Jonathan McNiven
Wow, folks, what a week! I can’t believe all that has happened since we went to press last week. Since then, YCN landed an exclusive interview with Donald Trump Jr. on Friday, June 22, and I visited personally with United States Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke today, Wednesday, for a couple minutes after he was on the radio show Montana Talks with Aaron Flint. (I’ll talk about guest hosting the radio show later).
First, know that your local newspaper is gaining traction, and we are trying to keep the local beat on stuff that is happening here. From Last Best News (local online publication) ceasing publication locally on July 1 to national figures like U.S. Interior Secretary Zinke stopping in Billings for a brief visit with the Yellowstone County Commissioners and Billings representatives, YCN is busy getting the news.
U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke reading a past edition of the Yellowstone County News on Wednesday June 27, 2018 after talking on the radio with Aaron Flint from Montana Talks. (Jonathan McNiven photo)
We have so much that is going on that we need to be hiring another reporter, so if you’d like to get your feet wet and start contributing to your only weekly newspaper that covers Yellowstone County and Billings area news, give me a call. Heck, maybe I can get David Crisp (former owner/publisher of the Billings Outpost) to come write for YCN since the Last Best News went out of business. Or maybe Ed Kemmick will change his mind and write for us since he doesn’t have enough on his plate as well. Either way, I understand why some local publications have gone out of business with the changing times, business models, and employee payroll requirements out there. It’s not easy running a business and then making it successful is even harder.
I had to take a selfie with the present company since Donald Trump Jr. was in Billings. From left to right, Jonathan McNiven, Matt Rosendale, Donald Trump Jr., Kimberly Gillfoyle (Fox News Contributor)
As for YCN, we have been blessed, and we continue to gain traction, supporters, advertisers and we are working hard to be your local weekly publication with local hard news and stories that affect this area as well as keep you informed on what is going on for local school districts and local news, etc. In fact, we have a lot to do still, but we’ll focus on the little successes we have each and every week.
It was a pleasure to interview Donald Trump Jr. and Secretary Ryan Zinke this week, but I’m not sure if my interview with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will ever be topped!
Trump Jr. had a good amount of security personnel with him when he came to Montana, which is expected, being the U.S. president’s son. I also got to visit and introduce myself to Kimberly Gilfoyle from Fox News on Friday as well. These were not all planned nor expected so one has to take the opportunity to meet others when the opportunity arrives. In fact, I didn’t even know I’d be interviewing Trump Jr. until 24 hours before. Zinke was just because I was at the radio studios when he walked in. So yes, you can call me an opportunist.
One of Billings only online publications Last Best News announced that they will cease publication as of July 1, 2018. This was the story that ran on their website. (courtesy image Ed Kemmick from Last Best News)
However, I like what Ryan Zinke said about being patient with the president and the trade war that is basically going on as it affects many local Montana businesses, ranchers and farmers. He said to “be patient” and “look at the long-term gain” when it comes to the tariffs from other countries. Yes, it will affect us a bit temporarily, but we, in the end, will have a stronger economy and overall value because of it.
When I asked Zinke about our weekly newspaper, he said, “I love weeklies, because they have the local flavor…. You can’t get a local flavor unless you’re a local paper.” In fact, I got a picture of Zinke reading our newspaper. (I also gave Trump Jr. a copy of our newspaper when his father won the election, along with my card.)
One thing I really liked from the Trump Jr. interview is how he talked genuinely about Montana folks and how they just click with Trump because they have the same Montana values.
Jonathan McNiven, left, and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, right, shake hands and pose for a picture on 6/27/18 in the studios of Montana Talks Radio station. Both served in the Montana Legislature in the 2011 and 2013 Montana Legislative session in Helena. (Courtesy photo)
Oh, as for next week, I’ll be guest hosting the daily radio show Montana Talks for Aaron Flint on News Talk 95.5 FM from 6-10 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday, as he will be on vacation. Give me a shout out on the radio and let me know what you think. I’ll need all the help I can get as this will be my first time ever guest hosting a live radio show. One thing for sure, I know I’ve got a face made for radio! On another note, though, if I do a bad job, then it just might be my last time on the radio as well.
As for our little slice of Montana pie, we’ll keep this treasure alive that your Montana word/bond is as good as a Montana handshake.
Until then, not just see you in the paper, but hear me on the radio.
JDM
