The Oklahoma Publisher Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association
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The Oklahoma Publisher Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association www.OkPress.com Vol. 87, No. 6 www.Facebook.com/okpress 24 Pages • June 2017 INSIDE Members have fun at OPA Convention AWARD WINNERS: Members of the Oklahoma Congratulations to Gracie Press Association gathered Montgomery, the Milt Phillips June 9-10 at the historic Skirvin Award winner, and James Hilton Hotel in Oklahoma City Beaty, the Beachy Musselman for the annual OPA Convention. Award winner. More than 200 attended PAGES 10-11 the Awards Banquet Saturday evening where winners of the CONTEST WINNERS: 2016 Better Newspaper Contest Results of the 2016 OPA Better were announced. Newspaper Contest were The convention provided an announced June 10 at the OPA opportunity for members to Convention in Oklahoma City. hear from experts as well as PAGES 14-16 network with their peers. But it wasn’t all work and MORE HONORS: Meet this no play. Members teamed up year’s inductees into the OPA Friday night to compete in a Half Century Club and Quarter scavenger hunt in the historic Century Club. Plus additional Skirvin Hilton. The list of items award winners are featured. to find and photograph included PAGES 18-19 the Roman god of intoxication DONATE TO ONF to receive (found atop many columns in this Will Rogers print. Details at the hotel) and a bronze statue OkPress.com/will-rogers. of The Guardian outside the hotel entrance. It was mayhem as teams, identified by color bandanas, scoured the Skirvin to find items on the list. “Sheila and the Halftones,” one of the teams in the OPA Scavenger Hunt at the Skirvin Hilton Hotel in ELECTION OF OFFICERS Oklahoma City, pose at the bronze replica statue of The Guardian. Team members were Rod Serfoss, Clinton Officers and directors were Daily News; Jody Serfoss, Clinton Daily News; Dayva Spitzer, Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat; elected during the conven- OIGA Executive Director Sheila Morago; Brad Spitzer, Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat; Ted tion to serve the association Streuli, The Journal Record; Steven Kizziar, Mustang Times, and Brian Blansett, Tri-County Herald. for the 2017-18 term beginning July 1. Elected at the annual business meeting were Brian Oklahoma City, discussed ways story structure to an Easter AFFAIRS OF THE STATE Blansett, Tri-County Herald, to prepare and support indi- ham giveaway. At the end of the Politics were next on the to serve as president; Ted viduals when making changes. session, all presenters’ names agenda as members gathered Streuli, The Journal Record, “You’re all in leadership roles were entered in a drawing to to hear Governor Mary Fal- to serve as vice-president, and because you influence others,” win an iPad, courtesy of Town- lin. In a slide show, Fallin dis- Rusty Ferguson, The Cleveland said Killingsworth. News.com. Carol Grubbe from cussed good news coming from American, to a one-year term as To implement change, lead- TownNews drew the winning the business community using treasurer. Members approved ers must have vision, confi- name, which was Kaylea Hut- information from a Commerce renewal of a three-year direc- dence, communication skills son-Miller. Department business report. tor term for John Denny Mont- and encourage others, Killing- Saturday morning was time “Sometimes we need to gomery, The Purcell Register, sworth said. for more fun as OPA Executive be reminded there are great and elected Alan Herzberger, Seven five-minute presen- Vice President Mark Thomas things that we’ve done in our The Oklahoman, to a three-year tations were made by OPA exposed those hilarious gaffes state to make it a more friendly director term. Zonelle Rainbolt, members during News Flash. found in newspapers during the business climate,” Fallin said. The Cordell Beacon, was elect- Brian Blansett, Tri-County Her- annual Blooper Award Show. Oklahoma’s congressional ed to complete two years of a ald; Kaylea Hutson-Miller, The There also were sessions delegation was next on the vacated three-year term, and Grove Sun; J. D. Meisner, Bris- presented by Jason Maly from agenda. OPA President Dayva Spitzer tow News; Carrie Carberry, CNHI and Mark Zimmerman Following brief opening was elected to a one-year term Sequoyah County Times; Ted from UCO, as well as circula- statements, Sen. James Lank- as past president. Streuli, The Journal Record; tion ideas presented by Suzie ford along with Reps. Tom Marilyn Hoeffner, Bigwing/ Campbell, Countywide & Sun; Cole, Frank Lucas, Markwayne CONVENTION SESSIONS The Oklahoman; and Ray Dyer, Jeff Mayo, Sequoyah County Kyle Killingsworth, from El Reno Tribune, shared inter- Times, and J. D. Meisner, Bris- Catalyst Consultant Group in esting topics ranging from tow News. CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 2 The Oklahoma Publisher // June 2017 CIMARRON TEXAS BEAVER HARPER ELLIS ROGER MILLS BECKHAM BY OPA PRESIDENT DAYVA SPITZER GREER Co-Publisher, Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat HARMON Commitment to community grows hometown newspaper As we come to the close of highlight- be several newspaper chain companies. ing Oklahoma’s weekly newspapers way Known then as The Sayre Journal and out west, I saved the most unique for the converted to a bi-weekly in 1982, the final installment. However, I may have a paper was owned by no less than four slight measure of prejudice on this one different publishing groups by 1987. since it is in reference to my own publi- My own calling to the newspaper cation, The Sayre Record and Beckham industry came during my high school County Democrat. years as I started working for The Sayre The obvious difference between The Journal when it was still owned by the Record-Democrat and the other 11 news- Bacon family. papers we have highlighted throughout I continued to pour myself into jour- the year is that of being the youngest nalism working into my first year in newspaper of the group and one of college before marrying my husband, the few surviving newspapers that have Brad, in 1981. been chartered in the last 30 years state- In 1982, Brad opened a commercial wide. printing shop in Sayre and I became the Sayre Record & Beckham County Democrat staff in front of the Beckham County Courthouse. Sayre, the county seat of Beckham managing editor for The Sayre Journal, From left: Connie Ferrero, Brad Spitzer, Dayva Spitzer and Amy Brinkley. County, has a solid history of stability working for each of the different owner- in its newspapers since the railroad city ship groups until 1987. At that point, publications. We were fortunate that our our bookkeeping duties as well as cir- was founded in September 1901. Brad and I made the decision and com- hometown appeal and commitment was culation, legals and classified ads. We In 1898, the Berlin Venture, located mitment to reestablish a true hometown the factor that allowed us to prevail as typically employ four other part-time just north of Sayre, was the first publi- newspaper with the support of the local the lone newspaper to serve Sayre. employees and have several valued con- cation in the county before moving to business leaders in Sayre. Our wheelhouse for news is school tributing writers. the new county seat where it became In August of 1987, we chartered our coverage and sports, including our We count it a distinct privilege to have The Sayre Venture and later The Sayre weekly newspaper, The Sayre Record, branch campus of SWOSU, energy had the opportunity to serve our home- Headlight. operating out of our printing business. news, agriculture features and court- town, helping it grow and prosper. We There were several ownership chang- Those first few years were a struggle as house news. Although we have tradition- have always believed that a local news- es and a few other short-lived publica- our competition remained in business ally served the Sayre and Erick areas, paper has an overwhelming responsibil- tions before W.J. (Bill) Bacon purchased for several years. our focus on establishing ourselves ity to portray its community in a positive The Headlight along with Wesley Leath- Later, another opportunity came our as a countywide publication is gaining and constructive manner. We appreciate erock in 1928 converting it to a daily way as Helen Shultz, owner of The Erick- ground. Also, our printing business con- the patrons in our area that have given paper and changing the name to The Beckham County Democrat, offered to tinues to thrive. us the chance to do so. Daily Headlight Journal. sell her newspaper to us. We made the Brad and I are blessed to have a As I sign off for my year of serving Bacon became sole owner in 1936 purchase in August 1997 and merged it wonderful team of employees that are as OPA President, I want to encourage and operated the paper for over 50 years with our publication, establishing our- dedicated to the communities we serve. all fellow journalists to continue to fulfill before his death in 1979. Bacon was a selves as one of the largest weekly news- Connie Ferrero serves as our assistant your calling and keep our industry alive local legend and strong supporter of his papers in Western Oklahoma. editor and advertising director, and is and well. community. After his death, his family It was obvious that our small commu- a native of Erick who now lives in Elk It has been an honor to serve such a sold the paper to the first of what would nity could not continue to support two City. Sayre native Amy Brinkley handles great association. OPA CALENDAR OF EVENTS NNA ANNUAL CONVENTION • OCT. 5-7, 2017 • HYATT REGENCY, DOWNTOWN TULSA The National Newspaper Association will bring its annual convention to TULSA in 2017! Join us Oct.