In 39 long years, the Variety covered every event that mattered the most to the people of the islands.
It’s interesting to note the humble beginnings of the paper in 1972. It has changed offices and seen personnel come and go while remaining true to its core values: which is to be a fair, balanced and independent source of news and views.
“We should remember that this paper is older than the commonwealth itself,” said the Variety’s longest serving editor, Zaldy Dandan. “The Variety was born when there was no economy to speak of. This is a local paper, locally owned. It doesn’t exist to protect any business or political interest.
It will be here as long as there is a need for an independent newspaper. That means forever.”
Scott Russell, now executive director of the Northern Marianas Humanities Council shares his fondest recollection of his short stint as reporter with Variety.
“I worked as a reporter at the Marianas Variety from July to August 1977. The Variety office was in Oleai at that time and the newspaper came out once a week. We had no computers. We took notes with pencil or pen, and then prepared our articles at the office. Final drafts were then given to the typesetters who used specially designed typewriters to produce text in one-inch columns. The text was then given to Abed Younis [the paper’s founder] who prepared the layout using an Xacto knife and rubber cement.”
Russell worked with Eve Lowe and Roger Schick.
During the two months he worked for the paper, Russell remembered covering the transition period in the Northern Marianas Islands history. “At the time, the big news centered on the resident commissioner, Erwin Canham, who was overseeing a transition period between the Trust Territory administration and the new Commonwealth government,” he said.
Like Russell during those interesting times, the current breed of reporters are in a similar predicament: reporting on a transition of the islands to federal control of labor and immigration.
The issues evolve and recur but Variety is the one thing constant.
It broke news on issues that political leaders on Capital Hill scantily paid attention to but their constituents hungered so much action on.
It heard the enfeebled voices of garment workers yearning for better working conditions.
It served as the community’s voice to seek redress for an injustice made.
Variety was there every step of the way.
More than taking up cudgels for the weak and marginalized, the paper has over the years been steadfast in its commitment to serving the community — it has chosen to find its niche in helping the youth of the islands realize their full potential.
Since inception, the paper has been a strong supporter of the islands’ youth and youth service programs. In a plethora of activities over the decades — from donations to scholarship programs to assisting local high schools with the Cooperative Education training program — Marianas Variety has been active with promoting community programs of the Division of Youth Services and other youth-oriented non-profit organizations, with Stellar Marianas at the forefront.
As the doyen of media on island, Variety shares with the youth its rich and solid journalistic experience through the paper’s internship program. Willing high school graduates can come and train in journalism, graphic arts, photography and marketing and sales.
Aside from the training made available to the young generation, Variety has a page — MV Teen — where issues affecting the islands’ youth are covered by junior reporters.
It does not end there. Variety recently launched a program where it helps public and private high schools establish their school newspapers through journalism workshops and with Variety helping print the papers at minimal cost.
Through these programs, Marianas Variety makes manifests its belief that tomorrow’s leaders can be prepared today by actively engaging them in issues that matter, encouraging them to be informed and to become active supporters of their communities.
On the occasion of its 39 years in the business, Variety is humbled by the recognition accorded to it by the Micronesian Youth Services Network for the paper’s untiring efforts in advancing social services for the youth.
Laila Younis Boyer, the president of the company, has been at the forefront of all these projects since taking over the helm from her father, Abed Younis.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve our local and regional communities by doing what we know best: providing the latest news and empowering our citizens with that information,” said Boyer.
She acknowledges the “Oscar-worthy” contribution of every member of the Marianas Variety team across the region, whose hard work and dedication are worth commending.
She said, “Despite the challenges all around us, we are constantly striving for ways to help make our communities better, and this year, we are focusing on our islands’ youth.”
Riding on the crest of its recognition by the Micronesian Youth Network Service Award, the Marianas Variety, Boyer assured, will beef up its summer internship program and add in new community youth service projects.
She also announced teaming up with Marianas High School once again for the Marianas March Against Cancer event this May.
“To our readers and advertisers, a huge thank you for the continued trust and support, it has been an adventurous 39 years and we are definitely ready for the ride in the years to come.”
