One way to support Access Press is through issue sponsorships. An issue sponsorship provides statewide publicity and visibility to a business or an organization.

Partnering with Access Press as an issue sponsor also helps Access Press continue its mission as Minnesota’s disability news source, with news and information by and for people with disabilities.

Access Press invites all disability community members to consider becoming issue sponsors in 2014 and beyond. Access Press has a broad reach across the state and region. Readership is estimated to be about 30,000 people. Each month, more than 11,000 newspapers are printed and distributed to more than 305 Twin Cities locations. Newspapers are also distributed to more than a dozen locations in Greater Minnesota and North Dakota. Approximately 550 subscribers, all across the country, receive a hard copy of the paper.

The website is accessed regularly with thousands of hits monthly. Facebook and Twitter feeds are closely followed.

Issue sponsorships can be utilized in many ways. UCare uses its sponsorship of the August issue to highlight its work, in an issue that is distributed at the Minnesota State Fair. That gives UCare more visibility across the region.

An issue sponsorship can be used to celebrate a major anniversary for a business or nonprofit, mark a major expansion or announce a name change. Sponsorships can also coincide with a month when a specific disability or disabilities are highlighted.

For example, a jobs training firm could be the issue sponsor during Disability Employment Month (October). A group that advocates for persons with cerebral palsy could be an issue sponsor during Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month (March).

Yet another way to use an issue sponsorship is to spotlight a major event, such as a gala or annual conference.

Issue sponsors are recognized in print and with a highlighted ad in the Access Press online edition. Two levels of sponsorship are available. Issue sponsorships Sponsorships bring visibility, help Access Press are first come, first served. Only one Gold Level sponsor and up to two Silver Level sponsors will be considered for a single issue.

For the Gold Level Sponsorship, sponsors are recognized on page one of the print edition and with an advertisement on the front page of the online edition. If the sponsorship promotes an event, an online ad is also displayed on the events page.

Sponsors receive a prominently placed, 400-word article in the print edition and online. Print placement options are available. For example, an upcoming event article can be placed on a calendar page. Others can be placed in the People and Places pages.

Access Press staff can work with sponsors on copy and photos. Gold sponsors can also provide their ownphotos, text and logos.

Gold sponsors also are recognized in a 1/12 page house advertisements honoring all issue sponsors. This runs for a full year. Sponsors also receive up to 300 papers for an event or other promotional purposes, five subscriptions and a copy of The Real Story, the Access Press DVD on disability and the media.

A Gold Level Sponsorship is a great way to commemorate a key date in an organization’s history or to spotlight an organization or business and its work.

For the Silver Level Sponsorship, the sponsors are recognized on page one of the print edition and online. Sponsors also receive a 200-word, prominently placed article. Placement options are available as they are on the Gold sponsor. Access Press staff can work with sponsors on copy and photos. Silver sponsors can also provide their own photos, text and logos.

Silver sponsors also are recognized in a 1/12 page house advertisements honoring all issue sponsors. This runs for a full year. Sponsors also receive up to 100 papers for an event or other promotional purposes, and a copy of The Real Story.

A Silver Level Sponsorship is a great way to give enhanced visibility and prominence to an upcoming event.

Regular Access Press advertisers receive a discount for becoming an issue sponsor. Contact Tim Benjamin, executive director at Access Press, for details on becoming an issue sponsor, at 651-644-2133.