INIers making a difference companywide

By Charlene Bisson

 We’re off to a great start for the new fiscal year with lots of new newsroom, sales, and print initiatives. All INIers should celebrate their excellent contributions this past fiscal year, but here’s highlighting some of the top recent initiatives.

 It was the year of Valley Newspapers as it saw a tremendous growth with the closing of the Arizona Republic’s facility in October 2025. Valley Newspapers saw an overall growth of 30 percent. Congratulations to Rob Giarraputo, Mike Jacobs and Marc Tropio for closing so many commercial jobs.

 The Arizona newsroom is busy moderating City Council election forums. Tom Blodgett, J. Graber, Phil Haldiman and Janet Perez, hosted and co-hosted events in their respective cities. In all cases, they were asked to be the moderator, which speaks highly of their reputation as journalists in the communities they serve. People can read about all elections throughout the Phoenix-market by visiting yourvalley.net/arizona-voters-guide-2026/. Patrick O’Grady put the guide together.

 The Delmarva newsroom is knee-deep in several special section promotions, including, Sussex and Kent County profiles. Kaitlyn Cupelli graduated from Leadership Central Delaware, and Allan Ryder took over a production leadership role in the newsroom to assist Editor-in-Chief Andy West. Their collective goal is to increase our digital edition offerings for the Daily State News.

 Best of the Lake launched July 1 on LakeONews.com. This digital promotion has been well-received by the community, with hundreds of votes already throughout the various categories. We even had our first top sponsor sold this week, bringing in new digital and print revenue, while supporting the efforts of the LakeONews.com newsroom. A shout out to Kay Sheedy and Kris Schwartz for organizing the community initiative. The in-person awards event will be Oct. 1.

 Dover Con saw a 35% increase in sales and an increase in vendor participation this year despite the weather woes on the East Coast. While it was a team effort, thank you to Jessica Cook and Tonda Parks for leading the effort.

 A shout out to Wanda Ford-Waring, Rob Giarraputo, Kelsie Knight and Scherie Drzymalski for their extra efforts in closing the Dover location. Wanda and Rob made my life easier by being excellent team members throughout the difficult process. I look forward to celebrating our ribbon cutting in our new location set for Sept. 24.

 Finally, as we reflect on the past fiscal year, we want to thank our top companywide sales reps who not only bring in excellent numbers but increased sales year over year.

 Our top two sellers companywide were Rob Giarraputo and Mike Jacobs at Valley Newspapers.

 After that, the news divisions were Greg Garcia and Michelle Gavagan. The two brought in more than 40% increases to already strong numbers. As impressive as that was, they are both beating last year’s numbers in the new fiscal year for July, and it is only July 8. Their success is thanks to a solid pipeline, excellent customer service, and community outreach through networking.

 In Delmarva, our top reps were Roxanne Brooks and Cyndi Eldred and Kay Sheedy in Florida.

 Arizona and Florida have already beat their advertising numbers over last July, and not surprisingly Valley Newspapers.

 

Message from the CEO's Desk

 

By Charlene Bisson

As we reach 2026, it’s time to reflect on the past year to highlight what we did well, and to give a critical analysis of where we could do better.

A new year often symbolizes a time for goal-setting and strategic planning for businesses. While the state of the economy continues to get mixed reviews, we know we must go from good to great to stay sustainable in an ever-changing business environment where material costs continue to increase and AI continues to advance at rapid speeds.

We will continue to review the financials, and adjust where we see fit, but also launch new objectives with renewed energy and enthusiasm.

Here are some of our company goals for 2026:

·      Increase audience engagement, which in turn should increase our digital subscribers to support our nonpartisan and objective journalism.

·      Increase top-line sales in every category that we serve, from display and digital advertising to obituaries and events.

·      Right-size operations to match our sales numbers.

·      Sustain confidence from our advertisers and our readers.

·      Build our brand in each of our states where it is recognizable on multiple levels.

·      Have fun.

What are your personal business goals for 2026? I’d love to hear ideas from you, especially when it comes to employee engagement and fine-tuning processes to make a more efficient and highly productive INI. Email me at cbisson@iniusa.org .

Happy New Year!

Notice to INI employees

 Dear INIers:

We made it through another fiscal year, which was a challenging one due to the economy, but also a rewarding one reading our excellent journalism throughout the communities we serve. We acquired six newspapers in Arizona and continue to look at opportunities that keep our mission alive across our regions.

One of my favorite profile stories of late was this one, yourvalley.net/stories/scottsdale-ceos-ascent-started-with-raising-his-hand,596595 written by Cyrus Guccione about a future CEO who was asked, “Who wants to be the CEO of this company?”

I’m asking the same question. If you are interested, shoot me an email at cbisson@iniusa.org. I was groomed for years, and it’s my job to groom the next CEO.  

Company Employees Policies

Those of you who have had work anniversaries since May, should have noticed that we implemented a work anniversary bonus. We are also changing our PHO system to a vacation, holiday, sick and personal time system. Effective the first date of September 2025, employees will no longer accrue PHO, but may use their available balance with manager approval, through the end of December 2025.  There is no carry over of PHO into 2026.

****** Please see detailed updates below. *****

Work Anniversary Bonus Policy

Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA recognizes and values the dedication and loyalty of its employees. This policy outlines the framework for providing work anniversary bonuses as a token of appreciation for an employee’s sustained service and contribution to the company's success.

 

The purpose of the policy is to: 

• Recognize and reward employee loyalty and tenure.
• Boost employee morale and satisfaction.
• Promote a positive work environment and foster a culture of appreciation.
• Enhance employee retention and reduce turnover. 

 

Eligibility/Payment Schedule:

• All regular full and part time employees are eligible for work anniversary bonuses upon completing their years of continuous service.  The service is based upon the employee’s hire or rehire date.
• The employee is to be working or using PHO
• The employee will receive $10 for each year they’ve worked for Independent. 
• The bonus will be paid the last pay period of the month in which the work anniversary occurs.

 

Employees will be informed of their upcoming work anniversary and the corresponding bonus through a personalized email notification from payroll@iniusa.org.

The policy may be amended based on changes in the company or market.  Employees will be informed of any significant updates. For questions, employees can contact Payroll@iniusa.org.

 

May 1, 2025 

 *****

 Time off policy

 

Independent Newsmedia Inc., USA,  recognizes the importance of employees having the opportunity to have leisure time and attend to nonwork matters. Therefore, the company will attempt to authorize all employees’ time off request when they desire to take it. However, Independent’s divisions must maintain adequate staffing at all times. Therefore, vacations must be scheduled in advance and with prior written approval of the employee’s team leader.  Time off in excess of 80 hours is to be approved by the CEO.

 

HOLIDAYS:  The continuation of the separate company paid holidays will attract top talent because this increases the benefits offered by Independent to new hires, boost motivation since employees know they will be given a day off without losing wages while improving mental health and increasing productivity. Regular full-time employees are eligible for holiday pay.

ELIGIBILITY:  All regular full and part time employees are eligible for vacation and personal/sick time.  Regular full timers are also eligible for the holiday and bereavement leave. These times are reset January 1 of each year. There is no carry forward

Independent provides employees with time off for the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Juneteenth National Independence Day
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Eve
• Christmas

Holiday pay is paid at the employee’s normal rate of pay and based on their normally scheduled work hours. For hourly employees, time off for holiday does not count when determining overtime for that specific week, nor is it to exceed 40 regular hours a week.

• Non-regular full-time employees are not entitled to holiday pay

• Regular full-time employees on vacation or excused absence will receive the holiday pay.

• Employees on unpaid leave are not entitled to holiday pay

• Salaried exempt employees are entitled to their normal compensation without any deductions for holidays observed by the company

• There is no accrual for the holiday when used.

• Time off is to occur on the actual holiday. With prior management approval, an employee may take the paid holiday on another day within the pay period in which the holiday occurs.

• If there is a circumstance such as an ‘act of God’ (i.e., hurricane) impacting the office personnel’s absence within the month in which a holiday occurs, the holiday may be used within another pay period of the month if approved by the CEO.

Printing Operations - For the printing operations only, if/when a regular full-time, non-exempt (hourly) employee is scheduled by their manager to work on the holiday, the employee will be paid time and a half for the hours worked.

• The maintenance-electrical technicians for the printing companies are scheduled off for the holiday. However, due to emergency reasons, these employees may be called in to repair equipment on a holiday. If they work less than eight (8) hours, the technician may use the remaining balance as holiday in the pay period in which the holiday occurs. The hours worked on the holiday will be paid time and half. This applies only to this position.

• The manager will make payroll@iniusa.org aware in advance of the scheduled full-time employees who are scheduled to work on the holidays.

• When an employee from the printing operations works on a holiday, the time worked is counted when determining overtime for the week.

• The employee who works on a holiday cannot use another day within that pay period to use time off for the holiday. However, an employee may use available vacation to take another day off within that pay period, provided they request the time off in advance and receive approval.

When an employee leaves the employment of Independent, they will not receive payout for the remaining holidays for the year.

 ****

 BEREAVEMENT LEAVE:  This policy is designed to provide time for employees to cope with the loss of a loved one, which includes but not limited to, handling funeral arrangement, attending the funeral as well as managing any necessary post death responsibilities like estate administration.

 All regular full-time, active employees are eligible for benefits under this policy.

 Procedures -  An employee who wishes to take time off due to the death of an immediate family member should notify his or her team leader and copying payroll@iniusa.org as soon as possible by providing the updated bereavement form. If employee leaves work early on the day he or she is notified of the death, that day will not count as bereavement leave.

In addition to bereavement leave, an employee may, with his or her team leader’s approval, use any available vacation or personal hours for additional approved time off as necessary. Employees under discipline for attendance issues may be required to provide documentation with regard to their bereavement leave.

Bereavement hours are paid based on the base pay rate at the time of absence, and it will not include any special forms of compensation, such as incentives, commissions, bonuses, overtime, or shift differentials.

 

Paid bereavement leave will be granted according to the following schedule:

 

• Employees are entitled up to three days (24 hours) annually which are to be used within three months of the family member’s death.
• A maximum of up to 40 hours of bereavement pay is granted in a calendar year should there be more than one occurrence
• The leave is used in the event of the death of the employee's: Spouse/Domestic Partner.  Child/ stepchild, Parent/Stepparent or an adult who stood in as loco parentis to the employee during childhood, Father-in-law, mother-in-law, son-in-law, daughter-in-law,  Brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister, Grandparent
• Unused bereavement leave hours at the end of the year will not carry forward to the following year.

• There is no payout of unused bereavement leave when termination occurs.

 ****

 VACATION:  Independent provides paid vacation time to its employees for the purpose of taking time off and are encouraged to do so during the year.  Vacation is reset the beginning of each calendar year based upon the years of service. 

Below is the annual vacation schedule.  Part-timers would be eligible for half of the hours shown:

 

*will receive 20 hours after three months of service during the year in which the employee is hired.

Each individual should schedule the planned use of vacation with his or her team leader and must advise his or her team leader as soon as possible when taking vacation for any reason. Certainly, planned absences of more than a few days must be scheduled well in advance so that arrangements can be made to get the individual's work done in his or her absence.

 

Due to the nature of our business and because most divisions have only limited staff, a team leader may refuse to approve an individual's request to take vacation at any specific time or to use more than 80 consecutive vacation hours. In all cases, requests to use more than 80 consecutive vacation hours must be approved in advance by Independent’s senior management.

 

There is no carryover of unused vacation into the following year. Unused vacation will be forfeited.

 

****

 

SICK/PERSONAL LEAVE: Independent provides regular full and part-time employees with paid sick days.

Sick days are not intended to be used as a substitute for vacation days, but sick days may be used if an employee needs to provide care for a family member who is ill or if an employee needs time off for scheduled medical procedures or is sick.

Regular full and part time employees are given 40 hours of sick leave each January. Sixteen (16) additional hours are given for personal leave to regular full-time employees.. 

There is a 90-day waiting period before newly hired employees will receive sick and personal time.  Once satisfied, the new employees will be given 40 hours sick.

Independent reserves the right to require documentation from a health care professional to verify the need for sick leave when an employee has been out three (3) or more consecutive days and/or authorizing the employee to return to work.

Newly hired employees do not receive 16 personal hours. 

There is no carryover of unused sick or personal leave to next year or is there payout of unused time due to termination.

January 1, 2026

 

INI offices closed to public Thanksgiving week

 

INI offices closed to public Thanksgiving week

The offices will be closed the week of Thanksgiving Nov. 25-Nov. 29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday. There will be early deadlines for the Thanksgiving holiday.

As always, some INIers will have to work a couple of days that week to cover the news and the printing operations. If you take the full week off, four days will be PHO, and one day will be holiday (Thanksgiving).

Advertising, Payment and News Submission deadlines are:

Friday, Nov. 15 for the Nov. 25-29 daily, weekly and monthly publishing dates

Wednesday, Nov. 20 for the Dec. 2-Dec. 6 daily, weekly and monthly publishing dates

We wish you a joyous and healthy holiday season.

The section of a newspaper which states the title, ownership, management, and other administrative information is known by what name, which is also a part of a sailboat? 

From the CEO - Employee Appreciation Bonus

 Dear INIers:

 This year has brought challenges, with a soft economy impacting top-line sales alongside increased costs in products and services. While we’re cautiously optimistic about an uptick in sales in the coming months, our focus remains on ensuring that INI continues as a fiscally sound operation.

 Despite these challenges, INI is committed to creating a great place to work, and this would not be possible without the dedication and hard work of team members like you. Thank you for all that you do!

 Some 2024 highlights include:

• Increase in the 401(k) match.

• Reduced the employee health insurance contributions.

• Wellness initiatives.

• Implementation of paid holidays.

• Established a bereavement policy.

• Rebranding and updating INIusa.org.

• Creation of Voters’ Guides for our local communities.

• Launch of the Greater Dover Independent.

• Launch of the Millsboro/Longneck Independent.

• Rebranding the Labelle newspaper into the Hendry County News.

• Acquisition of the Wrangler News, adding it to our Independent family.

• Implementing a new advertising and accounting platform.

 As we move forward in 2025, we have a lot to accomplish with new elective officials taking office, including the President of the United States. 

 Let’s continue working diligently on our mission to make our communities better places to live through our nonpartisan, data-driven journalism, supporting local businesses and neighbors alike. We look forward to a prosperous 2025 together.

 In appreciation of your hard work, despite lower sales revenue compared to last year, we are providing an employee appreciation bonus of $150 for each regular full- and part-time employee.

 Those who are employed with INI as of Nov. 15, 2024, and remained employed, will receive their employee appreciation bonus on Dec. 6 or Dec. 13, depending on your payroll cycle.

 Thank you, as always, for making INI a great, little company with big ideas. 

 

 

 

Here we grow again! INI acquires Wrangler News & WranglerNews.com

 Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, once again expands its footprint in the Phoenix Metro market.

The Arizona group, home of the Phoenix Daily Independent at YourValley.net, acquired the Wrangler News from longtime owner Don Kirkland.

“We’re thrilled to oversee the oldest hyperlocal newspaper still in existence serving the Tempe market,” said INI President & CEO Charlene Bisson. “We’ve been blessed the past three years in acquiring JG Media’s Community Impact Phoenix newspapers, the Fountain Hills Times and now the Wrangler News. We look forward to merging the Tempe Independent with the Wrangler News and increasing our frequency.”

Kirkland will join INI’s growing family. He began a lifelong journalism career at the age of 10, when he published a small neighborhood newspaper in his hometown of Glendale, Calif. He was involved in news production during his years at Glendale High School, was editor of the school newspaper and wrote a weekly column for the Glendale News Press.

While in college, Kirkland was recruited by Lyn Nofziger, editor of the Burbank (Calif.) Daily Review and eventually one of the nation’s most highly regarded journalists, ultimately serving as press secretary to Gov. Ronald Reagan and later, in Washington, D.C., as the top spokesperson for the Republican National Committee.

Following his stint as a reporter in Burbank, Kirkland joined the staff of the Long Beach (Calif.) Press-Telegram, where he remained for almost 10 years. He transitioned to a position in media relations, working with such recognized clients as Dennis DeConcini during DeConcini’s two successful campaigns for the United States Senate, and a series of other high-profile Phoenix-area clients.

Kirkland made another transition in his media relations career when he was recruited as executive editor of the Mesa Tribune during the period which it was acquired by the national Cox Communications chain. He left Cox in 1980, to serve as public relations director for Desert Samaritan Hospital and Medical Center (now Banner) and, finally, as director of corporate communications for Samaritan Health Service. He launched the now 33-year-old Wrangler News and eight other similar community-focused publications in 1991.

“I look forward to continuing a vibrant, energetic journalism career with INI,” Kirkland said.

Readers will get the best of both worlds with the first publication of each month, following the traditional Tempe Independent format and the second publication resembling the Wrangler News format.

“Don and I agreed the newspaper will become the Wrangler News Independent,” Bisson explained. “What’s great about INI’s business model is our clean delivery method to the mailbox in 90 percent of our communities. Our newspapers aren’t piling up on driveways, and they’re protected by the mailbox most often folded neatly by the USPS mail carriers.”

Brent Cruikshank, the publisher of the North Valley group, which includes Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, and Town of Paradise Valley, looks forward to the added value advertisers will receive in the North and East Valley. 

“Since the acquisition to INI, we’ve grown our print and digital subscriptions 15%,” Cruikshank said. “Our company name reflects our nonpartisan news values while keeping the tradition of the Cruikshank family in Fountain Hills, where we recently celebrated 50 years in business.”

Bisson looks forward to new growth.

“The Independent is committed to expanding throughout the Phoenix market, so there are no news deserts in our Arizona cities and towns,” Bisson explained.

Independent Newsmedia has been publishing in Arizona since 1970.

The company opened two newspapers during the pandemic – Florence and Mesa – and expanded its Scottsdale circulation October 2022. The Arizona group launched the Tempe Independent in April 2022, then acquired JG Media National’s Phoenix operations, which included Community Impact of Chandler, Gilbert and Tempe in July 2022.

Independent Newsmedia owns Valley Newspapers, a state-of-the-art commercial printing plant that is located near Deer Valley Airport. The company also publishes community newspapers in Delaware, the Eastern Shore of Maryland and Florida and owns a press in Delaware.

The company is owned by a nonprofit journalistic trust designed to maintain independence. The organization has no owners or shareholders, no dividends are paid, and all after-tax profits are reinvested in its mission of impartial community journalism.

 

From the CEO: We’re not giving up our service to our communities

 

From the CEO: We’re not giving up our service to our communities

 By Charlene Bisson

 We often hear about the doom and gloom of the news industry. Heck, the media itself writes about its inevitable demise.

 A recent article in the Washington Post by George Will (Feb. 22, 2024) highlighted the various media (newspapers, radio, TV, social, satellite, etc.) collapsing.

But there’s some positive news about the media, especially at Independent Newsmedia!

 Here are some recent key highlights:

 

• We recently launched the weekly Greater Dover Independent. Thus far, we’ve heard raving reviews. What I love most is that we’re giving Dover businesses the opportunity to reach more folks with Zip code penetration around their businesses while also promoting the excellent articles in the Daily State News at BaytoBayNews.com.
• Our Delmarva group has gained hundreds of new digital subscribers.

 

• Our Florida group has just published the biggest edition ever of the Okeechobee Community Guide.

 

• Our Arizona group’s circulation revenue is up 16% over last year.  Readers love our nonpartisan coverage, and the word is spreading.  

 

• We keep hearing print is dead, but Delaware Printing Company and Valley Newspapers are both profitable year-to-date.

 

I’m a firm believer that if we continue to work diligently and champion our news products, services and events, while also providing excellent customer service to our readers and advertisers – we will not fail.  

 Former INI CEO Joe Smyth would insist that our digital-first initiative to inform and serve our communities will continue to thrive because of our nonprofit ownership and key values, including:

Community service:  We help our communities through our conscientious journalism, providing our communities with a platform for civil discussions of public issues,  and providing a supportive advertising marketplace for local businesses.

 Our nonpartisan reporting:  When an individual finishes reading one of our stories, they shouldn’t be able to tell what the reporter’s opinions were. 

 Your opinions, not ours:  Our opinion pages are for the community’s discussions of public issues. We simply moderate for civility and fair play.  

 Your civic news: We can’t cover everything that happens in our community, but if you get it to us, we’ll do our best to shape it up and get it online. Then, we’ll promote our best stuff online in our print publications.

 What do you think about our key values? What should INI be doing for our communities that we’re missing or not doing well enough?

Please drop me a line anytime at cbisson@iniusa.org.

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tKaYnbowfMuw6uO5Z_DSj6pdlA9vHfmA/view?usp=drive_link

A message from the CEO: INI to give Employee Appreciation Bonus

 

Dear INIers: 

It has been an exciting year at INI with a lot of new initiatives from fun events to community publications, and an acquisition of newspapers. I can’t thank you enough for making INI a great place to work.

Some 2022 highlights include

• A new IT partner that is working to bring our networks up to speed. This includes three new servers with high volume capacities and redundancy for our newsroom, advertising, and printing teams.
• Addition of an individual vision plan to Independent’s benefit lineup.
• Increase to the 401(k) match.
• New newspaper designs for our daily and community publications, including our easy-to-hold compact size that our readers have appreciated in notes to us. This change couldn’t be made possible without the excellent efforts of our printing plants –Delaware Printing Company and Valley Newspapers.
• Newsrooms putting together voters’ guides in the various regions. 2022 Primary Election Voters Guide https://yourvalley.net/2022_elections/, 2022 Voters' Guide | Bay to Bay News and Last day to request a ballot be mailed to you in Florida is Saturday | South Central Florida Life.

• The launch of the Best of the Lake in our Florida market.
  https://www.southcentralfloridalife.com/stories/best-of-the-lake-2022,47435. https://www.southcentralfloridalife.com/stories/pictures-2022-best-of-the-lake-awards,47309

• The launch of the Stars of Somerset, Stars of Salisbury and a Thrive- Senior Life After 55- event in Dorchester. https://salisburyindependent.secondstreetapp.com/Stars-of-Somerset-2022/ https://salisburyindependent.secondstreetapp.com/Stars-of-Salisbury-2022/
  https://baytobaynews.com/dorchester/

• The launch of the print Tempe Independent for our local advertisers to complement our digital daily publication at YourValley.net. https://yourvalley.net/tempe-independent/

• The acquisition of Arizona’s Community Impact Chandler, Gilbert & Tempe editions. We’re thrilled to have new INIers join the team. https://yourvalley.net/gilbert-independent/ https://yourvalley.net/chandler-independent/

• The first Peoria Hometown Heroes Awards event. https://yourvalley.net/peoria-independent/stories/peoria-heroes-honored-for-their-exemplary-work-in-the-community-arizona,288635

• The launch of the Florence Senior Expo. https://yourvalley.net/stories/florence-independent-hosts-senior-expo-on-nov-9,333567

We value serving our readers and loyal advertisers. As you can see, we’re all working diligently to make our communities a great place to live with our nonpartisan and data-driven journalism posted daily on our community websites and delivering print publications that help our local businesses and neighborhoods.

While there’s constant talk about a soft economy, we’re confident that we’ll continue to see prosperity at INI in 2023 with such an amazing group of team members.

 

We value you, our employees and INI family, and will be paying an employee appreciation bonus of $250 each.

Those who are employed with INI as of Oct. 31, 2022, and remained employed, will receive their employee appreciation bonus  on Dec. 9 or Dec. 16 depending on your payroll cycle.

Once again, thank you for making INI a great, little company with big initiatives and ideas.  

Charlene Bisson
President & CEO