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

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 ChiefExecutiveOfficer

JERRY RAEHALCPA & SYNC2 Media

Chief Executive Officer CPA: Here for you

DOUG HAYSYNC2 MEDIAVP of Marketing

LUKE GRAHAMSYNC2 Media

Sales

JEAN CREELCPA & SYNC2 Media

Projects and Accounting

LISA WOODWORTHCPA and SYNC2 Media

Assistant1120 Lincoln St. Suite 912 • Denver • CO • 80203

Phone: 303.571.5117 • coloradopressassociation.net • sync2media.com

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.

LEGAL HOTLINEMembers 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 COURTSBeyond 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 PLATFORMWant 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 PROGRAMSCPA 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 PRACTICESDon’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.

CONVENTIONThe 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 AWARDSCPA 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 & TRENDSKeep 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 MOREHave 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 CPAGrowth through education, advocacy and enhancement

Your membership includes:

ADDRESS:1120 Lincoln St.

Suite 912Denver, CO 80203

PHONE: 303.571.5117

EMAIL: coloradopress@colopress.net

WEBSITE: coloradopressassociation.com

SYNC2 WEBSITE:sync2media.com