A committee will hear presentations from five entities interested in working with the Hoosier State Press Association to create a content-management system that should provide benefits to Indiana newspapers and the association.
Tina West, publisher of The Courier-Times (New Castle), is chairing the HSPA Board of Directors committee examining the proposals.
If implemented, the process would create electronic, word-searchable archives of all Indiana newspapers. A reporter could use the archive to do quick research on a person or firm in the news.
The system could allow HSPA to build a better public notices website, www.indianapublicnotices.com, to better ward off efforts to eliminate the publication requirement by organizations representing Indiana local government units.
A content-management system could also allow HSPA to establish a clipping service that could serve as an additional revenue source for both the association and member newspapers.
Participating newspapers would have access to an e-edition of their papers for website posting and e-tearsheets that could be emailed to customers along with an invoice, saving time and money in the billing process.
“The system has the potential to bring additional services to member newspapers as well as a potential revenue source for both the association and member newspapers,” said Steve Key, executive director and general counsel for HSPA.
The five entities, including three press associations, will make their pitch June 28 before the HSPA Content Management Committee in Indianapolis.
In addition to West, committee members are Kim Wilson, publisher of the South Bend Tribune; Kathy Tretter, publisher of The Ferdinand News and the Spencer County Leader (Dale); and Robyn McCloskey, publisher of the Pharos-Tribune (Logansport) and Kokomo Tribune.
HSPA President Greg Morris, publisher of the Indianapolis Business Journal, also plans to attend the meeting along with at least two representatives of out-of-state press organizations.
