The Tribune (Elkin, North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
The Tribune is a tri-weekly newspaper published in Elkin, North Carolina
. It has covered the tri-county area of Surry
, Wilkes
, and Yadkin
counties since 1911. The Tribune has an average paid circulation of about 3,000.
After Laffoon retired in 1968, the newspaper was sold to Mid-South Management Company Inc.
Thomas Fleming succeeded Laffoon as publisher. Soon after the paper was sold, it was expanded to three times weekly. Further, Elkin was dropped from the masthead
, and it became known as The Tribune. In 1970 Rebel Good became editor at the age of 21 and, in 1978, after Fleming experienced health problems, became publisher. He served as editor and publisher for 37 years.
In 2009 Heartland Publications went into bankruptcy. When it emerged in April, 2010, it had shed more than $100 million in debt and the investments of its principals, The Wicks Group, Wachovia Capital Partners and Michael Bush, it's president, were wiped out. It's primary lender, GE Capital, essentially took control of the operations.
By the close of 2010, according to postal records, The Tribune's average paid circulation had slipped even further, to about 2,500. Curiously, in October, 2011, the paper reported its average paid circulation per issue had more than doubled from the previous year, to more than 5,500.
ruled in Elkin Tribune v. Yadkin County Board of Commissioners that the applications were personnel files and are governed by the state's personnel statues, not public records laws.
October 2000, the paper sued Boonville
after the town said it needed a written request and up to five days to produce public records. A North Carolina Superior Court judge ruled in favor of The Tribune, and the town later changed its policy on public records. The paper's suit won it a third-place Community Service Award from the North Carolina Press Association.
wine.
Elkin, North Carolina
Elkin is a town in Surry and Wilkes counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina, along the Yadkin River. Elkin shares its name with the surrounding township of Elkin Township...
. It has covered the tri-county area of Surry
Surry County, North Carolina
Surry County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2010, the population was 73,673. Its county seat is Dobson.- History :The county was formed in 1771 from Rowan County...
, Wilkes
Wilkes County, North Carolina
Wilkes County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The 2000 U.S. Census listed the county's population at 65,632; the 2010 U.S. Census listed the population at 69,340...
, and Yadkin
Yadkin County, North Carolina
- Cities and towns :*Boonville*East Bend*Jonesville*Yadkinville-Towns of the past:These towns were incorporated at one time:*Arlington, merged with Jonesville in 2001.*Hamptonville, chartered in 1818.*Huntsville, incorporated in 1792....
counties since 1911. The Tribune has an average paid circulation of about 3,000.
Overview
Harvey Laffoon (1897-1978) was the owner, publisher and editor of The Elkin Tribune for 42 years, beginning in 1926. He was inducted into the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame in 2002 . In 1949, the paper expanded from a weekly to bi-weekly.After Laffoon retired in 1968, the newspaper was sold to Mid-South Management Company Inc.
Mid-South Management Company Inc.
Mid-South Management Company Inc. owns or operates newspapers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and Georgia. The family-owned company, based in Spartanburg, South Carolina, was started in 1948 by Phil Buchheit, who was then publisher and operator of the Spartanburg Herald-Journal.-Daily...
Thomas Fleming succeeded Laffoon as publisher. Soon after the paper was sold, it was expanded to three times weekly. Further, Elkin was dropped from the masthead
Masthead (publishing)
The masthead is a list, published in a newspaper or magazine, of its staff. In some publications it names only the most senior individuals; in others, it may name many or all...
, and it became known as The Tribune. In 1970 Rebel Good became editor at the age of 21 and, in 1978, after Fleming experienced health problems, became publisher. He served as editor and publisher for 37 years.
Heartland Publications purchase
In June 2007, both The Tribune and the other Surry County-based newspapers were part of a sale from Mid-South Management to Heartland Publications, LLC of Connecticut. In a bid to consolidate operations, Heartland eliminated a dozen staffers from its Mount Airy and Elkin papers, including Tribune Managing Editor Leighanne M. Wright. A week later, Good left his position along with a number of senior staffers. Good and former Mount Airy News publisher Michael Milligan launched The Messenger July 9, 2007, to compete with their former newspapers in Surry County.Over the next two years, as its advertising and circulation plummeted, The Tribune's number of employees dropped from about 30 to fewer than 10.In 2009 Heartland Publications went into bankruptcy. When it emerged in April, 2010, it had shed more than $100 million in debt and the investments of its principals, The Wicks Group, Wachovia Capital Partners and Michael Bush, it's president, were wiped out. It's primary lender, GE Capital, essentially took control of the operations.
By the close of 2010, according to postal records, The Tribune's average paid circulation had slipped even further, to about 2,500. Curiously, in October, 2011, the paper reported its average paid circulation per issue had more than doubled from the previous year, to more than 5,500.
Public records lawsuits
In 1992, the paper sued the Yadkin County Board of Commissioners for access to applications for a Yadkin County manager opening. The paper argued the files were public records. The North Carolina Supreme CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of North Carolina is the state's highest appellate court. Until the creation of the North Carolina Court of Appeals in the 1960s, it was the state's only appellate court. The Supreme Court consists of six associate justices and one chief justice, although the number of justices...
ruled in Elkin Tribune v. Yadkin County Board of Commissioners that the applications were personnel files and are governed by the state's personnel statues, not public records laws.
October 2000, the paper sued Boonville
Boonville, North Carolina
This page is about the town in North Carolina. For other communities of the same name, see Boonville Boonville is a town in Yadkin County, North Carolina, United States...
after the town said it needed a written request and up to five days to produce public records. A North Carolina Superior Court judge ruled in favor of The Tribune, and the town later changed its policy on public records. The paper's suit won it a third-place Community Service Award from the North Carolina Press Association.
Affiliated publication
The Tribune also publishes On the Vine, a quarterly magazine that focuses on Yadkin Valley and North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
wine.