This column represents the thoughts and opinions of Jason Hennington. This is not the opinion of the Taylor Press.
I recently saw a nationwide survey about what people want to see in their newspaper. The answer nationally is the same as it is locally. Every single response is part of a blueprint to create a successful publication.
Several answers caught my attention. Of course people want local news and facts, and they want to see familiar faces and names. However, a couple of other answers made me understand even more why the newspaper is an important, trusted source of information.
One finding: “People want to know about decisions before they’re made, and they want decision makers to be accountable for outcomes.”
While we are not fortune tellers and cannot give you an answer before it is made, we endeavor to give you all the information about the said topic and which direction elected officials seem to be headed. We don’t guess or assume because that does not equate to accuracy. In newsrooms, reporters may talk among one another and discuss possible outcomes or theories, but nothing is written or put in print until the information is verified.
We’ll ask the questions to find out who, what, when, where, why and how. The answer is not always what readers want to hear, but we are dogged in the pursuit of answers.
Another finding: “People want information they can act on.”
This could be taken several different ways, such as, when is the deadline to sign up for the Taylor Press’ annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament (July 6) or when is the next City Council meeting or school board meeting?
Another response to this is how can residents push back against a decision they are not happy with? How do they protect their assets if a decision adversely affects them?
So, whether a reader is looking for a church or wants to know how to speak at a council or school board meeting, it’s the job of the paper to provide that information.
From the survey: “People want newsrooms to play a role in connecting and convening communities.”
A few years ago, I started using “your connection to the community” as a tagline for the Taylor Press. I said it in postings on our Facebook page, it ran in ads and my children have said it when talking about the newspaper.
It’s more than a tagline — it’s a mission. The newspaper connects people to the community. You can find stories and photos about interesting locals, you can see how children are excelling in school, you can find out what events are happening, and you can also read about what is going on around you.
When you cannot make a council meeting, you can read about what happened in the paper. You can locate scores, weather and other information thanks to the paper.
This isn’t a commercial for the newspaper. Instead, it’s a reminder of what it is we do, why we do it and how it affects you.
This survey told me what it is readers want; my job is to give it to them.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now and figure out what prizes I can get for the 10th annual Taylor Press 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament scheduled for July 8-9.
“I always saw the best reporters as ones you hardly ever saw other than when they were back in the newsroom, writing their stories.” — Cheri Bustos
