Upcoming elections aligned with our growing ad network

From the pages of California Publisher

It's a great honor and privilege for me to serve as your president this coming year. 

And I'd be remiss if I didn't start this first column by extending my thanks to everyone who made this year's Press Summit such a terrific success -- from our staff to our advertisers, vendors and sponsors -- to every one of the 200-plus attendees who engaged and participated. 

In particular I want to recognize and personally thank Tony Allegretti, George Cogswell, Fred Hamilton, Eddie Hartenstein, Jim Moroney, Ed Moss, Gary Omernick, Amy Pack, Richard Ramhoff, Mac Tully, Frank Vega, Frank Whittaker and John Wilcox for supporting this year's Summit with sponsorship investments that allowed us to deliver a great program.

As you might imagine, CNPA has a very full agenda to tackle this year based on the results of our recent membership survey, but no item is more important nor offers our association and membership more opportunity this year than does CNPA's new Banner Ad Network.

We are making great progress on the Banner Ad Network, and you need to get onboard and signed up right now so that you can share in the revenue opportunity the network holds. 

Here's why your newspaper needs to be a member of CNPA's Banner Ad Network:

* The network continues to grow, with 143 papers now participating (57 dailies and 86 weeklies). It is on track to become the largest single access point for tapping into the very desirable California audience.

* There is no cost to come onboard, and when you do, you not only participate in a share of any/all revenue sold, you also are able to sell the network to your clients and capture a 15 percent commission on the network revenue for the sales you make.

* Through CNPA's sales partnership with ITZBelden we have captured market data that illustrates the value of the network's audience for advertisers. This audience information, which has been included in our initial sales presentations, has created a very high level of advertiser interest and enthusiasm for the network, particularly from political campaigns engaged in this year's elections.

* CNPA is aggressively pursuing statewide political campaigns to drive revenue for the network, and some have expressed serious interest. We are optimistic that one or more of them will be scheduled for the network as we get closer to the June primary and pacing to the November election. When that happens, the newspapers that have signed on as network members will participate in that revenue share.

The CNPA Banner Ad Network is an opportunity you can't pass up. There is absolutely no cost and no downside risk. And remember, each and every newspaper participating in the network has the opportunity to sell into the network in its market to its clients and receive a generous 15 percent commission on the total network revenue for every sale made.

Get onboard and in line to participate in a new revenue stream in 2010. If you have questions about how to get plugged in, how to sell it, or if you need assistance with the network, please contact Eric Johnston, publisher of The Modesto Bee and chairman of the Banner Ad Network committee. You can reach Eric at (209) 578-2090.

Thanks for your ongoing support for CNPA. And please let me hear from you about how we can make CNPA a better organization for our members.

Ron Redfern is publisher of The Press-Enterprise in Riverside. Contact him at (951) 368-9515.