Tribune Media – Local Newspaper Strengthens with Print Edition

By Bianca Salazar
Staff writer
IG: @bancasalazar_bts

When students think of the future, for some it feels intimidating and overwhelming. Hutchinson Community College makes the future seem a little less scary with the education it gives. It can be seen with the successes of its alumni.

Joey Young, a HutchCC alumnus from the class of 2006, has started a new business venture in the world of journalism in Hutchinson. Young and his wife, HutchCC alumna Lindsey Young, have taken over The Hutchinson Tribune after Trinity Catholic alumnus Michael Glenn headed off to college at the University of Kansas.

The Tribune was started by Glenn and his fellow co-owner Gina Long in July 2023. Glenn was taught the basics of journalism from Lindsey Young in “Earn Your Press Pass”, which is a video series discussing the essentials of journalism like Associated Press style and how to conduct interviews.

From there, Glenn grew his website and generated a mass audience. He knew he would have to let go once he went off to college, so he talked with Young to take it over.

“We were mentoring Michael anyway,” Joey Young said. “It seemed natural. Lindsey graduated from Haven and I graduated from Buhler. Our parents still live in Hutch. We are Reno County kids so why not?”

Glenn chose them to take over not only because they were his mentors, but because he knew what they would do for the Hutchinson community.

“I knew Joey would be a good publisher of the Tribune simply from his other publications that he and Lindsey manage.” Glenn said. “Harvey County Now is a newspaper owned by the Youngs and it wins multiple state awards annually, helps hold local governments accountable and is a resource for the community. Joey and Lindsey have found a way to make print newspapers the centerpiece and focal points of their communities, and neither Gina or I had doubts that they wouldn’t do the same here.”

Glenn has entrusted the Tribune to Kansas Publishing Ventures, which is the company the Youngs own that oversee multiple newspapers and other publications. They own The Clarion from Andale, Newton Now, Harvey County Now, and now The Hutchinson Tribune.

Young was inspired to start his newspaper ventures from a former HutchCC advisor.

“Former newspaper advisor Alan Montgomery encouraged me to freelance for paid papers and eventually told me it would be OK to take the job at the Independent when I was trying to decide,” Young said. “He said, you can always go back to school if it doesn’t work out. Lindsey and I having no college debt is largely how we could afford to live off one income and save for a down payment on The Clarion.”

The Youngs have done a great amount of things for the newspaper industry.

Glenn is counting on them to continue to do the great work they have done.

“I’m confident in the leadership of the Tribune moving forward, and I’d recommend those who haven’t heard of the Tribune to consider subscribing.” Glenn said. ”Local journalism is essential to the way we as a people function, from holding our government accountable to knowing what’s going on in the community.”

Young finishes off with a reminder that all of what he has done was because he attended HutchCC.

“I wasn’t a good student in high school or really at Hutch either,” Young said. “I needed a place to figure out where I wanted to be in life. (HutchCC) was perfect for me. It was affordable, helped me find my first newsroom, and I met my lovely wife there too. The Collegian kickstarted it all for me. I’ll always appreciate that kick.”

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