The Williston Herald is a weekly newspaper printed in Williston, North Dakota. The Herald is the official newspaper of Williams County, North Dakota and the main newspaper covering northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana. As of Oct. 5, 2024, the newspaper is printed every Saturday.
The Williston Herald also included the Plains Reporter, a weekly publication distributed throughout northwestern North Dakota and northeastern Montana. The Plains Reported ceased in 2023.
The Herald employs approximately 12 employees. The Herald used to employ more than 60 carriers and motor route drivers, but no longer delivers newspapers. They are mailed to subscribers.[citation needed]
History
1899: A group of citizens wanting to express their views on a local political controversy raised $600 to begin the new newspaper. The newspaper began in a one-room shack on Second Street West with E.M. Crary at the helm.
Oct. 14, 1930: The first daily paper was published on a single sheet printed on both sides.
1979: The weekly Williston Basin Oil Reporter begins publishing.
1987: Wick Communications purchases the weekly Williston Plains Reporter from Bill Shemorry.
1996: The Herald installs a pagination system with full-color capabilities.
November 4, 2014: Randy Rickman becomes the publisher.[1]
2015: The Herald converts to a morning paper on 8/1/15, eliminating the Monday edition and introducing a Saturday edition.
2015: Randy Rickman leaves in December. Ken Harty is named Publisher. [citation needed]
August 9, 2021: Clarice Touhey is named the new publisher, replacing Kelly Miller.[2]
December 27, 2023: The weekly Williston Plains Reporter prints its last issue.
2024: The paper scaled down from three days a week to two days a week, eliminating the Friday edition. Later that year, it eliminated the Wednesday edition and transitioned into a weekly newspaper.
August 2024: Heather Mayer is named the new publisher.
Staff
Management team
Publisher: Heather Mayer
Managing Editor: James C. Falcon
Customer Service Manager: Karin Fremont
General Manager:
Editorial team
Managing Editor: James C. Falcon
Assistant Managing Editor:
Reporters: Jacob Holley
Sports: Josh Tate
20 under 40
In 2018, the Williston Herald recognized 20 young professionals in a new awards series called 20 under 40. The publication selected honorees from reader nominations, saying that they aimed to curate a list of "young professionals who went above and beyond in their efforts to make the community better."[3]