Click Here for details.
Save Save Save Save
Lauren Powell talks about one of her revenue-generating ideas for the Daily Journal in Kankakee during the Revenue Idea Exchange session Thursday, Aug. 11, at the IPA/IPF convention. (Photo by Erin Henekl for Illinois Press Association)
By ERIN HENKEL For Illinois Press Association
SPRINGFIELD – The Revenue Idea Exchange has been a favorite session for years at the Illinois Press Association/Foundation annual convention.
This year’s presentation, sponsored by Advantage Newspaper Consultants, had a new twist with the selection of a “king” or “queen” of revenue ideas.
This year’s Queen of Revenue Ideas is Lauren Powell of the Daily Journal of Kankakee. She was crowned during the afternoon session Thursday, Aug. 11, at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel.
During the Revenue Idea Exchange, convention-goers submit their best money-making projects from the past year. The four top ideas win $50. The person submitting the most ideas is crowned “king” or “queen.”
Powell submitted three entries, one of which was a $50 winner. Her ideas included included the Daily Journal annual sale, a community job fair and the cash prize winner 100 Days to the Fair.
The Daily Journal annual sale was a one-week intense campaign aimed at targeting new businesses.
“This was kind of born out of the need to get new businesses. …I believe we brought in 150. Our goal was 175 so we were very close to goal,” Powell said.
Advertisements were sold at a discounted price during the campaign with price reductions for larger advertising commitments.
Powell also entered a community-based job fair that was to help fill gaps created by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had our very first job fair last year. It was a response to COVID, seeing how many people in our community were either desperate for work or were desperate for employees so we figured why not put something together that put them all in the same room,” Powell said.
The Daily Journal recently hosted its 2022 job fair and received positive feedback from the community members.
“We hosted the job fair last year at our local mall and had 23 vendors that showed up and I would guess about 150 job seekers … came in,” Powell said. “We just had our 2022 fair a couple weeks ago and had a great response to that one too so I think this will be an annual thing for us.”
Powell’s $50 winning idea was a 100 Days to the Fair campaign.
“It was 100-day countdown to the county fair. We did 100 days on social media. There was information on every single ad, …any information that the county fair had that they wanted to go into the hands of attendees, we did on social media. We also ran two strip ads with that information every single week,” Powell said.
The campaign raised about $10,000 for the paper and was billed to the advertiser over a span of four months.
“The amount of response that I saw on Facebook whenever I would see so many people sharing it and so many people talking about how excited they were that the fair was advertising all of this information, that’s better than the 50 bucks honestly,” Powell said.
Local content was a common theme among winners. Jason Hegna with Shaw Local Media also won $50 for a campaign focused on honoring teachers from each of the markets served.
“We wanted to do a project where our whole editorial department and our whole advertising department came together as one group to honor teachers. …The contest was to have people send in thank you letters. …We ended up getting more than 600 entries across all of our markets,” Hegna said.
The editorial team generated about 140 unique stories based on the thank you letters sent in by community members and generated about $190,000 from selling digital and print advertising.
“What was really cool about this was the editorial side of it — that it was hyperlocal content that people really got around,” Hegna said. “It was positive, it was uplifting, and we got a ton of great feedback from it.”
Another $50 winner was the Cass County Star-Gazette for its Cass County Guide.
“The idea itself is a way to get all of the small communities involved,” said Gary Loftus, publisher of the Cass County Star-Gazette in Beardstown. “It is a guide as you would expect a directory of things, churches, businesses, doctors, etcetera. And it’s always been a well-received guide.”
“Small communities means I’m really trying to target community focus kind of things where the community can all get behind a project,” Loftus said.
All entries were offered drink tickets or lottery tickets for participating in the idea exchange and attendees were encouraged to ask questions and discuss ideas for their organizations.
Lauren Powell of the Daily Journal in Kankakee was crowned the Queen of Revenue Ideas for bringing three different projects to the discussion during the Revenue Idea Exchange at the IPA/IPF convention on Aug. 11 in Springfield. (Photo by Erin Henkel for Illinois Press Association)
Dee Evans, vice president of sales and business for Advantage Newspaper Consultants works the room during the Revenue Idea Exchange on Thursday, Aug. 11, at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield. (Photos by Erin Henkel for Illinois Press Association)
View all Illinois public notices 24 hours a day - publicnoticeillinois.com
Member Log-In + Contact Us + Events + PressLines + Job Bank + Advertising Toolbox + Upload Pages
+Regular Member Newspapers
Subscribe to RSS headline updates from: Powered by FeedBurner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sep. 12, 2023 Contact Information: Laura L. Scarry (630) 690-2800 ext. 102 Email: lscarry@deanoscarry.com
Village of Crestwood agrees to pay $1.8 million to five former police officers
The Village of Crestwood Board of Trustees at its Thursday board meeting approved a $1.8 million settlement in a civil rights lawsuit filed by five former Village of Crestwood police officers against the village, former mayor, the chief of police and several other high-ranking village police officials. Former part-time officers Don Preston, Joseph Cortesi, Gilbert Hueramo III and Eric Chmura; and full-time officer Robert Hoselton, filed a federal lawsuit alleging they were fired or not reappointed, forced to resign, or brought up on disciplinary charges within days of each other in October 2019 because of their efforts to unionize the village’s police officers. They filed suit against the village Chief of Police David Weigand, Deputy Chief David Alexander, Lt. Rich Wyman, Lt. Chris Spencer, Sgt. Michael Coutre, former Village of Crestwood Mayor Lou Presta, the Village Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, and current or former Commissioners Rob Lyons, Frank Caldario, Joseph Zangara and James Fowler. In 2019 members of the village’s police department sought to unionize the part-time and full-time officers. On Aug. 1, 2019, the Illinois Labor Relations Board certified the Illinois Council of Police (ICOPS) as the exclusive bargaining unit for the part-time officers. The lawsuit alleges the village and the other defendants engaged in a campaign of intimidation, threats and coercion against Preston, Cortesi, Hueramo, Chmura, Hoselton, and other village police officers in an effort to “bust” the union and intimidate officers who supported the union. Three months after the union was certified, Preston, Cortesi, Hueramo and Chmura were either terminated, forced to resign or not re-appointed, and Hoselton was brought up on disciplinary charges and later terminated by the Village’s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners. The lawsuit, Don Preston et al. v. David Weigand et al., Case No. 20-CV-4272, was filed in the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois. At the time of settlement, no trial date had been scheduled. Preston, Cortesi, Hueramo, Chmura and Hoselton were represented by Laura L. Scarry of DeAno & Scarry, LLC, Chicago, Illinois.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 31, 2023 Contact Information: Claire Craig Evans, author (309) 258-3862 Email: claire@teawithclaire.com
Peoria author releases new humorous travel memoir Evans' debut book explores the comic side of moving to the UK
PEORIA — Claire Craig Evans, a former journalist and lawyer turned virtual presenter on UK culture, food, and history for libraries nationwide, will be launching High Tea and the Low Down: An American’s Unfiltered Life in the UK on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Evans’ book chronicles the story of how she meets her English husband in Peoria, Illinois, and their move to the UK. She anticipates “a green and pleasant adventure” on an “enchanted island where somewhat mysterious women with dewy complexions made jam in thatched cottages.” But moving transatlantic proved easy compared to the unexpected yet amusing culture clash that awaited her. “Now that we don’t have new episodes of 'Ted Lasso' to look forward to, someone has to fill the void of laughable Americans confused by British culture,” Evans says. “I wrote the book I wanted to read on my first flight to Heathrow.” Trade Reviews: A lively transcontinental adventure teeming with clever humor and cross-cultural insights… Evans’ prose is breezy, lighthearted, and affably chatty, which elevates her account of her British adventures above the typical cross-cultural narrative. Her generous personal anecdotes will bring joy and solidarity to readers who have experienced the same bewilderment after relocating to a new country. The narrative includes amusing stories of losing her luggage on her way to meet Ben’s parents; passing the infamous 24-question “Life in the UK” immigration exam; navigating the language barrier (despite speaking English); and surviving a hilarious UK driving test. – Kirkus Reviews "[A] hilarious and heartwarming read." – Midwest Book Review "High Tea and the Low Down" will be available in ebook and paperback formats from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and most other online print and ebook retailers. During its presale, it has been ranked the #1 New Release in England Travel on Amazon and is currently the #1 selling Great Britain Travel paperback carried by its distributor, IngramSpark. It is also available for order from independent bookstores. The audiobook will be available on Sept. 5, 2023.
###
For more information on Claire: Since starting her speaking business five years ago, Claire Craig Evans has given more than 300 presentations inspired by her life in the UK to libraries and civic groups throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK. She grew up in Springfield, Illinois, and has also lived in Normal and Urbana. Aside from her UK years, she’s spent a majority of the past 20 years in Peoria. Visit www.teawithclaire.com for more details.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2023 Contact Information: Illinois Pharmacists Association Garth Reynolds greynolds@ipha.org National Community Pharmacists Association Andie Pivarunas andrea.pivarunas@ncpa.org
IPhA, NCPA Cheer Illinois law reining in PBM retaliation HB3631 protects freedom of speech and promotes transparency into PBM business practices
SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Pharmacists Association and the National Community Pharmacists Association are applauding a new law in Illinois that prohibits retaliation by pharmacy benefit managers against pharmacists and pharmacies for disclosing information to courts, hearings, legislative commissions, law enforcement or other government agencies if there is reasonable cause to believe the disclosed information is evidence of violation of a state or federal law, rule, or regulation. HB3631, which was led by Rep. Hoan Huynh (D) and Sen. Mike Simmons (D), was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker (D) on Aug. 4, 2023. It has an effective date of July 1, 2023. The top three PBMs control 80 percent of the market, and decide what medicines patients can take, where they must get them, and how much they pay. In recent years, they have leveraged their market power to implement abusive policies and practices that pad their profits at the expense of patients and pharmacies. Pharmacists who speak out oftentimes experience retaliation measures from PBMs that can include an exponential increase in audits, refusal to access future contracts and removal from preferred provider networks, among other punishments. “PBMs for too long have been weaponizing contracting and auditing tactics to essentially force pharmacists into silence,” says Garth Reynolds, RPh, executive director of IPhA. “There’s more work to do to truly rein in these middlemen, but with HB3631, we can more freely share with government representatives how PBM policies harm pharmacy practice and our patients. IPhA is grateful to Rep. Huynh and Sen. Simmons for their leadership and support, and to Gov. Pritzker for signing this important bill into law.” “For a marketplace to be free and healthy, there must be competition and transparency. PBMinsurers are fighting against both, even as policymakers at all levels of government look to crack down on business practices that stifle patient choice and disadvantage independent pharmacies,” says Joel Kurzman, director of state government affairs at NCPA. “This legislation is a great step forward in Illinois. Further PBM reforms and aggressive enforcement of policies like this one will be crucial if patients and taxpayers are to see the difference.”
About IPhA The Illinois Pharmacists Association is dedicated to enhancing the professional competency of pharmacists, advancing the standards of pharmacy practice, improving pharmacists’ effectiveness in assuring rational drug use in society, and leading in the resolution of public policy issues affecting pharmacists. IPhA was founded in 1880. To learn more, visit ipha.org |@ILPharmacists. About NCPA Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 19,400 pharmacies that employ nearly 240,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America's most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 14, 2023 Contact Information: MedGenyx, PLLC Theresa Johnson 217-778-8505 theresa@medgenyx.com
MedGenyx enhances pharmacists' role as medication experts
URBANA - MedGenyx, a leading provider of pharmacogenomic test interpretation in Illinois, announces the launch of its services. MedGenyx pharmacists provide comprehensive medication review services and pharmacogenomic (PGx) test analysis. PGx tests help determine the safest and most effective medications based on a person’s DNA. MedGenyx can facilitate these services in a variety of settings, including implementing PGx testing programs for prescribers, long term care facilities, and direct-to-consumer PGx testing for the individual client seeking answers to their medication concerns. MedGenyx can cater to the needs of busy prescribing health care professionals that want to implement PGx testing to enhance their clinical decision-making processes. Pharmacists, certified in pharmacogenomics, walk patients through the testing process, from education, to a simple buccal swab, to making medication recommendations, to follow-up consultations. The launch of MedGenyx comes at a crucial time when the demand for reliable medical information has never been greater. With the rapid development of medical treatments and technologies, the need for accessible and trustworthy medical resources has become even more critical. Pharmacists, as medication experts, are poised to step into this space and collaborate with prescribers to offer the latest in PGx capabilities. "MedGenyx was developed to address the growing need to get medications, strengths and dosages right the first time, utilizing PGx testing. These tests can ultimately save time and money, both of which are in short supply in healthcare settings today,” said Theresa Johnson, Founder and CEO of MedGenyx. “MedGenyx pharmacists want to collaborate with prescribers to improve patient treatment outcomes in all types of health care settings.” MedGenyx is committed to delivering accurate and reliable medication recommendations based on the cutting-edge science of pharmacogenomics.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 1, 2023 Contact Information: Craig Baumberger 618-322-3532 craigbaumberger@yahoo.com
Biplanes and balloons over Greenville, Illinois
Greenville Airport will have its Airstravaganza event from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 16. Plans include: open house with pancake breakfast, biplane rides in a Waco UPF-7 or Stearman, as well as rides in Cessna 172. Weather permitting, Brad Haege, balloonist from Nashville, Illinois, plans to be in attendance with his hot air balloon. Static displays will include Wings of Hope from Spirit of St Louis Airport with info on its mission of providing aircraft for medical and mission assistance worldwide. Also, medical evacuation helicopters from Air Evac and Air Methods will be on the ramp as well as equipment from local volunteer fire departments. Kevin Kegin's American Warbird will be flying biplane rides of 20 minutes in a Waco for $250. You can also contact Kevin to schedule a flight in a North American T-6, $500 for 30 minutes or longer flights if desired. For additional info and schedule: amwarbird@earthlink.net, www.americanwarbird.com, 314-809-7101. For info on hot air balloon rides call Brad Haege, balloonist from Nashville, Illinois, at 618-410-6030. For info on Stearman and Cessna 172 rides, call 618-322-3532. Pilots flying in will receive one free pancake breakfast per aircraft and be eligible for a $20 discount on fuel purchased on the day of event in addition to being entered in a drawing for $250 of free fuel to be awarded on the day of the event. For additional info, contact Craig Baumberger at 618-322-3532 or craigbaumberger@yahoo.com.
Click Image to Find the IPA Disaster Checklist!