Independent Newsmedia expands Opinions desk

Independent Newsmedia/Chris Williams

Opinions with Civility

Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA publishes a wide variety of opinions at YourValley.net as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines, which can be found at yourvalley.net/civility-checklist.

Have something to say? Submit a 300-word letter at yourvalley.net/letters or email it along with your full name, address and phone number (for verification purposes) to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We don’t publish anonymous letters, but you can use a pen name as long as we can confirm your identity.

Subject-matter experts interested in submitting an issue-focused Op-Ed may email AzOpinions@iniusa.org to pitch your idea and request guidelines.

INI’s CivilityLearningLab.org is made possible by sponsorships from INI and retired INI CEO Joe Smyth. For more information on the platform or how to become a sponsor, email CEO Charlene Bisson at cbisson@iniusa.org.

PHOENIX — Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA has expanded its Arizona opinions desk with the addition of longtime Valley journalist Lee Shappell.

Shappell, who will serve as opinions associate, joins opinions coordinator Kelly O’Sullivan.

“I’m excited to have Lee on board,” O’Sullivan said. “He brings a wealth of institutional knowledge critical to our mission to boost reader engagement on YourValley.net and to encourage Arizonans to exercise their First Amendment rights through meaningful civil discourse.”

Shappell comes to INI from Times Media Group’s Tempe Tribune, where he served as editor for two years. Before that, he was an award-winning journalist at The Arizona Republic for 39 years in a variety of roles, including senior reporter, senior copy editor, copy desk chief and city editor. He also was executive editor of Wrangler News, prior to its acquisition by INI in 2024, editorial director of InMaricopa and managing editor of Scottsdale Airpark News. All of his teams won multiple awards.

“News media play a critical role in a free society,” Shappell said. “Their place as conduits of free speech now, more than ever, must be protected as our First Amendment rights are challenged in this country.”

As part of his work, Shappell will reach out elected officials, community leaders and industry subject matter experts, in addition to everyday citizens with something to say, to seek their points of view on issues that impact Arizona, the Valley and individual communities.

He also will work closely with O’Sullivan to grow INI’s Civility Learning Lab, a free, non-subscription platform for readers and news outlets across the state designed to provide opinion content and to expand awareness on the importancing of engaging in community discussion on public issues with accountability and kindness.

CivilityLearningLab.org, a first-of-its-kind Arizonawide initiative, launched in 2025.

“Part of a news organization’s duty in maintaining public trust is a commitment to amplify readers’ voices from a variety of points of view through citizen participation in Op-Eds and letters to the editor,” Shappell said. “Just as important is doing it respectfully. It seems civil discourse is becoming a lost art in our society. I hope we can begin to restore it through our growing Civility Learning Lab.”

INI CEO Charlene Bisson also is passionate about the role media plays in engaging community members in civil discourse.

“Having someone of Lee’s caliber joining our INI team to help preserve the First Amendment is important to us,” Bisson said. “We have faith in the public’s ability to make good decisions if we provide a solid understanding of community issues and a place to debate and develop their opinions. I look forward to working with Kelly and Lee collaborating on this important initiative.”