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| − | The | + | The ''Mennonite Reporter'' was launched on 3 August 1971, in [[Waterloo (Ontario, Canada)|Waterloo]], [[Ontario (Canada)|Ontario]], with the name <em>Canadian Mennonite Reporter</em>. [[Epp, Frank H. (1929-1986)|Frank Epp]] was the editor and Dave Kroeker was managing editor. Billed as "An Anabaptist periodical of news and interpretation," the newspaper (in 11 x 17 inch tabloid format) began publication just months after the demise of <em>[[Canadian Mennonite, The (1953-1971) (Periodical)|The Canadian Mennonite]]</em>, published in [[Manitoba (Canada)|Manitoba]] from 16 October 1953-February 1971, also with Epp as its founding editor. Wanting to "fill the communications gap" left by the cessation of the Manitoba-based paper, a group of 65 Mennonite leaders in Ontario, led by [[Klassen, Aaron (1924-2011)|Aaron Klassen]], then chair of Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, pledged funds to begin a new paper. Major impetus was given to the venture when the [[Mennonite Conference of Ontario and Quebec|Mennonite Conference of Ontario]] and the [[Western Ontario Mennonite Conference|Western Ontario Mennonite Conference]] ([[Mennonite Church (MC)|Mennonite Church]] bodies now part of [[Mennonite Church Eastern Canada|Mennonite Church Eastern Canada]]) agreed to suspend their conference periodical, the <em>[[Ontario Mennonite Evangel|Evangel]]</em>, in favour of the new national periodical. |
| − | [[File:IMG_2327.JPG|300px|thumb|right|''Initial issue of Mennonite Reporter | + | [[File:IMG_2327.JPG|300px|thumb|right|''Initial issue of Mennonite Reporter'']] The introductory issue of the <em>Canadian Mennonite Reporter</em> noted that the first three issues would appear at monthly intervals, then "at least every two weeks." With the 18 October 1971 issue began the bi-weekly schedule that remained. Epp served one-third time as editor (while teaching at [[C666.html|Conrad Grebel College]]), and Kroeker served one-half time. The masthead listed 30 "contributing editors," including Rudy Wiebe, Ernie Regier, [[Smucker, Barbara Claassen (1915-2003)|Barbara Smucker]], [[Schroeder, David Kehler (1924-2015)|David Schroeder]] and [[Dyck, Peter J. (1914-2010)|Peter J. Dyck]]. A one-year subscription was $5.00 ($3.00 with a bulk mailing to congregations). The Mennonite Publishing Service was incorporated early in 1972 to guide the paper, with [[Good, Milton Roy (1911-2008)|Milton R. Good]] as founding board chair. Other members of the executive were [[Klassen, Aaron (1924-2011)|Aaron Klassen]], [[Snyder, John Wilfred (1925-2012)|John W. Snyder]], Rudy H. Janzen and Harry Nigh, with Glenn Fretz as design consultant. (This publishing group also raised $3,500 to help <em>[[Canadian Mennonite, The (1953-1971) (Periodical)|The Canadian Mennonite]]</em> liquidate its debt.) The initial budget was $40,000. |
| − | + | The 10 January 1972 issue saw the disappearance of "Canadian" from the name, along with a redesign by Glenn Fretz. "Canadian" was dropped, explained the publisher, "not to serve Canada less but to appeal to non-Canadian Mennonites, especially those in the USA, more." Like its predecessor, the ''Mennonite Reporter'' had an inter-Mennonite focus, seeking to inform Canadian Mennonites about what was happening in the Mennonite community and beyond. While the focus was on news, articles ranged from devotional material to features on the arts to analysis of social and political issues. Letters from readers provided lively debate. | |
| − | + | In August 1973, Kroeker succeeded Epp as editor of the ''Mennonite Reporter'', with [[Reimer, Margaret Loewen (1947-2019)|Margaret Loewen Reimer]] as assistant editor. Contributing editorials and articles were eight "editorial associates": [[Burkholder, John Lawrence (1917-2010)|J. Lawrence Burkholder]], Hugo Jantz, [[Lebold, Ralph Arthur (1934-2017)|Ralph Lebold]], [[Leis, Vernon (1933-1994)|Vernon Leis]], [[Loewen, Harry (1930-2015)|Harry Loewen]], Waldemar Regier, [[Schroeder, David Kehler (1924-2015)|David Schroeder]] and Maynard Shelly. From the outset, the paper encouraged conferences and churches to buy every-home plans for their members. Mennonite Church congregations in Ontario had a conference-funded plan from the early 1970s. While the [[Conference of Mennonites in Canada|Conference of Mennonites in Canada]] was reluctant to take a similar approach, it did promote every-home circulation with subscription subsidies. | |
| − | |||
| − | In August 1973, Kroeker succeeded Epp as editor of the | ||
In September 1979, Ron Rempel became the editor, with Loewen Reimer as associate editor. (She took over as acting editor/manager in 1988-89 while Rempel was on leave.) In 1988, the move to computers and desktop publishing transformed production of the paper – no more cutting and pasting of typeset strips onto a layout sheet. The 25 July 1988 issue introduced a design change (again by Glenn Fretz), with contrasting fonts for heads, screened bars, and a smaller bar at the top for section heads. The mission statement now read: "An independent, inter-Mennonite paper of news and comment, circulated across Canada and beyond." A later version said that the <em>Mennonite Reporter </em>"aims to build community through open and fair reporting and an exchange of views on issues facing the church." The periodical was an active member of The Canadian Church Press (from which it received many awards over the years), Meetinghouse (an association of Mennonite editors), and, for a time, the U.S.-based Associated Church Press. | In September 1979, Ron Rempel became the editor, with Loewen Reimer as associate editor. (She took over as acting editor/manager in 1988-89 while Rempel was on leave.) In 1988, the move to computers and desktop publishing transformed production of the paper – no more cutting and pasting of typeset strips onto a layout sheet. The 25 July 1988 issue introduced a design change (again by Glenn Fretz), with contrasting fonts for heads, screened bars, and a smaller bar at the top for section heads. The mission statement now read: "An independent, inter-Mennonite paper of news and comment, circulated across Canada and beyond." A later version said that the <em>Mennonite Reporter </em>"aims to build community through open and fair reporting and an exchange of views on issues facing the church." The periodical was an active member of The Canadian Church Press (from which it received many awards over the years), Meetinghouse (an association of Mennonite editors), and, for a time, the U.S.-based Associated Church Press. | ||
| − | With the internet came a major change in staff organization. The full-time "western regional editor" position based in [[Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada)|Winnipeg]], held by Allan Siebert 1979-85 and Wilma Derksen 1985-95, was divided in 1995 among four "regional correspondents," one for each province west of Ontario. An employee who exemplified these changes was Aiden Schlichting Enns who served as interim western regional editor in 1992-93, marketing representative 1993-95, and Manitoba provincial rep 1995-97. (He was also the first "conference editor" with | + | With the internet came a major change in staff organization. The full-time "western regional editor" position based in [[Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada)|Winnipeg]], held by Allan Siebert 1979-85 and Wilma Derksen 1985-95, was divided in 1995 among four "regional correspondents," one for each province west of Ontario. An employee who exemplified these changes was Aiden Schlichting Enns who served as interim western regional editor in 1992-93, marketing representative 1993-95, and Manitoba provincial rep 1995-97. (He was also the first "conference editor" with ''Canadian Mennonite'' from 1997-2000.) |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| − | + | The major change under Rempel’s leadership was the transition of the ''Mennonite Reporter'' from an independent, inter-Mennonite periodical to one linked specifically with the [[Conference of Mennonites in Canada|Conference of Mennonites in Canada]] (CMC). The process began in the mid-1990s, fueled by dormant subscription levels, CMC’s desire for a more effective communications vehicle, and the move toward integration between CMC and Mennonite Church bodies in Ontario. (Full integration occurred with the birth of [[Mennonite Church Canada|Mennonite Church Canada]] in 2000.) Subscriptions stood at around 10,000 at this time, with over 90 percent coming from the groups that were integrating. A cross-Canada consultation called for a magazine format and more inspirational faith articles. A task force explored how the ''Mennonite Reporter'' might be transformed to make it more widely distributed in the groups where it already had the widest readership. | |
| − | [[ | + | In 1997, CMC delegates approved a joint venture that would see the ''Mennonite Reporter'' replaced with a new periodical, <em>[[Canadian Mennonite (1997- ) (Periodical)|Canadian Mennonite]]</em>, supported by CMC and its five area conferences. The new periodical would be a magazine instead of a tabloid, and would include more articles on faith and congregational life, with announcements of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths. CMC agreed to enter into a cost-sharing formula that would fund subscriptions for every CMC household. The conference would have greater board representation but agreed to leave the publisher as a separately incorporated entity. The editors would continue in their roles. |
| − | '']] A prototype of the new | + | [[File:IMG_2330.JPG|300px|thumb|right|''Last issue of Mennonite Reporter'']] A prototype of the new ''Canadian Mennonite'' magazine was included in the 6 January 1997 issue of the ''Mennonite Reporter''. The final issue of the ''Mennonite Reporter'' appeared on 1 September 1997. |
= Bibliography = | = Bibliography = | ||
"50 years of church news." <em>Canadian Mennonite </em>7 (6 October 2003). | "50 years of church news." <em>Canadian Mennonite </em>7 (6 October 2003). | ||
| − | "Defining moments." Editorials in | + | "Defining moments." Editorials in ''Canadian Mennonite'' (30 June and 14 July 2003). |
| − | Bound volumes of The | + | Bound volumes of The ''Canadian Mennonite'', <em>Canadian Mennonite Reporter</em>, ''Mennonite Reporter'' and ''Canadian Mennonite'' are located [http://grebel.uwaterloo.ca/library/library.shtml Conrad Grebel College] in Waterloo, Ontario, and the [http://www.mennonitechurch.ca/programs/archives/ Mennonite Heritage Centre] in Winnipeg, Manitoba. |
| − | A searchable pdf file of the annual | + | A [http://s3.amazonaws.com/cmbs.mbconf.ca/Publications/Mennonite%20Reporter/Mennonite%20Reporter%201971-1996%20ocr%20reduced%20optimized%201.pdf searchable pdf file] of the annual ''Mennonite Reporter'' printed indexes (1971-1982 and 1984-1996) is available through the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies (Winnipeg). |
= Additional Information = | = Additional Information = | ||
| − | <h3>Editors/Publishers of Mennonite Reporter</h3> | + | <h3>Editors/Publishers of Mennonite Reporter</h3> |
| − | + | {| class="wikitable" | |
| − | Service</strong> | + | ! <strong>Name</strong> !! <strong>Years of Service</strong> |
| − | + | |- | |
| − | + | | [[Epp, Frank H. (1929-1986)|Frank H. Epp ]] || August 1971- August 1973 | |
| − | + | |- | |
| − | + | | David Kroeker || August 1973- August 1979 | |
| − | + | |- | |
| − | + | | Ron Rempel || September 1979- September 1997 | |
| − | + | |- | |
| − | (Acting) | + | | [[Reimer, Margaret Loewen (1947-2019)|Margaret Loewen Reimer]] (Acting) || 1988-1989 |
| + | |} | ||
{{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=December 2011|a1_last=Loewen Reimer|a1_first=Margaret|a2_last=|a2_first=}} | {{GAMEO_footer|hp=|date=December 2011|a1_last=Loewen Reimer|a1_first=Margaret|a2_last=|a2_first=}} | ||
| + | [[Category:Periodicals]] | ||
Latest revision as of 12:22, 4 February 2020
The Mennonite Reporter was launched on 3 August 1971, in Waterloo, Ontario, with the name Canadian Mennonite Reporter. Frank Epp was the editor and Dave Kroeker was managing editor. Billed as "An Anabaptist periodical of news and interpretation," the newspaper (in 11 x 17 inch tabloid format) began publication just months after the demise of The Canadian Mennonite, published in Manitoba from 16 October 1953-February 1971, also with Epp as its founding editor. Wanting to "fill the communications gap" left by the cessation of the Manitoba-based paper, a group of 65 Mennonite leaders in Ontario, led by Aaron Klassen, then chair of Mennonite Central Committee Ontario, pledged funds to begin a new paper. Major impetus was given to the venture when the Mennonite Conference of Ontario and the Western Ontario Mennonite Conference (Mennonite Church bodies now part of Mennonite Church Eastern Canada) agreed to suspend their conference periodical, the Evangel, in favour of the new national periodical.
The introductory issue of the Canadian Mennonite Reporter noted that the first three issues would appear at monthly intervals, then "at least every two weeks." With the 18 October 1971 issue began the bi-weekly schedule that remained. Epp served one-third time as editor (while teaching at Conrad Grebel College), and Kroeker served one-half time. The masthead listed 30 "contributing editors," including Rudy Wiebe, Ernie Regier, Barbara Smucker, David Schroeder and Peter J. Dyck. A one-year subscription was $5.00 ($3.00 with a bulk mailing to congregations). The Mennonite Publishing Service was incorporated early in 1972 to guide the paper, with Milton R. Good as founding board chair. Other members of the executive were Aaron Klassen, John W. Snyder, Rudy H. Janzen and Harry Nigh, with Glenn Fretz as design consultant. (This publishing group also raised $3,500 to help The Canadian Mennonite liquidate its debt.) The initial budget was $40,000.
The 10 January 1972 issue saw the disappearance of "Canadian" from the name, along with a redesign by Glenn Fretz. "Canadian" was dropped, explained the publisher, "not to serve Canada less but to appeal to non-Canadian Mennonites, especially those in the USA, more." Like its predecessor, the Mennonite Reporter had an inter-Mennonite focus, seeking to inform Canadian Mennonites about what was happening in the Mennonite community and beyond. While the focus was on news, articles ranged from devotional material to features on the arts to analysis of social and political issues. Letters from readers provided lively debate.
In August 1973, Kroeker succeeded Epp as editor of the Mennonite Reporter, with Margaret Loewen Reimer as assistant editor. Contributing editorials and articles were eight "editorial associates": J. Lawrence Burkholder, Hugo Jantz, Ralph Lebold, Vernon Leis, Harry Loewen, Waldemar Regier, David Schroeder and Maynard Shelly. From the outset, the paper encouraged conferences and churches to buy every-home plans for their members. Mennonite Church congregations in Ontario had a conference-funded plan from the early 1970s. While the Conference of Mennonites in Canada was reluctant to take a similar approach, it did promote every-home circulation with subscription subsidies.
In September 1979, Ron Rempel became the editor, with Loewen Reimer as associate editor. (She took over as acting editor/manager in 1988-89 while Rempel was on leave.) In 1988, the move to computers and desktop publishing transformed production of the paper – no more cutting and pasting of typeset strips onto a layout sheet. The 25 July 1988 issue introduced a design change (again by Glenn Fretz), with contrasting fonts for heads, screened bars, and a smaller bar at the top for section heads. The mission statement now read: "An independent, inter-Mennonite paper of news and comment, circulated across Canada and beyond." A later version said that the Mennonite Reporter "aims to build community through open and fair reporting and an exchange of views on issues facing the church." The periodical was an active member of The Canadian Church Press (from which it received many awards over the years), Meetinghouse (an association of Mennonite editors), and, for a time, the U.S.-based Associated Church Press.
With the internet came a major change in staff organization. The full-time "western regional editor" position based in Winnipeg, held by Allan Siebert 1979-85 and Wilma Derksen 1985-95, was divided in 1995 among four "regional correspondents," one for each province west of Ontario. An employee who exemplified these changes was Aiden Schlichting Enns who served as interim western regional editor in 1992-93, marketing representative 1993-95, and Manitoba provincial rep 1995-97. (He was also the first "conference editor" with Canadian Mennonite from 1997-2000.)
The major change under Rempel’s leadership was the transition of the Mennonite Reporter from an independent, inter-Mennonite periodical to one linked specifically with the Conference of Mennonites in Canada (CMC). The process began in the mid-1990s, fueled by dormant subscription levels, CMC’s desire for a more effective communications vehicle, and the move toward integration between CMC and Mennonite Church bodies in Ontario. (Full integration occurred with the birth of Mennonite Church Canada in 2000.) Subscriptions stood at around 10,000 at this time, with over 90 percent coming from the groups that were integrating. A cross-Canada consultation called for a magazine format and more inspirational faith articles. A task force explored how the Mennonite Reporter might be transformed to make it more widely distributed in the groups where it already had the widest readership.
In 1997, CMC delegates approved a joint venture that would see the Mennonite Reporter replaced with a new periodical, Canadian Mennonite, supported by CMC and its five area conferences. The new periodical would be a magazine instead of a tabloid, and would include more articles on faith and congregational life, with announcements of births, baptisms, marriages and deaths. CMC agreed to enter into a cost-sharing formula that would fund subscriptions for every CMC household. The conference would have greater board representation but agreed to leave the publisher as a separately incorporated entity. The editors would continue in their roles.
A prototype of the new Canadian Mennonite magazine was included in the 6 January 1997 issue of the Mennonite Reporter. The final issue of the Mennonite Reporter appeared on 1 September 1997.
Bibliography
"50 years of church news." Canadian Mennonite 7 (6 October 2003).
"Defining moments." Editorials in Canadian Mennonite (30 June and 14 July 2003).
Bound volumes of The Canadian Mennonite, Canadian Mennonite Reporter, Mennonite Reporter and Canadian Mennonite are located Conrad Grebel College in Waterloo, Ontario, and the Mennonite Heritage Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
A searchable pdf file of the annual Mennonite Reporter printed indexes (1971-1982 and 1984-1996) is available through the Centre for Mennonite Brethren Studies (Winnipeg).
Additional Information
Editors/Publishers of Mennonite Reporter
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| Frank H. Epp | August 1971- August 1973 |
| David Kroeker | August 1973- August 1979 |
| Ron Rempel | September 1979- September 1997 |
| Margaret Loewen Reimer (Acting) | 1988-1989 |
| Author(s) | Margaret Loewen Reimer |
|---|---|
| Date Published | December 2011 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Loewen Reimer, Margaret. "Mennonite Reporter (Periodical)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. December 2011. Web. 22 Nov 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mennonite_Reporter_(Periodical)&oldid=166493.
APA style
Loewen Reimer, Margaret. (December 2011). Mennonite Reporter (Periodical). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 22 November 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Mennonite_Reporter_(Periodical)&oldid=166493.
©1996-2024 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.