In a recent interview with Editor & Publisher, Richard Rinehart, corporate vice president of operations at McClatchy, expressed his excitement about his upcoming role as president of the International Newspaper Group (ING) board of directors. With his extensive background in operations, Rinehart hopes to use his expertise to assist ING in their mission to promote excellence in the journalism industry.
ING is committed to being a valuable resource for the print industry and affiliated sectors by assisting them in serving their communities effectively. With a focus on promoting high standards of journalism, ING provides a platform for members to share best practices, collaborate on ideas and stay up-to-date on the latest industry news.
Q: What are your plans for the upcoming year?
A: We are planning a great ING conference for 2024. We anticipate a September meeting date and are looking at a few different cities. This year's conference in Indianapolis was a great success, and we received tons of positive feedback about the Gainbridge Fieldhouse venue.
Q: Are there any specific goals you'd like to accomplish? How do you hope to achieve them?
A: There are several goals for the conference. First and foremost, the conference is designed to share information about production, logistics and distribution of newspapers. Other benefits include networking with colleagues, discussing business opportunities and being able to disconnect briefly and think strategically about how best to run and manage your business.
Q: Can you explain how you believe your experience with McClatchy will help you make an impact in your new role?
A: I have been very fortunate to work for such a great company. McClatchy fosters a fast-paced environment where teammates collaborate, share ideas and are empowered to make decisions. Our business is rapidly changing, and we must be malleable and quickly adapt to new realities.
The ING Board comprises industry leaders from both the newspaper and supplier side. My role is to foster an environment to ensure everyone has input on decisions for the conference. We've reached out to this year's conference attendees for their feedback for future meetings. ING board members are also involved in the decision-making process as we believe diverse opinions are essential to the success of the conference.
Q: In your opinion, what are the industry’s biggest challenges right now?
A: Retention and recruiting of talent are the biggest challenges for our industry. More competition for employees now than ever makes recruiting more difficult.
Q: Are there any operations-specific issues you hope to address?
A: We need to find efficiencies in every part of our business. Finding and fostering partnerships, synergizing, borrowing best practices and thinking outside the box are critical skills that will enable people and businesses to see continued success. The ING is a forum and toolbox for newspaper executives.
Q: What are your thoughts on the organization’s current strategies and plans? How can ING help the journalism and publishing industry thrive?
A: ING strives to be an invaluable resource to print, distribution and associated industries. The annual conference is an opportunity to network, innovate and further the principles of good journalism. Today’s newspaper executives represent the heart and soul of their companies and play a vital role in their success. We hope we can help!
Q: Having a background in operations, what are your thoughts on the rise of the digital age and how it affects the publishing industry as we once knew it?
A: Digital is almost instantaneous and unquestionably better for breaking news.
Some people say that print is better for long-form journalism. Unfortunately, the economic model for print is not sustainable in perpetuity, and for media companies to survive, they have to perfect their digital products and economics.
There has been more change in the last five years than over the previous century. Add new technologies like AI, ever-improving mobile internet speeds and improved computing technologies, and the rate of change will accelerate. Media companies need to view these as opportunities and capitalize on capturing audience and revenue — both print and digital.
Q: What else would you like to add? Can you expand on how ING’s strategies and goals hope to continuously improve conferences? What are things that are currently going well? What could improve or be the goal for future meetings?
A: ING continues to offer an innovative and high-value conference for the newspaper industry by bringing newspaper production executives and suppliers together to exchange information and best practices and foster a better understanding of the latest technology and processes affecting newspaper and print production. We'll continue to work with attendees and board members to keep our conference on the leading edge for the future.
Rinehart’s vision for ING is to continue to expand the organization’s reach and impact while also providing members with the tools and resources they need to succeed in an ever-changing industry. By fostering this culture, Rinehart hopes to help ING members stay at the forefront of the industry and continue to serve their communities with excellence. E&P looks forward to seeing what the next year holds for ING.
Kirsten Staples is a contributing writer for Editor & Publisher. She can be reached at kstaples0329@gmail.com.
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