New England papers face pressures from survival to staffing trends
A comprehensive survey of New England dailies reveals their struggle to survive, with small editorial staffs and larger sports bureaus. It notes rising education levels among reporters, limited black or Hispanic newsroom representation, and widespread group ownership shaping coverage. The Markle Foundation funded the evaluation conducted by a team from major journalism institutions.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New England
John and Mary R. Markle Foundation
University of Massachusetts
New England Daily Newspaper Association
New England Society of Newspaper Editors
Sigma Delta Chi
Ben H. Bagdikian
Columbia Journalism Review
Edward Baumeister
Wbghtv
Boston
Richard Blalock
The
Portsmouth
N.H
James Boylan
Herbert Brucker
Hartford
Copies of the New England Daily Newspaper Survey
Copies are available at 7.50 dollars each by writing to New England Daily Newspaper Survey at 25 Elm St in Southbridge Massachusetts 01550.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
New England Daily Newspaper Survey
Elm St
Southbridge
Mass
Evaluation notes corrections for The Banner record
The Banner evaluation notes a few errors including the Ayer Award year corrected to 1965 and photo identifications correcting Agnes Rockwood to Elizabeth Dwyer in the foreground. The image shows Rockwood in distance and a February shoot. Herbert Brucker, longtime Hartford Courant editor, led the nine Vermont papers analysis after six weeks of subscriptions and staff interviews.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Agnes Rockwood
Elizabeth Dwyer
Vermont
Herbert Brucker
Hartford Courant
Connecticut
Brucker
Bennington Banner: A Small Vermont Paper with Big Spirit
A profile of Bennington Banner, Bennington County's daily paper, noting its 6,600 circulation, independence, and bold reporting. It highlights the paper’s 1962 shift to offset printing, Ayer award for typography, and its open approach to crime and news, contrasting with local politics and economy.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bennington
Grandma
New England
Ayer
Modern newspaper layout and headline style in 1972 survey
The survey notes 64.42 percent news matter and 35.58 percent ads in 1972. It describes a strongly horizontal layout with bold roman italics headlines, limited one column items, and tight top-page blocks where three large stories run side by side. The overall design emphasizes readability but can look jumbled. It highlights honest local coverage and headline writers reflecting story content.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hoosick Village
Manes, Heggi
Sage City
Symphony
The Banner’s Open Posture and Staff Drive Bennington Daily
The Banner, founded 1841 and now a daily since 1903, blends openness and photos with independent editorial direction under Tyler Resch in Bennington. Ownership via Miller brothers from Pittsfield keeps payroll and taxes centralized, while Bennington editors interpret local happenings for a public service oriented press.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Banner
Bennington
Frank E. Howe
Miller Brothers
Donald B
Lawrence K
Pittsfield
Mass
Lawrence Miller
Kelton
Tyler Resch
Sycamore
Ill
al Resch
F.A. Resch
Associated Press
Berkshire Eagle
Resch
the Elks
Local paper backs responsible reporting in small town Bennington
Public interest stories about dentists, contractors, zoning votes, and land-use plans show the Banner’s push toward open session reporting. Editor Resch stresses honesty over entertainment, staff quality, and reader input while detailing coverage split between Bennington and rural areas.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Hoyle
Vermont
Resch
Bennington
Banner’s modest paper, broad local coverage on a lean budget
The Bennington Banner operates with a small staff and limited space, yet delivers solid local reporting with county focus and occasional state and national context via UPI and Times services. It adds in-depth features from county agents and librarians, plus editorial pages that remain sharp and probing despite tight resources.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Bennington
Main Street
Resch
UPI
Montpelier
Also Mentioned on This Page
Brooks Hamilton
University of Maine
John Herbert
Boston Herald Traveler
Joseph V. Mahoney
Lawrence (Mass
Eagle Tribune
Melvin Mencher
Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University
Alan Miller
Forrest Seymour
Worcester (Mass
Telegram and Evening Gazette
Benningtoniza
Vernnt
Bennington County
New York State Line
Massachusetts
Bennington College
Nixon
Green Mountains
San Francisco Examiner
New York
Manchester
Brattleboro Reformer
Miller
North Adams Transcript
Eagle
Hoosick Falls
N.Y
Bennington Banner
International Paper Co
Ticonderoga
Lake Champlain
New York Times
Times
Free Library
Planning Commission
House of Representatives
Mount Anthony Union
Lawrence K. Miller
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