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The Batavian was officially launched May 1, 2008.  It is the first local, online-only news source for Batavia and Genesee County.  The Batavian now stands as Genesee County's most popular online news site.

The purpose of the site is to provide local residents with timely news and information mostly about Genesee County. It is also our mission to ensure that every resident has a chance to contribute to the community by posting news and opinion about events, whether of local interest or national or international importance.

We believe that through civil discussion, communities grow stronger. We encourage all residents to participate, and only ask that each contributor treat others with respect.

The Batavian is not affiliated with any other local media. It is independently operated.

Phone: (585) 260-6970

Publisher - Howard Owens
Howard Owens is originally from San Diego California, where he started his journalism career 20 years ago as co-publisher of a community weekly. He has been a daily newspaper reporter and editor. In 1995, he launched East County Online, a web site for six community weeklies in San Diego County. It was the first web site serving a group of weekly papers. He was director of new media for The Ventura County Star, which won the Online News Association's General Excellence Award in 2004. In 2005, he was VP of Interactive for the Bakersfield Californian.  Bakersfield.com won a General Excellence award from the Inland Press Association. From 2006 until 2009, he was director of digital publishing for GateHouse Media based in Fairport, N.Y.  He is a former member of the Newspaper Association of America's Digital Media Federation board and served on NAA's audience development committee. Howard's email address is "howard (at) thebatavian dot com"

Billie Owens started her professional journalism career in 1998 at The Daily Californian in El Cajon, Calif., where she won numerous regional awards for her writing and reporting. After three years at the Californian, Billie went on to a successful and award-winning three-year stint at the San Diego Business Journal. She's also held staff writing positions at the Ventura County Star and the Daily Messenger in Canandaigua. She holds a Bachlor's Degree in Journalism from San Diego State University.

Correspondent - Tasia Boland
Tasia Boland is originally from Wisconsin, and moved to New York in 2002. She has lived in Batavia for 3 years. She recently graduated from Brockport with a Bachlor's Degree in Journalism and minor in Theatre. Ever since she was a little girl she has had a passion for writing. She was a reporter for her high school newspaper, and  a lifestyles reporter for Brockport's paper, The Stylus.  Her first job was at the St. Albans Messenger, a small daily newspaper in Vermont. She was a telemarketer and it was here she saw first hand a real working newsroom. This is when she decided she wanted to be part of the media. Today she is a Team Leader at Target, and is excited to gain more experience as a reporter with The Batavian.

Correspondent - Amy Weidner
Amy Weidner completes a bachelor's degree in broadcast communications at SUNY Brockport in December. She's focused on pursuing a career in news media. Amy grew up in Genesee County and currently lives in Batavia. She's a 2005 graduate of Oakfield-Alabama High School. Amy's primary beat during her internship will be Le Roy.

 

Correspondent - Ethan Thompson
Ethan Thompson is a high school student who is home schooled. We first became aware of Ethan in April when Tasia did a profile of him and his entrepreneurial activities. Ethan describes himself as a "teenage entrepreneur." He likes to write, read and produce videos and he's very much into computers. He runs his own media company, Just Passing Thru Productions. He also owns and runs Youth in Action Mag, a site for Christian teens.  Ethan, an Oakfield resident, will be producing news and feature video, primarily about community events, for The Batavian during his internship.

Correspondent - Gretal Kauffman
Gretel Kauffman is a sophomore at Elba Central School.  She loves reading and writing, and hopes to have a career in journalism.  She has published poems in several magazines.  Gretel also enjoys playing the piano, singing, acting, and spending time with her friends and family.

 

Businesses interested in advertising should contact Howard Owens, 585-260-6970.