The Marion County Record has been selected to receive the 2024 William Allen White Foundation National Citation, marking the first time in the foundation’s history that the award will be presented to an organization rather than an individual. The award, which recognizes individuals or organizations for outstanding journalistic services, comes from a vote of the trustees of the William Allen White Foundation, which is named in honor of White.
Eric Meyer, editor of the Marion County Record, will accept the award on behalf of the Marion County Record in person on Thursday, April 11, at the Kansas Memorial Union.
“To be mentioned in the same breath as the great journalists who have received this award is an honor beyond comprehension,” Meyer said. “It’s an important motivator to our staff as it continues to struggle to serve as an example for community journalists facing intimidation. This honor — especially being the first news organization selected for the award — has given us a much-needed second wind to continue.”
This family-owned, small-town Kansas newspaper has long been known for practicing fearless and independent journalism. Then, in August 2023, city police officers swooped into its newsroom and the home of its owner and publisher with a search warrant to seize computers and cell phones. The raid came in response to reporting the newspaper had been doing on a local business owner and perhaps in response to reporting on the police chief himself.
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