Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-09-30, Page 24Huron Si g n the days when newspapers wore their political leanings like a banner, The Huron Signal was established in Goderich in 1848 through the inhluence of the Hon. Malcolm Cameron, a Liberal. That newspaper,was owned and pullish- ed by Charles Dolsen. The editor was Scotsman Thomas MacQueen, a man described as an odd combination of poet and reformer. s - MacQueen actually came to Goderich in 1847, at The invitation of Malcolm Cameron who had known him from his association with The Bathurst Courier in Perth, Ontario. The first issue of The Huron Signal was published February 4; 1848, and MacQueen set to work right away to campaign for responsible government, for the Church of nal was e England to relinquish control of King's College, for the development of education and for the secularization of the clergy reserves. MacQueen purchased the Huron Signal in August of 1848 and continued his work until 1852 when he was persuaded to establish The Canadian in Hamilton, a publication financed by a group of reformers. The venture failed in 1854. So did a temperance newspaper, The Spirit of Age which was in business for on- ly about six months. The paper was established at Hamilton by MacQueen again in co-operation with his old cohort Malcolm Cameron. During the Tnriod between 1852 and 1880, The Huron Signal was published by George and John Cox; by Cox and Smith; by ,tablished ire 1848 J.J.Bell; by Allan and Dickson; and finally by Allan and Gissing. In 1880, the McGillicuddy Brothers became publishers. When Thomas McGillicuddy left in 1886, Dan McGillicud- dy became sole proprietor and changed the name of the newspaper to The Goderich Signal. The official Conservative paper for Goderich was established in 1865 by W.D.Donaghey, Wes Simmon and James Mitchell. Known as The Goderich Star, it was taken over in 1903 by Vanatter and W.H.Robertson. The Goderich Signal and The Goderich Star were amalgamated in 1937 with Alfred Wilkes as publisher. The news- paper became The Goderich Signal -Star. In 1946 George L.Ellis and W.A.Robert- son were publishers of The Goderich PAGE 5 Signal -Star with George Ellis becoming sole publisher in 1951. In 1962, R.G.Shrier purchased an interest in the newspaper and in 1965 became the major shareholder and publisher when Ellis retired. The Goderich Signal -Star is published weekly in 1987 with a circulation of 5,000 copies. The staff comprises a general manager; an editor and three reporters; an advertising manager and four staff members who service the Goderich and area business community; and seven clerical workers, all of whom have duties - with Signal -Star Publishing Limited as well as with The Goderich Signal -Star. The paper averages 30 broadsheet pages per week and carries an average of one special edition per month produced by The Goderich Signal -Star staff. P o le have .helped make SSP a succes pep . G. Shrier, president o£ Signal - RStar Publishing Limited (SSP) wrote this obervation in A 1983: "I've often asked myself in private moments, how did this company get the point itis today? Seneca, the Roman philopher said, 'If a man doe not _ know which port he is sailing;, any wind is favourable.' I think that's what Seneca said applies to Signal -Star Publishing Limited.•' From time to time, Shrier speaks to au- diences about the dream he had as a very young man to be his own boss, to have his own business, to have his own newspaper. It was because of that dream that R.G. Shrier believed he would purchase a newspaper one day and make -it a suc- cessful venture. It was because of that dream that in 1965 he signed on the dotted line to buy one of Huron County's finest weekly newspapers. It was because of that dream thveat in y tender Shrier went out on a very long, limb to purchase the area's first web offset press at a price of over $100,000. About this time; Signal -Star staff around R.G.Shrier began to catch the dream. And the rest is -history. In 20 years, the one newspaper dream had mushroomed to include seven weekly newspapers: The Goderich Signal -Star t 19651; The Clinton News -Record (1967) ; The Kincardine News (19691; The Mitchell Advocate (1976 ); 'Fhe Lucknow Sentinel t 1977); The Huron Expositor at Seaforth )1982); and' The Walkerton Herald -Times 1984). The company also includes the • newsmagazine FOCUS, formerly The Huron Shopping News, established in 1966, now serving most of Huron County and all of the village of Lucan in Middlesex County; and Leisure Life, established in 1980, serving an area bounded by Sarnia, Chatham and London on the south, Strat- ford to the east, Collingwood, Owen Sound and Tobermory on the north, and Lake Huron: on the west. While the company's string of publica- tions has grown and flourished, so has the printing division of SSP. Quite a variety of typesetting equipment has come and gone through -the production - department at SSP since the company was formed in 1967. Modern technology in'the typesetting field is astounding, and keep- ing current is an ongoing process of discar- ding outdated equipment and buying newer, faster and more efficient systems. (See elsewhere in this edition for mnt acom- plete inventory of today's equip at SSP. t From its early location•on West Street, Signal -Star Publishing Limited moved to the new plant in Industrial Park on Huckins Street in June 1974. The pressroom was -enlarged in 1981 and more office space was built in 1982. In 1984, a .third addition to the original building was constructed to house a new larger mailing room. and space for a new bindery facility. Also in 1984, the company .moved to an in-house computer system which now sees the company's bookkeeping functions handled in the SSP plant. t For more details, see elsewhere in this edition. i elsewhere in t Signal -Star Publishing Limited carries a staff of about 125 full-time and part-time employees at its seven locations. The an- nual payroll is approaching $2 million. R.G.Shrier's dream has become reality for many people on staff at SSP, and his philosphy to allow each staff member to pursue his or her personal dream within the company the company has pro to be a remarkable part of SS s success. ••I am proud of the people I work with, and they are proud of what they have built," claims Shrier. "They are the ones who know to which port they are sailing and it is they who are selecting the favourable winds." • Ethel Green, -Gene Ellis and Bob Henry cut the ribbon to open the new building. usiness hfe at SSP ski• advertising manager at The Huron Ex - Leisure Life and Shirley J. Keller is positor in Seaforth: general manager of FOCUS Ron Wassink, editor. and Pat Flett, advertising manager at The Walkerton Herald -Times: Shelley McPhee-Haist. editor, and Tom Thompson. advertising manager at • Leisure Life: Shirley J. Keller, editor, and Tom Thompson, advertising manager at FOCUS Newsmagazine. George Vanderburgh is pressroom manager; Lloyd Lounsberry is supervisor' of the composing room assisted by Linda Vance: Don Kellestme is mailing room - bindery supervisor; and Bruce Sinclair is general office manager and the company's computer advisor. The company's personnel department is There are many facets to Signal -Star Pubishing Limited is com- prised of several ventures, each operating independently within the parent company. The top management role at Signal -Star Publishing Limited is shared by Flynn and John Buchanan. Flynn. general manager of publishing, is in charge ofall the publications at SSP. Buchanan, general manager of printing, directs all produc- tion, printing, bindery and mailing func- tions at SSP. Each of the company's seven weekly newspapers has: a general manager. These include Shirley J. Keller, The Goderich Signal -Star; Gary Haist, The Clinton News -Record; Joy Manley, The TKincar- dine i che Mitchell dine News; Brian' Eickmeyer, Advocate; Pat Livingston, The Lucknow Sentinel; Ed Byrski, The Huron Expositor at Seaforth; and Ron Wassink, The Walkerton Herald -Times. . Toni Thompson is general manager of - Newsmagazine. Each of the company's publications has its own editor and advertising manager. They are: Dave Sykes, editor, and Don Hubick. advertising manager at The Goderich Signal -Star; •Haist. Anne Narejko, editor. and Gary advertising manager at The'Clinton News- Recor(! . Joy Manley, editor, and Bruce MacLen- nan. advertising manager at The Kincar- dine News; Andy Bader, editor, and Brian Eickmeyer, advertising manager at The Mitchell Advocate: Rob Bundy. editor. and Tom Thompson. under the direction of Dave Sykes. Sentinel: manager at The Lucknow Shirley J. Keller is editorial co-ordinator Sentinel: Heather McIl�rraith, editor. and Ed Byr- for SSP.