Dewey Beach arrests open government advocate

Last week, a citizen of Dewey Beach, DE, was arrested for theft of a draft audit report which was handed out at the town's Audit Committee meeting. Jeffrey Smith, a long-time open government advocate who has been closely watching the work of Dewey Beach's Audit Committee, received the report at the committee meeting and took it with him at the conclusion of the meeting. Reporters from the Cape Gazette and other news outlets were also present at the meeting and received the same report. After the meeting, the committee chair demanded the draft report be returned. Reporters complied, after making a copy of the report. Jeffrey Smith did not comply. ... More

Delaware's Senator Tom Carper met with representatives from Independent Newsmedia Inc.'s printing and executive teams and MDDC on Tuesday to discuss the ramifications of the newsprint tariffs in effect since January 2018. The story is not pretty. MDDC members have seen newsprint costs rise by about 30% over an eight-nine month period. For instance, INI is spending about $40,000 more PER MONTH on newsprint than it was just one year ago, for less paper. Senator Carper and his staffers educated themselves on this issue and understand how it affects local communities. ... More

The Business Monthly, the biggest selling business publication in Howard and Anne Arundel counties, has changed hands.

Daniel Medinger, an experienced publisher and media executive, has purchased the venerable publication and its digital outlets from current owners Becky Mangus and Cathy Yost. The transaction, that was signed Aug. 6, 2018, takes effect Sept. 1, 2018.
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There has been a tremendous outpouring of support and emotion as our colleagues and friends at the Capital Gazette and Baltimore Sun Media Group pick up the pieces after the tragedy last week at the Capital Gazette offices. Journalists and supporters of a free press were shaken. Our members are taking a deep look at security procedures and how they interact with their communities. MDDC is responding as well. ... More

During the American Revolution community newspapers in the embryonic country bound citizens together with provocative editorials and news of the day as citizens rose up to break free of the tyranny of a King. Many newspapers published the Declaration of Independence and helped to popularize the founding principles of our nascent country.
The Tories saw the news as divisive and slanted.
The Patriots proclaimed freedom of speech against despotic rule.
During the Civil War community newspapers in a divisive country kept track of the dead, the battles and helped inform citizens with editorials and news often seen as opinionated and slanted.
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