Volume 35, No. 2 March 2010 QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Half of the American people never read a news- paper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half.”

— Gore Vidal, an American author and political activist Visit the ISWNE’s Web site: www.iswne.org

Published by the Institute of International Studies, Missouri Southern State University, Joplin, MO Program continues to expand for Ky. conference

By Al Cross Director, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues

First-class presenters and panelists are being added to the program for the annual conference of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors June 23-27. Eastern Kentucky University in Richmond will host the conference, with programming from the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based at the University of Kentucky. The conference centerpiece will be a workshop on Friday, June 25 about how weekly newspapers can benefit from the Internet and deal with the challenges it presents, including legal and ethical Jean Maneke Bill Reader Gary Sosniecki issues. Jean Maneke, veteran attorney for the Missouri Press Association, sell and present online advertising and promote their Web sites. will address the legal front, including one of the biggest questions “The biggest mistake a newspaper can make is to put up too weekly editors seem to have about the Internet: whether to allow much content,” Gary says, but the key is to post the right material story comments, and if so, how to monitor and manage them. and be “a weekly newspaper in print and a daily newspaper Bill Reader of Ohio University, a former community newspaper online.” editor who is now one of the leading researchers of community One reason to start or expand a Web site is to head off competi- journalism, will address the ethical principles and journalistic tion. We will also hear from some whom you may regard as the practicalities involved when you make your newspaper interac- enemy: Kentucky entrepreneurs who have started successful news tive. sites in competition with weekly newspapers. Bill believes that when properly managed, interactivity can pro- Friday’s Internet sessions will be opened to non-ISWNE members vide fresh insight into the community’s issues and values, and for a fee, and weekly newspaper folks from the region will also be cement the newspaper’s function of serving as a community invited to join us for dinner that evening at the historic and newly forum. remodeled Boone Tavern Hotel in the college town of Berea, near Gary Sosniecki, general manager of creative services for Richmond. The guest speaker will be Appalachian humorist Loyal TownNews.com and a former editor and publisher of highly Jones, author or co-author of six books, who is guaranteed to regarded weekly newspapers, will give us his expert advice for make you laugh. posting news and other content online and how weeklies should continued on page 3 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors President’sresident’s

By Jim Painter Reporteport Avondale, Ariz. County’s dysfunction linked to Butterfly Effect The Butterfly Effect — the theory that a to stop the supervisors from cutting his other Arizona county attorneys, tried to happening in one point in time or space budget. point out that Thomas has a conflict of can ripple outward or snowball to have a Together, they hit upon a scheme. The interest in trying to prosecute the very peo- serious impact on a seemingly unrelated county was about to break ground on a ple he is supposed to be providing legal happening in a distant place or time — much-needed new court tower in down- advice. How can a lawyer prosecute his was proven by two Arizona news stories town Phoenix. Instead of building the own clients? that recently broke on the same day. court tower, they reasoned, why couldn’t Those other county attorneys were imme- The two stories that broke Feb. 25 both the county use that money to keep the diately added to Thomas and Arpaio’s pertained to Maricopa County, Arizona’s Sheriff’s Office operating at its current ever-growing list of co-conspirators. largest county as far as population (home budget levels? But in an effort to appear reasonable to of Phoenix) and the county in which the When the board didn’t go along with that the public, Thomas agreed to send the West Valley View publishes. As I read the idea, Thomas and Arpaio launched crimi- Wilcox case to another county for prosecu- stories, it occurred to me that one couldn’t nal investigations into two of the supervi- tion to avoid any allegations of a conflict have existed without the other. sors, Mary Rose Wilcox, a Democrat who of interest. The first story was about how our county represents parts of the View’ s circulation Which brings us back to the Feb. 25 story. attorney, Andrew Thomas, had been area in the western part of the county, slapped down by a judge who disqualified and Don Stapley, a Republican who repre- A Pima County Superior Court judge dis- him from prosecuting one of the five sents a district in the eastern part of the qualified Thomas from prosecuting Wilcox members of the Maricopa County Board county. on charges of conflict of interest, saying of Supervisors on charges of conflict of Thomas had a conflict of interest of his Thomas publicly implied that the court own, that his pursuit of criminal charges interest. The other story was the tower project was mired in graft, mis- announcement that the 9th Circuit U.S. against Wilcox was politically motivated spending and corruption, and demanded and that he and Arpaio misused their Court of Appeals had thrown out the con- all records pertaining to the project (keep fession of one of two teenagers convicted authority to target members of the in mind that it was his office that provid- Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. in the 1991 massacre of nine people at a ed all of the legal counsel for the project Buddhist temple in our coverage area. through its planning stages and already So, what’s the connection? How could these two stories possibly be had most of the records in its own files). Now, you’re probably wondering what all connected? When county officials refused to comply of this has to do with a mass murder in Since December 2008, Thomas and his with his demands, Thomas filed racketeer- 1991. staunch ally, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe ing charges against them and the judges Here’s how that story unfolded: Arpaio, have been waging a legal war who blocked his subpoenas. Together, he Early on the morning of Aug. 10, 1991, a against the Board of Supervisors. The and Arpaio proclaimed that every county helper at the Wat Promkunaram Buddhist board controls the purse strings for all official who opposed them and every temple stumbled upon a horrifying scene: county agencies, including the County judge who ruled against them was part of Nine residents of the temple — including Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office. a vast criminal conspiracy. the head monk — were found brutally In an effort to balance the county budget The two men also filed multiple lawsuits massacred. in the recessionary economy, the board against the Board of Supervisors — law- The murder investigation was headed by ordered all county agencies to reduce their suits that are costing taxpayers millions of Tom Agnos, who was Maricopa County’s spending. Arpaio went ballistic and imme- dollars at a time when the county is in sheriff at the time. At first, there were no diately ran to his political soul mate, the financial straits. suspects. A month later, a shaky lead put county attorney, to see what they could do In the meantime, legal experts, including Sheriff’s Office investigators on the trail of

continued on page 20

2 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors

Conference program continues to expand from page 1

The annual ISWNE editorial critique ses- on the Eastern campus that night. its mining of mountaintops in Central sions will be held Saturday, with the annu- The tradition of ISWNE educational tours Appalachia. al awards banquet in Keen Johnson Hall during the first half of the four-day confer- We will visit a mountaintop-removal mine ence will be enhanced with the contribu- and discuss the topic with industry repre- tions of local journalists who will discuss sentatives, environmentalists and journal- the issues and coverage of Kentucky’s sig- ists, including rural reporter Bill Estep of nature industries: coal, horses and bour- the Lexington Herald-Leader and Editor bon whiskey. (Tobacco isn’t as important Ben Gish of The Mountain Eagle, who will as it once was, but we can talk about that, play host to us at the offices of his weekly too, if you like, as well as Toyota, which in Whitesburg. We will also visit has its largest plant here.) Appalshop, the arts-and-media coopera- Very early Wednesday afternoon, June 23, tive noted for its documentaries and other buses will take us to the Woodford Reserve media about the history and culture of bourbon distillery, make quick stops at the Appalachia. old and new state Capitol buildings in Conference attendees will stay in Burnham Frankfort, then take us to a cookout at one Hall, a recently remodeled dormitory near of the Bluegrass region’s great horse farms, the center of the Eastern campus in Officers of the International Society Airdrie Stud, owned by former Gov. Richmond. Each two-room suite has a of Weekly Newspaper Editors: Brereton Jones, a leading Thoroughbred bath, and wireless Internet access will be breeder. Gov. Jones will discuss politics available. The dorm will be available for President: Jim Painter and the horse industry, which has repeat- early arrivals Tuesday, June 22. West Valley View edly failed to win approval of expanded Avondale, Ariz. For more information on lodging, meals gambling in Kentucky. and logistics, contact Dr. Elizabeth Hansen Vice President: Jeremy Condliffe On Thursday, June 24, we’ll go to Eastern at Eastern Kentucky University: Congleton Chronicle Kentucky for a look at its culture and the [email protected]. For more on pro- Congleton, Cheshire, England coal industry, freshly controversial because gramming and registration, contact me at Executive Director: of its contribution to global warming and [email protected]. Dr. Chad Stebbins, Director, Institute of International Studies, Missouri Southern State University, 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801-1595 Phone: (417) 625-9736 Fax: (417) 659-4445 ISWNE new member E-mail: [email protected] Larry See, Jr., a columnist/photographer/reporter for The Board of Directors: Meade County Messenger in Brandenburg, Ky., has been Sandra George involved with newspapers, on and off, for more than 20 Jonesville, Mich. years. Paul MacNeill He previously was interim general manager/editor for The The Eastern Graphic Antrim County News, a weekly newspaper serving north- Montague, Prince Edward Island western Michigan. See received a bachelor's degree in jour- Kris O’Leary nalism from Grand Valley State Colleges in Grand Rapids, The Star News with a minor in political science. Medford, Wis. He formerly served as a staff writer for The Monroe Chris Wood Wisconsin Web Offset, Brookfield, Wis. Guardian and was the editor of The Leader and the Kalkaskian newspaper in Michigan, before taking the position in Kentucky. Kelly Clemmer Star News Inc. In addition to his newspaper work, See finds time to counsel and work with students Wainwright, Alberta in the journalism department at Meade County High School. He has counseled them Cheryl Wormley on photography, worked with them on covering events in the Louisville area and The Woodstock Independent arranged for a field trip to Western Kentucky University on Photoshop and InDesign Woodstock, Ill. fundamentals. Immediate Past President: In his spare time, he is an avid Civil War re-enactor, enjoys photography and reading Don Brod historical novels. St. Charles, Ill.

March 2010 3 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors ISWNEWSNEWS Newton, Wylie speak at Grinnell College Ellen Albanese’s daughter to wed in May ISWNE members Carter Newton and John Wylie participated in Tracy Landers, daughter of Bill Landers and ISWNE past president the Rosenfield Program in Public Affairs, International Relations, Ellen Albanese, will be married in May to Brian Dodge. and Human Rights at Grinnell College in Iowa on Feb. 18. Tracy and her twin sister, Abby, attended several ISWNE confer- The focus of this year’s Rosenfield Program was “The Media: ences beginning in 1986 at Halifax (when they were 8 years old) Changes and Challenges.” Other speakers included Bill Monroe, through 1997 in Flagstaff. The wedding will take place in retired executive director of the Iowa Newspaper Association, and Rockport, Mass. Mark Hamilton, president and publisher of the Times-Citizen Publications. O’Donnell receives editorial writing award Newton (1977) and Wylie (1975) are graduates of Grinnell. Leslie O’Donnell received an honorable mention award from the Newton is publisher of the Galena (Ill.) Gazette, and Wylie is pub- Suburban Newspapers of America 2009 Editorial Contest in the lisher and editor of the Oologah (Okla.) Lake Leader. editorial writing category, for three editorials she wrote for the The Rosenfield Program brings to campus public figures, politi- Nutfield News, Derry, N.H. cians, activists, and academic experts who supplement the stu- She is editor of the Londonderry, N.H.-based Nutfield Publishing’s dents’ liberal arts education and inform the entire campus com- three weekly newspapers. munity. Through a variety of co-curricular programming — lec- tures, symposia, discussions, films, and workshops — the program supplements the Grinnell classroom experience by bringing the outside world to campus.

ISWNE new member Jeff Gill is the editor of a weekly (The Weekly Press) and monthly (The Laker) publication owned by Advocate Printing and Publishing. After graduating from the Atlantic Media Institute in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Gill was hired by Advocate Printing as a reporter for its flagship paper, The Advocate, located in Pictou, Nova Scotia. After spending four years at the weekly, the oppor- tunity to move up the corporate lad- der presented itself and Gill became the editor of The Weekly Press and The Laker. He manages a small editorial staff consisting of three young reporters, the oldest being 30. September 2010 will mark his ISWNE board member Sandra George recently paid a visit eighth year with Advocate Printing and Publishing. to Derek Kilbourn, who owns the Gabriola Sounder with his wife, Sarah, in Gabriola Island, British Columbia.

4 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors 230230 ++ 11

By Ross Connelly mon point of agreement exists: there are Records law say a Editor & co-publisher no easy answers and whatever is done will donor’s privacy The Hardwick (Vt.) Gazette not be cheap. needs to be pro- March 3, 2010 During the debates, which stretch back tected. The years, an anonymous donor gave the amendment only Vermont state law gives people the right School Board a hefty sum to assist the offers anonymity to see public records concerning matters board’s efforts to find a solution. The to those giving conducted by public bodies. board was adamant in its refusal to reveal $10,000 or more in a year. Why do The law states “it is in the public interest the name of the donor. No one knew whether the donor lived in town, had kids people with to enable any person to review and criti- money need spe- cize their decisions even though such in the school system, had a stake in the process, or anything. The School Board cial treatment? examination may cause inconvenience or Since when is put- embarrassment.” used the donation to help advance its Ross Connelly quest to secure a bond to build a new ting a price tag on When the law was first enacted in 1976, school — a policy decision that would transparency a 16 specific exemptions of records were list- have implications for every property tax- part of the democratic process? ed. The number rose to 134 by 2001 and payer in town. That is not how the needs and paths of jumped to 197 in 2005. As of the end of public higher education should be February this year, there were 230. Next The anonymous donor was an unseen face at the table. Unseen and unaccount- mapped, that is not how public policy week, there is a good chance there will be should be formulated, and that is not how 231. able, but one whose donation had the potential to affect all taxpayers of the a democracy should function. And yet, H-331, a bill to amend the state’s Public town. most of the state representatives and state Records law, took a quick ride through the senators in the towns covered by the Vermont Senate in mid-February, and an Such a local scenario could easily happen Gazette voted for this new exemption. If even quicker pass through the House last at any one of Vermont’s public institu- asked, each would probably be quick to week. The measure will allow those who tions of higher education. Without trans- say he or she believes in open government donate $10,000 or more in a year to any parency, policy decisions that could affect and the public’s right to know, but they of the three public state colleges, to taxpayers from the top of Vermont to its place special interests above the common Vermont Technical College, the Com- southern border could be impacted by an good. individual and an advancement officer munity College of Vermont, the University The public’s right to know the truth, trans- of Vermont or the Vermont Student who are able to arrange for a donation behind closed doors. parency and accountability are building Assistance Corporation, to remain anony- blocks for democracy’s foundation. They mous, if they wish. A new building may require local zoning must not be stepchildren when the pub- There are no campuses of public higher approval. Private residences or land may lic’s business is conducted. Citizens still education in the 10 towns covered by the be bought for a site for a new building, have the opportunity to speak to their leg- Gazette, so of what interest is the issue which would reduce a municipality’s islators before next week’s vote and let locally? Grand List and increase the local property them know granting one, then two, then tax rate. Tuitions could rise for all students Over the past several years, the Craftsbury 231 exemptions to the Public Records law because of the need to increase the institu- — with the last a privilege for a small few School Board and townspeople grappled tion’s budget to maintain the new build- with what to do with the town’s two — is undemocratic and has to stop. The ing. Who is sitting at the table when the public’s right to know is fundamental. schools: build anew, renovate, tuition... As decision is debated? the debate progressed through more Democracy requires that. School Board meetings than anyone can An anonymous donor can sit there — remember, a number of bond votes, and unseen and unaccountable. Some people Ross Connelly can be contacted at ongoing discussion to this day, one com- in support of adding an anonymous [email protected]. donor exemption to the state’s Public

March 2010 5 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors ImprovingImproving relationsrelations withwith citycity hallhall aa two-waytwo-way streetstreet

By Jim Pumarlo tive. tive content for • Initiate coverage early: Short notice is a newspapers. A fire chief is suspended without pay after common reason for editors to turn down Don’t be misled, he takes his nephew, and another firefight- requests for news coverage. Turn the tables however. Despite er off his working shift, for a joy ride on for a moment and think how many times your best efforts, the city’s fire boat. Is this newsworthy? a staff has been aware of an event but relationships with waits to be approached for coverage. newsmakers won’t Three local firms are vying to become air- Create a master calendar that includes always be rosy. port manager in what has become a con- everything from the fire station open house Editors still will tentious process. A committee, on a 4-3 to local government budget workshops to have legitimate vote, recommends the existing vendor to student recognition events. Contact the reason to reject the city council, even though the proposal appropriate individuals to explore cover- some requests, and exceeds the low bid by $100,000 over the age well in advance. reporters still will life of the five-year contract. Should citi- confront resistance Jim Pumarlo zens know who voted for which vendor? • Lay the groundwork: Nothing’s more frustrating for editors than being pitched a in their pursuit of Editors and reporters most assuredly will story without really understanding its sig- “bad” news. answer “yes” to both questions. The news- nificance. The unfortunate result is that In a nutshell, newsmakers must learn to paper tracked down both stories, but only the individual is dissatisfied with the cover- volunteer the bad news and the good after pressing our regular contacts at city age, and the newspaper misfires on an news. And newspapers — even in their hall. important story. Proper preparation will roles as government watchdogs — must be I’ve used these two scenarios when address- result in a more substantive story for read- as receptive to covering the good news as ing public officials on how to strengthen ers. Local government budgets provide an they are to digging for the bad news. media relations. My premise: Be prepared excellent example. The numbers can take Developing relationships can be slow and to share the bad as well as the good news, months to prepare and tweak, yet many agonizing, and it’s a neverending process. the sensitive as well as the feel-good sto- reporters don’t see the finished product Strengthening these relationships is hard ries. In fact, it’s in their best interests to ini- until the meeting where it is adopted. work. It requires effort from both sides, and tiate the coverage. Such a pro-active stance • Entertain submissions. Any staff, no mat- it’s best to take baby steps. So here’s a can reap long-term dividends. ter its size, cannot be everywhere. starter. The advice is equally appropriate for news- Submitted stories and photos can be an Imagine the reaction if you invite the local rooms. excellent substitute. This doesn’t mean a city manager to coffee, and present ideas The press and the government too often free-for-all; develop and publicize ground for expanding substantive coverage of city are pitted as adversaries. That doesn’t have rules. hall. You might be surprised at where the to be the norm. Newsrooms should contin- • Localize state and national stories. This conversation leads, and — most important ue their aggressive pursuit of news. At the practice produces solid news stories and is — your readers stand to be the ultimate same time, editors and reporters should be a great way to give attention to local pub- beneficiary. diligent in developing relationships with lic affairs on a regular basis. newsmakers who can be uncooperative in • Provide other avenues such as guest Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides sharing “all the news.” columns. A word of caution: Be sure the training on Community Newsroom Success Here are some tips to help break down the columns are more than a PR pitch. These Strategies. He is author of “Votes and barriers. contributions can complement and supple- Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election • Introduce yourself: Have you ever asked ment coverage, especially for newspapers Coverage” and “Bad News and Good someone for a favor? You’re most success- strapped for resources. Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on ful if you have an established relationship. All these examples are opportunities to say Sensitive Issues in a Small-Town The same holds true when seeking infor- “yes” to requests for coverage. They serve Newspaper.” He can be contacted at mation from public officials — especially if the dual purpose of improving relation- www.pumarlo.com. the news is unflattering from their perspec- ships with city hall and providing substan-

6 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors SpeakerSpeaker predictspredicts deathdeath ofof newspapersnewspapers —— prematurelyprematurely

By Marc Wilson — even in rural Mississippi. Many more content. This people have “smart phones” and other means doing as A speaker at the recent Mississippi Press easy access to the World Wide Web. much as your can Association winter convention stirred The Web isn’t the only problem. It’s all to protect your things up by telling the gathered editors about data. copyright privi- leges, and barring and publishers: “You all need to find new After the invention of the telegraph and jobs within 18 months.” unauthorized news wire services, newspapers were king scrapers from “The audience turned on me,” the speak- of media as they delivered content that using your con- er, Alan Jacobson, CEO of Brass Tacks was produced elsewhere — national/inter- tent. Media, told me after the convention. national news, financial data, sports, fea- “They didn’t want to hear that the tures. 2. Create a domi- nant local Internet is here, even in rural Mississippi.” Radio broke the data-delivery monopoly, Internet product Marc Wilson Jacobson, of course, is not the first to fore- beginning in the 1920s. But as late as that features con- cast for the demise of ink-on-paper news- 1935, newspapers sold more than 45 per- tent that is differ- papers, just the most recent. “Sixteen- cent of all advertising in the United ent from your print product. The days of thousand newspaper jobs were lost last States. By 1995 — the beginning of the simply “shoveling” the print content to year, and over 100 newspapers of all sizes World Wide Web — newspaper advertis- the Web need to end. Your Web product closed.” He said the profit margins are ing had fallen to a 22 percent share. should rely heavily on video, audio, user- shrinking, “and when the expense line That’s the same year TV passed newspa- generated and other content that is not crosses the income line, papers get shut pers with a 23 percent share. Daily news- print-centric. down.” paper readership fell from 80 percent of 3. Have a trained sales staff that knows “They all said that once the recession is Americans in 1964 to 59 percent in 1995 (pre-World Wide Web.) how to help your local merchants adver- over, things will be good — but it’s not tise and market in this new world. If your coming back. This is a secular change,” Research by Zenith shows newspaper ad sales team is properly trained — and if Jacobson said. shares still ahead of Internet advertising you have the right online and print prod- My predictions are nowhere near as dire share. Zenith projects Internet advertising ucts — the local newspaper franchise as Jacobson’s. I think that newspapers to pass total newspaper advertising some- should fare well from many years to that quickly change and modernize can time in the next decade. Every other come. survive by earning both substantial print media besides Internet is in a steady decline. It’s a tough struggle — but it’s a battle and online revenues. that can be won with dedication, good I saw an Arbitron report back in 2003 The research predicts print newspapers local content, a willingness to embrace that alarmed me: When a household will remain a major advertising play — new technology, good strategic thinking moved from dial-up Internet to high- behind only all TV (broadcast and cable) and a well-trained staff. speed Internet, the daily time spent read- and slightly behind all Internet advertis- ing. P.S., Alan Jacobson says he’s probably ing a newspaper fell from four-tenths of going to stop going to press association an hour to just over one-tenth of an hour. So the trick isn’t — as Jacobson suggests conventions. I, on the other hand, am The same report said that people with — for all publishers to find new trades. looking forward to attending conventions high-speed access nearly doubled the time The trick — in my opinion — is to be the for many years to come! they spent online. Since high-speed was local source of combined print and online generally seven times faster than dial-up, advertising. Marc Wilson, a former AP, daily newspa- that meant users were consuming 14 Critical points for survival: times more media than with dial-up. per reporter and weekly publisher, is gen- 1. Maintain control of the rights to local eral manager of TownNews.com. He can Now, virtually everyone has access to content generated by the newspaper. This be contacted at [email protected]. high-speed Internet at work, home, coffee includes knowing who is re-using your shops, libraries and fast food restaurants

March 2010 7 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors MarthaMartha PerkinsPerkins andand thethe BowenBowen IslandIsland UndercurrentUndercurrent By Alfred DePew ing new.” sations with “Oh I Vancouver Observer What better way than to relocate to British read about you in Feb. 17, 2010 Columbia, the first of her eight siblings “to the Undercurrent.” move farther than an hour and a half She wants people If you think not much happens on Bowen away?” to spend an hour Island, you haven’t read their weekly news- “If you’re going to do it, do it big,” she each week reading paper: the Undercurrent. says, laughing. the Undercurrent, There’s the full-day kindergarten starting “to feel they have Perkins and her husband made sure they to pick up a copy up in September, work beginning on a new went home for Christmas “to let everybody seven-foot wood sculpture to go in front of every Friday morn- know we hadn’t fallen off the edge of the ing, or their lives the library, not to mention the hundreds of earth.” islanders who lined up before dawn last wouldn’t be com- “Thanks to Skype,” she says, “they’re OK Wednesday to cheer for the Olympic torch plete.” Martha Perkins on its way to West Vancouver. with this move.” And to do that, she And if that’s not enough, you can find out Her biggest challenge on the new job is has to keep giving them stories that are how Dot Crookall earned his spot in the BC matching up “what you think you should interesting enough to make them stop Sports Hall of Fame in 1965 and what hap- be able to do in your mind with the time doing the dishes or reading their email. pened when David Cameron gave his wife you actually have.” What about competition from online news- a rock for Valentine’s Day. Well, you actu- In order to write a feature on affordable papers? ally had to tune into the CBC’s Vinyl Café housing, she knows she’ll have to interview “I’m old fashioned,” she says. “I like the to find out how that story ended. about ten people. But then there’s Heritage physical product in my hand — rustling — But it was the Undercurrent that let you Day and the Olympics — stories that have and newsprint on my fingers.” to be written first. know it would be on the air. Besides what are you going to wrap your “This is what I thrive on,” says the “You do what you can, and you make that fish in? Undercurrent’s new editor, Martha Perkins. work,” says Perkins. “And then there’s always next week.” Try making papier mache masks from “Time with people. I’m in the office, and strips of the Vancouver Observer! somebody drops by with a classified, a pair Perkins sees the Undercurrent as “a source of lost glasses, a source of new information. of community building — where we all get What does Martha Perkins like best about Feeling connected to what I spend so much to know each other better. Community her role on Bowen Island? of my day doing. It’s important to me.” papers have such an ability to do that.” “I get to be nosy,” she says, with a big grin. And connected to the paper, she most cer- She wants people on Bowen to start conver- tainly is. She writes six stories a week, takes many of the photographs, and does the layout herself, while Kathleen Ainscough and Tracey Wait handle the advertising. ISWNE new member Perkins is no stranger to journalism or to David Stoltz is a native of Alexandria, S.D., and a 1977 small town life for that matter. She came to graduate of South Dakota State University. He worked for Bowen Island from 24 years at the 16 years on weekly newspapers, including one year as staff Haliburton County Echo in Ontario’s cot- writer for The Redfield (S.D.) Press, one year as news editor tage country. At the end of her tenure of the Stewart (Minn.) Tribune, four years as staff writer for there, she was the editor of four different the Fairfax (Minn.) Standard, and 10 years as owner/editor newspapers. of the Alexandria (S.D.) Herald and Emery (S.D.) Enterprise. “You think it’s what you want,” says Stoltz left the newspaper business in 1997 to begin working Perkins. “I thrive on challenge, but it took for the Army Reserves. This year he began working on his me away from what I loved — being with M.S. degree through the online journalism program at people.” South Dakota State University, and it has reignited his interest in and love for jour- In the end, she didn’t love “being champi- nalism. on email filer at the computer.” He is married to Barbara Bauer Stoltz, has five children ages 17 to 28, and two grand- And yet, “it wasn’t about leaving children. Haliburton,” she says. “It was about start-

8 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors Ah-ha,Ah-ha, mymy happinesshappiness isis havinghaving aa ‘sense‘sense ofof place’place’ By Cathy Gilbert At Christmas, my semi-sister-in-law (don’t True, I can’t go to Managing editor ask, it’s complicated) and my baby brother the grocery store The Manning (S.C.) Times Andy were here in Manning to visit Mom or post office with- Feb. 25, 2010 and me. Jane is a native of New York, out my teeth in specifically Long Island. Andy moved with and proper under- I have just completed reading a charming the rest of my family to Miami when he pinnings on book entitled Down Town, by Ferrol Sams. was nine years old. Both of them still live because indeed, I there. And despite Miami’s southern lati- am going to see Any aficionado of Southern literature tude, they are both Yankees. More than someone I know. I knows of Sams and his great Porter once in their short visit they laughed about have tried that Osborne trilogy. things that we just take for granted. I was already and failed Down Town is the only piece of Sams’ work not amused. miserably and available for the Kindle, my beloved and Neither of them understand about not hav- embarrassed Cathy Gilbert ultra-groovy new electronic book reader. It ing a 24-hour everything. Neither one of myself to the does not include the continuing and them gets it that half of Wal-Mart doesn’t max. admired character Porter Osborne, a thinly open until after church on Sunday. Jane Yes, I must plan for a 10-minute dash to veiled roman à clef of Sams’ own life story, wanted to know where the Macy’s/ the post office to take at least 20 minutes, but you know I have contacted the publish- Neiman’s/Starbucks and requisite bagel because again, stopping to speak is the ers and let them know they need to rectify store were. Andy wondered how we func- law. No exceptions. that situation. tioned without a Lowe’s or Home Depot. No, I may not scream obscenities in the Down Town is, however, the story about a And neither one of them could imagine liv- street, even if I am threatened with bodily small Southern town that could be one of ing here. harm, because someone I know will hear hundreds of small Southern towns, includ- me and tell my mama and that would be a ing those in which you and I live and work. A part of me felt very sorry for them. A tiny part of me rejoiced. There can’t be any- fate worse than any death imaginable. The story, as the narrator, James Aloysius thing worse than an intractable big-city No, I cannot bounce a check, be publicly “Buster” Holcombe Jr., explains, was writ- attitude exiled to the small town. drunk, be involved in an illicit relationship ten at the request of the young heir to one or shoplift, because while all of those things of the town’s foundation families. That However, for those of us who by choice or circumstance opted out of the big city to are just wrong, see the paragraph above. I young man felt he needed to know about think all of us can agree that jail would be the people who “his people” grew up come live here, the sense of “place” that we have around us is something to be cher- a relief from the wrath of mamas should around. He asks Buster if he believes it is any of the aforementioned be enacted. important to know the people you live ished. among. Last Friday night, my mom took a slight If you have a secret, you best not tell it anywhere because it won’t stay a secret “Boy, what isn’t important? In a small spill that required the assistance of the fine Clarendon EMS folks to get her back on her and I am willing to bet we have all learned town? Where everybody knows everybody that the hard way. else? And where every living soul is an feet. By morning, I had several inquiries individual character? No matter what is about her well-being, was she hurt or However, if you are hurting, lonely or sad, happening in the outside world that is hor- bruised, sore or mostly just embarrassed a single phone call to just about anyone in rible and terrible, the people in our town, (thank God the latter is the case). My sweet our place here in Clarendon County, will and I suspect all other towns, find what is three-doors-down neighbor Patti had seen get you more friends and supporters than going on here day to day more gripping the lights and worried that it had been one you could ever need. and amusing. It anchors one’s sense of of the Gilbert Girls. That’s just how we roll If you are ill, we will pray for you, feed you place in the universe.” here, isn’t it? and hold you together in the bleakest of Wow. When I read that paragraph at the When a tragedy occurs we take care of times. If you are deathly ill, we will hold end of Down Town, I had one of those “ah- each other. your family together after you are ha” moments where “clarity” is more than When there is a joyous event to celebrate, gone...with a pound cake, of course. just another word between “clarinet” and we all want to be a part of the happiness. If you have had a success, large or small, “clash.” When injustice is done to one of our own, we will clap you on the back and be happy In that moment, I knew exactly why I do we circle the wagons and take up the cause for you and with you. what I do, why I live where I live and why I no matter what, because they are one of us. You cannot live a life unnoticed in a small love it so. In the big city, we rarely know our neigh- town and I think it is wonderful. I am I am a geek for my community. bors’ names...or at least that was my expe- anchored in my sense of place. I live in a small, Southern, not particularly rience. I don’t ever want to live like that I hope you are too. sophisticated, sometimes a little backwards, again. And I won’t. 99 percent of the time friendly and 100 per- My sense of place and my role in it is one Cathy Gilbert can be contacted at cathy- cent of the time fascinating place. of the “things,” if you can classify it as a [email protected]. thing, that I cherish most.

March 2010 9 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors UrgingUrging everyoneeveryone toto findfind aa wayway toto helphelp By Michele Longworth before I knew it, a group of us were on a racially or ethni- Reporter conference call Thursday with a representa- cally diverse mem- Metropolis (Ill.) Planet tive from the bone marrow registry to find bers on the registry out more information about organizing to meet the needs My first introduction to Clyde Wills was one. of patients. For actually way before I started working here We are planning one to be held here in example, 83 per- at the Planet. I was a student at Murray Metropolis. And, when we hold a bone cent of African- State University. I worked on campus at the marrow drive for donors, I will not be able Americans do not News Bureau and one of my duties at that to participate because I am already on the receive a marrow time was to clip papers, in particular any registry. It was in ‘06 or ‘07 that there was transplant because information about the college that was in a huge drive at Broadway Church of Christ they did not find a the papers, including the Planet. in Paducah. I saw on the evening news match. Something how all a person has to do in order to be Mosely feels has to One issue in particular got my attention. I be done is to get Clyde Wills picked it up and was astounded when I placed on the registry is fill out medical information and a consent form and then more minorities on read the headline, “Metropolis editor Clyde the registry. Wills marries Markie Post.” That got my simply swab the inside of his or her mouth attention. Now for those who might not in four corners with what is essentially, an Once a person is on the registry, he or she know, Post is the actress who played on the oversized Q-Tip. So after seeing how simple will remain on the registry until the age of sitcom Night Court, which aired on NBC. it was to join the registry, I drove over to 61. To be a donor, a person must be the church, stood in line, filled out the nec- between the ages of 18-60; be willing to I was just shocked that he married her. I essary papers, swabbed my mouth and donate to any patient in need; and meet said something to the people in the office sealed up my samples and it was done. I the health guidelines, which will be about how the editor in Metropolis married received a temporary bone marrow donor explained to people the day of the drive. Markie Post. One of my supervisors at the card the day I joined and later received my Mosley explained that nowadays the most time came over and looked at the article permanent card. over my shoulder and then started chuck- common way to donate bone marrow is ling. She pointed out to me that it was an Since the time I joined the registry, I have through peripheral blood stem cell dona- April Fool’s edition. As I looked at the rest yet to be contacted that I am a match to tion, which is done about 80 percent of the of the page, I saw that there was also a pic- anyone. But, maybe someday I would be a time. A donor receives an injection five ture of the Loch Ness monster. I had gotten match to someone who really needs my days prior to donating to increase the duped! bone marrow. Would I do that if I were a amount of stem cells made by the bone match? Absolutely. It would be a tremen- marrow, which are released into the blood- Then of course, in 1998, I interviewed for dous feeling to know that I made a differ- stream. the job here at the Planet, got hired and ence in helping save someone’s life. the rest is history. And, over the course of The stem cells are extracted via apheresis. my tenure here, Clyde was always a good That is why we want to hold a bone mar- Blood is removed through a needle in one boss. I personally observed that he always row drive in Metropolis. The drive has been arm and passed through a machine that stayed in good health, went for regular inspired by Clyde’s battle with cancer. separates out the stem cells. The remaining check-ups, took his vitamins and supple- According to Denise M. Mosely, account blood is then returned to the donor through ments and just about every morning had a representative with Be The Match Registry, the other arm. glass of orange juice with his bowl of cere- thousands of patients with leukemia, lym- The other method of removing marrow is al. phoma, sickle cell and other life-threaten- through surgical extraction, which occurs That is why three weeks ago, when I heard ing diseases need an unrelated marrow about 20 percent of the time. Mosely said it the news Clyde was diagnosed with donor transplant. “In fact, 70 percent of depends on each individual situation as to leukemia, it threw me for a loop. I was patients in need of a transplant do not what method is used. If surgical extraction totally stunned. Here was a guy who was have a matching donor in their family. is done, the donor is under general anes- always active and, except for the occasion- They depend on the Be The Match Registry thesia and hollow needles are used to with- al sinus infection and aches and pains, was to find a match and to get a second chance draw liquid marrow from the pelvic bone healthy. at life. Many patients do find the life-sav- area. ing match they need, but more support is Clyde’s current battle with leukemia has Mosley told me she has talked to several needed to be able to help all patients. Even donors who have told her that following gotten several of us thinking more about with a registry of millions, there are the National Bone Marrow Registry and the the surgical extraction they do feel some patients waiting and hoping, unable to discomfort afterward. However, it is a small need for bone marrow donors. One person find a match,” she said. mentioned to me that it would be good if price to pay to know they helped someone we could organize a bone marrow drive. The registry is really desperate to add in need. That got me inspired to send an e-mail and minorities. There are simply not enough The most important thing for people to

10 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors know is if they choose to be on the registry, organizers of the bone marrow drive are Anyone who would like to volunteer, they could be a match to anyone needing working on is fund raising. To join the reg- please call me, here at the office ce 618- a bone marrow transplant. However, istry is absolutely free of charge. However, 524-2141, ext. 311 or send me an e-mail Mosely said if a person is going through a the registry is a not-for-profit organization at [email protected]. For traumatic time in his or her life, or and it costs about $100 to complete the those who would like to make a monetary becomes medically unable to donate or if a testing to add someone to the list. donation, send checks to Bone Marrow woman donor becomes pregnant, those We are hoping some local civic organiza- Drive c/o The Metropolis Planet, P.O. Box donors may call the registry and ask to be tions, businesses, area plants and individu- 820, Metropolis IL 62960. And, if there are placed on hold or to be taken off. als might consider making a monetary any businesses or organizations that would That means people in Metropolis who sign donation. Maybe there are people out there like to help us sponsor this drive, please up for the registry probably won’t be a who medically cannot donate bone mar- call. match for Clyde, but they could wind up row or are beyond the age limit for donat- I know there have been so many people I helping people anywhere in the country. ing. If those individuals would consider know who have been affected by cancer in So, now the employees of the Planet and donating money to help defray the costs of some way. Right now, I am healthy. But, at our bone marrow drive organizers ask for adding someone else to the list, that would some point, it might be me who might be help from the community. be awesome. in need of a bone marrow transplant. I know I would want as many people on the First, we will need volunteers the day of the After living in Metropolis for 10 years, I have seen how the community can pull bone marrow registry list as possible in drive, which has been set for Wednesday, order to help me. So, I urge everyone who April 14 from 2-6 p.m. We are still finaliz- together to accomplish great things. We hope we have the support for this drive, reads this to find some way to help us out ing the location, so keep watching the with this upcoming drive. Planet for more information about the which could potentially help someone, upcoming drive. The other aspect that we somewhere. The demographics of American newspapers 1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the peo- have to leave Southern California to do it. 10. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by ple who run the country. 6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose people who aren’t sure if there is a country or 2. The Washington Post is read by people parents used to run the country and did a that anyone is running it; but if so, they who think they run the country. poor job of it, thank you very much. oppose all that they stand for. There are occa- sional exceptions if the leaders are handi- 3. The New York Times is read by people who 7. The New York Daily News is read by peo- capped homosexual minority feminist atheist think they should run the country and who ple who aren’t too sure who’s running the dwarfs who also happen to be illegal aliens are very good at crossword puzzles. country and don’t really care as long as they from any other country, or galaxy, provided 4. USA Today is read by people who think can get a seat on the train. of course, that they are not Republicans. they ought to run the country but don’t really 8. The New York Post is read by right leaning 11. The National Enquirer is read by people understand The New York Times. They do, people who don’t care who is running the trapped in line at the grocery store. however, like their statistics shown in pie country as long as they do something really charts. scandalous, preferably while intoxicated. 12. The Minneapolis Star Tribune is read by people who have recently caught a fish and 5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people 9. The Miami Herald is read by people who need something in which to wrap it. who wouldn’t mind running the country — if are running another country but need the they could find the time — and if they didn’t baseball scores. Future Conferences Save the dates...upcoming ISWNE conferences 2010: June 23-27 Richmond, Kentucky 2011: July 5-10 Coventry, England 2012: June 26-30 Bellingham, Washington

March 2010 11 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors TheThe lossloss ofof thethe bestbest teacherteacher I’veI’ve everever knownknown By David Giffey Finally he caved in, and wrote: “Okay, Most telling, were Home News send me one or two chapters and I’ll react. Howard’s words Spring Green, Wis. Best wishes. Howard.” about World War Feb. 3, 2010 I rejoiced in his willingness to donate a II, “the good war.” considerable piece of his overscheduled life He wrote: “Indeed, Howard Zinn died last Wednesday, to the forthcoming book called Long I enlisted enthusi- January 27, 2010. He was 87. I don’t know Shadows: Veterans Paths to Peace. Yet I astically in the Air how long it will take to mourn the loss of surmised that, once he began, it would be Force, was trained the best teacher I’ve ever known. an appealing project given his love for oral as a bombardier, Howard Zinn taught history in university histories, about which he once wrote, and dropped classrooms for decades. Marian Wright “Personal stories tell us much larger stories bombs on various Edelman and Alice Walker were among about our country.” targets in Europe. David Giffey his students. However, no college class- After the necessary legwork, the exchange Only after the war room could contain Howard’s wisdom, of drafts and details, Howard asked for a did I begin to question the moral purity of activism, and generous spirit. He expanded deadline, which I relayed to him. Then I that war. I began to question the motives the classroom with each book he wrote, left him alone for several months. A cou- of the victorious powers and wondered: did each talk he gave, each note he sent, each ple of days before the deadline I received they enter the war to stop the Japanese encouraging word. He meant it when he an 1,800 word essay, a clear and heartfelt from massacring the Chinese, or to save named his classic book A People’s History description of the book written as though the Jews from Hitler’s extermination of the United States. More than two million Howard had been looking over my shoul- camps, or were there other motives...did it copies of that 1980 book have been sold, der during those intervening months. It bring a new world? Hitler and Mussolini and sales increase each year. In it, Howard was concise in its details and revealing in and the Japanese military leaders were proved that the real lessons of history are its historical interpretations. The foreword defeated, but there was still Fascism all taught by the people who lived it. In was a discussion of Howard’s favorite over the world...wars continued with mil- books, essays, speeches, and conversation, topic, the people who, in this case, were lions of dead, and an arms race between he unfailingly documented the history of war veterans turned peace activists. the Soviet Union and the United States the poor in contrast to the rich, the now threatened the very existence of the “I should add something from my own planet.” oppressed as opposed to the oppressors, point of view as a historian,” he wrote. workers’ pay contrasted to corporate prof- “The history presented to students in our He went on, in the foreword, to note, its, the anti-war veteran compared to the schools, in their textbooks, and too often in “Whatever the moral complexity of World senator, the non-violent protestor beaten their classrooms, has a nationalist bias. War II, the wars since then: Korea, and bleeding — as Howard had been — That is, it almost always glorifies the wars Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, are devoid of for resistance to an unfair system. our nation has engaged in, and certainly any rational or moral justification....” Howard Zinn’s classroom didn’t have pays much more attention to acts of hero- Howard then wrote this conclusion, walls. That meant I could be his student. ism on the battlefield than to the heroic “...whatever problems remain to be solved We first met when he was in his 70s. acts of those in the military who deserted, in the world we will have to muster all our Without hesitation he gave me his street or rebelled, or criticized the government for ingenuity as thinking beings to solve them address in Auburndale, Mass. I believe he carrying on the war.” Howard continued without massive violence. War...is not the preferred handwritten correspondence, but by tracing mistreatment suffered by sol- answer.” reverted to email for work projects. diers at the hands of their superiors begin- I treasure the contact I had with Howard ning with the Revolutionary War, through Zinn. I saved all the notes he sent, and I About 10 years ago I began to send things the war with Mexico and the Civil War, I’d written to Howard, asking for advice am deeply saddened that our correspon- about which he wrote: “The working class dence is interrupted. and criticism. His responses were consis- poor in the North were aware of the tently positive and included suggestions corpses of their fellow men piling up on Dear Howard Zinn, Goodbye. about possible publishers. He once wrote the battlefields, while the rich evaded the back after reading one of these columns, draft and businessmen amassed fortunes.” David Giffey can be contacted at “Makes me wish I were closer to nature.” His critique continued through the [email protected]. The only time I detected a trace of impa- Spanish-American War of 1898 and World tience came after I pestered him to write a War I. foreword for a book I was working on.

12 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors DavidDavid S.S. Cutler,Cutler, 66,66, founderfounder ofof MarinerMariner NewspapersNewspapers Editor’s note: David S. Cutler was the father of Heart, Navy Commendation Medal and was ISWNE member Josh Cutler. later promoted to captain. Mr. Cutler’s beat reporting had impressed his David Sumner Cutler, 66, of Duxbury, Mass., editors, and when he returned to The Patriot founder of Mariner Newspapers and publish- Ledger in 1970 he was appointed the paper’s er of the Duxbury Clipper, died Feb. 28 after State House reporter. For the next two years a seven-month fight against cancer. He died he plied the halls, covering the administra- surrounded by his family in his favorite spot tion of Gov. Francis Sargent. — a fire-placed living room framed by hand- In 1972, Mr. Cutler left the security of his hewn 18th century Duxbury timbers. position at The Ledger to found The Mr. Cutler was the son of John Henry Cutler Marshfield Mariner with $1,000 in vacation and Roberta Sumner Cutler. He and his twin pay and a small investment by his partner, David S. Cutler sister were born on the Fourth of July, 1943 in Michael Stearns. The Mariner was inaugurat- and 23 weekly newspapers across three states Olathe, Kan., where his father was stationed ed on April 13, 1972, and immediately with nearly 100 full-time employees. with the Navy. In 1945, the Cutlers settled in became Marshfield’s paper of record, richly Duxbury year-round. An important turning chronicling the town’s births, deaths and Mr. Cutler had no formal training in busi- point in David Cutler’s life came at not yet much of what happened in between. ness, accounting or “human resources” and often boasted that he’d never taken a jour- seven, when over a bridge game at a neigh- Two years later The Norwell Mariner bor’s home, his parents let themselves be nalism course, yet he grew into all these roles, appeared, and over the next dozen years never forgetting the business was, and is, publicly goaded into promising to start a papers sprouted in Scituate, Cohasset and respectable newspaper in Duxbury. Nineteen always about people. In the end he was Pembroke, eventually spreading as far north beloved by those people who had worked so days later, on May 11, 1950, the inaugural to Braintree and south to Plymouth. While edition of the Duxbury Clipper appeared. In closely with him over five decades and three the growing company eventually prospered, states. the first, sometimes tenuous, years of the there were days when David’s primary meals Clipper’s existence, the observant young Mr. were snacks he pilfered from his own vending Mr. Cutler was a voracious reader, especially Cutler was absorbing every aspect of the machines. Along the way he learned a few of history, biography and politics. He was a newspaper business in the most intimate and lessons about the business side of the newspa- brilliant conversationalist, who could hold his practical way. per business — among them to avoid carry- own with the assorted presidential candidates In September 1957, Mr. Cutler entered the ing company checkbooks around in a green who came calling in New Hampshire every class of 1961 at Holderness, a boarding garbage bag as they were once tossed in the four years. He was passionate about fishing, school in Plymouth, N.H., where he was cap- dumpster by a diligent cleaning woman. tennis and a good game of chess. tain of both football and baseball. He went When Mr. Cutler sold the company to For all the native competitiveness that fired on to Colby College in Maine, where he was Capital Cities/ABC for $8 million in 1989, the newspaperman, Mr. Cutler’s greatest pas- again captain of the football team. Upon Mariner Newspapers boasted 17 community sion was his family. The love and support of graduating in 1965, Mr. Cutler went to work weeklies and 95 full-time employees. The sale his wife and children during his final illness at The Patriot Ledger as a beat reporter cover- came with a five-year contract to continue to enhanced his natural inclination to look at ing the towns of Abington, Whitman and run Mariner Newspapers. death with equanimity. Early in his illness he Rockland. Fifteen months later, Mr. Cutler said to an old friend, “My life’s work was my requested and was granted a three-year A fruit of the Capital Cities/ABC period was family, and I’ve succeeded.” leave-of-absence to join the U.S. Marines. the respect Mr. Cutler had for his immediate boss, John Coots and the two decided to David Sumner Cutler leaves his wife, the In January 1967, he went on active duty and become partners and purchased a group of Reverend Catherine Cullen, of Duxbury; sis- entered Officer Candidate School in six struggling newspapers in Worcester ters Margaret Chandler of Maryland and Gail Quantico, Va. After six more months of County. With his partner focused on the busi- Cutler of Pembroke; sons Josh S. Cutler of advanced training, Lt. Cutler was sent to ness side, Mr. Cutler found himself in the Duxbury, Benjamin D. Cutler of New York Vietnam, where he became commander of a familiar role of community publisher, but this and Jonathan M. Cullen of West Roxbury; company stationed near the Demilitarized time the challenge was one of turn-around daughters Carolyn M. Cutler of Georgia, Zone. On a night in March 1968, Mr. Cutler artist. And turn-around they did. After steer- Rebecca W. Cutler of Duxbury and Amanda was pinned down while trying to rescue one ing the flagship daily, The Southbridge C. Benard of Hingham; as well as seven of his men. A North Vietnamese sniper bullet Evening News, back to health, Mr. Cutler and grandchildren. went through both legs. There was every Mr. Coots grew the company through expan- In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made chance that he would bleed to death before sion while maintaining the “relentlessly to the Cutler Family Memorial Scholarship daylight. But one of the men pinned down local” credo Mr. Cutler learned in the early Fund in care of the Trustees of Partridge with him applied a tourniquet. He survived days folding Clippers in his parent’s living Academy, P.O. Box 2552, Duxbury, MA the night and was rescued by helicopter after room. Today, Stonebridge Press and its sister 02331. sunrise. For his valor he received a Purple company, Salmon Press, publish one daily

March 2010 13 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors KrisKris O’Leary,O’Leary, KevinKevin FlinkFlink receivereceive CommunityCommunity ServiceService AwardAward The Star News family when she was two years old and Downtown Medford, Wis. graduated from Abbotsford High School in Summer Fun Days Jan. 28, 2010 1987. She earned a degree in social work to make use of the from UW-Eau Claire and went to work for new municipal cen- Editor’s note: Kris O’Leary is a member of Taylor County Human Services before join- ter. Kevin is always the ISWNE board of directors. ing the family newspaper business in 1997. there to help with In 1993, she married Kevin Flink, who grew set up and take down activities, as Star News general manager Kris O’Leary up on a farm near Colby and graduated from Colby High School in 1985. well as entertaining and her husband, Kevin Flink, were honored the kids. as the Community Service Award recipients He served in the U.S. Army for three years Sunday evening by the Abbotsford Chamber and then sold his farm and joined TP Both Kris and Kevin of Commerce for the work they do for that Printing Co. in 1996 as the pressroom super- have or are community. visor. presently serving Kris O’Leary on the church Past award winner Carol O’Leary had the Carol O’Leary pointed out how he has council at United Church of Christ in Colby, honor of presenting the award to her daugh- served on the volunteer fire department in where Kris is helping to find a new pastor. ter and son-in-law, who serve the Abborts- every community he’s lived in, including ford community in a variety of capacities. Unity, Colby and currently Abbotsford. As the primary owners of TP Printing Co., they publish the Tribune-Phonograph, Carol pointed out the couple’s tireless dedi- The couple moved to Abbotsford in 2004 to Record-Review and the Central Wisconsin cation to the annual Christmas parade, continue raising their family. Shopper. which they have co-chaired since 2001. “Kris and Kevin have five children, so they Kris is the general manager of the Star News “The hours they spend on the parade are are helping the Abbotsford School District, and serves as an ambassador to the Medford countless, but the results are spectacular,” too,” Carol said. Area Chamber of Commerce. They are both she said. Their children are John, 13; Lucinda, 10; members of the Wisconsin Newspaper They are responsible for finding over 450 Conrad, 6; Warren, 3; and Hazel, 2. Their Association, Inland Press Association, people to fill costumes and push floats for household also includes a dog, tortoise, National Newspaper Association and the the annual event, which started in 1970. hamster, fish, a work cat and two kittens. International Society of Weekly Newspaper Along with other committee members, they Both Kris and Kevin are chamber members, Editors. maintain and rebuild the floats and cos- with Kris serving as a past president. She is “Their summer vacations are taking their tumes as needed. currently on the board of directors, serves on kids to newspaper conventions,” Carol said. At the same time, one of them always has the room tax committee and worked on the When accepting the award, Kris said people to be at home watching their five kids, Carol Colby/Abbotsford chamber merger team. should really question the excuse of being noted. In addition to ushering the Christmas “too busy” to volunteer for local events and Earlier in the evening, Kris O’Leary described Parade into the 21st century, Kris started organizations. how they recently remade the old Caterpillar character with the help of people of all ages, from little kids to older adults. Much of the work happened right in their home. ISWNE new member “It’s 40 feet long, and my living room is not Ronald Dupont Jr., 43, is the editor and publisher of The 40 feet long,” she said. North Florida Herald, ranked five years straight as Florida's Carol O’Leary said Kris and Kevin are the best community newspaper by the Florida Press type of couple that communities in the area Association. need to grow and prosper. The media company covers three counties and four cities “They give of themselves to their communi- in the area known for having the world's highest concen- ty, their church, and their family,” she said. tration of freshwater springs. Dupont has been working for “They invest in their community and their newspapers since middle school and has worked in every business because they believe doing so will department of a newspaper except the printing presses. He make life better for everyone, including their has been covering city governments in Florida since early family.” 1980 and has worked for numerous news organizations, including the New York Times, the Palm Beach Post and the St. Petersburg Times. Kris and Kevin He lives on 22 acres outside High Springs with his wife and two children. Kris O’Leary came to Abbotsford with her

14 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors LifeLife throughthrough thethe lenslens ofof Mr.Mr. MacMac By Byron Brewer ketball game,” Jayna recently told me. pher, but he has Frankfort, Ky. “Mr. Mac was the first one there to make long been an sure I was OK. My pride was hurt worse active civic pro- In the 1980s, you were sure to see two than my backside!” moter. He was in things if you attended a Scott County Later, when Ron was killed by a hit-and- the founding sporting event: good athletic competition, run driver, Jayna and I were both in group of the and a trio of photographers gameside. The shock. “Mr. McIntyre was a tremendous Georgetown & tall one with the unkempt hair was Ron source of strength to me when Ron was Scott County Baston, shooting for The Graphic. The killed,” Jayna said. “He helped me make Museum and has female with the short hair was Jayna sense of it and helped me realize Ron had been a valuable Oakley, taking photos for the News & been called home.” source not only on Times. The third man, of African- historic architec- “I have known of Bill McIntyre since my ture but also on American descent whom both Ron and early years in Georgetown as a college Jayna were studying as he applied his history in general. Byron Brewer freshman,” local historian Ann Bevins He was a major craft, was William McIntyre. He was recalled. “That summer The Lexington shooting for posterity, for history. factor in helping our museum develop Leader offered me my second public jour- programs and exhibits related to black All of us in the local media called him nalism opportunity as correspondent for history.” “Mr. Mac.” Georgetown. John Wyatt at the Leader helped me select and learn to use my first Many Scott County residents are in this I always thought Jayna captured the best area today because their ancestors made a sports images I had ever seen. Then I was camera, a small Graphlex called a Graphic 620. I was kind of conspicuous decision that Kentucky is the promised introduced to the photo stylings of land, or at least closer than Kansas. They William McIntyre. lugging my press camera around town. I later graduated to a Rolleicord, and then returned after making a great migration In celebration of Black History Month, the on to 35 mm. My first recollection of Mr. west to a land of reported milk and honey, Scott County Arts Consortium is present- McIntyre was when he showed up with a the land in Kansas called Nicodemus. ing “Faces of Color, from Realization to souped-up 35 mm to which my cut-rate Upon arriving there in the late 1870s, Photography” at the Arts and Cultural model could not hold a candle. Bill was African-Americans from Kentucky found Center, 117 N. Water St. Opening is Feb. turning out some pretty fantastic photog- the area did not live up to its advanced 12, 6-8 p.m. Thereafter, the exhibit is open raphy compared to my ‘shoot to tell the publicity. 12 noon-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays until story’ work. I recall Bill having said that “My great-grandfather (Andrew McIntyre) March 19. Mr. McIntyre’s photography is he did not feel fully dressed until he had had gone out to Nicodemus from slated to be featured. his camera around his neck. Georgetown in 1877,” Mr. Mac told me in “I remember getting run over by the play- “Not only was Bill a superior photogra- 1998. “I’ve been out there, and it was defi- ers while I was shooting a Cardinals bas- nitely not as it was represented. It’s flat. It was not what they were expecting.” The brothers of McIntyre’s grandfather, William Hatley McIntyre, were both min- 2010 Sustaining Members isters. The Rev. Milton McIntyre was born in Wakeeney, Kan. In 1914, he was In addition to paying their $50 ISWNE membership dues, these indi- ordained a Baptist minister and pastored viduals have donated $50 more to the Society. We appreciate their the Nebulah Baptist Church at White generosity! Sulphur. He also served as acting pastor of Great Crossing Missionary Baptist Church Elizabeth Laden Mary Lou and Bob Estabrook between 1943-44. The other brother, the Larry Atkinson Dick and Mary Jo Lee Rev. L.A. McIntyre, pastored Great Bradley Martin Barbara Mussman Crossing Missionary Church and the Phoebe Baker Steve Andrist McFarland Baptist Church at Evansville Barry Wilson Robert B. Trapp (Ind.). Frank Garred Robert E. Trapp William McIntyre’s family history is the David Burke Paul MacNeill history of our community. Luckily for us, Vickie Canfield Peters Chris Wood through his camera, the man himself has Frank McTighe Steve Thurston recorded much if it. Guy & Marcia Wood Jeremy Condliffe Norio Tamura Byron Brewer can be contacted at [email protected].

March 2010 15 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors AbbyAbby (on(on the)the) RoadRoad

By Tim L. Waltner Jeremy Condliffe and Catherine Mountford Publisher at the Matara Centre in the Cotswold Freeman (S.D.) Courier countryside located south of Congleton near Bristol. In addition to the professional stimulation and nurturing provided We arrived in Congleton earlier that week by ISWNE, another benefit is the relationships and friendships where we spent several days enjoying their established through the organization. The intergenerational nature company and the opportunity to learn of those relationships is one of the remarkable aspects of the more about their community, visit the organization. That point came home (so to speak) in Liverpool, Congleton Chronicle office, meet some of England of all places. the staff and roar around the countryside As some ISWNE folks are likely aware, the Waltners (Jeremy, Mary with Jeremy (Condliffe) at the wheel of his and Tim) of Freeman, S.D., were privileged to travel to England for Land Rover. We had a wonderful time and the Dec. 5 wedding of our friends and fellow ISWNE members the wedding was a wonderful experience Tim L. Waltner we were honored to witness and enjoy. When we were planning our trip to England we decided to include a side trip to Liverpool. We felt we were too close (less than an hour) not to visit the home of the Beatles. Our private chauffer, Jeremy (Condliffe), dropped us off at the train station at Crewe the morning of Dec. 3 where we took the train to Liverpool and we (the Waltners) spent the day tromping along some of the streets George, John, Paul and Ringo did 45 years earlier. We stepped back in time at The Beatles Story, a multimedia muse- um located in Liverpool’s waterfront setting at the Albert Dock complex. We also visited the White Feather: The Spirit of John Lennon Exhibit. And, of course, we had to stop for a pint at the Cavern on Matthew Street, where the Beatles appeared 292 times in the three years from 1961 to 1963. Prior to our visit we learned that Abby Landers was living in Liverpool. Abby is a daughter of friends and ISWNE colleagues Ellen Albaneese and Bill Landers of Waquoit, Mass. We first met Abby and her twin sister, Tracy, at the 1994 ISWNE conference in Calgary, Alberta. That conference, by the way, is where the two Waltner kids (Jeremy and AnnaMarie) were introduced to ISWNE. The Waltner kids and the Landers kids continued their friendship when Ellen and Bill hosted the 1996 ISWNE conference in Boston. Over the years we’ve all kept up, at least at a distance, with each other. And so — thanks to yet another ISWNE connection (the Condliffe/Mountford wedding) — we were able to reconnect with Abby. She and her beautiful daughter, Molly, 15 months, met us for lunch at the Tate Liverpool, an art gallery located at Albert Dock. We had a great lunch and conversation, catching up with each other and enjoying the reunion. Abby moved to Liverpool last August when her husband, Ken Wiehe, accepted a job there with Novartis. In April the family will move to California, where Ken will take another position with the biotech company.

Tim L. Waltner can be contacted at [email protected].

16 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors Become a ‘fan’ of the ISWNE Facebook ‘page’

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ISWNE Foundation Contributors since Dec. 1, 2009 (does not include donations to Past Presidents' Scholarship)

Stringer ($10 to $99) Mary Lou and Bob Estabrook Editorial page editor ($300 to $399) Ellen Albanese Jeanne Pease Managing editor ($400 to $499) Steve Andrist Jim and Gail Painter Garrett Ray Fred Noer Editor in chief ($500 to $999) Cub reporter ($100 to $199) Tom Wills Donald Q. and Nancy Smith Albert Scardino Tim and Mary Waltner Bill and Jan Haupt Publisher ($1,000) Robert B. Trapp

Copy editor ($200 to $299) Named scholarship ($10,000) Donald and Deborah Brod Gary and Helen Sosniecki Jane Steinmetz Roger Holmes Total raised: $3,225

March 2010 17 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors 20102010 Golden Golden Quill Quill EntriesEntries

Name Newspaper City State/Province Elizabeth Allen East Central Alberta Review Coronation Alberta Mark Berglund The Star News Medford WI Mark Brown ByTheSeaFuture Lauderdale-By-The-Sea FL Mike Buffington Main Street Newspapers Jefferson GA Patricia Calhoun Westword Denver CO Kelly Clemmer The Wainwright Review Wainwright Alberta Carl Conley The Island Sand Paper Fort Myers Beach FL Ross Connelly The Hardwick Gazette Hardwick VT Tracey Coveart The Scugog Standard Port Perry Ontario Ryan Craig Todd County Standard Elkton KY Dick Crockford Dillon Tribune Dillon MT Mike Dart Four Oaks-Benson News in Review Benson NC Rik Davie The Scugog Standard Port Perry Ontario Steve Dills Sylvan Lake News Sylvan Lake Alberta M. Dickey Drysdale The Herald of Randolph Randolph VT Shella Gardezi The Grand Forks Gazette Grand Forks British Columbia David Giffey Home News Spring Green WI Melissa Hale-Spencer The Altamont Enterprise Altamont NY Derek Holtom Swan Valley Star and Times Swan River Manitoba Jim Holtz The Grand Forks Gazette Grand Forks British Columbia Tracy Hughes Salmon Arm Observer Salmon Arm British Columbia Bryan Jones Versailles Leader-Statesman Versailles MO Genesee Keevil Yukon News Whitehorse Yukon Bill Knight The Zephyr Galesburg IL Jennifer LaCharite Weyburn This Week Weyburn Saskatchewan Paul MacNeill Eastern Graphic Montague Prince Edward Island Nikki Mantell The Low Down to Hull & Back News Wakefield Quebec Bradley Martin Hickman County Times Centerville TN Marcia Martinek Herald Democrat Leadville CO Richard McCord Santa Fe Sun Monthly Santa Fe NM Mo Mehlsak The Forecaster Falmouth ME Richard Mostyn Yukon News Whitehorse Yukon Kevin O’Brien Tribune-Phonograph Abbotsford WI Leslie O’Donnell Londonderry Times Londonderry NH Vernon Oickle Bridgewater Bulletin Bridgewater Nova Scotia Kris O’Leary Tribune-Phonograph Abbotsford WI Jim Painter West Valley View Avondale AZ Joan Plaxton The Valleyview Valley Views Valleyview Alberta Steve Ranson Lahontan Valley News Fallon NV Stu Salkeld The Mountaineer Rocky Mountain House Alberta Brenda Schimke East Central Alberta Review Coronation Alberta Ben Schultz Tribune-Phonograph Abbotsford WI Diane Strandberg The Tri-City News Port Coquitlam British Columbia John Threlfall Monday Magazine Victoria British Columbia Robert B. Trapp Rio Grande Sun Española NM Tim Waltner Freeman Courier Freeman SD Joyce Webster East Central Alberta Review Coronation Alberta Peter Weinschenk Record-Review Abbotsford WI Martha Wickett Salmon Arm Observer Salmon Arm British Columbia Brian Wilson The Star News Medford WI Blake Wolfe The Scugog Standard Port Perry Ontario John Wylie II Oologah Lake Leader Oologah OK David Brown & Robert Horne Cherokee Scout Murphy NC

18 March 2010 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors

March 2010 19 West Dr. Chad Stebbins

FIRST CLASS Agnos hadn’t mucked up the investiga- Agnos hadn’t mucked have won the tion, he probably would Arpaio, who calls 1992 sheriff’s election. sheriff,” himself “America’s toughest elected to become might never have been demagogic America’s most power-abusive cooperation, sheriff. Without Arpaio’s have gotten where he Thomas never could government is today. Maricopa County along fairly would probably be running would have smoothly and its taxpayers of tens of mil- been spared the expense lawsuits brought on lions of dollars in the one the by Arpaio’s antics (including won against him for his viola- won against him for Editor & ISWNE Executive Director Director, Institute of International Studies Produced by the Institute of International Studies Missouri Southern State University 3950 E. Newman Road Joplin, MO 64801-1595 (417) 625-9736 (417) 659-4445 FAX [email protected] [email protected]. Jim Painter can be contacted at tion of Arizona’s public records laws). tion of Arizona’s public But, Arpaio and Thomas are in office now, wreaking havoc and embarrassing an entire state. For that, we can thank two “butterflies” named Johnathan Doody and Alex Garcia, whose flapping wings in 1991 caused a hurricane in 2010. Valley View

International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors Institute of International Studies Missouri Southern State University Joplin, MO 64801-1595 ISWNE from page 2 weapons. In addition to that evidence, the weapons. In addition a confession from Sheriff’s Office obtained tactics similar to Doody, apparently using from the those used to wring confessions Tucson men. 9th Circuit U.S. On Feb. 25, 2010, the out Doody’s con- Court of Appeals threw been illegally fession, saying it had It’s not diffi- coerced by sheriff’s deputies. what happened cult to believe considering Even without the to the “Tucson Four.” evidence confession, enough physical again if he is exists to convict Doody retried. the undoing of The case proved to be Agnos’ political career, allowing a new candidate to win the 1992 sheriff’s elec- tion. Joe Arpaio proved to be a different breed of county sheriff — one who puts his personal political ambitions ahead of his law-enforcement duties. If Doody and Garcia hadn’t committed mass murder in August 1991, Tom Agnos might never have fallen from grace (there was no indication he was anything but an able law-enforcement professional until that high-profile case blew his cover). If . ISWNE headquarters were at Northern Illinois University Independent , the society’s quarterly journal, in still more countries. View (Colo.) Littleton Grassroots Editor BOUT THE A

The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) was founded in 1955 at Southern Illinois The International Society of Weekly Newspaper SIU’s Department of Journalism at Carbondale, and Houstoun University (SIU) by Howard R. Long, then chair of Waring, then editor of the

offices, Johnathan Doody and Alex Garcia, were taken into custody in connec- tion with the killings after officers pulled over a car they were in on a routine traffic stop and noticed a rifle inside. The rifle later proved to be one of the murder

a group of four young men from Tucson. four young men from a group of of them arrested, and all The four were counts of charged with nine quickly were they confessed. murder after open-and-shut But it was not to be an case. that the Sheriff’s Allegations soon surfaced improperly exe- Office investigators had that the suspects cuted search warrants, and rest and that had been denied food improperly car- interrogations had been Phoenix hotel. ried out in a downtown the only evidence Indeed, it appeared that to the slayings was tying the Tucson four all four later their confessions, which recanted. was starting to sub- Just as the media blitz development in the side, another shocking case rocked the county. On Oct. 26, 1991, two students attending the high school directly across the street from the President’s report President’s This publication will be made available in alternative formats upon request to Chad Stebbins 417-625-9736.

There are subscribers to ISWNE members in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. ISWNE members in the United States, Canada, the annual conferences, presenting awards, issuing publications, and encouraging international exchanges. There are annual conferences, presenting awards, issuing publications, reporting and to encourage strong, independent editorial voices. The society seeks to fulfill its purpose by holding reporting and to encourage strong, independent ISWNE’s purpose is to help those involved in the weekly press to improve standards of editorial writing and news ISWNE’s purpose is to help those involved in the State University in Joplin became the headquarters in 1999. State University in Joplin became the headquarters at Dekalb from 1976 to 1992, at South Dakota State University in Brookings from 1992 to 1999. Missouri Southern at Dekalb from 1976 to 1992, at South Dakota State