by: Nu Yang

Nearly 600 people attended this year’s AmericaEast Operations and Technology Conference, April 8-10, in Hershey, Pa. Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association (formerly known as the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association) partners with 12 other state press associations as well as Local Media Association to bring a wide variety of exhibitors and programming to newspaper executives who attend AmericaEast. Visit americaeast.panewsmedia.org for future dates and more information.

We asked newspaper executives and AmericaEast exhibitors, “What is your biggest concern right now relating to our industry?”  

Connie Gallagher, Gannett Publishing Services
“How long are we (newspapers) going to last? Newspapers need to start making smarter solutions and stick to what they know — content. Production should be sent elsewhere.”  

Glenn Knarr, Times-Shamrock Creative Services
“How do we adapt to the changing electronic world?”  

Hal Marion, Times-Shamrock Creative Services
“How do we find advertising revenue with our combined print and electronic audience?”  

Henry Nyce, publisher, the Republican-Herald (Pottsville, Pa.)
“We have the digital, mobile, and print readership, but how do we make revenue from them? How do we equate that to a revenue flow?”  

Rich Parker, Agfa Graphics
“Consolidation.”  

Robert Granfeldt, vice president of digital media, Southern Community Newspapers Inc.
“Sales reps have too much to sell. Special sections are killing us, and it stops us from selling other things.”  

Shannon Kinney, Dream Local
“Trying to figure out, broaden, and diversify our advertiser base. We need a compelling model for our digital sales.”