Governor Hosts Reception for Northern Media

During a reception for media representatives Sunday, June 12, Elizabeth Boyd, press secretary to Governor Jennifer Granholm, visits with Ken Winter, publisher of the Petoskey News-Review on the porch of the Governor’s summer residence on Mackinac Island.

Governor Jennifer Granholm hosted a media reception on the porch of her summer residence Sunday, June 12.

"The media play an important role in our Democracy by helping ensure that citizens, including those in Northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, know what is happening in their state government," said Governor Granholm.

The event included television, radio, and newspaper representatives from Cadillac northward. Traditionally, the Governor has hosted a media reception in December in Lansing, but the Governor’s press secretary, Elizabeth Boyd, said asking northern media people to travel to Lansing in December did not seem fair, so the summer gathering idea was born. Now, the Governor’s office hopes to have two media receptions yearly, with one in the winter for organizations below Cadillac and one in the summer for those north.

Grand Hotel catered the 90 minute reception that included a tour of the main floor of the residence. Intermixed with the antique furniture is the Governor’s personal decorating touch of family photographs which are scattered throughout the main room, dining room, and porch area.