| 3/4 | 6 YRS | Bassett, Ronald Gregory | Salisbury Independent |
| 3/5 | 1 YR | Shorter, Thomas Anthony | Okeechobee News |
| 3/5 | 2 YRS | Limoges, Jaime Lynn | Okeechobee News |
| 3/5 | 3 YRS | Quiggle, Jeannie Belle | Valley Printing |
| 3/6 | 1 YR | Williams, Rhonda | Okeechobee News |
| 3/6 | 30 YRS | Levy, Janet E | Delaware State News |
| 3/6 | 51 YRS | Harvey, Sharon M | Delaware State News |
| 3/7 | 21 YRS | Garelick, Yolibet V | Valley Printing |
| 3/10 | 12 YRS | Timmons, Diane | Okeechobee News |
| 3/10 | 7 YRS | Orozco, Diana Luisa | Valley Printing |
| 3/11 | 1 YR | Hayden, Jerry Edward | Okeechobee News |
| 3/14 | 4 YRS | Sanchez, Robertina | Valley Printing |
| 3/18 | 34 YRS | Walter, Andrew J | Delaware State News |
| 3/19 | 3 YRS | Wood, Keaton Hayes | Valley Printing |
| 3/21 | 2 YRS | Abel, Patrick W | Delaware State News |
| 3/23 | 13 YRS | Keesser, Christopher | Delaware Printing |
| 3/26 | 13 YRS | Carr, Jeremy | West Valley |
| 3/29 | 1 YRS | Phillips, Michael S | Delaware Printing |
Friday, February 28, 2020
March Anniversaries
This Bud's For -----
I would like to give kudos to Wanda Ford-Waring. Wanda has
always given myself and Valley newspapers great support when trying to close
vendor agreements. During our last negotiation with Kodak Wanda was
concerned that she was slowing the process up to the point of jeopardizing the
agreement. No, Wanda you were not. It was great teamwork! With your help we
end up with a fair agreement for both parties.
Rob Giarraputo
How do I know my news is fair and balanced?
How do I know my news is fair and balanced?
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JgYiU39EtJpIxkDzsywiipePR7P3wKLM
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1JgYiU39EtJpIxkDzsywiipePR7P3wKLM
DSN subscribers
Sunday subscribers get all-week Delaware State News digital access.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ERQ1hFJDCdbl24ZU_WiiI1HKsqgNdvc3
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1ERQ1hFJDCdbl24ZU_WiiI1HKsqgNdvc3
Know Your Numbers
Five numbers all women should know to take control of their heart health.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=14-mT3XmSsNpB9IFvYxogHRI2zQOrbGzk
https://drive.google.com/open?id=14-mT3XmSsNpB9IFvYxogHRI2zQOrbGzk
Tuesday, February 18, 2020
Mission Stories from Florida
The Okeechobee City Council is considering an option to close the city fire department and contract with the county for fire protection, a topic of much controversy in the community. The newspaper continues to cover the ongoing debate. In January, a fire department captain came up with an option to save tax dollars and save the jobs of the firefighters.
https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/government/fire-captain-proposes-plan-to-save-city-fire-department/
The newspaper will continue to cover the story as it unfolds and to help the community understand the options.
https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/lake-okeechobee/sfwmd-slow-to-support-two-cerp-projects/
https://lakeokeechobeenews.com/lake-okeechobee/storage-needed-to-address-water-woes/
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
The Lake Okeechobee News hosted the Sports and Outdoor Expo at the Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center in January.
When Congressman Greg Steube scheduled a visit Okeechobee to tour the Kissimmee River on the same day as a county commission meeting, the commissioners asked Editor Katrina Elsken to represent Okeechobee County on the Congressman’s tour, as the local authority on the watershed issues. A sudden thunderstorm caused the river tour to be cancelled at the last minute, but it still meant a lot that the county officials trusted the newspaper editor to represent the county.
The Okeechobee Music Festival will return this year, and the Lake Okeechobee News team has been in contact with the festival organizers, gearing up for coverage of the weekend event that nearly doubles the population of Okeechobee County, while at the same time providing readers with information they want and need about how the festival will affect their lives.
Mission Stories from Delmarva
From
Ashley Dawson, managing editor for Delaware:
Increased
gun violence around Dover, sadly involving teenagers, dominated coverage this
month, along with General Assembly action as legislators returned to the state
capital to start the second leg of this session.
January
1 began with the headline: “‘Totally unacceptable’: Shooting spree mars end of
2019 in Dover.” A week later, the January 8 front page carried the
headline: “15-year-old fatally shot.” (That was the second most viewed story on
our website, with 6,025 page views.) That fatal shooting of a Milford teen, who
died in an alley after calling 911, brought the total to 12 shootings that
injured nine people in two weeks.
Our
coverage and rapport with Dover Police led to reporter Craig Anderson and
photographer Marc Clery accompanying Dover Mayor Rob Christiansen for a rare
ride-along with police on Friday evening, January 10. “Take Guns and Drugs off
the Streets” filled the Sunday front page on January 12, giving readers a look
at the typical patrol duties taking place in the city and the targeted reaction
to the increased shootings. By being on the ride-along, Craig and Marc learned
of a sweep on New Street to round up suspects and witnesses.
Later
in the month, police charged a teenager for taking a gun to school, three teen
siblings for various charges, including attempted murder after firing at a
crowd gathered for a fight planned on social media and a 14-year-old for home
invasion and gang participation. Gun violence killed a second teenager in the
city in late January.
The
news brought several speak out columns (January 3, 9 and 15) and a letter to
the editor January 9.
Craig
and Brooke Schultz did a great job in the February 2 Sunday paper examining
some of the root causes leading teens to violence and what can be done to stop
it.
The
General Assembly coverage kicked off with a range of issues, not surprisingly
gun control topping the list, but there was also the surprising news that a
group of state legislative staffers planned to unionize. Bills to make insulin
affordable, repeal the Kent County lodging tax in the form that earmarked DE
Turf as the sole recipient of revenue, return the death penalty, give a full tax
break to senior citizens and revise medical marijuana rules have all been
proposed or acted on.
State
Senator Gerald Hocker proposed making all public school districts begin the
school year after Labor Day, to help the economy and tourism. (Commentary January
23)
Carney
teased his budget and state of the union initiatives by announcing January 22 a
plan to spend $50 million on clean water projects. State of the union coverage
filled the January 24 front page: “Jobs, schools, gun laws. Carney spotlights successes,
teases toward future in address.” The month ended with “Capital ideas. Carney’s
proposed fiscal year 2021 plan funds schools and family court construction and
pay raises for state workers.”
That
January 31 issue also reported the news that the city shooting spree continued
with a pair of shootings in one night. That raised the tally to 15 shootings
investigated by Dover Police and four more by Delaware State Police since
December 23.
From
Dave Ryan, news editor for the Dorchester Banner:
Banner
is public's watchdog at County Council
CAMBRIDGE
- The Dorchester Banner continued its role as citizens' eyes and ears at County
Council meetings with an article in January about a decision to deny a request
from Sheriff James W. Phillips Jr. for an interrogation room. Saying
"no" to the sheriff came as no surprise to regulars at the meetings -
the three council members in question seem determined not to give his office a
thing - but not providing space for an interrogation room was a move that many
readers thought was extreme.
The
request stated that the current room, required by law, is a converted storage
space. Ambient noise in the area means that recordings of interviews conducted
there can't be used in court.
So,
the sheriff asked to use an office, which is sound-conditioned. Seems simple,
right? After all, how many politicians want to be seen as hostile to law
enforcement?
Jay
Newcomb, Libby Nagel and William Nichols, that's who.
They
not only said no, they specified that the space be used as a break room by
Emergency Services' personnel. And that, even though the request noted that the
director of emergency services and the sheriff had already agreed to the deal.
Word
on the street, so to speak, is that Newcomb and Nichols hate the sheriff. Nagel
does what Newcomb tells her. So public safety is compromised because of
personal agendas.
That's
where the Banner comes in, with a front-page story detailing the decision. A
post on the website and Facebook earned more than a 1,000 hits right away, with
many readers stunned and angered by the vote.
This
is more than a nasty little political spat - this is the safety of our
neighbors in Dorchester County, and the Banner issue isn't going to let the
issue be swept under the rug. The sheriff has more to say and trusts the Banner
enough to have asked for an interview in the next few days.
The
crew at the Banner will continue the mission of Independent Newsmedia, sitting
front and center at the meetings, and asking tough questions when the public's
interest is threatened.
Here's
the link:
From
Richard Crumbacker, news editor for the Crisfield-Somerset County Times:
Here’s
a story we continue to follow five years later that nobody else wants to touch
but has not only local but possibly statewide implications.
Nearly
five years ago, Somerset County granted a solar company an easement along
county roads to bury conduit so electricity could flow from the solar collector
sites to a substation.
Two
of these roads had sections that passed between farmland owned on both sides by
a prominent farm family — who claimed they owned the ground under the road.
Two
years later when work commenced the family’s attorney wrote a letter to the
solar company ordering them to stop work, and when that failed to get a
response a lawsuit was filed against the company — and the county, for granting
an illegal easement.
The
case was heard in local court, with the county prevailing.
An
appeal was filed, upheld in part, but reversed in part in favor of the family,
and the case was remanded back to the lower court for a declaratory judgment.
The
county, however, has appealed and wants the state’s highest court to reconsider
settled law from the 1970s that differentiates between utilities placed under
urban streets vs. rural roads and highways.
Meanwhile
the attorney for the landowners has considered an appeal as well, but the
deadline has not yet been reached.
The
case is getting complex to the point that the local circuit court judge
admitted reading the intermediary court’s opinion three times and still finding
it difficult to follow.
It
certainly would have been a lot easier to let this case play out, or ignore it
altogether as all of the other media outlets have done. However, it is an
important case because it shows how local government thinks and works, and how
it addresses landowner rights.
And
in the end, depending on the outcome, the high court could up-end formerly
accepted statewide practices on the privilege of granting easements in local
roadways. We will continue to be watching and reporting accordingly.
From
Greg Bassett, editor for the Salisbury Independent:
From
its inception, the Salisbury Independent has been committed to ensuring that
community diversity is reflected in every edition. This mission involves mindful
efforts to include people across all economic and social spectrums as news
sources, photo subjects and community news participants.
While
diversity is a top-of-mind focus, an annual local event celebrating the Rev.
Dr. Martin Luther King provides an opportunity to go “all out” and demonstrate
the newspaper’s commitment.
As
always, we significantly previewed the event and then provided ample event
coverage. We gave attention to the school children’s event held during Martin
Luther King Day and the heavily attended annual banquet held that night. As
always, the coverage was well-received and appreciated by readers.
Congratulations Kris
Lake Okeechobee News is pleased to announce Kris Schwartz has
been named Team Leader of the Graphics / Production department. This is a
new role created in response to the leadership and design aesthetics
demonstrated. Kris will oversee the creative services and production processes
at our Okeechobee, Florida location. Congratulations Kris!
Mission Stories from Arizona
Jeremy Carr, Matt Loeschman
and Terrance Thornton wrote:
Litchfield Park – Mark Carlisle
- https://yourvalley.net/litchfield-park-independent/stories/litchfield-park-city-center-will-start-to-take-shape-in-2020,132877? - A multifaceted approach with diverse perspective
from assorted sources, this story is an in-depth examination of a major
city endeavor and its wide-ranging implications, all of which will affect
readers/residents in significant ways.
Glendale – Mark Carlisle - https://yourvalley.net/glendale-independent/stories/luke-afb-funding-firework-restrictions-on-glendales-legislative-wish-list-in-2020,132863? - To kick off the new year, this story presents an
array of what residents can expect from their city leaders, providing a glimpse
of economic, entertainment, and legislative issues to keep aware of in the
coming months.
Peoria
– Philip Haldiman - https://yourvalley.net/peoria-independent/stories/sports-recreation-receive-funding-boost-in-peoria,136340? - Honing in on two aspects of city living that many
Peoria residents utilize with regularity - sports and recreation services -
this story puts a cost to the various projects expected and, in many cases,
anticipated for the year to come.
Sun City – Rusty Bradshaw - https://yourvalley.net/sun-city-independent/stories/county-working-on-median-issues-in-sun-city,134285? - An extensive story that touches on the safety and
general appeal of Sun City, this story looks at an ongoing issue of concern to
many readers and details potential solutions alongside several related
obstacles.
Sun City West - Roger Ball - https://yourvalley.net/sun-city-west-independent/stories/some-golfers-returning-to-hickory-clubs,133595? - It's no secret golf is a prime facet in the lives
of many Sun Citians, so as a topic of wide interest, this appealing story
illustrates a curious new trend in the sport, with a number of photos to
compliment and illuminates the subject.
Surprise – Jason Stone - https://yourvalley.net/surprise-independent/stories/election-dates-set-for-races-in-surprise,134452? - With the topic of elections looming large over much
of the nation, local politics can often get lost in the furor, which is
something this story helps to prevent, providing a concise rundown of city
election dates and categories and what is ultimately at stake.
Local hoaxes stoke viral fears
With coronavirus spreading worldwide at an alarming rate,
extremely timely story on the rising fears associated with the threat. Local
angle covered as a West Valley high schooler attempted a hoax on social media,
saying a student had contracted the virus (which was untrue).
Daily Independent – Chris Caraveo
– https://yourvalley.net/stories/arizona-woman-free-kidney-cancer-after-innovative-chemo,135219
Arizona woman free of kidney cancer
after innovative chemotherapy
Health story focusing on innovative chemotherapy treatment
that helped woman beat kidney cancer. Quotes directly from the patient and the
medical team along with multiple pieces of art really made this an effective
centerpiece story.
Daily Independent – Chris Caraveo – https://yourvalley.net/stories/new-order-of-protection-system-to-help-curb-domestic-violence-in-arizona,127152
New
order of protection system to help curb domestic violence in Arizona
An
important piece detailing a new system aiding those seeking orders of
protection against others. Multiple source quotes and multiple photos included.
Apache Junction:
Richard Dyer -- The Apache Junction/Gold Canyon Independent offered readers
robust coverage but one story in particular was very strong for the market. It
ties into the beliefs around western heritage and economic development. Western
heritage is a big part of who we are in the Valley of the Sun and Mr. Dyer
brilliantly touched upon those topics in one stories in particular:
Here is piece on western heritage: https://yourvalley.net/apache-junction-independent/stories/sport-of-rodeo-helps-fuel-local-nonprofits-municipal-coffers,134612?
Queen Creek: Richard
Dyer -- One of the most important topics to local residents and politicians is
public safety. And, the Town of Queen Creek is looking at the possibility of
creating its own police department. However, the amount of cost, scope and
timing of this effort is beginning to draw some serious attention from all who
call Queen Creek home. The issue will likely be one of our keystones of
coverage as we move further into the new year.
Public safety changes afoot: https://yourvalley.net/queen-creek-independent/stories/possible-law-enforcement-changes-afoot-in-queen-creek,134608.
Scottsdale: Melissa Rosequist -- With Scottsdale there are so many
topics we are covering well. From the Southbridge referendum to national
concerns surrounding the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, Scottsdale news has
been robust these past few weeks. One of our finest pieces, comes in the story
we named, “Power to the People,” which is an examination of 21st
Century politicking. The news, political and PR landscape is changing very,
very quickly and this story tries to corral all of the personalities and news
items shaping The West’s Most Western Town.
*Power to the People: https://yourvalley.net/scottsdale-independent/stories/power-to-the-people,135614?
*Focus on General Plan update:
Terrance Thornton -- https://yourvalley.net/scottsdale-independent/stories/what-will-scottsdale-dreams-become,132381? And, an accompanying Q&A: https://yourvalley.net/scottsdale-independent/stories/qa-scottsdale-councilman-guy-phillips-offers-insights-into-general-plan-update,132393
Paradise Valley: Melissa Rosequist -- The talk of the Town of Paradise
Valley appears to absolutely hinge upon the vacation rentals, short-term
rentals or “party houses,” as they are regularly described by both Scottsdale
and Paradise Valley residents. While reforms appear to be coming forward at the
Arizona Legislature, readers are becoming more and more comfortable sharing
their stories with our newspaper. As changes are discussed at the ad hoc level
at the state capitol we have been able to effectively stay at the forefront of
the issue.
*The latest in the “party house” saga: https://yourvalley.net/paradise-valley-independent/stories/sb1350-paradise-valley-residents-say-they-are-under-siege-with-rampant-party-houses,137304
Joe Smyth’s take on the McClatchy bankruptcy
My
own take is that the owners and big media company executives enriched
themselves at the expense of their newspapers, and are now asking the
government to bail them out at the expense of their creditors.
That
doesn’t deny the challenges our entire industry faces (highlighted below), but I’m convinced that
we can make the changes necessary to thrive in the future, and that we can do
it without victimizing anyone.
Together,
let’s make it happen! – Joe.
Newspaper Publisher
McClatchy Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
McClatchy obtained $50 million in
debtor-in-possession financing from Encina Business Credit
McClatchy owns the Miami Herald, the Kansas City Star and
dozens of other newspapers across the country.
PHOTO: WILFREDO
LEE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
By
Micah Maidenberg and
Lukas I. Alpert
Updated Feb. 13, 2020 10:18
am ET
McClatchy Co. MNI 9.43% said it filed for bankruptcy protection on
Thursday as the newspaper publisher seeks to reorganize to deal with the
pressures of major pension and debt obligations and a declining business.
The 163-year-old publisher of the Miami Herald, Sacramento
Bee, Kansas City Star and other well-known newspapers said it initiated a
chapter 11 restructuring in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New York.
McClatchy has 30 newsrooms, all of which are operating as
usual, the company said. It has obtained $50 million in financing from Encina Business
Credit, which describes itself on its website as an asset-based lender, to
maintain its operations during the bankruptcy. McClatchy aims to emerge from
the bankruptcy process in the next few months.
The U.S. newspaper industry is going through a shakeout as
the big chains try to survive the sharp decline of the print business and the
challenges of building a robust digital business.
Some
companies are looking for combinations, hoping more scale is the answer. Last
year, the two
largest companies by
circulation, USA Today-owner Gannett Co. and GateHouseMedia, merged to create a
giant with 261 dailies and some 30% of newspapers sold every day in the U.S.
MNG Enterprises Inc., which is majority-owned by New York hedge fund Alden
Global Capital LLC, failed in
its earlier attempt to
merge with Gannett, and then turned its attention to Tribune Publishing Co. It acquired a big
stake in Tribune, primarily from former chairman Michael Ferro, and is now the
largest shareholder.
McClatchy is betting that bankruptcy—a route other publishers
have taken in recent years—is the only way to get through a severe liquidity
crunch. The company took on a hefty amount of debt from its $4.5 billion merger
with Knight Ridder back in 2006. Since that deal, the foundation of revenue for
local newspapers—print advertising—collapsed, draining some $35 billion in
revenue from the industry as a whole, according to Craig Forman, McClatchy’s
chief executive.
The company has pointed to its pension obligations as a
significant challenge, reporting in November that the plan was underfunded by
about $535 million as of the end of March last year. On Thursday, McClatchy
said the plan held assets of about $1.39 billion. The company said it would ask
the bankruptcy court to terminate its pension plan and appoint the federal
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation as trustee.
McClatchy, which was founded by the McClatchy family and
remains controlled by it, employs 2,800 people. Despite its financial
struggles, the newspaper chain has won accolades for its papers’ coverage,
including numerous Pulitzer Prizes in recent years. The Miami Herald published
a series of stories in 2018 and 2019 on how the late financier Jeffrey Epstein
avoided serious charges on allegations of running an underage sex ring.
Local news outlets, as a whole, have
had much steeper declines in traditional circulation and advertising than
national papers, and are having a tougher time building digital
businesses, The Wall Street Journal found in a review of the industry last year. The result
was the closure of some 1,800 newspapers between 2004 and 2018, leaving roughly
half the counties in the U.S. with only one newspaper, and 200 with none, a
University of North Carolina study found.
McClatchy has been trying
to gain traction with digital initiatives. The Sacramento-based company has
been cutting costs and working to build up digital subscribers, saying it
reduced operating expenses by $187 million between 2017 and last year and built
its digital-only subscriber base to more than 200,000.
“In this important moment for independent local journalism in
the public interest, a reorganized capital structure will enable McClatchy to
continue to pursue our strategy of digital transformation,” Mr. Forman said in
a statement.
Wednesday, February 12, 2020
Lauren Hendeles honored by INI; Ken Reinstein elected as a trustee
Lauren Hendeles was honored at INI’s annual meeting after completing her five-year term as a trustee of the non-profit journalistic trust that owns Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA.
Lauren was awarded Independent’s Distinguished Service Award “for her years of trusteeship, inspiration and dedication to preserving a vigorous and independent press as the bastion of a free society”. She is the president of Hendel Content Creation and had earlier worked with the Huffington Post and AOL’s Patch.com. Elected in 2015, Lauren served a five-year term that expired at INI’s 2020 annual meeting.
Ken Reinstein has been elected to replace Lauren as one of the five trustees. He is the director of marketing & communications for Sun Health, a $400-million organization based in the Valley. Ken leads external communications, media relations, advertising and social media management functions, including brand, media and community outreach and has more than 20 years of combined senior leadership in marketing and communications. Ken describes himself as an “insane networker” who has over 500 followers on LinkedIn. He currently serves as a volunteer member of the board of directors for the Phoenix Conservatory of Music (PCMRocks.org). He has a BA in journalism with emphasis on public relations from ASU. Ken was elected for a five-year term as trustee that will expire at the 2025 meeting.
Both actions came at INI’s 2020 annual meeting, held on Feb. 7-8 in Scottsdale AZ.
The five INI non-profit trustees serve staggered five-year terms. They cannot serve consecutive terms, so at least one member is replaced each year.
Board chair Joe Smyth, who in 1991 transferred 100% ownership of INI to the non-profit he had created to keep the company mission-driven and perpetually independent, welcomed Ken and thanked Lauren for her years of service.
“It is so gratifying that this little company has been able to attract so many incredible people to support our service to our communities,” CEO Ed Dulin said. “We may be small, but we make a huge difference in our communities. The dedication begins with our local teams, but their work is made possible --- and kept sustainable for the long haul --- by an equally dedicated group of directors and non-profit trustees.”
INI is unique because it is a normal tax-paying company that is owned by a non-profit holding company. There are no stockholders and therefore no dividends are paid. All after-tax profits are reinvested in the company’s mission of community service through independent, non-partisan civic-oriented journalism.
In addition to Ken, the other four trustees are:
Rhonda Bannard has decades of expertise in strategic planning, community relations, corporate social responsibility, marketing, communications, PR, events, facilitation, board and leadership development, speech writing, and coaching executives through a broad range of storytelling needs. She is currently focused on a climate initiative and shaping a Women’s Collective. She is a former board chair of the Alliance for Arizona Nonprofits and helped start Arizona Gives Day. Her first career was in TV news. Rhonda was elected as a trustee at INI’s 2019 annual meeting. Her term will expire at the 2024 annual meeting.
Abbie Fink is VP/GM at HMA Public Relations in Phoenix. She has a master’s degree in mass communications and a bachelor of arts degree in journalism/public relations from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University. Abbie’s honors include the YWCA’s Philanthropy Woman of the Year; the Scottsdale Leadership Alumni Achievement Award and The Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Patrick Jackson Award for Distinguished Service. She is an adjunct faculty member at Arizona State University and Phoenix College, teaching both public relations and social media strategies. Her specialties include marketing communications, media relations, digital/social media relations, special event management, community relations, issues management and marketing promotions for the private and public sectors, as well as not-for-profit organizations. The directors recommended Abbie and the trustees elected her at INI’s 2016 annual meeting, for a five-year term that will expire at the 2021 annual meeting.
Adam Goodman is the president of Goodman’s Interior Structures in Phoenix. Adam has a BBA from the University of Texas at Austin, and worked for Gannett for several years before returning to Phoenix to join the family business. He is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), and the first non-journalist board member of the Arizona Center for Investigative Journalism. The directors vetted Adam, nominated him to become a non-profit trustee, and the other trustees elected him at the 2017 annual meeting to serve a five-year term that will expire at the 2022 annual meeting. Email: agoodman@goodmans.com This presentation --- most especially his comments about newspapers -- speaks to his passion for journalism: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lw0EM03Qw6A.
Todd Hornback wants to bring the Life-Changing Power of Community to the world. Whether in local neighborhoods or executive board rooms, Todd engages people in meaningful leadership roles that result in successful and sustainable collaborative enterprises. He is a Partner and Chief Advancement Officer for DMB Community Life, a company dedicated to creating special places where people lead richer, more fulfilling and purposeful lives. DMB Community Life is an innovative market leader providing community development services and operational management, with an emphasis on authentic resident/stakeholder engagement, collaboration, local partnerships, and community governance/operations. Todd was elected in 2018 to serve a five-year term that will expire at the 2023 annual meeting.
The non-profit members act as trustees of the company’s mission of community service journalism, and pledge not to profit personally from their involvement. They don’t have responsibility for managing the company, but they elect the directors who bear that responsibility.
The five members of INI’s board of directors are:
Dan Barr is a law partner at Perkins/Coie, with more than 30 years of experience in the area of civil litigation involving constitutional, employment, media and political law issues. He represents several news media organizations, including the First Amendment Coalition of Arizona and is the chair of the Perkins/Coie Phoenix office's Pro Bono Committee. Dan was selected to the Maricopa County Bar Association Hall of Fame in 2019. He was a reporter at the Arizona Republic before becoming a lawyer. He was elected by the non-profit trustees in 2019 and continues to serve as a director at the pleasure of the trustees.
Don Henninger is executive director and founder of the Scottsdale Coalition of Today & Tomorrow, a group of business and civic leaders working on issues important to that city. He was publisher of the Phoenix Business Journal for 13 years before announcing his retirement in 2014. He joined the newspaper in 1997 as editor, and was named publisher in 2001. He served as managing editor of the Arizona Republic from 1995 to 1997 and served in several editor positions at the Phoenix Gazette from 1983 to 1995. Before that, the Pennsylvania State University grad was news editor of the Yuma Daily Sun; a reporter for the Morning Herald in Uniontown, Pa.; and a reporter for the Daily Courier in Connellsville, Pa. Don serves on the board of the Scottsdale Area Chamber of Commerce, Business United for Scottsdale Schools and Family Promise; and is an emeritus board member of the Arizona Technology Council. He is a member of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation Board of Stewards. He was elected to INI’s board of directors in 2015 and continues to serve at the pleasure of the trustees.
Cindie Hubiak is president & CEO of the Arizona Society of CPAs, where she represents a membership of approximately 5,200 CPAs and leads a staff of 11. Cindie is a CPA and has worked in public accounting and industry. While working with manufacturing companies, she completed two international assignments: one in Europe and one in Singapore. Prior to joining the Society, she was human resources director for a 1,500-person international organization. Hubiak is a past chair of the ASCPA board of directors, holds leadership positions on several community boards and has been recognized as one of the top women in business and the community. She received both her B.S. in accountancy and her MBA from Arizona State University. She is certified in alternative dispute resolution, has written four books and enjoys traveling and hiking in Arizona. She was elected as a director effective Aug. 1, 2019, replacing retiring director Richard Bricker, and continues to serve at the pleasure of the trustees.
Joe Smyth is chairman of Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA. He has done just about everything to be done at a newspaper, including delivering papers, “printer’s devil”, city hall reporter, state capitol reporter, managing editor, editor & publisher and CEO. He acquired ownership of the Delaware State News in 1969, changed the corporate name to Independent Newspapers, Inc. (later changed to Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA), and expanded it to today's four-state operation. To ensure the company’s continued independence, in 1991 Joe transferred the company’s ownership to a non-profit journalistic trust. He was co-founder and first president of PAGE, the national purchasing cooperative for independent newspapers, and is the author of Newsroom Guidelines for Independent Newspapers. In 2012 --- as a private citizen and not associated with his role with INI --- he published a book, Fixing America’s Broken Politics. Joe stepped down as INI’s CEO in 2014; he continues as a director at the pleasure of the non-profit trustees, and as chairman at the pleasure of the directors.
Alicia Wadas is executive vice president and chief operating officer at Lavidge, an employee-owned full-service marketing communications firm, representing clients including Arizona Public Service, Sonora Quest, Arizona State University, SimonMed, and many more. With a strong management team and Alicia’s leadership, the agency has more than doubled its revenue since 2006. In 2018, Alicia was named COO of the Year, received the inaugural AAF Women of Excellence award, and recognized for her Meritorious Service with the rare Presidential Medal from the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association. She is an active volunteer in several organizations including the FBI National Citizens Academy Alumni Association and Gratitude America. Alicia lives in the Valley with her husband, a laser physics scientist and former U.S. Air Force pilot. She has a BA in communication from the University of Colorado. She was elected as a director in March of 2012 and continues to serve at the pleasure of the trustees.
Banner sponsors, covers Black History Month event
Dorchester Banner
By Dave Ryan
CAMBRIDGE – Much of Independent News Media’s (INM) mission involves building community, and that’s what the Banner crew did with a Black History Month event Jan. 31 at the Dorchester Center for the Arts. The commemoration of activism, sacrifice and success was organized and sponsored in part by the Banner and staff from the main office in Dover.
Our people considered it an honor to take part in what is, after all, a sensitive topic. But that’s how it goes when journalists work for years to cover the issues that matter to local readers – they give us the gift of their trust.
Among those from INM who took part in the planning and presentation of the evening were Heather Cregar and Dave Cannon. They were pleased to see that the space reserved was filled with spectators and performers, many of whom had traveled considerable distances to take part.
In her welcoming remarks to the audience, Ms. Cregar asked the group to support their local newspaper, the Dorchester Banner, to stay informed and involved in the activities of citizenship.
Our staff also spotted many in attendance studying the Banner’s own Black History Month special section, produced in time for distribution at the event and throughout the county in February.
Since then, Banner folks have been stopped in town, thanked and congratulated on their work for, and coverage of, this significant community celebration.
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NaTale Chester, left, and Destiny Frantum were two of the many performers at the event.
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INM’s Heather Cregar did much to organize and host the commemoration.
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| Many were spotted reading the Banner’s Black History Month special section. |
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
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