Good ideas are best shared, especially when it comes to revenue-boosting ones.
That’s the premise behind the Newspaper Idea Bank at hspa.com.
It’s a space for executives and managers to share their best practices and get great ideas used at other newspapers.
The concept stems from the best-practices roundtables that are popular each year at the HSPA Annual Meetings, said Tim Timmons, president of the HSPA board of directors and publisher of The Paper of Montgomery County (Crawfordsville) and The Times (Noblesville).
“We’re going to try to keep the idea-sharing going year-round on the website,” Timmons said. “Don’t hold back great ideas from the newsroom to the pressroom.”
It’s quick and easy to submit an idea at hspa.com/ideas.
Each month’s ideas submitted by Indiana newspaper executives will be listed on the page.
To submit an idea, click on “Submit your idea” and fill out the short form. Your idea will be posted on the webpage by the next business day.
The Newspaper Idea Bank can have positive ramifications, Timmons said.
“Who knows?” he said. “One thing that could make the difference between meeting or missing budget next month might be posted on your press association’s website by tomorrow.”
The executive committee of the HSPA board of directors will select the best idea each month, and the winner will receive a handy tailgating/picnicking blanket as a prize. The blankets fold up and have a handle for easy carrying to a game or a park. One side is made of black weatherproof material, and the other side is a soft plaid fabric.
Passing along successful ideas can improve everyone’s bottom line, said Steve Key, HSPA executive director and general counsel.
“There are a lot of talented people working at Indiana newspapers who are coming up with unique ways to increase revenue,” he said. “Let’s share them with each other.”
