The Times announces products for nonprofits
Published: April 17, 2008
The Martha's Vineyard Times has created two new initiatives designed to help Island nonprofits. Each new product will help vital Island nonprofits tell their stories to the Vineyarders who benefit from their services and to the donors whose contributions make the work of the nonprofits possible. Community Works, a new Times supplement to be published June 26 and distributed a second time in July, and Community Reports, an expansive and economical communications opportunity for non-profits, were announced this week in a letter to Island nonprofit organizations from Peter Oberfest, publisher of The Times.
In addition, Mr. Oberfest announced an advertising opportunity, to be offered next month, to begin the newspaper's celebration of its 25th publishing year. Called "25 years - 25% ," the promotional offering, Mr. Oberfest said, "is one way of sharing the celebration with our advertisers by helping to kick off the 2008 season with huge ads - at huge savings - for the four Thursdays in May, including the Memorial Day issue."
Community Works will be devoted exclusively to publicizing Island nonprofits, the work that they do, and the events they plan this season to help support that work.
"Our non-profit community organizations work hard to bring the best and the most needed services, as well as the most successful events, to the most Islanders and visitors," Mr. Oberfest explained this week. "Community Works will help nonprofits get their messages out - in print through our certified circulation of 15-18,000 postal customers (by far the largest on the Island) and on the web, to the more than one million yearly visitors to mvtimes.com."
Mr. Oberfest announced that Coldwell Banker/ Landmarks will be the sole major corporate sponsor of Community Works. Judy Federowicz of Coldwell Banker/Landmarks says helping to underwrite an effort such as Community Works is perfectly consistent with her firm's determination to marry its business goals with its widely recognized commitment to the Vineyard community. The goal of Community Works is to publicize Island non-profits, which will be offered half- and full-page spaces to get their stories, their accomplishments, and their summer event schedules in front of both year-rounders and visitors. The supplement will be printed in an elegant and long-lasting format.
In addition, Mr. Oberfest said, The Times has joined forces with TicketsMV.com to help promote the use of TicketsMV's unique, season-long, online calendar and interactive event ticket feature.
"Community Works will be a reliable, season-long reference that showcases your mission and your events, in print and at mvtimes.com," Mr. Oberfest said.
Also for Island non-profits, the Community Report product is designed to allow community organizations to distinguish themselves and spread the news of their missions and accomplishments more widely.
"Each four-plus pages Community Report supplement will be unique to each organization," Mr. Oberfest said, "and its impact on your organization's behalf will be assured, because the audience - The Times' full circulation and Web audience - is guaranteed. And, along with total community reach, The Times will share its economies of scale to make this innovative means of communicating cost-effective as well."
According to The Times' publisher, the "25 Years - 25%" offer gives Times advertisers the opportunity, on certain size ads, to double the size of the advertisement, for only 25 percent in incremental cost.
"Celebrate with us," Mr. Oberfest said, "and get the increased attention advertisers deserve, for all of May, including our Memorial Day issue."
