Callie Hietala, a reporter with Henry County Enterprise and The Enterprise, was among those named by Martinsville City Public Schools to the Virginia School Boards Association Media Honor Roll.
Luis Romero, of BTW21, also received the honor.
“I was honored and more than a little surprised,” to be selected “alongside my friend and colleague, Luis,” Hietala said.
A resolution approved by the school board stated, in part, that “much of the community’s knowledge and opinions about the public schools rely on responsible reporting by local media representatives who decide which news to share with the community, how much attention will be focused on various issues, and what the tone of the reporting will be.”
The addition of Hietala’s name called “attention to the ongoing responsible and exemplary nature of reporting on this community’s public schools. We express our appreciation for your balanced and accurate approach to sharing with this community both the challenges facing our schools and the successes achieved by the teachers and students,” the resolution stated.
Hietala, who primarily covers Martinsville and Henry County, said “We’re very proud of what we do at the Henry County Enterprise. I’m proud of the work I’ve done, the stories I get to tell, and I’m grateful to the board and staff of MCPS for recognizing us for that work.”
“Callie’s love of the job, and for the communities she serves, is evident,” said Debbie Hall, editor. “She is a valued, talented and dedicated member of our team. It is an honor and a pleasure to work with her.”
Publisher Michael Showell said, “Callie represents exactly why I am in this business. I congratulate her for the recognition by the VSBA.”
Hietala is nearing the first-year anniversary of her employment with The Enterprise and Henry County Enterprise. Both newspapers and several others in Virginia are published by Virginia Media, Inc., which is a subsidiary of Lewisburg, West Virginia-based Mountain Media, LLC.
