Former FCC publisher inducted into the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Devlyn Brooks

Noel Hamiel

Longtime newspaperman and former Forum Communications Co. publisher Noel Hamiel will be inducted into the South Dakota Newspaper Hall of Fame on April 27 at Cedar Shore Resort, Oacoma.

Hamiel will be honored during the 130th convention of the South Dakota Newspaper Association. He becomes the 103rd member of the Newspaper Hall of Fame.

Hamiel retired as publisher of Forum Communication Co.’s The Daily Republic in Mitchell, S.D., in 2007 after 35 years in the newspaper business. He began his career in 1972 at the Huron Plainsman as a sportswriter. He also worked at the Brookings Register, Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, The Morning Sun in Pittsburg, Kan., the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan and the Cincinnati Post.

When he retired from newspapering in 2007, Hamiel took a position with the South Dakota Community Foundation, where he works with communities statewide in philanthropic development.

“We are humbled to honor someone who has made huge contributions to the newspaper business in our state,” said SDNA President Lucy Halverson, publisher of the Lyman County Herald, Presho. “Noel Hamiel has had a positive, powerful impact not only on the newspaper industry in South Dakota, but throughout our state as well.”

Through his years as a journalist, Hamiel won numerous awards for editorial and column writing. He was president (twice) of the South Dakota Associated Press Managing Editors group and served on the SDNA Board of Directors.

He was named a Lusk Fellow at South Dakota State University in 2007 for outstanding service to journalism and received the SDNA Distinguished Service Award in 2009.

Hamiel served in the South Dakota Legislature from 2008 to 2010. As a freshman representative, he successfully sponsored a bill to require transparency for certain no-bid contracts in government. He served as co-chairman of the Governor’s Wage Study Task Force and as chairman of the South Dakota Board of Education.

Hamiel and his wife, Janet, have been married for 38 years. They have three grown children and four grandchildren.

Forum Communications Co. publisher elected president of Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Devlyn Brooks

Steve Dzubay, group publisher for Forum Communications Co., recently was elected president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Steve Dzubay, group publisher of four Forum Communications Co. weekly newspapers, was elected president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association on Feb. 23 at the Madison Marriott West during the group’s 158th annual convention. WNA is the oldest press association in the world, dating back to 1853.

Dzubay has served as group publisher of the Hudson Star Observer, River Falls Journal, New Richmond News and Pierce County Herald for 16 years. He also serves as assistant director of Rivertown Newspaper Group, a collection of 10 area newspapers owned by Forum Communications Co. of Fargo, ND.

With the rise of the Internet, blogs and virtual connectivity everywhere, Dzubay believes “the community newspaper remains a vital component of small-town life and forum for the exchange of ideas in thousands of towns like ours.

“Local papers, whether in print or online, still remain the most relevant medium for the 21st century,” he notes. “They faithfully continue their mission of chronicling the lives of ‘ordinary’ people and offering firsthand, credible coverage and a geographic sense of place in a media world increasingly filled with clutter, hype and endless distractions.”

Dzubay succeeds Pieter Graaskamp, publisher of the Leader-Telegram, Eau Claire WNA is the professional organization representing Wisconsin daily and weekly newspapers. Graaskamp becomes immediate past president.

Forum Communications Co. hosts ‘transformation’ conference for newsroom executives

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Devlyn Brooks

FCC Vice President for Newspapers Steve McLister addresses a room full of publishers, general managers, news directors and editors during Forum Communication Co.'s recent two-day newsroom management conference in Fargo.

FARGO, N.D. – More than 60 Forum Communications Co. executives, publishers and editors attended a two-day conference focused on the transformation of the company’s newsroom personnel. The annual gathering held here Wednesday and Thursday served as a training opportunity and a time for discussion among the company’s newsroom managers about the future of collecting and disseminating information.

The event was organized and led by FCC President Lloyd Case to discuss recommendations by The Forum Forward Innovation Committee. The committee is chaired by Mary Jo Hotzler, and members include; Kirsten Stromsodt, Aaron Becher, and Jenny Porter.

There were also sessions that focused on legal update training, the future of the company’s content management system, fostering community content development, social media and future digital content business strategies.

Other speakers included Steve Johnson of the Vogel Law firm in Fargo, Vice President for Interactive Paul Amundson, Vice President for Newspapers Steve McLister, Product Development Manager Chris Welle, Digital Content Development Director Tracy Briggs, Project Manager Zac Echola and Digital Content Operations Manager Devlyn Brooks.

The attendees of the conference held at the Holiday Inn also participated in social activities that allowed colleagues who may work hundreds of miles apart all year round the time to exchange professional ideas and to get to know one another face to face.

“We have hundreds of journalists working in sites across four states,” Vice President McLister said. “It’s valuable to periodically bring those professionals together so that they can share best practices and bounce ideas off one another. It speaks to the company’s commitment to develop highly trained newsroom professionals to serve the millions of consumers of our broadcast, digital, mobile and printed information products.”

: Conference attendees listen to a discussion on the future of the industry.

Forum Communications Co. is a multimedia company headquartered in Fargo, N.D. The company publishes nine daily newspapers and 24 other newspapers in Minnesota, North Dakota, Wisconsin and South Dakota. The company also has television, interactive and printing divisions.

Publishers and ad managers meet for digital conference

Posted on February 8, 2011 by Paul Amundson

FARGO, N.D. – About 50 publishers and ad managers fromÂ Forum Communications Co. newspapers and broadcast stations are meeting in Fargo this week to discuss ongoing changes in the media marketplace in regard to digital advertising.

The sales managers are presenting their digital sales progress over the past year with an eye to upcoming opportunities.

The company has seen dramatic progress in digital advertising sales.Â Forum Communications Co. advertising clients continue to grow their businesses based on the reach and targeting opportunities offered by the company.

Internet marketing initiatives and training are also part of the agenda.

The two-day conference is being held at the Skills and Technology Training Center in Fargo, N.D.