The Oklahoma Publisher Official Publication of the Oklahoma Press Association www.OkPress.com Vol. 89, No. 10 www.Facebook.com/okpress 12 Pages • October 2018 INSIDE Oklahoman sold to GateHouse Media JOURNALISM HALL OF The Oklahoma Media Com- FAME NOMINATIONS: pany has been sold to New Dec. 1 is the deadline to make York-based GateHouse Media. nominations for the Oklahoma GateHouse Media publishes Journalism Hall of Fame. 145 daily publications, operat- PAGE 2 ing in more than 570 markets across 37 states. ONF INTERNS: The final GateHouse purchased the seven Oklahoma Newspaper media company from Philip Foundation interns share their Anschutz, who bought it in stories of working at OPA member 2011. It had previously been newspapers this summer. owned by the E. K. Gaylord PAGES 4-6 family for more than 100 years. NEW LIQUOR LAWS: State “The Oklahoman has served newspapers cover the new laws its readers with great ambition as well as the lack of 3.2 beer. and integrity since before state- PAGE 8 hood. We’re proud that Gate- House Media will be able to DONATE TO ONF to receive continue The Oklahoman’s her- this Will Rogers print. Details at itage,” said Kirk Davis, CEO, OkPress.com/will-rogers. GateHouse Media. “We are fortunate to own a small number of daily and weekly publications in Okla- homa, including The Journal Record in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoman not only bolsters our portfolio here, but will be Media, which was recently hon- “GateHouse has the scale focused, said Oklahoman editor among our largest newspapers ored to receive The Associated and broad expertise needed to Kelly Dyer Fry. in the country,” Davis said. Press Media Editors’ Innovator keep The Oklahoman strong “GateHouse is a great owner, “The Oklahoman is known of the Year award, an award well into the future. It was and we have partnered with for its award-winning sports previously won by The Oklaho- important for us to sell to a them for several years. They coverage and strong legislative man. We’re excited to share strong company that is 100 per- allow their local markets to dic- and business reports, particu- ideas with the staff here and cent devoted to ethical journal- tate coverage and editorial opin- larly in energy. The company learn from them, as well.” ism,” he said. ions independently,” Fry said. has a strong news operation and Chris Reen, publisher of The Reen will remain with The “I am excited for the future and has excelled at growing its digi- Oklahoman and president of Anschutz Corp. Jim Hopson of look forward to their leadership tal audience and becoming an The Oklahoman Media Com- Gatehouse will be the interim and support.” industry leader in multimedia pany, said he is pleased to turn publisher. Several staff members innovation. This talented team over the newspaper and assets The newsroom will remain were laid off after the sale was will fit right into GateHouse to GateHouse announced. Oklahoma Daily reports theft of newspapers Around 500 copies of the cling bin of the Donald W. Reyn- and gone around and stolen reported allegations of miscon- University of Oklahoma’s stu- olds Performing Arts Center. newspapers off of racks.” duct against Orr by former stu- dent publication, the OU Daily, Director of Student Media The issue that was stolen dents. It also included emails were stolen on Sept. 17. Nick Jungman said he filed contained a story about Tom from OU’s Title IX Office from The stolen issue featured a a report with the OU Police Orr, the former director of the complainants against Orr say- front-page article about sexual Department. Helmerich School of Drama. ing it found no evidence of vio- harassment against the former Jungman said this is the first Orr resigned from his position lations following investigations. drama school director. time in his five years at OU that as director following criticism Orr remains a drama professor Papers were missing from newspapers have been stolen. of the department’s handling of at OU. nine locations on the OU cam- “But we’ve had incidents in sexual harassment allegations The Daily prints about 6,000 pus. A large portion of the the past where people are upset against former professor emeri- newspapers, most of which are papers was found in the recy- by what the Daily has printed, tus and donor John Scamehorn. placed on racks around cam- The article in The Daily also pus, Jungman said. 2 The Oklahoma Publisher // October 2018 Journalism Hall of Fame accepting On that Onominations until December 1, 2018 nalism Hall of Fame, 100 N. University note… Ave., Edmond, OK 73034. They also can be sent via email to [email protected]. All nominations must include a date of birth, place of birth, phone, email address and by Brian Blansett regular address, nearest living relatives, and a date of death if the nominee is Publisher of the Tri-County Herald deceased. The nomination also must Nominations are being sought for the 2017-2018 OPA President include a detailed list of accomplish- 49th annual induction ceremony for the ments that qualify the nominee for the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame as well as a biography or The deadline for nominations will be resume of the nominee and a photo. The Dec. 1. A selection committee of past Preparing for inevitable changes nominator’s phone number and email honorees will decide the 2019 inductees For years, there were no real changes in how news gets put on paper. address also must be included. in January or early February. The induc- The technology changed from hand-set type to Linotypes to cold type to comput- A nomination is required before an tion of the nine new Hall of Fame mem- er-to-plate, but the basic concept remained the same: People sell ads, take pictures honoree can be selected. bers will be April 25 at the University of and write articles and a machine transfers them to newsprint via ink. This year’s honorees were Jon Den- Central Oklahoma. Then the Internet came around, and suddenly the pace of change accelerated to ton, a retired editor, reporter and col- Journalists or journalism educators that of a runaway train. umnist; investigative reporter Mary are chosen for recognition each year I recall going to an industry convention in Atlanta about 20 years ago. The Hargrove; Barbara Hoberock, state Cap- from among those who have made out- theme was online newspapers with the most hotly debated question being: What itol bureau chief, Tulsa World; Doug- standing contributions to the field for direction should newspapers go? Online products with AOL or Prodigy? A site on las Hoke, director of photography, The at least 10 years. They must either be the fledgling World Wide Web? A dial-up service through a local bulletin board? Oklahoman; Chris Lee, photojournalist Oklahoma natives or have worked in The question was answered long ago. Newspapers flocked to the web and start- for KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City; Ray Oklahoma journalism for 10 years. Each ed giving away their content, which has to rank among the three stupidest busi- Lokey, the late publisher of the Johnston year, a selection committee of past hon- ness decisions in history. Stop me if you’ve heard me say that before. County Capital-Democrat; Kim Poindex- orees reviews all nominations, including In the 20 years since that convention, newspapers have lost print readership ter, executive editor of the Tahlequah those made in the past. and ad revenue without replacing it on the digital side. That has resulted in layoffs, Daily Press; retired reporter/anchor Hall of Fame Director Joe Hight said consolidations, sales of newspapers to large corporations and a general diluting of George Tomek; and Berry Tramel, that planning is already under way for news quality. sports columnist, The Oklahoman. a special ceremony for the 50th anni- Now, we grapple with Facebook, Twitter and other social media. It’s a scary Dr. Joe Foote, dean emeritus of the versary in 2020. The Hall of Fame has time for journalism, as the line continues to blur between real reporting and what Gaylord College of Journalism & Mass inducted 418 new members since its you get on Facebook, cable talk-news programs and Twitter. “These days, I get Communication at the University of first year. most of my news from Facebook,” a teacher told me last spring. Oklahoma, also received Hall of Fame’s “We’ve already surpassed 70 nomina- So, what do we – journalists, newspaper people – do? Give up and do a full sprint first Lifetime Achievement Award. tions for the 2019 class, so it’s important toward a Facebook-like experience? It’s tempting, given the smoke and falling For more information about the Hall to justify why an individual should be debris we see in our industry. of Fame, send an email to [email protected] inducted into the Hall of Fame. It often But let’s think back to that convention I attended 20 years ago. or call 405-974-5122. takes work or honors beyond a career In hindsight, the decision to go with web publishing seems simple. It was only The Oklahoma Journalism Hall of that distinguishes the individual to be a matter of time until broadband became common enough to give the web critical Fame is also accepting tax-exempt dona- considered for induction,” Hight said. mass. tions for the 50th anniversary celebra- Nominations for the 2019 class can be I don’t know if AOL and Prodigy still exist. There might be a few computer tion and other initiatives.