Budget for May 22, 2013 edition

Tom — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:28:18 +0000

Here's what the newsroom staff is working on for the May 21, 2013 edition of the Reformer. Please note: Just because it appears on this budget, doesn't mean it will run in tomorrow's newspaper — some stories will be held to get complete information; some stories may be dropped completely. Stories might be held for space, or other timing considerations. Also, breaking stories may not appear on this budget.

If you have any information that could be useful to any of these stories, we'd love to hear from you (call 802-254-2311 ext. 7 or e-mail news@reformer.com).

photos: turkey
photos: Tractor plowing field
photos: Dandelions
photos: Duck
photos: Skateboarding
photos: Wilmington Garden 5/16

Chris: Jamaica Benefit Association honored in donation from its
treasurer and her husband
Chris: Wilmington Planning Commission nears completion on updated
articles and zoning map
Chris: 100 year old Thompson House resident’s wish to dance with a
partner comes true w/pix
Chris: Conway School of Landscape Design receives feedback from
Wilmington residents, town officials and business owners on downtown
village master plans w/pix HOLD
Chris: Green Mountain Camp Reunion Weekend w/pix
Chris: Jamaica Library Trustees approved for extra hours to meet
state requirements

Dom: Popolo celebrating 1-year anniversary with slew of musical
performances w/file pix
Dom: CHSVT graduation w/pix
Dom: Bellows Falls election results w/pix

Howard: Brattleboro Selectboard
Howard: Death with dignity reaction

Mike: Dummerston debating using Community Center as a pet-friendly
emergency shelter. Selectboard has concerns.
Mike: Kindle Farm School admin discusses changes/investments;
fund-raiser scheduled for Sunday w/pix

Cassidy: BUHS students and RENEW w/pic
Cassidy: BUHS PE teacher retiring w/pic

Staff: Around Windham County
Staff: Biz Buzz (fish ladder opening w/pic in business que-pat)
Staff: Fish Ladder to open
Staff: Strolling new sponsor
Staff: Wilmington Duck Race

Column: Fish

AP: NH Primary anniversary
DFM: Obama approval rating
DFM: Tornado latest (online)

Overheard on Twitter

Tom — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:27:16 +0000

Here's what I think will end up being a regular feature on the blog: Overheard on Twitter. Just a collection of interesting journalism-related comments I come across ....

From @JCStearns:

"The future of journalism will be built by people who give a damn, and we need to figure out how to support them."

From @GRDodge (Dodge Foundation):

quoting @Chanders: "If you're a newsroom and you haven't hired an editor for news partnerships, you're doing something wrong."

From @Zachary_Cohen:

addressing @JeffJarvis: "We should measure the impact of our reporting by analyzing how the news helped them, not just that they read it."

From @MathewI:

"Crowdsourcing is here to stay - now it's about building tools for networked journalism."

From @rfberry (renée berry):

Quoting @SteveButtry: "Our first obligation as journalists is to seek the truth & report it."

and ... also quoting @SteveButtry: "Wherever news is happening, someone is there & tweeting it."

Budget for May 21, 2013 edition

Tom — Mon, 20 May 2013 19:44:16 +0000

If you have any information that could be useful to any of these stories, we'd love to hear from you (call 802-254-2311 ext. 7 or e-mail news@reformer.com).

photos: turkey
photos: Tractor plowing field
photos: Dandelions
photos: Duck
photos: Skateboarding
photos: Wilmington Garden 5/16
photos: West River Garden ribbon cutting 5/18

Chris: 100 year old Thompson House resident’s wish to dance with a
partner comes true w/pix
Chris: Architectural Conway School receives feedback from Wilmington
residents, town officials and business owners for downtown village
improvements w/pix
Chris: Green Mountain Camp Reunion Weekend w/pix
Chris: Jamaica sidewalk construction update; resident concerned over
island w/pix
Chris: Jamaica Library Trustees approved for extra hours to meet
state requirements

Dom: BF village meeting tonight w/pix?
Dom: Library demonstration in BF w/pix
Dom: Conservation of 224 acres HOLD FOR PIC

Mike: Act 250 permit finally arrives for new Dummerston/Putney gravel
pit. Includes restrictions on dust, blasting, etc.
Mike: Shumlin reflects on legislative session.

Staff: Haz Material disposal available
Staff: Biz Buzz (fish ladder opening w/pic in business que-pat)
Staff: Fish Ladder to open

Column: Wilson

AP: Vermont assisted suicide
DFM: Marijuna farms on public lands
DFM: Food Stamp Fight (online)

Sometimes it’s great to be the editor [photo]

Tom — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:44:26 +0000

I recently received about 20 letters to the editor from a group of local students (sixth-graders!), on a wide range of topics -- from civics to crime to drug abuse.

We have a great social studies teacher at the Brattleboro high school, and so I'm used to getting well-thought-out guest opinion pieces from some of his older students. But to see students this young not only exercising thought on topics a lot of kids aren't thinking about, but then choosing to share those thoughts with the rest of the community via the daily, local newspaper .... well, it's a humbling experience.

I look forward to the next batch.

Budget for May 20, 2013 edition

Tom — Sun, 19 May 2013 18:52:04 +0000

Here's what the newsroom staff is working on for the May 20, 2013 edition of the Reformer. Please note: Just because it appears on this budget, doesn't mean it will run in tomorrow's newspaper — some stories will be held to get complete information; some stories may be dropped completely. Stories might be held for space, or other timing considerations. Also, breaking stories may not appear on this budget.

If you have any information that could be useful to any of these stories, we'd love to hear from you (call 802-254-2311 ext. 7 or e-mail news@reformer.com).

photos: turkey
photos: Tractor plowing field
photos: Dandelions
photos: Duck
photos: Skateboarding
photos: Wilmington Garden 5/16

Chris: Marlboro College graduation w/pix
Chris: Sanders townmeeting in Bratt w/pix
Chris: Jamaica sidewalk construction update; resident concerned over
island w/pix
Chris: Jamaica Library Trustees approved for extra hours to meet
state requirements

Dom: Landmark graduation w/pix
Dom: Conservation of 224 acres HOLD FOR PIC

Howard: Legislature deals with River Garden money file pix

Staff: Haz Material disposal available
Staff: Biz Buzz (fish ladder opening w/pic in business que-pat)
Staff: Fish Ladder to open

Budget for May 18, 2013 weekend edition

Tom — Fri, 17 May 2013 21:30:25 +0000

Here's what the newsroom staff is working on for the May 18, 2013 edition of the Reformer. Please note: Just because it appears on this budget, doesn't mean it will run in tomorrow's newspaper — some stories will be held to get complete information; some stories may be dropped completely. Stories might be held for space, or other timing considerations. Also, breaking stories may not appear on this budget.

If you have any information that could be useful to any of these stories, we'd love to hear from you (call 802-254-2311 ext. 7 or e-mail news@reformer.com).

photos: turkey
photos: Tractor plowing field
photos: Dandelions
photos: Duck
photos: Skateboarding
photos: Wilmington Garden 5/16
photos: Wilmington Bridge 5/16

Chris: Construction in Wilmington: foot bridge coming in and re-paved
parking lot w/pix
Chris: Wilmington Pettee Library Trustees move forward on roof
replacement w/pix
Chris: Jamaica sidewalk construction update; resident concerned over
island w/pix
Chris: Jamaica Library Trustees approved for extra hours to meet
state requirements

Dom: Satellite meeting at BUHS
Dom: BF Trustee meeting
Dom: Among the Wounded: Brattleboro man finds civil war diary written
by his great-grandfather and will speak about it at Brooks Library on
Wednesday w/pix
Dom: Conservation of 224 acres HOLD FOR PIC
Dom: Immanuel Epsicopal Church in BF w/pix

Howard: Stroll of the Heifers w/pix
Howard: Sequster cuts to Head Start take effect file pix?
Howard: Legislature deals with River Garden money file pix?

Mike: Under the Dome
Mike: A divided Dummerston Selectboard, after years of debate,
approves the town’s radiological-emergency plan.

Staff: Police Log
Staff: IRS warns of email scam
Staff: Haz Material disposal available
Staff: Biz Buzz (fish ladder opening w/pic in business que-pat)
Staff: Fish Ladder to open

Column: Schmick (money)

AP: Hospitals and blood tests (Vermont)
DFM: texting while driving

Power of the Press [AT&T edition]

Tom — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:22:56 +0000

Late last week, the newsroom was tipped off, by several angry residents in Putney, that their cell service (provided by AT&T) had been reduced. That is to say that in areas where they were used to having full bars, they now had none; and where they were once on AT&T's network they were now roaming.

And, as it turns out, AT&T were unwilling to help these folks and unwilling to speak to us for a story on the topic.

Once the story ran, in last weekend's Reformer, Gov. Shumlin took notice and, less than a week later, full service was restored to those affected.

Here's a letter we received on the matter:

"Thanks in large measure to Howard Weiss-Tisman’s coverage of the
issue, AT&T cell service has returned to a large swath of Putney.
Howard’s thorough research took him from those affected to the Public
Service Commission and eventually to Governor Peter Shumlin’s office.
Three cheers for our state government, the folks at the AT&T Store in
Keene, N.H., who tried to get the message up through the corporate
hierarchy and Putney citizens Beckie Coffey and Libby McCawley who
united the dozens of affected Putney residents.

"We’re grateful that the forces marshaled by Howard’s article
convinced the corporation to fulfill its responsibility to its
customers.

"It’s good to know that local newspapers still have the power to right
wrongs."

This just goes to show how important your local daily newspaper can still be ....

Budget for May 17, 2013 edition

Tom — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:03:12 +0000

Here's what the newsroom staff is working on for the May 17, 2013 edition of the Reformer. Please note: Just because it appears on this budget, doesn't mean it will run in tomorrow's newspaper — some stories will be held to get complete information; some stories may be dropped completely. Stories might be held for space, or other timing considerations. Also, breaking stories may not appear on this budget.

If you have any information that could be useful to any of these stories, we'd love to hear from you (call 802-254-2311 ext. 7 or e-mail news@reformer.com).

photos: turkey
photos: Tractor plowing field
photos: Dandelions
photos: Duck
photos: Skateboarding

Howard: Stroll of the Heifers w/pix
Howard: West River Park celebration preview w/pix
Howard: West River Park sidebar w/pix
Howard: Aids walk preview

Mike: Grega in court w/file pix
Mike: Two I-91 drug suspects from Mass. in court - one pleads guilty
to felony cocaine possession, while the other fails in bid to be
released to an apartment in Brattleboro.

Staff: Police Log (x2)
Staff: IRS warns of email scam
Staff: Haz Material disposal available

Column: Homeyer

AP: NH gun control
DFM: texting while driving

Budget for May 16, 2013 edition

Tom — Wed, 15 May 2013 19:28:44 +0000

Here's what the newsroom staff is working on for the May 16, 2013 edition of the Reformer. Please note: Just because it appears on this budget, doesn't mean it will run in tomorrow's newspaper — some stories will be held to get complete information; some stories may be dropped completely. Stories might be held for space, or other timing considerations. Also, breaking stories may not appear on this budget.

If you have any information that could be useful to any of these stories, we'd love to hear from you (call 802-254-2311 ext. 7 or e-mail news@reformer.com).

photos: turkey
photos: Tractor plowing field
photos: Anna Dewdney at Dummerston School
photos: Dandelions
photos: Duck
photos: Skateboarding

Chris: Construction in Wilmington: foot bridge coming in and re-paved
parking lot w-pix
Chris: Wilmington Pettee Library Trustees move forward on roof
replacement w-pix
Chris: Jamaica sidewalk construction update; resident concerned over
island w-pix
Chris: Jamaica Library Trustees approved for extra hours to meet
state requirements

Dom: BF Village Meeting Warning
Dom: Satellite meeting at BUHS
Dom: BF Trustee meeting

Howard: AT&T service back in Putney
Howard: New owner of Putney Gen Store w/pix
Howard: Stroll of the Heifers w/pix
Howard: Londonderry gets NEA money for planning

Mike: Guilford roundup: Officials to undertake repairs at Old Town
Hall, restore lost land records and sell aging emergency-management
van.
Mike: Newfane authorizes Williamsville Hall electrical project, but
long-term plans for weatherizing the historic building are not yet
funded.

Staff: Strolling Quiche Cookoff deadline MUST
Staff: Cops Log x2
Staff: IRS warns of email scam
Staff: Haz Material disposal available
Staff: Police Log
Staff: AG Warns of ‘Smishing’ Scam
Staff: Bratt Committees need volunteers

Column: Homeyer (friday)
Banner: Crimes against children law
AP: Grega preview
DFM: texting while driving

An investigation gone too far? [an editorial]

Tom — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:05:50 +0000

[Here's a sneak peek at tomorrow's editorial. This is an issue that should be of great concern to all journalists.]

The U.S. Justice Department on Tuesday was defending its decision to subpoena phone records from Associated Press bureaus and reporters. Officials, according to CNN reports, claim the requests were limited and necessary to investigate a leak of classified information.

The Associated Press, along with journalists around the world, aren’t buying it. Associated Press officials are calling it a massive and unprecedented intrusion into its gathering of news.

The scope of the subpoenas is what gives David Schultz, a lawyer for AP, pause.

"It was a very large number of records that were obtained, including phone records from Hartford, New York, Washington, from the U.S. House of Representatives and elsewhere where AP has bureaus. It included home and cellphone numbers from a number of AP reporters," Schulz told NPR.

And while it's not clear what the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C., is investigating, the AP believes the “fishing” may be connected to a story from May 2012 that described the CIA stopping a terrorist plot to plant a bomb on an airplane with a sophisticated new kind of device, according to the NPR report.

"This sort of activity really amounts to massive government monitoring of the actions of the press, and it really puts a dagger at the heart of AP's news-gathering activities," Schulz said.

CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin on Monday said that the subpoenas were likely legal, but go further than previous administrations in pursuing private information of journalists.

Typically, Justice Department rules state that the attorney general needs to sign off on subpoenas to reporters. Prosecutors must demonstrate that every effort was made to get the information in other ways before even turning to the press. And those rules also say prosecutors need to notify the media organization in advance unless doing so would pose a substantial threat to the integrity of the investigation.

"(These rules) were put into place after Watergate, when everyone was very alarmed by the abuses and excesses of the Nixon Justice Department in subpoenaing reporters and trying to get information about their sources and activities," Schultz told NPR.

As NPR’s report on Tuesday points out, the Justice Department's inspector general three years ago found evidence that the FBI was getting phone records from The Washington Post and The New York Times in the Bush administration without following those guidelines.

"In a continuing witch hunt for leaks and whistleblowers, the Obama administration has chosen to trample the First Amendment,” Associated Press Media Editors Association President Brad Dennison stated in a release. "Freely tossing around the word ‘transparency,’ as this administration is prone to do, does not make it so. This action clearly demonstrates that President Obama and U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. have absolutely no interest in an open and transparent government.”

That the part that troubles many of us in the news industry, and should be troubling to every citizen who looks to the Reformer or any other newspaper, broadcast or Internet-based news source.

"There is no conceivable explanation for this overly broad request,” Dennison said. "So ultimately, the entire news industry must view the administration’s actions as blatant intimidation and a not-so-veiled effort to let news organizations know their records also can be seized with impunity.”

Even Senator Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who normally defends the Obama White House, said he's troubled and wants an explanation.

The Reformer editorial board joins the APME in calling for “discussion and implementation of a federal shield law, which would protect journalists from having to reveal their sources and documents, ensuring that journalists and confidential informants would not be silenced by the threat of federal prosecution or subpoena. Under a proposed shield law, the federal government must prove to a judge that the information sought outweighs a journalist’s need to maintain confidential information.”

We also call for the government to halt these blatant abuses of power, under the guise of vague national security concerns, and ask the Obama administration to come clean on how aware it was of this latest investigation.

Because, while White House spokesman Jay Carner may use CNN to proclaim that "The president is a strong defender of the First Amendment and a firm believer in the need for the press to be unfettered in its ability to conduct investigative reporting and to facilitate a free flow of information,” you know what they say: Actions speak louder than words.

Well this latest round of subpoenas speaks volumes.