Iron String Press Partners with SUNY-led Reporting Initiative

STAFF REPORT
COOPERSTOWN

An article written by SUNY Oneonta student Tony Savio, published on Thursday, September 26 by Iron String Press, marks the beginning of a partnership that aims to address the problem of declining civic engagement and local “news deserts” throughout New York State.

That story, titled “City Council Approves Stage, Discusses Zoning of Markets,” is the first in a series of articles to be provided by the advanced journalism students of SUNY Oneonta’s Dr. Gayane Torosyan. Thanks to a collaboration between the SUNY system’s Institute for Local News and Iron String Press, these student-written articles will focus on meetings of the City of Oneonta Common Council and will be published in “Hometown Oneonta,” “The Freeman’s Journal” and on AllOtsego.com.

SUNY Oneonta part-time instructor and local media expert Cassandra Miller fact-checked and revised Savio’s story before submitting it to the editor of Iron String Press. Miller offered to help students covering future events by sharing background and contact information related to local news and public affairs.

“I was the youngest person at the City Council meeting,” Savio said, excited to learn that his story was going to be published: “That’s awesome! … And will I write a similar piece for the next meeting with her help as well?”