Recent Writing

Nothing is more important to establishing a community newspaper as the premier source for local information than being the first with the news. Hand in hand, however, is being responsible in your coverage.

A newspaper praises the selection of the new city council president as the best person to lead the community through the year’s challenges. An editorial looks skeptical upon the school district’s choice to close and reconfigure school buildings as detrimental to student and family interests. An editor’s commentary applauds the compromise reached by all stakeholders on the proposal to develop valuable riverfront property in the downtown.

Coverage of cops and courts is among the staples of community news. Though reports are vitally important to readers, the coverage by its nature is almost always done in piecemeal. Attention is typically given to the initial incident and charges, and possibly the first court appearance, yet it may be weeks or months later until a case is fully resolved.

Individuals arrive unannounced to launch their candidacy for an elective office. On another front, have you ever had candidates say the stories profiling their campaigns are biased? Or how do you evaluate the barrage of photo requests during election season?

Quiz a roomful of editors and reporters about their most memorable editorials. Ask them which have generated the greatest reaction.
The noteworthy commentaries invariably delivered messages targeted at specific decision-makers who were in position to advance specific policies.

U.S. federal elections are a year away. Numerous other jurisdictions will conduct elections between now and then. It’s not too early to begin outlining your election coverage.

How many editors have faced reporting bad news – or, put another way – making an uncomfortable news decision? Pressed by a reader for the rationale, you’ve replied, “That’s our policy,” or “It doesn’t meet our guidelines.” Yet, in the calm and privacy of your office, you reflect, “We could have done a better job.”

Survey community newsrooms and two frustrations are likely to surface with some regularity. Staffs are searching for substantive content on a slow news day, and they’re chagrined that the “big” stories are in that day’s statewide press.

Publish the salaries of government officials and two reactions are almost guaranteed. Some citizens will express outrage at the level of pay for what they perceive as a lack of performance, and some identified employees will charge that the newspaper is invading their privacy.

A reader challenges your policy for reporting on B-squad sports or questions why a particular quote wasn’t included in a story. Your newsroom has a brainstorming session to discuss how its election coverage can be more relevant to readers. A reporter is caught red-faced for printing a press release charging a local official with unethical conduct but fails to contact the accused for a response.