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Your connection to industry & member news | Sept. 11, 2025
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 | Margaret and Jeff Evans at a Beaufort International Film Festival (BIFF) fundraiser at Saltus River Grill in January 2023. Photo from BIFF Facebook.
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|  | Jeff Evans, left, receives a First Place award for General News Photography from then President Charles Swenson at SCPA’s 2023 Annual Meeting.
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The Island News, Lowcountry Weekly publisher Jeff Evans dies Jeff Evans, publisher of The Island News and Lowcountry Weekly, died Saturday, Sept. 6 at Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.
Evans, 66, suffered a fall in his home on Sunday, Aug. 31, and had been hospitalized since.
Along with his wife, Margaret Evans, Jeff Evans had published Lowcountry Weekly since its inception 25 years ago. He acquired The Island News in 2018.
[Evans was named as a weekly newspaper representative to SCPA's Executive Committee in April 2025.]
By Mike McCombs, The Island News | Read moreEvans' Obituary
Edward Jeffrey Evans, 66, of Beaufort, S.C., died peacefully on Sept. 6, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.
Jeff was born on Jan. 23, 1959, to Edward and Leona Evans. An Army brat from San Francisco who grew up all over the world, he had many colorful careers before landing in Beaufort County over 30 years ago. While living in the Bay area, he worked as an actor with the Berkeley Shakespeare Company, restored Victorian homes ("Painted Ladies"), and served as a chef in a French restaurant.
In 1992, he made his way to Hilton Head Island, where he started a video production company, Seagate Productions, making hundreds of local commercials and other video projects. He later moved to Beaufort, and in 2000, he and his wife Margaret began publishing Lowcountry Weekly, which just celebrated 25 years in print. Six years ago, they acquired The Island News.
Jeff believed in the importance of local journalism, and that everybody should have access to the news, free of charge.
He worked tirelessly at his publishing business. As a result, The Island News has won many awards from the S.C. Press Association, including the coveted President's Award for 2022.
With his love of theatre, art, literature, and – his passion – photography, Jeff was a true Renaissance man. But he loved none of that as much as he loved his family ... and Giants baseball.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Margaret Evans, 60, and their daughter, Amelia Evans, 24. Read full obituaryThere aren't many like Jeff Evans "There's things that'll knock you down you don't even see coming ... "
Isn't that the truth? Song lyrics that have a way of eventually ringing true, if you give them enough time.
Jeff Evans died on Saturday afternoon. And knocked down is too kind for what has happened to some of us. And I can only speak for myself, but it's going to be a while before I can get up.
Jeff was the publisher of The Island News, my employer, my boss, my partner in good intentions, my friend, ... and so many other things that I haven't figured out how to put into words yet.
By Mike McCombs, The Island News | Read more
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Judges needed for Kentucky's news and ad contests Members of Kentucky Press Association did an excellent job judging SCPA's news and advertising contests earlier this year. Now it's our turn to return the favor!
SCPA needs roughly 60 members to help judge KPA’s News and Advertising Contest in October. Judging is done online and is extremely user-friendly.
All current and retired SCPA members, J-School instructors and associate/individual members are eligible to help judge.
Here's what KPA needs:
- 40 news judges
- 12 advertising judges
- 6 collegiate judges (for KPA's intercollegiate press association group that competes as hard as their football/basketball teams)
If you’d like to volunteer, please fill out this short form.
These judging exchanges make our own contests possible and give you the opportunity to see the best work from another state so please lend us a hand!
The deadline to sign up is Oct. 1.
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|  SC Investigates Founder Gina Smith and SCPA FOI Chair Richard Whiting (above), along with Herb Frazier of Charleston City Paper and Glenn Smith of The Post and Courier, will train SCPA members at SCPA on Sept. 26. Topics include how to produce watchdog work while still meeting the daily demands of your newsroom, FOIA, five documents to kick start your investigation and how to include investigative work on your beat. Following lunch, we’ll workshop stories and issues you’re facing. Learn more and register here.
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|  | A panel of veteran journalists and SCPA staff including SCPA Attorney Taylor Smith, Tiffany Tan of The Post and Courier, Gina Smith of SC Investigates and SCPA FOI Chair Richard Whiting discussed how South Carolina's FOIA helps keep the public informed at a State Library event on Sept. 9.
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|  There are only THREE seats left for next week’s ad sales training featuring Ryan Dohrn! Don’t miss your chance to attend... register here!
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Daniel Island News sold to media group owned by Osteens, Johnson
The Daniel Island News has been purchased by a group whose history with South Carolina newspapers dates back to the 1890s.
Jack and Kyle Osteen - part of the family that has owned The Sumter Item since its inception in 1894 – purchased the Daniel Island-based newspaper along with Vince Johnson, the current group publisher of The Sumter Item.
Osteen, Osteen, and Johnson also own the Bluffton Sun and Hilton Head Sun in Bluffton, the Lexington County Chronicle in Lexington, and Gulf Coast Media, a group of four weekly newspapers in Baldwin County, Alabama. The transaction closed on Sept. 2.
As part of the change, former owner and publisher Suzanne Detar – who started The Daniel Island News and has owned it since 2003 – is planning to retire. Detar will assist in the ownership transition.
“I’m excited about the experience and resources the new owners bring to the community and am confident that they will support and promote the community and our amazing staff at The Daniel Island News,” Detar said. “I’ve had a wonderful 22 years publishing the paper, and now I’m looking forward to spending more time with my grandchildren.”
The Osteen/Johnson companies are known for quality journalism in print and online and as an innovator in publishing local news. The group plans to build on the success of The Daniel Island News.
“We’re excited to continue the legacy of this important local news operation on Daniel Island and in the surrounding area,” Johnson said. “The fact that every resident receives the publication for free is a great resource for readers and is ideal for advertisers, and these are phenomenal communities for local news.”
DI Media Group plans to retain current staff positions and add to the community coverage and advertising options in the coming months.
“Much like Detar and the current staff, we value authentic relationships with our communities and news that is extremely local,” Jack Osteen said. “Our commitment is that we’ll listen to the Daniel Island communities and deliver the news you want and need to know.”
From The Daniel Island News | Read more
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 | DI News founder Suzanne Detar, center front, plans to spend more time with her children, grandchildren and husband now that she’s passed the pen to the next generation. The whole crew is pictured here on her Daniel Island front porch on Mother’s Day 2025.
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| Passing the pen: Sadness, confidence, gratitude, relief and joy!
By Suzanne Detar, The Daniel Island News
I had a hard time writing this column.
The Daniel Island News has been my baby for 22 years, and giving her wings to fly feels a bit like when I dropped my children Ben and Carly off at college for the first time and when my son Jackson pulled away from the curb to launch into life on his own terms in Los Angeles. I knew they were ready, but I cried all the same.
It was time to let the children go then. And it’s time to let the newspaper go now.
Like then, I’m experiencing a whirlwind of emotion: sadness, confidence for the paper’s future, gratitude, and a real sense of relief and joy!
The first edition of The Daniel Island News was delivered to local homes and businesses on Oct. 30, 2003. I got the idea to start the paper after seeing how important community news was to other towns and realizing that no other media outlet was telling our community’s stories or providing local advertising.
We’ve been telling the community’s stories and promoting the area businesses ever since that first edition hit the pavement, and the paper will continue to tell the stories and support local businesses long into the future. Read more
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Osmundson retires after 40 years in the business
Editor’s Note: The State’s Senior Editor Paul Osmundson retired Sept. 5, after four decades in journalism. Before coming back to The State in 2015, Paul served as editor of The (Rock Hill) Herald. Here’s what Paul posted to Facebook on Sept. 1, about his retirement. We wish him all the best and are so proud of his leadership and service to S.C. journalism over the years!
"In the eighth grade, I began delivering The Columbia Record newspaper in the Knollwood subdivision near Columbia’s Veterans Hospital. My route number was 10557. I’ve worked for a newspaper company ever since, as a part-timer in The State-Record Co.’s circulation department and as a reporter or editor at four newspapers: The Easley Progress in Easley, S.C.; my beloved The Columbia Record, The State, The Herald in Rock Hill, S.C., and for the last 10 years back at The State.
That will end on Friday when I retire from The State.
I’ve worked with a lot of great journalists through the years who tried to teach me how to be one. I’m grateful for all of them. I won’t try to name them because there are too many. Just know that if we ever crossed paths in a newsroom, I’m thankful to have worked with you.
I will, however, highlight two former colleagues who have joined the newsroom eternal.
Bunny Smith Richardson was my first city editor. She was compassionate, supportive and kind. She was also talented and, when necessary, very tough. She was the perfect first editor for me, and she taught me a lot.
Lee Bandy was the dean of South Carolina political reporters. He built sources, routinely broke major stories, ticked off the powerful, and gave readers insightful analysis. He demanded excellence from himself, and we all tried to follow his example. Though he was a great journalist, anyone who worked with him will say he was a much, much better person.
I thank God for pairing me with Bunny and Bandy.
I still love journalism and journalists. I like McClatchy. I’ve enjoyed working with my current colleagues and I admire the work they do. I’m not handwringing over our profession. It will find a way to thrive. It has to. Journalism is too important for our nation, especially now.
As for me, I’m just looking forward to doing some things I’ve often thought about doing."
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|  Sammy Fretwell of The State captured this photo of Osmundson's final edit at The State (editing the legendary John Monk, pictured in the foreground). Fretwell wrote of Osmundson, "He is one of the finest people I've met in journalism, a real professional and anchor at The State. ... His retirement is well deserved after countless long days practicing the craft of journalism. We will miss his leadership and professionalism."
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MyHorryNews hires experienced journalist as reporter
There’s a new – but familiar – face roaming the halls of the MyHorryNews office.
Waccamaw Publishers, the parent company of MyHorryNews, four weekly papers, a monthly paper and other special publications, has hired Mike Duprez as its new North Strand reporter.
Duprez's byline and photo credits have appeared in our papers since June 2023, covering high school sports across Horry County and photographing Coastal Carolina football games. Now, in addition to reporting from the sidelines and bleachers, he’ll be inside city halls and new businesses in the North Myrtle Beach and Loris area.
Duprez was born in Oakland, California, and graduated with a bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina in 1981.
He has been in the journalism profession for 32 years, serving in a number of different capacities ranging from an education reporter to editor, covering areas across both North and South Carolina.
After retiring in 2021, Duprez felt there was still more in the tank. In 2023, he grabbed his reporter's notebook again and hasn't looked back. Four and a half years later, he's jumped all the way back in.
From My Horry News | Read more
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 | The Post and Courier has launched a new internship program in partnership with USC.
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| Post and Courier, USC launch groundbreaking internship program
The Post and Courier, South Carolina’s largest media company and leading independent newspaper, has launched a new fully funded internship program in partnership with the University of South Carolina.
Ten students have been selected for the fall cohort, the largest from any institution participating in the newspaper’s statewide University Partnership program.
The initiative attracted 46 applicants from USC’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Following a competitive review process, 10 were chosen to join what is quickly becoming one of the most innovative journalism internship models in the country.
The initiative is funded by Alumnus Dick Elliott and his wife Dayna, whose philanthropic investment underscores their deep commitment to both the future of local journalism and the education of aspiring media professionals at USC.
From The Post and Courier Columbia | Read more
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|  The News & Press opened its doors Sept. 9 to celebrate its 150th anniversary with a community open house that drew city and county leaders, business representatives, clergy and numerous residents to its offices at 117 S. Main Street in Darlington. The celebration, held from noon to 4 p.m., featured a delicious traditional South Carolina chicken bog dinner prepared by Randy Grimsley, with guests enjoying the hot meal in an outdoor al fresco setting. Inside the newspaper's offices, visitors were treated to an elaborate charcuterie spread featuring meats, cheeses and vegetables. Historic front pages from past issues of The Darlington News, The Darlington Press and The News & Press were on display for attendees to view and discuss. See more photos from the event.
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Jake’s bar must disclose amount of payout in drunk driving case, judge rules
A state judge on Friday ruled Jake’s bar in Columbia must disclose how much money is being paid to settle a wrongful death case involving a drunk driver who was at the Five Points bar in Columbia before the deadly crash. But Judge Thomas “Billy” McGee said he would give lawyers for Jake’s, a well-known bar in Five Points, extra time to add language to the settlement agreement explaining why the still-undisclosed payout will be much larger than the money Jake’s has paid out in previous cases involving deaths. McGee ruled after The State Media Co. attorney Jay Bender argued during a 40-minute hearing that sealing the agreement would violate the South Carolina Constitution and the state’s system of open courts.
By John Monk, The State | Read more
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After 2 years, Beaufort County releases report on ‘flagrant’ purchasing violations
Two years after elected officials in Beaufort County hired a law firm to review the county’s spending practices under former administrator Eric Greenway, the firm’s findings are now available to the public.
The fully unredacted, 36-page report, previously kept from the public eye, reveals that county staff failed to follow their own procurement code, in some instances, willfully, as a result of “poor culture” that started from the very top of the organizational chart.
Why was the report released now?
Without a confirmed ending to the criminal probe, confusion remains about what actually triggered the report’s release.
By Chloe Appleby, The Island Packet | Read more
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David MacDougall, longtime Post and Courier reporter, dies
David William MacDougall, of Charleston, died Sept. 2, after a struggle with esophageal cancer. He was 74. ...
He [was] hired as a features reporter at The News and Courier and Evening Post in 1986. He wrote feature stories from 1986 until 1990, when he moved to the crime and public safety beat. He is perhaps best known for his extensive and exclusive coverage of the search for a serial rapist in the early 1990s.
In 1995, helped launch Charleston.net, a website for The Post and Courier. He was in the newspaper’s information technology department until 2009, when he returned to the newsroom as a crime reporter and web editor. He retired from The Post and Courier in 2016. ...
Relatives and friends of the family are kindly invited to attend his funeral at Grace Lutheran Church in Summerville, SC on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 2 p.m. Read full obituary.
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By Jim Pumarlo, Newspaper Consultant
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Start planning now to produce year-end edition
The Hallmark Channel wrapped up its movie lineup for those who love to celebrate Christmas in July. With fall now upon us, it is the time to start planning keepsake year-end editions. Seize the opportunity to produce solid content and generate revenue.
Many operations may gasp at the thought of producing another special section. Begin taking baby steps now, and the task will not seem so foreboding.
Editorial content, if collected incrementally, can be generated with minimal stress on resources. Consider these possible elements for the edition:
- Chronicle top local news stories, categorizing by each month. Take time now to record the top reports from each edition to date. Going forward, spend five minutes to write the top headlines from each edition. Summarize each story in one or two sentences.
- Do the same with the top sports stories.
- In similar fashion, capture the top photos. Some may be stand-alone; others may accompany a story. The photos can be inserted in the layout of the monthly chronologies. Read more
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