About

Phone: 801-855-6640

Email: [email protected]

The Citizen gracefully debuted on May 27, 1903, and was presented to the public every Saturday. The newspaper flourished by providing readers in American Fork with a rich blend of local and national news, alongside light-hearted content.

In 1912, the newspaper underwent an ownership transition and embraced the town’s name in its masthead, becoming the American Fork Citizen.

The publication enjoyed prosperity under this title for several decades. On March 1, 1982, Brett Bezzant and his family founded a corporation, New Utah, reestablishing local ownership of the American Fork Citizen, alongside two other prominent local papers. This pivotal transition brought about a new era for community journalism, with Brett hiring Marc Haddock as the managing editor. The editorial team, comprising Jeaneen Gordon (later succeeded by Barbara Christensen), Betty Fowler, and Marcelo Walker, led the American Fork Citizen, Lehi Free Press, and Pleasant Grove Review, respectively. Under their stewardship, the newspapers not only lived up to but thrived by their mission statement: “Our mission is to create and supply community information so relevant, timely, and well-packaged that it is indispensable to every home we serve.”

This commitment to excellence was recognized repeatedly by the Utah Press Association, earning them numerous accolades, including the coveted Community Service Award of Excellence. The dedication of Brett, Marc, and the entire editorial team ensured that the voice of the community was both heard and valued.

Throughout its history, the Citizen has seen numerous staff changes but maintained continuity in its journalistic voice, with contributors like Barbara Christiensen covering American Fork, Alpine, and Cedar Hills, and Kathy Allred focusing on Lehi, Saratoga Springs, and Pleasant Grove. Key figures such as Becky Beaton for sports and Landon Olsen for Orem and Vineyard, with Jeanette Eplin as office manager and Marc Haddock as editor, have upheld the paper’s standard.

This local stewardship continued until July 2000, when New UTAH was acquired by Pulitzer Newspapers, Inc., who also owned the Daily Herald. The American Fork Citizen and other local papers were integrated into the larger network of North County newspapers managed by the Daily Herald, and subsequently purchased by Lee Enterprises Inc.

Danny Crivello, serving as an American Fork correspondent for the Daily Herald publication, diligently led and supervised the digital metamorphosis of the Citizen and managed its content for the Herald. Danny viewed it as a privilege to guide such a respected news service for our community.

In 2018, the Provo Daily Herald allowed the DBA of the American Fork Citizen, registered through the State of Utah, to lapse. Subsequently, Danny registered the name with the State and independently began writing about community events until 2023.

In late 2023, recognizing a pressing need in the community for a local news agency akin to what the American Fork Citizen once was, Robert Shelton reached out to Danny to explore collaborative opportunities and acquired the DBA through his publishing company, Axio Publishing, LLC.

Today, the American Fork Citizen is envisioned to inform and unify the community of American Fork, maintaining its purpose and legacy.

Phone: 801-855-6640

Email: [email protected]