The Daily News (Batavia)

The Daily News began publication on June 25, 1878.[6] From 1881 to 1938, G.S. Griswold served as publisher along with partner McWain. A prominent member of the community, he was one of the charter members of the Associated Press and its one-time president.[7]

In 1897, the Daily News bought The Batavian, a rival weekly that had operated since 1868. Enlarging it, they turned it from an independent paper to a Republican one.[8]

In 1984, The Daily News won a USA Today printing contract.[9] The contract allowed regional printing of USA Today serving Western New York, and resulted in a printing plant expansion.

In 1992, Mark Graczyk is promoting to managing editor of the paper. Graczyk, who has been with the newspaper since 1988. By spending time with the organization for the last 4 years he was able to show a connection with a community.

The Tom Turnbull era as Publisher started from 2002 till 2013. One of the challenges in the 21st century was and still is to this day of the internet. Some may call it helpful but others may feel differently about it. Even those who grew up in the country still rely on their news source from newspapers, television, and radio. Three loyal sources that have been a traditional go-to source that you can trust. With the internet, you will need to be careful about what you read. As in, if you read an idea then the source will be print first before going online. Almost like a double-check make sure everything was reading correctly. From a societal point of view, this was going to take time to transition. Regardless if you live in a country, suburbs, and/or city.

In a step by step process of watching an idea of a newspaper website introducing do you start or do you let someone else create it? This was a big question not just in Batavia but also across the country and globe. There was a lot of thinking before going into the project like an example presentation. In time, companies have adapted to the idea of jumping into the newspaper website; because, the theme of living in the new era has started.

In May 2008, Howard Owens decided to adventure out into the Batavia area. From there he established an online newspaper community known as The Batavian; however, there was a twist to the idea of adding blogging from a neighborhood point of view. When the website was release not many people knew what to think of the idea. From local subscribers to businesses and the Batavia Daily News. This actually gave the organization to see how everyone will react when the idea is being introduced. As in brainstorm their own ways of how they want to make their own website. The wait and see approach was a better way to look at it; because this is an adjustment staff and community as well during the 21st century.

2009 has become one of the most challenging years for every industry in the country. After recovering from a 2nd Slightly Recession started back in 2007 was still continuing in 2009. However, in some opinion, there are a few companies out there that actually will call a small time period of the 2nd Great Depression due to ideas becoming shut down. Less "Ma and Pa" Companies and more commercial companies taking over. The Obama Presidency did not factor much of the situation due to time of the length of a Recession 19 Months (1 year and 7 months). The Great Depression was 43 months (3 years and 8 months). Because of changing business models under the modern time of learning, cuts were being made. This was being led by the class of 2006-2008 of a college education. Plus the House and Senate that draw the ideas to help during the Recession. By having these ideas factoring in made some unique opportunity that was being noticed throughout the country. For example, Gannett, who owned the USA Today paper had to make a very difficult decision by ending the contract with the Johnson Newspaper Corporation during that summer. Losing this contract will lead to future changes in this organization of the Printing Press. Not just the media we’re going through changes, other industries as well. Another example, the car industry... almost a repeat of an era of history in the 1980s. Sort of similar during the 1st Slightly Recession during the Presidency of Ronald Reagan.

On February 17th, 2010 the BDN joined the YouTube Channel (U2BE), bought by Google on Nov. 13th, 2006. Google was created back on September 4th, 1998. The U2BE was created back in Feb. 14th, 2005 an idea that had a society multi-point of view on what life can be a picture in. There were several reasons and benefits, why the organization joined in. 1.) This was a way to connect the local audience, who are subscribers to understand what is going not a reading and/or a single image or multiple images point of view or the audio file... but a full-motion image with the sound being displayed to them while understanding a story. 2.) For those, who may not live in the surrounding area that may be moving there due to their personal storyline, may wish to watch this from wherever their current location is. 4.) This also served as an online Time Capsule in that area. 5.) Since Facebook (FB), was created back in 2004 didn't allow video uploading process a link from YouTube can be used to place on their page. Yet, to this date (June 6th, 2020) there are still growing problems with organization and society that are still being address. 5.) Plus with any Social Media ideas can always crash also known as close down. That is why, using YouTube Channel is a Primary Source of uploading Video; while, other Social Platforms sites are Secondary. Plus placing the link from the source to the main website. 6.) Keep in mind in with the Newspaper industry that was back in 1690 was and is to this today to paint a picture of a society in that area. This is no different when using the YoutTube Channel. As in what can be improved, and how to inform the public what is going on. 7.) Youtube Offer Live video starting on November 22nd, 2008 which gave the organization an upper hand. 8.) For an educational purpose for the training modules for their current staff and also for a college student and/or professor that needs to do research on a visual concept of what is going on in their current study. One of the misconceptions that many people in the latest era of the YouTube Channel movement is that you didn't need the latest technology to use a video recorder. Even if you use something back in 2000 or even 2005 can still be used in 2008 to run a live video as long as you had other modern technology at the time.

Then on August 30th, 2010 the Buffalo News started to print BDN. Not only did they print the Daily News, but they also printed the Livingston County News and Drummer Pennysaver.

The Batavia Daily News also took on responsibility on social media in the Facebook and Twitter world. Unfortunately haven't focused on fun Instagram, an idea missing out on. Pros vs Cons of Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Digital Paid Subscription vs Free Digital Subscription - to continue.

In 2014, the history of the home location of Batavia Daily News went up for sale. A successful buyer purchased the building on September 20th. There was a lot of talk about the organization moving closer to the City of Batavia. Unfortunately, the company was looking for at the time availability didn't make any sense to make a move. They will always keep an open eye if an opportunity does open up. Some wonder what lead to the situation. There was a notice of a steady decline of the population in the coverage they offer for news-wise. In 2010 the population of Counties - Genesee: 59,940, Orleans: 42,842 and Wyoming: 42,121. During the sale of 2014, there was a steady decrease in all three areas - Genesee: 58,725, Orleans: 41,861, and Wyoming: 41,129. Then five years later (2019) numbers continue to dwindle - Genesee: 57,280, Orleans: 40,352, and Wyoming: 40,085 (2018 due to no results in 2019). The Buffalo News reported on the date, June 14, 2014, that the circulation of numbers was at 10,200 being published for public to read.

During 2015, long time faithful Managing Editor Mark Graczyk chose a different path and went up to the Watertown Daily Times. He accepted a position as Copy Editor which did overlook several newspapers. One being the Batavia Daily News. In the wake of the change of the newspaper industry, the Batavia Daily News was fortunate to hire Tiffany Towner to take on the ropes of the future of the paper. Towner spent some time getting to know the community.

In September 2017, John Anderson replaced Tiffany Towner as the managing editor of the paper.

2018-2019 the Batavia Daily News started to relook at the contract with the Buffalo News. Due to the cutting down of newspapers being printed that was not necessary, a change of having the home office in Watertown, NY became a very large interest to do.

Batavia Daily News switched from publishing six days a week to a five day was another adjustment with the business model of times. By eliminating Monday's the focus of readers interest was still from Tuesday-Saturday. Then later in 2019, Ben Beagle took over the job as John Anderson. Anderson took on a similar job down in Texas. Beagle, who before had a connection with the Batavia Daily News as the Lifestyles editor went to the sister paper, the Livingston County Newspaper as Editor. After spending just over 5 years in Geneseo and the work experience that he learn to guide him to become the Regional Editor.

Poll History

A 2009 poll in The Batavian, an online news site and a competitor to the Batavia Daily News founded in 2008, indicated that 37.2 percent of respondents felt that partisanship did not figure into The Daily News coverage, while 23.4 percent of respondents felt it leaned Republican, and 17.9 percent felt it leaned Democrat. 21.1 percent answered, "not sure."[10]

The Batavia Daily News (BDN) staff had a lot of heart to show in the product of the newspaper industry.

During the 2013 Awards of the New York State Associated Press Association (NYSAPA) in the Under 15,000 circulation the following rewards were acknowledged: Features Reporting, 2nd Place - Wrongfully Accused by Scott DeSmit; Continuing Coverage, 3rd Place - Council votes "out of the trash business" by Joanne Beck (past employee); Sports Photography, 3rd Sports - Mixed Emotions by Mark Gutman.

While in 2015 the following members were reward of their hard work by the New York State Associated Press Association Division 1 (Circulation under 15,000): Best Arts/Entertainment Reporting, 3rd Place - "Foreigner: Attica chic to perform with famous rockers" by Matt Krueger (past employee); Best Sports Story, 3rd Place - "Leaving their Field of Dreams" by Nate Rider; Best Illustration or Graphic, 1st Place - "Cupid in Training"

The National Press Photography Association (NPPA) of the Region 2 area of the same year recognized past Chief Photographer Rocco Laurienzo for 3rd place in February for Spot News and September in General News. Staff Photographer, Mark Gutman placed 1st in the month of July for Feature/Single. Gutman also placed 2nd in April for Sports and Feature/Single Picture. Plus in September in Spot News and November as well in the same category.

The Daily News employees were also being recognized by the New York News Publishers Association, Inc. (NYNPA) in Under 10,000 Circulation Class. In Distinguished Sports Column Writing won by Bill Bruton; Photographer Mark Gutman won the following awards: Distinguished News Photography - "Working in the shadows", Distinguished Feature Photography - "Thrill of a lifetime" and Distinguished Sports Photography - "Dusty run".

The 2016 year was another great run by BDN personnel! The NYNPA recognized them Under 10,000 Circulation Class of the following: Distinguished Column Writing for columns by Scott DeSmit. Gutman had another strong year by retaining last years awards! The following photographs claimed the award which was "Carriage House" for Distinguished News Photography. Then "Lightning over the city" for Distinguished Feature Photography. Last, "Hit by pitch" had the wow factor in Distinguished Sports Photography.

For Gutman, he had a very recognizable year that caught NPPA attention! Placing 1st in February for Spot News, March in Feature/Single and May for Spot News. He placed 2nd in the month of June for Spot News, while August for General News and October for Spot News as well. Even 3rd place as his as well for May under Feature/Single, August same group and October for General News.

Tiffany Towner, a former managing editor at The Daily News, was selected for Editor & Publisher's 2017 "25 under 35" list of the “next generation of newspaper publishing leaders.”[11]

In 2017, The Daily News gained recognition at the New York Press Association's Better Newspaper Awards in a number of categories, including second place in Division Three editorials and first place in Division Three feature photos.[12]