North Star Writers Group
Encyclopedia
North Star Writers Group is a newspaper syndicate
and editorial
services firm launched in December 2005. It is based in Byron Center, MI. The syndicate's material is carried by more than 50 newspaper
s across the United States
.
Dan Calabrese and editor relations director Angie Calabrese.
The syndicate is a successor company to a now-defunct public relations
firm called North Star Public Relations, which Calabrese launched in 1999. Although North Star Public Relations enjoyed some early success, it foundered in recent years as the company struggled to maintain financial stability, deal with Calabrese's highly inflated ego and long-term client relationships.
Calabrese, who began his career as a journalist
and opinion writer in various Michigan
markets, found himself in 2004 becoming disenchanted with public relations and searching in vain for ways to make it more valuable and better aligned with his own skills.
By early 2006 Calabrese decided to retire the public relations practice (a move that was completed at the conclusion of 2006) and focus their efforts on the syndication.
, Nathaniel Shockey of Seattle Pacific University
and Paul Ibrahim of Cornell University
. When the syndicate launched, it featured 11 columnists.
Soon after the launch, a variety of other writers learned of the syndicate and began offering their services, including Dayton Daily News feature editor Bob Batz, Mt. Pleasant Daily Sun reporter Eric Baerren, author and freelance writer Candace Talmadge and author/humor writer Mike Ball.
Calabrese has done little in the way of formal recruitment of writers since the syndicate's initial launch, with a notable exception being their outreach to radio talk show host, former U.S. Senate candidate and former Godfather's Pizza
chairman Herman Cain
, who joined the syndicate one month after its launch.
Liberal op-ed writers include Eric Baerren, Lucia de Vernai, David B. Livingstone, former Gore Communications Director Lawrence J. Haas, Rob Kall, Stephen Silver
, Candace Talmadge and Jessica Vozel. Conservative op-ed writers include Calabrese himself, along with Herman Cain
, David Karki, former main speechwriter for the 1984 Reagan/Bush campaign Bob Maistros, Paul Ibrahim, Jamie Weinstein, and Nathaniel Shockey. Also included is label-defier Llewellyn King.
Feature writers include Bob Batz ("Senior Moments"), Cindy Droog ("The Working Mom"), Mike Ball
("What I've Learned So Far"), D.F. Krause ("Business Ridiculous"), food writer The Laughing Chef and David J. Pollay ("The Happiness Answer")
Syndicate
A syndicate is a self-organizing group of individuals, companies or entities formed to transact some specific business, or to promote a common interest or in the case of criminals, to engage in organized crime...
and editorial
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
services firm launched in December 2005. It is based in Byron Center, MI. The syndicate's material is carried by more than 50 newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
History
North Star Writers Group is owned and operated by editor in chiefEditor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
Dan Calabrese and editor relations director Angie Calabrese.
The syndicate is a successor company to a now-defunct public relations
Public relations
Public relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
firm called North Star Public Relations, which Calabrese launched in 1999. Although North Star Public Relations enjoyed some early success, it foundered in recent years as the company struggled to maintain financial stability, deal with Calabrese's highly inflated ego and long-term client relationships.
Calabrese, who began his career as a journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and opinion writer in various Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
markets, found himself in 2004 becoming disenchanted with public relations and searching in vain for ways to make it more valuable and better aligned with his own skills.
By early 2006 Calabrese decided to retire the public relations practice (a move that was completed at the conclusion of 2006) and focus their efforts on the syndication.
Recruitment of Writers
Calabrese began recruiting columnists in September 2005 in anticipation of a December 2005 site launch. His initial efforts focused on recently graduated college writers who showed skill but would likely be overlooked by more established syndicates. This effort helped North Star recruit Lucia Bill of Arizona State UniversityArizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
, Nathaniel Shockey of Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle Pacific University is a Christian university of the liberal arts, sciences and professions, located on the north slope of Queen Anne Hill in Seattle, Washington, USA. It was founded in 1891 by the Oregon and Washington Conference of the Free Methodist Church as the Seattle Seminary...
and Paul Ibrahim of Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
. When the syndicate launched, it featured 11 columnists.
Soon after the launch, a variety of other writers learned of the syndicate and began offering their services, including Dayton Daily News feature editor Bob Batz, Mt. Pleasant Daily Sun reporter Eric Baerren, author and freelance writer Candace Talmadge and author/humor writer Mike Ball.
Calabrese has done little in the way of formal recruitment of writers since the syndicate's initial launch, with a notable exception being their outreach to radio talk show host, former U.S. Senate candidate and former Godfather's Pizza
Godfather's Pizza
Godfather's Pizza is a privately owned restaurant chain headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska that operates fast casual Italian franchises. -History:...
chairman Herman Cain
Herman Cain
Herman Cain is a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.Cain has a background as a business executive, syndicated columnist, and radio host from Georgia. He served as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986 to 1996...
, who joined the syndicate one month after its launch.
Columnists
North Star Writers Group presently syndicates 24 columnists, including 18 op-ed writers, five general feature page columnists, one business humor writer and one cartoonist, Brett Noel.Liberal op-ed writers include Eric Baerren, Lucia de Vernai, David B. Livingstone, former Gore Communications Director Lawrence J. Haas, Rob Kall, Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver
Stephen Silver is a professional artist, cartoonist and character designer. He is best known as the lead character designer for animated series such as Kim Possible and Danny Phantom.-History:...
, Candace Talmadge and Jessica Vozel. Conservative op-ed writers include Calabrese himself, along with Herman Cain
Herman Cain
Herman Cain is a candidate for the 2012 U.S. Republican Party presidential nomination.Cain has a background as a business executive, syndicated columnist, and radio host from Georgia. He served as chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986 to 1996...
, David Karki, former main speechwriter for the 1984 Reagan/Bush campaign Bob Maistros, Paul Ibrahim, Jamie Weinstein, and Nathaniel Shockey. Also included is label-defier Llewellyn King.
Feature writers include Bob Batz ("Senior Moments"), Cindy Droog ("The Working Mom"), Mike Ball
Mike Ball
Mike A. Ball is a member of the Alabama House of Representatives. Ball has been in the state house since 2002.-Biography:...
("What I've Learned So Far"), D.F. Krause ("Business Ridiculous"), food writer The Laughing Chef and David J. Pollay ("The Happiness Answer")