4 journalists inducted into Maine Press Hall of Fame

James R. Costello, Robert K. Diebold, the late Clayton LaVerdiere and the late John K. Murphy were inducted into the Maine Press Association Hall of Fame Oct.17.

Costello is president and publisher of the Lewiston-based Sun Media Group and has spent 57 years with the company owned by his family. Sun Media Group publications include the daily Sun Journal of Lewiston and 11 weekly newspapers in Maine. Costello was recognized for accomplishments that include his involvement in computerizing the group’s newsroom, business office, and advertising and circulation departments. Under Costello’s leadership, the Sun Journal was named last year as one of the best-designed newspapers in the country by the Society for News Design.

Diebold was managing editor of the Penobscot Times of Old Town. He received honors throughout his career, including 47 Maine Press Association awards and honorable mentions for his work at the weekly Times. He worked there for 13 years. Diebold believed strongly in the public’s right to know, and provided in-depth coverage of Penobscot’s Indian Island tribal government even though it is exempt from Maine’s Freedom of Access Act.

LaVerdiere was a reporter and columnist at the daily Morning Sentinel of Waterville for 50 years. He was recognized for the 20,000 stories and 3,000 columns that he wrote during his time at the paper. LaVerdiere was known as “Mr. Waterville.” Glenn Turner, the Morning Sentinel’s special projects director, said LaVerdiere’s columns were a treasure of information and knowledge about Waterville. LaVerdiere died Nov. 2, 2006, at 85.

Murphy began his career at the Kennebec Journal of Augusta and later became executive editor at the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram. He was recognized for his outstanding editing skills, for which he was said to be “legendary.” His accomplishments included Associated Press writing awards. He was a former president of the Portland Newspaper Guild. Murphy died in 1990 at 73.

The inductions took place at the association’s annual conference.


The item above was written from a published report by Cecilia Akuffo, a graduate student at the Northeastern University School of Journalism and member of the Bulletin staff.

 

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