The Tribune (Elkin, North Carolina)

The Tribune
Type Tri-weekly newspaper (Published Monday, Wednesday & Friday afternoons)
Format Broadsheet
Owner(s) Civitas Media, LLC
Founded 1911
Headquarters 214 East Main Street
Elkin, North Carolina 28621
 United States
Circulation 4,000
Website elkintribune.com

The Tribune is a thrice-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 4,000.

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.[1] 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. 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.

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 Court 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.[2]

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.[3]

Affiliated publication

The Tribune also publishes On the Vine, a quarterly magazine that focuses on Yadkin Valley and North Carolina wine.

References

  1. ↑ "Former publisher inducted into ‘Hall of Fame’", The Tribune April 15, 2002
  2. ↑ North Carolina Supreme Court docket
  3. ↑ North Carolina Press Association 2001 contest winners

External links