Missouri Press Association
Serving Missouri Newspapers Since 1867
On the Move
MEXICO — Don Munsch has joined the Mexico Ledger as general manager and editor. The new position will help grow the newspaper’s print and online circulation, as well as be responsible for overseeing the newspaper’s office and directing news coverage.
Munsch has a lengthy career working for publications primarily in the southern United States, but he has ties to Missouri. He was previously a government reporter for Community Impact, a weekly newspaper group in suburban Dallas-Fort Worth area, and has experience at several other publications in Texas and Oklahoma.
Publisher Tim Schmidt said he had previously talked with Munsch about a role and is thrilled for the veteran journalist to join Westplex Media at the Ledger. “We first made contact with Don a couple of years ago and remained in contact with him when we had various openings. I’m glad to finally have him leading our staff. He brings with him a wealth of experience in community journalism. Don is a strong writer and will be a welcome addition as we continue to place a high priority on improving our news coverage.”
Munsch has been recognized by the Texas State Teachers Association for “Outstanding Continuous Coverage in Local Education” for three consecutive years and is a recipient of multiple Texas Press Association and Associated Press Managing Editors awards.
Lee Enterprises suffers cybersecurity attack that disrupts operations
At the beginning of February, Lee Enterprises, which publishes the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and several more newspapers outside of Missouri, reported a cybersecurity event had disrupted the company’s operations.
According to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Form 8-K report filed on Feb. 12, Lee experienced a systems outage caused by a “cybersecurity attack” on Feb. 3.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that threat actors unlawfully accessed the Company’s network, encrypted critical applications, and exfiltrated certain files. The Company is actively conducting forensic analysis to determine whether sensitive data or personally identifiable information (PII) was compromised. At this time, no conclusive evidence has been identified, but the investigation remains ongoing,” according to the report.
The company notified law enforcement and is continuing its forensic investigation into the attack to determine its full impact. In the company’s SEC report, updated guidance will be released when a full assessment of the attack is complete.
In response to the attack, Lee was forced to implement temporary measures, including manual processing of transactions, to conduct business.
Missouri Press members are reminded to speak with a trusted local IT professional to ensure their own newspapers are as protected as possible from cyber attacks and unwanted digital intrusions. A local company you can work with directly can better assess your operations and determine the best hardware and software for keeping your information secure.
Beware help wanted ads from bad actors
A help wanted ad published by Leader Publications newspapers is now a cautionary tale for other Missouri Press members.
The newspaper group recently informed readers a classified ad, which claimed to be for a company seeking to hire for a part-time bookkeeper/payroll position, was part of a fake check scam. The ad included an email address for applicants to contact.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported that a county resident reached out to the company in the ad through the email address and received an email back with a link to apply for the position. The applicant was then sent text messages from a California phone number.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, the hiring company informed the applicant they would receive a $500 payment to cover starting pay and to purchase supplies. However, the applicant received a $2,550 cashier’s check with a California address, after which the applicant contacted law enforcement.
The Leader reported that a spokesman for the Sheriff’s Office said the check looked fake, which was a red flag, but also the language in the messages from the “hiring company” also seemed suspicious.
Known as an “overpayment scam,” this type of scam involves one party sending a check for too much money and asking the recipient to refund the balance. Since the initial check is fake, those funds never become available and the receiving party is using their own money to cover the refund.
The Federal Trade Commission has advice for consumers on how to spot, avoid and report overpayment scams and other common types of fake check scams. You can find that tip sheet here: https://bit.ly/4bc7gSJ.
For newspapers running any kind of ad, remember to be vigilant on behalf of your readers and do your best to vet the individuals and companies placing advertisements with your newspaper.
