Tag Archives: editors

Matt Cory named next editor of The Pioneer of Bemidji, Minn.

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Matt Cory was named the next editor of The Pioneer of Bemidji, Minn. He replaces exiting Editor Steve Wagner who was recently named the editor of the Grand Forks (N.D.) Herald.

By Justin Glawe

BEMIDJI, Minn. – In a media landscape rapidly changing as outlets and reporters, editors and publishers try to keep up, deadlines are by the minute and priorities are sometimes judged by the second.
Matt Cory, named Wednesday as editor of The Pioneer, has been witness to the sea change still transforming the industry, and it’s a challenge he’s willing to meet.
“As newspapers have learned in the last 10 years, or so, and really ratcheted up in the last five, we have to be a lot of different things to different people,” Cory said. “You want to cover the big stories but you want to tell the stories of individual people within the community as well.”
For the last 19 years, Cory, 42, has been with the Grand Forks Herald in myriad roles. Stints as a reporter in news and sports, time spent policing grammar, style and spelling as copy editor and several years as night and city editor round out a resume soaked in newspaper ink.
“We are fortunate to hire an editor of Matt Cory’s skills and experience,” said Pioneer Publisher Dennis Doeden. “Matt has a passion for newspapers, and I am excited to add him to our leadership team in Bemidji. Matt brings experience as a reporter, editor, page designer and manager to our newsroom. He understands the newspaper’s responsibility in our community.”
Cory will bring a wife and two children with him to Bemidji when he takes over in mid-April. A third child attends college in Nebraska. Cory will replace Steve Wagner, editor since October 2011. Wagner was named the Herald’s editor March 8.
A native of East Grand Forks, Cory attended the University of North Dakota. UND holds his heart in hockey, but Cory said he prefers basketball of the maroon and gold variety.
“It’s kind of like coming home for me in a way,” Cory said, looking ahead to starting his third decade in newspapers at The Pioneer. “I’m excited about being back in Minnesota full-time.”
And while the future of the print product – already reduced in size, circulation and days-printed elsewhere around the country remains to be seen – the future of newspapers as institutions of truth is as imperative as ever.
“Newspapers will always be a vital link in the process of communication,” Cory said. “I’ve heard the saying that radio had the immediacy, television had the video and newspapers had the whole story. Well, now we have to do all three. And that’s a challenge we have to face every day.”

Justin Glawe is a reporter at The Pioneer.

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

Monke named managing editor at The Dickinson Press; Byrd promoted to news editor

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Dustin Monke has been named the managing editor of The Dickinson Press in Dickinson, N.D.

By Bryan Horwath

DICKINSON, N.D. – The Dickinson Press didn’t go far in its search for a managing editor.
Calling his promotion a “dream come true,” Press Sports Editor Dustin Monke has been tapped to lead the newspaper’s entire newsroom.
“I’m excited to start this new chapter in my life and in my career,” Monke said. “I’m ready to tackle the challenges that come with being the managing editor of a newspaper. We hope to continue to provide southwest North Dakota with the excellent coverage that The Dickinson Press has been known for, while also improving in some facets of how we present readers the news both in print and online.”
Monke, a 2002 graduate of New England (N.D.) High School, earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Minnesota State University Moorhead in 2006. He worked for Forum Communications Co., which owns The Dickinson Press, as a sports clerk and sports reporting intern at The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead while in school.
After a brief stint as editor of The Herald in New England, where he got his start as a reporter while still in high school, Monke was hired to head up the Press sports department in July 2006 and won multiple awards for his work.

Klark Byrd has been promoted to news editor at The Dickinson Press.

Also ascending to a new role at The Press is Klark Byrd, who will be news editor. He started at The Press in 2011 as a copy editor.
Monke replaces Jennifer McBride, who left the newspaper in February to take an editor position in her home state of Wisconsin.

Bryan Horwath is a reporter at The Dickinson Press.

The Dickinson Press is owned by Forum Communications Co. Forum Communications is a multimedia information company based in Fargo, and owns dozens of newspapers, websites and television and radio stations in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Wagner named new editor of the Grand Forks Herald

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Steve Wagner has been named editor of the Grand Forks Herald.

By Brandi Jewett
Grand Forks Herald

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – Steve Wagner was named the editor of the Grand Forks Herald Friday.
Wagner, who has served as editor of The Pioneer in Bemidij, Minn., since October 2011, will replace Mary Jo Hotzler, who will be leading Forum News Service for Forum Communications Co.
“I’m delighted that Steve Wagner has accepted the editor’s job here,” Herald Publisher Mike Jacobs said. “He’s a strong newsman who cares about the integrity of the Herald’s journalism, about the company’s relationship with our communities and about its independence as a local newspaper.
“He’s going to have a positive impact on all of those things — exactly the things that I believe are most important to the Herald and our readers.”
Wagner says he’s excited to get to Grand Forks and start learning about the Herald and the community.
“I’m going to use that knowledge to lead this newsroom,” Wagner said. “My goal is to do great work, and you can’t do that alone. It’s a team effort.
“I’m going to listen, learn and build a team that fits the newspaper and that will serve the community.”
An official start date for Wagner has not been set.
Wagner is a Moorhead native and a graduate of North Dakota State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree in mass communication.
Wagner joined Forum Communications Co. as a reporter for The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead 14 years ago. He also served as its Minnesota editor, an investigative reporter and news director.
Prior to working for The Forum, Wagner served as a reporter for The Courier in Waterloo, Iowa.

The Grand Forks Herald, The Pioneer in Bemidji and The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead are all owned by Forum Communications Co.  Forum Communications is 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.

Forum Communications Co. newspapers score big in annual Minnesota Newspaper Association contest

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FARGO, N.D. - Forum Communications Co. newspapers received more than 140 awards, ranging in categories from “Best Local Breaking News Story” to “Best Website” during the 2011-2012 Better Newspaper Contest sponsored by the Minnesota Newspaper Association. The awards were bestowed during the organization’s annual awards banquet held Jan. 24 in Bloomington, Minn.

The Better Newspaper Contest is held annually to recognize the state’s newspapers’ efforts to improve their print and digital products.

Forum Communications Co. received 145 of the more than 600 awards that were bestowed, and topped its accomplishments with the Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune claiming The Mills Trophy, awarded yearly to the state’s best weekly newspaper. The  Tribune received a total of 20 awards, earning 86 points in the contest to take first place. Their winning entries included first place in the “General Excellence” category for weeklies 2,501-5,000; seven additional first place awards; two-second place awards; and 10 third place awards.

The Echo Press of Alexandria, Minn., another Forum Communications Co. newspaper, took second place with 23 awards, earning 82 points. Their winning entries included first place in the Herman Roe Editorial Writing Award competition by editor Al Edenloff, six additional first place awards, six second place awards and 10 third place awards.

Also, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead finished second in the competition for The Vance Trophy, awarded to the state’s best daily newspaper each year. And The Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune, finished third. Both are Forum Communications newspapers.

In addition to numerous honors received by the newspapers, many Forum Communications employees were recognized for their own accomplishments. Reporters, photographers, editors, designers and sales representatives received some of the contest’s top awards.

Following is a list of the awards received by FCC newspapers:

Detroit Lakes (Minn.) Tribune:
- Press Photographer’s Portfolio; all weeklies; Brian Basham; first place.
- Website; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.
- Institutional Advertisement; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; first place.
- Self-Promotion or House Ad; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; third place.
- Use of Color in Advertising; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Nick Omberg; first place.
- Use of Color in Advertising; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Mary Brenk, Pam Albert; third place.
- Best Advertisement; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Mary Brenk; first place.
- Best Advertisement; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Stacey Gravelle, Rachel Poser; third place.
- Arts and Entertainment Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Wierima; third place.
- Photo Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; first place.
- Photo Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; third place.
- Portrait and Personality Photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; first place.
- Portrait and Personality Photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Brian Basham; third place.
- Best Magazine; all weeklies; second place.
- Best Use of Video; all weeklies; third place.
- Best Use of Multimedia; all weeklies; first place.
- Best Use of Multimedia; all weeklies; third place.
- Best Use of Social Media; all weeklies; third place.
- General Excellence; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; first place.
- Herman Roe Editorial Writing Award; all individuals; Nate Bowe; third place.

Rosemount (Minn.) Town Pages:
- Typography & Design; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; second place.
- Editorial Page as a Whole; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; third place.
- General Reporting; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; second place.
- Social Issues Story; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; Emily Zimmer; first place.

Red Wing (Minn.) Republican Eagle:
- Typography & Design; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; second place.
- Sports Reporting; weeklies over 5,000; third place.
- Sports Story; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Chris Harrell; first place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Sarah Gorvin, Anne Jacobson, Danielle Nordine, Don Davis, Regan Carstensen; first place.
- Best Use of Video; all weeklies; second place.

Alexandria (Minn.) Echo Press staff

Alexandria (Minn.) Echo Press:
- Editorial Page as a Whole; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; third place.
- Sports Reporting; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; second place.
- Use of Photography as a Whole; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; second place.
- Headline Writing; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; third place.
- Classified Ad Section; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; third place.
- Website; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; third place.
- Self-Promotion or House Ad; weeklies over 2,500 circulation; first place.
- Use of Color in Advertising; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Nichole Roell, Greg Eigen; first place.
- Best Advertisement; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Mary Green, Jody Hanson; first place.
- Best Advertisement; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Kelsey Langager, Greg Eigen; second place.
- Innovative Online Advertising; all weeklies; Nichole Roell, Greg Eigen; first place.
- Innovative Online Advertising; all weeklies; Nichole Roell, Shelly Beaulieu; second place.
- Innovative Online Advertising; all weeklies; Nichole Roell, Jody Hanson; third place.
- Human Interest Story; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Amy Chaffins; first place.
- Sports Story; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Eric Morken; third place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Al Edenloff, Lowell Anderson; third place.
- Columnist; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Lowell Anderson; second place.
- News Photo; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Lowell Anderson; third place.
- Feature Photo; weeklies over 5,000 circulation; Al Edenloff; third place.
- Best Magazine; all weeklies; first place.
- Best Magazine; all weeklies; third place.
- Best Use of Multimedia; all weeklies; second place.
- Herman Roe Editorial Writing Award; all individuals; Al Edenloff; first place.

Troy Becker

Marino Eccher

The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead:
- Typography & Design; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- General Reporting; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Sports Reporting; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.

David Samson

Patrick Springer

- Use of Photography as a Whole; dailies over 10,000 circulation; third place.
- Advertising Excellence; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Classified Ad Section; all dailies; second place.
- Website; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.

Bill Wambeke

- Best Advertisement; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Jamie Odum; third place.
- Human Interest Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Marino Eccher; first place.
- Business Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Dave Olson; second place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; dailies 10,000 circulation; Mike Nowatzki; third place.
- Columnist; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Marino Eccher; third place.
- News Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Carrie Snyder; third place.
- Sports Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; David Samson; first place.
- Sports Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Dave Wallis; third place.
- Use of Information Graphics & Graphic Illustrations; all dailies; Troy Becker; first place.
- Design Portfolio; all dailies; Bill Wambeke; first place.
- Design Portfolio; all dailies; Heidi Tetzman-Roepke; second place.
- Government/Public Affairs Reporting; all dailies; Kristen M. Daum; third place.
- Category X (excellence in utilizing public records); all dailies; third place.
- General Excellence; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Lynn Smith Community Leadership; all newspapers; first place.
- Press Photographer’s Portfolio; all dailies; David Samson; second place.

Duluth (Minn.) News Tribune:
- Typography & Design; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Editorial Page as a Whole; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- General Reporting; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Sports Reporting; dailies over 10,000; second place.
- Use of Photography as a Whole; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Headline Writing; all dailies; first place.
- Website; dailies over 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Institutional Advertisement; dailies over 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Institutional Advertisement; dailies over 10,000 circulation; third place.
- Innovative Online Advertising; all dailies; Chad Curry, Mike Mazzio, Roz Randorf, Jon Godrey, Kim Quinones; third place.
- Human Interest Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Sam Cook; second place.
- Human Interest Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; John Lundy; third place.
- Sports Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Rick Weegman; second place.
- Business Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Peter Passi; third place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; dailies over 10,000 circulation; staff; first place.
- Columnist; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Chuck Frederick; first place.
- News Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Bob King; first place.
- News Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Bob King; second place.
- Feature Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Clint Austin; third place.
- Portrait and Personality Photo; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Clint Austin; second place.
- Best Use of Multimedia; all dailies; third place.
- Best Use of Social Media; all dailies; first place.
- Government/Public Affairs Reporting; all dailies; Peter Passi; second place.
- Freedom of Information Awards; all newspapers; third place.
- Explanation of News Operations/Newspaper Ethics; all newspapers; third place.
- Category X (excellence in utilizing public records); all dailies; first place.
- Press Photographer’s Portfolio; all dailies; Clint Austin; third place.

Farmington (Minn.) Independent:
- Editorial Page as a Whole; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- General Reporting; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; third place.
- Sports Reporting; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; third place.
- Use of Photography as a Whole; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- Headline Writing; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; first place.
- General Excellence; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; second place.

Pine Journal (Cloquet, Minn.):
- Use of Photography as a Whole: weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; first place.
- Social Issues Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Jana Peterson; first place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Jana Peterson; first place.
- Columnist; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Wendy Johnson; third place.

Park Rapids (Minn.) Enterprise:
- Use of Photography as a Whole; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.
- Advertising Excellence; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; third place.

Hastings (Minn.) Star Gazette:
- General Reporting; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; second place.
- Use of Photography as a Whole; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; third place.
- Sports Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Chad Richardson; second place.
- News Photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Chad Richardson; second place.
- Photo Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Chad Richardson; second place.

South Washington County Bulletin (Cottage Grove, Minn.):
- Sports Reporting; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; first place.
- Category X (excellence in utilizing public records); all weeklies; first place.

From left, Daily Globe Publisher Joni Harms, reporter Julie Buntjer, Advertising Manager Donna Ellerbroek and Community Content Coordinator Aaron Hagen, display the Globe’s 2011-2012 MNA Better Newspaper Contest awards.

The Daily Globe (Worthington, Minn.):
- Sports Reporting; dailies under 10,000 circulation; third place.
- Advertising Excellence; dailies under 10,000 circulation; third place.
- Website; dailies under 10,000 circulation; second place.
- Use of Color in Advertising; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Jennifer Spengler, Cindy Ramert; first place.
- Sports Story; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Chris Murphy; third place.
- Investigative Reporting; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Julie A. Buntjer; third place.
- Feature Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Brian Korthals; third place.
- Portrait and Personality Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Brian Korthals; second place.
- Special Section; all dailies; third place.

The Morris Sun Tribune received two awards in the Minnesota Newspaper Association’s 2011-2012 Better Newspaper Contest. Publisher Sue Dieter, left, accepted an award for third place in “Best Website” and Editor Kim Ukura, right, took third place in “Government and Public Affairs Reporting” for a three-part series on school assessments.

Morris (Minn.) Sun Tribune:
- Website; weeklies 1,501-2,500 circulation; third place.
- Government/Public Affairs Reporting; weeklies up to 2,500 circulation; Kim Ukura; third place.

The Osakis (Minn.) Review:
- Human Interest Story; weeklies up to 1,500 circulation; Amy Chaffins; second place.

Becker County Record (Detroit Lakes, Minn.):
- Human Interest Story; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Paula Quam; third place.

Bethany Wesley, a reporter for The Pioneer of Bemidji, Minn., holds her two awards for best “Human Interest Story” and best “Business Story” for dailies under 10,000 circulation.

The Pioneer (Bemidji, Minn.):
- Website; dailies under 10,000 circulation; first place.
- Human Interest Story; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Bethany Wesley; first place.
- Business Story; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Bethany Wesley; first place.
- Local Breaking News Coverage; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Steve Wagner; first place.
- News Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Monte Draper; second place.
- Sports Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Monte Draper; second place.
- Feature Photo; dailies under 10,000 circulation; Monte Draper; second place.

West Central Tribune (Willmar, Minn.):
- Social Issues Story; dailies over 10,000 circulation; Anne Polta; second place.
- Best Use of Video; all dailies; third place.

Woodbury (Minn.) Bulletin:
- News Photo; weeklies 2,501-5,000 circulation; Riham Feshir; third place.

Katie Erdman of the Hancock (Minn.) Record accepts the first place award for best “Classified Ad Section” for weeklies up to 2,500 circulation.

Hancock (Minn.) Record:
- Classified Ad Section; weeklies up to 2,500 circulation; first place.

Daily Republic editor named to South Dakota task force on open records

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Seth Tupper, editor of The Daily Republic in Mitchell, S.D., has been appointed to a state task force studying open records and open meetings laws.

MITCHELL, S.D. – Seth Tupper, the editor of The Daily Republic in Mitchell, S.D., recently was appointed to a state task force that will study open record and open meeting laws in the state, according to South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard’s office.

The governor and South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley announced the formation of an Open Government Task Force this week in effort to ensure maximum public access to state government business. The Open Government Task Force will meet several times this summer and fall, and then report its findings and recommendations to the governor and attorney general. A likely result of the study will be legislation that would continue to improve and update open-record and open-meeting laws, according to the governor’s office.

The task force includes media; city, county and state officials; representatives of various organizations; law enforcement; prosecutors and others.

“The workings of government should be as transparent as practicable,” Daugaard said. “Unless there is a compelling reason otherwise, I believe government information should be open and easily accessible.”

Forum Communications Co. also has another connection to the newly formed task force in Terry Woster, the public information officer for the state Department of Public Safety. Woster is a regular columnist for The Daily Republic in Mitchell.

Members of the Open Government Task Force:

• Diane Best, assistant attorney general, Office of the Attorney General

• Dale Blegen, publisher, De Smet News

• Jim Bolin, state representative, Canton

• Dave Bordewyk, general manager, South Dakota Newspaper Association

• Pat Butler, managing editor, Rapid City Journal

• Jonathan Ellis, journalist, Sioux Falls Argus Leader

• Jason Gant, secretary of state

• Tena Haraldson, director of communications and media relations, University of South Dakota

• Joe Kafka, press secretary, Office of the Governor

• Maricarrol Kueter, executive editor, Sioux Falls Argus Leader

• Shawn Lyons, executive director, South Dakota Retailers Association

• Jack Marsh, president and chief operating officer, Al Neuharth Media Center, University of South Dakota

• Al Novstrup, state senator, Aberdeen

• Bob O’Keefe, deputy state’s attorney, Davison County

• David Owen, president, South Dakota Chamber of Commerce and Industry

• Dave Pfeifle, city attorney, Sioux Falls

• Wade Pogany, executive director, Associated School Boards of South Dakota

• Sara Rabern, public information officer, Office of the Attorney General

• Bobbi Rank, assistant attorney general, state Department of Education

• Mark Roby, publisher, Watertown Public Opinion

• Lisa Rothschadl, chairwoman, South Dakota Open Meetings Commission

• Greg Sattizahn, director of policy and legal services, Unified Judicial System

• Yvonne Taylor, executive director, South Dakota Municipal League

• Kevin Thom, sheriff, Pennington County

• Seth Tupper, editor, The Daily Republic, Mitchell

• Tony Venhuizen, director of policy and communications, Office of the Governor

• Tim Waltner, publisher, Freeman Courier

• David Wiest, deputy secretary, state Department of Revenue

• Bob Wilcox, executive director, South Dakota Association of County Commissioners

• Steve Willard, president, South Dakota Broadcasters Association

• Susan Wismer, state representative, Britton

• Diane Worrall, executive director, South Dakota Association of Towns and Townships

• Terry Woster, public information officer, state Department of Public Safety