Butler Eagle, Sample News Group journalists honored for assassination attempt coverage
Two regional journalists are being recognized as “heroes” for their efforts covering the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024.
The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association announced Butler Eagle staff photographer Morgan Phillips and Margaret Weaver, managing editor of Sample News Group, have been named the organization’s inaugural Newspaper Hero of the Year Award recipients.
Phillips, who had only been with the Butler Eagle for seven months prior to the July 13 campaign rally, quickly found herself part of a historic event, that killed two people, including the gunman and wounded two others.
After gun shots rang out, what kept Phillips calm was her ability to focus on what she went there to do.
“I think just focusing on doing my job was what helped me,” Phillips said. “I thought I could deal with the fear later and focus on getting photos in the moment instead of dealing with the fear then.”
Phillips said she was proud of her ability to stay on her feet during the aftermath of the gunfire, because situations like that can prove unpredictable.
One thing she will never forget about that day was the interactions she had with some of the rally goers once the Farm Show started to clear out.
“I never experienced that amount of hatred before and that sticks with me still,” Phillips said. “I also just think about all the lives that were affected by that day.”
Phillips then would later return to the Farm Show for Trump’s second Butler rally in October 2024, which to Donna Sybert, managing editor of the Butler Eagle, said displayed courage and dedication to her craft.
“I know it wasn’t easy, but I appreciate and respect her belief that what we do is important,” Sybert said. “What we do matters. Our profession needs young journalists like Morgan.”
Tracy Leturgey, assignment editor at the Butler Eagle said while Phillips wasn’t the only news photographer at the rally, the photos she took will mean more to her than any others.
“When bullets flew across the Butler Farm Show venue on July 13, 2024, Morgan Phillips didn't duck,” Leturgey said. “She stood and photographed the moment that made international history. In that moment, Morgan risked her life for the greater good. She saw a need to capture that news, and thank goodness she did.”
Tammy Schuey, publisher of the Butler Eagle, said she is proud of Phillips’ courage during the event
“She took powerful photographs of what was a very chaotic and frightening situation,” Schuey said. “She knew how important it was to photograph the event that thrust Butler into the world spotlight. Morgan truly deserves this award for facing her fears and recording history for our community and nation.”
Also receiving the same honor from the association was Margaret Weaver, who helped the Butler Eagle in its coverage of the assassination attempt after the fact.
“Margaret is a veteran journalist who understands the critical role of community newspapers and what a toll that job can take on a newsroom,” Sybert said. “Her support was and still is invaluable to us.”
As the managing editor of Sample News Group, Weaver oversees about a dozen community newspapers around the region and even parts of New York, such as the Indiana Gazette where she is based out of.
During a video call between Weaver, Schuey and other local media representatives, Schuey advocated for some additional help in the immediate weeks following the July 13 rally.
“I have enjoyed the relationship between Tracy, Donna and Tammy,” Weaver said. “We can bounce ideas off of each other and have someone to talk about the tougher issues with. It has been a wonderful collaboration all around.”
Weaver said she traveled to Butler to cover an event where people came to learn about trauma and how to work through the experience they went through.
Schuey said she is thankful for Weaver and the help she was able to provide.
“Every person in this building was truly exhausted,” Schuey said. “It was a lot of work for a small newsroom. Immediately, Margaret reached out and sent us a reporter, Nathan Zisk. She lent us his services for a week and even took her own time to come over here and help run a Saturday just to give our people a much-needed break.”
Weaver said she knows all too well about needing some extra help, having worked in the national media for years.
“It's not an easy job,” Weaver said. “It's not always something you leave at the door when you walk out of the newsroom at the end of the day. Just to be able to support other journalists is what I am most happy to do.”
