Last year, the WNA helped launch a new initiative called The Relevance Project, which highlights the importance of newspapers to their communities.

Earlier this month, members had the opportunity to hear more about what The Relevance Project is all about — and how to access its free resources online, which deliver promotions and advice to community newspapers and their hard-charging staffs. During the second half of the presentation, Silvestri helps viewers figure out their “Relevance score.”

Register: How to be THE community forum

Later this month, Silvestri will lead a second webinar that addresses the importance of newspapers’ role as a community forum — something all relevant newspapers demonstrate. Sharpening a strategy to engage citizens in meaningful ways is the indispensable twin of trusted journalism. But it’s not easy to maintain a program of civil, civic conversations on issues of importance. It takes discipline, resolve, and, yes, earnest listening.

Silvestri, creator of a 15-year initiative called the Public Square and director of The Relevance Project, will share tips for advancing this cause at 1 p.m. Friday, July 23 during a free webinar for WNA members.  

Prior to his role with The Relevance Project, Silvestri served as president and publisher of the Richmond (Va.) Times-Dispatch for 15 years. Inducted in 2013, Silvestri is a member of the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame. He also has served as president of the Southern Newspaper Publishers Association and chairman of the SNPA Foundation.

Please contact Membership & Communications Director Julia Hunter at julia.hunter@wnanews.com with any questions about the webinars.