grassroots A journal editor for newspeople Published by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors 2005 Golden Quill & Golden Dozen Awards Editorial skills and courage exemplified by winners of the ISWNE contest and the The 30th Annual Gene Cervi Award volume 46, no. 2 • summer 2005 grassroots grassroots editor • summer 2005 A journal editor for newspeople 2005 Golden Quill contest Published by the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors and Eugene Cervi Award Editor: Dr. Chad Stebbins Graphic Designer: Liz Ford In the 45-year history of the Golden Quill competition, only three individuals have won the Grassroots Editor award twice: Robert Estabrook in 1973 and 1980, William F. Schanen III in 1985 and 2001, and (USPS 227-040, ISSN 0017-3541) Jeff McMahon in 1999 and 2000. is published quarterly for $25 per year by Make that four people. Bill Lueders, news editor of the Isthmus in Madison, Wis., is the 2005 the International Society of Weekly Golden Quill winner. Lueders also won the award in 1990. Additionally, he claimed Golden Newspaper Editors, Institute of Dozen awards in 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1998, and 1999. International Studies, Missouri Southern Clarence Burley, editor and publisher of the Menlo Park (Calif.) Recorder, established the State University, 3950 East Newman Road, Golden Quill award in 1960 as ISWNE president. His goal was to recognize “good editorial writ- Joplin, MO 64801-1595. Periodicals ing in the weeklies...not necessarily to select the best editorial of the year, but simply to recog- postage paid at Joplin, Mo., and at nize a good piece of writing...something turned out under pressure of a deadline...in the heat of additional mailing offices. indignation or inspiration...or simply an idea the writer had to get off his chest.” Frank Wood’s 20-year epic battle with Gannett was often regarded within the newspaper POSTMASTER: Send address changes industry as David against Goliath. Wood, the recipient of the 2005 Eugene Cervi Award, finally to Grassroots Editor, Institute of ended the fight last summer, selling his papers to the nation’s largest newspaper chain. International Studies, Missouri Southern Frank embodies all that Gene Cervi represented: personal courage, a bulldog tenacity, and State University, 3950 E. Newman Road, someone who fought the good fight. Joplin, MO 64801-1595. ISWNE is dedicated to encouraging and promoting high standards of editorial writing and to Volume 46, Issue 2, Summer 2005 facilitating the exchange of ideas. These awards, we believe, serve those purposes. Subscription Rate: $25 per year in The Golden Dozen the United States and Canada; $28 per year elsewhere. The judge’s comments & About the judge By Walter Nagel.............................................................................................................................................. Page 3 America the beautiful. No, really Officers of the International Society Golden Quill Winner By Bill Lueders, News Editor, Isthmus, July 2, 2004 ..........................................Page 4 of Weekly Newspaper Editors: An explanation from the winner By Bill Lueders, News Editor, Isthmus .......................................................................................................... Page 5 President: David Burke Letter to Jordan The Tuam Herald, Tuam, Ireland By Melissa Hale-Spencer, Editor, The Altamont Enterprise, July 15, 2004 .................................................. Page 6 Vice President: Carol O’Leary Wait — start with the jailbirds TP Printing Co., Abbotsford, Wis. By Bradley A. Martin, Editor, Hickman Count Times, June 28, 2004 .......................................................... Page 7 Discrimination is alive and well in Lunenburg County Executive Director: By Margaret Hennigar, Contributing Editor, The Bridgewater Bulletin, October 27, 2004.......................... Page 8 Dr. Chad Stebbins, Director, Institute of The America they fight for International Studies, Missouri Southern By Mike Buffington, Editor, The Jackson Herald, December 15, 2004........................................................ Page 9 State University, 3950 E. Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801-1595 The ultimate sacrifice Phone: (417) 625-9736 By Susan Belliveau, Editor, The Record, October 20, 2004 ........................................................................ Page 10 Fax: (417) 659-4445 Howse it possible? E-mail: [email protected] By Brian Mazza, Editor, The Mountaineer, September 28, 2004 ................................................................ Page 11 Excuses, Excuses Board of Directors: By Peggy Dostie, Editorial Page Editor, Duxbury Clipper, September 22, 2004 ........................................ Page 12 Don Brod St. Charles, Ill. New leadership in White House By Robert Mihalek, Editor, Yellow Springs News, October 7, 2004 ............................................................Page 13 Sandra George Jonesville, Mich. They Knew Not What They Did: Why America Re-elected George Bush By Richard McCord, Columnist, El Dorado Sun, December 1, 2004 ..........................................................Page 14 Harry L. Hix Gaylord College of Journalism, The good, the bad and the ugly University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla. By Richard Mostyn, Editor, The Yukon News, October 4, 2004....................................................................Page 15 Robert Mihalek The Sun King back in the Spotlight Yellow Springs News, Yellow Springs, Ohio By Chris Thompson, Staff Writer, East Bay Express, July 7, 2004 ..............................................................Page 16 Jeremy Waltner The Freeman Courier, Freeman, S.D. The Gene Cervi Award Chris Wood About Frank Wood ......................................................................................................................................Page 17 Door County Advocate, Sturgeon Bay, Wis. Frank Wood a model of what a community publisher should be ......................................Page 17 Immediate Past President: Gene Cervi past winners ..........................................................................................................................Page 18 Donna Remer Voice Newspapers, New Baltimore, Mich. A few words from Frank Wood’s supporters ................................................................................Page 19 1 grassroots editor • summer 2005 Golden Quill Winners 1961-2005 1961 Hal De Cell 1983 Francis C. Zanger Deer Creek Pilot, Rolling Fork, Miss. Bellows Falls (Vt.) News-Review 1962 Don Pease 1984 John McCall Oberlin (Ohio) News Tribune The SandPaper, Ocean City, N.J. 1963 Hazel Brannon Smith 1985 William F. Schanen III Lexington (Miss.) Advertiser Ozaukee Press, Port Washington, Wis. 1964 Mrs. R.M.B. Hicks 1986 Henry G. Gay Dallas (Pa.) Post Shelton-Mason County Journal, 1965 Robert E. Fisher Shelton, Wash. Crossett (Ark.) News Observer 1987 Ellen L. Albanese 1966 Owen J. McNamara The Country Gazette, Franklin, Mass. Brookline (Mass.) Chronicle-Citizen 1988 Michael G. Lacey 1967 Alvin J. Remmenga The New Times, Phoenix, Ariz. Cloverdale (Calif.) Reveille 1989 Tim Redmond 1968 Henry H. Null IV Bay Guardian, San Francisco, Calif. The Abington Journal, Clarks Summit, Pa. 1990 Bill Lueders 1969 Dan Hicks Jr. Isthmus, Madison, Wis. Monroe County Democrat, Madisonville, Tenn. 1991 Stuart Taylor Jr. 1970 Richard Taylor Legal Times, Washington, D.C. Kennett News & Advertiser, 1992 Hope Aldrich Kennett Square, Pa. The Santa Fe (N.M.) Reporter 1971 Edward DeCourcy 1993 Michael D. Myers Newport (N.H.) Argus Champion Granite City (Ill.) Press-Record 1972 C. Peter Jorgenson 1994 Jim MacNeill The Advocate, Arlington, Mass. The Eastern Graphic, Montague, PEI, Canada 1973 Robert Estabrook 1995 Brian J. Hunhoff Lakeville (Conn.) Journal The Missouri Valley Observer, Yankton, S.D. 1974 Phil McLaughlin 1996 Patricia Calhoun The Miami Republican, Paola, Kan. Denver Westword, Denver, Colo. 1975 Betsy Cox 1997 Tim Giago The Madison County Newsweek, Indian Country Today, Rapid City, S.D. Richmond, Ky. 1998 Gary Sosniecki 1976 Peter Bodley Webster County Citizen, Seymour, Mo. Coon Rapids Herald, Anoka, Minn. 1999 Jeff McMahon 1977 Rodney A. Smith New Times, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Gretna (Va.) Gazette 2000 Jeff McMahon 1978 Robert Estabrook New Times, San Luis Obispo, Calif. Lakeville (Conn.) Journal 2001 William F. Schanen III 1979 R. W. van de Velde Ozaukee Press, Port Washington, Wis. The Valley Voice, Middlebury, Vt. 2002 Paul MacNeill 1980 Garrett Ray The Eastern Graphic, Montague, PEI, Canada Independent Newspapers, Littleton, Colo. 2003 Jeremy Waltner 1981 Janelou Buck Freeman Courier, Freeman, S.D. Sebring (Fla.) News 2004 Charles Gay 1982 Albert Scardino Shelton-Mason County Journal, Shelton, Wash The Georgia Gazette, Savannah, Ga. 2005 Bill Lueders Isthmus, Madison, Wis. 2 grassroots editor • summer 2005 The judge’s comments Bertrand Russell (mathematician-turned- And, in our process of venting, we may inad- We need not shred anyone’s personal integri- philosopher-turned-social-activist-and-peace- vertently bully the readers: They may cheer our ty and self-worth, something we risk, certainly, protester — like many journalists, he was, editorial position, and wish they could have if we dispense a typical harangue. assuredly, a champion of assorted causes) once said things as forcefully and well. Have we What good is an editorial, anyway? was asked an interview question: sown further seeds for thought, possibly a fresh Obviously, beyond the obvious,