Mike Dennison

Recent Posts

David Crisp: Less than meets the eye in Gianforte tax plan

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Crisp

Republican gubernatorial candidate Greg Gianforte has unveiled his “406 tax relief” plan, and it’s so predictable it should be sold at Wal-Mart for a dollar a yard. The “4” in the plan stands for the number of years over which he would phase out the business equipment tax, which despite numerous reductions in recent legislative sessions still brings in about $81 million a year. This shortfall would have to be made up by local governments and schools, so it isn’t clear that this provision would help anybody other than large-company bookkeepers who have to fill out the paperwork. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Opinion, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Chronicle of Higher Education, Dan Dodds, Greg Gianforte, Mike Dennison, Montana Department of Revenue, Paul Polzin

Dennison, cut loose by Lee, to report for television network

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Dennison

Mike Dennison, one of the experienced state bureau reporters let go by the Lee Newspapers of Montana three months ago, has been hired by the Montana Television Network. Starting Monday, Dennison will be the chief political reporter for the network, which has television stations in seven Montana cities, including KTVQ in Billings. The hiring was announced on MTN websites Thursday afternoon and is scheduled to be reported on the stations’ evening news shows. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Montana, Charles Johnson, Greg Tuttle, John Emeigh, Jon Saunders, Jon Stepanek, KTVQ, Mike Dennison

Prairie Lights: Inspired by Lee, a job posting of our own

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Reporter

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. That’s why I’m posting a job description today in place of the regular column. I’m really not in any position yet to take on an employee, but I was so impressed with the job descriptions posted by the Lee newspapers of Montana that I felt compelled to write my own. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: Prairie Lights, Chuck johnson, Helena, Lee Enterprises, Mike Dennison, Neversweat Bourbon

A sad passing, a sorry job posting

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In Montana newspaper news, two items today. The Native American Journalists Association is reporting the death of Bonnie Clincher Red Elk, whom the association hailed as “a true champion for freedom of the press in Indian Country.” She sounded like a courageous, remarkable woman. The NAJA said she founded the Fort Peck Journal in 2006, after the then-tribal chairman removed her as editor of the official newspaper of the Fort Peck Tribes. Last year, the association presented her with its Wassaja Award, “given in recognition of journalists’ and publications’ dedication to continuing to report the news in the face of challenge and even threat.” Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Bonnie Clincher Red Elk, Chuck johnson, Don Pogreba, Fort Peck Journal, Lee Enterprises, Mike Dennison, Native American Journalists Association

David Crisp: Mortification, then sweet vindication

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Twain

Well, I screwed that up. Such was the eloquent sentence that I imagined last week might begin this column. I had just written a piece on the closing of Lee Enterprises’ Capitol bureau, and in it I had made what I thought was the original observation that none of the Lee papers in Montana had reported the closing. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: From the Outpost, Chuck johnson, Lee Enterprises, Mark Twain, Mike Dennison

Gazette acknowledges bureau closure, more or less

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In David Crisp’s column this morning, he said he was unable to find any references in any of Montana’s Lee newspapers to the Great Falls Tribune story about the closing of Lee’s Capitol bureau. In David’s defense, he did say he couldn’t find any such reference “as of this writing,” which was Tuesday night. In fact, as I have just belatedly discovered, there are references to the bureau shutdown in the Billings Gazette today. Oddly enough, however, all of them are on the opinion page—guest editorials from Jim Elliott and James Nelson and a letter to the editor from Don and Mary Ann Dunwell. As far as I know, the Lee papers have yet to run a news story on the decision to close the bureau and send their two excellent reporters, Chuck Johnson and Mike Dennison, packing. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Billings Gazette, Chuck johnson, Lee Enterprises, Mike Dennison

Papers go dark when news is about them

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Crisp

If you are still an old-fashioned reader of Montana newspapers published by Lee Enterprises, then you missed last week’s most intriguing story. News that Lee was closing its Capitol bureau this week and letting go two of the state’s most respected journalists, Chuck Johnson and Mike Dennison, appeared first on the front page of the Great Falls Tribune. (more…) Continue Reading →

Filed under: From the Outpost, Butte Weekly, Chuck johnson, Great Falls Tribune, Jim Romenesko, John Adams, Lee Enterprises, Mike Dennison

Second time’s no charm: Lee papers shutter State Bureau

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The news is out that news coverage in Montana is taking a huge hit. Lee Newspapers is closing its State Bureau in Helena, the Great Falls Tribune has reported, and KXLH TV in Helena has a story that adds some details. Chuck Johnson, who has been covering Montana politics for more than 40 years, will take a buyout and retire. Mike Dennison, who has done the same kind of reporting for almost 25 years, will be taking a buyout while he looks for a new job. I couldn’t reach Johnson, but Dennison told me Lee offered the two veteran reporters continued employment—if they would accept quite substantial pay cuts. Continue Reading →

Filed under: Last Best Blog, Art Wittich, Chuck johnson, Darrell Erhlick, Gannett, Great Falls Tribune, John Adams, Larry Abramson