Volume 27, No. 4 May/June 2002 IN THIS ISSUE 74 have registered for Joplin conference ....................................................Page 1, Page 3 President’s Report .................................................................................................Page 2 ISWNE new members ............................................................................................Page 3 ISWNEWS ..........................................................................................................Page 4-5 From the archives (photo) ......................................................................................Page 6 Papers need to speak out in strong tones ................................................................Page 7 High-tech ‘image’ may not equal ‘results’ ...............................................................Page 8 Oklahoma editor enjoys the variety of her life.........................................................Page 9 Illinois editor enjoys informing the public .............................................................Page 10 Buffington was swept up into the newspaper business...........................................Page 11 Joplin Conference Registration.............................................................................Page 12 Joplin Conference Schedule ...........................................................................Page 13-14 ISWNE Scholarship Foundation.............................................................................Page 15 Linnell offers oped service to weeklies .................................................................Page 16 Visit the ISWNE’s Web site: www.iswne.org Published by the Institute of International Studies, Missouri Southern State College, Joplin, MO 74 have registered for Joplin conference Registrations are pouring in daily for Lauterer, director of the Carolina with a “sixth sense” who could predict the 2002 ISWNE conference at Missouri Community Media project at the the future. Southern State College in Joplin, Mo., University of North Carolina; James Snodgrass portrays Jean Wallace, a June 26-30. As of May 28, we have Sterling, Missouri Community nurse from New York who sought a received 74 registrations. See list on Newspaper Management Chair at the secluded, solitary life after her doctor page 3. University of Missouri; Brian Steffens, fiancé broke off their engagement in The conference T-shirts have been interim executive director of the 1890. Wallace fled to an Ozark moun- ordered, the goodie bags have been National Newspaper Association, now tain to hide and lick her wounds, but did stuffed, the beer’s been put on ice, and headquartered at the Missouri School of not live the reclusive life she longed for. the welcome mat has been rolled out. Journalism; and Kenneth Starck, profes- She was a woman of mystery and pro- We’re just waiting for you to find your sor of journalism at the University of voked much curiosity and criticism from way to Joplin, “Host to the Four States.” Iowa and this year’s Golden Quill judge. area settlers. Wallace became a dedicat- Those needing to be picked up at the Members of the Missouri Ozarks Press ed naturalist, lived off the land, collected Joplin Regional Airport should notify Association and the Missouri Press plants for food and medicinal purposes, Chad Stebbins at stebbins- Association will join us for conference and mingled with the animals. [email protected] or 417-625-9736 with activities on Thursday, June 27. The Wallace protected her wooded paradise arrival times. It’s a 10-minute drive from MPA is sponsoring that evening’s dinner as best she could and reveled in its beau- the airport to the Missouri Southern at the George Washington Carver ty. She left her precious mountain only campus. National Monument. once in the 50 years to return to New Be sure to take the time to meet our A special treat will be the “Ozarks York to aid the wounded soldiers of scholarship winners: Eddie Coffey, editor Hootenanny” on Wednesday evening, World War I. At this time, cruel of the Nationalist group of newspapers June 26. You’ll be entertained by “The pranksters burned her log cabin to the in the Republic of Ireland; Brian Mountain Maid” and the Ripplin’ Creek ground. The Mountain Burmester, editor and publisher of Local bluegrass musicians. Through the one- Maid returned to her News New Zealand; Gloria Freeland, woman dramatic Ozark life, valley director of the Huck Boyd National interpretation of folks gave her a Center for Community Media at Kansas The Mountain second “log-rais- State University; and Don Ginnings, edi- Maid, Tracie ing,” and tor of The Index, Hermitage, Mo. Coffey Snodgrass is receiving the Greenslade Bursary tells the Scholarship, Burmester the H.R. Long story of a Scholarship, Freeland the Hazel Brannon mysterious, Smith Scholarship, and Ginnings the reclusive Houstoun Waring Scholarship. old maid Other distinguished visitors include Jock continued on page 3 The International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors President’sresident’s By Bill Haupt Lodi Enterprise, Lodi, Wis. Reporteport The ISWNE traveling editorial critique cara- Bo Derek model. We’re not Bo Derek. But ***** van landed in Louisville April 17-18. we’re not Bo Jangles either. Our average Freeman Courier (Freeman, S.D.) Editor grade was about an 8, sort of a Beau These editorial critique sessions are great and Publisher Tim Waltner, ISWNE Bridges (after the Boflex sessions). You get for spreading the gospel, but they’re also a Secretary/Treasurer Chad Stebbins the idea. boon to recruiting new members. We’re (Missouri Southern State College, Joplin, But the good news is that the message optimistic that we’ll see folks from our Mo.) and yours truly spent a day preaching about the importance of editorial pages South Dakota and Kentucky sessions at our the editorial gospel to the folks from was clearly emphasized and promoted. The conference in Joplin. And we’ll be banging Landmark Community Newspapers. comments we received suggest that our the drum at our February 2003 session in About 45 Landmark editorial staffers from message was heard, appreciated and may Wisconsin with our new friends from the daily and weekly newspaper throughout be acted upon. At a minimum, I honestly National Conference of Editorial Writers. America attended the sessions. Our contact believe we’ve inspired some folks to think. person and coordinator was Alan That’s a measure of success. Here’s what Al ***** Mattingly, the editorial director for the Mattingly wrote to me after the conference: chain. Speaking of Joplin, it’s almost here. Having “I really appreciate the work you guys did. hosted last year’s conference in Madison, Landmark is probably typical of many I have heard a lot of good stuff from these I’m particularly upbeat about the 2002 newspaper organizations in the country people, and I even have at least one trio at conference. Elliott Freireich (West Valley regarding editorial pages. Some of their neighboring papers who have decided to View, Litchfield Park, Ariz.), who hosted papers are real leaders in this regard, some form their own editorial board, separate our wonderful conference in Flagstaff a few are halfway home, and some need to pur- from the continuing group from the meet- years ago, insists that a person’s favorite chase a map. It was a good, reflective mix. ing. And I have had a couple of people conference is the conference that immedi- Because Chad, Tim and I each live more who have asked about getting some papers ately succeeds his or her own. I’m already than 100 miles from Louisville and are not that they particularly liked. So I think some buying into that Arizona logic. seeds were planted. Like I said, if even a affiliated with Landmark, we enjoyed the The conference schedule looks first-rate, “expert” status we are never afforded at few papers start showing significant improvement, I’ll be tickled.” and I’m certain Chad has addressed all the home or among those who love us. It was necessary details. Should be great! kind of neat. We were sort of a cross ***** between the Three Musketeers and the ***** Three Stooges, but I don’t think we embar- Tim, Chad and I made a bold executive rassed ISWNE too badly in the process. It’s a little difficult to believe it, but this is N’yuk, n’yuk, n’yuk.... decision at the meeting. In lieu of a direct contribution to ISWNE for our editorial my final column as your ISWNE president. Actually, the feedback from attendees was services, we suggested applying the money I’ve appreciated the opportunity to dia- quite favorable. After an initial group ses- toward gift memberships for Landmark edi- logue with our membership through this sion moderated by Tim (who’s beginning to tors. That seemed like a win-win deal for column. I hope you’ve found some value to resemble Tom Daschle, incidentally) to dis- everybody. Al reports that he and seven my literary ranting. I’d be interested in any cuss editorial pages, we broke into groups. folks from his shop desire memberships. feedback you may offer that could be help- We then engaged in lively critique sessions Welcome aboard! ful to future presidents or to ISWNE. If and later returned to one room to share you’d like to share any input, please con- our newfound knowledge. Al also said he sent some extra dough from tact me at [email protected]. the corporate coffers in appreciation of our Attendees were asked to critique the ses- efforts. Thanks. sions on a 1 to 10 basis, with 10 being the Thanks and see you in Joplin! 2 May/June 2002