Dear Black Ink readers:

It's easy to write this newsletter when readers send along great ideas to pass along to their brothers and sisters in the hometown newspaper business. They are certainly appreciated by the 2,700 subscribers to this newsletter.

This issue features a way to show that your newspaper is read all over the world (don't think so? - you'll be surprised.)

Thanks so much and keep those ideas coming!

With kind regards,

Ken

"Where in the World is (your paper)"

Thanks and a tip of the hat to Sparky Newsome, editor and publisher, The News-Reporter, Washington, GA. I thought Black Inkling readers might be interested in a little feature we started at the end of March this year. Since we pride ourselves for having readers (mostly former residents) in all parts of the world, and since the people in our rural town love to travel to all parts of the world, we launched "Where in the World is the News-Reporter?" last spring and hoped that our readers would pick up on it.

We started with one of our own employees who took a weekend trip to Atlanta (100 miles) and visited the Georgia Aquarium. She posed in front of the fish, holding a copy of the News-Reporter, and we put it in the paper along with an invitation for any of our readers to send pictures from their travels holding their News-Reporter.

After about three weeks of catching on, we had multiple submissions every single week and have had as many as seven in one week. And we have published all of them.

We figure the mileage each photo was made from our office and close each cutline with, "The News-Reporter is XXXX miles from home." They have come from as nearby as an outhouse in the county, to as far away as the Grand Palace in Bangkok, Thailand.

Right now we're at 87 and counting and we continue to be the talk of the town. The amazing thing is, people have to plan to do this before they leave home on a trip, they have to remember to pack a copy of the News-Reporter because it isn't available at Disney World, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, on the strip in Las Vegas, or even in Atlanta.

I know these readers just want to see their pictures in the paper but it makes us feel good to know they value it that much - and we're more than happy to oblige.

Note - Mr. Newsome sent along a PDF of his favorite Where in the World . . . from the pyramids in Egypt. If you would like a copy of the PDF, just drop me an e-mail to blummer@aol.com.

More Slogans

"Printed where the rainbow's end tickles the waving grasses; and a timeworn pot of gold bulges with untold treasure for all those of diligence and vision." - The Bureau Valley Chief, Tiskilwa, IL.

(Note - the slogan, still used today, dates back 150 years to the Chief's predecessor, The Tiskilwa Tidings. Current publishers of the Chief are John and Ginger Murphy. Thanks and a tip of the hat to Jim Dunn of Sauk Valley Newspapers for passing the slogan along.)

More Reader Input

In regard to the last Black Inkling about using an empty window in the first column of the front page for mailing labels - and after the subscription copies are run, changing the front page black plate and putting a message telling single copy buyers how to subscribe in this spot, several readers pointed out another option that involves running the message for the full pressrun and placing the label over it.

For example, Ben Baker of the Wiregrass Farmer of Ashburn Georgia writes:

"Load the press and print the subscribe info in that block anyway. The label will cover it. Subscribers will quickly find that is just "subscription information" and won't worry about what the label may be covering. The extra bit of ink this takes is nowhere near the cost of a new plate, stopping the press, starting it back up and the waste generated in startup."

Thanks and a tip of the hat to Mr. Baker and others who pointed out this option.

My Advising Service

I've worked with hundreds of hometown papers as an advisor.

I prefer the term "advisor" rather than "consultant." I ran hometown papers for over 30 years, and I know that every newspaper faces a different set of problems and opportunities.

I've written a book and more than 350 columns in Publishers' Auxiliary about all aspects of their operation. I've visited hundreds of papers. I'm a friendly, low key guy who is here to help your good newspaper become even better, and much stronger financially for both the short and long term.

This economic downturn is the best time to schedule a visit. We can discuss numerous strategies to minimize this recession's impact on your paper.

Best of all, I'm affordable for even the smallest weeklies. I would like to send you the details - just drop me an e-mail to blummer@aol.com.

Write at any time 2,700 community newspaper professionals receive Black Inklings. Feel free to send your comments and ideas to blummer@aol.com. If you know another person in the community newspaper field who may be interested in receiving this free newsletter, have them e-mail their name, job title, newspaper and e-mail address to blummer@aol.com.