Mark your calendar: Wednesday, October 17th

Publishers and General Managers are invited to come out and meet with MPPs, senior civil servants and publishers at Queen's Park to discuss issues concerning our industry and to show the provincial government how important newspapers are to the people of Ontario. 

OCNA will be arranging meetings with MPPs to discuss current issues throughout the day. We are requesting that our publishers participate in these afternoon meetings. 

Like us on Facebook.

Thank you to everyone who nominated an invidiual for the 2012 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards. This year OCNA and its member newspapers will recognize 150 outstanding young leaders. 

By Patrick Tinney
Managing Partner
Centroid Training & Marketing
www.centroidmarketing.com

A very powerful exercise prior to any major business negotiation is a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis of our business relative to the negotiation. Professional business negotiators may go much further with this exercise and SWOT their competitors and their bargaining partner.

The Ontario Junior Citizen Awards program is coordinated annually by the Ontario Community Newspapers Association with the support of its 300+ member newspapers, our sponsors, TD Canada and Direct Energy, and is also wholeheartedly supported by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

From September through to November 30, the Ontario Community Newspapers Association will begin accepting nominations for the 2012 Ontario Junior Citizen of the Year Awards.

The July issue of OCNA's monthly newsletter, NewsClips is complete!

Thank you to everyone who contributed content. 

Click the link below to view it and learn what other members have been up to lately. In addition to association news you can find helpful articles on technology, design, business and advertising. We hope you enjoy!

http://www.ocna.org/newsclipsjuly2012

By Chuck Nau

As we move into late summer, all indications are that a SLOW and, possibly, slowing economy is occurring. Once again, despite the glimmer on the horizon, many of your advertisers, both current, new and old, will again be asking the question...'Why Advertise?'

Why advertise in a slow economic period, when shoppers and buyers tend to be very cautious and when business is tough to get?

Newspapers Canada is producing a compelling video to showcase newspaper readership in Canada and they'd like to see your newspaper in action. Capture your newspaper being read or delivered - ideally featuring your unique community or geography. Material received will be used to create an industry video to be showcased in their annual Newspaper Industry Presentation for 2013.

Submit your photos or videos by August 31, 2012. 

Manitouwadge Printers Ltd. has announced that it will stop the publication of the Echo, effective August 1, 2012. Publisher, Bunny Schermann and Editor, Scott Schermann hope to find a new owner for the 48-year-old newspaper, but if time does not merit a new purchase, they will be forced to cease publication. The last Echo printed by Manitouwadge Printers Ltd. and the Schermann's will be July 25, 2012.

Bunny will remain in Manitouwadge for the time being, and will continue to work for the new owner of the Sears Catalogue Depot. 

Newspapers Canada and Metroland Media Group are teaming up with Associated Press Media Editors (APME) to bring the renowned NewsTrain training series to Toronto on September 13-14, 2012.

The two-day program will be held at the Toronto Star Press Centre in Vaughan and will feature workshops on a variety of editorial topics including filing effective FOI requests, creating brands and reaching new audiences through social media, digital resources for mobile journalists, and planning content for multiple platforms.

By John Foust
Raleigh, NC

Most of the businesses in your town are locally ownes and operated 'Mom and Pop' establishments. That means that most of the advertisers - and prospective advertisers - in your market are small businesses. 

When it comes to marketing, these advertisers don't have access to ad agencies on Madison Avenue or number-crunching marketing officers in the home office. They depend on local sources for help. And your paper plays an important role.