1. No one covers your
community better
than you
AND NO ONE COVERS YOUR
NEEDS BETTER THAN THE CPA
Your SOURCE
for the best
journalism, advertising
and business
education
Your VOICE
at the legislature,
in the courts and in
public, advocating on
your behalf
Your CHOICE
for enhancing
revenue, making
connections, and
improving your
organization
AND NO ONE COVERS YOUR
NEEDS BETTER THAN THE CPA
2. Greetings,
If you were to ask, “What one word would describe the Colorado Press
Association in 2015?” many would likely say, “Change.”
And they wouldn’t be wrong.
The CPA went through extraordinary change during the last 12 months.
Such changes include (but are not limited to): The annual convention has
moved in time and place, the contest has been improved, there are more ed-
ucational options for members, and most importantly, who can be a member
has been expanded, ending a debate that has gone on for more than 36 years.
It has not been change for change’s sake. There’s been a rhyme to this rea-
son, and that reason is the word I personally would use to describe 2015.
Focus.
All the changes that have been made have been done so with a focus on
what will move the CPA forward and help our members in 2016 and beyond.
That focus has come down to three main aspects: Education, Advocacy and
Enhancement for our members.
Those three words will weigh on every decision we make moving forward.
We accomplished a lot in 2015, but we also know that more needs to be
done. We cannot do it without you. That’s because everything we do is for
you.
It’s one reason we changed our bylaws to include more members, because
together we are stronger. It’s one reason CPA staff traveled to the four corners
of the state, meeting with members, and plans to do so again.
On the next page are some highlights from 2015 and some of our goals and
plans for 2016. Feel free to call if you have any questions.
We look forward to working with — and for — you in 2016.
Thanks,
Jerry Raehal
Chief Executive Officer
JERRY RAEHAL
CPA & SYNC2 Media
Chief Executive Officer
CPA: Here for you
DOUG HAY
SYNC2 MEDIA
VP of Marketing
LUKE GRAHAM
SYNC2 Media
Sales
JEAN CREEL
CPA & SYNC2 Media
Projects and Accounting
LISA WOODWORTH
CPA and SYNC2 Media
Assistant
1120 Lincoln St. Suite 912 • Denver • CO • 80203
Phone: 303.571.5117 • coloradopressassociation.net • sync2media.com
3. Highlights of 2015: Plans for 2016:
EDUCATION:
• Increased attendance at the annual convention. Convention made a
profit for the first time in recent record.
• In partnership with SYNC2 Media, established a journalism webinar
series — SYNC2 U Online University — which can be viewed on demand.
• Worked with newspapers and colleges through Campus Visits.
• Brought back Regional Trainings, visiting six communities around the
state, providing educational sessions on editorial and advertising.
• Introduced the Colorado e-Editor, a bi-weekly e-publication, which offers
tips and trends and other important industry news for members.
• Created a 28-page “Public Notice Best Practices and Resource Guide”
for members.
ADVOCACY — MEMBER PROMOTION:
• Began Social Meme project, promoting newspapers’ value, which gar-
nered nationwide attention.
• Built house ads promoting advertising/public notices for members use.
• Sent out columns for members’ use, promoting value of newspapers.
ADVOCACY — LEGISLATIVE:
• Reviewed all legislation for impacts to newspapers, focusing on issues
concerning open records, open meetings, legal notices and status of
independent contractors.
• Participated in or monitored status of 49 bills of interest to CPA members,
and sent out a weekly update on those bills during the session.
• Initiated HB 1137, by Rep. KC Becker and Senator John Cooke, to
facilitate access to mug shot photos. The bill passed and was signed into
law by the Governor.
• Successfully defeated HB 1085, which would have allowed counties to
post certain information on county websites instead of in legal notices.
• Successfully defeated HB 1115, which, as amended, would have made
it a crime of morality to take photos or make recordings when there was a
reasonable expectation of privacy.
ENHANCEMENT — REVENUE:
• Display revenue placed in newspapers was higher in 2015 than 2013
(both non-election years), when factoring out amendments.
• CDAN and CoSCAN programs maintained revenue pace while most
other Press Services reported a decrease.
• Increase in outreach to national vendors.
• The amount of money paid in membership dues vs. revenue raised for
newspapers was on average more than a 500 percent return of investment
for members.
ENHANCEMENT — LEGAL:
• Involved in the lawsuit against the Department of Revenue regulations on
marijuana advertising. The judge dismissed the case, citing the CPA had
lack of standing.
• Amicus briefs submitted in CORA cases seeking access to teacher’s paid
leave and attorneys fees awards.
• Successfully lobbied the Supreme Court to improve its proposed rule on
access to judicial branch records.
• Participated in state-wide study group to recommend policy on police
body worn camera recordings.
• CPA members, as part of the FOI, received more than 70 hours of expert
legal advice valued at $28,000 via the legal hot line — all at no charge to
CPA member newspapers.
• Major funder and supporter of Colorado Freedom of Information
Coalition, which works with newspapers and the public to promote greater
government transparency.
• In addition to the aforementioned legal hot line, more than 200 journalists
called the CFOIC on help with FOI issues.
EDUCATION:
• Established a new time of year and location for 2016 convention. This
should allow for better attendance with improved weather, and the new lo-
cation should provide lower costs for members to attend. We will continue
to focus on bringing in the best educational opportunities for our members,
while still offering a variety of ways to attend.
• Plans to bring Pulitzer winners across the state to meet with newspapers
and communities as part of the regional trainings.
• Continue to work and improve the recently launched SYNC2 U Online
University, with more offerings of interest.
• Creating a “members only” section on a new CPA website, with best
practice material and information from previous educational opportunities.
ADVOCACY — MEMBER PROMOTION:
• Continue Social Meme project, along with print house ads
• Do a once-a-month feature story on newspaper success and transition
stories that members can run, as well.
• Focus on new social media tools to promote the industry.
ADVOCACY — LEGISLATIVE:
• Review all legislative proposals for impact on CPA members in Colorado.
Work to support, oppose or amend legislation as necessary.
• Initiate legislation to restore civil penalties for interference with distribu-
tion of free newspapers.
• Work to ensure that access to records of the Judicial Branch are as
accessible to members of the public as records of other governmental
entities in Colorado.
• Lobbying to amend CORA to require custodians to provide access to
database records in digital format.
• Work with Legislative Committee, as necessary, to determine issues of
importance and positions of CPA on specific proposals.
• Provide weekly update to CPA members on legislative issues while the
General Assembly is in session and an annual report at the end of the
legislative session.
ENHANCEMENT — REVENUE:
• Signed an endorsement agreement with SYNC2 Media, meaning CPA
members will have a 15 percent holdback on ads placed in their papers,
while non-members will have a 30 percent holdback.
• SYNC2 working with members to create new digital programs that direct-
ly benefit participating members. Working with colleges on network sales.
• Increased marketing budget. Coordinated outreach to direct clients,
agencies and other associations to increase direct advertising in newspa-
pers.
• New and improved digital products, which CPA members can sell through
SYNC2 Media.
ENHANCEMENT — LEGAL:
• Continued monitoring and stances on issues of importance to CPA mem-
bers, including funding CFOIC and the FOI hot line.
OUTREACH:
• Develop benefits packages.
• Increase membership.
• Continue in-person effort to reach more newspapers and clients in 2016.
• Continuation of “Calling Tree” initiative, with board member outreach to
newspaper publishers across the state.
• New committee structure meant to increase efficiency and participation
so we can move faster on a variety of member benefits and concerns.
• Increasing number of Colorado Editor subscriptions, so more members
can stay in tune with happenings in the industry and at the CPA.
4. LEGAL HOTLINE
Members have free access to the CPA Legal
Hotline hosted by Colorado’s top media lawyers
as wells as advocates at the Colorado Freedom of
Information Coalition —– just a call or email away.
LOBBYING SERVICES
CPA’s public policy team protects your media-
related interests in the state and national capitols.
IN THE COURTS
Beyond the legal hotline and work at the
Legislature, the CPA also focuses on and becomes
party to court cases of industry importance,
ensuring our members are pro-actively protected
from damaging policy and court decisions.
REVENUE ENHANCEMENT
SYNC2 Media is an extension of your sales staff,
giving you services of a national newspaper and
online advertising placement firm and bringing in
dollars directly to your publication. Member
newspapers also get a discount on the holdback
for ad placement compared to non-members.
YOUR DIGITAL PLATFORM
Want to become the one-stop shop for your clients
but don’t know where to start? Member papers
have access to all of SYNC2 Media’s products
at wholesale rate, and we will do the background
work. All you have to do is make the sale, and we
can help you do that, too.
ADVOCACY PROGRAMS
CPA is dedicated to the promotion of the
newspaper industry in all its forms — print, digital
and video. In addition, the CPA can help you
with your advocacy, with white label house ads,
columns and social media memes.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES
CPA holds meetings and events throughout the
year, when members and others in the industry
meet, learn and exchange ideas.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
Gain access to discounted and affordable
seminars and online training through SYNC2
U-niversity, covering topics from reporting
basics and new-hire ad sales to technology, social
networking, management issues and more. CPA
members receive discounted rates to attend the
webinars and regional trainings.
BEST PRACTICES
Don’t have time for webinars or in-person
training? We also offer best practice docs to help
you or your staff navigate a variety of decisions
and issues.
CONVENTION
The CPA’s premier event offers the best of our
educational opportunities, a chance to network
with industry leaders and peers, and to celebrate
our industry’s great work when the annual awards
are announced. CPA members receive discounted
rates to attend the convention.
CONTESTS AND AWARDS
CPA ensures that your publication and staff get the
recognition they deserve (and that your advertisers
like to see) in the annual CPA Better Newspaper
Contest.
INFORMATION & TRENDS
Keep up to date with the latest news and trends in
Colorado and beyond with our monthly Colorado
Editor publication and frequent member communi-
cations and our bi-weekly newsletter – the Colora-
do e-Editor. Find answers to your frequently asked
questions about content, advertising, public affairs
and more with exclusive membership access to
www.coloradopressassociation.com
RESOURCES AND MORE
Have a question about how to handle something
or who to call? Our staff is here to help. The CPA
is always looking at how we can better serve our
members.
Why it pays to belong to the CPA
Growth through education, advocacy and enhancement
Your membership includes:
ADDRESS:
1120 Lincoln St.
Suite 912
Denver, CO 80203
PHONE:
303.571.5117
EMAIL:
coloradopress@colopress.net
WEBSITE:
coloradopressassociation.com
SYNC2 WEBSITE:
sync2media.com