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The Monadnock Ledger brings award-winning news and events coverage of the Monadnock region, fostering community engagement. With an emphasis on quality, our publication aims to inform, educate, and entertain, creating a sense of place in the world.
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Community Newspapers • Have increasingly important role in increasingly busy lives • Inform, educate, entertain, engage in community life • Connect neighbors, encourage dialogue • Help create a sense of place in the world
I believe ... • an organization is as strong as its people, the vision of its leader, and the ability to collectively realize that vision.
The Mission • Each Thursday the Monadnock Ledger brings readers award-winning coverage of the news and events of the 16 towns of the Monadnock region. • We strive to provide the information people need to actively participate in community life in a way that is useful, interesting and attractive.
Philosophy of quality • We emphasize quality and a commitment to quality – in the product we deliver and the service we provide to our readers, our advertisers, and the communities we serve. • Our guiding philosophy is that if we produce the highest quality newspaper possible, readers will buy us and advertisers will follow.
As publisher... • As publisher, I am involved in a variety of activities. Like a manager of any small business, I wear a number of hats. • I am ad sales rep, editor, accountant and controller, human resources manager, computer technician, public relations staff, cheerleader, party planner, manager and leader.
About myself • Publisher of the Ledger for eight years • Education: • Master’s in Journalism and MBA in Human Resources from Syracuse University • Experience: • Concord Monitor human resources manager (4 yrs) and controller (2 yrs). • Reporter, copy editor and advertising sales rep at newspapers in central New York.
Monadnock Ledger Staff • We employ 18 people: • 10 in the newsroom • 6 in advertising • 1 in circulation • publisher
Organization • It may be helpful to think in terms of a funnel – with the editorial staff on one side and the advertising staff on the other and the efforts of both coming together in our production departments to create one product.
The jobs: Newsroom Advertising Reporters Outside sales Editors Inside/classified sales Photo tech Advertising support Photographer Circulation
Hiring: a multi-stage process • Step 1: Ensure candidates have the knowledge, skills and abilities to perform the basic functions of the job • Step 2: Assess “organizational fit” • fit with environment: flexible, creative • fit with team: bright, capable, motivated • fit with mission: committed to quality and community
Skills -- Reporters • Reporting skills • Writing skills • News judgment • Accuracy • Speed • Interpersonal skills
Skills -- Editors • Writing skills • News judgment • Strong command of grammar, spelling and newspaper style • Coaching, training skills • Management skills • Interpersonal skills
Skills -- Production • News judgment • Computer skills and facility • Eye for design • Willingness to experiment -- with technique, color and graphics • Speed • Attention to detail
Traits for newsroom success • Bright and curious, critical, persistent. • Sound judgment of what is relevant and important; ability to prioritize. • Organized, self-directed • Care deeply about the communities and the people we are serving. • Seek to understand what our readers want and need; find a way to deliver it
Skills -- SalesAdvertising & Circulation • Idea generators, with the skills to bring the ideas alive. • Territory managers, small business consultants • Creative • Organized, detail-oriented • Personable
Traits for sales success • Ability to see the link between the product, the concept and the client • Ability to convey the connection with enthusiasm and excitement. • Exhibit desire and initiative
Skills -- support staff • Organized • Strong interpersonal, customer service skills • Strong computer skills • Production orientation -- action oriented • Team players • Exhibit willingness to do what needs to be done
Traits for support success • Understand customers’ needs • Approach all customer interactions professionally and respectfully • Seek solutions • Exhibit desire and initiative • Juggle multiple priorities • Attend to details • Create positive outcomes
We want the best • Quick to seize opportunities. • Have ideas for ways to make things better -- to give our readers more, improve the package, generate new revenue. • Often the trick is to see the potential, believe in it, and develop it.
Our commitment • To provide vision and direction • To provide a framework for success • To train and coach • To provide encouragement and support • To welcome ideas and support creativity
Into the future • Commitment to quality • Interpersonal skills • Computer skills • Team orientation • Information synthesis abilities