2009 Mid-Winter Convention

February 5-7, 2009

Doubletree Downtown Hotel in Tulsa, Oklahoma

QUESTIONS? Call (405) 499-0026, 1-888-815-2672 (toll-free in Okla.) or e-mail registrations@okpress.com.


CONVENTION SPONSORS

Silver Level



 

Bronze Level 

     

To request information about convention sponsorships, call Member Services Director Lisa Potts at (405) 499-0026, or 1-888-815-2672 (toll-free in Okla.), or e-mail lpotts@okpress.com.


HOTEL INFORMATION

DOUBLETREE DOWNTOWN HOTEL
616 W. Seventh Street, Tulsa, OK 74127
Front Desk: 1-800-838-7914
www.tulsadowntown.doubletree.com

OPA Room Rate: $92 per night
Reserve your room by January 27 to guarantee rate and availability.

Phone Reservations: 1-800-222-TREE
Tell reservationist that you are with Oklahoma Press Association to receive the group room rate.

Online Reservations: www.tulsadowntown.doubletree.com
Enter Group/Convention Code: PRS to receive the group room rate.

Parking is available in the hotel’s parking garage for $5 per day (discounted for OPA members).

Wireless high-speed internet access is available for $9.95 per day. A small business center is also available near the meeting rooms.


THURSDAY, FEB. 5

11:00 a.m. OPA/OPS Board Meeting

2:00 p.m. ONF Board Meeting

2:00 p.m. OPA Registration Desk Opens

3:00 p.m. Hotel Check-In Available

4:00 p.m. Keeping Our Wits and Wisdom in Scary Times

Bill Ketter, CNHI Vice President of News
As newspapers continue to inform readers on the who, what, when and where of the communities they serve, they must learn to creatively distribute news to readers when and where they want it – in print, on the Web, by e-mail and through electronic devices. Bill Ketter, who was appointed vice president of news for CNHI in 2006, is a veteran journalist, news executive and journalism educator. He has served as editor and vice president of The Eagle-Tribune Publishing Company in North Andover, Mass., and The Patriot Ledger in Quincy, Mass; vice president and foundation director for the Boston Globe; and chairman of the Boston University Journalism School. He was also with United Press International for 16 years.
All educational sessions sponsored by Ethics and Excellence in Journalism Foundation

5:15 p.m. OPA Business Meeting

Election of 2009-10 OPA Officers and Directors, Vote on Bylaws Amendment, Treasurer’s Report, Necrology Report

6:00 p.m. Free Time

6:30 p.m. Begin to Load Buses

Gather in the hotel lobby. Last bus leaves at 7 p.m. Buses will transport to the BOK Center for the Welcome Reception.

7:00 p.m. Welcome Reception

Enjoy a dinner buffet of heavy hors d’oeuvres and tour the BOK Center, Tulsa’s new $196 million state-of-the-art sports and entertainment venue.

8:30 p.m. Buses Begin Transporting to the Doubletree


FRIDAY, FEB. 6

7:30 a.m. Breakfast Buffet Available

8:00 a.m. Daily & Weekly Roundtable Breakfasts

Don’t miss this opportunity to discuss common issues and share ideas at separate daily and weekly roundtables.

9:00 a.m. Break

9:30 a.m. Marketing Strategies for the Growing Gaming Industry

Panelists: Jim Scroggins, executive director of the Oklahoma Lottery Commission
David Qualls, chairman of the Oklahoma Indian Gaming Commission
Molly Jarvis, vice president of marketing and sales for Cherokee Nation Enterprises
The panel will discuss the emerging role that gaming plays in Oklahoma and what considerations are used in making advertising and marketing decisions.

10:45 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m. One-on-One With Governor Brad Henry

Join OPA to welcome Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry to his sixth OPA convention at this question-and-answer discussion.

11:45 a.m. Break

12:00 p.m. Luncheon

Presentation of: ONG Column and Editorial Sweepstakes Awards, OGE Photo of the Year Awards, PSO Public Service Sweepstakes Awards, OPA Web Site Awards, OPA Print Quality Awards, ONF Joseph H. Edwards Outdoor Writer of the Year Award, Blooper Awards
Co-Sponsored by OERB & AT&T

2:00 p.m. Break

2:30 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

Adding Videos to Your Website
Jeff Mayo, Sequoyah County Times
Which segment of online advertising is expected to grow 10-fold in the next few years? It’s video. Come find out what video your readers want to watch and how to get it on your Website.

Classified Advertising Promotions & Trends
Bates Frayser, Tulsa World
We’ll examine trends within Classified’s big three categories (automotive/real estate/recruitment) and provide advertiser incentives for both print and Web. Bring examples of incentive programs that were successful at your newspaper.

3:45 p.m. Break

4:00 p.m. Concurrent Sessions

Online Advertising
Panelists: Jeff Mayo, Sequoyah County Times; Melissa Mangham, The Ardmoreite; and Courtney Chojnacki, CNHI Interactive Media
If you don’t yet have advertising on your Web site or are just getting started, this panel will offer suggestions for pricing, packaging with print advertising and working with advertisers to make the transition.

Investigative Reporting
Ziva Branstetter, Tulsa World
Learn how to do investigations on the fly while juggling daily news. We will discuss public records battles, electronic records, how to background sources and the elements of a good investigation.

5:15 p.m. Free Time

6:30 p.m. Awards Reception

Sponsored by OGE Energy Corp.

7:00 p.m. Awards Banquet

Presentation of: Milt Phillips Award, ONF Beachy Musselman Award, Half Century Club Induction, Quarter Century Club Induction, Better Newspaper Contest Awards

9:30 p.m. President's Hospitality Suite

All attendees are invited to the President’s Hospitality Suite following the Awards Banquet.
Sponsored by American Profile


SATURDAY, FEB. 7

8:00 a.m. Breakfast Buffet

9:00 a.m. An Agenda for Constitutional Reform

Andrew Spiropoulos, Professor of Law, Oklahoma City University
The Oklahoma State constitution, fundamentally unchanged since 1907, has been cited as an insuperable barrier to good government. A study conducted by the Oklahoma Academy for State Goals concluded that the constitution does not work and must be revised. This confirmed what President Theodore Roosevelt said when signing our statehood proclamation, that our state constitution “was not fit for publication.” Andrew Spiropoulos is a professor of law and director of the Center for the Study of State Constitutional Law at Oklahoma City University.

9:45 a.m. Break

10:00 a.m. Congressional Conversations

Your opportunity to question U.S. Senators Jim Inhofe and Tom Coburn, and Dist. 1 Rep. John Sullivan, Dist. 2 Rep. Dan Boren, Dist. 3 Rep. Frank Lucas, Dist. 4 Rep. Tom Cole, and Dist. 5 Rep. Mary Fallin.

11:15 a.m. 2009 Mid-Winter Convention Adjourns

12:00 p.m. Hotel Check-out


CANCELLATION POLICY

Notice of cancellation must be received in writing. A full registration fee refund is authorized when cancellation notice is received by January 30, 2009. No-shows forfeit registration fee.

Contact Information

3601 N. Lincoln Blvd.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105

(405) 499-0020
(888) 815-2672

Toll-Free in OK