PNA’s 2011 Convention concluded with a unique panel and idea sharing session. “Creative Revenue Streams and Idea Sharing” was presented by several panelists, including Laurel Lane, Manager of Digital Media Revenue for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Jim Tierney, Director of Realtime Media, Stark Townend, Director, Digital Client Development for the Philadelphia Media Network, along with moderator Ron Adams.

The last panel on Thursday was titled “Innovation: A State of Mind.” Eighteen news executives participated in Suburban News Association Foundation’s North American Innovation Mission, a week-long study tour last spring. The goal of the mission was to learn about new and emerging business models. Representing each dimension of the mission, the panelists included Steve Batten, Advertising Director of the The Mercury (Pottstown), John Derr, Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Lancaster Newspapers, Inc., and Tanya Henderson, Advertising and Membership Relations Director, Suburban Newspapers of America and Training Manager of zip2save.com.

“We’re going to be publishing a newspaper in Dallas seven days a week for a long time.” Those are the words of Jim Moroney, publisher and CEO of The Dallas Morning News. During his presentation, Moroney emphasized the value of the print newspaper and how his publication hopes to extend the runway of the print business through the digital era. “We’re going to be publishing a newspaper in Dallas seven days a week for a long time.” Those are the words of Jim Moroney, publisher and CEO of The Dallas Morning News. During his presentation, Moroney emphasized the value of the print newspaper and how his publication hopes to extend the runway of the print business through the digital era.

Steve Alessi, Vice President of Digital Sales at the Philadelphia Media Network, shared some of the innovative steps his company has taken in its Project Liberty venture. Among other things, Project Liberty included a new print product titled “Sports Week,” a hyper-local initiative called “Neighbors,” and a new health website. The company also developed and sold the first ever pre-loaded tablet for digital and newspaper integration and provided newsroom staff with new technology. Project Liberty reflects a paradigm shift from a printed newspaper to a media organization that gathers and distributes news in many ways.

New to the program this year, publishers had the unique opportunity to listen and interact directly with a panel of retail advertisers and agency executives. Rich Medeiros, Director of Advertising for the Pittsburgh-Post Gazette moderated the panel, comprised of David Fontana, Chief Media Officer/Director of Consumer Engagement of

Mike Blinder presented “Making Digital Dollars Today,” including a list of steps that newspapers can take to increase revenue from digital sales. Blinder emphasized knowing the metrics of the sell and using call sheets to track and analyze them, explaining that a manager must compensate and punish based on agreed-upon goals and objectives.

While many Pennsylvanians and citizens across the United States are more or less riveted by the allegations of child abuse that are still-unfolding at Penn State, some have also called for more transparency at Penn State. In fact, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association published a guest editorial in the Patriot-News in June of 2007, urging legislators and Penn State officials alike to acknowledge the school’s central identity as a Pennsylvania institution.

William L. (Will) McLean IV has been named chairman of the board of Independent Publications Inc. (IPI), owner of publishing and printing companies and sound communications businesses. In Pennsylvania, IPI publishes the daily newspaper in DuBois and weekly newspapers in New Bethlehem and Brookville.

Brainworks Software, the leading provider of newspaper advertising and circulation systems for North America has announced that the Gwinnett Daily Post and Rockdale Citizen of Southern Community Newspapers, the Walla Walla Union Bulletin and the Colorado Community Newspapers division of ASP Westward have gone live with their newly installed Brainworks advertising systems.

Three Pennsylvania journalists have won the Truth in Finance Award from the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). The award was created by PICPA’s Forensic and Litigation Services Committee to honor excellent, balanced reporting that clarifies financial issues, uncovers financial fraud, or exposes fraudulent activities that harm the financial well being of individuals, communities, or companies.

Each year, the Pennsylvania Bar Association presents the William A. Schnader Print Media Awards that honors journalistic excellence in news and feature reporting of the legal system. The competition recognizes journalists who foster great public understanding of the legal system; inform and educate citizens as to their roles in the system; discloses practices or procedures needing correction or improvement in the laws, courts, or law enforcement agencies.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News was honored with first place in the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation’s Reader Initiative Award. Second place went to the Erie Times-News.

The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation is pleased to announce the 2011 Newspaper of the Year Award winners.

The York Daily Record/Sunday News is the 2011 recipient of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation’s Public Service Award.

The Morning Call (Allentown) is the 2011 recipient of the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Foundation’s G. Richard Dew Award.

The Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) is proud to present George V. Lynett with the 2011 PNA Lifetime Achievement Award.

Ernest J. Schreiber and Timothy M. Williams have been awarded the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association (PNA) Benjamin Franklin Award for Excellence.

Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C. was selected as one of the 100 Best Places to Work in PA for the second year in a row. The firm will be recognized at the Best Places to Work in PA awards banquet on Dec. 1, 2011, at the Lancaster County Convention Center.

Digital polling company CIVICSCIENCE today announced the launch of CivicScience.com, a new website where users can search the company’s massive repository of polling data, analyze real-time results, ask poll questions across their social networks, and track their voting history.