How can the newspaper be a part of the community but remain objective?
I think the best way for a newspaper to be a part of the community is to commit its staff to making sure that the newspaper reflects the community and not the opinions or lifestyle of an elite group of college graduates working in a newsroom. It’s OK for a newspaper to get excited about some things in the community, like major successes for your athletic teams or unique awards for certain individuals. It’s not our job to be boosters, but we can help the community celebrate its successes in appropriate journalistic ways. At the same time, the newspaper has to pledge to tell its readers the good, bad and the ugly about their community. We can’t stick our heads in the sand and avoid all the troubles around us. What do you look for when you hire reporters and other journalists? Some of the characteristics we look for include curiosity, the ability to write, intelligence, resourcefulness, energy, honesty, verbal skills, listening skills, flexibility and passion for their work.
