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The Independent (Massillon, Ohio) has been named Newspaper of the Year for Division B in the 2009 Best of GateHouse contest.
About the paper
Publisher: Ron Frailly
Editor: Robert McCune
Website: IndeOnline.com
Circulation: 12,500
Founded: 1863
Judges’ comments
Strong reporting and solid journalism from a small staff, with especially good localizing of national news. Great photography is well-played and draws readers into stories. An immediate Web package on a local fire, and the follow-up in print and online, was superb. The sports section drew special note for the nice variety and helpful labeling of the many sports covered – and the fact that girls’ sports were highlighted in daily coverage. An excellent overall sense of immediacy and importance combined with nice local flavors and slice-of-life fare.
Team effort
When a major fire broke out on Easter morning, engulfing three businesses in flames and choking the entire downtown with a massive cloud of smoke, Independent staffers responded in a big way. For a typical Sunday, The Inde has one reporter, one sports writer/editor and one designer. The Sunday of the big fire, two additional reporters, another editor and a photographer reported to work – without being asked – to cover the tragedy. Constant updates from the scene were eaten up by readers of IndeOnline.com, resulting in a huge spike in readership for that day and night. The Inde dedicated its entire front page and most of its front section to this event.
Investigative reporting
When a prominent local businessman was arrested and tried for impersonating a police officer by showing a fake badge and kidnapping and assaulting three people he caught trespassing on his property, Inde reporter Doug Staley dug into the man’s background and past police reports for a package of stories that factored into a judge’s ruling. The findings of the report led the judge to impose a stiffer penalty – including more jail time and a longer probation period.
Affecting change
Reporter Matt Rink uncovered through his own investigation that a middle school girl in the Massillon School District was being driven to and from school by a convicted felon – hired by the school district without a proper background check. The story set off a debate about background checks of workers who are supplied by outside contractors for off-campus services. Also, persistent reporting on Massillon City Council members who did or did not volunteer to give back raises in light of a serious budget crunch eventually led everyone on the council to dedicate some portion of their raises or salaries to buoying the general fund.
The Independent (Massillon, Ohio) has been named Newspaper of the Year for Division B in the 2009 Best of GateHouse contest.
About the paper
Publisher: Ron Frailly
Editor: Robert McCune
Website: IndeOnline.com
Circulation: 12,500
Founded: 1863
Judges’ comments
Strong reporting and solid journalism from a small staff, with especially good localizing of national news. Great photography is well-played and draws readers into stories. An immediate Web package on a local fire, and the follow-up in print and online, was superb. The sports section drew special note for the nice variety and helpful labeling of the many sports covered – and the fact that girls’ sports were highlighted in daily coverage. An excellent overall sense of immediacy and importance combined with nice local flavors and slice-of-life fare.
Team effort
When a major fire broke out on Easter morning, engulfing three businesses in flames and choking the entire downtown with a massive cloud of smoke, Independent staffers responded in a big way. For a typical Sunday, The Inde has one reporter, one sports writer/editor and one designer. The Sunday of the big fire, two additional reporters, another editor and a photographer reported to work – without being asked – to cover the tragedy. Constant updates from the scene were eaten up by readers of IndeOnline.com, resulting in a huge spike in readership for that day and night. The Inde dedicated its entire front page and most of its front section to this event.
Investigative reporting
When a prominent local businessman was arrested and tried for impersonating a police officer by showing a fake badge and kidnapping and assaulting three people he caught trespassing on his property, Inde reporter Doug Staley dug into the man’s background and past police reports for a package of stories that factored into a judge’s ruling. The findings of the report led the judge to impose a stiffer penalty – including more jail time and a longer probation period.
Affecting change
Reporter Matt Rink uncovered through his own investigation that a middle school girl in the Massillon School District was being driven to and from school by a convicted felon – hired by the school district without a proper background check. The story set off a debate about background checks of workers who are supplied by outside contractors for off-campus services. Also, persistent reporting on Massillon City Council members who did or did not volunteer to give back raises in light of a serious budget crunch eventually led everyone on the council to dedicate some portion of their raises or salaries to buoying the general fund.
Runner-up
The Register-Mail, Galesburg, Ill.
Judges’ comments Appealing, clean layouts attract readers and appear throughout the paper – not just on section fronts. Dynamite use of graphics to convey information. The front-page news digest looks good, reads well and encourages readers to look inside. Writing is good, and the paper isn’t afraid to tackle tough topics – as evidenced by a gutsy examination of school drop-out rates and a package on race that was well-presented and offered solutions.
Other finalists
Daily Messenger, Canandaigua, N.Y.
The Daily Telegram, Adrian, Mich.
The Examiner, Independence, Mo.
Hannibal (Mo.) Courier-Post
Holland (Mich.) Sentinel
Lake Sun, Camdenton, Mo.
The Morning Sun, Pittsburg, Kan.
