is also some sadness for the brothers-in-arms who gave their lives in defense of their country during that war and perhaps even a hint of resignation. Jan Wingo-Locklear in OKC Friday. Her lead: It s over! is what comes to mind when Navy Lt. Chuck Folger recounts his thoughts on Sept. 2, 1945, as he watched Japanese military and dignitaries board his ship, the USS Missouri, to sign a formal Peace Treaty (entitled the Japanese Instrument of Surrender) with US dignitaries. / I don t remember much of my thoughts except just... one minute we were in battle... the next thing I knew a paper was signed and it was all over, he said. I was one of them, in The Carnegie Herald, as Rick Kupke tells his own story. The first sentences: The story of the American hostages who spent 444 days in Iran is now more than a quarter century old and rarely told in the detail that it deserves. I should know. I was one of them. Rachel Anne Seymour in The Bigheart Times. Her lead: Pawhuskan George Bracken still writes his son Cody a letter every day since he is in the service. The 21-year-old Marine just got done with a tour in Afghanistan and is now stationed in Okinawa, Japan. / George is from the old school,. Emily Droege of the Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise tells the story of local monuments and signs for veterans scattered throughout the city. Surviving World War II James Neal of the Enid News & Eagle tells the story of a local vet who survived being shot down over Germany. Blood-soaked sand Suzanne Mackey of The Garvin County News Star writes of a vet who was in the D-Day invasion. Several newspapers saved the earlier news story and local photos of Mark Schlachtenhaufen of the Edmond Sun covering the Veteran s Honor Flight to DC for the OPA. I went on the first one and tip my hat to Rep. Gary Banz of Midwest City for spearheading this great effort. I saw three stories and a column on the front page of The Shawnee News- HEAD EM UP AWARDS. First place, The Oklahoman, on a Richard Mize real estate column for Halloween: What abomination doth lie Unseen in yon dark nook? (He quotes part of the Hawthorne s House of Seven Gables as a suggested MLS listing words that have never seen the light of headline day, methinks). Second place, The Oklahoman, on a sports package about the Thunder s James Harden being traded: The Beard, Sheared (Editor Mike Shannon called it citizen journalism. Sports editor Mike Sherman asked tweeters for suggestions and got the reply from a reader. Page designer Bill Bootz added the comma.) Disclaimer: both Mize and Bootz are former students of mine proving they recovered from any damage I d done. Third place: Tulsa World, on a Kevin Canfield story about a closed race track: Racing s epilogue Honorable mentions (other than the Veterans Day ones already mentioned): Seminole Producer on a Bill Finch photo of a high school assembly speaker, Text N Drive? Strother Says No, It Can W8 ; Miami News-Record, on election results: Red state ; The Countywide & Sun: Obama wins but not in Oklahoma, Republicans flex muscles across area.

18 18 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 Line between resale, responsibility blurry That InterWeb Thing by Keith Burgin In the little town I grew up in, there was an ancient ordinance that forbade driving a motor vehicle on the streets. It was likely from the days of horse and buggy but had never been removed because no one dreamt it would be used in modern times. One Saturday night conspired with a local trouble-maker to see to it that it was. My point is, if it s on the books, someone will use it to his advantage. Onward! The term resale rights has become buzz-worthy in the last few years. It involves a struggle between copyright holders (often publishers) of content produced or printed outside the U.S. and individuals who imported that content for resale in the United States. The best-known cases are foreign college students who imported English-language textbooks from their home and sold them at a huge discount here. In this country, you can buy a U.S. book, read it and resell it without a problem. It s called the first sale rule. First sale doesn t exist in many other countries, though. These students were sued and the vast majority of them lost. There are other cases, involving software or anything that can be copyrighted. The concern is that in an age when almost everything we touch (much of it imported) contains either the written word or some sort of software, these decisions greatly expand the notion of copyright and its possible abuse. None of this affects you unless you use the web/social media/ to sell advertising and links. Months ago we discussed Operation In Our Site, a federal program meant to enforce copyright and crack down on fake merchandise sold on the Internet. The feds seized the domains of hundreds of suspected ne er-dowells, many of them guilty-as-charged. Some, though, were operating within the law and their businesses were snapped up on no more than an accusation accused of no more than linking to infringing content. To my knowledge, newspaper websites have avoided all of this. But the resale rights fight is only building a good head of steam and the Justice Department is still shutting down websites while courts are expanding copyright law. Nationally, the concern is Amazon, ebay, Best Buy, etc. Locally well, do you display online ads or links for anyone who resells books, video games, software, magazines, electronics, cars, toys or nearly anything else? Sounds ridiculous, doesn t it? Is it as ridiculous as, say, city inspectors shutting down an 8-year-old s lemonade stand? Good design inspires, as do these notable quotes BY ED HENNINGER I m writing another book. Yah, I know. So is everyone else these days. This will be my third...and it won t focus exclusively on design. This one includes lots of quotes, some war stories, reflections on what I ve learned (mostly from you!) over the years and some design wisdom. It s pretty much done. But don t try to order an advance copy just yet: pretty much done means it s probably gonna take me another few months to polish it. For this month s column, I thought I d offer you a brief glimpse by sharing some of the design quotes with you. There isn t one here that I wouldn t be proud to display on my office wall. But I am kinda partial to one of them. I ll let you decide which one that is. So, read on...and be inspired! Design is the art of gradually applying constraints until only one solution remains. Unknown I ve been amazed at how often those outside the discipline of design assume that what designers do is decoration. Good design is problem solving. Jeffrey Veen Like all forms of design, visual design is about problem solving, not about personal preference or unsupported opinion. Bob Baxley Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that s creativity. Charles Mingus Form follows function. That has been misunderstood. Form and function should be one, joined in a spiritual union. Frank Lloyd Wright The details are not the details. They make the design. Charles Eames Salvador Dali knew a thing or two about design...and wasn t afraid of taking us out of our comfort zone. Art has to move you and design does not unless it s a good design for a bus. David Hockney Questions about whether design is necessary or affordable are quite beside the point: design is inevitable. The alternative to good design is bad design, not no design at all. Douglas Martin Design is directed toward human beings. To design is to solve human problems by identifying them and executing the best solution. Ivan Chermayeff A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. Douglas Adams It s not what you look at that matters, it s what you see. Henry David Thoreau Have no fear of perfection you ll never reach it. Salvador Dali You can t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus. Mark Twain Design can be art. Design can be aesthetics. Design is so simple, that s why it is so complicated. Paul Rand When I m working on a problem, I never think about beauty. I think only how to solve the problem. But when I have finished, if the solution is not beautiful, I know it is wrong. Buckminster Fuller You need to listen deeply listen past what people say they want to hear what they need. Jon Meads It s really hard to design products by focus groups. A lot of times, people don t know what they want until you show it to them. Steve Jobs I prefer design by experts by people who know what they are doing. Don Norman You show me how good a designer you are not by what you choose to put on a page but by what you choose to take away. Ed Henninger ED HENNINGER, an independent newspaper consultant and the Director of Henninger Consulting, offers comprehensive newspaper design services including redesigns, workshops, staff training and evaluations. edh@henningerconsulting.com. On the web: www. henningerconsulting.com. Phone:

19 ADVENTURES IN The Oklahoma Publisher // November PART 4 it s a bird it s a plane it s OPA President Jeff Shultz visiting superheroes at Oklahoma newspapers. The day after the first Open Meeting and Open Records workshop, Friday, Sept. 28, OPA Executive Vice President Mark Thomas and I visited the Cache and Comanche newspapers. Steve Bolton is the publisher of The Comanche Times. Steve has been at the Times since the old Comanche News closed its doors in At that time Steve was running a little grocery store in Rush Springs for his parents. He had some newspaper experience and had mentioned to some friends he would like to have a newspaper someday. Those friends told some friends in Comanche about his desire to have a newspaper and soon some of the business leaders in Comanche, desirous to have a community newspaper in their town, were calling Steve. They set up a meeting with Steve and out of that meeting came The Comanche Times. It was standing room only when I got there, Steve recalled. They asked me to start a newspaper here and I told them that I was merely thinking about it. They were a determined lot and wanted their newspaper back, Steve said. They got out their checkbooks and began writing checks for subscriptions ADMINISTRATION MARK THOMAS Executive Vice President mthomas@okpress.com (405) ROBERT WALLAR Accounting Manager rwallar@okpress.com (405) SCOTT WILKERSON Front Office/Building Mgr. swilkerson@okpress.com (405) MEMBER SERVICES LISA POTTS Member Services Director lpotts@okpress.com (405) ELI NICHOLS Member Services Coordinator enichols@okpress.com (405) and everyone in the room gave verbal commitments for advertising. Since then the town has welcomed and embraced Steve and his family. I don t want to live anywhere else, he said. Steve loves Comanche. He s proud of the school system, where his wife, Kelli, was named Teacher of the Year this year. He s passionate about the Chamber of Commerce and loves showing off his adopted hometown. He has a good relationship with city officials, noting the City Clerk is his next-door neighbor. I ve mentioned before how my father told me that a newspaper is much like a mirror. A newspaper not only reveals what is good about the community but also must expose what needs to be changed. And that s exactly what Steve did recently in Comanche. As Mark and I drove through Comanche before meeting Steve, we saw a lot of old buildings in town that served only as an eyesore to the community being torn down. There also was evidence of nicely cleaned lots where previous monstrosities had been. It was during our visit with Steve and Kelli that we discovered the improvements were a result of Steve and The Comanche Times. OPA STAFF DIRECTORY ADVERTISING CINDY SHEA Media Manager cshea@okpress.com (405) LANDON COBB Account Executive lcobb@okpress.com (405) COURTNI SPOON Advertising Assistant & OCAN/2X2 Contact cspoon@okpress.com (405) CREATIVE SERVICES JENNIFER GILLILAND Creative Services Director jgilliland@okpress.com (405) MORGAN BROWNE Creative Assistant mbrowne@okpress.com (405) Kelli and Steve Bolton own and publish The Comanche Times in Stephens County. Comanche business leaders asked Steve to start a newspaper in their town in About three months ago I was telling Kelli, I can sit here and be a newsletter for the community or I can make a difference. I decided I needed to make a difference, he said. Steve went around town taking photos of the dilapidated buildings and residential properties. He not only took photos of the eyesores in Comanche but also those buildings that represent what s good about his town. He then plastered the pictures on the front page of his newspaper to show Comanche officials and business leaders the good, the bad and the really ugly in town. This is how visitors see our town, he said, noting he titled the photo exposé Beauty and the Beast. The message was clearly received. City leaders began an aggressive abatement program to clean up the city, which included hiring a code enforcement officer to oversee the beautification project. Steve gives credit to the city council for doing what they did, not wanting to COMPUTER ADVICE WILMA MELOT Computer Consultant wmelot@okpress.com (405) POSTAL ADVICE BILL NEWELL Postal Consultant bnewell@okpress.com (405) take any recognition for providing the spark that got the whole project going. Prior to our inspiring visit with Steve, we stopped in Cache to see Venius Matthys, publisher of The County Times. Unfortunately, we missed Venius. Cache is a small community with a population of around 2,800 just outside of Lawton. Cache s schools are modernistic and you can tell the community is proud of its heritage. Most notably, Cache is the home of Comanche Chief Quanah Parker, the leader of the Quahadi Comanche during the years of the Indian Wars. He also helped the tribe with transition to reservation life. Though we couldn t visit with Venius about her paper s dedication to the community, it s clear the paper is making an impact on Cache. Earlier this month I had the privilege of visiting four newspapers in the Stillwater area. Look for my report on those papers in the December issue of The Publisher. OPEN (DIGITAL CLIPPING) KEITH BURGIN OPEN Manager kburgin@okpress.com (405) KYLE GRANT Digital Clipping Dept. kgrant@okpress.com (405) OPEN (CONT D) NELSON SOLOMON Digital Clipping Dept. nsolomon@okpress.com (405) CRYSTAL FOREMAN Digital Clipping Dept. cforeman@okpress.com (405) GENERAL INQUIRIES (405) Fax: (405) Toll-free in OK:

20 20 The Oklahoma Publisher // November 2012 CONGRATULATIONS TO THE SEPTEMBER 2012 CONTEST WINNERS Column: Editorial: TED ROB STREULI COLLINS The Journal Record Enid News & Eagle SEPTEMBER 2012 COLUMN WINNER TED STREULI, THE JOURNAL RECORD Judging people a Graves error You are going to read a lot about Oklahoma County District Judge Bill Graves. The 74-year-old Graves, described recently by the Tulsa World as a lightly regarded member of the Oklahoma Legislature for 24 years... known mostly as an opponent of same-sex marriage, abandoned a run for a congressional seat, then was elected to the district bench, where he has been responsible for judging cases since Graves is in the news because he has refused to grant name changes to two transgendered men. In the first case, 62-year-old Steven Charles Harvey last year asked the court to change his name to Christie Ann Harvey. Graves refused, as he did Aug. 30 in the case of 29-year-old James Dean Ingram, who wishes to be known as Angela Renee Ingram. In each case, Graves cites the statute that says a judge is not required to grant a name change if it is sought for fraudulent purposes or to avoid creditors. Graves contends that a person with an X and Y chromosome who has undergone a sex-change operation is fraudulently holding himself out as a female and that the court would be complicit in the deception by granting a new, feminine name. To shore up his argument, Graves had state Rep. Michael Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, an osteopath and Southern Baptist deacon, serve as an expert witness. Ritze testified that sex-change surgery does not alter DNA, therefore, a sex change is merely a cosmetic. Or, as Graves put it to Ingram, You can t change what God gave you. There are more holes in Graves argument than a miniature golf course. In the Harvey case, Graves wrote that he came to his decision, in part, because he feared that if a crime was committed, and DNA evidence suggested a male perpetrator, investigators wouldn t think to look for a woman. That might be true, but Graves also argued that a man can t become a woman; it s a selfcanceling position. Never mind that those silly, untrained police officers keep managing to catch the villains, even when they dress up in wigs and have gender-neutral names such as Pat, Jan or, dare I suggest it? Teddy. Graves even wrote, in an astonishing turn of phrase, that... society should not bow to medical science. In fairness to Graves, he was trying to say that just because doctors have the ability to perform one procedure or another doesn t mean we have to think it s a good idea. But the way he chose to say it makes one consider whether he also thinks that just because scientists can prove global warming is occurring doesn t mean we have to believe it. To further that point, Graves cited Genesis as a basis to say that, The DNA code shows God meant for them to stay male and female. That s the nice thing about the Bible. If you try hard enough, you can make it say whatever you want. Essay writing skills aside, Graves opinion is that having a sex-change operation and changing your name to match are fraudulent because you re only pretending to be the opposite gender. He even quotes from the dictionary to substantiate his claims. He didn t bother to quote the definition of fraud, though, and three different office dictionaries agreed that for something to be fraudulent there must be an element of deceit or trickery to gain an advantage. Neither Harvey nor Ingram is trying to deceive anyone. Harvey s wife of many years and Ingram s boyfriend are fully aware of the circumstances, as are all their friends and acquaintances. And if there s no fraud, the law says, the judge must grant the request as five other Oklahoma district court judges have done in similar cases. Judge Graves isn t really judging cases under the law; he s using his robe and gavel to judge people under his own set of rules. And that defines a lot of words: Misfeasance and bigot come to mind first. The September 2012 contest was judged by a member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame Enter and Win a $100 Check from ONG! 1. Each month, send a tear sheet or photocopy of your best column and/ or editorial to ONG Contest, c/o OPA, 3601 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK Include the author s name, name of publication, date of publication and category entered (column or editorial). 3. Only ONE editorial and/or ONE column per writer per month will be accepted. 4. All entries for the previous month must be at the OPA office by the 15th of the current month. 5. Winning entries will be reproduced on the OPA website at com. Entries must have been previously published. Contest open to all OPA member newspapers. Although Oklahoma Natural Gas Company selects representative contest winners work for use in this monthly ad, the views expressed in winning columns and editorials are those of the writers and don t necessarily reflect the Company s opinions. Thank you for continued support of Share The Warmth Read the Winning Columns and Editorials on the OPA website: (Under Contests)