Butler Eagle subscribers dunk staff, chamber president
PARKER — With 28 new Butler Eagle subscribers as of Monday, the community’s support for local journalism helped send six people into the icy Allegheny River.
“We did a campaign where the more people subscribed, the more people would jump in,” said staff writer Eddie Trizzino, still shivering.
As part of the Parker Polar Plunge, Eagle staff members like Trizzino agreed to participate in the annual river jump if the Butler Eagle gained enough new subscriptions by New Year’s Day.
Staff members set their own goals for the “Dunk-A-Reporter” campaign, hoping to build community support for Butler County’s long-standing news source.
“We are the news organization that keeps tabs on happenings across Butler County communities,” said Tracy Leturgey, assignment editor, “often bringing to light the happenings from not-so-well-attended municipal meetings and alerting readers to need-to-know information.”
Staff writers Trizzino and Austin Uram jumped into the river after meeting their goals of 10 and 15 new subscribers, respectively.
“It was cold,” Uram said. “It was really, really cold.”
Jordan Grady, president of the Butler County Chamber of Commerce, also agreed to join in the frigid fun for 20 new subscribers, jumping to support journalism in Butler County.
And in a last-minute change of heart, four staff members who started the campaign with high asks agreed to lower their requests and get in on the fun. Copy desk chief Joe Genco, podcast/video producer Laura Crago and Leturgey all agreed to jump for “24 new subscribers before 2024.”
“It was really fun; I had a great time,” Trizzino said. “It was really cool doing it with all my co-workers from the Butler Eagle. I was happy everybody joined in.”
The annual Parker Polar Plunge is organized by the Polar Bear Club, a nonprofit supporting local families in need, the Parker Volunteer Fire Department and other charitable organizations. The Butler Eagle donated in kind for each staff member sent into the river.
Five additional staff members fell short of their goal, staying warm and dry on New Year’s Day.
Mikayla Torrence, social media specialist, was just 22 subscribers short of her 50-subscriber goal.
Four V.I.P staff members fell short of their 1,000-subscriber goal including staff writers Molly Miller and Steve Cukovich, web developer Rebecka Leasure and community editor Paula Grubbs.
“I’m so proud of my young co-workers and Jordan for not only taking part in the Polar Plunge but for their spirit of community collaboration,” Grubbs said. “Who knows? Maybe next year I’ll stick a toe in.”
The jump was streamed live and is available for viewing on the Butler Eagle Facebook page.
Outside of the “Dunk-A-Reporter” campaign, readers can subscribe to the Butler Eagle year-round for exclusive access to local news written by local journalists.
Digital subscriptions start at $8 per month, and print subscriptions are available for $16 a month — roughly 60 cents per paper.
“Subscribers — new and long-standing — play an important role in keeping local news in the hands of our community. It’s with reader support that we ensure the future of sustainable, high quality, independent local news,” Leturgey said. “To everyone who subscribes to the Butler Eagle, thank you.”
