| Type | Newspaper |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1905 |
| Headquarters | Idabel, Oklahoma |
| Website | mccurtaingazettenews |
The McCurtain Gazette-News is a local newspaper published in McCurtain County, Oklahoma. Founded in Idabel, Oklahoma, in 1905, the paper gained national attention for recording and publishing audio of county officials leading to the 2023 McCurtain County, Oklahoma audio recording scandal.
History
The McCurtain Gazette-News was founded in Idabel, Oklahoma, in 1905 as the Idabel Signal.[1][2] The paper has been published by Bruce Willingham and the Willingham family since 1988.[3] In 2023, the paper had a circulation of about 4,400 readers and published three issues weekly. The Gazette typically covers local events, provides district court coverage, and occasionally reprints old articles from their microfilm archives.[2]
The paper received national attention in 2023 when reporter Chris Willingham recorded, published, and reported on an audio recording of county officials discussing killing him and other controversial remarks resulting in the 2023 McCurtain County, Oklahoma audio recording scandal.[4][5]
References
- ↑ Smith, Jessie Christopher (April 19, 2023). "McCurtain County officials were already sued in federal court by the Gazette-News. Why?". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- 1 2 Williams, Paige (24 July 2023). "A Small-Town Paper Lands a Very Big Story". The New Yorker.
- ↑ Bunyan, Clytie (April 21, 2023). "McCurtain County scandal spotlights need for local watchdog journalism". The Oklahoman. Retrieved 23 April 2023.
- ↑ Levenson, Michael (April 18, 2023). "An Oklahoma Newspaper's Secret Recording Prompts Calls for Officials to Resign". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
- ↑ Hare, Kristen (April 19, 2023). "This newspaper brought a vile conversation into the light in McCurtain County, Oklahoma". Poynter. Retrieved 22 April 2023.