Our newspaperman, through and through

Don Gronning retires next week

NEWPORT – Don Gronning has had several chapters in his life, all worthy of their own book. He might not say that, but I feel comfortable saying anyone who knows him would. From professional bull rider to social worker, to horse riding guide in Hawaii, radio journalist and newspaper editor, Don has lived a life, and we’ve been lucky enough to have him live some of it at The Miner Newspaper. Don’s bylines, photographs and behind-the scenes efforts have been a staple at the Miner for more than 40 years. Now, he’s getting ready to start a new chapter as he embraces retirement. His last day is Wednesday, May 13, so we hope you will come wish him well at the open house from noon to 2 p.m. at The Miner, 421 S. Spokane Ave., Newport.

“Don is the quintessential newspaperman,” Miner publisher Michelle Nedved said. “He’s been my guide, my mentor and my moral compass for all the years we’ve worked together. Obviously we’ll miss him in the newsroom, but more than that, I’ll miss my friend.”

Don got his start in journalism as a teenager, taking photos and writing up sports for the Cheney Free Press.

“I won’t lie, as a teenager there was a vanity aspect to it,” Don said of his early years as a fledging reporter. “You see the local newspaper and you think, ‘That’s my picture’ or ‘I wrote that.’ I think it helped my confidence to realize that I could be a reporter.”

After getting an undergraduate degree in journalism from Eastern Washington University, he published several of his own newspapers, including Northwest Rodeo Scene and a newspaper covering downtown Spokane called The Downtown Paper. He worked at the Miner from 1988-1991 the traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico to write for an English language newspaper before returning to Washington to write freelance for area publications.

His journalism experience also includes radio newscasts for Manao Radio on Maui and KYRS Thin Air Community Radio in Spokane. Don returned to The Miner in 2010. He’s won more awards for his writing than I can count in time for deadline, including numerous awards from the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association (WNPA).

“It’s quite a different industry than it used to be,” Don said of journalism. “I think local newspapers might be positioned better than some of the regional and national publications, because local newspapers really have their finger on the pulse of their communities and how issues on a federal and state level affect local government, schools, resources, all of that.”

Before debates of AI in newsrooms and countering misinformation spread via social media, Don entered journalism when reporters typed on manual typewriters and cut and rubber glued their copy together, before editing and sending stories to a typesetter. Photos were developed in The Miner’s darkroom. While the technology has changed and journalists have had to learn how to adapt, the goal of the weekly newspaper remains the same, according to Don.

“You write to celebrate your community, to inform your community, to challenge your community when it needs it,” Don said.

Don has done all of that and more. He’s been a mentor to countless reporters, including yours truly. He is passionate about government accountability, regardless of political affiliations. He believes in championing the poor, underserved and overlooked and doesn’t worry about if he looks good doing it.

We will miss him and wish him all the best. If you feel the same, please join us next Wednesday and let him know.

SOPHIA MATTICE-ALDOUS IS A MURROW NEWS FELLOW WORKING DIRECTLY WITH NEWSROOMS AT THE NEWPORT MINER AND RANGE MEDIA THROUGH A PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY. HER REPORTING IS AVAILABLE FOR USE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS WITH CREDIT.