Moving On

The Foundation is adapting its programs to suit the changing times.

By Jim Abbott

First Published: Fall 2007

“Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful, it is threatening because things may get worse. To the hopeful, it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident, it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better.” – King Whitney Jr., The Wall Street Journal, June 7, 1967

I love this quotation and I want to use it to introduce a discussion about change. This issue of NAA Foundation Update is full of change.

Research just released by the Foundation shows that involving young people with newspapers through NIE and youth content makes a significant change in their level of civic engagement as young adults. 

The Foundation also has just released a white paper on digital NIE, or using e-editions in NIE programs. This reflects our belief that a major change is under way in the newspaper business and it helps local NIE programs to become leaders in that change. While youth content is not addressed specifically, we believe that e-editions are the way of the future in that arena, too.

The Foundation has been undergoing a major change for the past three years, and you have been an integral part of that process. I refer to the merging of the NIE and YEA conferences into the Young Reader Seminar.

In 2006, that move brought reactions that exactly reflect the opening quotation. The fearful among us were sure things would be getting worse. The hopeful saw it as a way to make both groups stronger and able to command more professional respect from the industry. But it was the inspired who rolled up their sleeves and went to work to make the change one for the better.

In 2008, we will mark the completion of that transition period. The St. Louis conference in 2006 was really two conferences held in the same location. The time of year – including some of the worst thunderstorms I have ever seen – was not ideal. But the overlap that occurred gave the inspired among us confidence to move on.

The Foundation hosted the World Young Reader Conference in 2007. The first true NAA Foundation Young Reader Seminar will happen May 15-18, 2008, in Phoenix. It will feature programming that appeals to either NIE or YEA, and some that appeals to both.

One change you should take careful note of concerns the Foundation awards programs. We are offering two major contests in 2008: Program Excellence and Content. All awards will be presented in Phoenix.

Complete entry forms and instructions are on our Web site, www.naafoundation.org. Because no awards were given in 2007, these awards generally cover the past two years. Check eligibility dates carefully.

The Program Excellence Awards include categories for NIE, youth content and student/newspaper partnerships. These awards go to the best of the best in young reader programs. Deadline for entries is 4 p.m. Feb. 15, 2008.

The 2008 Content Awards feature categories for both NIE and youth content programs. Note to NIE professionals: These used to be called Category Awards, and you will find that some circulation classes have been added. The YEA professionals will see relatively few changes.

Judging for some of these entries is considerably more complex, so the deadline for all Content Awards was moved up to November 2007.

Change, as many have said, is the only constant. Will you be among the fearful, the hopeful or the confident? Other changes will be coming to the NAA Foundation. Stay tuned.

NAA Foundation Vice President Jim Abbott can be reached at 571.366.1006 or james.abbott@naa.org.