NewsBeat

December 2018 NewsBeat 23 Charles "Chuck" Kelly, Ogdensburg publisher, dies at 83 A n icon of the local newspaper business has been lost with the death of Charles W. Kelly at the age of 83. Mr. Kelly, the former publisher of the Ogdensburg Journal, died October 21st at St. Joseph's Home in Ogdensburg. He retired in 2010 after a 56-year newspaper career but retained the title of publisher emeritus of the Journal and Northern New York Newspapers. "All I ever wanted to do was to be a journalist, and I didn't want to leave Ogdensburg," Mr. Kelly said in a New York Times profile published on his retirement. John B. Johnson, CEO and co- publisher of the Watertown Daily Times and Northern New York Newspapers Inc., said he was saddened by word of Mr. Kelly's passing. He said Mr. Kelly was both a personal mentor and a role model for others across the north country. "There are two things that really stick out in my mind about Chuck, and one is that he was just a consummate journalist; everything I learned about journalism I learned from Chuck Kelly," Mr. Johnson said. "He believed in the truth, he believed in telling the community the good and the bad, and he did so in a very fair and objective way." Mr. Johnson said the second thing he admired and respected about Mr. Kelly was the passion he showed in dedicating his life to helping better his hometown and the region. "Chuck always believed in the good in the community and he worked so hard for the residents and the people of St. Lawrence County, particularly Ogdensburg, where he worked to make it a better place," Mr. Johnson said. "He always put the community first, and that is a lesson that I will never forget." An Ogdensburg native, Mr. Kelly began his newspaper career in 1954 as a sports writer and general assignment reporter for the Ogdensburg Journal. A three-year stint in the military took him overseas, but after that, he returned to Ogdensburg to continue writing for the paper. He retired in September 2010. "I am honored to say that we will be among his first consulting customers and look forward to working with him for the future," Johnson added. Vinciguerra has worked in the media business in a variety of roles for over 30 years. He has worked for public and commercial radio stations, as well as newspapers in Syracuse, Pittsburgh, Trenton, New Jersey, and Albany prior to assuming the publisher's role at C-GM in May 2013. "I believe in the future of local media to such an extent, I have essentially double- downed on it—by forming my own media company and creating a consulting firm to help local publishers grow their audiences," Vinciguerra said HUDSON — Columbia-Greene Media Publisher Mark Vinciguerra is leaving the company he has headed up for more than five years to run The Ravena News-Herald, as well as his own consulting company. apital Region Independent Media LLC, owned by Vinciguerra, recently purchased the weekly Ravena newspaper from Johnson Newspaper Corporation. "I have immensely enjoyed my time at Columbia-Greene Media and will miss the staff and the communities who supported us greatly," said Vinciguerra, 53. "The Ravena community is one that is vibrant and on the upswing, and I believe presents tremendous opportunity for growth of the News-Herald audience and brand." The announcement of the sale was made Monday by Johnson Newspaper Corporation CEO John B. Johnson at C- GM's Hudson office. "This is a great opportunity for Mark and I am pleased that he has decided to stay in the news and media industry," Johnson said. "However, we are all sad to see him go. Under his leadership, Columbia Greene Media has improved business results every year and built a strong digital audience to complement a strong daily print presence. Mark has been an insightful and gracious leader." In addition to branching out and taking the helm of The Ravena News-Herald, Vinciguerra started up his own consulting company, National Press Institute for Audience Growth, which will be consulting with Johnson Newspaper Corporation. C JNC sells Ravena News-Herald to Vinciguerra

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