National Newspaper Week Oct. 5-11 Download NNW 08 promotional kits

Training

Last chance!! Register now for Interlink webinar

Aug. 28 is the deadline to sign up for the free postal webinar presented by Interlink for TPA member newspapers.

The "Interlink Boot Camp" live webinar is slated, Friday, Aug. 29, from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and is open to both current subscribers and non-subscribers of Interlink.

Interlink is a postal and circulation management program that prepares all the necessary postal forms and paperwork required for periodicals to properly enter their mail.

View the Interlink webinar flyer (PDF) and webinar agenda (PDF) then send an e-mail with your newspaper and your name to sign up.

Photo editing, perfect PDF & design webinars in September

Tech guru Kevin Slimp continues his affordable BrainCast webinars this month. The live online classes are only $69.

Classes include:
Basics of Photo Editing & Color Correction in Photoshop noon, Sept. 4

Creating the Perfect PDF File That Works Every Time 2 p.m., Sept. 11

Intro to InDesign, Part 1: Working with Text, 11 p.m. Sept. 12

Finding Problems in PDF Files, 3 p.m. Sept. 17

Intro to InDesign, Part 2: Working with Graphics and Photos, 1 p.m. Sept. 22

General Interest

TNF Hall of Fame deadline Sept. 30

Only a few weeks remain to submit nominations for the Texas Newspaper Foundation Hall of Fame.

The TNF Hall of Fame honors men and women who have made an outstanding contribution to Texas newspaper journalism and the industry. For more information download a Hall of Fame nomination form (PDF).

2009 Directory updates, contest in works

Preparations for the 2009 Texas Newspaper Directory are under way and members can help speed up the publication process.

Directory update forms are being mailed to all TPA newspaper and associate members. Please update the information and return the form to TPA as soon as possible to ensure your data is correct in the 2009 directory.

Members also have a chance again this year to advertise in the 2009 directory. The book gives your newspaper or firm exposure all year long in the most comprehensive source for Texas newspaper listings. View a rate card online (PDF). Ad deadline is Oct. 17.

And TPA also is looking for the best photograph of a Texas landscape or scene to print on the 2009 Texas Newspaper Directory cover. Enter the 2009 Directory Photo Contest for a chance to see your photo on the cover. Open to all TPA members. Deadline Oct. 9.

30 contest judges still needed

TPA still needs about 30 volunteers to judge the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Better Newspaper Contest Oct. 16-17 in Austin.

Sign up by Sept. 24 and judge both days and get a free stay in the judging hotel Thursday night!

The judging is from 1-4 p.m. Oct. 16 and/or 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Wyndham Garden Hotel on I-35 and Woodward. Contact Pauline Word 800-749-4793 to volunteer.

Postal

Statement of ownership due Oct. 1

Hurry! The deadline to file the annual Statement of Ownership form with the U.S. Postal Service is Oct. 1.

All periodicals (all TPA member newspapers) should file the form with their local postmaster or post office. The form also must be published in an issue of the newspaper during October — dailies must publish it by Oct. 10 and weeklies and semiweeklies must publish it by Oct. 31.

The correct form is dated September 2007 and is officially called PS Form 3526 Statement of Ownership, Management & Circulation. Download a PDF copy here from USPS.

Check out these guidelines to help accurately prepare the Statement of Ownership.

5 percent postal discount available

Newspapers may be missing out on a new "Limited Circulation Discount" on their 3541 postal form each week.

Publications receive a 5 percent discount off the total outside-county postage, excluding the postage for advertising pounds, if eligible copies are mailed at in-county prices and the total number of outside-county copies mailed for that issue is less than 5,000. (chapter 707.1.1.8 of the Domestic Mail Manual)

The discount shows up on the front page of the 3541 postal statement under “Preferred Price Discount.”

Newspaper In Education

Constitution Day materials available

Constitution Day is Sept. 17 and newspapers can help schools celebrate through NIE.

The Bill of Rights Institute has free materials available to newspapers and teachers,including the "Celebrate the Constitution" 12-page tabloid, an online Constitution Day module, classroom lesson plans, quizzes and all-new Flash animated activities. A new feature is a special election-based activity focusing on Article II of the Constitution.

For more information, visit the Bill of Rights Institute Constitution Day resources Web site.

Vocabulary.com also has free Constitution Day materials available for all grades. The content promotes vocabulary proficiency and understanding in reading.

Constitution Day provides word puzzles, fill-in-the-blank, definition match, word search and a crossword. Discussion questions/lesson plan ideas follow a 234 word list. Related activities include government/civics content.

Election and related President's Day and character/leadership content as well as other national observances also is available.

TPA News

TPA welcomed the Stamford Star as a new member newspaper.