Corporate and Regular Membership Benefits
Conferences
Suburban Newspapers of America provides its member with excellent networking and
educational opportunities through our annual conferences and attendance at major
industry events.
Fall Publishers' and Advertising Directors' Conference
This is SNA's largest conference of the year and always provides excellent revenue
producing ideas. Major advertisers take this opportunity to speak with our members
in both group sessions and in one-on-one meetings regarding their advertising strategies.
Concurrent sessions are offered allowing both the publisher and advertising director
to choose meetings that relate specifically to their needs.
Spring Publishers' Conference
This conference allows senior level executives a chance to meet and discuss current
and future trends, challenges and objectives. Usually held at a top resort in a
warm weather climate, this conference leaves plenty of time for a variety of networking
opportunities.
Classified Managers' Conference
This very successful conference takes place in the Fall at an affordable hotel in
a major city. All aspects of the newspaper classified advertising department are
covered including private party, employment, automotive and real estate. Other topics
such as motivating your staff and retaining good employees are also explored.
Circulation Managers' Conference
This 2-day meeting addresses the many challenges that face the circulation and distribution
managers of both paid and non-paid newspapers. New rules, new ideas and a chance
to network with industry professionals make this conference a valuable event for
veterans and new circulation managers alike.
Editors' Conference
This conference is ideal for senior and mid-level editors from daily and weekly
newspapers. All sessions are applicable to large and small markets and focus on
current trends and issues of importance to newsrooms across the country.
Free Member Conference Calls
SNA conducts many free conference calls throughout the year; all members are invited
to participate in these informational calls. Past topics have addressed such timely
issues as 'Do Not Call' rules, recruitment advertising updates, department store
initiatives and readership study findings.
RAC (Retail Advertising Conference) & SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)
Since 1995, SNA has participated in the annual RAC Conference and continues to add
new conferences to the schedule such as SHRM and EMA. SNA's top priority at these
very important industry conferences is the facilitation of one-on-one meetings and
roundtable discussions with major advertisers for our members. During these meetings
advertisers talk openly about what suburban and community publications can do to
capture more of their business. Strong relationships have been formed over the years
and more and more of our members are walking away with new and/or bigger schedules
from major retailers.
Contests / Awards
Suburban Newspapers of America believes that one of the best ways for our members
to evaluate and improve the quality of their publications is to compare their content
and design with other like publications. Several annual contests have been developed
to ensure that ideas are consistently shared among member newspapers and that the
best are nationally recognized.
Advertising & Promotions Contest
This contest recognizes excellence in the field of advertising and marketing. Members
compete in their circulation classes and a special award is presented to both the
Advertising Director of the Year and the Classified Manager of the Year. All winners
are recognized in a full-color advertisement published in Editor & Publisher.
Awards are presented at SNA's Fall Publishers' and Advertising Directors' Conference.
Editorial Contest
SNA's most popular contest of the year includes thousands of entries from members
across North America. This contest recognizes editorial excellence in six different
circulation classes that separates dailies from non-dailies. The Suburban Journalist
of the Year award is decided in conjunction with this contest. All first place winners
are recognized in a full-color advertisement published in Editor & Publisher
giving our members recognition among their peers while adding credibility to the
strength of suburban and community newspapers. Awards are presented at SNA's Spring
Publishers' Conference.
General Excellence/Newspaper of the Year
This contest recognizes the top newspapers in the country in six different circulation
classes. The winners earn bragging rights to be the called the best suburban/community
newspaper in the country. All winners are recognized in a full color advertisement
published in Editor & Publisher. Awards are presented at the SNA's Fall Publishersﾒ
and Advertising Directors' Conference.
Dean Lesher Award
The Lesher Award has recognized outstanding leaders in our industry since 1982,
when the award was bestowed upon its namesake, Dean S. Lesher. Winners are chosen
based on their achievements in one or all of the following area:
- Pioneered new concepts in suburban newspaper publishing
- Exemplified the excellence of suburban newspapers by publishing outstanding newspapers
- Provided civic leadership within the community or communities in which his or her
newspapers are published
- In some way has enhanced the suburban newspaper industry.
Marketing
Belden Research Studies
SNA commissioned Belden Associates to conduct a massive national suburban newspaper research project.
The project includes all SNA markets with a combined member circulation over 200,000 and consisted of
8,541 interviews in 16 states and 21 markets — the largest suburban/community newspaper study of its
kind! When asked “Where would you turn first for local shopping and advertising information?” 51% said
they would first turn to their local suburban newspaper.
Borrell Associates, Inc. Research Studies
Suburban Newspapers of America seeks out timely and relevant studies that specifically
address the needs of suburban and community newspapers. Borrell reports available
to SNA members include:
- Borrell Web Study
- Real Estate Study, 2006
- Internet Impact on Ad Spending Study
- Employment Advertising Online Study
- The Free Website vs. Paid Website Debate
Membership Directory
The annual SNA Membership Directory includes all SNA member newspapers listed by
city and state complete with key personnel, newspapers published, day of distribution,
circulation numbers and auditing companies. This directory is mailed to all SNA
members and to major advertising decision makers in the country. It is also available
electronically to our members and major advertisers.
Major Advertiser Directory
This comprehensive directory lists over 500 media buyers at major retailers, third-party
newspaper placement agencies and recruitment agencies from across the country. It
contains complete contact information including region of responsibility when available.
This directory is distributed to all publishers, advertising directors, major account
mangers, and classified managers who are members of SNA.
Suburban Publisher Newsletter
SNA publishes an informative monthly newsletter and mails it to over 4,000 industry
managers and executives in North America. Suburban Publisher contains major account
information, call reports, breaking news, events and trends affecting suburban and
community newspapers. Click
here for more information regarding the Suburban Publisher Newsletter.