AboutDr. David Sumner Expertise My expertise is print journalism, especially magazine writing, editing and publishing. I can answer questions about the magazine industry, magazine trends, how the Internet has affected magazines, the history of magazines,as well as ethical and legal issues in publishing. I can also offer advice about magazine jobs and careers.
Experience Professor of Journalism and Head of the Magazine Program at Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, since 1990. Freelance magazine writer.
Co-author: "Magazines: A Complete Guide to the Industry" (2006) and "Feature and Magazine Writing: Action, Angle and Anecdotes." (2005)
Organizations Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
Publications Encyclopedia Britannica Book of the Year, 1989-2006
Encyclopedia of International Media and Communication
Encyclopedia of American Journalism History
History of the Mass Media in the United States: An Encyclopedia
Education/Credentials Ph.D. University of Tennessee
B.A. Stetson University
Awards and Honors Who's Who in American Education (Marquis 2006)
Past/Present clients Consultant to magazine start-up ventures including
"Radius: The Magazine" and "Hope: A Magazine for Christian Women"
Hello, I am a fellow "expert' on this site under electrical and then again under electrical motors.
The "expert" part of this can be very demanding, the questions are not complete or leave much information out, so I appreciate you taking the time to read my question.
I have two businesses, one is more for the Government, National Weather service, and DOD, Doc.
The second business I bought because a person I had know for years suddenly passed away about 16 months ago.
He left nothing for his widow and kids but debt, fortunately I was able to fix a lot of that, but to get her out I had to buy the assets of the business.
Not what I wanted but I know the business and have turned it around so it is going OK now.
My question about newspapers is this.
The owner who died at the ripe old age of 50, had some DC motors that are I believe used on newspaper equipment.
Or used for flyers in news papers, that part of the industry I never really got into.
My question is I know these motors [from 50HP to 75HP] are not standard motors and I have repaired these types of motors for some small newspapers in Kansas City Missouri, after contacting them they do not fit their equipment and some of these businesses are now gone.
I know someone needs these and to help the widow, I would check these motors and make a deal with someone who needs them, I hate to scrap them, even though the scrap value would be of some value, the construction of these motors are such it would be a shame if someone needed them.
I do not like to deal in the surplus/used market, as it has a shady side to it that bothers me.
Do you know if the magazine and small newspaper companies are gone across the US? Or are some still around? And if so, is there a list or someway to contact them and find out if they need these before I am forced to scrap them?
Inland Newspaper used to be one here in Kansas City, they are gone as well as several others.
The repairs to these types of motors were always a critical overtime situation due to the date the print had to be out to the public.
So I have searched through many used dealers and not a pleasant experience.
If you can point me to a directory or listing of magazine printers, or insert printers, I would contact them or list them on a trade publication.
Not knowing the industry and with so many gone, I wonder if the equipment is even gone now.
This is not a selling question, I just hate waste and know if the right company had one, would love a spare and I could check the motor for all the parameters and make sure it was in good working order.
I am from the motor business, but not the printing or magazine business.
Any information you could point me to might help that person, and would help the widow who had these units.
I do appreciate your time and know this is not really your field, in this respect, but have no where to turn but junk dealers.
If you have not been thanked enough for your volunteer work I want to let you know I appreciate it, being a volunteer myself, I have spent hundreds of hours researching some difficult situations.
I know you have done the same and it is appreciated.
Thank you again,
Will Babbitt
Answer Will:
Every state has its own press association to which most daily and weekly newspapers belong. I suggest contacting the Missouri State Press Association. Here is the contact for the Hoosier State Press Association, with which I am familiar.
The Hoosier State Press Association
41 E. Washington St., Suite 301
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Telephone: (317) 803-4772
Fax: (317) 624-4428
Web site: http://www.hspa.com
David Stamps,
HSPA Executive Director
dstamps@hspa.com (317) 624-4430
Just use Google or Ask.com to find the info on the Missouri association.
I can also give you the name of the customer service representative with a printer I deal with who prints lots of magazines in the Midwest: Briant Glunt, Mignone Communications, Huntington, IN. 260-358-0266.
That gives you a couple of leads. Good luck.
David Sumner
