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Your connection to industry & member news | Dec. 16, 2022
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Happy Holidays from SCPA & SCNN!This holiday season, we are grateful for your continued support and all you and your newspaper have done to serve your communities over the past year! SCPA and SCNN will be closed Dec. 23-26 and there will be no eBulletin over the next two weeks because of the holidays. We wish you all the best in 2023!
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Register for 2023 Legislative Preview for the MediaMake plans now to join key leaders of the General Assembly at our annual Legislative Preview for the Media on Monday, Jan. 9, from 9:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. at the Blatt Building on Statehouse grounds.
This event is a one-stop shop for the media to interview key members of both the House and Senate. Confirmed panelists include: Sen. Thomas Alexander, Senate President and Chairman of Interstate Cooperation, R-Oconee; Sen. Tom Davis, Chairman of Labor, Commerce & Industry, R-Beaufort; Sen. Ronnie Cromer, Chairman of Banking & Insurance, R-Newberry; Sen. Chip Campsen, Chairman of Fish, Game & Forestry, R-Charleston; Sen. Harvey Peeler, Chairman of Finance, R-Cherokee; Sen. Shane Massey, Majority Leader, R-Edgefield; Sen. Brad Hutto, Minority Leader, D-Orangeburg; Rep. Bill Hixon, Chairman of Agriculture, Natural Resources & Environmental Affairs, R-Edgefield; Rep. Jay Jordan, Chairman, Ethics, R-Florence; and Rep. Bill Sandifer, Chairman of Labor, Commerce & Industry, R-Oconee.
Additional speakers will be added as they are confirmed.
We recommend this event for editors, reporters, news directors, editorial writers, publishers and managers.
All discussions will be on the record.
This event is sponsored by the South Carolina Press Association, South Carolina Broadcasters Association, The Associated Press and South Carolina Educational Television.
Gavin Jackson of SCETV will moderate.
TV cameras are welcome and a mult box will be provided for audio.
Lunch from DiPrato’s will be served.
If you register by Jan. 1, the fee to attend is only $60. If you register between Jan. 2-5, the fee will increase to $70. Registrations will not be accepted after Thursday, Jan. 5.
Please note space is limited and this event is only open to members of SCPA, AP and SCBA.
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By Eric P. Robinson, USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications
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| Old videotape law presents new legal challenge to news websitesAn enterprising law firm in New York City is soliciting for plaintiffs to sue various newspapers whose websites allegedly include a “pixel” from Meta Platforms Inc.—the parent of Facebook—that allows Meta to track users’ activity.
Ironically, one of the prominent places that the law firm is advertising is on Facebook.
The ads assert that “Your local newspaper is sharing your personal information,” with some specifying that the information being shared includes the videos that you have watched online. This claim is based on a somewhat convoluted combination of Facebook’s practices and a relatively obscure federal law originally adopted after a newspaper published a list of videos rented by a U.S. Supreme Court nominee.
It has been well-documented—but perhaps conveniently ignored by users—that Facebook combines users’ activity on its platform with data from other sites to compile detailed dossiers about its users, and even former users. This information could include any videos that the user watched either through the Facebook platform or another platform from which Facebook collects information by one of two methods: users who log in to the platform using their Facebook profiles or sites that contain a “pixel,” a bit of programming code which allows Meta to track users’ activities. Read more
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|  | We're so thankful for these students from the University of South Carolina! After finishing their finals, Trevor Crocker, Hank Lunn and Win Hammond are helping us get the 2022 News Contest entries ready for judging over Winter Break.
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"You're more informed, you're a better citizen, because you read your local news. We prioritize looking into stories you won't find anywhere else. Reporting that makes you better. So not necessarily every single car crash or 'was that gunshots' rumor posted on Facebook. We tell you what your local elected officials are doing, what's happening with high school sports, what events you can bring the family to this weekend. Who's running for school board and who's opening a new coffee shop. Who's making a comeback and who needs help.
This holiday season, give that gift of knowledge to a family member, friend or other loved one. Help support the continuation of local news. If you're reading this and you're not a subscriber, gift yourself something you can use every day rather than a thing that'll end up in a landfill. Thank you for supporting The Sumter Item. We truly wouldn't - and wouldn't want to - be here without you."
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| "Going, going, gone" by Robert Ariail
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|  If you can't get enough of award-winning Camden cartoonist Robert Ariail, enjoy his new strip featured every week in the Charleston City Paper, which has granted us ongoing permission to republish it. Called "Lowcountry," the weekly feature, which is available for syndication in South Carolina newspapers, focuses on politics, human nature, the environment and public policy. More: Contact publisher Andy Brack.
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SC was failing to protect injury victims’ money. What’s changed since our investigation?
Fewer controversial deals between lightly regulated companies and injured South Carolinians are getting approved in the months following a McClatchy investigation and a resulting order from the state’s Supreme Court Chief Justice.
JG Wentworth and other companies have for years been purchasing accident victims’ future structured settlements for immediate lump sums, often for pennies on the dollar, McClatchy found.
The newspaper’s investigative series, Cashed Out, which detailed sellers with severe brain injuries and other trauma being stripped of their financial security after agreeing to deals they couldn’t understand, created immediate change. And more change could be on the horizon, with high-ranking legislators introducing a bill last week to address McClatchy’s findings.
By David Weissman, The Sun News | Read more
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Ousted Berkeley County superintendent takes legal action vs district, board members
Former Berkeley County School Superintendent Deon Jackson recently filed a lawsuit against the local school district, school board members and his successor (Dr. Anthony Dixon) on the basis of plotting to have him removed from his position during a Nov. 15 public meeting.
Jackson’s filing alleges that one-time colleagues Mac McQuillin, Sally Wofford, Kathy Littleton and Michael Ramsey all gathered during private meetings prior to the complainant’s dismissal, which reportedly violates South Carolina’s Freedom of Information Act.
By Ralph Mancini, The Berkeley Independent | Read more
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Editorial: Transparency in government can be improved
"As technology and internet capabilities rapidly improve, there are fewer and fewer excuses for a lack of transparency in government. Public records once confined to hard paper copies and filing cabinets are now routinely digitized and made shareable with the click of a button. Details about government spending, policy and meetings, in theory, should be more accessible than ever before."
The words come from the watchdog group the South Carolina Policy Council, which was founded in 1986 as an independent, private, non-partisan research organization to promote the principles of limited government, free enterprise, and individual liberty and responsibility in the state.
The SCPC is not always popular among lawmakers of all political stripes as it can be an equal-opportunity critic. But its criticisms and insight are often on target.
From The Times and Democrat | Read more
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The Post and Courier to fill prominent downtown Greenville location
The Post and Courier will move its Upstate newsroom and business operations into a West End store by early 2023.
In the new year, the office will move to 20 Augusta St. in the West End — the former 20-year home of women’s boutique Augusta Twenty. The boutique recently relocated next door to 26 Augusta St., doubling its footprint and incorporating a cafe and gifts market.
The Post and Courier launched its Greenville newsroom in June 2020 and expanded to Spartanburg in 2021. For more than two years, the Upstate office has been based in co-working space Endeavor, on the fourth floor at 1 N. Main St.
By Stephanie Mirah, The Post and Courier Greenville | Read more
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Carolina Panorama Newspaper, House of Hathor to host Author Spotlight event featuring local Black authors
The Carolina Panorama Newspaper and the House of Hathor is hosting a Author Spotlight event. This event will give the public an opportunity to meet local authors and purchase their books.
Scheduled authors include: Shanika Griffin, author of Unshakeable Faith, Jametta Chandler Moore, author of Walking on the Beach In a Girdle & High Healed Boots; Seitu Amenwahsu, author of Ba Akhu; Germon “Mama G” Miller-Bey, author of The Sovereign Knights; Winnifred Tataw, author of Child Tempus and Karen Calhoun, author of Winter Storm. Read more
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Four ways to reuse the newspaper for a sustainable holiday
This holiday season, I’m focusing more on sustainable options when possible. I’m trying to buy from local businesses, opt for homemade gifts and purchase less paper that’s going to be immediately tossed in the trashcan.
I enjoy finding different ways to be creative over the holidays. When it’s cold outside, I love an entertaining indoor craft to do while watching a Christmas movie and drinking eggnog. I started thinking that the newspaper you’re reading right now can actually be reused in several ways this holiday season. After you finish reading this week’s articles (of course), consider using this paper to make one of the crafts below.
By Kenna Coe, Moultrie News | Read more
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2023 will be the year of re-emergence for news media
It’s transformation season, and if you think this was a different and busy year for news media, it was. There was a lot of resetting, some small wins and some significant losses, but if I had to bet, it’s all been essential in leading to a fresh revival of our industry. I’m not being frivolous with some inconsequential declaration when I say that 2023 will be the year of re-emergence for news media. Why? The tracks have been set for news organizations to reemerge as innovative tech companies delivering personalized and substantive information. Yes, you read that correctly. Your local news company will become a partner with you throughout your day instead of only providing top-line regional and national news, politics and opinions. Papers have already been resized, optimized delivery routes, restructured prices and reduced staff. So, what’s coming? Ask yourself, what’s the most practical way to engage with the fast-paced lifestyle of today’s modern consumer? As I’ve stated in previous articles, the answer is personalized, convenient and resourceful information.
By Richard E. Brown for Editor & Publisher | Read more
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Reporting on the LGBTQ+ community
Members of the LGBTQ+ community want reporting to reflect reality; the community is diverse, vast and full of positivity.
“We’re gay, and we’re everywhere. We’re queer, and we’re everywhere. We’re invisible most of the time to each other unless we come out,” said Washington Blade Publisher and Owner Lynne Brown.
The Washington Blade in Washington, D.C., is the oldest LGBTQ+ publication in the United States. It covers LGBTQ+ news at the local, national and international levels.
Dallas Voice President and Publisher Leo Cusimano said he often hears people talking about “the gay agenda.”
“To me, the gay agenda is one word, and that’s equality,” he said. “We’re very, very diverse, and we just want a seat at the table, just like anyone else. We just want to be treated equally like anyone else.”
By Alyssa Choiniere for Editor & Publisher | Read more
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AP announces sweeping democracy journalism initiative
The Associated Press announced today it will inject additional resources into covering democracy in the U.S. with the goal of helping an increasingly polarized public better understand their government.
With philanthropic support from several organizations, AP aims to improve civic literacy and combat misinformation by bolstering its explanatory journalism and providing information and tools to local newsrooms to aid their coverage. AP will also deepen its reporting on the impact of elections and election-related policy on communities of color.
From The Associated Press | Read more
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By John Foust,
Advertising Trainer
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| We’ve got some explaining to do
People usually say “no” to things they don’t understand. It’s a salesperson’s job to help prospects understand what he or she is selling. What makes media choice A better than choice B? What’s all this talk about target audiences being better than general audiences? Doesn’t that mean fewer buyers? If a business has been successful for a long time, why spend money on advertising?
You’re probably not worried about these things, but more than a few of your prospects are. There’s a natural tendency to think our prospects are keeping up with what we’re saying, when in reality, that may not be the case. We have to get in step with them before we can expect them to get in step with us.”
Christopher, a veteran ad salesperson, told me about an unusual misunderstanding with a prospect. “When he called to say he wanted to discuss his advertising outlays,” Christopher said, “I immediately thought about the budgeting process. As the conversation progressed, I realized that we were on two completely different wavelengths. He was referring to ad layouts, not ad outlays. We can laugh about it now, but at the time, it took a few minutes before I was able to adjust to the situation.” Read more
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