Jeff Oliver: Not accepting ‘no’ led to birth of MVI

BY JEFF OLIVER
For the MVI

Apparently, even in my youth, I showed many characteristics of being a good reporter.

Jeff Oliver

I often questioned everything I was told.

My parents would at times chastise me for not accepting “no” as an answer. It was that same attitude that helped create the Mon Valley Independent.

When Trib Total Media announced it was closing The Valley Independent in 2015, employees and managers lamented the end of their jobs on the horizon. For me, it seemed that a career that spanned more than 35 years was about to end.

It was scary, for sure.

And I just couldn’t accept it, much like when I was a kid.

I asked my manager and editors at VI if there was anything that could be done to save newspaper coverage in the Mid-Mon Valley and the jobs of employees. I was told “no.”

But that wasn’t acceptable to me.

When news of the upcoming closing of the area’s lifeline for reporting the happenings around here became public, a lot of people were stunned.

Among them were several of my long-time friends and successful businessmen, Moe Galis, Naz Victoria, Joe Dalfonso and Keith Bassi.

Separately, all called to ask me what it would take to start a newspaper.

I didn’t have an answer for them, but I promised to get more information.

I asked if anyone at VI had talked to the leadership at the Trib to see if there was any alternative, such as starting another newspaper with the Trib’s help.

Again, I was told “no,” there was no chance of that.

I refused to take “no” for an answer and called Trib President and CEO Jennifer Bertetto since nobody else would.

In those days, employees at VI who knew of Bertetto without ever meeting her personally were pretty much intimidated by her position.

I called her office. To my surprise, not only did Jenn answer the phone, she was very receptive to the idea and pledged to help in any way possible.

That phone call was the start of an excellent working relationship and a budding friendship that I still hold close to me to this day.

Her cooperation and support led to us putting in motion the groundwork for what is now known as the Mon Valley Independent.

I went back to Galis, Victoria, Dalfonso and Bassi and we embarked on a labor of love to keep our local identity alive with them serving as owners.

It was a monumental task, but with the help of Bertetto, the seeds were planted.

I started out as managing editor of the new endeavor and two of my biggest tasks included putting together a staff and meeting with the public to drum up support for the newspaper.

Once the paper got off the ground and started printing editions, word of our endeavor spread quickly.

I was contacted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, USA Today and even a publication in London, England.

All wanted to know why, at a time when newspapers around the world were closing, we decided to start one. I told them all that our area – the Mid-Mon Valley – was made up of pieces of several counties and wasn’t the main emphasis of other larger newspapers.

We felt our stories needed to be told and what happens here matters here.

Through our early growing pains, the owners were charged with making some tough decisions to keep the paper afloat.

One of those decisions was to move me from managing editor where I oversaw the newsroom to general manager where my responsibilities were to oversee the entire operation. I worked in that position for almost two years before retiring.

Along the way we added the McKeesport and surrounding areas to our coverage because, like the Mid-Mon Valley, they lost their newspaper, too.

With the hard work of a small but diligent and talented staff, we made it work.

I hope the public appreciates the hard work and dedication the MVI staff practices every day.

It was that kind of dedication, perseverance and a refusal to accept “no” as an answer that drove us to fight to keep the news and sports of the Mid-Mon Valley meaningful.

Over the years people have asked me why I felt the need to start a new newspaper in a dying business.

Again, I couldn’t take “no” as an answer.

Some old habits are hard to break.

But I will say this: Other than raising two sons, forming the Mon Valley Independent has been the greatest and proudest accomplishment of my life.

And here we are today, celebrating 10 years in business.

Congratulations MVI on 10 amazing years. Cheers to many, many more.

Anyone with any thoughts, opposing views or comments on this column can reach Jeff Oliver by emailing justjto@verizon.net