DOUG Penner, publisher of The Crow Wing Warrior of Morris, Manitoba, was elected president of CCNA at its 73rd annual convention in Edmonton, Alberta.
He has been associated with the newspaper industry since 1970. From 1970 until 1974 he wrote a column for the Morris/Emerson (MB) Journal and later The Dufferin (MB) Leader, Red River Valley Echo and Pembina (MB) Times. In 1974 he joined The Dufferin Leader (now the Carman Valley Leader) as a reporter and later became news editor until 1977.
He started publication of the Morris Scratching River Post in January 1978 and The Crow Wing Warrior in 1992.
From 1985 to 1994 he was a Manitoba Newspapers Association director and served as president from 1990-1992. He joined the CCNA board of directors in 1986.
He has been a director of the Morris District Chamber of Commerce as well as the Citizen Award Program, past president of the Red River Toastmasters Club and a member of the Freemasonry AF and AM Patricia Lodge.
His journalism won him an award for best editorial in an Independent Free Papers of America competition.
He devotes most of his spare time to raising horses. He was the founding president of the Manitoba Arabian Horse Association, the Agassiz Arabian Horse Club and director of the Canadian Arabian Horse Association.
Soon after his election, Doug Penner appointed standing committees on marketing, postal affairs, ethics, convention format, better newspaper competitions, publications, and editorial material.
He commenced a three-part study of the CCNA’s marketing program involving surveys of publishers, managers and ad reps of member newspapers; a similar survey of advertisers and advertising agencies; and, thirdly, a group discussion of advertising in community newspapers.
CCNA had a membership of 683 papers, with circulation of 5,741,390, slightly down from the year before. Competition was foreseen from small, desktop publishing entrepreneurs.
In March 1993, after 10 years on University Ave., the CCNA central office moved to Eglinton Ave. in Toronto.
An April planning session in Toronto resulted in a change in the way CCNA would work with its seven regional associations. CCNA was to concentrate on government lobbying, development of a member database, changing marketing programs, and improving member services.
Eliminating Mike Mozewsky’s position as marketing director resulted in a large budget reduction.
President Penner attended ceremonies observing the 200th anniversary of the first newspaper in Ontario at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Lyn Franklin briefly joined CCNA staff as administrative assistant, soon replaced by Jackie MacDonald. Paula Muzzin was hired as Verified Circulation manager.
Some programs were transferred to user pay. Barry McCallum, retired as executive director of the Manitoba association, assumed some of the work of Verified Circulation.
The 74th annual convention was held in Quebec City with a moonlight cruise as one of the highlights. Member services director Barbara Martindale announced her resignation after six years, returning to her roots as publisher of The Caledonia (ON) Grand River Sachem. Long-time board members retiring were Jim MacNeill, Marg Hennigar and Merv Farmer.
