On Saturday, for the third time in four years, I had to give a speech.

At the annual International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors (ISWNE) Conference at South Dakota State University in Brookings, S.D., I was honored to accept a third Golden Dozen award for excellence in opinion writing — and I was shaking.

My piece, “Part I: The New Normal,” was judged to be in the top 12 of 93 submissions among 43 entrants in our 250-member strong organization. The first two speeches, I winged it. This time, I prepared something thinking it would be easier — I was wrong.

“The New Normal” four-part series ran in March of last year, was inspired by the Cassville school district’s showing of Childhood 2.0, a documentary highlighting the dangers children face from rapid technological advances and constant internet access.

As I began telling the origin of the story, which included a personal anecdote about my then third-grader’s phone being the victim of multiple prank calls at midnight, emotion set in. It’s one thing to speak about a subject you are passionate about, but it was an added pressure to have about 60 faces glued to my every word as I detailed the severity of the issue.

These faces include some true titans of the smalltown newspaper industry. One of them was Eric Meyer, publisher of the Marion County Record in Marion, Kan., which was the target of a police raid in 2023 for which lawsuits are still being adjudicated. Later that night, he won the organization’s Cervi Award for a career of outstanding public service through community journalism.

Closer to home, two more were Gary and Helen Sosniecki, former publishers of The Lebanon Daily Record in Lebanon — Cervi winners in 2003 — who brought me into the ISWNE fold.

Another was Ken Garner, publisher of the Maryville Forum in Maryville, who has been like an older brother to me in recent years as we share ideas with one another while going head-to-head for the Missouri Press Association’s Gold Cup.

These are just a few of the people who I had spent the previous two days with, enjoying trips to Sioux Falls, S.D., and the Earth Resources Observation and Science Center on Thursday and a full Friday of conference sessions aimed at making weekly newspapers better in every way possible.

I also broadened my horizons this year, setting a goal to make an effort to meet new publisher’s and make new connections — a goal achieved.

During the hour-long trip to Sioux Falls, I found myself talking to Richard Gurner, publisher of the Caerphilly Observer in Caerphilly, Wales, awestruck at how publications in different countries — 4,300 miles apart — have such similar challenges in so many aspects of the business.

Later that night, I found myself at a table with four women from Canada, South Dakota and Minnesota as they critiqued one another’s page designs, giving me a few new ideas and also giving me an opportunity to share some of mine.

After the awards banquet and being inspired by Meyer’s hound dog style and determination in the face of continual obstacles, I found myself staying up far too late talking to two Welshmen and four Canadians about everything from news to revenues to the NHL and social dynamics.

At Kauffman Stadium the next afternoon, during a Kansas City Royals 3-2 walk-off win over the New York Mets, I reflected on the experiences and interactions I had the previous three days.

Winning an award is always fun, but the real reward was in the connections forged and the more than 50 bullet points I have in my notes for how to make the best small weekly in Missouri even better.

Next year, the conference is scheduled to be in Cardiff, Wales, and I already cannot wait to tour Caerphilly with my new friend Richard and see what he’s accomplished in 365 days’ time.

What a reward that will be.

Kyle Troutman has served as editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014 and owner/publisher since 2023.

He was named William E. James/Missouri Outstanding Young Journalist for daily newspapers in 2017, and he is a two-time ISWNE Golden Dozen award winner. He may be reached at 417-847-2610 or ktroutman@cassville- democrat.com.