Its outside walls are gray sandstone and brick and the windows reflect, making it difficult to see inside. Fortresslike, the Akron Beacon Journal’s physical presence is imposing — some say intimidating, others say strong and institutional. Regardless, the building is not inviting.
Inside that big building, though, are people just like you; all kinds of people who share the same sort of joys and sorrows, the same challenges and problems, the same types of interests.
All of them, more than 600 people, are here to serve you. That includes me.
My job, as the new public editor, is to help you understand that a newspaper is not a big building or even an imprint of ink on paper. Rather, a newspaper is a group of people committed to giving you the news and advertising that you want, when you want it and the way you want it.
My role is to connect you, both directly and in general, with the right people and the right answers. I’m your guy on the inside.
For the last three years Gloria Irwin has explained the inner workings of the newspaper through her Sunday column and through reader advisory panels. As this paper’s first public editor, she was here to represent you.
Now it’s my turn. Some things will stay the same — Sunday column, reader panels — and other things will change.
One reason things will change is that I bring a different set of experiences to the public editor’s job. In my 28 years in the business, I’ve worked at four newspapers in different parts of the country doing just about every job there is in the newsroom. Many of those years were spent in newspaper management and much of my time included talking to you, the readers.
I’ve been in Akron for the past 20 years. Recently, I directed Ohio.com, the Web site affiliated with the Beacon Journal, for more than three years. That experience with technology taught me a lot about the different ways to engage people; things like online surveys and Internet message boards.
Since the first of this year, I have been involved with the Beacon Journal’s e-mail newsletter and digital newspaper projects, along with managing the newspaper’s online efforts. Terry Pluto and Jane Snow, two popular Beacon Journal columnists, are reaching new readers through their free, weekly, e-mail newsletters (go to www.ohio.com/pluto/ to sign up). Other electronic projects examined ways to enhance your involvement with the newspaper.
All those projects widened my appreciation for using technology to involve more people in more and better ways.
So, here follows a whole series of invitations to you, ways to get more involved in your newspaper.
Reader Advisory Panel: I need a diverse group of readers and nonreaders, young and old, to meet once a month at the Beacon Journal to talk about the newspaper. The feedback panel, which will meet just four times, has helped the newspaper staff in the past and participants have said they enjoyed the experience. Contact me (see below) if you are interested.
Virtual Readers Network: This is a much larger panel of people who will provide immediate feedback on newspaper issues through e-mail. As part of the virtual network, you will be asked for your opinions about issues related to the Beacon Journal and the media in general. I may also ask you to offer comments related to past and future news stories. All of it will be voluntary and done through e-mail. In return, you will receive a weekly e-mail newsletter from me that addresses a variety of media issues and also shares feedback from other participants.
Beyond the feedback panels, use any method you want to contact me. Call me when you see something in the paper that bothers you or pleases you. I promise to share your thoughts with the right people.
Letter-writing almost has become a lost art — I like mail, especially when the envelopes contain examples of what you like and dislike. Believe me, the newsroom staff learns a lot from readers and I’ll do my best to make sure your message is heard.
Eventually, I hope to do regular online chats with you.
I may not always agree with you on things. However, your voice will be heard by me and, through me, by others.
A few years ago a clothing catalog order I placed arrived late and some things were missing. I wrote the company a pleasant letter explaining the situation. I expected to receive an apology, the missing items and perhaps a coupon or two.
What did I receive? Nothing. No response. Silence. Well, there have been no more orders from me since.
With me you have someone on the inside of the Beacon Journal, someone to break down those imposing gray walls, someone who will listen to you and learn from you. With me, there will be no silence.
