Funds being raised for video documentary of Joplin Globe’s coverage of tornado

An effort supported by the Missouri Press Association is under way to raise $60,000 to finance the production of a documentary video about the efforts of The Joplin Globe to keep its community informed after the May 22 tornado that destroyed about a third of the city. The MPA and the Missouri Press Foundation boards have endorsed the project, and fundraising is under way.

Scott Charton, retired Associated Press roving correspondent, will produce the video. Co-producer is documentarian Beth Pike. Veteran videographer Steve Hudnell is shooting the video.

That same trio collaborated with MPA on the Missouri PBS documentary, “Trustees for the Public: 200 Years of Missouri Newspapers,” which won the Midwest Regional EMMY Award for Best Documentary in 2009.

They hope to have the Joplin video ready for release to general audiences in early 2012.

Joe May, publisher of The Mexico Ledger and president of MPA, and Betty Spaar, publisher of The Odessan in Odessa and president of the Missouri Press Foundation, describe the project as a way to spread the word, near and far, about community newspapers and the important role they play in our society, reporting the news and serving as the local news authority.

The Press Foundation also has an on-going effort to raise funds to assist the Globe’s employees whose homes were destroyed or damaged by the May 22 catastrophe. At least 26 of the The Globe’s employees lost their residences to the F-5 storm, the worst in Missouri history. Globe page designer Bruce Baillie was among the 156 fatalities.

MPA executive director Doug Crews, his wife Tricia, and Bolivar publisher Dave Berry, a past president of MPA, went to Joplin on June 19. They attended a gathering of The Globe’s newsroom staff for a memorial dinner in honor of Baillie.

Crews presented Globe publisher Mike Beatty with $54,000 in checks from the Missouri Press Foundation. Donations continue arriving from throughout the U.S., with the total of more than $65,000.

Those wishing to contribute to the Globe Relief Fund or toproduction of the documentary may send checks to the Foundation at802 Locust St., Columbia, Mo., 65201 or phone 573-449-4167.Donations may be made online here.