Bill Speer

ALPENA — The Michigan Press Association on Thursday honored The News’ recently retired publisher Bill Speer as the first recipient of the Award for Distinguished Service during its annual awards ceremony on Zoom, where several News reporters also received awards.

Bill Speer inspired the MPA to create the award, MPA Public Affairs Manager Lisa McGraw said in an email to The News. McGraw said when they heard he was retiring, they wanted to acknowledge everything he did for MPA and newspapers in Michigan.

“I’ve held him up for years as an example of amazing grass roots interaction with legislators, and in his roles in leadership on the various boards for MPA he’s steered us through some rough waters with a very steady hand,” she said.

The distinguished service award, which was presented by Bill Speer’s son, Jeremy Speer, is given to MPA members who go above and beyond in their communities.

Speer was president of the MPA in 2015 at a time when the organization was going through a critical transition. During his tenure, he hired a new CEO and helped navigate the organization through some new territory as many newspapers across the state reduced publication days or switched to all electronic versions.

“While serving as publisher in Alpena since 1991, Bill, my dad, was active in this community steering The News into a can’t miss part of the daily routine on the Sunrise Side,” Jeremy Speer, who is publisher of three Ohio newspapers, said. “Through his weekly column he stood up for the people and the issues that affect the region.

Jeremy Speer said Bill Speer was a major asset to the public policy team at the MPA, his ability to communicate and forge relationships with elected officials was a gift to all newspapers in Michigan.

Bill Speer also never hesitated to volunteer to raise the public face of MPA with elected officials, hosting lunches, forging a bond with the northern caucus and inviting the state attorney general to come to Alpena to discuss open government, Jeremy Speer said.

“As president of the MPA Bill steered us through some difficult times with a steady hand,” Jeremy Speer said. “Now as treasurer of the MPA foundation, we appreciate his guidance on fiscal issues for the board.

Thank you, Bill, for your work and dedication to the MPA and the business of newspapering for over all of these years. Your examples were noted and we are pleased to honor you with the first ever MPA Award for Distinguished Service.”

The News’ Publisher/editor Justin Hinkley congratulated Bill Speer on his achievement.

“I can’t think of a better person to win any award in journalism,” Hinkley said. “Bill Speer’s stewardship made The Alpena News not only one of the best papers in northern Michigan, but one of the best in the entire state, and he has inspired countless reporters and others over the years. He served this community with passion and compassion and left me a good ship when he retired last month.”

Bill Speer, who did not know he was receiving the award on Thursday, thanked the MPA for the award.

“It’s a real honor, and from this group in particular, it means so very, very much, so thank you, thank you, thank you,” he said.

Reached after the awards, Speer said he was humbled to receive it.

“Being its the first of its kind, I wasn’t even aware of it until today, so that was a huge surprise,” he said. “I am obviously honored by it and it’s not an award I don’t look at as just for me — I look at it as an award that our entire staff kind of won because of all the hard work and dedication we have promoting journalism across the region.”

In addition to Bill Speer’s award, the News won several awards in the MPA’s 2020 Better Newspaper Contest.

∫ Second place in Special Section for its 2019 edition of Progress, which dug into the past, present and future of Northeast Michigan business.

∫ First place in Sports Writing for Assistant Managing Editor James Andersen’s “Parents fuming over missing kids photos,” a story that told of the anger and confusion of youth baseball parents after a photo company failed to produce any of the items they ordered for their children during the 2019 season.

∫ Andersen also won second place for Sports Column, for his “Posen’s Momrik as passionate as ever 10 years after heart attack,” a story on Posen girls basketball coach Karl Momrik.

∫ Third place for Best Feature Story for reporter Julie Riddle’s “Everybody’s happy at an elk hunt,” a story on the 2019 fall elk season and a successful hunter.

Hinkley said he was proud of The Alpena News staff.

“They have worked hard over the past year to keep our readers up to date on the coronavirus, on the impacts of national politics in our region, on economic development, and so much more. I am so thankful to have them on my team, and honored to help them serve Northeast Michigan every day,” he said.