A new era begins at Chambersburg Public Opinion
A new era has begun at the Public Opinion.
Three long-time employees are moving on, having accepted early retirement offers from Gannett, our parent company.
Editor Becky Bennett, senior reporter Jim Hook and photographer Markell DeLoatch, who collectively spent more than 80 years at the Public Opinion, are retiring.
With Bennett's departure, City Editor Amber South will lead the newsroom.
Since arriving in January 2000, Bennett has overseen the P.O.’s transition from a daily printed newspaper to a digital news organization delivering local news 24/7 in multiple ways including print, website, mobile devices and many ever-changing social media platforms.
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She provided leadership through a number of significant changes, including: the paper’s conversion from afternoon to morning print publication; replacement of the 1956 letterpress with an offset press, and later a transition to off-site printing; employment of video and live news coverage capability; and a move from the old train station at 77 N. Third St. to newly renovated space on Chambersburg’s square.
Bennett, an Adams County native who holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Penn State, recalled her most memorable event while editor at the P.O.:
“My most memorable events here began with leading our local coverage of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Public Opinion was still primarily a print publication, although we had a basic website. We stopped the press and re-plated (remade) page one three times as the planes struck three targets. When the afternoon delivery was underway we began planning for an ‘extra’ morning edition to be printed overnight. Of course, the attacks defined and dominated our reporting for many months.”
Bennett said she is "proud of our staff's collaboration in the company's coverage of major events, especially the Sandy Hook mass shooting; development of the Flight 93 memorial at Shanksville; coverage of the shooting death of a state trooper in Huntingdon County; and coverage of the turnpike shooting incident at Fort Littleton.”
“My most rewarding opportunities here, and throughout my career, have been introducing young people to journalism, mentoring them and seeing their careers grow; as well as learning from many talented and dedicated colleagues,” she said.
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Bennett said she will stay involved in journalism and editing, and she hopes to spend more time traveling and exploring the outdoors.
Before coming to work at the P.O., Bennett was managing editor at the Centre Daily Times in State College. She also worked as an editor or reporter for various newspapers in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, including the Altoona Mirror.
Hook has spent at least 30 years at the P.O. as a reporter covering a plethora of topics, including county and municipal governments, area development, businesses, statewide issues, outdoors and more.
Prior to coming to the Public Opinion, he was editor of the Mercersburg Journal and worked for weekly newspapers in lower Delaware. He is a graduate of South Hagerstown (Md.) High School and the University of Maryland.
DeLoatch came to the P.O. in August of 1986 after studying at Norfolk State University in Virginia.
An award-winning photographer, DeLoatch's experience spans hand-development of black-and-white film through the modern use of digital imaging and video.
His most challenging assignments dealt with the aftermath of tragedies, such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre in 2012 and, most recently, the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh.
Local people can still catch a look at DeLoatch’s work through Instagram, @markelldeloatch.
“I will always remember the respect I’ve received as I interacted with fire officials, local police, politicians and mostly the victims and families of tragic accidents over the years. It’s always difficult and I’ve appreciated the many times I was allowed to document events,” DeLoatch said.
South, a Greencastle native and eight-year veteran of the Public Opinion, talked about the news organization, based in Chambersburg: "Other staff members at the P.O. will continue reporting in the community to give readers the news and information they need. The types of stories we report on and how we report on them will continue to change, but we are dedicated to giving our readers content they can trust."