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Journalists taking a buyout from The Providence Journal

Among the journalists taking a buyout recently from The Providence Journal are the following: Edward Fitzpatrick, leaving as political columnist to become director of media and public relations at Roger Williams University in Bristol as of Oct. 5; Bob McNamee, content editor; Tony LaRoche, section editor; Channing Gray, staff writer; Jim Donaldson, sports columnist. For 28 years, Fitzpatrick was a reporter, an editor and a columnist. He spent 16 years at the Journal, including as political columnist for the past eight years. Before joining the Journal, he was a reporter at The Hartford (Conn.) Courant and the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union. He also was city editor of The Saratogian of Saratoga Springs, N.Y. McNamee was an editor at the Journal for 26 years. Before that, he was at The Times of Pawtucket. He spent the first eight years there as a reporter. He spent the next five years as city editor and his last three years there as assistant managing editor. LaRoche was an editor at the Journal for 22 years. Before that, he was sports editor for three years at Wilson Newspapers, based in Wakefield. He later was a sports reporter at the Norwich (Conn.) Bulletin. Donaldson was a sports columnist at the Journal for more than 37 years. Before that, he was a public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy. He later was employed at the Virginia News Leader, formerly of Richmond, Va., for two years.

The Transitions were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin staff members Ashleane Alabre, Nico Hall and Hope Oje, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.

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Laura Beth Levis

Laura Beth Levis
Laura Beth Levis

Laura Beth Levis, 34, of Somerville, Mass., died Sept. 22 of a severe asthma attack.

Levis began her career at The Boston Globe as an editorial assistant for two years.

Most recently, she was an assistant editor and editorial production manager with Harvard Magazine and The Harvard Gazette at Harvard University.

She leaves her parents, William and Georgia; her husband, Peter; two half-brothers, William and Robert.

The obituaries were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin staff members Elizabeth Allen, Sophie Cannon, Jenna Ciccotelli, Georgeanne Oliver, Julia Preszler and Thomas Ward, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.

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Natalie Timberlake

Natalie Timberlake, 89, of Norway, Maine, died Sept. 20 at the Norway Center for Health and Rehabilitation.

Timberlake was a correspondent for the Portland (Maine) Press Herald and the Maine Sunday Telegram of Portland.

She leaves her son, Ross, and three grandchildren.

The obituaries were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin staff members Elizabeth Allen, Sophie Cannon, Jenna Ciccotelli, Georgeanne Oliver, Julia Preszler and Thomas Ward, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.

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Denis Finley / Michael Townsend

Denis Finley, former editor in chief of The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Va., is becoming the new executive editor at The Burlington Free Press as of Oct. 17. Finley was a photographer, news editor, managing editor, and an editor in chief at the Virginian-Pilot. Michael Townsend, former executive editor of the Free Press, took a buyout about a year ago. He was employed with the Free Press’ parent company, Gannett Co. Inc., of McLean, Va., for 27 years. In 1975, he began employment at two weekly newsppaers in Carroll County, Maryland. He then became a reporter for the Carroll County Times of Westminster, Md., and then an editor there for three years. He later became senior managing editor of the suburban editions of the Baltimore Sun. His next move was to metro editor at the Rockford (Ill.) Register Star for two years. He was promoted there to assistant managing editor and then managing editor. He had been exeutive editor of the Free Press since 2001.

The Transitions were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin staff members Ashleane Alabre, Nico Hall and Hope Oje, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.

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Richard T. ‘Dick’ Murphy

Richard T. ‘Dick’ Murphy
Richard T. ‘Dick’ Murphy

Richard T. “Dick” Murphy, 78, of Stoughton, Mass., died Sept. 24 in Blue Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center in Stoughton.

He was a journalist for 40 years at several local newspapers. He was most well-known as a broadcaster for Stoughton Local News, operated by Stoughton Media Access Corporation.

Murphy leaves six children, Robert, Steven, Nancy, Kathleen, Susan and Christine; eight grandchildren; a brother and sister.

The obituaries were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin staff members Elizabeth Allen, Sophie Cannon, Jenna Ciccotelli, Georgeanne Oliver, Julia Preszler and Thomas Ward, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.

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Gerald E. ‘Jerry’ Bertrand

Gerald E. ‘Jerry’ Bertrand
Gerald E. ‘Jerry’ Bertrand

Gerald E. “Jerry” Bertrand, 69, of Scituate, Mass., died Sept. 24 in the South Shore Rehabilitation and
Skilled Care Center in Rockland, Mass.

Bertrand had a part-time job at the transcription desk of The Boston Globe for many years.

He leaves a brother, Kenneth; a niece, Caroline; a nephew, Luke.

The obituaries were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin staff members Elizabeth Allen, Sophie Cannon, Jenna Ciccotelli, Georgeanne Oliver, Julia Preszler and Thomas Ward, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.

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Lloyd P. ‘Mike’ Heldman

Lloyd P. “Mike” Heldman, 81, of Augusta, Maine, died Sept. 5 in Togus Springs Hospice in Augusta.

Heldman had been a salesman with the Sun Journal of Lewiston, Maine, and television station WCSH, Channel 6, in Portland.

He leaves two sons, Richard and Michael; two daughters, Laurie and Jennifer; two stepdaugh-ters, Debbie and Suzanne; a stepson, Gary; seven grandchildren;
a stepgrandson; two great-grandchildren; two sisters; a brother.

The obituaries were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin staff members Elizabeth Allen, Sophie Cannon, Jenna Ciccotelli, Georgeanne Oliver, Julia Preszler and Thomas Ward, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.

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Michael J. Eacobacci

Michael J. Eacobacci, 97, who lived all his life in Weymouth, Mass., died Sept. 21 in Harbor House Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Hingham, Mass.

He was a former printer and foreman in the composing room at The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, where he spent more than 40 years.

He leaves a daughter, Judith; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren.

The obituaries were written, at least in part, from published reports by Bulletin staff members Elizabeth Allen, Sophie Cannon, Jenna Ciccotelli, Georgeanne Oliver, Julia Preszler and Thomas Ward, undergraduate students at Northeastern University.

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Burlington Free Press Wins Murrow Awards

The Burlington Free Press has received four regional Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association, including for overall excellence and top website.

The awards recognize outstanding achievements in electronic journalism. This is the third consecutive year the Free Press has received multiple regional Murrow Awards.

“The Free Press team continues to transform itself into a well-rounded digital media organization. We are increasing the production of video and audio content every day in addition to our already excellent written coverage,” said Al Getler, president and publisher of the Burlington Free Press and Free Press Media. “It is an honor to see this approval for our work given by our radio and TV colleagues.”

The Free Press won awards among non-broadcast-affiliated news organizations in a region that encompasses Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont — the most states in any of the competition’s 14 regions.

The Free Press received awards in these categories:
• Video overall excellence, for a package about the 40th anniversary of the iconic Nectar’s restaurant and music venue on Main Street in Burlington.
• Video feature, for a recap of a baseball game played in unusually warm weather on Christmas Eve.
• Video sports reporting, for a largely slow-motion video showing scenes from the Vermont City Marathon in Burlington.
• News organization website, for BurlingtonFreePress.com.

Free Press Visuals Coach Ryan Mercer produced the three award-winning videos.

“Special hats off to our visuals editor, Ryan Mercer. He pushes us all hard and makes us a stronger storytelling organization,” Getler said.

One other site in the Gannett-owned USA TODAY NETWORK, The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, California, won a regional Murrow Award, for best use of video.

“We are very proud of the exceptional work done by the teams at Burlington and Palm Springs and are impressed by the caliber of the journalism produced by our local newsrooms every single day across the entire USA TODAY NETWORK,” Gannett President and CEO Bob Dickey said in a statement.

View photo here >>
Nolan Simon waits for his turn at bat during a community Christmas-Eve baseball game at Callahan Park in December. Temperatures were climbing over 60 degrees as players took the field, many wearing shorts and T-shirts. (Photo: RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS FILE)

Other Vermont media to win regional Murrow Awards were Vermont Public Radio, which earned five citations including overall excellence in the small market radio category, and WPTZ-TV, which received two awards for coverage of last summer’s prison break from Dannemora, New York.

The Radio Television Digital News Association has honored outstanding achievements in electronic journalism with the Murrow Awards since 1971. RTDNA said it received more than 4,300 entries during the 2016 awards season, which set a record for the fourth consecutive year.

“Award recipients demonstrate the spirit of excellence that Murrow set as a standard for the profession of electronic journalism,” the association said.

Murrow carved his reputation with radio coverage of the outbreak of World War II while he was in Europe. After the war, he became a pioneer in television broadcast news whose coverage opened the way to the political downfall of Sen. Joseph McCarthy.

Regional winners advance to the national Murrow Awards competition, set for judging in May. The national awards will be announced in June.

The Burlington Free Press has won four national Murrow Awards: one in 2014 and three in 2015.

“The best reward we see is the sharp increases our digital analytics, especially in mobile,” Publisher Getler added. “It proves that our audience finds what we do important in their lives.”

Nectar’s takes a look back after 40 years

“I was shocked,” says Nectar’s founder Nectar Rorris when he saw Phish’s album “Picture of Nectar” bearing his image on the cover. The Burlington institution known for being a safe haven for up and coming bands in Vermont turns 40. RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS

Christmas Eve baseball in Vermont?

Little league fans in Burlington decided to take advantage of record warm temperatures a day before Christmas with a little baseball at Callahan Park in Burlington. RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS

Slowing down, marathon style

We took some of the best moments we could find from the 2015 People’s United Bank Vermont City Marathon & Relay in Burlington and took a moment to slow down and appreciate every second. RYAN MERCER/FREE PRESS

Read Original Article…

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Egger, Johnson kick off Oct. 6 New England Newspaper Conference

For more details about the conference and for links to the registration forms, please click here.

The annual New England Newspaper Conference is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Natick, Mass., and will feature a mix of speakers who are industry experts; roundtable and panel discussions; luncheon and dinner awards events; and vendor exhibits.
Speeches by Terrance Egger and Vince Johnson focusing on innovative revenue-generating opportunities will highlight the morning sessions of the conference.

Egger is chief executive officer and publisher of the Philadelphia Media Network, parent company of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and Philly.com. His topic is “Funding the future of journalism – exploring alternative business models in newspapers.” Egger’s speech will touch on a decision earlier this year to donate the Philadelphia Media Network to a newly-established nonprofit media institute. He also will discuss alternative business models to finance the news industry in the future and how newspapers are employing imagination and experimentation to develop profitable new ideas. Egger also will forecast what he thinks is in the news industry’s future.

Johnson, publisher of the Forsyth County News of Cummings, Ga., and winner of the 2016 Mega-Innovation Award, judged by Harvard Business School’s Innovator-in-Residence, will speak on “Change your culture, now! This 100-year-old triweekly became a champion of innovation – here’s how.” The Forsyth County News has changed from a traditional local newspaper into an innovative, expanding local media company. Johnson will discuss how the staff there changed the News’ culture, products and reputation in the community, with new products, more effective engagement with its audience, and new revenue streams. He’ll provide tips on how other news organizations can also create a culture of growth and innovation.

Three roundtable discussions on issues important to newspaper executives, managers and journalists will follow those speeches.

The roundtable topics are:

• “New Revenue Ideas – what’s working at local papers, what’s not,” sponsored by the New England Newspaper and Press Association’s Marketing and Ad Council and led by some of its members who are advertising directors. The discussion is designed for participants to take home new ideas for generating revenue and for sharing success stories.
• “Recent trends in covering the opioid crisis,” sponsored and led by the New England Society of News Editors. The discussion will focus on new approaches to telling stories and going deeper into what lies behind the drug problem. Journalists will share the trends they are seeing and will talk about stories they’ve worked on in the past year.
• “Latest legal and ethical issues for the newsroom,” sponsored and led by the New England First Amendment Coalition. Questions to be explored: Can the public and the press videotape police without fear of arrest? Why are reporters and photographers being blocked from coverage at public events? What can we do to fight the anti-media mood not only in the presidential race, but in our hometowns?

The New England Newspaper Awards Luncheon will be highlighted by presentation of the following honors: the New England Newspapers of the Year; the Publick Occurrences Awards; Allan B. Rogers Editorial of the Year; the Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award; the AP Sevellon Brown Journalist of the Year; the Morley L. Piper First Amendment Award.

The conference will close with the other prestigious awards event, the New England Academy of Journalists’ Yankee Quill Awards Dinner. A cocktail reception celebrating NESNE’s 60th anniversary will precede the Yankee Quill dinner.

Yankee Quill Award recipients are Edward Achorn, vice president/editorial pages, The Providence (R.I.) Journal; Maura Casey, editorial writer at The Hartford (Conn.) Courant and The New York Times; Brian McGrory, editor of The Boston Globe; and Lincoln McKie Jr., formerly publisher of Journal Transcript Newspapers, based in Revere, Mass., executive editor of The Sun of Lowell, Mass., and managing editor of the Telegram & Gazette of Worcester, Mass. A posthumous award will be given in tribute to Sarah Josepha Hale, a 19th century poet, writer and magazine editor from Newport, N.H., as a historic figure in journalism. More details about the Yankee Quill Awards is available here.

In between the awards events, the afternoon sessions are part of the New England Society of News Editors Conference.

Those sessions are:

• “Trends in the news business as seen through the eyes of the Nieman Journalism Lab,” featuring Joshua Benton, director of the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard University.

• “Social media mayhem,” a panel discussion that will include Ernesto Burden, vice president of digital for Newspapers of New England, based in Concord, N.H., Bill Kole, news editor for New England in The Associated Press bureau in Boston; and Matt Carroll, research scientist at the MIT Media Lab. Emily Sweeney, a reporter at The Boston Globe, will be the moderator. The panel will explore the latest trends and developments in social media and ways reporters and editors can get the most from social media platforms.

The annual business meeting of the New England Society of News Editors will be held after those sessions. The 60th anniversary celebration of the society during a reception beginning at 5 p.m. will feature light refreshments, entertainment, and a display of NESNE memorabilia

The price for the all-day conference, including the awards luncheon, is $99 a person. Admission for awards luncheon alone is $69 a person. Please click here to register for the conference.

The separate price for the Yankee Quill Awards dinner is $75 a person. Registration for the awards dinner is available here.

Advertising, promotional, and sponsorship opportunities are available for the conference. For more information about those opportunities, please click here.

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