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2012 Forum Forward class graduates during ceremony in Fargo

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The 2012 Forum Forward graduating class and mentors, from left to right: Dickinson Press Publisher Harvey Brock, JobsHQ Employment Specialist/Sales Team Leader Lisa Tillotson, Forum Regional Operations Manager Curt Christensen, Forum Communications Printing-Fargo Customer Service Representative Kari Saylor, FCC Director of Multimedia Sales Operations Amy Fredrickson, Forum Features Editor Heidi Shaffer, Duluth News Tribune Ad Director Roz Randorf, FCC Digital Accounts Manager Chad Jacobsen, RiverTowns Newspaper Group Multimedia Producer Roger Sievers, Echo Press Variety Editor Tara Bitzan, Grand Forks Herald Editor Steve Wagner, WDAY-TV Regional Sales Manager Joshua Rohrer, FCC CEO Lloyd Case, Forum General Manager Aaron Beecher, Forum Reporter Ryan Johnson, FCC Executive Vice President and COO Bill Marcil Jr. and Daily Republic Publisher Korrie Wenzel.

FARGO, N.D. – Eight Forum Communications Co.employees were feted this week as the 2012 Forum Forward class graduated and became alumni of the company’s leadership training program started several years ago. Graduation was held Tuesday at the Radisson Hotel in downtown Fargo. Members of FCC’s senior management team were on hand to celebrate, as were each of the graduates company mentors, who are an integral component to the program. “This is a culmination of a year spent visiting various divisions within our company, including Broadcast, Commercial Printing, Digital and Newspaper,” said program facilitator Sonjia Anderson. “This has provided them insights into leadership skills, professional growth, and the opportunity to share best practices.” The graduating class also participated in brainstorming session on company innovation to generate ideas relating to reducing expenses and increasing revenue. Projects coming out of the past innovation sessions include the Forum News Service, the Green Team, and the “We Are Forum Communications” branding video. The 2013 Forum Forward participants and mentors also gathered in Fargo this week to begin their year of training.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Tara Bitzen with her certificate. Her mentor, Grand Forks Editor Steve Wagner stands at right.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Ryan Johnson with his certificate. His mentor, Daily Republic Publisher Korrie Wenzel stands at right.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Joshua Rohrer with his certificate. His mentor, FCC Executive Vice President and COO Bill Marcil Jr. stands at right.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case gives Forum Forward graduate Heidi Shaffer and her mentor Amy Fredrickson a hug.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Lisa Tillotson with her certificate. Her mentor, Dickinson Press Publisher Harvey Brock stands at right.

Forum Communications Co. CEO Lloyd Case presents Forum Forward graduate Kari Saylor with her certificate. Her mentor, Curt Christensen stands at right.

The 2012 Forum Forward graduating class included: – GRADUATE: Tara Bitzan, life/variety/special projects editor, Echo Press, Alexandria, Minn. MENTOR: Steve Wagner, editor, Grand Forks Herald, Grand Forks, N.D. – GRADUATE: Chad Jacobsen, digital accounts manager, Forum Communications Co., Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Roz Randorf , ad director, Duluth News Tribune, Duluth, Minn. – GRADUATE: Ryan Johnson, reporter, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Korrie Wenzel, publisher, The Daily Republic, Mitchell, S.D. – GRADUATE: Joshua Rohrer, regional sales manager, WDAY-TV, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Bill Marcil Jr., executive vice president and chief operating officer Forum Communications Co., and publisher, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, N.D. – GRADUATE: Kari Saylor, customer service representative, Forum Communications Printing-Fargo, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Curt Christensen, regional operations manager, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, N.D. – GRADUATE: Heidi Shaffer, features editor, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Amy Fredrickson, director of multimedia sales operations, Forum Communications Co., Fargo, N.D. – GRADUATE: Roger Sievers, multimedia producer, RiverTown Newspaper Group, Red Wing, Minn. MENTOR: Aaron Becher, general manager, The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead, Fargo, N.D. – GRADUATE: Lisa Tillotson, employment specialist/sales team leader, Jobs HQ, Fargo, N.D. MENTOR: Harvey Brock, publisher, The Dickinson Press, Dickinson, N.D.

Forum Communications Co. taking newsgathering to new heights

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Jim Manney (left), Forum Communications video manager, and Chris Dorsey, Forum Communications director of multimedia accounts and digital advertising, show the quadcopter, a remote-control aircraft, or drone, that was used for fly-over flood coverage. Photo by Rylee Nelson

By Rylee Nelson
Forum News Service

FARGO, N.D. – Forum Communications Co. has enlisted new aerial perspectives to provide its readers and viewers with over-the-top coverage of the 2013 Red River Valley flood.
Fly-over video captured by way of a remote-control aircraft, or drone, shows the swelling river from a unique angle. This unique approach to reporting the big story is now catching national attention.
In the past few years, high-definition, durable cameras have become increasingly available. And while the use of drones has been somewhat controversial in fields such as law enforcement, the devices are being used in a variety of ways — by outdoorsmen, extreme sports enthusiasts, and in this case, by news gatherers.
Chris Dorsey, director of multimedia accounts and digital advertising for Forum Communications, has been flying his quadcopter, mounted with a GoPro, high-definition video camera, to provide a unique view of the flooding. The idea began from a personal interest of Dorsey’s to simply fly remote-control aircraft. From there, he and Jim Manney, Forum Communications video manager, put together a plan to use the aerial machine for video on InforumTV.com, a video-focused news website owned by Forum Communications.
“The whole idea stems from the idea to take our viewers to a place they have never been. A place they couldn’t go,” Manney said.

Jim Manney (left), Forum Communications video manager, and Chris Dorsey, Forum Communications director of multimedia accounts and digital advertising, demonstrate the quadcopter, a remote-control aircraft, or drone, that was used for fly-over flood coverage. Photo by Rylee Nelson

The rather small idea has gained big attention from national audiences this week. Even the Weather Channel commented on how neat the idea was, Dorsey noted. Several national media outlets have contacted Dorsey and Manney to use the video in their own broadcasts.
For Dorsey and Manney, it’s a matter how far they can go to bringing new and unique perspectives to viewers.
“Video is such a huge part of where we are going … it is information for the public. This is evident in our investment in InforumTV,” Dorsey said, noting that the quadcopter may be used for other story coverage in the future, such as the Fargo Marathon or even a RedHawks baseball game.
Still, Dorsey and Manney say they are well aware of their boundaries when it comes to the use of the personal aircraft. To begin flying the device, they had to be in contact with the FAA to make sure they were following drone law. They also say they want to respect people’s privacy. You won’t find them flying over anyone’s fence.
Video of the Red River flooding is available on www.inforumtv.com.

Rylee Nelson is a Forum News Service reporter stationed in Fargo. He can be reached at rnelson@forumcomm.com.

InforumTV.com 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.

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.

Forum News Service adds veteran copy editor

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Mike Florio has been hired as a copy editor for the Forum News Service.

FARGO, N.D. – The Forum News Service has added a veteran copy editor to its ranks to bolster the unit’s ability to produce, edit and distribute news, company officials have announced.

Mike Florio joined the staff earlier this month and has been tasked with evening and night editing duties for the new service. Florio worked last in Kentucky where he was a copy editor at the Daily News in Bowling Green for four years. Prior to that, Florio spent 10 years at the St. Louis Post-Dispatch as a copy editor, a position that focused on news but also involved some work in sports.

Earlier in his career, Florio worked as a copy editor for The News-Times in Danbury, Conn., and for The Express-Times in Easton, Pa. He received his journalism degree from Penn State.

Mary Jo Hotzler, director of the Forum News Service

“We’re pleased to have hired someone with Mike’s copy editing experience,” said Forum News Service Director Mary Jo Hotzler. “Mike’s position will add to our talent level and help us to produce even more high-quality news that we can provide to our internal and external clients.”

Forum Communications Co. launched the news service in January 2012 to distribute content to news organizations in the Upper Midwest. Hotzler was named director of the service in February 2013.

“Forum Communications is committed to the growth of our news service and that takes talented people like Mike,” Hotzler said. “We will continue to invest in the people and resources necessary to be a complete regional wire service.”

The Forum News Service 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.