PUBLISHER’S COLUMN by Richard Lamb: Looking for more peaceful 2007

So starts the New Year. After a difficult 2006, I?m ready for 2007. A little fire, a small rebuilding process, and adjusting to temporary surroundings made last year a bit more of a challenge on top of what can be an already stressful occupation. I am here to say I am determined to keep doing my best in a challenging job, even as I feel slightly worn down from a stressful year. Last year, of course, was extraordinary at your local newspaper. We were faced with rebuilding on our old site, which presented us with a great opportunity, for those who prefer to look at the glass as half full, or create an entire new set of problems, for those who choose to see the glass as half empty. Once the plans were approved and construction started, we had the task of keeping the project online and the business going. That meant dealing with the insurance adjuster to keep the funding coming; dealing with the contractors, to keep the building rising; and dealing with various government agencies, to keep the building kosher in the eyes of the government. In addition, we had to deal with everyone else, including neighbors and onlookers, most very friendly, but some not so, who had suggestions or complaints about anything involved in the entire process.

In the end, it all worked out for the best. I am pleased with the insurance company for justifying all the premiums I paid over the years with their response in our time of need. I am pleased with the contractors for doing fine work on our beautiful new building. Each person who helped haul away the charred remains, pounded a nail, painted a wall, dug a drainage ditch, laid a block, strung a wire, blew in a puff of insulation, put down a patch of carpeting, installed a work counter, connected a pipe of plumbing or did anything else to put our new building together, should be proud of the job you did. We are grateful. I am pleased to report that all of the inspectors have inspected and found the building to be fine. Sure, there are things to finish yet, but the basic building is cleared for occupancy.

*** ***

WITH THAT DONE, the editor can concentrate on editing and improving the weekly newspaper, which I hope to devote more time to in the coming months. I have one of those jobs that anybody thinks they can do better, and some of you are absolutely right. But as long as I?m in the editor?s chair, I will do what I think is right to the best of my abilities, drawing on common sense inherited from my parents, and experience from 18 years on the job. The editor has the task of being the one to assign stories, weed out ideas and make the final call. The editor also, if he is wise, can put smart, hardworking people in place to help out. I?m not the smartest person in town, but I?m smart enough to pick some great people to work with. Through our difficult year, they brought their best to the job each day, never letting our situation get them down. They know that a newspaper is only responsible for pleasing two sets of people?those whose names or advertisements appear in the paper, and those whose names or advertisements do not. That?s all. Simple, but we are faced with what could be an eight-day a week, 36 hour per day job.

Even in a small community such as the area we cover, there is a lot going on. Just take sports, for example. Our coverage area includes three high schools, which currently have 12 varsity sports teams playing full schedules. We could be attending at least one sporting event each night if we attended just the home games or meets or matches. Not even all of the parents attend as many sporting events as our small staff does. We do that because our goal remains to have a story about each varsity game played each week. We also try to have at least one photo from each varsity sport from each school?each week. That is setting the bar pretty high for a small staff such as ours.

In my 18 years as the editor, there are very few weeks where we have missed that goal. The dozen or so awards we have earned in statewide competition in recent years for our sports coverage means we must be doing something well. When we can?t be at an event at all, or can?t stay until all of the statistics are completed, we appreciate the kind coaches who fill us in with the stats and the details to get their teams? coverage and recognition for their players.

*** ***

THE SAME goes with news coverage. It is our mission, I believe, to cover the governmental meetings and actions of the courts and police as best as can be reasonably done. Som

e would prefer we only cover selected doings of the courts or would prefer if their comments made at a public meeting were omitted from a story. Others would wish a word-for-word account of each meeting or action. Our coverage falls somewhere between those marks. In the end, as the New Year begins, I have the chance to refocus and rededicate myself to what I think is a worthy and interesting profession. To our faithful readers, I welcome your ideas and positive suggestions and know that we will listen to them and try our best to keep this great newspaper fulfilling its purpose in 2007 and for many years to come.

(Richard Lamb became editor of Presque Isle Newspapers in January, 1989. He can be reached by email at richlamb@speednetllc.com)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.