NewsBeat

July 2023 NewsBeat 17 Around New York state Amsterdam Recorder reporter honored by open gov't group Ashley Onyon, a reporter for the Amster- dam Recorder, was among those honored for their contributions to open government recently during the New York Co- alition for Open Govern- ment's annual meeting. Onyon and the Alliance for Florida Farmland were recognized for spotlight- ing public concerns about officials in the town of Florida, particularly the Planning Board, over its practice of excluding the public from presentations and discussions regarding certain projects. The criticism involved developers pre- senting displays and holding discussions with board members with their backs turned away from the citizens in the audi- ence, making it difficult or impossible for the people to hear and view the presenta- tions and to hear the discussions between the developer and the board members. Under the state Open Meetings Law, Sec- tion 103-d, government boards are required "to ensure that members of the public body can be heard, seen and identified, while the meeting is being conducted, including but not limited to any motions, proposals, resolutions, and any other matter formally discussed or voted upon." The Alliance for Florida Farmland, con- sisting of citizens opposed to large indus- trial development in the town, raised ob- jections to the board's practice, and Onyon reported on the group in The Recorder. Daily Gazette Editorial Page Editor Mark Mahoney was the keynote speaker for the meeting, which was held via Zoom. Press Club of Long Island honors Express News Group The Express News Group won the PCLI's top award, the Bob Greene Public Service Award, for the coverage and advocacy that led to the approval of the Community Housing Fund by voters in Southampton and East Hampton towns in November 2022. The award is named for the Pulitzer Prize-winning Newsday legend. The Southampton Press also won Best Community Weekly Newspaper. Cailin Riley was named PCLI's Reporter of the Year. Cailin also added a first-place award for Best Sports Feature for her big story on Title IX 50 years later. Michelle Trauring, Brendan J. O'Reilly, Sophie Griffin, Cailin Riley, Kitty Merrill, Michael Wright and Stephen J. Kotz shared a second place award for Solutions Journal- ism, for coverage of the affordable housing crisis. Dana Shaw won second place for Best Photojournalist (still imagery). Michael Wright won a third place award for Breaking News for his story on the East Hampton police officer who delivered the baby on a front porch. Change in leadership at Millertown, Lakeview papers Longtime publisher of the Millerton News (NY) and Lakeville Journal (CT) Janet Manko has retired, and Susan Hassler has been named CEO of the Lakeville Journal Foundation, and publisher of the Millerton and Lakeville newspapers. Manko has been named Publisher Emerita. Cherry Road Media buys Chronicle-Express The Chronicle-Express, a weekly news- paper published in Penn Yann, formerly owned by Gannett, has been sold to Cherry Road Media. Owned by Cherry Road Tech- nologies, Cherry Road Media, launched in 2020, publishes community newspapers in 15 states. NYPA to return to Saratoga Springs for Spring 2024 conference SAVE THE DATE! NYPA's spring con- vention and trade show will return to the Gideon Putnam Hotel and Conference in Saratoga Springs April 25 – 27, 2024. Mark your calendar today! Post-Star, Auburn Citizen to reduce print days to 3 The Post-Star of Glens Falls and The Citi- zen of Auburn will reduce the print produc- tion of their daily newspaper to three days a week - Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday - beginning in July, the papers announced in June. In addition, both papers will switch from traditional newspaper delivery via carriers to mail delivery by the U.S. Postal Service. Lee Enterprises, of Iowa, owns both of the papers as well as the Buffalo News. No print reduction has been announced for Buffalo. According to a statement on the Glens Falls' paper website: "On the non-print days — Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sun- days — your E-Edition will include the most important news of the day — focused on national and international news and sports — and your comics, puzzles and advice columns, but it will be a condensed version of our traditional daily news report." Want your money faster? Email melissa@nynewspapers.com for an ACH enrollment form.

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