What do you want from the RRS next year?
December 31st, 2008 at 05:09pm Linda Grist Cunningham
Each year editorial page editor Wally Haas asks the board members for their New Year’s resolutions, predictions or general wanderings. So I “predicticated”: We’ll publish every day; the paper will likely be fewer pages; local news will be our focus; digital delivery will gain momentum. Yawn.
Frankly, I can’t predict much about next year. As sure as I am sitting here on New Year’s Eve, come Monday, it’ll change again. So, I’m going to do two things: predict five years out and ask you to suggest some choices.
First, we’ll start with a brutal fact. The next six months are going to be terrible, as the global economy contracts and sheds jobs, cash, security and sanity. By mid-year, we will begin to adjust to the new realities though we will remain hunkered down; by the end of October, we’ll begin to think we will be able to manage; by Christmas we will have traded multiple gifts for a single one that means something.
By March 2010, we will be adjusted to the new way and by Christmas of 2010, we’ll understand that peace on earth is a far better goal than a new iPhone or X Box. We will make less, spend less, value quality, chose charitable over capital, and begin replacing cars, repairing the roof and buying a home.
When 2011 rolls around, we’ll feel we are back in control — sort of — and that we can handle what’s thrown at us — sort of. By 2012, assuming we do not blow ourselves away in some nuclear snit, we will begin to build again. By 2013, new normal will be “the way it’s always been.”
It will be five years of hanging on as best we can, letting go of any thought that the future will be like the past. But, we will do it.
A former Register Star managing editor, now editor in Canton, Ohio, shared this with me today from his column.
Jeff Gauger says it perfectly: ” ‘Sure we have problems in Stark County. … Yet I also know that solutions spring from clear-eyed optimism. We have lots to be optimistic about.’
“That’s what I wrote in this space a year ago. It’s harder, now, to stay optimistic, after a year that brought economic difficulties not seen in decades. Yet I still believe optimism is part of the cure. For the alternative is to grumble and sulk, but solve nothing. We must imagine a better future, then grasp it.
“This isn’t a dreamer’s approach. It’s hard-headed and practical. We won’t find that better future by living in the past or complaining about the present. We must go get it.”
We must go get it. Over the next 12 months, I am going to make many “hard-headed and practical” decisions about what we can do here in the News Tower — and what we cannot. Those decisions, ranging from what gets cut to what gets covered, will involve a Salomon’s Choice.
So, tell me: What 10 things that we do today could you live without and what 10 things can you not live without?
Can you live without the TV Book? What about the stocks listings? What about the pro sports agate page? The daily GO section? Sunday comics? The weather map? What else? What must we add to over coverage — even if it means cutting something else.
Now, tell me what and why. Let’s go get it.
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8 Comments Add your own
1. shawnnews | January 1st, 2009 at 9:11 am
I like the columnists in the Star and I usually agree with what they have to say. That having been said, there needs to be younger people, more conservatives, more Hispanic people writing columns. Rockford isn\’t just made up of over-50 center-liberals. Have some real leftys or some right-wingers.
2. Denny j | January 1st, 2009 at 10:05 am
for sure I can live without the “liberal, one-sided, blog commentary. Very skilled writer, very nice person…..just need another side for balance, if you choose to keep it.
could use more stories on how Rfd area businesses are turning their company around, stories about encouraging news of who is growing and why. Positive news.
just like we have told success stories on history of how Rfd area was built….. might best now tell of the current stories of turn around, rather than waiting 100 years to give the history of past successful stories. Helping people not to be afraid.
Politicials need to stop “fighting”……. it’’s bad for the kids, bad to see and read about the infighting. Just like a family fight is never good for kids. Statesman need to show how government works together to bring America out of this difficulty.
Politicians need to end “double dipping” ….. (which is golden parachutes)….. be on the same social security system as the rest of us….. stop the wasteful “perks” of being a Senator, etc. End corruption in UN, World Bank. Stories about this area will assist in bringing an end to this.
continue to be unafraid of talking about “faith” in God and stories of how it helps bond people and the benefits of moral teaching in schools. Somehow tell stories, that can be read to kids 0-5…… that can be read to kids. Stories of good moral behavior…..as this is the age where they actually learn and decide how to act the rest of their lives.
finally keep doing what you are doing…… a great job, well done.
denny & evie johnson
3. hokumboy | January 1st, 2009 at 10:07 am
1. Get some reporters that actually leave the building!
4. Monkey | January 1st, 2009 at 10:38 am
Lose the international news in your print version. It’s outdated by the time you publish it and it’s only wire copy. Far more info. is available online and from cable.
Lose your weather page. It’s buried on the inside front cover. Again, weather is more readily available online or on TV.
Lose Ed Wells. He’s not on your staff. He’s not a reporter. And, he doesn’t actually function as a columnist since he does not do any “reporting.” If you need a “black” voice as a columnist, why not Chris Green, who’s a talented and skilled reporter.
Add more local news. Cover local government in a more comprehensive way. Highlight the good and the bad. Many government agencies do good work in our community and should be highlighted just as much as the ones who do it poorly.
Search the news tower for your investigative reporting team. Pull them out of storage and actually use them. When is the last time the RRS did a really hard-hitting piece on some of the local government shenanigans?
Decide if Chuck Sweeny is a reporter or a columnist. There’s no way he can cover a political event or politician as a “reporter” and then pontificate about them as a “columnist.”
Keep in mind that the print version is still important. I know all the research says otherwise but in talking with my educated friends, we’ve all found that we go to your Web site less and less because you’re actually putting too much information online, if that makes sense.
We don’t think you do a clear enough job highlighting what’s important versus what’s not. Often times, I read a blurb online and then expect a bigger story in print and it never shows up.
5. shawnnews | January 1st, 2009 at 7:22 pm
I don’t think you would even hear about the southwest side of town without Ed Wells.
6. Linda Grist Cunningham | January 2nd, 2009 at 8:53 am
Most excellent suggestions. Keep ‘em coming.
7. hokumboy | January 2nd, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I have to diagree with Monkey about the weather section.
“Lose your weather page. It’s buried on the inside front cover. Again, weather is more readily available online or on TV.”
As far as the daily weather forcast goes, he’s right. But,,, try to find the monthly, seasonal, or annual stats anywhere else without jumping through a pile of hoops. And, to some of us, comparing the stats is important.
Bring back the featured obits you once had. The Trib does quite a few each day. Now, I know you can’t afford a staff like the Trib but the idea of featuring the life of what would be considered a random, ordinary citizen shows that we’re all important in this world, in some way or another. In my browsing the obits each day (yes, I’ve hit that age) I’m amazed at what a diverse and interesting people we are. And so many are much more facinating and unique than supposed powers that be who take up the social pages.
8. shawnnews | January 3rd, 2009 at 12:08 am
There are too many people who want to ban things in this town in the name of some virtue or another, and sacrifice their liberties.
I would like to see columnists who offer opinons I never hear arguments in favor of:
1) For guns and safe gun usuage. Why not have more local shooting ranges and hunting grounds.
2) I know there is a Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, athiest and other non-Christian presence in town, but I never hear much from them. I would like to hear from other faiths or people without faith.
3) I would like to hear from people who are in favor of gambling, casinos, full nudity bars, and other things that for some reason the city has decided to meddle in. Of course all these things are legal in other parts of the state. Why not here? It is wrong to think no one is for these things. They are just quiet.
4) I would like to see a science column.
5) I would like to see how-to articles.
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