Gazette publisher wins first Francis L. Partsch award
Surrounded by family members from around the country, and friends and community leaders from Southwest Nebraska and Northwest Kansas, Gazette Publisher Gene Morris accepted the first Francis L. Partsch Award for Editorial Leadership.
"This is the kind of community that believes in participatory democracy," he told the Omaha World Herald, which established the $10,000 cash prize named for Partsch, who served as editorial pages editor of the Omaha newspaper from 1982 to 2002.
"It's just a belief that this is our town, this is our state, and this is our country -- and we stand up and say our piece," he said.
On the eve of a McCook city sales tax vote that serves to punctuate his point, Morris, who has been the Gazette's publisher since 1990, was presented the award by Partsch himself, as well as John Gottschalk, publisher of the World-Herald.
The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce was host of a reception in Morris' honor at the Coppermill Restaurant on Monday evening.
In addition to the cash prize, the award features a custom-designed, life-size bronze hand, mounted on a 20-pound block of printer's stone. The hand holds an 11-inch glass quill pen.
"Gene truly fits the mold of leadership that we envisioned when we decided to honor a newspaper person who exemplifies the highest standards of opinion writing in responsibly exercising the community leadership role of newspapers," Partsch said.
"In addition, he exhibits qualities that we wanted to honor with this award, namely 'clear thinking and skillful, persuasive and constructive writing that impacts the community.'"
"He is a publisher who takes an active role in managing the opinion function of his newspaper, both as an inspirer of editorial positions and a prolific writer of editorials. He has selected his topics wisely, not wallowing in platitude, but commenting forthrightly on the business of his community. His writing shows a commitment to not merely asserting his views, but buttressing them with fact and logic. He is unafraid of controversy, yet avoids creating it needlessly. Day in and day out, week in and week out, he maintains his editorial page as a voice of reason, sometimes jovial, sometimes humorous and sometimes bristling with righteous anger."
Partsch noted that the award "is not a writing prize. We aren't necessarily looking for the best editorial writer in the field. Rather, the judges in this competition look for the results that we bring about in our communities because of the leadership exercised in opinion-writing ... results that may spring from one powerful editorial, or one editorial crusade, or a long-term pattern of editorial leadership."
Partsch cited the Gazette's leadership in:
- The renaming of McCook Community College as the "McCook Campus of Mid-Plains Community College."
Morris "hammered on the proposal" until the old name was restored.
- The purchase of the old Army Air Base.
- When a public official announced plans to resign several weeks after an election in which his seat was not at stake, the Gazette's editorial page demanded -- and got -- a prompt resignation, in time for voters to fill the vacancy rather than having it filled by appointment.
"A great editorialist does not lead an ivory tower existence," World Herald Publisher Gottschalk said.
Readers and leaders throughout the region rely on thoughtful opinions of newspapers. His goal in establishing the Partsch award, Gottschalk said, is to recognize and encourage more and better editorial writing in Nebraska newspapers.
Morris, 64, has been publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette since 1990. Before returning to the Gazette, he was owner of the Benkelman Post & News-Chronicle and managing editor of the Winfield (Kan.) Daily Courier and the Gazette.
He is a past president and a former board member of the Nebraska Press Association.
"With almost everything good that has happened in McCook in the last few years, somewhere you'll find Gene's thumbprint," said Allen Beermann, executive director of the press association.
It's important for editorial writers to be active citizens who participate in the give-and-take of their communities, Morris said.
He credited Gazette founder Harry Strunk, as Allen Strunk and Jack Rogers as being his role models as editorialists for the paper.
"What you try to do is be a positive leader, not only for the newspaper, but also for the community and area you serve," Morris said. "That's what we try to do on a daily basis."