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Your connection to industry & member news | Feb. 20, 2025
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Register for Annual Meeting & AwardsMake plans to attend April 3-4 in ColumbiaConnect, learn and celebrate with 200 members of the S.C. Press Association at the 2025 SCPA Annual Meeting and Awards, presented by AdCellerant. Make plans to join us April 3-4, at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center in the heart of downtown Columbia for awards presentations, educational sessions and networking.
Our meeting is a time to celebrate the Palmetto State's commitment to outstanding journalism! Come have a good time and get re-energized about the important work you do to serve your readers every day.
This year’s convention will feature educational and networking events including an opening reception at Columbia’s riverfront biergarten, informative training sessions, the Executive Committee Meeting, Independent/Family-Owned Newspaper Breakfast Roundtable and our highlight event – the News Contest Awards Presentation and Hall of Fame Luncheon, which recognize the best and brightest in newspaper journalism!
Here are some ways you can prepare for the Annual Meeting:
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Hubert Osteen to be inducted into SC Journalism Hall of Fame on April 4The S.C. Press Association has the distinct honor of inducting the late Hubert Duvall Osteen Jr. of The Sumter Item into the S.C. Journalism Hall of Fame on April 4.
Osteen joins a distinguished group of men and women who have excelled in their craft and made significant contributions to journalism and their communities. Roughly 80 newspaper journalists from the early 1700s to present have been chosen by their peers for recognition.
The induction will take place at the start of the SCPA Awards Luncheon on Friday, April 4, at noon.
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By Eric P. Robinson, USC School of Journalism and Mass Communications
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| A Free Speech Lesson for Today from 1936In 1934 the Louisiana state legislature passed and the governor signed a bill imposing a two percent tax on advertising revenues of newspapers in the state with circulations of at least 20,000.
But what appeared to be a simple tax measure was in fact part of a larger plan against the media. The tax was promoted by supporters of former Louisiana governor Huey Long, who fashioned himself into a populist with the slogan “Every Man a King,” and fought against big business in the name of the state’s farmers and workers. He was also, by all accounts, incredibly corrupt, including extracting payments from the same businesses he criticized and from state employees.
He also had a thin skin, and was a fierce critic of the press. “If we had some way to hang every man and newspaper that lies,” Long told a Marksville, La. audience, “the world would be better off today.” He also stated, “If you tell a lie a judge can put you in jail and he ought to. But the newspapers get paid for lying. The freedom of the press lets those newspapers print any kind of lies. The big interests of Wall Street pay them for publishing lies.”
Long’s attacks on the media were also prominent in his own populist publication, American Progress.
When the student newspaper at Louisiana State University was planning to publish a letter to the editor in 1934 that was indirectly critical of the governor, he ordered state police to seize printers’ proofs of the newspaper and that a new version be printed without the letter. He also demanded that LSU administrators oversee the newspaper. When the editors planned to print a front-page editorial denouncing the censorship, they were removed from their newspaper positions. Long also demanded an apology from the student editors; seven who refused were expelled from the university. “I’ll fire any student who dares to say a word against Huey Long,” Long reportedly stated. “That’s my university. I built it, and I’m not going to stand for any students criticizing Huey Long.” (LSU apologized to the students in 1940.) Read more
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A former Midlands school board member seeks to revive a lawsuit over a Facebook group
More than two years after a judge dismissed a defamation lawsuit a Midlands school board member brought against a constituent who ran a critical Facebook page, the ex-board member’s attorney asked an appeals court to revive the case and allow it to proceed to trial.
In 2022, Judge Jean Toal dismissed former Lexington-Richland 5 school board member Ken Loveless’ lawsuit against Leslie Stiles, a Lexington-Richland 5 resident who ran the Facebook page Deep Dive Into D5. Toal ruled the suit would not be able to overcome federal law and Supreme Court precedent that protects the operator of a website from being sued for the comments others make on the site. Loveless’ lawsuit ultimately led to the page, which was often critical of the Chapin-Irmo area school board, being shut down by Stiles.
But Loveless attorney Desa Ballard asked the S.C. Court of Appeals on Thursday to reverse that ruling and allow Loveless’ lawsuit to proceed.
In her ruling, Toal said Ballard failed to establish “actual malice” against Loveless in the comments. That’s the high standard set by the U.S. Supreme Court in the case of New York Times v. Sullivan for a public official such as Loveless, an elected school board member, to take action for defamation.
By Bristow Marchant, The State | Read more
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A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial. Press advocates are outraged
A Mississippi judge ordered a newspaper to remove an editorial criticizing the mayor and city leaders after the officials sued, sparking complaints from press advocates that it violates the First Amendment.
Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin issued the restraining order against the Clarksdale Press Register on Tuesday in connection with a Feb. 8 editorial titled “Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust.” The piece criticized the city for not sending the newspaper notice about a meeting the City Council held regarding a proposed tax on alcohol, marijuana and tobacco.
“I think it’s dangerous that a judge would issue a temporary restraining order without a hearing,” said Wyatt Emmerich, president of the paper’s parent company, Emmerich Newspapers. “We’ll fight it and see where it goes.”
... “This is a rather astounding order and we feel it is egregious and chilling,” said Layne Bruce, executive director of the Mississippi Press Association. “It clearly runs afoul of the First Amendment and we fully support the Press Register’s right to report and offer commentary on the business of Clarksdale’s city government.”
By Andew Demillo, Associated Press | Read more
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Media coalition to White House: Restore AP access to press pool
The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, joined by more than 30 news media organizations, is asking the White House to restore the Associated Press’s pool participation and ensure that future access to White House events is not predicated on improper considerations or disagreement with editorial choices.
In a letter sent to the White House on Monday, the media coalition expressed particular concern with the exclusion of the AP from President Donald Trump’s news conference with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and the White House’s decision to bar all AP reporters from the Oval Office and Air Force One. The AP’s ongoing exclusion from pool events is in response to its decision to continue using Gulf of Mexico when referring to the body of water that Trump recently renamed the Gulf of America, though the news outlet’s style guide states that it will acknowledge the new name Trump has chosen.
From RCFP | Read more
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They live here and work every day to bring you local news. Meet The State's Columbia reporters
If you’re like me, you’re sick of hearing it: Columbia, it’s close to everything — close to the beach, close to the mountains, close to Charlotte, close to Atlanta.
It’s a common refrain. But if you’ve lived here for any decent stretch of time, you know there’s more to Columbia than what it’s close to.
This is the state capital, bustling with movers and shakers and political intrigue — and, often, people mounting demonstrations to let their elected leaders know how they feel about things. But that’s not all that goes on in Columbia. ...
Such a vibrant, multifaceted area deserves the attention of reporters who live right here, exploring the Midlands in detail — its hopes, its personalities, and the issues it faces as it pushes forward. And those are the kind of reporters we have at The State, 17 of them living right here. We also employ a locally based opinion editor, who works separately to bring you additional perspective. Meet some of your Midlands neighbors who work hard every day to keep you informed.
By Jordan Lawrence, The State | Read more
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Post and Courier’s strategic print shift: A new era for South Carolina journalism
The Post and Courier, South Carolina’s largest newspaper, is making a major shift in its print operations, reducing home delivery from seven days a week to five. The decision, set to take effect in April, reflects both print media’s economic realities and news consumers’ evolving habits.
PJ Browning, president of the newspaper division at Evening Post Publishing, acknowledged the weight of the decision but said it has been in the works for several years. “The economics of it, it’s one of those things… we’ve been looking at this since 2018, 2019,” she said. “We started talking about frequency of print and just being able to plan out that runway — when do you have enough print readers that are digitally active that you can flip the switch?”
Browning and her team are taking a measured approach to ensure a smooth transition. They’ve planned extensive digital discovery meetings to help readers become more comfortable with the e-edition, hosting in-person and virtual sessions across the Tri-County area. “We wanted to make sure that our announcement was in plenty of time so we can have digital discovery meetings,” she explained. “In just a couple of days, we've got 160 people that will be coming to those sessions.”
From Editor & Publisher | Read and watch more
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Subscription expert shares 12 ways to attract, retain subscribers
As the media industry continues shifting toward subscription-based models, news companies must clear new hurdles when it comes to acquiring, retaining, and engaging subscribers.
During this week’s members-only Webinar, Robbie Kellman Baxter — author of The Membership Economy and The Forever Transaction — outlined the key challenges news organisations must overcome and shared 12 key value propositions to help attract and retain subscribers in an increasingly competitive digital environment.
One challenge news companies face today is striking the right balance between subscriber acquisition, retention, and lifetime value, Baxter said. A live poll of attendees confirmed retention ranks as their biggest subscription challenge, with acquisition falling not far behind it.
“In the early days [of digital subscriptions] it was all about the transformation and acquisition,” she explained. “Now it’s really about … continued profitable growth, which requires and different mindset and a balancing of key metrics.”
By Paula Felps, INMA | Read more
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How to focus on what matters in building your news operation
Managing a small news organization can seem like drinking from multiple fire hoses at once. You need to cover this event, that breaking news story, then edit some interview. And, meanwhile, fix the CMS, talk to a funder, and call an advertiser. And and and.
How, while managing it all, can you rationally figure out what to focus on to make your operation more effective? The CEO of a successful nonprofit local news organization I asked recently replied: “revenue, revenue, revenue.”
I agree that you need to keep the lights on. But there’s more than money to grapple with. Here’s a way to get your arms around the process and channel your energy productively.
By Dorian Benkoil for Reynolds Journalism Institute | Read more
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Content management systems (CMS): Essential for publishing success and improving the bottom line
Reporting and disseminating news and information is — and will remain — the essence of journalism and publishing. What has changed is the increased volume of news driven by new topics, which the public wants to access anytime and from anywhere. This creates more work for journalists and editors when many newsrooms have downsized. Developing new revenue streams is an added financial burden. Managing some combination of a print product, a website and many other media and news products makes the entire reporting/publishing process even more complex.
Although there is no magic formula to alleviate all these pressures, utilizing a content management system (CMS) is the one digital tool essential for publishing and media success. Whether for-profit or nonprofit, media and news outlets of any size must achieve higher levels of efficiency, convenience and time- and cost-savings as these industries continue to evolve and become more competitive.
In response, content management systems now offer tools to improve media outlets’ bottom lines in two ways. First, better design, more reader interaction, advanced paywalls, targeted advertising services and other solutions can generate more revenue on the front end. Second, backend operational and management tools create new efficiencies and provide easy scalability, saving time and money.
By Bob Sillick for E&P Magazine | Read more
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State Dept. orders cancellation of news subscriptions around the world
The State Department has ordered the cancellation of all news subscriptions deemed “non-mission critical,” according to internal email guidance viewed by The Washington Post. The move aligns with the Trump administration’s crackdown on media companies that count the U.S. government as paying customers.
A Feb. 11 memo sent to embassies and consulates in Europe described the mandate as part of an effort to reduce spending. The email read, in part, “Considering this priority, posts are asked to immediately place Stop Work Orders on all non-mission critical contracts/purchase orders for media subscriptions (publications, periodicals, and newspaper subscriptions) that are not academic or professional journals.”
The mandate applies globally, to hundreds of U.S. embassies and consulates, according to a State Department official who spoke with The Post on Tuesday on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. Embassy security teams rely on news coverage to prepare for diplomatic travel in conflict zones. The cancellation of subscriptions — including to local news outlets — could hinder their assessments of threats, the official said.
By Jeremy Barr and John Hudson, The Washington Post | Read more
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National Press Club Journalism Institute announces public health journalism training series
Solutions-oriented journalism about America’s public health landscape has become increasingly important as disinformation continues to spread and health disparities widen among marginalized communities.
The National Press Club Journalism Institute will present a series of six virtual programs aimed at training journalists who cover public health. These events, which generally fall on the last Tuesday of the month from February through July, include the following topics:
- Uncovering & reporting on solution-focused infrastructures (Feb. 25)
- Covering public health policy in the current political landscape (March 25)
- How community health workers can be the key to your reporting (April 29)
- Covering rural & urban health disparities (May 27)
- Finding focus and shaping your narrative (June 24)
- Lessons from our inaugural journalism fellowship cohort (July 25)
Each event will take place from noon through 12:30 p.m. Registration for these programs is free and open to the public. They will take place on Zoom. Learn more
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LMA announces second lab cohort for family-owned, independent local media, with Knight and GNI support
Local Media Association is launching a second lab cohort aimed at finding paths to sustainability for family-owned and independent local media organizations, thanks to funding from Knight Foundation and Google News Initiative.
Directors of the LMA Family and Independent Media Sustainability Lab — FIMS Lab for short — and a team of expert consultants will work for at least one year with leaders of 10 family-owned and independent local media companies, immersing in business transformation strategies intended to build long-term sustainability and financial independence.
The new cohort of 10 media companies will join the original FIMS Lab cohort for joint group sessions, in-person meetings, and working sprints.
Local news media companies in the U.S. and Canada with at least $1 million annual revenue that can demonstrate they are family-owned or independently owned are encouraged to apply.
Qualified companies may include single-location/single-outlet organizations as well as family or independent media groups serving multiple locations. Also, media type does not matter: digital, print or broadcast media should qualify, as long as the companies are significantly focused on local news.
Applications are open now through Feb. 27. Learn more
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IRE announces new grant for public health and disability reporting
Investigative Reporters and Editors is pleased to announce the new Koch Continuum Grant in Public Health and Disability Investigative Reporting.
“We are enthusiastic about this major grant program, the largest in IRE’s portfolio,” said IRE Executive Director Diana R. Fuentes. “When budget cuts sweep newsrooms, all too often it’s specialized reporting that takes the hit. The Koch Continuum Grant is designed to boost coverage in the all-important areas of public health and disabilities.”
The program will award two $10,000 grants to journalists pursuing investigative reporting projects focused on public health issues or issues affecting people with disabilities. Grant recipients will also receive financial assistance to present the results of their reporting at the 2026 IRE Conference June 18-21, 2026 in Washington, D.C.
IRE is accepting proposals for the new grant through April 6.
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Forward Kentucky publisher offers writing webinar to SCPA members
Bruce Maples, publisher of Forward Kentucky, recently presented a workshop at the Kentucky Press Association convention, titled "How to Write Seven Different Types of Articles Using Ten Different Models."
After the event, which got positive reviews, some editors said they'd like for their entire staff to take it. So, Maples has turned it into a webinar, available to journalists across the country. Access the couse here for $19, which includes both the video lesson and PowerPoint.
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‘Ms. Millie’ passes away at 77Longtime Lee County Observer ad manager, 'What's Cooking With Millie' writer, dies
Millie Scott will be remembered as a dear friend to so many of us here in the Lee County community. Her unwavering Christian faith, the love she had for family and friends, her community involvement — all are part of the fabric of a life well lived. Millie passed away on Feb. 8 at the age of 77 after a brief illness.
Known to many as “Ms. Millie” and to others as the “Cake Lady,” Scott worked for many years at the Lee County Observer, holding various positions — running the front office, selling ads, writing a very popular cooking page and more. The Observer is where I first met Millie more than 30 years ago when I joined the staff. The newspaper was in its heyday then and she and I both were busy — I writing stories and taking photos and Millie pounding the pavement and bringing in the ad revenue. Everyone in Bishopville knew Millie and I’d venture to say everyone liked her, too. It was hard not to. Millie was kind; she was thoughtful; she was fun to be around. But for me, it was a shared love of yard sales that truly bonded us, forging a friendship that I will always treasure.
By Gee Whetsel, Special to the Lee County Observer and Chronicle-Independent | Read more
Read Millie Scott's full obituary.
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By Brandon Roberts,
Publisher and Managing Editor of Summerville Communications Inc.
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Local news + connected community = a thing of beauty
Like many people, I had an incredibly busy week this past week. The current and coming weeks are just as busy, if not busier. After all the meetings and events I attended, when I sat down and reflected on my week, I realized the simplest common theme: people.
Everywhere I went, there was a gathering of people, and that’s something about working in local news that never gets old. Maybe it’s the familiar faces, the good conversations or that small-town warmth that can’t be faked. Maybe it’s how a good story brings people together — the way it sparks discussions at the coffee shop and reminds us why people and places matter.
Local news isn’t just about headlines; it’s about connection. It’s about shining a light on the moments and occurrences that mean the most to our community. Every time your local paper tells a story that speaks to you — about a neighbor making a difference, a school event that fills the stands, a challenge we face together — it’s worth appreciating. These things keep us informed, engaged and invested in the place we call home. Read more
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