Here is a newspaper question. Id like to have some input.
You probably know the Winfield paper is our sister paper. We share stories with each other often.
Sometimes people in Arkansas City say there's more Winfield news in our paper than Ark City news. But people in Winfield say the same - that there's more Arkansas City news in their paper than there is news of Winfield.
It goes in cycles. Last week we had a bit more Winfield news than normal. So the complaints came in about that.
Now I wish I had five reporters. heck I wish I had two full time reporters. And we are missing half our staff right now as it is. For some time we have been without a photographer and a sports editor and a half time desk person. So we have limited resources - even more limited by missing people - and that is the reason there is not more news in the paper. I can think of at least five stories off the top of my head that need doing -- there just isn't time or resources. (We just got a new photographer and a new sports writer is on the way, so relief is in sight.)
Still, we manage to get some Arkansas City news in there.
But the choice comes up often ... Winfield stories or news of the world.
(The powers that be in Winfield don't tell me I have to use a certain story, or that I can't use a certain story. My boss here in Arkansas City doesn't either. They could, but haven't.)
There is usually more space than there is news available for Arkansas City. That means we use AP wire stories.
I would rather have Winfield stories than the latest from Afghanistan, for example. Winfield is still local. So I use Winfield stories instead of AP when I have the choice. That does not affect the number of Arkansas City stories at all. Sometimes the stuff from Winfield is even interesting.
I am sure that you don't read our paper for world news - or even national news probably. State news maybe?
So which do you prefer? Associated Press news from around the world, or something happening here in your own county?
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Just so you know, some of us aren't complaining. I prefer local and state news though!
It seems that the only news that gets published is news that is brought to you, such as City business (including Police business), or a fundraiser now and then.
Maybe the adding of reporters would help, but maybe you just need to stop waiting for people to bring you news and go look for it.
And stop being afraid of ruffling feathers. Do the stories that the people are talking about, even if it is negative. Not all news is good news.
"(including Police business)"
Seems to me that publishing the Police notes is a bit too much. People don't always want their dirty laundry aired. I don't. (BTW I haven't been arrested or even speeding either, just so you know)
I know, I know, freedom of speech, it's public knowledge, small town paper, etc., etc., etc......
We only do that I think because AC is a small town and people in small towns are nosey. Years ago the hospital admissions/discharges used to be printed until I suppose someone complained.
But, then if you didn't print it, that would cut out 1/2 page of print.
Let's face it, when someone's been arrested or ticketed, putting that in a public newspaper does nothing to serve the public good. Nothing.
Wichita or Tulsa papers don't and couldn't (would take an extra 50 pages of print)
You asked...
I would like to see a more diverse approach, so that we can get a little bit of each.
I do watch the news on TV, but I like to read it in my paper, so that I get a little more time to digest it.
Granted most of the national news, especially the presidential races, is not news worhty, as is most political rhetoric.
The national and state news that can and might impact us directly should be given more print.
Like it was said before, not all news is good news.
The police blotter is a good thing, it lets us know what is going on in the community, if someone is molesting or harming children or women, then I am interested, so that I may take the additional precautions necessary for the safety of my family.
If you get arrested,or break the law as an adult, it is public record.
On a final note, I hope the new sports editor has a leg up on the old one.
It seems that the only news that gets published is news that is brought to you, such as City business (including Police business), or a fundraiser now and then.
>>>
I dont know what paper you are reading.
:)
If you get arrested,or break the law as an adult, it is public record.
>>>>
its an age old debate. my feeling is, if we put one in, we have to put them all in,
so if we report on a murder, we have to report the dui ...
no exceptions
i even put my wife's name in for running a stop sign.
>>>
On a final note, I hope the new sports editor has a leg up on the old one.
>>>>
what didnt you like about our sports ed?
i thought he was great, but we all have different tastes i guess.
did you notice how much stuff he did?
but the real question i am asking is ...
do you object to having winfield news - from the courier - in our paper.
we do get calls of people objecting when we have "too much"
what ever "too much" is.
jj, once before you mentioned a need for freelance writers. How much would the Traveler pay? Let's just say I might be interested in writing a story on these 5 subjects which need covered...
Some of us are doing the research ourselves anyway. Might as well be getting paid for it!
call me :)
I use the Eagle for national/world news even though it is poorly covered. The Traveler is for local news and that includes Winfield. I would like to see court results return to the paper though. So many arrests and no follow through. Lastly, if you must use editorial cartoons from other sources, at least make them legible. Hard to make a point when the subject and content is undecipherable.
I take both papers and see the same articles often 1 day apart in the papers. It's Ok. I think it's smart the papers are printed in Ark City due to the better press.
Why not get the benefit of using the articles for maximum efficiency and coverage.
You are in a competitive business the Internet and Cable TV provide non-stop coverage of national and international news sometimes almost instantaneously.
I do think there is room for more human interest stories like Larry Hatteburg does on TV, maybe more on local business/industry an update weekly/monthly, and more county and state news.
You have done a excellent job on covering the local news in Ark City - the two papers often differ in the depth of details regarding an article. The Traveler does a better job of providing details in their articles.
The freelance writers is a great idea/opportunity! Hope you can find a way to make it work.
Winfield and Ark City have always had a sister city / competitive rival feeling to them, and there is a possibility for the Traveler/Courier to bring more common ground to both of the cities, if they chose to.
The population base of the two towns together are equivalent to Ponca City, but because of the long distance telephone charges, the rivalries and the separation of the news reporting, the unified economic trading zone fails to gel.
The Traveler could influence that, if the readers wanted them to.
If the Traveler is looking for a windmill to tilt at, look at the redrawing of the LATA boundaries to make a call between Winfield and Ark City local. It is something that could be done, but would need citizen support and probably someone like Kasha to make happen.
Maybe we could do something.
But there is a lot of resistance from both towns.
At both papers, there are people who have been there a long time, and they tend to resist cooperation.
Ah yes....
"they tend to resist cooperation".
Maybe it's the water, but there seems to be alot of that going on around here.
Is it a trend, are we doomed forever?
"Is it a trend, are we doomed forever?"
We are if we don't change it.
In seeing the Lowes deal turn to dust and empty fields, the building owners intentionally running down the looks of downtown with boarding up their windows and absolutely nothing done about incorporating the local businesses into the city limits (where they would have to pay their fair share of taxes), it is pretty obvious where the future is going.
It is because people in the area are so afraid of change and so frustratingly narrow minded. Nothing will change until attitudes change.
We might as well depend on the Flying Spaghetti Monster to develop Ark City.
You know, if you are worrying about what to fill the paper with, I can name dozens of really excellent ideas, such as:
*further economic development (what can be done)
*"tale of two cities" comparative examples of other towns' successes. series
*series of pro-local business features, featuring the local owners and how they are doing it.
*what does it cost to live in Ark City? Compare other towns (and don't just stop 7 miles south of town).
*what does it cost to replace windows? Is there a woodworking expert that can explain how to repair 80 yr old sash/lead counterweight windows? feature.
*how to get a job in AC. Interview the local industries and describe the requirements drug tests, etc, the preferences and what they look fo in employees. Try to find out (good luck) if the 300 jobs available is real or hyperbolic HS.
*for God's sakes, some racial and ethnic sensitivity stuff. A lot of local people are terrified of "those other people" (whoever they are)
*cooking features on local and ethnic foods (ie. American Indian and Mexican foods). Include some of the groups that could stand some social levelling and understanding. If it is possible to determine what it is, maybe include some "Kansas Cuisine" recipes.
*there is a winery 20 miles down the road. Maybe some reviews on their products.
*hammer the heck out of op-ed pieces on how to make "Ark City Better" you could do that one until the cows come home. Big subject.
If you have a small town newspaper and don't have enough to report on, you're not doing it right. There are 10 times more articles available than you could possibly afford to do.
If you have a small town newspaper and don't have enough to report on, you're not doing it right. There are 10 times more articles available than you could possibly afford to do.
>>>>>>>>>
Did you read the post ?
I said we could never do all the stories that need to be done.
Thanks for the ideas though.
I don't mean you, I mean in general, I'm not being clear, sorry. There is a huge job and all that can be done is the best of the best.
Don't underestimate the power of the paper(s) to influence local growth and create unity. You can be a vector for positive change. I've seen it already. It works.
Don't underestimate the power of the paper(s) to influence local growth and create unity. You can be a vector for positive change. I've seen it already. It works.
>>>
I hope to do that
that is one of the reasons for this blog
Did I notice in tonight's paper that the vandals that slashed tires are the same ones that are responsible for some of the graffitti?
Is this the gang that has had the blog in an uproar? The name brand hispanic gang (whatever they called their gang) from the large cities that are invading our town?
Can we get some clarification on this?
What costs more per year than the the Iraq War?
I hope the following 14 reasons are forwarded over and over again until they are read so many times that the reader gets sick of reading them. I have included the URL's for verification of the following facts:
1. $11 Billion to $22 billion is spent on welfare to illegal aliens each year. http://tinyurl.com/zob77
2. $2.2 Billion dollars a year is spent on food assistance programs such as food stamps, WIC, and free school lunches for illegal aliens. http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html
3. $2.5 Billion dollars a year is spent on Medicaid for illegal aliens.
http://www.cis.org/articles/2004/fiscalexec.html
4. $12 Billiondollars a year is spent on primary and secondary school education for children here illegally and they cannot speak a word of English!
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.0.html
5. $17 Billion dollars a year is spent for education for the American-born children of illegal aliens, known as anchor babies. http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
6. $3 Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
7. 30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt..01.html
8. $90 Billion Dollars a year is spent on illegal aliens for Welfare and Social Services by the American taxpayers.
http://premium.cnn.com/TRANSCIPTS/0610/29/ldt.01.html
9. $200 Billion Dollars a year in suppressed American wages are caused by the illegal aliens.
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0604/01/ldt.01.html
10. The illegal aliens in the United States have a crime rate that's two-and-a-half times that of white non-illegal aliens.. In particular, their children, are going to make a huge additional crime problem in the US
http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/12/ldt.01.html
11. During the year of 2005 there were 4 to 10 MILLION illegal aliens that crossed our Southern Border also, as many as 19,500 illegal aliens from Terrorist Countries. Millions of pounds of drugs, cocaine, meth, heroin and marijuana, crossed into the U. S from the Southern border. Homeland Security Report.
http://tinyurl.com/t9sht
12. The National Policy Institute, 'estimated that the total cost of mass deportation would be between $206 and $230 billion or an average cost of between $41 and $46 billion annually over a five year period.'
http://www.nationalpolicyinstitute.org/pdf/deportation.pdf
13. In 2006 illegal aliens sent home $45 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin. http://www.rense.com/general75/niht.htm
14. 'The Dark Side of Illegal Immigration: Nearly One Million Sex Crimes Committed by Illegal Immigrants In The United States '
http://www.drdsk.com/articleshtml
Total cost is a whooping ... $338.3 BILLION A YEAR!!!
If this doesn't bother you then just delete the message, but on the other hand, if it does raise the hair on the back of your neck, then forward it.
Snopes is provided for doubters:
http://www..snopes.com/politics/immigration/bankofamerica.asp
Social Security Change For 2008
The United States Senate voted to extend Social Security Benefits to Illegal Aliens beginning in 2008. The following are the senators who voted to give illegal aliens Social Security benefits. They are grouped by home state.
If a state is not listed, there was no voting representative.
Alaska : Stevens (R)
Arizona : McCain (R)
Arkansas : Lincoln (D) Pryor (D)
California : Boxer (D) Feinstein (D)
Colorado : Salazar (D)
Connecticut : Dodd (D) Lieberman (D)
Delaware : Biden (D) Carper (D)
Florida : Martinez (R)
Hawaii : Akaka (D) Inouye (D)
Illinois : Durbin (D) Obama (D)
Indiana : Bayh (D) Lugar (R)
Iowa : Harkin (D)
Kansas : Brownback (R)
Louisiana : Landrieu (D)
Maryland : Mikulski (D) Sarbanes (D)
Massachusetts : Kennedy (D) Kerry (D)
Montana : Baucus (D)
Nebraska : Hagel (R)
Nevada : Reid (D)
New Jersey : Lautenberg (D) Menendez (D)
New Mexico : Bingaman (D)
New York : Clinton (D) Schumer (D)
North Dakota : Dorgan (D)
Ohio : DeWine (R) Voinovich(R)
Oregon : Wyden (D)
Pennsylvania : Specter (R)
Rhode Island : Chafee (R) Reed (D)
South Carolina : Graham (R)
South Dakota : Johnson (D)
Vermont : Jeffords (I) Leahy (D)
Washington : Cantwell (D) Murray (D)
West Virginia : Rockefeller (D), by Not Voting
Wisconsin : Feingold (D) Kohl (D)
i really thought about deleting that, but decided not to.
this is just anti immigration propaganda. you can make numbers say whatever you want.
it is said, figures don't lie, but liars figure.
i just assume readers are smart enough to see through bs when they see it :)
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