Kevin Slimp Online
Kevin Slimp is a favorite speaker and trainer in the publishing world. He can be reached at kevin@kevinslimp.com.

Current Newsletter

When Less is More in Newspapers

Feb 01, 2024 at 06:30 pm by INT

In late January, I had such a good time visiting with the publishers of the Wyoming Press Association at their annual convention. I spoke on a few of my favorite topics: Growi.... Read More

Predicting 2024 for Newspapers

Jan 10, 2024 at 10:45 pm by INT

Making bold predictions is easy. This year, I’ve paid close attention to forecasts by respected sportswriters in national print and online publications to see how my foo.... Read More

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Recent Columns

A few reasons some papers grow

Jan 22, 2023 at 10:13 pm by INT

I’m going to let you in on a little secret. I don’t plan these columns in advance. Most months, I receive an email from newspaper industry executive Jack Guza remi.... Read More

Design issues faced by most newspapers

Nov 16, 2022 at 11:27 pm by INT

As I write this, I’ve just returned from a trip to Marysville, Kansas, where I worked with the staff of The Marysville Advocate on their new design, which went to the pr.... Read More

Even more about Adobe Type 1 and your newspaper: Time to prepare for Jan 1

Sep 28, 2022 at 11:30 am by INT

Excuse my repetition, but for those who didn't read my column last month titled, "Planning for Adobe Type 1 Conundrum in January," there is a storm brewing, and it's not comin.... Read More

Paying Attention to Readers Yields Increased Readership & Revenue

Sep 09, 2022 at 10:00 am by INT

In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, “plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.” (The more things change, the more they stay the.... Read More

A Tale of Two Publishers

Jul 12, 2022 at 06:31 pm by INT

I’m not that old. Seriously, I’m not. But in my work with newspapers, I’ve worked with so many younger people that I sometimes feel like Yoda (for you Star W.... Read More

4.5 Hours of Training by the News Guru at 1 Low Price!

Jul 06, 2022 at 04:23 pm by staff

In all, these videos include 4.5 hours of training for everyone on your staff. Topics include: Designing (and redesigning) better pages Creating more effective ads to imp.... Read More

Growing Readership

May 07, 2022 at 06:28 pm by INT

I had a great time last month, as I got out a little more to visit newspapers in multiple states. What I learned inspired, invigorated, and reminded me of much that is going w.... Read More

CBS and the Death of Newspapers

Mar 04, 2022 at 01:17 pm by INT

It’s late as I write this column, just around midnight. There’s nothing unusual about that. I tend to write my columns, stories, and books late in the evening. App.... Read More

Isn't It Time to Update Your Newspaper?

Feb 27, 2022 at 01:19 pm by INT

Redesigns. They’ve been on my mind a lot lately. When Ed Henninger, the undisputed guru of newspaper and magazine design, decided to retire three years ago (I never rea.... Read More

Free On-Site Training Available For Your Newspaper Staff

Jan 03, 2022 at 10:15 am by INT

In my end-of-year column last month, I mentioned that newspapers and magazines are uniquely positioned to utilize government grants to pay for on-site training. I first became.... Read More

Front Page

More statistics from latest publisher survey

May 11, 2015 at 11:11 am by staff

I probably start my workday about the same as most of my readers, checking email. Somewhere around two hours of each day is spent helping people solve their problems. It’s not.... Read More

Growing Newspapers: They're popping up everywhere

Apr 22, 2015 at 09:37 am by staff

I’m in the midst of one of those crazy, multi-town, trips that leaves little time for remembering what happened yesterday because I’m too busy getting ready for today. Friday.... Read More

Print Back in Fashion: I keep running into new papers

Apr 15, 2015 at 09:52 am by staff

I’m in the midst of one of those crazy, multi-town, trips that leaves little time for remembering what happened yesterday because I’m too busy getting ready for today. Friday.... Read More

Texans Eager to Learn: Vernon, Texas

Apr 01, 2015 at 10:32 am by staff

When I walk into a newsroom for the first time, there’s always a moment of hesitation as I gauge how prepared the group is for my visit. I’m normally greeted with one of two e.... Read More

Interesting Findings From Recent Publishers Survey

Mar 25, 2015 at 10:39 am by staff

I probably start my workday about the same as most of my readers, checking email. Somewhere around two hours of each day is spent helping people solve their problems. It’s not.... Read More

Adobe InCopy is just the ticket for Tennessee paper

Mar 10, 2015 at 10:49 am by staff

In the midst of my busiest year ever, Dale Gentry, publisher of The Standard-Banner in Jefferson City, Tennessee, called to ask if I could find time to visit his newspaper. Le.... Read More

Newspapers: I love all of them, but my heart is with the small ones

Feb 28, 2015 at 11:00 am by staff

I guess I might as well change my permanent address to “Midwest,” following more than a dozen scheduled visits to Iowa and Minnesota during February, March and April. People b.... Read More

Young People Don't Read Papers...or do they?

Feb 02, 2015 at 02:23 pm by staff

I really don’t mean to get this worked up about things. Oh, sorry. I sometimes digress. Let me catch you up. While taking a drive through the Smoky Mountains, about 45 minute.... Read More

Deadline Driven!

Jan 08, 2015 at 03:39 pm by staff

Wow! Today has been one of those days. You’re in the business. You know what I’m talking about. I planned to start on this column four hours ago, but the phone started ringin.... Read More

Free Papers Have Similar Experiences

Nov 21, 2014 at 03:47 pm by staff

Wow! Today has been one of those days. You’re in the business. You know what I’m talking about. I planned to start on this column four hours ago, but the phone started ringin.... Read More

Adobe Plans to Get Rid of Type 1 Fonts

Apr 30, 2021 at 01:00 pm by INT

Start making plans now about transitioning your Type 1 fonts “Out with the old and in with the new!” We’ve all said it, and the idea of replacing outdated.... Read More

Improving Ad Design to Increase Revenue

Mar 10, 2021 at 12:30 pm by INT

It’s obvious that everyone wants to increase revenue. I own a publishing company and I can attest that 2020 was a terrible year, in terms of revenue. Unless you live in.... Read More

Affinity Publisher Primed to Take Business from InDesign

Mar 09, 2021 at 12:30 pm by INT

It’s been a while since a column has drawn as much response as my November review of Affinity Publisher, the layout application that has so many designers, editors and p.... Read More

Kevin makes His 2021 New Year Predictions

Jan 07, 2021 at 04:19 pm by INT

As I write this column, vaccines are beginning to make their way to first responders, the New Year has begun, and maybe – just maybe – the world is seeing a light.... Read More

Affinity Publisher: Is it ready for prime time?

Nov 17, 2020 at 02:15 pm by INT

A few years back, I received an email from Nebraska publisher Rob Dump about a design application he’d read about named Affinity Publisher. He asked if I thought he migh.... Read More

Why are Some Newspapers Growing? Answers from publishers at growing papers

Nov 05, 2020 at 03:15 pm by INT

Over the past few weeks, I’ve spoken (virtually) at five state and regional press association conventions. In all but one, my leadoff topic was “What’s Going.... Read More
Slideshow

Kevin answers questions about colors, photo settings, paragraph styles and ligatures

Jul 06, 2020 at 12:15 pm by INT

So, what do professional speakers do during a pandemic? I can’t speak for all the speakers in the world, but among other things, I’ve been leading a lot of webinar.... Read More

Finding Ways to Generate Revenue

Jun 20, 2020 at 09:15 am by INT

It’s a crazy time for all of us. I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know. Like many of you, I’ve been working out of my home office for six.... Read More

No Bull: What works and what doesn't

Mar 29, 2020 at 05:32 pm by staff

I will remember fall '19 as a season of research. I was involved in two major newspaper studies: one related to Millennials for North Dakota Newspaper Foundation and one to de.... Read More

Affinity Publisher and IDMarkz: One thumbs up, one thumb sideways

Feb 01, 2020 at 05:29 pm by staff

I spent my morning writing about mergers, buyouts, and bankruptcies. I don't know about you, but I'm ready to spend a few minutes on something more fun. For the past three or.... Read More