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grassroots A journal editor for newspeople Published by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors 2009 Golden Quill & Golden Dozen Awards Editorial skills and courage exemplified by winners of the ISWNE contest and the The 34th Annual Gene Cervi Award volume 50, no. 2 • summer 2009 grassroots grassroots editor • summer 2009 A journal editor for newspeople 2009 Golden Quill contest Published by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors and Eugene Cervi Award Editor: Dr. Chad Stebbins Graphic Designer: Liz Ford his year’s Golden Quill winner majored in business at Miami University in Oxford, Grassroots Editor Ohio, but decided that he wanted to become a writer as graduation approached. To pay (USPS 227-040, ISSN 0017-3541) the bills, he worked as a cook and as a bartender in Columbus and then began to free- is published quarterly for $25 per year by T lance sports stories for a chain of community weeklies. the International Society of Weekly David Martin finally joined the staff at the alternative, the now defunct Columbus Newspaper Editors, Institute of Guardian. In 1996, he went to Des Moines to be the managing editor of Cityview. In 1998, he moved International Studies, Missouri Southern to Cleveland to serve as music editor of Scene, which New Times (now Village Voice Media) had State University, 3950 East Newman Road, just acquired. Joplin, MO 64801-1595. Periodicals He left Scene to participate in the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism at Ohio State, postage paid at Joplin, Mo., and at but returned to Scene as a staff writer in 2000. In 2003, the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists additional mailing offices. named him and a writer at the Cleveland Plain Dealer print reporters of the year. Martin moved to The Pitch (also a Village Voice Media paper) in Kansas City in 2004 and became the paper’s news POSTMASTER: Send address changes columnist two years ago. to Grassroots Editor, Institute of ISWNE received 81 Golden Quill entries this year. The 12 best are gathered together as the International Studies, Missouri Southern Golden Dozen. The summer issue of Grassroots Editor traditionally contains these editorials State University, 3950 E. Newman Road, along with comments from the judge. It is an opportunity to see the quality of commentary in the Joplin, MO 64801-1595. weekly press. Volume 50, Issue 2, Summer 2009 Garrett Ray, whose affiliation with ISWNE dates back to 1963, is the recipient of the 2009 Eugene Cervi Award. Ray edited and published the Littleton Independent in Colorado from 1966 to Subscription Rate: $25 per year in 1981, then embarked on a second career as a journalism educator at Colorado State University. the United States and Canada; $28 per year elsewhere. The Golden Dozen Officers of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors: The judge’s comments & About the judge President: Don Brod By Kim Kierans .............................................................................................................................................. Page 3 St. Charles, Ill. Deutsche Bags: What it means when a German bank Golden Quill Winner owns a chunk of the city Vice President: Jim Painter By David Martin, Staff writer, The Pitch, August 21, 2008............................................................................Page 4 West Valley View Yes, it’s true, I harbor an illegal immigrant Avondale, Ariz. By Suzanne Dean, Publisher, The Sanpete Messenger, February 27, 2008 .................................................. Page 6 Executive Director: What’s really wrong with tourism Dr. Chad Stebbins, Director, Institute of By Paul MacNeill, Publisher, Eastern Graphic, July 2, 2008........................................................................ Page 7 International Studies, Missouri Southern Secret courts are wrong State University, 3950 E. Newman Road, By John M. Wylie II, Publisher, Oologah Lake Leader, March 20, 2008 .................................................... Page 8 Joplin, MO 64801-1595 Enough already Phone: (417) 625-9736 By Vernon Oickle, Editor, Bridgewater Bulletin, March 4, 2008 .................................................................. Page 9 Fax: (417) 659-4445 E-mail: [email protected] The Great Courthouse Showdown: Despite All the Fisticuffs, This Stuff is Good for Us By Richard McCord, Columnist, Santa Fe Sun Monthly, April 2008.......................................................... Page 10 Board of Directors: Does New Scotland want a big-box mall? Jeremy Condliffe By Melissa Hale-Spencer, Editor, The Altamont Enterprise, March 6, 2008 .............................................. Page 11 Congleton Chronicle State senator is wrong Congleton, Cheshire, England. By Steve Ranson, Editor, Lahontan Valley News, November 26, 2008 ...................................................... Page 12 Charles Gay Power to the people Shelton, Wash. By Richard Mostyn, Editor, Yukon News, December 19, 2008 .................................................................... Page 13 Sandra George Don’t stifle debate with threats Jonesville, Mich. By Brian Wilson, News editor, The Star News, March 13, 2008 ..................................................................Page 14 Paul MacNeill Nine ideas for a more user-friendly town The Eastern Graphic By Josh Cutler, Publisher, Duxbury Clipper, January 9, 2008 ......................................................................Page 15 Montague, Prince Edward Island Sheriff Arpaio, W. Valley needs your help Kris O'Leary By Jim Painter, Managing editor, The West Valley View, April 4, 2008........................................................Page 16 The Star News Medford, Wis. Chris Wood Wisconsin Web Offset, Brookfield, Wis. The Gene Cervi Award Immediate Past President: Garrett Ray ......................................................................................................................................................Page 17 Jeremy Waltner A few words from Garrett Ray’s supporters ..................................................................................Page 18 The Freeman Courier Freeman, S.D. 1 grassroots editor • summer 2009 Golden Quill Winners 1961-2009 1961 Hal DeCell 1985 William F. Schanen III Deer Creek Pilot, Rolling Fork, Miss. Ozaukee Press, Port Washington, Wis. 1962 Don Pease 1986 Henry G. Gay Oberlin (Ohio) News Tribune Shelton-Mason County Journal, 1963 Hazel Brannon Smith Shelton, Wash. Lexington (Miss.) Advertiser 1987 Ellen L. Albanese 1964 Mrs. R.M.B. Hicks The Country Gazette, Franklin, Mass. Dallas (Pa.) Post 1988 Michael G. Lacey 1965 Robert E. Fisher The New Times, Phoenix, Ariz. Crossett (Ark.) News Observer 1989 Tim Redmond 1966 Owen J. McNamara Bay Guardian, San Francisco, Calif. Brookline (Mass.) Chronicle-Citizen 1990 Bill Lueders 1967 Alvin J. Remmenga Isthmus, Madison, Wis. Cloverdale (Calif.) Reveille 1991 Stuart Taylor Jr. 1968 Henry H. Null IV Legal Times, Washington, D.C. The Abington Journal, Clarks Summit, Pa. 1992 Hope Aldrich 1969 Dan Hicks Jr. The Santa Fe (N.M.) Reporter Monroe County Democrat, Madisonville, Tenn. 1993 Michael D. Myers 1970 Richard Taylor Granite City (Ill.) Press-Record Kennett News & Advertiser, 1994 Jim MacNeill Kennett Square, Pa. The Eastern Graphic, Montague, PEI, Canada 1971 Edward DeCourcy 1995 Brian J. Hunhoff Newport (N.H.) Argus Champion The Missouri Valley Observer, Yankton, S.D. 1972 C. Peter Jorgenson 1996 Patricia Calhoun The Advocate, Arlington, Mass. Denver Westword, Denver, Colo. 1973 Robert Estabrook 1997 Tim Giago Lakeville (Conn.) Journal Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. 1974 Phil McLaughlin 1998 Gary Sosniecki The Miami Republican, Paola, Kan. Webster County Citizen, Seymour, Mo. 1975 Betsy Cox 1999 Jeff McMahon The Madison County Newsweek, New Times, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Richmond, Ky. 2000 Jeff McMahon 1976 Peter Bodley New Times, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Coon Rapids Herald, Anoka, Minn. 2001 William F. Schanen III 1977 Rodney A. Smith Ozaukee Press, Port Washington, Wis. Gretna (Va.) Gazette 2002 Paul MacNeill 1978 Robert Estabrook The Eastern Graphic, Montague, PEI, Canada Lakeville (Conn.) Journal 2003 Jeremy Waltner 1979 R. W. van de Velde Freeman Courier, Freeman, S.D. The Valley Voice, Middlebury, Vt. 2004 Charles Gay 1980 Garrett Ray Shelton-Mason County Journal, Shelton, Wash. Independent Newspapers, Littleton, Colo. 2005 Bill Lueders 1981 Janelou Buck Isthmus, Madison, Wis. Sebring (Fla.) News 2006 Gary Sosniecki 1982 Albert Scardino The Vandalia Leader, Vandalia, Mo. The Georgia Gazette, Savannah, Ga. 2007 Lori Evans 1983 Francis C. Zanger Homer News, Homer, Alaska Bellows Falls (Vt.) News-Review 2008 Melissa Hale-Spencer 1984 John McCall The Altamont Enterprise, Altamont, New York The SandPaper, Ocean City, N.J. 2009 David Martin The Pitch, Kansas City, Mo 2 grassroots editor • summer 2009 The judge’s comments By Kim Kierans overwhelming. It was no easy task singling out I am a firm believer in the lasting value of 12 pieces from among 81. The diversity and community journalism. Maybe that’s why have to say this up front. I love com- range of subjects were most impressive. despite all the doom and gloom hanging over munity journalism. My love goes back With criteria firmly in hand, I took a tour big media, I see community newspapers rooted to my youth and my weekly newspaper around North America that went east, west, deeply and in many cases thriving. People are in eastern Ontario. north, south and centre and then retraced my hungering for community and local