The hardest-working newspaperman

Being of a somewhat advanced age and having spent considerable time sending news pages to press, I have a sincere appreciation for those in the business. Particularly for those who do it right.

For the past quarter of a century, I've either known or worked with the vast majority of newspapermen in this part of Ohio.

(Personally, I prefer the term "newspaperman," and hold others who've earned that courtesy title in higher regard than those who would call themselves "journalists."

(This old Ridgerunner/scribe/hack/journeyman press operator ain't no journalist. Period.)

As I was saying, I've been fortunate to know several very good newspapermen and some outstanding pressmen in the past 30 years. One of the hardest-working press operators I've ever known is Orland Willis, who attended last week's county commissioners' meeting. Orland could work circles around many of us on his worst day.

In terms of overall qualifications – from editorial decision-making, to advertising and marketing, to pre-press and composition, to the finished press run, to circulation and distribution, Clarence Graham of Wilmington was among the best of the best. Those who worked with Clarence were all the better for that experience.

One of my former publishers, Phil Roberts of Hillsboro, also was a good newspaperman. But on questionable issues regarding editorial decisions, even Phil would occasionally defer to Clarence Graham.

I'll always remember one particularly trying story on the local application of a relatively new legal term known as the "battered spouse" defense. Our story included a fatal shooting and a newspaper editorial opinion in which we offered that the application of a "battered spouse" defense ought to be a very rare application.

The news story wasn't too difficult. I sat in former Highland County Prosecutor (and now Judge) Rocky Coss' office before publishing anything. He walked me through the legal code and we went over the evidence which he could share.

Later, I felt strongly that an editorial was in order. I couldn't get it just right. Phil told me to call Clarence Graham. The two of us worked it out in about 15 minutes. As I remember, Clarence did not like my use of the word "unfortunate" as a modifier of the fatal incident.

"That's too weak," he said. He was right.

To be sure, there have been other outstanding newspapermen in southern Ohio.

In fact, it pleases me to say, one of the best is an editor at The Highland County Press.

He will not appreciate the fact that I'm writing this. (I hope he'll forgive me, rather than inflict serious bodily harm upon my person.)

Stephen Forsha is, without a doubt, the hardest-working newspaperman I've known in 25 years. Someone else used to own that title. But the torch has been passed.

This past high school basketball season Stephen probably set a new standard for local coverage (and a standard that very few future sportswriters will dare to approach.)

Simple arithmetic tells us there are five high schools in Highland County, each having a boys and a girls varsity basketball team, with each team playing approximately 20 regular-season games before entering into sectional tournament play. Allowing for each team to play just one tournament game, that's 210 varsity basketball games. And that does not take into account other high school sports coverage or Southern State Community College coverage or column writing or photography or video production.

At the start of the 2012-13 high school basketball season, Stephen announced that he would have coverage of every game in The Highland County Press and/or online at www.highlandcountypress.com.

As of Monday, Feb. 18, Stephen had provided coverage of every single game – with one exception. He hadn't written about the McClain Tigers' game on Saturday, Feb. 16. Readers noticed, too.

Less than 48 hours after the conclusion of the Tigers' Saturday game, a very nice lady from Greenfield called the HCP, asking about when the game would be posted. (Stephen had another tournament game on Feb. 16.)

When I replied that he was writing the story now, the lady said: "I should have known. He hasn't missed a game all season."

No, he hasn't. And thanks for noticing.

To his credit, Stephen's 2012-13 high school sports coverage started with the preseason "previews" four months ago and has been in non-stop, high gear every day since last November.

In addition to providing outstanding print coverage, Stephen also records numerous local sports videos on our website and provides real-time scores and updates through his Twitter account and writes two or three local sports columns each week.

To be honest, he works too hard. (But it doesn't do any good to tell him that.)

Other area media also appreciate Stephen's hard work. Just check out how many views his standings and statistical pages receive throughout the season. Some of these folks are professional enough to acknowledge Stephen's hard work when they use it (thanks, Stew, and thanks, Pat).

Others…well, I'm in a generous mood on this glorious weekend, so we won't go there.

Suffice it to say that The Highland County Press readers are very fortunate to have Stephen Forsha covering sports for Hillsboro, McClain, Fairfield, Lynchburg-Clay and Whiteoak high schools, as well as area colleges and pro teams.

Without a doubt, he is the hardest-working newspaperman in Highland County. The only criticism I have is that, by comparison, I feel like a slacker. An old one at that.

Thanks, Stephen.

Rory Ryan is publisher of The Highland County Press.