News-media roundup: Daily hosts community-journalism forum with monthly papers; Gannett headed back to black?

Berkshire Eagle house ad for forum with three journalists from smaller newspapers

The Berkshire Eagle is hosting a forum at which journalists from monthly newspapers will talk about the value of community journalism. The latest in the daily's "Community Talk" sessions will host Country Journal Editor Ellenor Downer, Monterey News Editor Stephen Moore, and Ronald Bernard, founder and board member of The Sandisfield Times, and The Eagle says "We welcome representatives from other local publications" to the Aug. 9 session.

The National Newspaper Association's annual Convention and Trade Show is Sept. 28-30 in Washington, D.C., and the earlybird pricing deadline of Aug. 14 is approaching. Registrants can select "Invoice me" and pay within 30 days; to register click here. The first day of the conference will focus on Capitol Hill visits. The headquarters hotel is the Omni Washington DC-Shoreham. Make reservations online or call 800-843-6664 and mention "National Newspaper Association Foundation" for a discounted rate of $229/room plus tax; it's available for stays Sept. 27-30, and while rooms last or until Sept. 6.

Gannett Co. said Thursday that it's more likely than not to make a profit this year, after a quarterly earnings report that said it lost $12.7 million, well below the $53.7 million loss reported in the second quarter of 2022. The nation's largest newspaper company said its revenue from advertising and marketing fell 8% form a year earlier, to $353.3 million, but digital subscription revenue rose 17% to $37.9 million. The company "forecast between a loss of $10 million and a profit of $20 million for the year, compared with its previous forecast between a loss of $15 million and a profit of $15 million," Reuters reports. "Analysts on average expect 2023 profit of $8.2 million, according to Refinitiv data."

Iowa Newspaper Association Executive Director Susan Patterson Plank is resigning to rejoin Gannett, INA reports. She joined INA in 2013 as sales and marketing director and moved up in 2016. She will become Gannett’s vice president of public records strategic initiatives, a new position. The Iowa native worked for the company in 1989-98 and 2001-13, at The Des Moines Register and in Indiana and Minnesota.

The University of Georgia is seeking nominations for the 2022 Rollin M. “Pete” McCommons Award for Distinguished Community Journalism. Supported by an endowment, the award "honors outstanding leadership, innovation and entrepreneurism in community journalism each year, from small- or niche-market media outlets that have produced single or packaged stories on issues affecting their community and can offer how these stories may have impacted their community," the university says, adding that the professional journalists, students and faculty "who produce community journalism of consequence" are eligible. The nomination deadline is Sept. 30. More information and the nomination form are here.