Monthly Archives: April 2012

Forum participates in YWCA’s national Stand Against Racism event

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FCC Digital Content Development Director Tracy Briggs (standing at right) leads a discussion regarding offensive and abusive language Friday at The Forum in Fargo. Briggs and Sonjia Anderson (standing at the front), who volunteer at Fargo's YWCA, spearheaded The Forum's participation in the event. The event was held in participation with the YWCA's national Stand Against Racism day, observed by more than 70 YWCAs nationwide. Devlyn Brooks/Forum Communications Co.

FARGO, N.D. – The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead was one of more than 100 businesses and/or organizations to participate in Stand Against Racism, a YWCA event aimed at bringing together people from all walks of life to promote tolerance and diversity. Nationally, more than 70 YWCAs participated.

You can read more about the event in this Forum story.

At The Forum, organizers made posters containing common words and English phrases that actually began as negative slurs or had other offensive meanings and they hung them around the building. The theme of the posters was that words have power.

Also, twice during the day, Forum employees were treated to sodas and cookies while Tracy Briggs, FCC’s digital content development director, gave a presentation about some of those hurtful words and sayings that were posted around the building. Briggs and Sonjia Anderson, who volunteer at the Fargo YWCA, spearheaded the Stand Against Racism event at The Forum.

Other events in the community included discussions about stereotypes, seminars on prejudice and other educational sessions.

Forum photographer receives national AP award for rodeo photo

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David Samson

FARGO, N.D. – Several weeks ago, a stunning, overhead rodeo photo taken by The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead’s David Samson received international accolades when it was chosen as the Toronto Star’s photo of the day for April 1.

This week, that photo was chosen as The Associated Press’ National Member Showcase of the month, an impressive feat considering the thousands of photos competing for the recognition each month.

Samson got the jaw-dropping shot at a Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo at the Fargodome on March 30. He decided to try something different, shooting from the catwalk high in the ceiling of the domed arena, instead of from the ground.

Sullivan hired for editor/general manager post at Wadena (Minn.) Pioneer Journal

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Dain Sullivan

WADENA, MINN. – Dain Sullivan has been hired for the editor/general manager post at the Wadena Pioneer Journal.

Sullivan, 23, graduated from high school in Oakes, N.D. and attended North Dakota State University where he majored in journalism and minored in business administration.

Sullivan has held positions with The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune and the Valley City (N.D.) Times-Record. He was also web producer for KVLY TV’s “Valley News Live” in Fargo.

Prior to joining the Pioneer Journal, Sullivan was a general assignment reporter for The Dickinson (N.D.) Press.

Sullivan is replacing Steve Schulz who has been with the Pioneer Journal for six years, first as editor and later editor and publisher. Schulz’s last day was April 20. He has taken a job in Fergus Falls at New Dimensions Home Health Care.

Sullivan will begin his duties May 1.

The Wadnea Pioneer Journal, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the Detroit Lakes Tribune and The Dickinson Press, are all owned by Forum Communications Co., a multimedia information company based in Fargo. Forum Communications owns dozens of newspapers, websites and television and radio stations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune investigations editor receives journalism awards

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Brandon Stahl

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune Investigations Editor Brandon Stahl took a first-place prize in the prestigious Frank Premack Awards presented at the University of Minnesota’s Minneapolis campus Thursday night — but another award kept him from being able to accept it in person.

Stahl is attending the Association of Health Care Journalists convention in Atlanta, where he’s slated to accept a first-place investigative journalism honor on Saturday for the series “The Case of Dr. Konasiewicz,” co-authored with reporter Mark Stodghill.

Another DNT reporter, John Lundy, was also at the Atlanta conference as part of a year-long AHCJ fellowship he was awarded last year.

Stahl’s Premack honor was for his series “Minnesota Sex Offender Program,” which looked at how a multimillion-dollar, state-run treatment program for sex offenders had never released a client — all ex-cons who had completed their prison time but were in effect serving life sentences at the center. After the series ran, Minnesota released its first program participant.

“This series examined the hard question of what do you do with people who society wants to keep locked up and who in fact may never be cured, yet who have also served all the time demanded of them,” said News Tribune Editor Robin Washington, who accepted the award for Stahl. “That a participant was finally released is both progress, yet to many, scary as hell, and Brandon’s portrait of their lives and condition illustrated that.”

Stahl’s award was in the “Public Affairs Reporting — Print/Online, Small Organization category.”

In their 35th year, the Premack Awards honor the best of public affairs reporting among Minnesota media and are named after legendary Minneapolis Tribune reporter and editor Frank Premack.

Here are links to Stahl’s award-winning articles:
MSOP: Millions spent on sex offender rehabilitation, but no one has been rehabilitated
MSOP: Should sex offenders ever be released?
MSOP: Is Minnesota sex offender program illegal?
MSOP: No way out of the system?
MSOP: Ordered to be deported, but confined at MSOP
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The case of Dr. Konasiewicz: As Duluth hospital reaped millions, surgeon racked up complaints
The case of Dr. Konasiewicz: Ailing patients speak out about former Duluth doctor

FCC newspapers again lauded for outstanding Page 1 designs regarding Titanic anniversary

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FARGO, N.D. – Two Forum Communications Co. newspapers have again been recognized by newspaper design expert Charles Apple for their stunning Page 1 presentations of this past Sunday’s 100th anniversary of the Titanic sinking.

On his blog, “The Visual Side of Journalism” on Sunday, Apple applauded the efforts of designers all across the country to create something unique with their front page, listing examples from California to Connecticut to Louisiana to Illinois, and many more.

Among those noted on the list were the Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune and The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, the latter’s design being extolled as one of the five best of the day. The News Tribune is the second paper mentioned in Apple’s blog post and The Forum is listed as among the five best at the bottom of the blog post.

“Special kudos to Rob Beer and Bill Wambeke for painstakingly adhering to the treatment of The Forum’s front pages from 100 years ago Sunday,” said Forum Editor Matthew Von Pinnon in an email to staff.

The Forum been recognized two other times recently by Apple for Page 1 designs he thought were effective, once for a unique Page 1 graphic treatment of a tile drainage package and another time for a Titanic package that rolled out in advance of the anniversary.

The Forum and the Duluth News Tribune are owned by Forum Communications Co., a multimedia information company based in Fargo. Forum Communications owns dozens of newspapers, websites and television and radio stations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.