Lee Enterprises announces regional publisher for Daily Sun

Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 09:50:08 am CDT

Daily Sun staff

Jim Ristow has been named the new regional publisher for the Beatrice Daily Sun, Plattsmouth Journal and One Magazine in Omaha, Lee Enterprises, parent company for the three publications, announced on Thursday.

He replaces Ken Lingen, who had been Daily Sun publisher since February 2007.

A graduate of Bellevue College, Ristow has served as publisher of the Plattsmouth newspaper since 2005.

Previously, he worked for 20 years in the circulation department of the Omaha World-Herald, working his way up to circulation director. He also served as president for a number of World-Herald subsidiary companies.

As part of Thursday’s announcement, Lee eliminated the Beatrice publisher position in favor of the regional publisher arrangement. Ristow said the regional publisher concept is one that a number of newspaper companies have implemented in recent years to deal with the changing communications industry.

“It makes sense if there is synergy among the properties,” he said. “Companies are looking for ways to gain efficiency among units.”

Ristow said he had no preconceived ideas for what steps he will take as new manager for the Beatrice newspaper.

“When I came to Plattsmouth I kept an open mind and tried to get a picture of the landscape,” he said. “I want what’s best for the community and to look at the big picture in Beatrice.”

Ristow’s wife, Judy, works for First National Bank-Omaha. They have three daughters, Christina, 26, of Bellevue; Courtney, 23, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Jackie, 21, of Papillion.

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HurraY

Jul 11, 2008 11:29 AM

Finally! Objective Opinion reporting will be allowed!!

Daily Reader

Jul 11, 2008 1:09 PM

This is sad - losing more local connections in town.

Remember the old days when the people providing services in town actually resided in town and were involved in the community?

Remember when you could call a local number and talk to a fellow citizen for a problem with your phone? Try that now! Remember Bud Pentz and the "newsmobiles" from KWBE? Now it's sattelite feed programming a couple reporters with limited resources. Remember when the local paper consisted of local people - - -

moving here

Jul 11, 2008 4:35 PM

Is he moving to our area? If not, might as well move the whole thing out of town...the beginning (or maybe middle) of the end for this paper.

Sorry

Jul 11, 2008 7:07 PM

Gee I cant seem to recall those good ol'days here? Maybe its because my family was too POOR to be heard by any of those local business people.

Something to consider

Jul 12, 2008 9:32 AM

This move is not at all surprising to me. The reality is that a newspaper thrives when a community thrives and is willing to support the publish of local news and information. The move to a regional publisher scenario is a sound and justifiable one, in light of the Beatrice economic situation and inability to attract more new retailers and to sustain existing ones. Lee Enterprises owns the Daily Sun (NOT the Lincoln Journal Star). Lee Enterprises is a publicly traded company. Do the math.

Daily Reader

Jul 15, 2008 10:29 AM

Hmmm, if you do a Who Is search on the Lincoln Journal Star web site registration it says it's owned by Lee:

Whois Record

Registrant:
Lee Procurement Solutions Co.
201 North Harrison Street
Suite 600
Davenport, IA 52801
US

Domain name: JOURNALSTAR.COM

Administrative Contact: dnasadmin@leeenterprises.com
Staff, Administrative
201 North Harrison Street
Suite 600
Davenport, IA 52801
US
800-579-6397
Technical Contact: dnasadmin@leeenterprises.com
Staff, Administrative
201 North Harrison Street
Suite 600
Davenport, IA 52801
US
800-579-6397

Whether it makes economic sense or not, it's a sad move. As the small towns lose their local connections the general feeling of community and nighborlyness of a small town is dimished and such moves seem to accelerate the downward momentum of a small town - especially when it involves the communication/news dissemination in the area (be it a newspaper, radio station, or even local watering hole whether people gathered and visited).

pck

Jul 15, 2008 12:23 PM

Its about time they got some good people in here

Daily Reader

Jul 15, 2008 12:51 PM

I just checked at Lee Enterprises home page at Lee dot net and it shows that Lee does indeed own the Lincoln Journal Star as well as the Beatrice Daily Sun, Columbus Telegram, and the Fremont Tribune.

exreporter

Jul 15, 2008 1:34 PM

It's called a monolopy people! Come on...

mimi

Jul 15, 2008 2:46 PM

New reporters? GOOD, Maybe now they will do some investigating reporting and tell us the truth about Ann Kelley

Reader

Jul 15, 2008 4:52 PM

To Mimi: I don't think the paper can report more than what is released by the police and sheriff departments. A reporter cannot "make up" the news. If you want to place blame, place it on the appropriate officials not the reporters! I feel the reporters do an admirable job reporting facts that are released by the law. We have to have faith that the legal authorities release whatever information is in everyone's best interest.

Jul 16, 2008 6:55 AM

To "Hurray": my sentiments exactly

jan

Jul 16, 2008 9:19 AM

Keep local business local. I agree with Daily Reader's first entry. KWBE's changes don't impress me - Now the Daily Sun. Sheesh, even my dentist lives in lincoln. What if I get a toothache on a saturday?

Dear Reader

Jul 16, 2008 3:03 PM

That would be called investigating reporting. I would doubt that Randy or Gus are sitting by the phone with speed dial to the paper to tell them what they know. An investigative reporter would talk to friends, family, and the authorities and then report their findings.

To Dear Reader

Jul 16, 2008 3:17 PM

I hear they have a couple of openings in the newsroom. Why don't you apply?

I think you meant me

Jul 16, 2008 4:04 PM

and not Reader. I was responding to Reader's comments about the paper making up news that it all came from the sheriff or CA.

However now that you have responded to me about a job, I don't have a degree in journalism, but Ok, when can I start?

I know who I meant

Jul 16, 2008 4:52 PM

The Daily Sun's contact information is on this website and their phone number is in the phone book. I can't speak for them, but I'm sure they would appreciate getting an application from you.

To REader

Jul 16, 2008 5:08 PM

I am sincerely doubtful that anyone at this paper has a degree in journalism!! So you would be on even footing!!

Daily Reader

Jul 16, 2008 5:48 PM

Since you don't have a jounalism degree I would imagine that you would first need to show your competence. Perhaps if you wrote a few articles and submitted them gratis so they could evaluate your abilities?

I'm sure they'd welcome some local contributors, at least Diane used to when I would occasionally submit something.

Something to Consider To REader

Jul 16, 2008 11:15 PM

I have close ties to the Beatrice Daily Sun and your assumption is incorrect. The Daily Sun does, in fact, have many Journalism majors on its existing staff (both in news and in advertising) and seeks to attract the most qualified journalists it can, just as any employer does. The ability to do so, however, is in direct correlation with the relative attractiveness of the community at large. Despite my affinity for Beatrice, it is not a "bull market."

I apologize

Jul 17, 2008 9:53 AM

I take back my journalism comment, and feel for those degrees which must put in their experience years in this Titanic of a community.

interesting

Jul 17, 2008 9:34 PM

that the local radio station reported that certain lakes and pits were being searched by divers for Ann Kelley. So how come the radio reports it and yet the graduates of Journalism school dont?

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