What makes Gongwer an essential resource?

Trust

Gongwer readers subscribe because they can trust that the information we publish is accurate, unbiased and reliable. The company's record of trust has been established over more than a century of service.

Independence

Gongwer is an independent service with a staff possessing decades of reporting experience. Our staff has backgrounds in journalism, not lobbying or politics, and has sole control of all content appearing in Gongwer products.

Timeliness

Gongwer publishes each day's report when the day's news is done, so you won't have to stay up late or wait until the next morning to read our products. And Gongwer regularly emails news updates during the day, so you won't have to wait until the evening for the latest information.

Flexibility

Subscribers are not forced to sign contracts, eliminating the risk of being locked into services that don't meet your needs. Gongwer stands by its work, and doesn't suggest in contract language that its content may not be reliable.

In-depth

Besides covering daily happenings in state government and politics, Gongwer also provides in-depth features and enterprise stories to expose what's happening behind the scenes. Gongwer brings you news and information that's not available from any other source.

All-Inclusive

You won't pay more for add-on services because Gongwer gives you news, bill tracking, alerts, schedules, directories and much more in a single subscription package.

Meet Our Staff:
Scott Miller, President

Scott has been with Gongwer for nearly 20 years, having focused on daily reporting and editing duties in his early career. He is responsible for the company’s main business operations, and has done significant work in transitioning the century-old company to the Internet age. Born and raised in Michigan, Scott is a Miami University graduate and is a former president of the Ohio Legislative Correspondents Association. Outside of work, he is involved with youth leadership development, youth athletics and other community programs.

Zachary Gorchow, Executive Editor and Publisher

Zach was named Gongwer's executive editor and publisher in 2020 and manages the company's Michigan operations, develops new services, plays a role in news coverage and leads reporting on the governor's office. He was Gongwer's editor from 2009-19. Zach also covered the Michigan House of Representatives for Gongwer from 1998-2005. In between his two Gongwer stints, he spent four years at the Detroit Free Press, covering Wayne County and the city of Detroit. Prior to first working at Gongwer, he reported for Observer Newspapers in suburban Wayne County. He is a Troy native and an international relations graduate from Michigan State University, where he worked on the school's student newspaper, The State News. In 2015, he made The Washington Post's list of the best state political reporters in the United States. His direct line is 517-657-2661.

Alethia Kasben, Managing Editor

Alethia joined Gongwer in 2013 after interning with the company in 2011. She leads Gongwer’s overall news coverage and serves as senior legislative reporter in addition to covering the marijuana industry. From 2013-21, she covered the Michigan House of Representatives. Alethia graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor's degree in journalism and public relations. She has reported with The State News and Great Lakes Echo. She also did marketing and public relations work with the Downtown Anaheim Association in California. She grew up in Detroit and Hazel Park. Her direct line is 517-657-2663.

Christopher Klaver, CIO

Chris, who has been with Gongwer since 1992, is the company's chief information officer, managing all information technology operations, including service enhancements, technological developments, site security, product innovation and more. He developed Gongwer's one-of-a-kind database that powers the company's website and bill tracking service. He is an MSU journalism graduate who spent 27 years with Gongwer reporting on state departments and agencies. He previously worked for the Grand Traverse Business Journal and grew up in Grand Rapids and Traverse City. His direct line is 517-657-2664.

Elena Durnbaugh, Staff Writer

Elena covers the Michigan House of Representatives. She joined the Gongwer staff in 2022 following reporting at the Lansing State Journal, where she covered the City of Lansing, and the Battle Creek Enqurier. Prior to her work in Battle Creek, she was an assistant editor for the Gazette Media Group, a chain of weekly papers in Oakland and Macomb counties. A native of Waterford Township, Elena earned a bachelor’s degree from Oakland University and a master’s degree from the University of Edinburgh.

Lily Guiney, Staff Writer

Lily joined the Gongwer staff in 2024 and covers most of the state's departments and agencies. A native of Traverse City, she previously was a state government and politics reporting intern for the Michigan Advance. Lily spent a year as the senior state government reporter and digital content editor for The State News, the Michigan State University student-run newspaper, and also was an environmental reporting intern with Interlochen Public Radio.

Nick Smith, Staff Writer

Nick joined Gongwer News Service in June 2017 after more than five years of covering North Dakota state government and politics for The Bismarck Tribune in Bismarck, North Dakota. Before working at the Tribune, he spent more than two years with The Williston Herald in Williston, North Dakota, covering local politics and energy news. Prior to the Herald, he had short stints working at The Advertiser-Tribune in Tiffin, Ohio, and later at The Davison Index. He majored in journalism and minored in history at Central Michigan University, graduating in 2007. He’s a Port Huron native who spent most of his childhood in Davison. Nick leads Gongwer’s coverage of the Senate and energy. His direct line is 517-657-2665.

Ben Solis, Staff Writer

Ben joined Gongwer in 2020 and covers the state's criminal justice system -- the Department of Attorney General, the Department of State Police, Department of Corrections and the judiciary. He's also Gongwer's lead reporter on redistricting. He came to Gongwer after more than two years of covering local government for MLive and the Muskegon Chronicle. A native of Akron, Ohio, Ben grew up in Canton Township, Michigan. He had several reporting internships with MLive. He is an alumnus of Central Michigan University. His direct line is 517-657-2662.

Miranda Hutchings, Legislative and Digital Specialist

Miranda joined the Gongwer team in 2021, taking on primary responsibility for Gongwer's legislative resources, marketing efforts and social media footprint. A graduate of Franklin University, she logged several years of experience with the Ohio Legislative Service Commission and previously held sales and customer support roles. She is a regular volunteer in the community.

AJ Frucci, Business Development Specialist

AJ joined the Gongwer team in 2023 and is responsible for building the Gongwer subscription base and developing new business relationships.

C.S. Gongwer

The Gongwer Story

Charles Scott Gongwer was a Mansfield, Ohio, native who had worked as a political reporter for The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer and Cleveland Press before moving to Columbus, Ohio, as a Statehouse correspondent for several newspapers.

In 1906, he decided to form his own company. He saw a need for a detailed, timely, and, above all, independent account of state government activity.

Mr. Gongwer responded to that need with what was then called the Gongwer Legislative Information Service.

He could not have known the company that initially relied on little more than a typewriter and postage stamps would become the nation's longest-operating news service focused solely on state government and political news.

While the equipment that Mr. Gongwer used have long since been replaced by computers, websites, mobile devices and databases, what remains unchanged at Gongwer News Service is the founder's commitment to providing readers with the most comprehensive, accurate, timely, and balanced coverage available.

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