SNA Foundation
The SNA Foundation is affiliated with Suburban Newspapers of America (SNA), the
largest suburban and community newspaper trade association in North America, representing
nearly 2,400 newspapers in the US and Canada.
The SNA Foundation understands that community newspaper markets are unique and differ
from large metropolitan daily markets. That is why sponsoring specialized research
and educational programs is critical in helping our industry continue to evolve
as information needs change.
The SNA Foundation is the only organization of its kind that focuses exclusively
on suburban and community newspapers and supports their role as the leading local
information providers, now and in the future. The SNA Foundation is a 501(c)(3)
charitable trust and all donations are tax deductible.
Mission
To provide information which guides community and suburban newspaper publishers
to better identify and better fulfill the future communication needs in changing
communities through research and education.
Research and Education
The SNA Foundation is honored to be receiving a grant from the John S. and James
L. Knight Foundation for a new community journalism e-learning initiative. The foundation
will partner with The Poynter Institute’s News University (NewsU.org) to develop
e-courses designed specifically to help suburban and community journalists make
the transformation to a multi-media world. These specialized courses are expected
to be available beginning in early 2008.
Other recent initiatives sponsored by the SNA Foundation include:
- The Belden Community Website Research Project
Conducted to identify what consumers want from a community website and also to identify
best practice sites among SNA members whose markets were surveyed. This unprecedented
research provides valuable benchmarks and guidance to local publishers on developing
their own internet strategy. To view the Study,
click here (PDF)
- The American Press Institute’s Newspaper Next Innovation Project
The SNA Foundation sponsored SNA member website WickedLocal.com as one of seven
demonstration projects in the American Press Institute’s transformation report.
Disruptive innovation education is used to challenge newspapers to develop innovative,
sustainable opportunities and solutions for the future. For a copy of the Newspaper Next Blueprint for Transformation report, click here.
We Need Your Help
Donations to the SNA Foundation help offset the cost of research projects, analysis
of best practices and development of educational materials and seminars. Donations
of any amount are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible. Please contact Susan
Karol, SNA Foundation Executive Director, at
susan.karol@suburban-news.org or 847-251-2401 for information on specific
donor programs.
SNA Foundation Board of Directors
Some of the brightest minds from the community newspaper industry make up the SNA
Foundation Board of Directors. There is a good mix of companies represented including
large publicly-traded and smaller privately-owned. The board also represents a mix
of dailies and weeklies but all are the dominant source of local, community news
in the markets that they serve. The Foundation Board welcomes your comments, input
and ideas for future projects.
Officers
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CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Kirk Davis
President and Publisher
GateHouse Media New England
Needham, MA
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VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Betsy Wilson
Publisher
Montgomery Newspapers
Ft Washington, PA
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TREASURER
Jack Robb
Vice President of Revenue
Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.
Birmingham, AL
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SECRETARY
Ben Hall
Director of Online Application Development
Cape May County Herald
Rio Grande, NJ
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Directors
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Al Bonner
General Manager
Lawrence Journal-World
Lawrence, KS
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Harrison Cochran
Publisher
Aurora Publishing Company
Aurora, CO
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Ann Hoffman
Publisher
The Daily Advance, Cox North Carolina Group
Elizabeth City, NC
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Chris Krug
General Manager & Executive Editor
Northwest News Group of Greater Chicago
Crystal Lake, IL
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Steve Parker
Co-Publisher
Recorder Community Newspapers
Bernardsville, NJ
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Staff
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SNA FOUNDATION PRESIDENT
Nancy Lane
President
SNA
Myrtle Beach, SC
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SNA FOUNDATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Susan Karol
Executive Director
SNA Foundation
Chicago, IL
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More Information
Contact Susan Karol, SNA Foundation Executive Director at 847-251-2401 or
susan.karol@suburban-news.org.