Adopt A Newspaper. Buy An Ad
Newspaper Status Update
Updated Monday, October 31
In the days immediately after Hurricane Katrina devastated Louisiana’s southeast coast on August 29, The Cameron Pilot and DeQuincy News Publisher Jerry Wise told LPA about how other newspapers in the state bought ads to save his fledgling newspaper, The Cameron Pilot which was only 9 months old when Hurricane Audrey hit on June 27, 1957. As Wise relayed the story, he never fathomed that less than a month later in 2005 his Cameron newspaper would be devastated once again. Hurricane Rita dealt a similar blow on September 24, 2005.
After hearing Wise’s story, the Louisiana Press Association launched Adopt A Newspaper, Buy An Ad to assist those newspapers hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. Subsequently, newspapers affected by hurricane Rita were added to the program. LPA is requesting that other newspapers buy an ad(s) in support of one or more of their brethren who is experiencing publishing difficulties.
As the Hurricane Katrina and aftermath disaster unfolded, Wise, a past resident of LPA recalled via e-mail, “The Cameron Pilot was only 9 months old when Audrey hit on June 27, 1957. After the storm devastated lower Cameron Parish and put all of our advertisers out of business for time being, Joy and I thought we would be out of business too. However, we missed only one issue even though advertising was limited.
“Harold Anthony of the advertising agency, Bozell & Jacobs and the owner of the Mansfield Enterprise observed our plight and sent out a letter to newspapers across the state suggesting that they send us ads to support our efforts to continue publishing. A number of Louisiana newspapers did just that--including the Times Picayune (New Orleans). “Within weeks, advertising had picked up considerably as furniture stores, lumber companies, advertised rebuilding supplies. “The Pilot did survive and we will observe our 50th anniversary next year.”
“We here at LPA, know our member newspapers believe in a strong editorial presence and will publish regardless of the obstacles they face but we also know that they need advertising to survive. In many cases the commercial communities are devastated in these cities and towns. They will rebuild but it will take time,” said Pam Mitchell-Wagner, LPA executive director. “There is no better way to support newspapers in a time of editorial demand and financial crisis, than with advertising.
Listed below are the LPA Louisiana newspapers most affected by the disasters, summary information about them, and their current status as we know it, along with the prices for a full-page and ½ page ad. The LPA advertising placement service will not be taking commission on any of the advertising placed through this program.
To participate, select a newspaper(s) from the list below or go to the LPA web site, LaPress.com, and choose an ad size. Contact Bruce Washington at Bruce@LaPress.com with payment information and the ad copy, LPA will coordinate the placement of the ad in the adopted newspaper. Ads placed by individuals will need to be prepaid. Bruce may be reached by phone at 225.344.9309 or 800.701.8753.
Full page ads should be 11.625 wide by 21.5 deep. One-half page ads should be 11.625 wide and 10.5 deep. “Creative does not need to be elaborate just well executed. For idea starters, “Ads could focus on support for the rebuilding community, the brotherhood of the newspaper industry, helping hands concepts, for example, “Mitchell-Wagner said.
The newspapers:
From Hurricane Rita:
Resuming Publishing:
The Times of Southwest Louisiana. Updated: Tuesday, Oct. 4 Plans to publish on October 20. The publication lost most of its roof and the office had water and mold. The office is located in a former home in downtown Lake Charles that is over 100 years old. Full-page: $1,027.00, Half-Page: $880.11. Modular.
Publishing:
The Cameron Pilot: Updated Monday, Oct.31. Jerry Wise reports that lower Cameron parish was pretty much wiped out. The newspaper, after missing one issue, printed its first edition October 13, since Hurricane Rita struck Southwest Louisiana. The Oct. 6 edition ran a large headline, “Cameron will rise again,” across the top of its front page. This same headline ran in its first edition after Hurricane Audrey struck in 1957. The weekly newspaper that serves all of Cameron Parish can be found at the Grand Lake Community Center and the Hackberry Community Center as well as on line by logging on to www.dequincynews.com where there is a link for the Cameron Pilot. “Advertising volume is good; all of our employees are on the job; we are getting back to normal,” Wise says. Full page: $630, Half-Page: $315.00
The DeQuincy News: Updated Monday, Oct. 31. The home base for Wise newspapers, the office suffered some roof damage but no major damage. The newspaper, which missed only one issue, has resumed its regular publication schedule. Publisher Jerry Wise, who is an LPA past president, reports life is getting back to normal in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita.
Full page: $630, Half-page: $315.
Jennings Daily News: Updated Monday, Oct. 31 The newspaper has resumed printing in its own plant after missing a few editions due to no power and distribution challenges due to the heavy damage in the area. At week’s end power had been restored at the newspaper and it resumed publishing. Shortly after the hurricane, power was restored to Publisher Dona Smith’s home and the newspaper had moved its operations there. Smith reports that advertising volume is suffering because commercial businesses are still trying to recover from hurricane damage.
Full-page: $980.40, Half-page: $478.80.
Lake Charles American Press. Updated Monday, Oct. 31 The newspaper’s blog reports: The American Press is publishing its first print editions since Hurricane Rita struck. Sunday’s was the first to be printed in Lake Charles in more than a week. Temporary operations had been set up in Lafayette at The Daily Advertiser. Distributed free of charge at several locations in and around Lake Charles, the editions in PDF format are available on the web site as well. The newspaper has a temporary web site up and running, americanpresslc.com or americanpress.blogspot.com. Full-page: $2,528.40, Half-page: $1,234.80
Southwest Daily News (Sulphur), Beauregard Daily News (Deridder), Leesville Daily Leader, The Vinton News. Updated Monday, Oct. 31
Publisher Lewis Cain reports that all of the newspapers have resumed printing on their normal schedule and at their home press in Sulphur. The newspapers have missed some editions immediately after the hurricane. Sulphur Daily News: Full-page: $1,760.22, Half-page: $880.11. Deridder Beauregard Daily News: Full-page: $1,597.68, Half-page: $798.84. Leesville Daily Leader: Full-Page: $1,597.68, Half-page: $798.84. Vinton News: Full-page: $1,174.32, Half-page: $587.16.
From Hurricane Katrina:
Publishing with adjustments and moving onward:
Arabi St. Bernard Voice: Updated Friday, Oct. 14 Circulation: 2,970. Publication day: Friday. Founded: 1890. Independent owned for generations by the Roy family. Publisher: Edwin M. Roy, Jr. Status: The newspaper published its first edition since Hurricane Katrina on October 7 and plans to publish weekly with the assistance of the Plaquemines Gazette and Plaquemines Watchman (both Belle Chasse). Not only was the newspaper heavily damaged, the business and residential community is severely impacted. Most homes and businesses are uninhabitable. The good news is that the newspaper suffered no further damage from Hurricane Rita. Full page: $563.73, Half-Page: $275.31.
Bogalusa The Daily News: Paid Circulation: 6,662. Publication days: Monday-Friday p.m. and Sunday a.m. A Wick Communications newspaper. Publisher: j (cq) Kennon. Established: 1927. Status: The six-day a week newspaper has resumed publishing in its own plant. The newspaper, due to power outages was out of commission for several days, then was forced to print in Natchez adjusting to a twice weekly schedule which it will continue for the time being. It had a few moments of de ja vu one afternoon when power went out again due to repairs down the street. For three hours the newspaper once again operated on generators. Full-page: $1,208.73, Half-page: $590.31.
Covington The News-Banner: Updated Monday, Oct. 31 Paid Circulation: 3,307. Publication days: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. A Wick Communications newspaper. Publisher: j (cq) Kennon. Established 1964. Status: For the time being, The Slidell Sentry-News and Covington News Banner are going to stay the St. Tammany News. They are still finalizing details. Their publish days are Wed/Sun but they are looking at adding more days. Their office will be in Covington with satellite in Slidell. In an area, hard hit by Hurricane Katrina and which suffered some additional storm surge damage from Hurricane Rita, businesses are trying to resume operation and residents are trying to return. Full-page: $1,184.22, Half-page: $578.34.
New Orleans The Louisiana Weekly. Paid circulation: 5,854. Owned by the Dejoie Family. Established: 1925. Publisher: Henry Dejoie, Sr. Status: A minority newspaper with a rich tradition in New Orleans the newspaper building itself has minimal damage but the commercial district and primary subscriber base is wiped out by the hurricane and flooding that have so ravaged this city. Business manager Bertel Dejoie serves on the LPA board of directors. This newspaper published its firs post-Katrina issue on October 22 and also printed an issue on October 28. They plan to resume their weekly schedule. The newspaper is also available online at www.louisianaweekly.com. Full-page: $1,766.52, Half-page: $883.26.
New Orleans The Times-Picayune: Updated Monday, Oct. 31 Paid circulation: 257,657, Daily; 284,285 Sunday. Owned by The Newhouse Corporation. Publisher: Ashton Phelps, Jr. Status: The Times-Picayune returned to its plant on Howard Avenue in New Orleans Monday, October 10, almost six weeks after the floodwaters of Hurricane Katrina forced the company to evacuate the building on Aug. 30, the day after the storm. The October 11 edition of the paper was printed on the hometown presses, following four weeks of printing at its sister paper, the Mobile Press-Register, and two weeks immediately after Katrina at the New York Times-owned Courier in Houma. “We’re thrilled to be back where we belong,” said Publisher Ashton Phelps Jr. “We thank our readers and advertisers for their patience in the aftermath of the hurricane. We want our return to send a strong message that we believe in the rebuilding and the resurgence of the New Orleans metropolitan area and that we’re part of that effort.” Some 240 employees of the newspaper left the building in the back of newspaper delivery trucks on the morning after the hurricane, as water from the 17th Street Canal breach rose around the plant. The paper left a team of editors, reporters and photographers in the city while other employees drove to Baton Rouge and established a temporary base there. Full-page: $19,687.28, Half-page: $9,727.83.
Slidell Sentry-News: Updated Monday, Oct. 31 Paid circulation 4,495. Publication days: Tuesday through Sunday. Owned by Wick Communications. Publisher: Terry Maddox. The newspaper experienced both hurricane and water damage. The publisher lost his house. Many staff members were similarly affected in this hard-hit area. For the time being, The Slidell Sentry-News and Covington News Banner are going to stay the St. Tammany News. They are still finalizing details. Their publish days are Wed/Sun but they are looking at adding more days. Their office will be in Covington with satellite in Slidell. Residents in St. Tammany Parish are being permitted to return in some cases. Full-page: $1,292.58, Half-page: $631.26.
Picking up the pieces and moving forward:
Belle Chase Plaquemines Gazette: Circulation: 2,900. Publication day: Friday. Founded: 1927. Independent co-owned by Dale Benoit and Norris Babin. Status: The co-publishers say their building is intact. As one travels geographically south in Plaquemines Parish, both commercial and residential districts are still very hard hit and some may be lost forever. Rescue efforts came late to this parish. Publication resumed the week of Sept. 19. The two newspapers are publishing a combined edition for now. The newspapers have gotten a website up and running, plaqueminesgazette.com. The co-publishers report that advertising is slow, distribution challenging. If that isn’t enough, the film processor died and the e-mail provider suddenly went out of business. Full-page: $504.00, Half-page: $252.00.
Belle Chase Plaquemines Watchman: Circulation: 2,900. Publication day: Tuesday. A sister publication to the Gazette, this newspaper was founded in 1981. Independent co-owned by Dale Benoit and Norris Babin. Status: Power has been restored to the building. The newspaper is running a website in conjunction with its sister newspaper. One of the biggest challenges facing theses newspapers is assisting staff in relocating and rebuilding their lives. As one travels south in Plaquemines Parish, both commercial and residential districts are very hard hit. Thus for now, the two papers are publishing jointly. Rescue efforts came late to this parish. Full-page: $504.00, Half-page: $252.00.
Adjusting to the new “normal.”
Amite Tangi Digest: Circulation: 1,287. Publication day: Wednesday. Founded: 1867. Owner: Louisiana State Newspapers. General Manager: Carol Brooke. Status: The newspaper had printed its biggest edition of the year focusing on high school football when the hurricane struck and the post office closed preventing delivery. One staffer lost her home and others experienced significant damage including losing their cars. The post office has finally reopened and resumed delivery; but service has been disrupted. Advertising volume is suffering as the area recoups from the hurricane. Many businesses in the area were hard-hit with hurricane damage. Full page: $645, Half-Page: $315.
St. Charles Herald Guide (Boutte): Paid Circulation: 3,389. The newspaper is now publishing one day per week rather than twice per week. In addition, the newspaper’s printer, Dixie Web, left the market. Independently owned by Allen and Colette Lottinger. Established: 1873. Despite hurricane-related challenges the newspaper did an abbreviated single page edition the week of Sept. 4. Colette Lottinger serves on the LPA board of directors. Full-page: $1,079.82, Half-page: $539.91.
The St. Tammany Farmer (Covington): Paid Circulation: 3,839. Publication day: Wednesday. Independently owned and published by Karen Goodwyn Courtney. Established 1874. Once power returned resumed publication. Courtney published an abbreviated edition the week following the hurricane. Advertising volume continues to be affected by the hurricane. Postal service has resumed with some challenges. Full-page: $687.96, Half-page: $343.98.
Denham Springs The Livingston Parish News: Paid circulation: 12,280. Publication day: Sunday and Thursday. Owned and published by Jeff David. Power outages immediately after the hurricane affected the newspaper which subsequently was able to print The (Hammond) Daily Star. The parish, which the newspaper serves, received most damage on the eastern side. Full page: $1,732.50, Half-page: $866.25.
Franklinton The Era Leader: Paid Circulation: 4.055. Publication day: Wednesday. Owned by Emmerich Newspapers, Inc. Published by Steve Kuperstock. Established 1910. Status: The newspaper is now operational with both phones and electrical power and is resuming publication. Businesses are beginning to reopen. Postal service has finally resumed at least to some degree in this area. Full-page: $1,145.52, Half-page: $559.44.
Greensburg St. Helena Echo: Paid Circulation: 733. Publication day: Wednesday. Owned by Louisiana State Newspapers. General Manager: Carol Brooke. Status: The newspaper is in the geographical area that suffered severe wind damage. Basically services have been restored. Postal service was resumed the week of Sept. 11. Businesses are beginning to reopen. Full page: $612.75, Half-page: $299.25.
Hammond The Daily Star: Paid circulation: 10,746 weekdays, 13,030 on Sunday. Owned by Paxton Media Group, Inc. Publisher: Keenan Gingles. Status: The newspaper suffered power outages and published off-site at the Livingston Parish News (Denham Springs) for several issues. Operations have resumed at the newspaper. Power outages have been corrected and internet access restored but phone service continues to be an issue as the city has seen a major population influx. Full-page: $2,042.07, Half-page: $997.29.
Houma The Courier: Paid circulation: 17,034 daily; 19,958 Sunday. Publishes Monday-Friday and a combined Saturday-Sunday edition. Owned by the New York Times Corporation. Publisher: Miles Forrest. Status: The newspaper missed publishing the day of the hurricane and published a joint edition with the Thibodaux Comet for a few days. The newspaper has been printing other newspapers affected by the hurricane including the Times-Picayune to help out in the after math of the hurricane. Full page: $2,586.78, Half-page: $1,293.39.
Houma The Tri-Parish Times: Paid circulation: 6,380. Publication day: Wednesday. Owned and published by Darrin Guidry. Status: Due to outages in New Orleans that affected its printing and technical operations, the newspaper missed issues, had to relocate offices and develop a new printing relationship. The newspaper also had to change telephone providers as previous service was out of New Orleans. Full page: $1,029.41, Half-page: $615.00.
Kentwood News Ledger: Paid circulation: 925. Publication day: Wednesday. Owned by Louisiana State Newspapers. General Manager: Carol Brooke. Status: The newspaper operates in close conjunction with the Amite News-Digest and is experiencing the circumstances as outlined above in this area hard-hit by hurricane winds. Full-page: $612.75, Half-page: $299.25.
LaPlace L’Observateur: Paid circulation: 4,200. Publication day: Wednesday and Saturday. Owned by Wick Communications. Established in 1913. Publisher: Kevin Chiri. Status: The newspaper missed publication the week following the hurricane but is up and running now. This city, adjacent to New Orleans, like many in Louisiana is filled with evacuees. The newspaper has resumed printing in Bogalusa after printing at The Daily Iberian for several weeks. Many of the residents here commute into New Orleans for work. Full page: $1,197, Half-page: $598.50.
Lutcher News-Examiner: Paid circulation: 3,805. Publication day: Thursday. Owned and published by Wilbur Reynaud. Status: Published and printed during the week of following the hurricane but closed post offices hindered distribution. Post offices have resumed mail delivery this week. The postal situation and advertisers delaying ad schedules are affecting the publication. Full Page: $841.68, Half-page: $420.84.
Ponchatoula The Enterprise: Paid circulation: 1,485. Publication day: Wednesday. Owned and published by Carol Robertson. Established: 1921. By burning the mid-night oil, the newspaper was able to publish the week of the hurricane and has continued to publish weekly. As with other newspapers in the area, advertising is suffering. This small operation has been hindered by its in ability to add a replacement ad person to its single person staff as locals deal with the aftermath of the hurricane. Electrical power and telephone service has been restored. Full-page: $645.00, Half-page: $315.00.
The Ponchatoula Times: Paid circulation: 3,748. Publication day: Thursday: Owned by The McMahon family and published by Bryan McMahon. Power outages and telephone service disruption have plagued this newspaper which is printed in Belle Chasse at those newspapers. Claiming at least the right to enter creative publishing award competition in the Better Newspaper Contest, McMahon, the week of the storm utilized solar panels to power his Mac so he could print on legal size copy paper. McMahon, who normally prints in Belle Chasse, was forced to temporarily switch to Baton Rouge Press to continue publishing his newspaper which has resumed regular publication. He is now being printed in Belle Chasse again. Full-page: $708.21, Half-page: $345.87.
Thibodaux The Daily Comet: Paid circulation: 11,329. Publication days: Monday-Friday/PM and Saturday/AM. Owned by: New York Times Corporation. Publisher: Miles Forrest. The newspaper missed publishing Monday. Subsequently, it published joint editions with The Courier in Houma. Full-page: $1,906.38, Half-page: $953.19.
Vacherie Enterprise: Paid circulation: 1,600. Publication day: Wednesday. Owned and published by Wilbur Reynaud. Status: Published and printed the week of the hurricane, post offices kept to a non-delivery policy for several days which hindered distribution. The postal situation and advertisers delaying ad schedules are affecting the publication. Full-page: $737.10, Half-page: $368.55.
The publications listed below use modular sizing. Contact Bruce Washington at Bruce@LaPress.com for sizes.
Bayou Catholic: Circulation 29,864. Publication day: Thursday. Published by H.T. Publishing Company. Status: The publication missed publishing the week of the hurricane but has resumed publishing. Full-page: $949.00, Half-page: $474.50.
Larose The Lafourche Gazette: Circulation: 14,505. Publication days: Sunday and Wednesday. Owned by Earl P. Legendre, Sr. Status: The publication missed two publication dates the week of the hurricane but has resumed publishing. Full-page: $1,184.40, Half-page, $592.20.
The Louisiana Sportsman: Published by the Lottingers who own the Boutte St. Charles Herald-Guide. The publication, established in 1983, focuses on the hunting and fishing industry in Louisiana, printing 45,000 copies. The sports fishing industry based in the southern parts of Plaquemines and Jefferson Parishes will be particularly hard hit. In recent days, the sports –fishing community not affected by the storm has been reaching out to the affected areas and offering assistance. The Lottingers publish a similar publication in North Carolina. Status: The publication pushed back its publishing date immediately following the hurricane but it is up and running again. Full-page: $980.00, Half-page: $455.00.
New Orleans CityBusiness: Published by Dolan Media and established in 19,880, CityBusiness circulates paid 10,931 copies with an additional free circulation. The publication focuses on business news in New Orleans and circulates heavily in Jefferson Parish as well. The publication is operating out of offices in Baton Rouge and Metairie. The newspaper is publishing and is distributing a daily update via the internet. Full-page: $4,420.00, Half-page: $2,795.00.
Ponchatoula Drum. Circulation 2,000 copies bi-weekly, owned and published by Eddie Ponds. A minority publication serving the Ponchatoula area, The Drum was established in 1986 and is published on Friday. The newspaper, which missed one issue the week of the storm, is based in an area affected by hurricane winds and where phone service continues to be particularly hard hit. The newspaper has resumed publication. Full page: $1,096.50, Half-page: $535.50.
LPA is also establishing a foundation which will aid newspapers victimized by the hurricane. Donations should be made payable to LPA Foundation, 404 Europe St., Baton Rouge, La. 70802