It’s nothing short of a miracle each week

Last week was National Newspaper Week around the United States.  I hope you read my colleague Layne Bruce’s column about the importance of newspapers are in our communities.  We newspaper folks serve a higher purpose as our de facto role as government watchdogs, working on behalf of its citizens.
One of the pet peeves I have about being in the newspaper business is that, many times, we do all of the work for the news cycle and don’t get recognized. For instance, if you tune in to over-the-air radio, many times you’ll hear the news being read every 15 minutes to a half hour.  The person reads it word-for-word STRAIGHT OUT OF THE LOCAL PAPER.  The only work the radio station staff put into was either to pick up the copy of the paper or download it off the internet.  They spent zero time attending the meeting, covering the scene or contacting officials to explain what effect their actions were going to have on the taxpaying public.  Yet, the voice on the radio cites no source, nor mentions who wrote the story.   It sticks in my craw because, a.) it costs them nothing, and, b.) it may cost the newspaper revenue from the sale of single copies.
Anyway, we don’t do enough to celebrate National Newspaper Week around here.  We’re all too busy serving customers and working on the next issue.
We must be doing something right. I get many positive comments from readers about our newspaper while I’m out and about in our communities–from people of all ages, races, creeds and backgrounds.  Our staff members Carolyn Diamond, Amy Scott, Gale Gallman, Helen Douglas and Jimmy Crockett here, along with our stuffers Shannon McAlpin and Calamity Jones and our stringers Anna Coates, Tracy Fischer, Tammy Carraway and Valerie Robinson, make my job easier, and all are much appreciated.  Getting all of those stories and photos together each week, no matter how far technology has brought us, is still nothing short of a miracle.