The Marion County Record has been selected to receive the prestigious 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.
The 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 followed newspaper coverage of a local business owner and perhaps in response to reporting on the police chief himself. The paper’s current editor and KU Alumnus, Eric Meyer, became a widely seen and quoted fighter on the need to protect journalists’ rights. The local authorities ultimately backed down and returned the newspaper’s materials. Meyer will give an address at 3:00 p.m. April 11, in the ballroom of the Kansas Union. The event is free and open to the public.
