Recent Writing
Leverage your strength with second-day stories
Maintaining your status as the premier clearinghouse for community news is a constant challenge in today’s fractured media landscape.
Impress upon readers the underlying value of public records
Hardly a year passes without legal requirements for public notices coming under assault. It’s happening this year in the Minnesota Legislature where the Minnesota School Boards Association is seeking authority for school districts to remove public notices from newspapers.
Don’t overlook the value of political endorsements
Newspapers should begin now to outline a process for editorial endorsements in the November elections. Who do you believe are the individuals who can best represent community interests? Why should a particular ballot initiative be passed or defeated?
Start now to craft fresh, unorthodox election questions
Attention newsrooms: It’s time to get serious about 2024 elections coverage. I hear the collective groan. The reaction is likely shaded by the strident national contests and their seemingly never-ending campaign cycles.
One checklist for evaluating, advocating coverage of sensitive issues
Editors are routinely challenged with making uncomfortable news decisions. To be certain, there is no universal right or wrong call on whether to publish a story and in how much detail. Several factors may be in play including community norms and longstanding newspaper policy.
Use your platform to educate, preview – and apologize
A reader complains that a youth sports story was too negative. Someone questions why a particular quote wasn’t included in a report of a contentious public hearing. Your newsroom brainstorms how election coverage can be more substantive and meaningful. A reporter is rightfully embarrassed for basically writing a press verbatim that charges a local official with unethical conduct without contacting the accused for a response.
Omissions as damaging as glaring errors to credibility
Newsrooms collectively cringe at the obvious errors when an edition rolls off the presses or is posted online. A misspelled word in a headline, especially on page one. A wrong score in a sporting event. An incorrect date of an upcoming event.
Deliver more than votes and quotes from government meetings
The city council concludes debate and acts on an issue at community forefront. You record the quotes that highlighted a lively exchange and the final vote. Your story is ready to roll.
Step away from your desk and enrich community coverage
A reporter monitors the livestream of a city council meeting, taking advantage of the opportunity to multitask on assignments.
Be responsible in exercising rights to public information
The subjects naturally raise two questions: What constitutes these items as news? Why is there such a delay in the report?
Who is Jim Pumarlo?
Community newspapers, at their best, are stewards of their communities. The news columns are a blend of stories that people like to read and stories they should read. The advertising columns promote and grow local commerce. And the editorial pages are a marketplace of ideas.
Jim Pumarlo understands that energized newspapers are at the foundation of energized communities. His message is straightforward: Community newspapers – whether delivering information in the print or on the Web – must focus on local news if they are to remain relevant to their readers and advertisers.
You’re welcome to reprint these columns with the appropriate tagline:
Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is author of “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town Newspapers,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage.” He can be reached at www.pumarlo.com and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com.