Bulgaria Regional Newspaper Editors Workshop

Bulgaria Regional Newspaper Editors Workshop

The International Broadcasting Bureau (IBB)—in collaboration with the Greenlee School of Journalism at Iowa State University—sponsored a two-week workshop for five regional newspaper editors from Bulgaria. Steve Coon, emeritus associate professor of the Greenlee School, was the principal trainer. Briar Cliff University Assistant Professor (formerly Greenlee School Adjunct Professor), Kim Claussen, was the program assistant.

The objectives of the program were to introduce the Bulgarian editors to contemporary journalism concepts, discuss mutual professional challenges, establish contacts and possible long-term exchanges with their U.S. counterparts, and initiate possible strategies for improving the participantsπ newspaper goals upon returning to Bulgaria. We believe we were successful in achieving these objectives.

I arrived in Ames on Saturday, May 14 and was met by program assistant Kim Claussen. Kim and I had an opportunity to discuss the proposed program then arranged to travel Sunday to Des Moines to pick up the five participants and two interpreters upon their scheduled arrival at the Des Moines International Airport.

Sunday, May 15

The two interpreters , Masha Entchevitch and Stoyko Stoykov, arrived at 4:35 p.m. This was 90 minutes prior to the arrival of the participants so the four of us had an opportunity to discuss the logistics of the travel, accommodations in Ames, and the first evening schedule.

At 6:07 we greeted our Bulgarian colleagues. Following initial greetings, the participants collected their luggage and we drove to Ames to check into the hotel. Silviyaπs checked suitcase was damaged between Chicago and Des Moines; although assured that United Airlines would compensate her for the damage, my wife, Beth, donated one of her suitcases for Silviyaπs return flight. Rumyanaπs suitcase did not arrive until the middle of the evening, but was delivered to the Ames hotel.

After everyone had checked into the Ames hotel, all nine of us had dinner at a popular Ames restaurant where we talked about the general outline of the program.

Monday, May 16

Everyone ate breakfast at the hotel and we took the van to the Greenlee School of Journalism on the Iowa State University campus. The morning schedule consisted of formal introductions. The participants and interpreters also met Greenlee School Director, Dr. Michael Bugeja; Office Manager, Kathy Box; and Graduate Secretary, Kim Curell. We would meet other Greenlee faculty later in the week.

Following formal introductions, I presented an overview of contemporary journalism issues. This allowed us to exchange views and share mutual concerns. We took a short break then began discussing specific individual participant challenges.

These challenges would serve as the focus of later classroom exchanges as well as conversations with U.S. editors and reporters during later fieldtrips.

Participantsπ Concerns

Competition between regional and national publications

Better reporters move to national publications. How to retain them.

Interested in how publications market their product and attract advertising

Marketing publcations and advertising to attract readers

Overview of newspaper organizational structure

How various parts of organization are related

Relationship between print and online versions of publication

How publications decide to use internal or external opinion articles on editorial and op-ed pages

Overview of online and Internet version of publications

Organization of creative side of publication

Developing teams of reporters to cover specific topics and to present stories to attract audience

Relationship between editors and reporters in writing and publishing story

How to determine priorities of readers

What to emphasize in stories to make stories important and attract readers to important stories

Discussion of the interdependence of advertising and editorial functions of publication

Survival of small newspapers

Attracting both advertisers and readers

Lack of qualified people; how to find them

How to select topics that are relevant and interesting to readers

We had lunch then continued our discussion of the issues discussed above and previewed the following dayπs schedule.

We ended our first day early in the afternoon to allow everyone to recover from jet lag and to rest before dinner at a popular Mexican restaurant.

Tuesday, May 17

We met at the Greenlee School to complete some housekeeping tasks then drove to The Tribune of Ames. Our host was JohnnyAguirre, director of advertising. We were later joined by reporter and staff writer, Matt Neznanski.

The afternoon session began with Greenlee School of Journalism Director, Dr. Bugeja, who presented his perspective of contemporary American journalism.

Assistant School Director, Dr. Barbara Mack, joined us at 3 p.m. to talk about media legal issues.

Wednesday, May 18

Bill Monroe, executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association (INA) was our host Wednesday morning in Des Moines.

In the afternoon we met with Rick Tapscott, managing editor of The Des Moines Register, Iowaπs largest circulation daily owned by Gannett. The participants were able to compare the Registerπs circulation and editorial policies with those of the smaller Tribune of Ames. Several participants said that although they could identify with the Ames newspaper, they requested an internship experience with the Register, which Tapscott was able to arrange.

We went to Barbara Mackπs home after our Des Moines Register visit and enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and food, which is always a hallmark of Barbaraπs hospitality. Nikolay Soserov demonstrated that he is an accomplished pianist—entertaining us with several international and Bulgarian favorites.

The scheduled shopping trip was postponed until another day and we returned to Ames.

Thursday, May 19

Our next scheduled visit was to the Kansas City Star, a Knight-Ridder newspaper located in a large metropolitan community. We arrived at 3:15 in time for a 45-minute tour by Jim Sajevic, manager of the Starπs educational programs. At 4 p.m. we joined the Starπs afternoon editorial meeting led by Managing Editor/Visuals and New Initiatives, Jeanne Meyer .

Despite the size and circulation of the Star, we could easily identify common challenges facing managers, editors and reporters in large and small newspapers in the U.S. and Bulgaria.

The day concluded with a tour of the shopping and cultural activities available in The Plaza of downtown Kansas City.

Friday, May 20

We visited the Nelson-Atkins Museum, which opened in 1933 due to the financial initiative of the original owner of the Kansas City Star, William Rockhill Nelson. The museum today contains one of the most prestigious exhibits of Chinese art in the United States.

We returned to The Plaza for a second day of shopping, dining and relaxation before returning to Ames.

Saturday, May 21

A scheduled trip to Iowaπs famous Living History Farm was rained out. Instead we drove to the newly opened Jordan Creek Shopping Center in West Des Moines, the recently relocated and expanded Science Center, and concluded the day with ≥A Night of Rock and Roll≤ concert at the Des Moines Civic Center.

Sunday, May 22

The participants decided they wanted to see Chicago. This was not part of the original schedule, nevertheless, it seemed a good investment in time given the desire of the journalists to visit a city they had read and heard about. Stoyko Stoykova accompanied the participants on the one-day, roundtrip to the Windy City.

Monday, May 23

We drove to Cedar Rapids to visit Mark Bowden, editor-in-chief of the Cedar Rapids Gazette—Iowaπs second largest daily newspaper. The Gazette is one of the few locally-owned media companies that also has a television and radio station in the same market.

The next stop was a homemade lunch at the Amana Colonies.

Tuesday, May 24

This day was an examination of two niche publications: the Meredth Corporation, which is the second largest publisher of magazines in the nation, and the Des Moines Business Record, a weekly newspaper that targets the Des Moines business community.

Our hosts at Meredith were John Riha, executive editor of Better Homes and Garden—flagship magazine of Meredith; and Dave Kurns, editor-in-chief of Meredith Interactive Media. Both were responsive to participantsπ questions regarding audience targeting and the impact of the electronic version of the magazines on the print versionsπ circulation.

The afternoon appointment was with the Business Record. Editorial Director Beth Dalbey detailed the overall operation of the Business Publications Corporation.

We concluded the afternoon with a tour of the Iowa State Capitol.

Wednesday, May 25

Wednesday was a free morning as the participants prepared for their internship assignments at The Des Moines Register.

During dinner Wednesday evening with Kim Claussen, Beth Coon and me, the participants met Dr. Daniela Dimitrova, an assistant professor of journalism in the Greenlee School and native of Bulgaria. It was a chance for everyone to share personal and professional impressions.

Thursday, May 26

This was a free day to allow the participants to complete their internship final reports for Friday morning and to continue uncompleted shopping.

We returned to one of the participantsπ favorite Ames restaurants for a final dinner hosted by Beth and Steve Coon.

Friday, May 27

This was graduation day. The morning began with each participant summarizing key lessons and impressions each would take from the two-week workshop. Everyone had a positive evaluation of the workshop and their various experiences.

All five journalists had established initial contacts with U.S. counterparts whom the Bulgarians want to maintain long-term ties. I promised to help by sending contact information both to Bulgaria and to the U.S. journalists who participated in the workshop. There is strong interest by both groups to build on this relationship and I am committed to maintaining the impetus we have started.

I summarized a strategy for each journalist to strengthen his/her newspaperπs local coverage by improving ties with community leaders at various levels. And I concluded my formal comments by presenting tips each editor can employ to ensure that they can share their U.S. experience with their Bulgarian colleagues upon their return.

Graduation followed with presentation of certificates and photographs. At noon the Greenlee School hosted a lunch for everyone. Present were Dr. Jane Peterson, associate director of the Greenlee School of Journalism. Dr. Peterson has visited Bulgaria and shared her experiences with the participants. Also on hand was Professor Thomas Beell, head of the Electronic Media Studies (broadcasting) program in the Greenlee School; Maureen Deisinger, Deb Nugent and Jen Hacke of the Greenlee Advising office; and Kim Curell, graduate secretary.

Several faculty whom the participants had already met—Drs. Bugeja, Mack and Dimitrova—were unable to attend because they were in New York City for a regional conference of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).

The participants hosted a closing dinner for Kim, Beth and me. Beth unfortunately was unable to attend because of illness, but did extend personal farewells Saturday morning before our departure.

Saturday, May 28

Maria, Stoyko, Kremena, Rumyana, Silviya, Mladen and Nikolay departed the Des Moines International Airport as scheduled Saturday morning. Everyone arrived home safely and we have already begun exchanging email.

Conclusion

I believe this workshop achieved the original objectives—establishing professional ties among the Bulgarian journalists and their American counterparts. There is strong interest on both sides of the Atlantic to continue their conversation about challenges of mutual interest and to forge collaboration with will result, it is hoped, in formal exchanges of personnel and ideas.

A special word of gratitude and appreciation is extended to the American media owners, managers, editors and journalists who opened their doors and hearts to our Bulgarian friends. This reception is perhaps the greatest gift our colleagues from Bulgaria will take with them from their visit to the United States.

Bulgaria Contact Information

Principal Trainer

Stephen C. Coon

Emeritus associate professor

Greenlee School of Journalism

Iowa State University

Email: scoon@iastate.edu, bandscoon@aol.com

Phone: (520) 203-7766

Kim Claussen

Assistant Professor

Briar Cliff University

Email: kim_claussen@hotmail.com