Jackson Mayor Frank Melton, a rather, um, mercurial administrator, admitted this week to tearing up open records requests filed by The Clarion-Ledger. Needless to say, the C-L is not pleased.
The paper has filed suit. And the editorial board drew some blood on Wednesday.
UPDATE: The mayor relents, sort of. He gave the documents to a Jackson TV station.
Well, kind of later morning. The paper began a new distribution cycle in May, bumping up its press time to no later than 5 a.m., putting it on the streets by 7. Publisher Skippy Haik explains readers have asked for the paper earlier in the day, and said the move would accommodate the print schedule of the USA Today, a sister Gannett publication that prints regionally in Hattiesburg.
Cyndi Pittman has returned to take the reins as publisher of The DeSoto Times Today in Hernando. She succeeds Ron Tate, who resigned to return to his native Oklahoma. Pittman had previously worked as publisher from 2004-05.
The paper is also modifying its publication cycle to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday effective June 1. The move eliminates editions on Wednesday and Friday. The paper said it would continue to update its Website daily.
Independent paper Aspen Daily News (motto: “If you don’t want it printed, don’t let it happen.”) sent a reporter to Pearlington, MS to see how the region is faring nine months after Hurricane Katrina.
Writes Andre Salvail: “The common complaint of everyone I interview is that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has virtually pulled out of Pearlington — save for picking up the center’s monthly electric bill. Not only did FEMA officials leave, they took a lot of important stuff with them, such as a portable building that contained several shower stalls. The community does not have a municipal water system. When FEMA took its showers out, the center marshaled its forces and installed a new shower building for about $30,000.”
Several Mississippi newspapers were lauded recently in Biloxi during the annual Louisiana-Mississippi Associated Press Managing Editors Association Awards. The winners include:
The Mississippi Press in Pascagoula was honored with first place awards for commentary column and lifestyles coverage.
The Sun Herald was lauded for design and spot news reporting.
The Clarion-Ledger took first for business coverage of the beef plant debacle and Rick Cleveland’s sports commentary.
The Greenwood Commonwealth placed first for interpretive coverage of the Emmett Till case and for graphics and headlines.
A veteran Toledo, OH, reporter got the axe last week for anonymously penning a letter critical of the paper’s Pulitzer Prize entry. The Toledo Blade called the actions of George Tanber “dishonest” in a story explaining the paper’s decision to give the 14-year employee the boot.
From the features desk at the Glasgow (KY) Daily Times comes this great community calendar snafu:
The annual Tracy Cemetery fundraiser will begin at 5 p.m. at Tracy United Methodist Church. Remnant and For God So Loved will provide special music. Hot dogs, hamburgers and drunks will be available, along with a cakewalk.
Steve Stewart, editor of The Meridian Star since last summer, is leaving the 15,000-circulation daily to become publisher of The Tidewater News in Franklin, Va. Stewart, formerly publisher of The Clarksdale Press-Register for Emmerich Newspapers, has long been involved with MPA and is a former member of The Board of Directors.
The Tidewater News was recently purchased by a consortium with ties to Boone Newspapers, Inc.
Julie Finley has been promoted to managing editor of The Natchez Democrat. She has served as news editor since 2005…Crystal Dupre, publisher of the Laurel Leader-Call since 2002, has been appointed publisher of The Meridian Star. She succeeds Paul Barrett, another former LLC publisher who had served as the Star’s top exec since 1997…Woodrow Wilkins Jr. has been named managing editor of the Delta Democrat Times in Greenville. He is promoted from senior reporter…Lynn LaFoe returns to the DDT as Accent section editor. LaFoe, who previously served as Lifestyles/Accent editor, left the newspaper nearly three years ago.
Colorado Springs’s High Plains Messenger is a new community newspaper attempting to publish entirely online.
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