The News Journal/Delaware Online has a legislative reporter on board.
The latest version of the Delaware Online staff directory does not formally list the position.
However, a second click on the web page revealed that Sarah Gamard has been holding down the legislative post since April. She is one of a number of new 20 somethings who have joined the staff as veterans have largely retired or gone elsewhere.
Gamard , who joined the News Journal’s and sister paper Daily Times (Delmarva Now) in Salisbury, late last year has legislative reporting experience in Louisiana. She is a graduate of LSU.
She joins another government reporter from the Pelican State, Xerxes Wilson, who covers New Castle County government.
Gamard has been hitting the high spots with stories on the plastic bag bill and marijuana legalization legislation but has a vast beat that potentially includes the state’s formidable bureaucracy.
Scott Goss, who had worked the legislative beat after moving over from business, left to work for State Senate Democrats.
Legislative reporters are a rare breed in Delaware. The Delaware State News, newspaper and website based in Dover, has never permanently stationed a reporter at Legislative Hall, although it does cover the session. The Associated Press, to its credit, has kept a reporter in Delaware.
Delaware Public Media (WDDE) also covers the legislative waterfront, with WDEL also parachuting in from time to time.
Meanwhile, the News Journal has taken on more of a TV station staffing pattern, with reporters covering topics rather than beats. For example, the roster includes two trend reporters and (reportedly) a reporter who focuses at least part of the beat on the lighter side of Joe Biden’s run for the White House.
So far has remained (mostly) on script.
Buyouts at Philly newspapers
Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Inquirer-Daily News and Philly.com are offering buyouts to more than 100 members of its editorial staff.
The move is evidence that even a newspaper with a corporate structure that does not feel the pressure of meeting quarterly numbers is not immune to the continuing downturn in print revenues.
Those pressures have News Journal parent Gannett in a takeover battle with the Digital First group that is known for its slash and burn cost cutting practices.
Business as usual at WDEL
Delmarva Broadcasting has a new owner and to date, little has changed on the air.
Despite headlines and speculation to the contrary, no on air changes have been reported at flagship station WDEL, Wilmington, Forever Media formally took over ownership of Delmarva in April from the Steinman interests, which own newspapers in the Lancaster, PA.
A couple of corporate positions have been consolidated.
WDEL has a large news department for a mid-sized market. Like its print counterparts, radio news has been targeted for cuts in many markets and the memory of what took place when WILM under Clear Channel-iHeart remains vivid. WILM has moved from a news-talk to a syndicated conservative talk format.
Nothing is certain in this world and Clear Channel moved slowly at first after acquiring AM news station, WILM. WILM which has since moved over to a syndicated conservative talk radio format and pretty much abandoned news.
LaPrade takes advertising helm in Dover
Konrad LaPrade has taken the post of Delmarva Advertising Director for the Independent Media Group and its flagship the Delaware State News.
La Prade is the son of State NewsPublisher Darrel LaPrade. The announcement in the Delaware State News noted that La Prade will report to Independent CEO Ed Dulin to avoid any possible nepotism issues.
LaPrade, who has worked for newspaper chains around the region, has experience on both the print and digital sides of the business.
Independent is not a LaPrade family enterprise. Instead, it has been set up as a nonprofit holding company that pays taxes, but is not subject to ownership battles.
Independent has far-flung newspaper-digital holdings in Delaware, Maryland, Arizona and Florida.
