Honoring the ‘Fourth Estate’ – The local edition

By TED WADDELL
Posted 11/8/22

LIBERTY, NY – “The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm,” wrote British historian and politician Thomas Macaulay (1800-1859) in an 1828 essay …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Honoring the ‘Fourth Estate’ – The local edition

Posted

LIBERTY, NY – “The gallery in which the reporters sit has become a fourth estate of the realm,” wrote British historian and politician Thomas Macaulay (1800-1859) in an 1828 essay reviewing Hallam’s “Constitutional History.”

While the term “fourth estate” reportedly dates back to 1787, it appears in 1837 when Thomas Carlyle, in his work “The French Revolution,” referred to “A Fourth Estate of Able Editors springs up, increases and multiplies, irrepressible, incalculable.”

As time and world events marched on, the term has become synonymous with the press at large, and on October 20, Radio Catskill recognized the local media at its 2022 Community Awards reception. The event was held at Piccolo Paese Ristorante Italiano, an upscale eatery founded in 1998 by executive chef Baco Vulaj, and now operated by Foster Supply Hospitality.

“We are excited to honor our local media colleagues for the outstanding journalism, courageous conversations and community commitment that they have demonstrated over the course of the year,” said Kirsten Harlow Foster, president of the Radio Catskill Board of Trustees.

Continuing her introductory remarks, which were published in the awards brochure, Foster said, “During these ever-changing times, I have found myself finding greater comfort in conversations that are relevant to my family and my community, and that... push my understanding beyond the headlines. Our local honorees this evening are all doing this, and deserve to be celebrated for their successes!”

Radio Catskill paid homage to several area media outlets, listing Manor Ink, the Sullivan County Democrat, the River Reporter, Bold Gold Media, and the Shawangunk Journal as recipients of the awards, along with special recognition to Barry Plaxen, publisher of Canvas.

In his opening remarks to the assemblage, Tim Bruno, general manager of Radio Catskill WJFF 90.5 FM, noted that the United States “continues to lose newspapers at a rate of two per week, further dividing the nation into wealthier, faster-growing communities with access to local news, and areas struggling without.”

Bruno said that since 2005, the country has lost more than one-fourth of its newspapers, is on track to lose a third by 2025, and based on a report issued by the Northwestern Media School of Journalism, between the start of the pandemic and the end of May 2022, more than 360 newspapers have shut their doors.

“Most of the communities that have lost newspapers do not get a print or digital replacement, leaving 70 million residents, or a fifth of the country’s population, either living in an area with no local news organizations, or one at risk, with only one local news outlet and very limited access to critical news and information,” Bruno added before paying homage to the local news media.

“But look at us. We have three print newspapers focused on local news... a print newspaper devoted to arts and culture... two digital news sites... plus the daily community news coverage on Bold Gold Media’s on-air stations, and our very own award-winning local edition... pretty amazing!”

By way of closing, Foster said of the honorees and their relationship to Radio Catskill, “These are our media colleagues who join the station’s staff and volunteers in fighting the good fight, day in and day out.”

“Asking questions, challenging and reporting on and to our community. Especially over the last three years, the importance of localized, relevant news has become ever more important.” 

Radio Catskill’s 2022 Community Awards

Manor Ink is a youth-driven, community-supported newspaper published monthly by the Livingston Manor Free Library.

Attending were Michelle Adams-Thomas, editor; reporters Nevean Roberts, Zoey McGee, Jack Dusenbury-Dalto and Aiden Dusenbury-Dalto; and the paper’s mentors, David Dann, Amy Hines, Marge Feuerstein and Art Steinhauer.

“Regarding my thoughts on being an editor, I would say that the job was hard in the start, but after getting in the groove of it, I ended up enjoying the new opportunity,” said Adams-Thomas, a 10th grader at the “Home of the Wildcats,” who celebrated her 15th birthday on October 28.

Noting that she joined Manor Ink in the seventh grade, Adams-Thomas said that in her role as editor, she has “leaned how to talk to adults in the community and express myself more... you can’t take it lightly; you have to put a lot of hours into it... make sure the pressure does not get to you.”

After all was said and done, a couple of Manor Ink’s mentors added their thoughts to the issue of the importance of a vibrant local media.

“Newspapers are vital to local communities particularly in rural areas,” said Steinhauer. “Not only for local news and information, but also to bind us together. Involving student reporters connects them to a world outside their own home and school to what is going on around them, and to help them develop writing and communication skills. It is also great fun for the mentors to feed off their energy, and learn what is important to them.”

“As a longtime newspaper art director, production manager, and occasional editor,” said Dann, “I’ve found it particularly gratifying to work with the young journalists of Manor Ink. That WJFF Radio Catskill included them in the station’s media recognition event was a marvelous gesture in support of the future of print and digital reporting in Sullivan Wayne and Pike counties.”

The Sullivan County Democrat was founded in 1891 by a Civil War captain, and had eight publishers until 1927, when it was acquired by Fred Stabbert Sr. Upon the publisher’s passing in 1963, the newspaper was taken over by Fred Stabbert Jr, who died in 1993.

In 1983, current publisher Fred Stabbert III joined the company full-time, and later assumed control of the county’s only twice-weekly news source in 1994.

Accepting the award was Stabbert, on behalf of a newspaper that has earned eight national newspaper awards, and more than 100 awards from the New York State Press Association.

The River Reporter, with Laurie Stuart at the helm as publisher since 1978, noted in its mission statement that the weekly paper strives “to enhance the quality of life and increase civic engagement in the communities of the Upper Delaware River Valley.

“Laurie is convinced that when people communicate about important issues and values, especially coming from diverse viewpoints, solutions to pressing challenges can be found,” said Bruno in presenting the award.

The Shawanjunk Journal is published by Amberly Jane Campbell, a lifelong journalist who had her own newspaper at age seven. In her varied and storied career, she has interviewed the likes of Mary Tyler Moore and Noam Chomsky, written an advice column, “contributed countless photos and articles to magazines, newspapers and museums,” and spent eight years in radio news.

In 2020, Campbell helped co-found Kingston Wire, a daily digital-news site, and lest it ever be forgotten, for the last 12 years has taken on the role of Jane Bondage, of roller derby renown.

“Amberly has always been adventurous, and has always had a love of connecting with people and sharing their stories,” said Bruno.

The Bold Gold Media Group was founded in 2005 by president and CEO Vince Benedetto, and since then the veteran-owned and -operated local broadcast radio and media company has grown to include 24 frequencies, nine formats and three markets geared to providing community-based broadcast and digital media programming for the region, and to contribute to the growth and development of the region through the power of local radio and digital media.

“I see a locally owned, operated, and programmed media group helping build up this community,” said Bruno, as he presented the award to Benedetto, who previously talked at length about journalism and its critical importance to a free and open society.

Barry Plaxen, publisher and managing editor of Delaware & Hudson CANVAS, created in 2004 as a reference guide for the region’s arts and entertainment, and as a venue to give artists and performers a way of connecting to those interested in the arts, received special recognition at the annual community awards ceremony.

Noting that CANVAS publishes articles “about everything from art, cinema, dance, festivals, holistic living, music, opera, poetry and theatre,” Bruno said of its dedicated 85-year-old helmsman, “He shows up each month with his beloved paper to distribute... reaches out to profile you about your new broadcast studios.”

the fourth estate, Manor Ink, Radio Catskill, Sullivan County Democrat, the River Reporter, the Shawanjunk Journal, the Bold Gold Media Group, Delaware and Hudson Canvas

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here