Bob's Corner
From our weekly issue dated October 29, 2008
This was the issue in which I was going to be chatty about our current curious crop of cuckoo cats. But I’ve decided to wait until I can include some photos of our furry, fantastic felines. Besides, we missed National Newspaper Week, which was observed from Oct. 5 through 11.
No, don’t send gifts; it’s our fault for not telling you about the observance. And I know that National Newspaper Week ranks with National Lick A Toad Week, National Take A Yak to Lunch Week, and National Stare at the Sun Week. Something like that.
Traditionally, I’ve tried to recap some experiences as a journalist to highlight newspaper week. And so, even though it’s a bit late for the observance, I’m going to proceed in that direction anyway. Or anyhow.
First, it must be admitted that I am biased about the quality of the newspaper we produce each week. The staff strives with each issue to put out an accurate, informative and entertaining publication for the valley and surrounding area. So it bothers me when I find people who don’t read “the newspaper” from their community. Do we cover everything? No. Like all members of the media -- including newspapers, which are the real “Press” -- we write stories and take photos about and of what are, in our estimation, those events that are of the most general interest.
Those who do not agree are cordially invited to tell us (not anonymously and sans acid tongue) what they would like to see that we aren’t providing. We’re always willing to listen. It’s extremely difficult to respond to complaints and criticism when it’s presented to Joe Blow at the coffee shop, and not to the newspaper. We are fairly intelligent, but we’re not mind-readers.
Oh yeah, about those newspaper experiences. I’ve been a journalist some 44 years. Having worked for daily and weekly newspapers, and written quite a few stories and taken a like number of photos, it’s difficult to feature what one might consider the highlights. Let’s just say that there have been funny, poignant, weird, boring, thrilling, and startling encounters.
Simply trying to pick a handful from 22 years in Illinois Valley seems staggering. It’s really a labor of love, and we plan to stick with it until we get it right. Or until someone steps up to take the reins. Something like that.
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