Volume 33, No. 6 August 2008 QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“The liberty of the Press is called the Palladium of Freedom, which means, in these days, the liberty of being deceived, swindled, and humbugged by the Press and paying hugely for the deception.”

— Mark Twain, 1870 Visit the ISWNE’s Web site: www.iswne.org

Published by the Institute of International Studies, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO A trade for all America, this Journalism By Bill Knight Today’s sports section, and the births and the late, great Carl deaths in countless newspapers of record Rowan or Molly from coast to coast. And ink made from soy- Ivins, Hunter S. I once heard now-retired newspaper colum- beans and newsprint that can soak up spills Thompson or nist William Raspberry talk about or be recycled, almost anywhere. Ruben Salazar. Journalism as a trade — reporting being as How could vital and hands-on as plumbing or wiring. There’s a man in Moline who remembers a story he read by a courthouse newswoman America produce The summer marked 32 years since inves- and relish the likes tigative reporter Don Bolles of the Arizona or a kid in Morton who clipped a human- interest piece by a man who took risks for of Randy Shilts Republic was killed in a Phoenix car bomb- and I.F. Stone, ing in the performance of his duties. readers. That’s Journalism. So is the sub- scriber calling for extra copies of the paper Vincent Chin and Acknowledging that (and Hall of Fame base- Margaret Bourke- ball announcer Ernie Harwell) — here’s a with something about a neighbor in the Food or Arts section. White? Or the First Bill Knight salute to Journalism. Amendment itself, Journalism is reporters teasing President It’s a retired teacher phoning the newsroom or SPJ or the Newspaper Guild. Bush at a White House dinner and a child with complaints about a typo on page C-6. And a grinning photojournalist giving a It’s Herblock cranking out classic editorial reading the funnies with a mom in White cartoons and Henry Stanley exploring Africa Hall, Ill. It’s the infamous newsroom bums high-five to a violinist or gymnast after a first solo or balance-beam routine. in search of Dr. Livingstone. It’s a race to a such as Jason Blair and Stephen Glass, sure, radio for an immediate report from a scene, but it’s also Sy Hersh, Helen Thomas and Journalism is “the first rough draft of histo- or someone standing in a hurricane for a many others who keep finding truth and ry,” it’s said, a spirited sprint to record facts weather forecast. Journalism also is the critic sharing it. and feelings. It’s also an art and a craft to lecturing a painter about perspective, and a A quiet guy clipping a friend’s obituary — seize moments. Many are noticed — hero- scientist trying to write a 600-word op-ed that’s Journalism. So is the pair of young ism or failure is seen, cheered or booed, and piece due tomorrow. Washington reporters churning out story hopefully understood. Some become num- bers; others memories. Journalism is jazz without music. Math after story until a President is shamed into without grades. Video games without vio- resigning. In Journalism, democracy grows. The only lence. It’s America, Journalism; an epic poem, a race that should matter is the race to dead- line. The creed is the AP Stylebook. Color is A woman out West can’t tell you the color of play, a nation’s portrait — remade every her husband’s eyes but she knows the Dow day. It’s the New York Times and a commu- something distinguishing a feature story or photo. Jones or the Consumer Price Index or her nity weekly. The color comics on Sunday, a favorite CD is up or down. That’s small-town paper’s uptown web site, USA Journalism is a foreign visitor asking about Journalism. So is the corporate-minded

continued on page 3 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors President’sresident’s

By Don Brod Reporteport St. Charles, Ill. Some thoughts on assuming office When I think back fondly of having the followed by Joyce Klug, 1979; Hazel Win-ee. But come on, let’s face it. If it’s not ISWNE Chain of Office placed around my Brannon Smith, 1981; Peggy Grossman, downright ugly, at least you must admit neck in June in Detroit by Jeremy Waltner, I 1984; Jeanne Tempest, 1987; Carol Wilcox, that Is-Win-ee does not flow trippingly from think about all those names engraved on sil- 1992; Ellen Albanese, 1993; Vickie Canfield the tongue. ver plates — names of the presidents that go Peters, 1995; Marcia Wood, 1996; Nancy Then at the banquet, as Gail Krabben and back to 1955. Slepicka, 2002; Donna Remer, 2003; and Lorine Stevens were presenting the first I know that you can go to our website Carol O’Leary, 2005. Brian Mazza Memorial Scholarship to Derek (www.iswne.org) and find the list of past Isn’t it interesting what you can glean from Kilbourn of Wainwright, Alberta, it was presidents. But I experience a certain satisfy- a necklace? mentioned that big brother Brian always ing, tactile feeling from holding the Chain pronounced our society’s acronym Ice-Wine! in my hands, thinking of the people who What a wonderful revelation! It sounded to bear (or bore) those names, and actually ***** me as if they said I-Swine, but the printed running my fingers over the letters. (Yes, I’ll transcript reveals that it was the much more probably have to polish those plates.) The wonderful Detroit conference delivered pleasing Ice-Wine. I find two presidents who served two terms by Donna Remer and her faithful sidekick Therefore, my first official action since being — Houstoun Waring, in 1955 and 1956 as Sandra George inspired this segment of my presented with the Chain of Office is to issue the organization was just getting started, inaugural column — but not in a way you this presidential proclamation: The pronun- and Elliott Freireich, in 1998 and 1999, dur- might expect. ciation of ISWNE shall henceforth be Ice- ing the time we were looking for a new We had entertaining and educational trips Wine. No more suggestion of pigs (I-Swine) headquarters. to the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Reuther or the annoying little neighing noise that There are three father-son combinations. Library, the Ford Piquette Plant, and the horses make (Is-Win-ee). Just the cool, sooth- Landon Wills served in 1964, and Clyde General Motors Heritage Center. We had the ing sound of a refreshing beverage, perhaps Wills followed in 1991. Burt Freireich, 1968, interesting sessions co-sponsored by the being poured at an Ice-Wine conference. preceded the aforementioned Elliott. And Society of Professional Journalists. We had I know there will be strict constructionists Tim Waltner, 2000, prepared the way for the the always stimulating editorial critiques. who will declare that the president’s powers fellow who handed me the Chain, Jeremy But it was a remark at the Saturday night extend no further than presiding over meet- Waltner, 2007. banquet that sparks this presidential out- ings and writing a monthly column in the My regalia research even yields two hus- burst. newsletter. But I will argue that if the presi- band-wife combos. David Grossman held But first the backstory: All the while I was dent has the power to write monthly office in 1982 and was followed by Peggy executive secretary of the International columns, he has the power to make procla- Grossman two years later. Cary Stiff was Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors, those mations in those columns. Call them president in 1983, and his wife Carol Wilcox of us around Northern Illinois University penumbral powers. (Look it up.) was elected in 1992. pronounced the ISWNE abbreviation I- Anyway, what’s the worst that can happen There are four who did their journalism out- Swine. Some members did too, perhaps to me? I doubt that an angry horde will side the United States. David Burke, 2004, is because they heard headquarters people march on my house carrying torches and from Ireland, and there are three Canadians saying it. But the great majority then — and pitchforks. And if they do, I’ll just go to the — Robert Mossman, 1986, Jim MacNeill, practically everybody now — pronounces it door, smile, and say, “Ice-Wine, anyone?” 1988, and Brian Mazza, 1994. Is-Win-ee. Cheers. Finally, when Mary Jane Schneider (now I-Swine never caught on. Could it have been Don Brod can be contacted at Lentz) was elected in 1974, she became the because of a reluctance to be associated with [email protected]. first of a dozen female presidents. She was porkers? For whatever reason, it’s been Is-

2 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors

A trade for all America, this Journalism from page 1

Newseum in Washington, D.C. And the ex- Idea to illustration. Pictures and stories to enough; “whaddaya got today?” And he reporter, still writing while circling the drain audiences’ eyes. wants decent wages — and deserves them. teaching at a college somewhere. It’s rain soaking the stoop where the paper Journalism is the newbie, too — the recent Journalism is continuity. A tip, then a lies dry in plastic. And lightning making the grad who goes from the Midwest to Texas source to verify. Desk to deadline to press radio crackle and the TV crawl with warn- on spec, just for an interview or tryout. time. Download, upload, podcast and blog. ings. And the flash of email alerts and RSS His Girl Friday and The Paper, The Daily feeds from keyboards in distant lands, hum- Planet and the Daily Bugle, Walter Cronkite ming like a huge engine fueled by and driv- and Bill Moyers, CBS’s Edward R. Murrow ing information. on the radio or TV and the Guild’s Heywood Journalism is a sleepy carrier or a smart- Broun on picket lines or beneath headlines. aleck copy editor. The old-timer whose Journalism is interns — with experience no scoops increase every time he remembers bigger than the lumps in their throats — the past. A woman celebrating a conviction trying to begin a dream. It’s veteran scribes, of a crook or profits at a local factory or too — tired old hands of 45, knees gone, good prices for crops by throwing the paper praying to stay with the work they love. in the air. Every week, day, hour — minutes now — Journalism is the cool, clear eyes of Ida Journalism is the story of David and Tarbell or Ida B. Wells, the flashing bril- Goliath, of Sinbad, Paul Bunyan, of Jackie liance of Mike Royko, and the daring Robinson and the Lord of the Rings. exploits of adventurers as varied as Nelly It’s H.L. Mencken covering the Scopes trial, Officers of the International Society Bly and Richard Harding Davis, Marguerite William Allen White writing a heart-break- of Weekly Newspaper Editors: Higgins and Floyd Gibbons. ing obit of his daughter, Grantland Rice President: Don Brod Journalism, just a job? It’s work, but more. describing the Army-Notre Dame game with St. Charles, Ill. As complex as the American spirit from the Four Horsemen — “Outlined against a which it benefits, it’s a trade, a business blue, gray October sky ...” — Ernie Pyle fil- Vice President: Jim Painter and, sometimes, even a faith. ing from World War II’s “worm’s eye view,” West Valley View and John Hersey reporting from the ruins of Litchfield Park, Ariz. Journalism is Tradition written in skinny Hiroshima. notebooks. And Shame in missing a story. It Executive Director: is Courage in exposing the lousy treatment Journalism is not a job description, it’s said. Dr. Chad Stebbins, Director, Institute of of veterans. It is Humor in Dave Barry mak- It’s a diagnosis. International Studies, Missouri Southern ing us laugh out loud. It’s Amusement in all This diagnosis is a trade for democracy, for State University, 3950 E. Newman Road, the crossword puzzles, horoscopes and sup- America, this Journalism. Joplin, MO 64801-1595 plementary flavors that help the hard news Phone: (417) 625-9736 Through the centuries, Journalism has go down. And it’s Emotion, going with what extended from James Boswell and Ambrose Fax: (417) 659-4445 you got and working on a follow-up for E-mail: [email protected] Bierce, plus the many nameless reporters at tomorrow. innumerable statehouses, cop shops and Board of Directors: Names are Journalism, too. The Hawk Eye, press boxes, through Marvel Cooke, Joe Jeremy Condliffe High-Country News and Herald-Whig, the Galloway, Gene Roberts, Pete Hamill and Congleton Chronicle Picayune, Porcupine and Pantagraph; Amy Goodman. Journalism is Reuters and Congleton, Cheshire, England. Pulitzer, Scripps and Hearst. Rolling Stone, Clarence Page and the AP, Charles Gay Journalism is a noisy, frantic newsroom Red Smith and Daniel Pearl. Shelton, Wash. where hopes and feelings run as rampant as Sacrifices were made, lives given for Sandra George relay teams or political candidates. It’s a Journalism. For those who use it: appreciate Jonesville, Mich. corner pressroom with coffee-stained desks. it once in a while. For those who aspire to it: Paul MacNeill It’s the endless lists of names in race results don’t disgrace it. America: celebrate it. The Eastern Graphic — from tracks or voting booths. Montague, Prince Edward Island The griper and grumbler is Journalism, too. Bill Knight is deputy director of the journal- Kris O'Leary He wants to finish a novel or go on the ism program at Western Illinois University. The Star News, Medford, Wis. radio or be on cable TV; nothing’s ever good He can be contacted at [email protected]. Chris Wood Wisconsin Web Offset, Brookfield, Wis. Immediate Past President: Jeremy Waltner The Freeman Courier Freeman, S.D.

August 2008 3 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors ISWNEWSNEWS

Bluffton News wins three NNA awards Leader dominates national awards The Bluffton (Ohio) News is the recipient of three National The Oologah (Okla.) Lake Leader received six major awards for Newspaper Association awards in the NNA’s 2008 Better Newspaper news, community service and advertising from the National Contest. The News competed against other weekly newspapers in Newspaper Association, leading the state in the prestigious contest. the United States with a circulation class 3,000 or less. The Leader earned: The News received second place in best sports feature stories. The • First-place honors for investigative journalism and community story by editor Fred Steiner was published in November 2007 and service. focused on Jim “Spike” Berry, who retired from coaching football. • Second-place honors for business reporting and editorial writing. The News also received third place in best editorial pages. Entered • Third-place honors for sales promotion section. was the two-page spread of March 15, 2007, which had several comments about the Bluffton University bus accident. • Honorable mention for best environmental story. The News also received honorable mention in best feature story. The first-place award for investigative journalism involved the work The feature by Steiner, published in The News 2007 Christmas of publisher/editor John M. Wylie II and then-city editor Bill Snyder issue, told about the Steele family and their experiences with Steve in exposing wrongdoing by county commissioner Mike Helm. Steele (father and husband) and his fight with dementia. “Hard nosed and persistent investigative reporting peels away ques- The NNA awards bring this year’s News award total to seven. In tionable conduct and corruption by a public official layer by layer,” February, The News received four awards from the Ohio Newspaper said the judge. Association. The first-place award for community service involves the Leader’s Since receiving its first NNA award for editorial writing in 1965, The investigation which disclosed that a violent felon who was a patient Bluffton News has received 11 national awards. at the forensic mental hospital at Vinita had walked away from a picnic at an Oologah Lake Park and that the Oklahoma Jackson Herald wins top journalism award Department of Mental Health had tried to keep the escape secret. “A horrifying (event) brought home through quick action, thorough The Jackson Herald in Jefferson, Ga., has been awarded the research and strong advocacy,” said the judge. Southeast’s top journalism award by the Society of Professional Journalists. The awards will be formally presented in Sept. 27 at the NNA’s “Toast to the Winners” event during the organization’s national The Herald was named “Best of Show” at the 57th annual Green convention in St. Paul, Minn. Eyeshade awards for a series of 2007 investigative stories by editor Mike Buffington, that uncovered theft in the office of District Attorney Tim Madison. Madison resigned and he and his wife were ISWNE members fare well in Alberta contest later sentenced to prison for the theft scheme. The Alberta Weekly Newspapers Association’s spring meeting saw Buffington accepted the Green Eyeshade award at the SPJ and some ISWNE members taking home several awards. Atlanta Press Club banquet July 19 in Atlanta. Roger Holmes (publisher), Derek Kilbourn (associate editor) and The Green Eyeshade awards recognize outstanding journalism in 11 Kelly Clemmer (associate editor) of the Wainwright Star Chronicle Southeastern states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, won first place for best front page and best sports page in the 1,300 Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, to 1,999 circulation class. The Star Chronicle also won second place Tennessee and West Virginia. for overall general excellence. The contest includes all forms of reporting — television, radio, mag- The Wainwright Review, published by the same team, won first azines, online journalism and newspapers. The top Green Eyeshade place for best sports page and second place in overall general excel- award is selected from first-place winners in the various categories. lence and best front page in the under 1,299 circulation class. The This year, there were more than 600 entries. Wainwright EDGE took home third place for best editorial page in the 6,500 to 12,499 circulation class.

4 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors

Frank McTighe’s Macleod Gazette also took home awards in the Jon Snow of Channel 4 News and Alastair Stewart of ITN. Other under-1,299 circulation class — first place for general excellence speakers will include Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, Helen and best front page, and second place for best editorial page. Boaden of the BBC, Sun Online editor Pete Picton, former CBS News producer turned video journalist pioneer Michael Rosenblum, Gordon nominates winner of ethics award Financial Times’ executive editor Hugh Carnegie, IRN editor Jon Godel Paul Horrocks of the Manchester Evening News, Sitelynx Dave Gordon reports that Glen Mabie, who was the focus of his founder Graham Hansell, John Meehan of the Hull Daily Mail, panel presentation at the ISWNE conference in Detroit, has been Malcolm Pheby of the Nottingham Evening Post and Sir selected to receive SPJ’s national Ethics in Journalism Award. Christopher Meyer. Full details are at www.societyofeditors.co.uk. As Gordon discussed in Detroit, Mabie resigned his position as news director at WEAU-TV in Eau Claire, Wis., in January, rather than carry out his general manager’s directive to implement an agree- Stiff family, friends start scholarship drive ment under which a local hospital would pay the station to include Friends of the late Cary Stiff may contribute to a print journalism two “health news stories” per week in its newscasts — featuring, of scholarship at Columbia University by contacting Kathleen Dowling course, only this hospital and its employees, to the exclusion of all at the Columbia School of Journalism, 2950 Broadway, Mail Code other medical organizations in the area. 3801, New York, NY 10027-3801. Gordon nominated Mabie for the award. Andy Schotz, who attend- Contributions should be labeled “in memory of Cary Stiff, Class of ed the Detroit conference, is the chair of SPJ’s Ethics Committee this ‘64.” The family hopes to have a scholarship for a graduate student year. in place by the fall of 2009. Stiff, who died May 3 at the age of 71, served as president of ISWNE SoE announces conference speakers in 1983. He and his wife, Carol Wilcox, received the Eugene Cervi Award in 1997. Speakers from the cream of Great Britain’s media have been con- firmed to debate the media’s digital revolution at the 10th Society of Editors annual conference. Drumheller Valley Times launches Web site The conference, which takes place in Bristol, U.K., from Nov. 9-11, The Drumheller Valley Times in Alberta has launched a new Web will open with a rare speech from Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre site at www.drumhellervalleytimes.com. aboard Brunel’s historic liner, the SS Great Britain. New features include videos, a national sports feed, pet photos, and Andrew Marr, television historian and former BBC political editor, “Seniors Scene.” The Web site also features a blog, “Publisher’s will speak at the annual gala dinner where he will also present the Pennings,” which details Isabell Redding’s daily stories of life as a new Bevins “Rat up a Drainpipe” award for journalism that has small town newspaper publisher. rocked the boat. Redding seeks feedback on her blog; she can be contacted at Sessions will be chaired by the country’s top broadcasters, including [email protected]. Detroit:Detroit: AA wonderfulwonderful reciperecipe forfor aa goodgood timetime By Joyce Webster I can’t say enough about the members of inspire people to East Central Alberta Review this association and how they all make you also express their feel like you’ve been attending for years. I opinions — as it Travelling to Detroit probably wasn’t top on always knew I wanted to be a part of it. has been often my travel destinations, but receiving a The editorial page critique has inspired me said, “we are the scholarship to the ISWNE conference and to write more and spend more time on lay- keepers of democ- throwing in some air miles and a travelling out and design. For someone who really racy.” companion and already things were good. struggles with writing, a conference of this I’m looking for- Then add in all the new friendly faces, con- theme is truly valuable. Now to find the ward to next year versation, learning experiences, and culture time to do it. A community newspaper isn’t in PEI if every- and sights of Detroit and you’ve got a won- a newspaper unless we have a strong opin- thing works out derful recipe for not only a good time but a ion page, despite many in our communities well. very rewarding experience. Thanks to not recognizing what the role of a commu- Joyce Webster can Joyce Webster Donna and her colleagues for all their work nity newspaper is. Many think it’s just be contacted at in organizing the event. reporting the news; however, we know it’s to [email protected].

August 2008 5 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors

President Jeremy Waltner called the meeting newspapers entering the Golden Quill contest to order at 9:05 a.m. en masse and occasionally winning a Golden 1. The minutes of the January 12, 2008, board Minutes Dozen award. He asked whether they should even be allowed to participate. “These are meeting in San Diego were approved International Society (George/Hix). news magazines, not newspapers,” Painter of Weekly Newspaper Editors said. Stebbins then passed around the alterna- 2. Stebbins reported ISWNE had $13,922.57 in tive newspapers’ entries from this year. “These its checking account and a CD worth $22,000, Board of Directors Meeting, are not editorials or columns,” Brod said. for a total net worth of $35,922.57 as of June June 25, 2008 “These are stand-alone articles.” Wood said 17. ISWNE had a net worth of $32,169.97 one Stebbins had the right to be a gatekeeper and year earlier. From July 1, 2007, to June 17, Detroit, Michigan reject any entries that didn’t meet the contest 2008, ISWNE showed a net gain of $3,011.79. In Attendance: guidelines. The board approved a motion giv- The financial statement was approved ing Stebbins the authority to use his discretion (Brod/Painter). Jeremy Waltner Sandra George Chad Stebbins Jeremy Condliffe in disregarding Golden Quill entries 3. Stebbins reported that ISWNE had 237 paid Don Brod Harry Hix (Hix/Wood). members, an increase of 25 from 2007. He Charles Gay Vickie Canfield Peters* 9. Waltner updated the board on his efforts to said he had given out 145 complimentary Jim Painter Donna Remer* obtain a golden statue to present to the memberships in 2007 and that several of Chris Wood Deborah Givens* Golden Quill winner. “Finding someone to these people had paid dues for 2008 and *non-board member customize a mold with our logo has proven joined ISWNE. At the same time, ISWNE had quite difficult,” he said. Waltner said Bennett lost 19 members due to non-payment of 2008 Gallery in southern California would charge membership dues. $800 to make the mold and that Condliffe, 4. Vickie Canfield Peters updated the board on and Stratford upon Avon. He said he would Paul MacNeill, Tim Waltner, and he had her progress in writing ISWNE’s 50-year histo- investigate the possibilities and report to the donated enough money to cover the cost. The ry. She said the late Rick Friedman had done board in January. statue itself, on a granite pedestal, would cost some “amazing research,” but that there was $100. Waltner said the golden statute will be a big gap between 1970-75. It was pointed out Stebbins said ISWNE member Dick Crockford presented to the 2009 Golden Quill winner. that the late Landon Wills had kept a scrap- had mentioned Dillon, Montana, as a possi- ble conference location. Dillon is the home of 10. Painter said he was going to “pull the book of every conference he attended and that plug” on the ISWNE newswire, launched a these were now in the possession of Chris the University of Montana Western, which could provide residence halls and other facili- year ago. “It’s dead,” he said. “We had only Wills. Hix suggested that Canfield Peters talk four contributors.” with Manion Rice, a former faculty member ties. Crockford said Dillon is close to the first at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. two territorial capitals of Montana and has 11. The board discussed whether to have its The board also discussed ways Canfield Peters one of the finest "blue ribbon" trout streams in winter board meeting in Phoenix, Santa Fe, or could retrieve articles Friedman had written the United States. There would be logistical Albuquerque, and later settled on Santa Fe for about ISWNE for Editor & Publisher. problems in reaching Dillon, however, as the Jan. 10, 2009. nearest airport is in Butte, 64 miles away. 5. The board approved a motion expressing The board adjourned at 11:30 a.m. its “extreme appreciation” to Donna Remer 8. Stebbins brought up the issue of alternative and Sandra George for hosting the 2008 con- ference on such short notice (Brod/Hix). Remer said the conference should at least break even, perhaps even generating a small ISWNE new member profit. 6. Deborah Givens presented a letter from Al Bill Knight is deputy director of the journalism program at Cross, director of the Institute for Rural Western Illinois University in Macomb. He got his start in Journalism and Community Issues, asking to journalism as a 16-year-old, covering high school football host the 2010 ISWNE conference in conjunc- games for his hometown weekly, the Hancock County tion with Eastern Kentucky University. Journal in Carthage, Ill. Conference programming would include visits In college in the 1960s and 70s, he wrote for the student to former Gov. Brereton Jones’ horse farm newspaper and helped start a local “underground” paper. between Lexington and Frankfort, the historic After working for a small chain of weeklies, he launched a Woodford Reserve distillery, and the Kentucky Midwest alternative weekly, the Prairie SUN, which pub- Horse Park. Pre-conference field trips could lished from 1977-83, after which he was entertainment edi- include coal mines, natural areas, and news- tor for the Washington (D.C.) Weekly in 1984 and returned to Illinois to work until papers such as The Mountain Eagle in eastern 1991 at the Peoria Journal Star daily, where he covered entertainment, the environ- Kentucky. The board approved a motion to ment and wrote Sunday features. hold the 2010 conference in Kentucky from After a year with the San Diego Newspaper Guild, he started teaching full-time at June 23-27 (Hix/George). WIU, where his courses include beat reporting and opinion writing. Acknowledging 7. Condliffe expressed interest in hosting the Anna Quindlen’s line “Being a reporter is as much a diagnosis as a job description,” 2011 conference at the University of Warwick he never stopped writing, and still does a twice-weekly column published by west-cen- in Coventry, about 20 miles from Birming- tral Illinois weeklies and dailies. ham. The campus is close to Warwick Castle

6 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors General Membership Meeting

June 27, 2008 4. Paul MacNeill said the 2009 conference in proposal to the ISWNE board in January. Detroit, Michigan Prince Edward Island, June 24-28, would 7. Bill Haupt reported that the ISWNE President Jeremy Waltner called the meeting to include an Anne of Green Gables musical, a Foundation was providing $5,850 in scholar- order at 9:05 a.m. lobster dinner, a tour of a dune system, a talk ships for the Detroit conference. He said the by the PEI premier, and a session on Canadian past presidents would be contacted by Canfield 1. The minutes of the June 29, 2007, general defamation law. He said he had secured a membership meeting in Rapid City, South Peters, as the Foundation is trying to raise $5,000 sponsorship from the Atlantic $10,000 over a three-year period for an Dakota, were approved (Steve Dills/Vickie Community Newspapers Association. Canfield Peters). endowed past presidents’ scholarship. 5. Deborah Givens said the 2010 conference, 2. Chad Stebbins reported ISWNE had 8. Canfield Peters said she was planning to June 23-27, would be co-sponsored by the complete the 50-year history of ISWNE by the $13,922.57 in its checking account and a CD Institute for Rural Journalism and Community worth $22,000, for a total net worth of 2009 conference, but wouldn’t make any prom- Issues and Eastern Kentucky University. ises. She received applause. $35,922.57 as of June 17. ISWNE had a net Attendees will be housed at EKU in Richmond, worth of $32,169.97 one year earlier. From July about 25 miles south of Lexington. “We’ll have 9. Harry Hix presented a slate of officers from 1, 2007, to June 17, 2008, ISWNE showed a net bourbon,” she said. Former Gov. Brereton Jones the ISWNE past presidents: Don Brod, presi- gain of $3,011.79. The ISWNE Foundation had will host the group for a meal at his horse dent; Jim Painter, vice president; Chris Wood, a total net worth of $43,849.88 as of June 17. farm. board of directors; and Kris O’Leary, board of 3. Stebbins reported that ISWNE had a net gain directors. There were no nominations from the 6. Jeremy Condliffe received a positive response floor. The slate was approved. of 25 paid members from 2007, which drew from his suggestion to host the 2011 conference applause. Donna Remer also drew applause for in the United Kingdom. He will make a formal The meeting adjourned at 9:55 a.m. her efforts in hosting the Detroit conference. FoundationFoundation BoardBoard ofof DirectorsDirectors MeetingMeeting June 26, 2008 6. Canfield Peters said the board needed to Detroit, Michigan June 26, 2008 encourage the donation of additional endowed President Bill Haupt called the meeting to order Detroit, Michigan scholarships. She suggested asking the past at 7:10 p.m. ISWNE presidents to come up with $10,000, collectively, over a three-period. Haupt said he 1. The minutes of the January 11, 2008, meet- In Attendance: was concerned about “robbing Peter to pay ing in San Diego were approved (Hix/Canfield Bill Haupt Ursula Freireich Paul,” that the past presidents usually give on Peters). Tim Waltner Chad Stebbins a annual basis anyway. Hix said the past presi- 2. Stebbins reported that the ISWNE Founda- Vickie Canfield Peters dents could be challenged to do even more. The tion had $21,908.21 in its checking account, board approved a motion to initiate and pro- plus CDs worth $11,000 and $10,941.67, for a mote a three-year campaign to establish a past total balance of $43,849.88 as of June 17. The presidents’ endowed scholarship (Waltner/Hix). Foundation generated a $13,908.28 “profit” contest, perhaps calling it the “Baker’s Dozen.” The past presidents will be encouraged to from July 1, 2007, to June 17, but had to pay The board, after debating whether college stu- “donate above their current donating level.” the Detroit conference $5,850 for scholarships. dents are even eligible to enter the Golden Canfield Peters will send a letter to the past The financial report was approved (Canfield Quill contest, decided to ask the ISWNE board presidents asking for their help. Peters/Hix). to address the idea. In order to reach college students, Stebbins said suggested awarding a 7. The board approved a motion to retain the 3. The board suggested including the named conference scholarship each year to someone same officers as were elected last year: Haupt, scholarship recipients on the name tags at next teaching community journalism. Hix suggested president; Waltner, vice president; and year’s conference and explaining the signifi- awarding a conference scholarship to a student Stebbins, secretary/treasurer (Canfield cance of these ISWNE pioneers at the awards who has expressed interested in community Peters/Hix). Freireich and Canfield Peters will banquet. The board also suggested including a journalism. serve another year as board members, and red dot on the name tags to indicate a new- Jeremy Waltner will replace Hix as the past comer. 5. Haupt thanked Canfield Peters and Jan ISWNE president on the board. Haupt for running the ISWNE silent auction 4. The board discussed a suggestion to add a again this year. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. college/university winner to the Golden Dozen

August 2008 7 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors WeekliesWeeklies cancan makemake aa communitycommunity ofof strangersstrangers

By Melissa Hale-Spencer “The basis of our government being the Editor opinion of the people, the very first The Altamont Enterprise object should be to keep that right; and Altamont, NY were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without Editor’s note: This is the acceptance speech Melissa Hale-Spencer newspapers, or newspapers without gov- gave upon receiving the Golden Quill award at the ISWNE confer- ernment, I should not hesitate a moment ence in Detroit on June 28. to prefer the latter.” Jefferson, one of the chief authors of the When I was a kid, my favorite comic was Superman. Mild-man- grand experiment of democracy wrote nered Clark Kent always knew where trouble was because he that in 1787, just about a decade into worked as a reporter for the Daily Planet. He’d jump in the near- the experiment that is now in its third est phone booth and emerge with a giant letter “S” on his chest century. Melissa Hale-Spencer and a cape on his back — ready to help someone in need, ready So, with newspapers faltering now, what to right wrongs. will happen to our government? Would the United States be at I grew up. war if coverage of the president’s claims of weapons of mass destruction or of 9/11 links to Iraq had been more thorough or I found new heroes — among them the framers of our critical? Constitution. One of my touchstones during my 20 years at The Altamont Enterprise — a small, independent weekly in Albany We are all painfully aware that circulation for daily newspapers is County, New York — has been this thought of Thomas Jefferson: falling. We wince each time we learn of another round of layoffs, another foreign bureau shut down, another paper closed. Television and the Internet allow us to learn instantly what is happening on the other side of the world. But the depth and per- spective and reliability of newspapers are irreplaceable. While dailies are struggling, not everyone is aware that circula- tion for weekly newspapers in the United States is growing. A sur- vey last year by the National Newspaper Association found that 83 percent of adults read a community newspaper each week, up from 81 percent in 2005. According to the 2007 survey, local com- munity papers are the primary source of information by a two-to- one margin over the next most popular medium — television. The 2007 findings note that 99 percent of readers read local news, up from 95 percent in 2005; 92 percent read school news, the same as in 2005, and 94 percent read state government news, up from 91 percent in 2005. Just over three-quarters of readers believe their local news coverage is good to excellent. I believe weekly newspapers are growing in readership because they offer news that can’t be found elsewhere. While much media attention is given to national and state issues and elections in our country, it is easy to forget that many of the decisions that most affect our everyday lives are made locally. Newspapers, often weeklies, are sometimes the only source for citi- zens to make informed decisions on those close-to-home issues. So, while we may not be squeezing into phone booths, and emerging with colorful capes, those of us working for the Weekly Planet are, like Clark Kent, aware of what is happening in our communities. We stay away from the kryptonite of citizen apathy by empowering our readers with knowledge. We use our editorial voices to right wrongs and help those in trouble. Forest Byrd is a talented young artist who is looking to do illustrations or car- Our paper, like many of yours, covers exclusively local news. We toons for newspapers for a reasonable fee via the Internet. (In the New York weeklies help democracy work at its roots. Before local elections in Press Association’s competition this year, he won both first and third place for the schools and towns we cover, we clearly delineate the issues, cartoons and also won a prize for graphic illustration.) He can be called at ask candidates the tough questions, and let voters make an 518-488-4472 or reached by e-mail at [email protected].

8 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors informed choice. Utah, was named to the Golden Dozen for his editorial on a rural We do more than just run pictures with the candidates spouting gas leak that was ignored until he spoke up. their favorite slogans because we know the issues — we’ve covered Weekly papers, too, can make a community of strangers. This them year-round, week in and week out. past year, we wrote about African refugees in our midst that few We write about the budgets that dictate the work that is done by had been aware of. our towns and the programs that are taught in our schools. It started with a minister who told our reporter, Saranac Hale Because we have reporters at zoning and planning meetings, our Spencer, that a group of refugees had joined her congregation in readers can find out about the development that is going on in Albany, New York. She followed the thread from there to a memo- their neighborhood from large subdivisions and new malls to dis- rial service held on the anniversary of the massacre that sent the cussions on a single sign. Joyce Webster, publisher of the Banyamulenge, a tribe of Tutsis, fleeing from Africa. Coronation Review in Alberta, was named to the Golden Dozen Here, in our midst, were people who had endured unspeakable for her editorial on the need to let the elderly age in place rather suffering that few in our community had ever heard of. Saranac than shunting them off to the edge of town. listened to their stories and she tracked down experts on that part Because they’re informed, citizens can participate in shaping their of Africa to put their plight in perspective. community. And, through a great deal of persistence, she told the story of an We cover the crime in our towns, not just the murders or the drug incredible journey to freedom, a detailed and moving account of a busts, but the shoplifting and the drunk driving, too. Because we woman who had literally walked across Africa, with children in look at all the arrest reports, we discover the trends and inform tow, the war always at her back. She also included an article on the public. Gisele McKnight, editor of the Kings County Record in programs to help refugees and we ran an editorial, calling people New Brunswick, wrote convincingly about the disparity of parole to action. The result was raised consciousness in our community in the Canadian justice system. Richard Mostyn, editor of the and many offers of help. Yukon News, pointedly asks “What’s a person worth?” as he com- The editorial that won the Golden Quill was based on another pares the handling of two missing-person cases — one of a 19- story by my daughter, Saranac. She wrote about a widow who year-old aboriginal woman and the other a 35-year-old visitor, was forced from her home after the village turned off her water who was white. for unpaid bills. Saranac grew up on the old newsroom adage: Our letters pages allow the community to talk to itself. The Comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable. Stonewalled by exchange of ideas exposes problems and leads to solutions. village officials, she worked doggedly to piece the story together People come to us with their stories because they trust our report- and inform the community of what its government had done. ing. One woman who trusted our paper with her story was abused A good newspaper empowers readers by informing them; it also, by a man who also abused the system. We wrote an in-depth quite literally, puts the community on the same page. One of my series about how he repeatedly made false reports that his ex-wife favorite examples of this is a simple one. had committed crimes, tying up family-service and police agen- We published a story outlining the work that would have to be cies that were compelled to investigate. done to complete a local high-school track after the government In another series, after the mother of a teenage girl came to us, we funding for the project had run out. One of our readers decided detailed the allegations that she was repeatedly raped by her the job should be finished. He owned a bulldozer and he organ- father, yet he was not arrested; enough readers called the district ized a crew to begin work. Others joined in; the track is finished attorney’s office that she finally got her day in court. now and is a credit to a proud community. Another issue where we’ve seen readers react and make a differ- Weekly newspapers have the power to inform readers, which, in ence in their governance has been with property valuation. A turn, can accomplish something even harder than moving earth series of articles detailing badly skewed tax rolls led to enough cit- — moving government. izen protest that some towns that hadn’t reassessed for decades If newspapers go, the foundation of democracy will, too. We need finally did so. the research and depth, the accuracy and care that come with Environmental coverage is yet another area where informed citi- newspaper reporting. We need the variety of voices that speak zens can make a difference. After many years of relentless investi- through our pages. We need to stay strong for the sake of gation and assiduous reporting on the toxic wastes left by the democracy. Army in a largely-abandoned depot in one of our towns, we final- ly saw some results. Melissa Hale-Spencer can be contacted at [email protected]. John Hales, managing editor of The Sanpete Messenger in Manti,

August 2008 9 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors DonDon BrodBrod comescomes fullfull circlecircle withwith ISWNEISWNE Editor’s note: This is the acceptance speech Don Brod gave upon assum- ing the ISWNE presidency June 28 at the conference in Detroit.

George Burns said, "If you live long enough, you're bound to make a comeback." Well, 16 years after retiring as executive secretary of this organization, here I am tonight receiving the presidential chain of office from Jeremy. The chain is passing from the youngest president in the history of ISWNE to, in all probability, the oldest. I don't know what that says for the organization. Jeremy represents youth as well as tradition, since he is the son of an ISWNE past-president. And I represent…just hanging around a long time. As almost everybody here knows, this organization was founded by H.R. Long at Southern Illinois University in the mid-1950s. It started small but it grew and prospered. H.R. had a talent for organization and pro- motion, and the International Conference, later International Society, flourished. After H.R. retired, several others tried keeping everything going, including publishing Grassroots Editor, but things went downhill. Eventually SIU said that it would no longer support the organization, and it would have to move. In effect, ISWNE was being evicted. One of the leading members of the organization was Rick Friedman, Don Brod who ran a couple papers in the south suburbs of Chicago. He had close ties to the journalism program at Northern Illinois University, and he I continued my membership in the organization after that, but I never suggested a move there. dreamed that I would end up handling the sacred regalia. So one day in 1976, four delegates from the poor homeless organization There has been some interest expressed about the ISWNE regalia. So I'll showed up at NIU. I was in my first year of my first term as chair of the mention that briefly before mercifully sitting down. H.R. Long had ties Department of Journalism. I knew of ISWNE because I had been read- with many individuals and organizations in Great Britain. One of the ing Grassroots Editor for a number of years. Irv Kummerfeldt, who continuing results is the Greenslade Bursary, which brings an editor would become executive secretary if things worked out, took the group from the U.K. or Ireland to our annual conferences. Susan Windram of on a tour of the Lorado Taft Field Campus, the NIU outdoor education Selkirk, Scotland, is here this year because of the Bursary. Sometimes facility on the bluffs overlooking the Rock River near Oregon, Illinois. Bursary recipients hang around awhile. David Burke of Tuam, County This is where the conferences would be held. Galway, Ireland, ended up president of this organization. And Jeremy After they returned, they all came over to my house for dinner. After Condliffe of Congleton, Cheshire, U.K., who is here tonight, is a member dinner we all went into my living room — as I recall, some of us sitting of our board of directors. on the floor — and began to work out an agreement that would work Well, Long knew Major H.R. Pratt Boorman, publisher of the Kent for both ISWNE and NIU. Those four delegates were Rick Friedman, Bill Messenger. When he became president of the Newspaper Society of Rannie from St. Catherines, Ontario, Garrett Ray of Littleton, Colorado, Great Britain, Long invited him to speak at the conference banquet. and the vice president of the organization, and M.J. Schneider (now Major Pratt Boorman came, and he brought a gift — this mace. It's a Lentz) of Boyertown, Pennsylvania, the first female president of ISWNE. replica of a larger mace that is kept in the Guild Hall in London. Rick and Bill are no longer with us. M.J. is not at this conference. But Garrett Ray, who played a great role in the headquarters move, is here A few years later Kay Clemetsen, another friend of Long's and editor of tonight. the Kent and Sussex Courier, became the first woman president of the Newspaper Society. H.R. invited her to speak at the banquet. She did, So we worked out a plan that would work, so long as I could sell it to and she presented ISWNE with a silver reproduction of the badge of the my bosses, the dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and the president of the Editors Guild. It was mounted on a ribbon and accom- president of the university. So the brand-new department chair, still wet panied by a supply of silver bars on which to engrave the names of behind the ears, plunged ahead — and it worked. I got the necessary ISWNE presidents. graduate assistant help that was needed and the rest, as they say, is his- tory. I became executive secretary and editor of Grassroots Editor after Both the ribbon and the bars have been replaced over the years, but the my first term as department chair ended in 1981, and I hung on until badge remains. retirement in 1992. And I wear it with great honor and humility.

10 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors BrianBrian leftleft aa wonderfulwonderful legacylegacy Editor’s note: This is the speech Gail Krabben and Lorine Stevens gave in Detroit on June 28 upon presenting the first Brian Mazza Memorial Scholarship.

Thank you for this opportunity to pay tribute to our big brother, Brian Mazza. Brian was only 45 when he died so unexpectedly last spring, but he left our family, our town and the community press with a wonder- ful legacy. His dedication to journalism and enthusiasm for com- munity service made Rocky Mountain House a better place. As editor of The Mountaineer, Brian approached his work with heart and integrity. He had a deep knowledge of every aspect of our community and a talent for writing about events and issues from an insightful perspective. Brian had great analytical skills, which became apparent at an early age. In grade school he set up a lemonade stand and kept Gail Krabben (far right) and sister Lorine Stevens present the first Brian relocating it until he found the most lucrative location. Our local Mazza Memorial Scholarship award to Derek Kilbourn. movie theatre owner remembered Brian as the only kid to demand his money back when he didn’t care for the movie. Award for his work with Rocky’s Bicentennial project, and the Brian’s career in newspaper industry began when our parents pur- Humanitarian Award, for giving a voice to humanitarian cam- chased The Mountaineer in their hometown of Rocky Mountain paigns and being an advocate for local charities. House in 1967; he was six years old. He spent most of his after Brian was a positive, open, outgoing person with a zest for life. He school hours doing odd jobs in the printing plant. By junior high tackled projects with whole-hearted enthusiasm. He loved talking to school, Brian was working in the darkroom developing film and people, travelling, photography, books, the arts, cycling, and shar- photos for the newspaper. His interest in the business quickly ing a good bottle of wine. Family was very important to Brian; he expanded to include writing, and he decided to pursue a career in was proud to be part of a second generation family business, and journalism. He attended The University of Calgary and graduated also spent a lot of time with family outside of work. He especially with a political science degree. He worked at the campus newspaper loved sharing time with his nieces and nephew, reading stories, giv- during most of his studies. Before settling in Rocky, he did a brief ing rides and playing games. He is deeply missed. apprenticeship with Jim MacNeill at the Eastern Graphic in The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors was very Montague, Prince Edward Island. Jim, incidentally, encouraged special to Brian. It represented a combination of so many things he Brian to join ISWNE. loved: writing, traveling, sharing ideas and meeting new people. He Brian became editor of The Mountaineer in 1988 after four years as loved the idea of being part an organization committed to raising a staff reporter. Politics were one of Brian’s greatest interests. His col- the standards of community journalism. He was inspired by the umn, “Ink by the Barrel,” was topical, well-informed and gave him people he met and the ideas and experiences he shared. an opportunity to analyze and comment on politics in depth. He Serving as president of ISWNE (which he always pronounced “Ice- was extremely knowledgeable about Rocky’s history and events, Wine”) in 1994-95 was a highlight of his career. He was thrilled to and he was often contacted by CBC Radio and other media to pro- wear the Society’s Chain of Office, which he spent many hours vide commentary. restoring after years of inattention. Brian deeply valued the friend- He wrote some hard-hitting editorials when, from his view, things ships which he forged over the past 20 years, since attending his needed to change. Brian took a strong stand in 1997 when the first conference in 1986. He always looked forward to attending the Alberta Government introduced Video Lottery Terminals (or VLTs) Society’s annual convention, and he organized two conferences, in bars across the province. He wrote about his dislike of the whole welcoming delegates to Calgary in 1994 and Edmonton three years VLT initiative, asserting that government should not rely on gam- ago. bling as a source of revenue. He supported a successful petition to We are honored to have the ISWNE establish the Brian Mazza have VLTs banned from town. I remember feeling a bit cheeky and Memorial Scholarship which be awarded annually to a Canadian one day I decided to gamble a few dollars before the VLTs were editor to attend this conference. It is a fitting (and for our family a removed. As I sat at a machine, I heard Brian’s voice...I turned to touching) acknowledgement of a consummate newsman dedicated find him but he was nowhere to be seen. After a moment, I realized to serving his community and the weekly newspaper industry. he was on television, being interviewed about the controversy. And now, it is our privilege to present the first Brian Mazza Memor- Brian was deeply dedicated to community service and spent many ial Scholarship to Derek Kilbourn of Wainwright, Alberta. hours volunteering with a long list of local organizations. He was honoured with the Chamber of Commerce Community Service Gail Krabben can be contacted at [email protected].

August 2008 11 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors DetroitDetroit hadhad plentyplenty toto offer,offer, butbut notnot asas muchmuch asas ISWNEISWNE

By Susan Windram your impressions of a place. But I’d guess that So, while I enjoyed Group Editor most visitors will probably judge a place on the various trips to Southern Reporter the people the come into contact with. the Ford museum Selkirk, Scotland And so with that in mind, I have to say I real- and GM heritage ly liked Detroit, and I really enjoyed the con- centre, the baseball When I received the invitation to attend this ference. I met a lot of great people — particu- game (‘Go Tigers!’), year’s conference back in January, I admit I’d larly my “roomies” (I’ll get the duty-free and the talk on the never heard of the International Society of vodka next year girls!) — and enjoyed some Diego Rivera Weekly Newspaper Editors and therefore had really interesting conversations. murals at the DIA little to no idea of what I was letting myself in But then put a bunch of journalists in a room — and the extra- for when I accepted the invitation to Detroit. and you can’t fail to have an interesting time. curricular visit to Doing a little research before flying in, I men- Put a bunch of journalists in a room with a the Motown tioned the trip to a friend who lives in New free bar and it usually gets REAL interesting. Museum on Susan Windram York. His reaction was fairly Saturday — the best A couple of the highlights for me were Osama part for me was downbeat...Detroit’s known as the Rust Belt, Siblani’s talk and the session with the attor- lots of unemployment, lots of poverty, lots of meeting and talking to members. I suspect neys involved in the Kwame Kilpatrick case. that was everyone’s favourite part, though! crime. A colleague told me a story about The ethics panel managed to get a few people friends who had visited the city last year — fired up, as you’d expect, but I’m still not sure Looking to next year, I thought I might give they had got lost one evening and ended up how the PR guy manages to square the circle! you guys the benefit of the doubt and come in a “dodgy part of town.” On getting out of again, just to make sure you were as friendly But the main attraction was having the and as interesting as I thought you were. their car to ask for directions, the young chance to talk to fellow editors and publishers woman they approached screamed at them, about the smaller, nitty gritty issues faced by I’ve started to do my homework on PEI — “please don’t shoot me!” I’m not sure whether their communities and their weekly papers. because, let’s face it Paul, these colour that was a reflection on the visitors, or the brochures you brought to Detroit made the area they’d got lost in! The one thing that struck me talking to island look a bit dull! — and it sounds like a ISWNE members is that when it comes down However, on Googling the city, Wikipedia home from home: lush landscape, rolling to it, people are people, and a lot of situations hills...and rain! Sign me up! offered another view, a far more factual I face as a weekly newspaper editor in account, not skirting round the problems, but Scotland are very similar to those faced by Susan Windram can be contacted at balancing those out with the positives. weekly newspaper editors in America or [email protected]. Of course it wasn’t the whole story and what I Canada. discovered when I came to Detroit gave another spin on the city. Yes, there’s a lot of poverty and a lack of investment (the number of poor people and A note from Donna Remer the illiteracy figures Donna quoted were stag- gering), but I also discovered a lot of great Thanks to all who attended the Detroit conference this year. I things about Detroit. had a great time and have heard positive comments from I think one of the greatest things going for the local people who were impressed by the members of ISWNE city is the Detroiters. Because when it comes and our mission. Many of them have heard me talk about the down to it, it is the people who drive Detroit. I group for years...but you really have to see it to believe it! agree, the city could do with replacing the guy Thank you for the gifts that were presented at the banquet. I in charge at the moment because it sounds stopped at the bookstore on the way home so Dylan and Chris like he’s wandered WAY off route and turned could stock up on summer reading material. They are very off the satellite navigation system. But from grateful to you, not just for the gift certificates but also for the Donna and the speakers she’d organized for friendships they made during the conference. It means a lot, to the conference, to the people I met at the them and to me. Tigers game, the Motown Museum and the And, thank you for the beautiful vase from the Detroit Institute of Arts. It will always be a DIA, there’s a lot of people who love and care reminder of the conference and my ISWNE friends. The gift certificate to the DIA was about Detroit, and it is these people who will extremely generous and it will be used, with pleasure. help turn things around. For those of you with a new interest in Detroit politics, last week Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick Like me, many visitors’ view of Detroit will, got into a physical scuffle with a process server, his bond was revoked and he can’t leave I’m sure, be based on the people they meet as the state until the charges are resolved. There are recall petitions out there, but the earliest it will be on the facilities and attractions. The it could be on a ballot is February. Meanwhile, Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick, the mayor’s scenery, the architecture, the culture and the mother, is running for re-election to Congress. The Detroit Free Press web site is a good politics are important and have a bearing on place to keep up to date, if you are interested.

12 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors HeadHead overover heelsheels inin DetroitDetroit

By Mary “Bix” Waltner city ER. Furthermore, looming in the forefront of my mind was the worst case scenario: that I The 2008 Detroit ISWNE conference is one that had some sort of fracture requiring surgery, a I will not soon forget. stay in the hospital, and weeks of recovery with my right arm in a cast. The picture I International Society of Weekly Newspaper painted in my mind was not pretty. Editors conference planner Donna Remer organized the 2008 conference, which took We arrived in short order at the Detroit place on the campus of Wayne State Receiving Hospital, where I was immediately University in Detroit June 24-28. She worked whisked into a treatment area. I was told that tirelessly to put together sessions that were I would be getting x-rays, and then they would interesting and provocative for the 80-plus proceed with whatever needed to be done, conference attendees. depending on the results of the x-rays. Thankfully I had no breaks or fractures, but The group learned much about the city of my shoulder was dislocated. Detroit including its rich art history and cultur- al diversity. It also included discussions about My very kind nurse then explained to me the procedures of administering the drugs to “put This whole experience has renewed my faith its automotive industry, the mayoral scandal, in the goodness of people. I felt genuine con- infrastructure issues and high illiteracy rates. me under conscious sedation” during which time the doctor would put my shoulder back cern from the DRH medical staff. Clearly the At times we focus too much on the negative. into place. After giving me a run-down of health care system in this country needs to be So when my husband, Tim, suggested that I medication side-effects such as “decreased res- overhauled — I am fortunate to have good write an account of our positive experience at pirations which could stop altogether” (in health insurance — but this experience has one of Detroit’s health care facilities for the other words, death), she continued to reassure been a jolting reminder of just how important July issue of the ISWNE newsletter, I agreed me and said “don’t worry, you’ll be fine. We’ll quality health care is to every citizen regardless that this was a good idea. take good care of you.” She then asked about of economic or social status. Detroit’s health care system was not a part of my family and we discovered that we had our The people we encountered in Detroit — from our discussions at the conference. Little did I love of grandchildren in common. My nurse the medical staff at Detroit Receiving to a know that Tim and I would encounter, first- was sensitive to my fears and quickly put me stranger who drove Tim and me to our ISWNE hand, one of Detroit’s finest health care facili- at ease. Before I knew it, the drugs were tour — were generous, kind and decent ties. administered, I was counting backwards from human beings. On the morning of June 26, at 7:30 a.m., I was 20; the doctor said I got to 12. Because I work in a health care facility, I value dimly aware that it was morning in my dorm When I awoke — it took less than two minutes the responses of our customers/clients who room on the campus of WSU; there was noise — the staff made sure I was doing fine and walk through our doors each day. So I outside, and it was time to get up and begin discharged me. googled Detroit Receiving Hospital and found my day. I rolled over — and landed in a heap I’m happy to report that my experience at contact information. I e-mailed them about on the Very Hard Floor. I knew immediately Detroit Receiving Hospital was positive. From my positive experience at their ER, and that I was injured. I looked at my deformed the paramedics, to the radiologist, to the nurs- thanked them, knowing how meaningful posi- right shoulder and the pain felt as bad as my ing staff and my doctor at DRH, all acted with tive and sincere feedback can be to staff. arm looked. kindness, compassion, courtesy and profession- I was surprised, upon our return home, to With the help of my dear husband who called alism, with genuine concern for my well-being. have a message on our phone from the HR 911, and my roomy Jan Haupt, my bag was It was heartening to observe this same caring person at Detroit Receiving Hospital, thanking packed, my teeth were brushed, (Jan MADE attitude from the staff, as they cared for other me for the e-mail message I had sent. I was me brush my teeth — “you don’t want that patients in the ER that morning. pleased. nasty morning breath in the ER do you?” she In addition, the hospital arranged for our And even more surprised, when I checked my said, smiling sweetly) and we were on our way transportation back to Wayne State by con- personal e-mail, a response from the director by ambulance to Detroit Receiving Hospital. (I tacting WSU security to pick us up. of ER services, (the same doctor who put my was wheeled out to the ambulance in front of My ER experience at Detroit Receiving Hospital shoulder into place) again thanking me for the my ISWNE friends and hundreds of teenagers affirmation. This led to a brief e-mail attending a dance camp, and who, I’m cer- was completed within three hours. We were able to make it to the next ISWNE session, exchange in which the physician offered words tain, thought this was all very entertaining. I of advice and reassurance. said to one of the paramedics “I’m so embar- barely, no thanks to the Detroit cab company, rassed,” and he responded, “Just close your but that’s another story. I will say that thanks I have since learned that the Detroit Receiving eyes — you’ll never see these kids again.”) to a perfect stranger who was kind enough to Hospital is considered to have one of the top drive us, we were able to join the bus tour! trauma units in the country. I was really, really scared. I had heard horror stories of patients taken to ERs and having to Having had bilateral foot surgery seven weeks In my book, they are tops. wait for hours to see a doctor. I had never earlier, my mobility was already limited. Now Mary “Bix” Waltner can be contacted at been to a “big city hospital,” let alone a big I was, as Tim put it, down to one good limb! [email protected].

August 2008 13 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors TipsTips forfor recruitingrecruiting ruralrural reportersreporters

By David Porter will be a news junkie at work. she likes working Director of Communications • Ask them to write a story. If you don’t there. By doing this Illinois Press Association have a test made up, have them interview upfront, the you. reporter typically I’d rather squeeze lemon juice into my eye • Consider whether a free-lance reporter doesn’t move all of than to have to hire a reporter. Well, could step into a full-time position. Or work her belongings out almost. with someone who wants part-time hours of her parents’ I thought I was the only one who felt that when you have a full-time position. That basement until way until I picked up the Spring 2008 edi- person may do well with a part-time sched- after the 90-day tion of Grassroots Editor, a journal published ule or work into a full-time schedule. period. by the International Society of Weekly • Consider a local person with no reporting • If the reporter’s Newspaper Editors. Most of the issue is experience. Sometimes, a person’s knowl- main interest is the devoted to rural recruitment of reporters. edge of the community and her stash of money, he’s proba- David Porter Some of the papers were in such far-flung contacts will trump formal training. bly not a great fit places as Alaska, Montana, Nova Scotia and for a rural reporting • Someone with a “bug” for reporting will be position. But if he asks about beats and how the...Yukon Territory. Every Illinois town is a motivated to learn the ropes faster. Look for virtual metropolis by comparison, but it can many reporters are on staff, it shows that enthusiasm. he’s more interested in the workload expec- still be tough to lure highly qualified people • Be honest about the community in which to rural areas. tations. you live and work. If you describe the com- • Know where your business is going. If At some newspapers where I’ve worked, we munity as progressive and it’s not, the were lucky to have one applicant for the you’re looking to do more online, look for reporter may feel misled and will not want someone with those skills and interest. open slot, so it would come down to hiring a to live there long-term. warm body and trying to turn him into a • Plan on having to train whoever you hire • Sell the strengths of your community. If for a rural post. highly qualified reporter. there’s great fishing, hunting and other out- Here are a few hiring tips gleaned (read: door recreation, advertise that to potential • Titles mean something to young reporters. stolen) from the Grassroots Editor: reporters. You may find someone who would One newspaper found that it received more • Use your own interviewing skills to throw rather work there to satisfy his off-work hob- applicants faster when it advertised for a him off his game. Ask him how much bies. Low pay can be offset by great living “reporter/editor” rather than a “reporter.” money he wants to earn — you’ll see how conditions. • Give reporters room to do things they want well he handles a difficult topic. • Take the prospective reporter to lunch with to do in addition to the assignments they Ask her if she would consider a job in PR. the rest of the reporting staff and encourage have to do. That lets you know how much she knows your staff to be blunt about the workload • Be flexible with schedules. If a reporter about your industry. and the job. See how the prospect fits with works a lot of nights and weekends, does she Ask him what he’s reading currently. It can the rest of the staff. need to be there at 9 a.m. every day? clue you in about his interest in the world • Establish a 90-day trial period so you can David Porter can be contacted at around him. A news junkie in his spare time evaluate the reporter, and she can decide if [email protected].

14 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors HowHow ItIt WorksWorks

By R. Braiden Trapp Lastly, we weigh how the candidates reason to not Managing editor answered issue questions against what they endorse him. Rio Grande Sun said when given the opportunity to speak Another thing that Española, N.M. freely. Sometimes they don’t match. has nothing to do May 29, 2008 The most important thing to consider is how with endorsements the candidate would represent our readership. is where the candi- In light of grumblings made by some of the Our issues are very different from the rest of date was born, has candidates not endorsed by the SUN and two the state’s. For instance, water issues and drug lived, resides or letters this week, we’d like to explain the sim- abuse are more intense here. We are under where his family is. ple process by which we decide political the umbrella of an electric cooperative, not Someone who endorsements. PNM. We have Windstream for telephone thinks their home- We sit down and listen to any of the candi- service, not Qwest and we pay long distance town candidate dates who wish to do so. While we start with a charges to call Santa Fe. should win for that R. Braiden Trapp short list of open-ended questions, we mostly While we are certainly happy to allow politi- reason is part of the like to listen to what each candidate has to cians to pay for the use of our 12,000 circula- problem. No one say, what their issues are and what they feel tion, that has no bearing on whether we has a hometown advantage in a district race. they can do for constituents in their particular endorse them or not. Louis Gallegos is upset The only domicile criteria is that the candi- race. that he spent money with us and Bruce date live in the district and in all of the races, We listen to our reporters who have spent a Throne didn’t, yet Throne was endorsed. It this has been verified. lot more time, almost on a weekly basis, talk- had nothing to do with Mr. Throne’s choice to Lastly, we have to think about what would be ing with candidates over the past six months. not use the best advertising vehicle in the best for the readers. We don’t always vote for They’ve asked a lot more questions and have northern part of the district. His endorsement the people we endorse. Our needs or wishes heard more answers than anyone. They’ve had to do with the above mentioned criteria. may be different from the general readership also heard the long version of answers we Does Mr. Gallegos really think we can be but we serve the readership and must take have to edit down to fit into our, question- bought with a couple hundred dollars worth them into account while endeavoring to put naire pages. of ads? If that’s the case, he’s not very familiar our personal biases aside. It’s no surprise, politicians can talk a lot, with this part of the district, and how the local R. Braiden Trapp can be contacted at mostly just to hear their own voice. newspaper operates, which was part of our [email protected]. Fueling the Future

By Charles L. Westmoreland long winters and remote locations force “Alaska is an Managing editor Alaskans to use more fuel — and at a example of a The Capital City Weekly greater transportation cost — than their place in the U.S. to Juneau, Alaska counterparts in other states. push for renew- July 23, 2008 The average Alaskan uses 750 to 1,000 gal- able energy,” he lons of fuel each year. That quantity is mul- said. “We’re not Energy experts say that Alaska can be — tiplied three to four times that in rural com- connected to and in many ways already is — a model for munities. Canada or the lower 48 grid. the rest of the United States in terms of con- At the same time, the state has many viable verting to renewable energy. We’re on our own sites for wind, solar, hydroelectric, biomass already, and we It’s ironic that the state with billions of gal- and geothermal energy production. have the money. lons of oil and natural gas and about half Rich Seifert, a University of Alaska energy We have the the nation’s coal supply would spend heavi- expert based in Fairbanks, believes some choice to build our Charles Westmoreland ly on alternative fuels, but state politicians form of renewable energy is possible in near- own future.” are willing to pony up for the research. The ly every part of the state. Alaska lawmakers recently proposed invest

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August 2008 15 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors WeeklyWeekly ArgusArgusendsends publicationpublication afterafter 185185 yearsyears

By Chelsea Conaboy publications, including the Connecticut Concord Monitor Valley Spectator, the Eagle Times, the Concord, N.H. Weekly Flea and the Message for the Week. July 16, 2008 It sold Hillsboro’s weekly, The Villager, last year. Editor’s note: The Argus Champion of The Argus covers the towns of Andover, Newport, N.H., was known around ISWNE Bradford, Croydon, Goshen, Grantham, as “Ed DeCourcy’s paper.” He didn’t own it, Lempster, Newbury, New London, Newport, but he was the respected and, yes, revered Springfield, Sutton, Sunapee, Unity, Warner editor for 20 years. DeCourcy also put his and Wilmot. stamp on ISWNE. He was president in 1962 Jim Lantz, a longtime supporter of the and won both the Golden Quill (1971) and Argus, said he was shocked. the Eugene Cervi Award (1981). The long- The Argus “has carried the news of the com- time patriarch of New England community munity,” said Lantz, who owns MJ Harring- journalism died in 2005 at the age of 93. ton & Co. Jewelers in Newport. “It’s been a reliable source.” The Argus Champion, a weekly newspaper Sutton columnist Christine Nelson said she that has covered the greater Lake Sunapee was disappointed the newspaper was clos- area since 1823, will stop publication at the ing. Nelson raises monarch butterflies and Ed DeCourcy on his 40th birthday in 1952. end of this month, according to this morn- was looking forward to writing a column ing’s edition. about them in August. In a letter to readers, Publisher Harvey Hill “I just feel bad that it’s (closing at) the end would go on in perpetuity.” said the newspaper has been losing money of the month,” she said. “That’s just too each month. In his letter to readers, Hill highlights several quick to wrap up everything.” newspapers across the country — the “We are truly sorry to have to make this Joan Lamson estimated that she has been a Albuquerque Tribune, the San Francisco announcement,” Hill wrote. “We feel a columnist for New London for about 20 Chronicle and the Miami Herald — that heavy burden, shutting down a newspaper years. She hadn’t received the e-mail from have closed, reported large losses or laid off that has been in existence for 185 years.” Marx, but she had heard the news from a employees. But the Argus is different from Hill said regular subscribers will receive a let- relative who heard it downtown. those newspapers in that it is focused wholly ter explaining their options for prepaid sub- “I can’t believe it,” she said. “I’m dumb- on local news. Media experts have said scriptions. He did not return several mes- founded.” locally focused papers have a better chance sages left at his home and office. She said Ed DeCourcy, who was editor for 21 of surviving in trying financial times. News of the closing started to spread yester- years before retiring in 1982 and who died Hill wrote that, by Jan. 1, newsprint costs day when editor Jana Marx notified paid in 2005, would be upset. will have increased 49 percent in 13 months. local columnists by e-mail. She asked them “He wouldn’t believe it,” she said. “It just He said readers and advertisers are continu- to collect stories about Argus history for the ally moving to the Internet. final edition, which will run two weeks from seems like this is the kind of paper that today. Early this month, before the decision to close was announced, the Monitor hired Marx, who has been the Argus’s editor since 2006. ISWNE new member She declined to comment for this story. “We here at the office are all taking this Before entering academe full-time in 2000, Bill Reader was pretty hard; we’ve worked really hard on a committed small-town newspaper journalist, having this paper and I think it’s at its best place worked for four different community newspapers in central right now,” Marx wrote in the e-mail. Pennsylvania in a variety of capacities (reporter, photogra- She went on to say that she hoped someone pher, copy editor, graphics editor, assistant editor, and would come forward to buy the newspaper. opinion-page editor). She encouraged people to write to Hill to tell Now a professor in the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism at him what they think of the decision to close. Ohio University, Reader is that school's in-house champion The Argus has a circulation of about 4,500. for community-focused journalism. He is a founding mem- It is one of the oldest weekly newspapers in ber and officer in the Community Journalism Interest New Hampshire, according to the Web site Group of AEJMC, an academic partner with the Institute for Rural Journalism and for its parent company, Twin State Valley Community Issues, and is on the continuing education committee of the National Media Network. The company also publish- Newspaper Association. es several New Hampshire and Vermont

16 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors DeCourcyDeCourcy andand PridePride werewere terrificterrific editorseditors By John Skow steady, civil, serious and good-humored editor is a kind of adult hall guard, whose Concord Monitor way. Could he have worked the pressure- function is to say “Don’t run, don’t fight, Concord, N.H. relief valves of big-time staff egos? Maybe don’t use naughty language, don’t shoot July 22, 2008 not, but for the most part, like any small- rubber bands at girls.” town editor, he was his own staff. Does this mean that a newspaper or maga- Editors get a lot of “Dear Sir, you cur” letters, He editorialized coolly and reasonably, zine staff is a kind of adult high school? Sure but this isn’t one of them. The sorry news though a sharp rise in temperature was it does, and... that the Newport Argus Champion has detectable when he allowed himself to point Never mind. Mike Pride kept the Monitor turned off its presses after 185 years got me out the evils sure to ooze forth from the new chugging as an absolutely first-class small to thinking about the late Ed DeCourcy, who state lottery. This he did rarely. As he said to daily. His fiendishly sensible political slant edited this small weekly through the ‘60s, me once, no doubt regretfully, “You can’t be (“We’re raging moderates!”) has inspired ‘70s and early ‘80s. He was a great editor for a stuck whistle. People stop listening.” every crank within earshot to rage in reac- the Argus, and for Newport. Thoughts of Ed DeCourcy bring to mind tion, and the result is the looniest, most Could he have edited the New York Times? another notable, departed editor, the lucid letters column in captivity. To which I Brains, yes. Steadiness, yes. Civility and seri- Monitor’s Mike Pride. He is still around and add these words: “Rage on, Monitor, and ousness, yes. Good humor, of course. And he still breathing, so it is embarrassing to praise restore the sports summary to the Sunday could persuade his words to march, in a him. Especially so for a writer, to whom an TV guide, or I will cancel my subscription.” InIn SunapeeSunapee region,region, aa voicevoice isis silencedsilenced Death of a newspaper leaves a hole hard to fill

By Mike Pride nature bow tie and a fierce devotion to com- Andrea Thorpe’s 20th anniversary as town Concord Monitor munity journalism. He was also living proof librarian. Concord, N.H. of the value of journalistic independence. July 20, 2008 Once, when some advertisers threatened to Tying towns together boycott the paper after the Argus endorsed a The broadened readership area tended to tie When a newspaper dies, a community loses candidate they opposed, Ed wrote: “A publi- disparate communities together. Almost its voice. It loses the mirror in which it cation that would surrender to any financial every town had a weekly columnist who examined its best features and its worst. It pressure, however great or small, to espouse kept track of everything from birthdays to loses the bulletin board for news of a neigh- a cause in which it did not believe, to charity book sales to Old Home Day prepa- bor’s death or a schoolgirl’s scholarship. It remain silent on an issue about which it rations. But the paper was small enough loses its watchdog, the reporters who kept had convictions, to withhold legitimate that you could easily scan all the town tabs on town hall, the school board, local news, or to publish material that had no columns to keep up with the news. elections. news value, is not a newspaper. It is a prosti- tute.” Its pages were full of useful news. In either When a newspaper dies, a community an ad or the news columns, the Argus becomes less of a community. It suffers a Ed left the Argus’s editor’s chair more than a informed readers when Bartlett’s was open- blow from which it is difficult to recover. quarter-century ago and died in 2005 at the ing for blueberrying and what band was Last week, when the Argus-Champion age of 93. It is a tribute to him and his playing at the Anchorage. It acted as a announced that it was going under, I felt paper that old-time Argus readers men- Fourth of July planning guide for fireworks that blow as both a journalist and a mem- tioned him by name as news of the paper’s lovers willing to rove from town to town. closing spread. ber of the community. This is the 11th sum- Like all good weeklies, it covered milestones mer that I have lived in a pond-side camp The Argus changed after Ed’s day. It — graduations, anniversaries, obituaries. It in Goshen, which is about 10 miles from expanded its base into wealthier towns, told parents when to register the kids for Newport, the Argus’s original base. I have including Sunapee and New London, and Little League or kindergarten. And it had an relied on the paper for many things, though moved its office out of Newport. Some old-fashioned sports page that took all local not as many as full-time residents have. Newport residents rued the loss of hometown athletics and athletes seriously. When I moved to New Hampshire in 1978, identity, but the Argus still paid close atten- tion to their town. On this week’s front page, The Argus retained a good eye for the minu- one of the first journalists I met was Ed tia that inquiring minds wanted to know. DeCourcy, then the editor of the Argus. Ed near the note about the paper’s demise, the lead story recounted the celebration of Readers could tsk-tsk about the motorist was a robust, good-natured man with a sig- nabbed doing 93 on I-89 in Sutton. Before

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August 2008 17 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors WhatWhat happenedhappened toto objectivityobjectivity inin news?news? By Mac B. McKinnon The Citizen has been told on many occasions said they were Editor and publisher that we are the last bastion of conservative ordaining him as Dublin Citizen viewpoints in the media world. However, let’s president. Dublin, Texas quickly dispel that notion as there are many This blatant July 31, 2008 other conservatives in this business and there favoritism is turn- are those who are fair and unbiased. ing off the Those who are regular readers on this news- In the electronic world, that includes Fox American public to paper realize it is a conservative publication, News and we are unabashed supporters of a point where it basically reflecting the attitudes of the pub- that network. could work against lisher. However, the three older networks — and we Obama. However, those attitudes are generally don’t want to use the term major — as well We challenge the restricted — as much as humanly possible — as networks devoted to news including CNN networks to at least to columns and editorials. and CNBC, are so liberal and try to justify try to appear to be Mac B. McKinnon In the news, an effort is made to have bal- their actions. objective in spite of anced coverage of people in the news. In elec- The three older networks recently sent their their obvious inclinations. tions, we try to give equal space to all con- anchors, their top news persons, on a major Mac B. McKinnon can be contacted at tenders. international trip with Barack Obama. It was [email protected]. BarackBarack ObamaObama onon rightright tracktrack toto endingending IraqIraq warwar By Isabell Redding Crocker, the U.S. ambassador to Iraq. would order the Editor and publisher Obama expressed his support for the Iraqi military to end the Drumheller Valley Times government and noted that the passage of war in Iraq, which Drumheller, Alberta important legislation — such as laws address- he has called a July 22, 2008 ing the production and distribution of oil rev- “dangerous distrac- enue — would help strengthen the country, tion” from the Senator Barack Obama is on the right track the official said. Afghan battle. by trying to put an end to the Iraq war. Obama has proposed withdrawing U.S. com- Obama spent The U.S. Democratic presidential nominee bat troops from Iraq within 16 months of tak- Saturday and travelled to Iraq yesterday and arrived in the ing office. Sunday in Afghanistan, where southern city of Basra, according to media Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh reports. He met with Iraqi officials and U.S.- he met with U.S. said the government’s “vision” is that most troops at three Isabell Redding led coalition military commanders about the U.S. combat troops would be out of Iraq by conflict which is now in its sixth year. bases and with 2010. Asked if that stance is part of the cur- Afghan President Hamid Karzai — a leader This is the second trip to Iraq for Obama and rent negotiations, al-Dabbagh said, “No. This the Democratic senator has criticized for the latest leg of an overseas trip which begin is the Iraqi vision.” doing too little to rebuild the war-torn nation. in Kuwait and Afghanistan and will go on to Obama is traveling with Sen. Jack Reed of The fight in Afghanistan recently has become Jordan, Israel, the West Bank, Germany, Rhode Island, a leading Democrat on the France and Britain. a more pressing issue on the political radar. Senate Armed Services Committee, and Sen. More coalition forces have died in The Illinois senator first visited Iraq in 1996. Chuck Hagel, a Nebraska Republican who Afghanistan than in Iraq in May, June and Obama is accompanied by two key Senate serves on the Foreign Relations Committee so far in July. and is an outspoken critic of the Iraq war. colleagues and they met with Lt. Gen. Lloyd Last week, in a major address laying out his Austin, commander of Multi-National Corps- Obama is the first African-American to head foreign policy position, Obama said, “As Iraq; British Maj. Gen. Barney White the ticket of a major U.S. political party, and should have been apparent to President Bush Spunner, commander of Multi-National his candidacy is popular overseas. and Sen. McCain, the central front in the war Division South East; and Maj. General Abdul A recent Pew Research Center survey said, on terror is not Iraq, and it never was.” Aziz, the Iraqi army’s 14th Division com- “People around the world who have been mander. He said part of his strategy would be “taking paying attention to the American election the fight to al Qaeda in Afghanistan and Obama then traveled to Baghdad, where he express more confidence in Barack Obama Pakistan.” met with Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki than in John McCain to do the right thing and Tariq al-Hashimi, a Sunni Arab who is regarding world affairs.” one of Iraq’s two vice presidents. The senator Isabell Redding can be contacted at Obama has said that if he’s elected, he would [email protected]. also held talks with Gen. David Petraeus, the commit more troops to Afghanistan and head of U.S. troops in Iraq, and Ryan

18 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors UnfitUnfit forfor publicpublic officeoffice

By John M. Wylie II grace to not re-employ a man who offers so a highly respected Publisher much. I hope that the people of Muskogee newspaper! Oologah Lake Leader County know that not returning Ronnie District Attorney Oologah, Okla. Pevehouse as Commissioner for District #2 Gene Haynes told July 24, 2008 would be a mistake.” She says she had no idea the Progress that he there was anything wrong with composing wants the OSBI to The latest embarrassment at the Rogers and mailing a political endorsement on coun- look into the mat- County Courthouse, first reported Friday in the ty time using official county letterhead, enve- ter. Because of the Claremore Progress, should give voters all the lope and postage. In fact, she said, she could pattern of abuse by evidence they need that neither Commissioner not recall ever having heard anything warn- Helm, that idea is Mike Helm nor secretary Rebecca Muratet ing her not to do this. not as far fetched (who wants to be County Clerk) are fit to hold Although the letter twice spoke as if it was as it sounds. public office. written by Helm, he admits he never saw it But one thing is John M. Wylie II The basic story is that Helm asked Muratet to before it went out over his signature. Even certain. Rogers write a letter to the Muskogee Phoenix thank- someone of Helm’s limited competence proba- County Republicans made a dreadful mistake ing Muskogee County Commissioner Ronnie bly would have caught the problems in this when they did not mount a primary challenge Pevehouse for the help he provided Rogers sentence: Muskogee County had already expe- against Helm and Muratet. Both are a disgrace County during last winter’s ice storm. rienced the unprecedented experience of ice to hard working public servants of all political that left a path of destruction beyond compre- stripes. It is suspicious enough that the letter was sent hension and it was because of the kindness, at July 16, just 13 days before Pevehouse faces the hand, of Ronnie Pevehouse that made my Come November, we suspect the voters will three challengers for his commissioner’s seat. life in Rogers County was made a little easier.” make it crystal clear that neither is fit for pub- Helm says he simply asked Muratet to write a lic office. thank you letter, and she says it was her idea How embarrassing for the people of Rogers County to have this garbled mess submitted to John M. Wylie II can be contacted at to include the language, “It would be a dis- [email protected].

In Sunapee region, a voice is silenced from page 17 e real estate market went bust, they could Argus gave you the feeling that its reporters nothing to rival the Argus as a local news- find out what outrageous price someone were everywhere at once. paper. had just paid for the neighbor’s house. Through more than a century and a half, Readers could also depend on the paper for Losing money the Argus has been a reliable source of the a sense of continuity. Roger Small’s weekly The note from Publisher Harvey D. Hill most important information in the daily column sampled back issues of the Argus. announcing the paper’s closing was terse. lives of its readers. It has been the tie that Small might report on Teddy Roosevelt’s We’re sorry, but the paper is losing money binds diverse towns into a community. In a visit to Newport. Or, as he did in an item and we’re closing it, he wrote. He mentioned chaotic world, it has kept people with com- picked up this week from 1908, he might the trends that are affecting newspapers mon interests on the same page and provid- write: “The rumor that Chester Hopkins, the everywhere: “We see more and more of our ed them with a free forum to sound off Boston boy, had the measles was unfound- readers and advertisers migrating to the about public issues. ed, as he only had prickly heat.” internet.” These are the sad facts behind the shocked The heart of the Argus remained its focus on This is no doubt true, but Argus readers — expressions I saw as people around here town affairs, civic and communal. It was people who care about their communities — heard that the Argus was going under. As primarily a newspaper, whether it was cov- are about to lose something the internet much as these readers might have com- ering the opening of a general store, an cannot replace. Heck, in Goshen, if there’s a plained about the local paper over the arrest in a local robbery or a dispute over an way to get high-speed Internet, I haven’t years, they know that life won’t be the same out-of-town developer’s lavish designs. The found it. Even where it is available, it offers without it. Its closing is a tragic loss.

August 2008 19 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors HowHow areare youyou performing?performing? AskAsk youryour readersreaders By Jim Pumarlo ple: What’s your primary source of news? The concerns or What other publications/media outlets do ideas identified on When is the last time readers complained you routinely depend on for information? the questionnaires about the accuracy of a story? Or called to How long have you subscribed to this news- will offer insight say they’re pleased with a story but irritated paper? If you do not subscribe to this news- into what readers by a headline? Or found fault with how paper, why not? Can we improve upon cus- believe your news- their ideas and statements were conveyed in tomer service — in any department? paper is doing a story? Newspapers should regularly check in with right and will their customers to see how they are doing challenge editors News staffs translate hundreds of facts daily to improve areas — some information is received firsthand their jobs. And there are other avenues to do so: where their staffs and other secondhand. Some facts are are not meeting included in comprehensive reports on • “Ask the editors” night — Open the tele- expectations. The Jim Pumarlo important community subjects. Others are phone lines for an evening to let readers goal is to solicit part of the daily churn of police reports, ask anything on their minds. Top-level feedback from a range of readers — new obituaries, weddings and engagements, and managers from the various departments and longtime residents, young and old, government meetings. should be on hand with the goal of answer- men and women — and from a geographic Through all of these stories, one tenet gov- ing as many questions on the spot as possi- representation of your markets. erns the work of newsrooms: accuracy. If ble. If you don’t have the answer, take down the customer’s name and telephone Newspapers should be sincere in asking the facts are wrong, the newspaper loses its readers to be honest and straightforward in credibility. number and respond within 24 hours. This is an excellent promotion during National their answers, underscoring that the feed- In the pursuit of fairness and accuracy, Newspaper Week, but it obviously can be back will direct your staffs to strive a newspapers should consider implementing done any time. stronger product. At minimum, these “fact a “fact check” sheet. Individuals who either checks” earn newspapers high marks for are sources or subjects of news stories are • “Brown bag” lunches — Convene a series showing concern about accuracy, fairness the best judge of how editors and reporters of conversations with readers. Buy your cus- and breadth of coverage. The comments are doing their jobs. So why not ask them tomers lunch in exchange for their feed- often can prompt a follow-up phone call directly. back. If you’re soliciting comments on over- and a fruitful conversation beneficial to all content, be sure your participants are both the reader and editor. The process can be straightforward. Select a representative of your community’s demo- couple of stories from each edition and send graphics. Or maybe tailor the session and Editors also should seize the opportunity to a copy to an individual who either was con- its participants to a specific content area — explain to readers in a column what you’ve tacted or who might have been identified in for example, agriculture, business or youth heard and what steps will be taken to each story. Then ask a series of questions. coverage. address the concerns. And for those expec- For example: tations that might fall short of what can be • Reader boards — Organize a board com- practically accomplished, explain that to Are the facts in the story/photo accurate, prised of readers with rotating membership. including spelling of names and addresses? readers, too. In the end, you may not get The individuals meet with the editor on a everyone to agree, but your goal is to help Were the quotes attributed to you used in monthly basis and offer everything from proper context? them understand your decisions and opera- editorial ideas to a critique of newspaper tions. In general, do you consider this newspaper content. to be accurate? The “fact check” is most useful as a regular Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides Other questions regarding news content can connection with readers. Be sure to vary training on Community Newsroom Success be asked as well. What are the most inter- your selection of stories from routine news Strategies. He is author of “Votes and esting sections of this newspaper? Do other briefs and meeting reports to in-depth series Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election topics or issues warrant attention? Are any and feature stories. If applicable, it might Coverage” and “Bad News and Good “voices” or constituencies lacking in cover- be worthwhile to send the same story to two Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on age? different individuals to see if they offer simi- Sensitive Issues in a Small-Town The “fact check” is an excellent tool to ask lar perspectives on the report. Share the Newspaper.” He can be contacted at additional questions about your newspaper feedback with the individual writers whose www.pumarlo.com. beyond strictly the news product. For exam- stories were selected as well as with the entire news staff and other departments.

20 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors PricePrice increaseincrease doesn’tdoesn’t seemseem toto hinderhinder newspaper’snewspaper’s salessales By Alvin Benn “Sure do,” said Sutton, who fished a buck out Reporter have a leg Montgomery Advertiser of his wallet, knowing it was one debt he was up over bigger August 1, 2008 sure to collect in a few minutes. papers because Felicia Mason, executive director of the they love to print Goodloe Sutton has been a member of Alabama Press Association, said she was photos of boys ISWNE for 10 years. unaware of any newspaper in the state — holding up dead daily or weekly — that charges $1 a copy snakes or old farm- Monday through Friday. Sunday editions ers showing off The owner of a small newspaper in west huge vegetables. Alabama made history Thursday when he usually run about $1.50. raised the price of the Linden Democrat- “I have no doubt Goodloe’s paper is worth Sutton and his late Reporter to $1. $1,” said Mason. “People magazine and wife, Jean, spent other magazines like it charge a lot more years in Marengo Goodloe Sutton “I set trends, I don’t follow them,” said pub- County exposing lisher Goodloe Sutton, as he leaned back in than $1. It’s quite a bargain for Democrat- Reporter readers.” corruption wherever and whenever they his office chair, folded his arms behind his found it. That sold a lot of papers and earned neck and flashed a big smile. Sutton tried to ease the blow in the weeks them international recognition. A few years The weekly paper, with a circulation of just before the price increase with ads explaining ago, they exposed a crooked law enforcement over 8,000, cost 75 cents for several years. his reasons. department with reports that eventually land- Sutton said the 25 cent increase wasn’t a lot His July 24 edition included a reprinted letter ed the sheriff and two of his deputies in feder- for his readers. from a newsprint company in 2005, saying al prison. “Everything’s going up and we’re no excep- the cost of paper was going up. It’s been a lot tamer of late for Goodloe, 69, tion,” he said. “This is something I felt had to Daily and weekly newspapers, along with tel- who leads a two-man newsroom. He writes be done.” evision networks around the country, have the editorials, a few stories and comes up If Sutton was expecting angry mobs with faced challenges unheard of only a few years with catchy headlines. torches to greet him Thursday morning, he ago when they had the information business The banner headline Thursday — the historic didn’t find any. It was business as usual at pretty much to themselves. Once, there were issue with “$1 per copy” in bold letters in the his office across the street from the Marengo only three major television networks. Today, upper right-hand side of the front page — County Courthouse. Some of his customers ABC, CBS and NBC are scrambling to retain read: “Raid rolls Cinnamon dog fights.” were in a joking mood as they walked viewers who can choose from hundreds of channels throughout the day. The headline had readers standing in line through the front door and picked up copies outside his office, leaning over the rack and of his paper from a stack on the front count- Newspapers, including the Montgomery squinting to read about the arrests of 17 peo- er. Advertiser, are working hard to retain sub- ple on dog-fighting and drug charges on “You have a dollar I can borrow, Goodloe?” scribers who, with the push of a computer Cinnamon Street. asked Probate Judge Cindy Neilson, who had key, can read Web site versions of national publications from coast-to-coast. Colleagues around Alabama are unaware of just walked over without her purse. Sutton’s price increase, but it won’t be long Weekly newspapers like the Democrat- before they find out. “It’s a bold move on his part,” said Sam Harvey, publisher the twice-weekly Guntersville Advertiser-Gleam. “We charge ISWNE new member 50 cents for our paper.” Andy Schotz is a general assignment reporter for The The smaller the paper, the bigger the news Herald-Mail, a daily newspaper in Hagerstown, Maryland, and Linden — with a population of just over but his roots are in weekly journalism. 2,400 — is no exception. A month before he graduated from the University at That’s one reason why Sutton enjoys tweak- Albany, he started a 10-hour-a-week job at The Altamont ing officials he feels deserve it or, as he and Enterprise, a weekly in Albany County, New York. He later his wife did several years ago when they sub- took a full-time job covering a 30,000 population town, jected themselves to threats of bodily harm then shared the editing duties with his friend Melissa Hale- for their reporting. Spencer, this year’s Golden Quill winner. Schotz stayed at Sutton’s sensational headlines are bound to The Enterprise for nearly eight years. sell papers and Neilson has had fun with him For The Herald-Mail, he has worked in a busy one-person bureau and held other over some of his articles. beats. Most recently, he was the paper’s statehouse reporter in Annapolis for two ses- “Goodloe has never let the truth get in the sions of the Maryland General Assembly. way of a good story,” she said, adding quick- Schotz is active in the Society of Professional Journalists, as president of the ly: “What I just said is in jest.” Washington, D.C., Pro chapter and chairman of the national ethics committee. Alvin Benn can be contacted at [email protected].

August 2008 21 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors WestWest ValleyValley ViewView movesmoves intointo temporarytemporary digsdigs By Rich Ott from a little office building near Dysart Road able to hold the Assistant editor and Riley Drive. It didn’t take it long to relo- press to get in that West Valley View cate across the street to the southwest corner. late-breaking story. Litchfield Park, Ariz. The View called Avondale home until it Until then, Freireich July 18, 2008 moved into the Litchfield Park building in and staff can be 1998, which was a converted gas station/tire found north of I-10 The West Valley View is on the move. shop. in a building that At the end of the month, View staff will have The Litchfield Park building was supposed to was practically the vacated their Litchfield Park building at 200 be a three-year deal, Freireich recalled. But only one willing to W. Wigwam Blvd. and be holed up in a tem- land owned in Goodyear Freireich planned to take on a short- porary facility at 1585 N. 113th Ave. in construct a building on kept having problems term lease. Avondale, just south of McDowell Road. arise at all levels and the publisher finally sold Freireich wanted to it and purchased 10 acres in Avondale. Those digs are temporary because keep staff in the Elliott Freireich publisher/owner Elliott Freireich is having a The new building will sit on about five acres paper’s circulation mammoth building constructed near Old and have full printing capabilities — the View area, and the office complex at 1585 N. 113th Town Avondale at 1050 E. Riley Drive. In fact, has always been printed off-site in the past. Ave. was “completely ready for us to occupy. It it can be seen from Interstate 10, just east of The building will be 37,000 square feet; by was like plug and play,” he said. Dysart Road. That building should be ready comparison, the Litchfield Park building and Initially, Freireich thought the View would be for the View staff to move in by the end of the the temporary offices in Avondale are both able to stay in its Litchfield Park building until year. about 5,000 square feet. the 1050 E. Riley building was completed. What does this mean to the reader as far as “We’re going to be swimming in this build- However, Litchfield Park staff members got getting in touch with View staff? ing,” Freireich said. “My wife said we’re all going with their plans, an offer came along going to lose weight because we’ll have to that they couldn’t refuse and the land needed Well, all e-mail addresses and the phone num- walk so far [to talk to one another].” to be vacated sooner than later. ber, 623-535-8439, will stay the same through- out both moves. And to make things easier, “They got going quicker than we could finish the address of 1050 E. Riley Drive, Avondale, A new West Valley View our building,” Freireich said. AZ 85323, is the only mailing address readers Now that the West Valley View will soon have Rich Ott can be contacted at need, effective immediately. its own printing press, the game is afoot for [email protected]. “We’re going back home,” Freireich said. Freireich. The View first published on April 16, 1986, The paper’s owner/publisher envisions being Co-publisherCo-publisher asksasks ObamaObama toto advertiseadvertise inin weekliesweeklies By Ross Connelly Your consistent call to turn off the television to build new Editor and co-publisher resonates with me. I’m a weekly newspaper schools or renovate Hardwick Gazette publisher and editor. I believe in reading. old ones. The sto- Hardwick, Vt. You also speak of community. I believe in that, ries are read too. I didn’t expect you to fly into Vermont in because they offer Editor’s note: Ross Connelly sent Barack the days and weeks leading up to out primary information citi- Obama the following letter, trolling for adver- March 4 and give interviews to weekly news- zens want and tising rather than as an editor seeking to make papers, but I wish I had seen community need. a point for his readers. The Obama campaign, newspaper advertising for your campaign. All Weekly newspapers apparently, took his e-mail address, put it into I saw were television advertisements — with have a good shelf its data bank, and has since made frequent the echo of your call to turn off the television life and get read requests for Connelly to donate to the cam- ringing in my ears. more than once. paign. “Not exactly what I had in mind...,” he Weekly newspapers fly under the radar of the They offer topics of Ross Connelly said. mainstream press, but we are important conversation at the because we are mirrors of the communities beginning, middle and end of the week in The Honorable Barack Obama where readers live. We report stories about the homes, at local diners and coffee shops, in the Obama for America impact of the ever increasing cost of health bleachers at basketball games, when people PO Box 8102 care on municipal and school budgets, fuel run into each other at the post office and con- Chicago, IL 60680 prices and road maintenance, the ebbs and venience stores, or while shopping for gro- flows of bringing cell phone and high speed ceries. Local reporting is appreciated. People Dear Senator Obama, internet coverage to our towns, and proposals read weekly newspapers because we report on

continued on page 26

22 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors WebWeb statsstats buildbuild advertiseradvertiser trusttrust By Gary Sosniecki Your ability to track readership of ads — news position since all stories, too — is one of the coolest things my ads appeared Every weekly newspaper has an ad that hasn’t about the Internet. When I owned a weekly in multiple loca- changed in five years. Maybe longer. newspaper, I checked my Web stats every day, tions on my site. It sometimes more, because I was fascinated to also included a You know which one I mean — the 2x2 ad, see — after all my years in print — what my glossary of the usually for a mechanic, a plumber or some readers actually were reading. All the guess- terms in the report other tradesman, that’s on your run sheet work was gone. and — I really liked every week “tfc” or “tfn.” What you do with these stats after you check this — a reproduc- Dependable revenue week after week, year them can make the difference between a cus- tion of the ad itself. after year, even if you can’t remember the last tomer being happy or unhappy with his The stats took up time you freshened it up so it might be more online advertising. only three-quarters effective for your customer. A business owner in your town may trust you of a page, so each Gary Sosniecki Don’t let ads go stale in your newspaper — enough to buy an ad on your Web site, but month I prepared and especially on your Web site. the owner may not understand the Internet my own report for The Internet gives you the ability to track the enough to trust its effectiveness as an ad the bottom of the page. I included the total effectiveness of advertising. Regardless medium. The owner will write a check once a pages read online that month, the total num- whether you host your site in-house or pay an month for a 2x2 that hasn’t changed in years, ber of visits and a listing of the top 10 pages outside company to do it, you probably have but he won’t write a check very long if he isn’t read. I wrote a paragraph or two of positive software that details how many “impressions” convinced his Internet ad is working. news about Internet advertising, including a welcome to my new advertisers. I also invited — eyeballs — have seen each ad on your site. So you should use your stats to prove to every The software also tells you how many times a advertisers to contact me if it was time to online advertiser, every month, that people change their ad or the ad’s location on my visitor has “clicked thru” the ad on your site are seeing his or her ad. to your advertiser’s own Web site, which is like site. a customer walking through the front door of I did that with a written report generated by The personal touch came last. I looked at the advertiser’s business. my ad-serving software. The report included each advertiser’s stats for something positive total impressions, total clickthrus and the to say. If I could find something — “No. 1 on The more sophisticated your Web site, the clickthru rate for the ad, both overall and by more stats it will produce for you. our site!” “Great numbers!” “Much improved! — I handwrote it on the report. We mailed this “online traffic report” with the advertiser’s bill. It’s even better to take it to the advertiser in person, ask him if he has any questions and thank him for his business. You’ll look like the Internet expert in your community, and your advertiser will gain confidence in the effectiveness of his online ad. If you’re lucky, you’ll have something positive to say every month about every advertiser. But if an advertiser’s stats are declining, or if they’re not doing as well as another advertiser selling the same product, suggest that it’s time to change the ad. It’s better for you to tweak an ad than for an advertiser to pull it. A fresh ad will generate more traffic — online as well as in the newspaper. And now you have the stats to prove it. Gary Sosniecki, a longtime ISWNE member, Nancy Slepicka (right) and husband, Richard, spent some time with Lori Evans, editor owned three weekly newspapers and pub- and publisher of the Homer (Alaska) News, on a road trip in their RV. The Slepickas lished a small daily in Missouri during a 34- also visited Guy and Marcia Wood in Angel Fire, N.M., Marquita and Elliott Freireich year newspaper career. He currently works in in Litchfield Park, Ariz., and Louise Red Corn in Pawhuska, Okla. To follow their the Internet industry and speaks to press ongoing journey, visit http://web.mac.com/thegoodlife323. groups about small newspapers and the Internet. He can be contacted at [email protected].

August 2008 23 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors GovernmentGovernment doesdoes itsits jobjob mostmost responsiblyresponsibly whenwhen it’sit’s responsiveresponsive By Lori Evans free” every time. There’s a heck of a lot of but it’s even more Editor and publisher wiggle room in “prompt and reasonable.” imperative that Homer News Who determines what “prompt and reason- local government Homer, Alaska able” is? The ordinance doesn’t define those clearly be respon- July 24, 2008 words, and what’s “prompt and reasonable” sive to the people it to a city official might appear just the oppo- serves, and that As the Homer City Council considers site to a citizen seeking information. includes providing changes to the city’s public records laws, it “Full and free” is not only more specific and them with the should consider this: The city’s business is understandable, it’s also at the heart of information they the public’s business. Period. open government. “Full and free” indicates want and need there’s nothing to hide. “Prompt and rea- about how govern- Supporters of the revisions may argue other- ment operates. Yes, wise, but there’s a big philosophical differ- sonable public access to nonconfidential public records according to law” sounds like those records Lori Evans ence between the existing ordinance and the requests can be proposed ordinance, if the following state- a bureaucratic barricade waiting to be erect- ed at the first opportunity. time consuming, but government business is ments are any indication. the people’s business. What really needs to Consider this from the existing ordinance: The principle that should guide the council be hidden? “It is the intention of the City to provide full as it debates the changes should not be establishing policy that makes it easier for The perception that the council is trying to and free access of the public to municipal limit access to certain records or somehow records and information so that the people city employees to determine what can or cannot be released to the public, but estab- curtail requests from the public — whether of the City may be well informed at all real or imagined — will only increase the times as to municipal business.” lishing an environment that says the city’s business is the public’s business. That’s pret- requests for information by a suspicious And this from the proposed ordinance: “It is ty straightforward. public. Government can best show it’s the policy of the City to provide prompt and responsible and responsive to the public it reasonable public access to nonconfidential As well intentioned as the revisions to the serves by keeping its business in the open. public records according to law.” public records ordinance might be, if the outcome will be to provide less open govern- That doesn’t lead to efficient government, “Full and free” is a lot more open than ment then the council should stop the but it does lead to a government that people “prompt and reasonable.” Anyone who debate before it gets started. trust. favors transparency in government and a Government at every level should be open, Lori Evans can be contacted at well-informed citizenry will go for “full and [email protected].

Fueling the Future from page 15 ing $20.75 billion in alternative-energy million is a good start for a sustainable grants is drawing criticism because it refer- research grants. Gov. Sarah Palin signed a future. ences using liquefied coal. Critics say coal is bill in May that will provide $250 million in “We would love to see more money go into a fossil fuel in another form. funding over the next five years for renew- renewable energy funds,” she said. “But...we The money would reportedly come from able energy projects. The Denali see natural gas as a bridge fuel to a com- Alaska’s oil revenue surplus. Commission and Alaska Energy Authority pletely clean, renewable energy future.” followed suit by awarding another $5 mil- But the governor’s approach is aimed at lion for 33 alternative-energy projects. Troll said about 24 percent of Alaska is economics, according to Steve Haagenson, already using alternative energy, and the the senior energy coordinator in Palin’s Until the research bears fruit, Palin’s admin- state’s goal should be to reach 50 percent by administration. istration is still pushing for a natural gas 2025. She said wind and hydro have been “We’re trying to find the lowest cost oppor- pipeline to be constructed from the North the most effective alternative energies used Slope into Alberta, Canada. tunities so we can build the economy across in Alaska thus far, but more breakthroughs Alaska,” he said. Kate Troll, executive director of the Alaska are needed to store alternative energy. Conservation Alliance, an umbrella organi- However, Alaska lawmakers’ $20.75 billion Charles L. Westmoreland can be contacted zation for dozens of other groups boasting proposal for alternative-energy research 38,000 members statewide, said the $250 at [email protected].

24 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors NakedNaked ParadiseParadise

By Patric Hedlund what seemed to them forever for the Kern coverage. Editor County Emergency Medical Service system to Three minutes after Lockwood Valley neigh- The Mountain Enterprise kick into gear. No firefighter EMTs arrived. bors made the 5:56 a.m. call, Kern County Frazier Park, Calif. No ambulance paramedics. The lifeguards Fire Station 57 was dispatched for the 12- July 4, 2008 waited 44 minutes for the Kern County Fire mile drive to Dale Brouse’s home. Ventura Department. It would be over an hour County’s engines would not arrive for The people of the Mountain Communities before a Hall medevac helicopter would another hour and a half, from Ojai. see the Kern County Fire Department as the finally begin transporting the young man to a hospital. Two Kern County firefighters arrived in a most service-oriented agency of county gov- patrol truck within 18 minutes. Engine 57 ernment. The firefighters who work here are Veith’s family, friends and doctors stood arrived three minutes later, at 6:21 a.m., inspiring. They are passionate about doing vigil for a week at the hospital until his EEG driven by the station’s third firefighter. By their jobs well. But sometimes desire is not tests were cleared. then the portion of the house where Brouse enough. Hall may have been slow to provide help, died was already 70 percent engulfed in The events of June 2008 illustrate why 67 but their bill for $13,000 was already wait- flames. Still, firefighters entered the burning percent of mountain voters cast a ballot for ing for the family when they returned home structure to try to save him. There is no change in the June 3 County Supervisor’s from the hospital. On the kitchen counter, doubt the personnel on the ground are election. They are concerned that the status beside Hall’s bill, were 20 notes from moun- doing their jobs. quo is dangerous and getting worse. They tain neighbors and friends, reporting the Today, the Mountain Community’s ques- say the county is collecting taxes without times they had checked in to care for the tions point to administrative decisions in providing equal services and subsidizing family’s pets without being asked, to water Bakersfield (and for Lockwood Valley, they urban centers with rural dollars. Some ask if their plants and to leave homemade food. point to Ventura). there has been a recent policy change, That is community. Why aren’t adequate resources brought downshifting deployment of emergency Then, on June 18, a house in Lebec burned assistance here. from Bakersfield to help along Interstate 5 to the ground. and in Lebec, instead of leaving far-flung The month of June is just the beginning of Hours later, while Frazier Park’s firefighters mountain stations empty and unavailable fire season, but it has already been disas- were still helping to clean up that site, a resi- when trouble strikes? trous. This region’s resources are stretched dence within a few blocks of Frazier Park Why doesn’t the Kern County Department beyond capacity, leaving it exposed to Fire Station 57 went up in flames. John harm. Just read the log books. of Emergency Medical Services have higher Janson had purchased the home for his standards for the ‘Exclusive Operating Area’ On June 6, all available resources on the mother years ago because it was so close to contract given to Hall ambulance, which mountain were sent to a grass fire along the fire station. But on June 18 no engine covers 14,000 people and all the traffic acci- Interstate 5. The wildfire threatened homes was there. dents on Interstate 5 along the Grapevine in Lebec’s Digier Canyon. Crews from Pine Janson’s renter, Robert Reese, was taken to with one staffed ambulance? Mountain, Frazier Park, Lebec, Mettler and the Sherman Oaks Burn Hospital for sur- more were clustered northeast of Frazier Why are the Board of Supervisors — whose gery. Fortunately, he is recovering, but the fire department is the 10th largest in the mountain. No crew was left to cover the question Reese asks from his hospital bed is Pine Mountain region, 20 miles away. state — not ashamed to have the only fire haunting: “Where were they?” Despite his department within the top 15 that has no At about 6 p.m., over at the Pine Mountain burns, he had used a garden hose to try to firefighter paramedic program? Club pool, off-duty lifeguard Jeremy Veith control the flames for 20 minutes while was found by a fellow lifeguard going into waiting for the engines to arrive. On Feb. 15, 2005, Karen Bailey watched her convulsions. At almost the same moment, husband die while she waited 57 minutes for This week, in Lockwood Valley, Dale Hall Ambulance to reach him. On Jan. 24, two unrelated medical aid calls from Frazier Brouse’s neighbors and friends are grieving. Park and Lake of the Woods were received 2008, a Hall driver said he couldn’t come by the county. The Hall ambulance in They won’t be able to bring comforting into Pine Mountain to help Suellyn L’Dera. Frazier Park and a back-up crew of firefight- soups and homebaked bread or even a It took four hours for her to get to the hospi- ers responded to those calls. Noilly Pratt Martini to their old friend. He tal. Bailey, L’Dera’s husband and friends of won’t be coming home. the Veiths know something needs to change. When the 911 dispatch from Pine Mountain On June 27 the 911 call went to Kern It is time that the Kern County Board of came in, Hall’s ambulance was on its way Supervisors honor June’s message too. off the mountain. Jeremy Veith’s teenage County because Ventura County cannot lifeguard friends followed their first-respon- reach Lockwood Valley with sufficient Patric Hedlund can be contacted at der training perfectly, but they waited for resources and must contract with Kern for [email protected].

August 2008 25 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors ItIt won’twon’t bebe youryour father’sfather’s newspapernewspaper By Mike Moore paper people have discovered; the newspapers papers themselves Editor of tomorrow will be vastly different than news- will be few and far The Jessamine Journal papers of today. In other words, it won’t be between. Nicholasville, Ky. your father’s newspaper. Today, it’s an July 17, 2008 Through my discussions with different people, uncertain world in I’ve found there are three groups of readers. the newspaper I was browsing through the June/July 2008 We have what I’ll refer to as the Diehards. industry. Many big- edition of the American Journalism Review They are folks in their mid to late 40s and name companies when I stumbled across an article titled older. and papers are lay- “Bridging the Abyss: Why a lot of newspapers ing people off right aren’t going to survive,” written by Charles They’ve been brought up reading a newspa- and left. Layton. per. From day one, they have been condi- tioned to pick up the morning paper to read I’m finding that in His article focused on the direction of newspa- over breakfast. It’s a way of life for them. order to keep my Mike Moore pers and whether some will even be around 20 job, I’ve got to or 30 years down the road. Then there’s the group I’ll refer to as the become more diversified. The day has passed Tweeners. They are in their mid to late 20s to where a newspapers will employ people who He focused on ad revenue and whether online early to mid 40s. This is my group. While they news sites could be profitable. can just shoot pictures, can just write a story too have read a newspaper, they’re more and can just lay out a page. Can online news be profitable? That’s some- savvy when it comes to the Internet. Newspaper people have to be multi-talented thing being talked about at every level, no The odds are that these folks are just as likely matter the size of newspaper. and must be able to perform multiple tasks. to head to a Web site to get their news than Writers must also be able to shoot still pictures, Even here with The Journal, more specifically they are to read the paper. They’ve been design pages, and shoot and edit video. in our four-newspaper group known as taught to turn to Web sites while sitting in a Advocate Communications (which encom- coffee house drinking their $8 Cup of Joe to get Newspaper Web sites, including the Journal’s, passes The Journal, The Advocate-Messenger the news. They’ve been more conditioned to are undergoing complete overhauls to catch in Danville, The Winchester Sun and The use the World Wide Web; while they are no up because if we don’t, we’ll be left behind. Interior Journal), it’s being discussed. strangers to newspaper, using the Internet is I was talking to Gary Moyers, Web master for In his article, Layton suggests that by 2020 becoming more and more a common practice Advocate Communications, last Friday. We print ad revenue will be about half of what it — it’s a way of life for them. were talking about the changes, and I made is today while online ad revenue will be more Then there are the NextGen folks. These are the off-handed remark that I thought in 20 to than 10 times what it is today. the people of the dotcom generation. They’re 30 years, there might not be many companies producing a hard-copy newspaper. And he I’ve also been thinking about Internet news in their mid 20s and younger. They are the sons and daughters of the Tweeners and some responded, “I don’t think it will even be that sites, and I’ve wondered aloud how long it will long.” be before newspapers as I know them will die Diehards. out completely. They’ve been brought up using the Internet. But regardless what form the news will take in the future, I’m confident that The Jessamine This is based on a number of conversations Like what the microwave is to the Tweeners, the Internet is to the NextGens; it’s something Journal will be here in some form to serve and I’ve had with people my age and those older inform our community. than me who are in the newspaper business. that’s always been a part of their lives. It’s a scary thought that perhaps one day, Mike Moore can be contacted at mmoore@jes- While my findings are in no way scientific, saminejournal.com. they seem to be in line with what other news- maybe in the not too distant future, that news-

Co-publisher asks Obama to advertise from page 22

and are close to their daily lives. times each week. have names in our newspapers, and their kids There are hundreds of weekly newspapers in Ads can be placed in weekly newspapers do, too. Political advertising in weekly newspa- New England and thousands of weekly news- through state and regional press associations; pers is a way of showing respect for the people papers in the United States. A series of ads some offer one order, one bill that can put you who live and work in the towns and neighbor- over a four- or five-week period leading up to in as few or as many papers as you care to hoods we cover. the general election would give you space to reach. Please consider adding weekly newspaper engage voters and explain your positions on a We’re at the grassroots where people look us advertising to the mix between now and number of issues — in a different way than in the eye when we share news and opinions November. Print advertising works. 20- or 30-second television spots. Those ads each week, and they let us know what they Ross Connelly can be contacted at News@the- would be read and talked about numerous think. Whether voters or soccer moms, readers hardwickgazette.com.

26 August 2008 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors WSUWSU studentsstudents documentdocument rebuildingrebuilding ofof GreensburgGreensburg By Les Anderson to showers in the Barclay gymnasium. Associate director So, for two weeks, Haviland was our home Elliott School of Communication base as we went back and forth to inter- Wichita State University view those affected by the tornado and those who were helping the people of When good friend Cort Anderson and I were talking about the pho- Greensburg attempt to recover. tos he shot in Greensburg, Kan., a few days after the May 4, 2007, Cort Anderson and I provided the first tornado, the idea of a summer class focusing on the southwest story leads. After that, I told students, they Kansas community was born: “Greensburg Rebirth: Documenting were on their own. Initially, students were the Rebuilding of a Community.” worried they’d not be able to find stories in Anderson, technology consultant for the Kansas Press Association, unfamiliar territory. After a day or so, all and I decided it would be interesting to follow up on progress a year of us realized we had more stories than we after the killer storm destroyed 95 percent of the town that once could cover in two weeks. Les Anderson boasted 1,500 people. Students in the class represented a wide range of interests and abili- The initial problem was where we’d stay. Since housing wasn’t avail- ties, both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Not all were able in Greensburg, we turned to Haviland, 10 miles to the east. We interested in print or broadcast areas. There also were students pur- found space at the Friends Church, where hundreds of volunteers suing careers in advertising, public relations and electronic media. have stayed while helping in Greensburg. Two May grads accompanied us, even though they weren’t receiving We occupied the basement, complete with kitchen, where we pre- credit for the class. They wanted to be a part of the project. pared most of our meals. We slept on cots and air mattresses in All the work we did is available at greensburgrebirth.com. I say “we” Sunday school rooms. Showers were four blocks down the street at because Cort Anderson and I the Barclay College gymnasium. also wrote, shot photos and The fellowship hall became our media room. We pulled together big produced stories. Cort round tables to hold our laptops and other computer equipment. Anderson climbed to the top of the Southern Plains Co-op That worked well the first week. That Friday, we learned there and photographed the devas- wouldn’t be room for us in the church the following week. A big bus- tated community. I inter- load of volunteers from Texas needed the space while they worked viewed the only barber in in Greensburg. Kiowa County who lost his Since I’d maintained from the outset that we wouldn’t use housing business in Greensburg and needed for volunteers, we looked elsewhere — everywhere, it seemed, has relocated to Haviland. He in both Haviland and Mullinville, 10 miles west of Greensburg. No doesn’t plan to return to the room anywhere. newer, greener Greensburg. Finally, the gracious Friends Church secretary helped get us into a Like many, he longs for the classroom building at Barclay College, a small Quaker college in small town he had known for Haviland. That second week, we occupied three of four classrooms in several decades. Jackson Hall. There wasn’t a kitchen, but we were three blocks closer I also wrote about the really Students Patrick Vera (front) and Ian green John Deere dealership Crane shoot video during interviews being rebuilt in the communi- with a farm family whose home was ty that straddles U.S. 54. Small destroyed near Haviland, Kan. world. Mike and Kristy Estes, who manage the family owned company, are the parents of WSU grads Jared and Sarah Estes, both of whom I had in class a few years ago. Students wrote about volunteers, including 77-year-old Bill Johnson, a retired teacher who worked in both Kansas and Missouri. He lends his handyman skills wherever he’s needed. Johnson has volunteered in the area for more than a year and likely will stay on indefinitely. Students wrote about life in Volunteer Village, where meals are served to those helping in the recovery effort. The meals are pre- pared by a native of Greensburg who says he’s one of the few openly WSU students Patrick Vera, Matt Heilman and Todd Vogts work in the early gay people in the county. He likened the struggles and feelings of morning hours on writing and editing stories and video about Greensburg in isolation he has encountered to those faced by people in the com- the basement of the Friends Church in Haviland. munity since the tornado.

August 2008 27 Another student wrote about how important humor can be in cop- ing with disasters. Another focused on Elma Hellwig’s melt-in-your- mouth cinnamon rolls she makes for volunteers. There were dozens of good stories, most of which hadn’t been covered by the media. Two students shot video and still photos from a helicopter piloted by a Haviland resident I met at morning coffee in the Haviland Hardware & Convenience Store. Robert Ellis, flight instructor and Haviland City Council member, took them up so they could get a bird’s eye view of progress made the past year in Greensburg. Our stories were available to newspapers across the state, thanks to the cooperation of the Kansas Press Association, which helped spon- sor our project. Audio and video stories were formatted for radio sta- tions and Web sites. The nearby Pratt radio station made good use of students’ work. Students also blogged daily and contributed to Twitter, a social net- working and microblogging service. I blogged during the two weeks on kansas.com, The Wichita Eagle’s Web site, focusing on what we were doing and people we met during our interviews. We used YouTube and Flickr in our work each day. It was a true convergent experience. WSU students (from front) Kristina Kapaun, Patrick Vera, Ian Crane and Matt Heilman take a lunch break near a mobile barbecue business on a The people we encountered during our two weeks in Kiowa County street in downtown Greensburg. Dining options were limited in the small were gracious, caring, strong and genuine — values typical of small- community nearly destroyed by a May 2007 tornado. town Kansans. It was interesting to see how students became involved in the lives of people they met, whether they were victims or volunteers. Several took time from interviews to lend a hand in Les Anderson can be contacted at [email protected]. To see the recovery effort. the work of WSU students, go to www.greensburgrebirth.com. To As a class, we worked well together, lived well together and learned read Les Anderson’s blog that appeared on kansas.com, go to together. The stories the students produced reflect that, too. http://blogs.kansas.com/greensburg.

ABOUT THE ISWNE Dr. Chad Stebbins Editor & ISWNE Executive Director Director, Institute of International Studies The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) was founded in 1955 at Southern Illinois University (SIU) by Howard R. Long, then chair of SIU’s Department of Journalism at Carbondale, and Houstoun Produced by the Institute of Waring, then editor of the Littleton (Colo.) Independent. ISWNE headquarters were at Northern Illinois University International Studies at Dekalb from 1976 to 1992, at South Dakota State University in Brookings from 1992 to 1999. Missouri Missouri Southern State University Southern State University in Joplin became the headquarters in 1999. 3950 E. Newman Road ISWNE’s purpose is to help those involved in the weekly press to improve standards of editorial writing and news Joplin, MO 64801-1595 reporting and to encourage strong, independent editorial voices. The society seeks to fulfill its purpose by holding (417) 625-9736 annual conferences, presenting awards, issuing publications, and encouraging international exchanges. There are (417) 659-4445 FAX ISWNE members in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. There are subscribers to Grassroots Editor, the society’s quarterly journal, in still more countries. [email protected] This publication will be made available in alternative formats upon request to Chad Stebbins 417-625-9736.

International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors Institute of International Studies Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO 64801-1595 FIRST CLASS