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The Newton TAB (Newton, Mass.) has been named Newspaper of the Year for Division C in the 2009 Best of GateHouse competition.
About the paper
Publisher: Greg Reibman
Editor: Gail Spector
Website: www.wickedlocal.com/newton
Circulation: 27,000
Founded: April 25, 1979
Judges’ comments
The Newton TAB clearly has the pulse of its community, and it brings that community into the larger world very well. It looks good; it reads well; its photos are superb; its coverage is wide-ranging and deep; and its Web updates are timely and accessible. In other words, it’s amazingly sophisticated yet intensely local. Its education coverage is particularly noteworthy. The lifestyle package on “Eight things you should know about the school budget and should NOT be afraid to ask” is outstanding. The TAB doesn’t let its print publishing cycle or its staff size deter its reach.
Checking references
In 2009, Newton residents elected its first new mayor in 12 years in a race that included a five-person preliminary in September and a general election between a woman and a black man that would make history regardless of the result. The TAB investigated the professional and academic backgrounds of all five candidates, and also called back-door references familiar with the candidates. The six contested School Committee races and some of the aldermen races also were high profile, and the TAB sought to educate the community about the candidates in a comprehensive, concise and visual format.
Photojournalism
Since 2007, the TAB had been requesting a visit to a new high school construction site. In 2009, a reporter and photographer tried to tag along on a tour for public officials, but were denied. The next day the reporter was given a tour, but a photographer wasn’t allowed. The mayor said photos were not an “essential” part of reporting. A few days from publication, the editor engaged the public through the blog. Three separate posts on the subject garnered 133 comments. In December, before a new mayor took office, all media were invited on a tour. The TAB ran a photo spread with this page one kicker: “So that’s what it looks like.”
Battling the competition
In late 2008, the Boston Globe launched its new “Your Town” sites, and it targeted its first one directly at wickedlocalnewton, with the tagline, “Your first stop for all things Newton.” The site copied the TAB’s headlines and ledes verbatim and linked to TAB stories, but offered enough information to keep readers from clicking on links. While GateHouse’s legal team prepared to take the Globe’s parent company, the New York Times, to federal court, TAB staff also jumped into action. TAB staff strengthened blogs, sought out more columnists, created a weekly email newsletter, and added new content to the website several times a day. Ultimately, the New York Times settled with GateHouse, and readers continue to consider the TAB the city’s primary news source.
Runner-up
Elmhurst (Ill.) Press
Judges’ comments
Smart design combines with excellent photos to enhance strong local content. This paper does nice follow-up on earlier stories, and its Cheers and Jeers feature is a must-read. Information is well-presented, easily accessible and locally relevant. The small staff works hard – and well – for its readers, in print and online.
Other finalists
The Community News, Hockessin, Del.
Dover (Del.) Post
Downers Grove (Ill.) Reporter
Middletown (Del.) Transcript
Sussex (Del.) Countian
Watertown (Mass.) TAB and Press
The Newton TAB (Newton, Mass.) has been named Newspaper of the Year for Division C in the 2009 Best of GateHouse competition.
About the paper
Publisher: Greg Reibman
Editor: Gail Spector
Website: www.wickedlocal.com/newton
Circulation: 27,000
Founded: April 25, 1979
Judges’ comments
The Newton TAB clearly has the pulse of its community, and it brings that community into the larger world very well. It looks good; it reads well; its photos are superb; its coverage is wide-ranging and deep; and its Web updates are timely and accessible. In other words, it’s amazingly sophisticated yet intensely local. Its education coverage is particularly noteworthy. The lifestyle package on “Eight things you should know about the school budget and should NOT be afraid to ask” is outstanding. The TAB doesn’t let its print publishing cycle or its staff size deter its reach.
Checking references
In 2009, Newton residents elected its first new mayor in 12 years in a race that included a five-person preliminary in September and a general election between a woman and a black man that would make history regardless of the result. The TAB investigated the professional and academic backgrounds of all five candidates, and also called back-door references familiar with the candidates. The six contested School Committee races and some of the aldermen races also were high profile, and the TAB sought to educate the community about the candidates in a comprehensive, concise and visual format.
Photojournalism
Since 2007, the TAB had been requesting a visit to a new high school construction site. In 2009, a reporter and photographer tried to tag along on a tour for public officials, but were denied. The next day the reporter was given a tour, but a photographer wasn’t allowed. The mayor said photos were not an “essential” part of reporting. A few days from publication, the editor engaged the public through the blog. Three separate posts on the subject garnered 133 comments. In December, before a new mayor took office, all media were invited on a tour. The TAB ran a photo spread with this page one kicker: “So that’s what it looks like.”
Battling the competition
In late 2008, the Boston Globe launched its new “Your Town” sites, and it targeted its first one directly at wickedlocalnewton, with the tagline, “Your first stop for all things Newton.” The site copied the TAB’s headlines and ledes verbatim and linked to TAB stories, but offered enough information to keep readers from clicking on links. While GateHouse’s legal team prepared to take the Globe’s parent company, the New York Times, to federal court, TAB staff also jumped into action. TAB staff strengthened blogs, sought out more columnists, created a weekly email newsletter, and added new content to the website several times a day. Ultimately, the New York Times settled with GateHouse, and readers continue to consider the TAB the city’s primary news source.
Runner-up
Elmhurst (Ill.) Press
Judges’ comments
Smart design combines with excellent photos to enhance strong local content. This paper does nice follow-up on earlier stories, and its Cheers and Jeers feature is a must-read. Information is well-presented, easily accessible and locally relevant. The small staff works hard – and well – for its readers, in print and online.
Other finalists
The Community News, Hockessin, Del.
Dover (Del.) Post
Downers Grove (Ill.) Reporter
Middletown (Del.) Transcript
Sussex (Del.) Countian
Watertown (Mass.) TAB and Press
