In late October of last year, I began my journey as the new editor of the Arcadia News-Leader, not knowing if I would be able to fill the shoes of one Miss Jessica Shawley. Well, if my calendar is correct, it appears that I've lasted a whole six months already, so, evidently, I must be doing something right. After a couple months of learning the ropes and getting settled into the community, I can definitely say Arcadia is starting to feel like home. That said, you may be stuck with me for a while. So, if you’re fond of my writing and what I’ve done with the paper, that’s good news. However, if you’re not so much a fan, I’ve been known to grow on people, so give it six more months and see where you’re at.
But one thing that must be understood is that every newspaper editor has his or her own news judgment. Something that one person may find to be of utmost importance may be an afterthought to someone else. Ergo, what former editors might have deemed newsworthy might not appear that way to me. It’s a very objective process. With that, I want to explain some of the changes – which I’m sure you’ve all noticed – that I have made to the newspaper since taking the reins. First of all, the most noticeable alteration has likely been the nameplate on the front page. When I first came here, it was a simple red design, which the artistic side of me found to be kind of boring. Right then and there, I determined that the front page needed some color, some pizzazz. Thus, the constantly changing graphics and colorful nameplate you see now. Besides, we’re paying for full color on the front, so we might as well get our money’s worth.
Next, the Opinion page. After months of the same-old, same-old with columns from Rep. Chris Danou and Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, Chuck and I decided it was time to allow other opinions to be voiced. Granted Vinehout and Danou do a great deal for the area, politicians aren’t the only ones who have something to say. Don’t get me wrong, if either of them send a column that would be of considerable interest to our readership, we will print it. But, for the time-being, we’re mixing things up a little bit. And speaking of mixing things up, I have had many inquiries as to why the court proceedings are no longer printed in the News-Leader. While I’m inclined to blame it on budgetary constraints, thus resulting in our ever-decreasing page numbers, there’s more to it than that. First and foremost, it’s public record. Anyone can go to the courthouse and request that same information or sit in the courtroom for a day to hear the outcomes of the cases. With so much other worthwhile information out there that the public may not have such easy access to, I can’t imagine wasting valuable space so that Joe DUI’s neighbor knows how much he paid in restitution. I guess it’s just another one of those objective editorial decisions.
You may also have noticed the absence of articles from our correspondent David Brommerich, as well as Ruth Schlesser’s weekly gardening column. Again, with a tight budget, we’ve had to cut back in those areas as well. Believe me, if we had the monetary capabilities to put out a 16-page paper every week, we’d do it. So if you dislike any of the changes I’ve made and explained above, please feel free to let me know. There are always compromises that can be made. But, in the meantime, we’ll continue doing the best we can with what we’ve got.
Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
A Few Bad Apples
While I realize immigration is a sore subject for many people in the area, and my intention is certainly not to pick at old scabs, I think it’s important to point out the hypocrisy of this ever-present issue. If I recall the whole story about Christopher Columbus correctly, he was not the first American; he was merely the first immigrant to discover this land in 1492. The Native Americans, who happened to be here first, simply got invaded and were eventually secluded to reservations. While one would think this to be an obvious point, I can't stress enough that this wasn't our land to begin with and, therefore, I find it to be extremely hypocritical that we're trying to deny others their chance at freedom.
Perhaps I take more kindly to this entire topic because if it weren't for immigration, I wouldn't be here. My mother is a full-blooded Hungarian, who was brought to America by her parents when she was very young. After becoming a naturalized citizen, she was an American, just like the rest of us. But the truth is, I've seen this issue from both perspectives and I'm appalled at the way immigrants are treated by some. Having dated an illegal immigrant, I was exposed to the other side of the story, a viewpoint that many people don't take into consideration or just choose to blatantly ignore. On a tourist visa for much of the time he spent in the country, he wasn't ready to leave when it expired. With all the friends he had made, he grew attached to life here in the States. Being as such, he scrambled to find a way to stay, eventually acquiring papers from a legal relative to attain employment and, in effect, remain on this side of the border.
However, because he wanted so badly to stay, he was forced to make a lot of sacrifices, namely his identity ... much the same way our forefathers did in order to provide a better life for their families. Though staying meant that he would have to pay rent, bills and contribute to the economy, just like everyone else, he did it anyway. Contrary to popular belief, the sole intent of immigrants being in the United States is not to STEAL American jobs. It's to survive. Thus, I believe this country is in dire need of immigration reform. Building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and beefing up border security is not reform. Neither is the targeted arrest and deportation of thousands of immigrants who have made lives for themselves here in the United States. In essence, our approach to this issue is dead wrong. Instead of merely kicking them out of the country time and time again, why not assist these immigrants in finding the proper channels through which to become legal Americans?
I realize that Hispanics have gained a bad reputation, what with all of the drug wars as of late, but we shouldn't let a few bad apples tarnish our views of them as an integral part of our society. That's one of the reasons why I'm ecstatic about the renovations that will be made at Schank Walk-In Park. Turning the property into a maintained soccer field will not only be a wonderful way to help beautify the community, but it will also serve as a way to lead by example. We shouldn't be making Hispanic immigrants feel like they're unwanted in this community; we should be welcoming them into our melting pot of cultures with open arms. After all, the color of your skin, the language you speak and your place of birth shouldn't determine whether or not you're an American.
Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader
Perhaps I take more kindly to this entire topic because if it weren't for immigration, I wouldn't be here. My mother is a full-blooded Hungarian, who was brought to America by her parents when she was very young. After becoming a naturalized citizen, she was an American, just like the rest of us. But the truth is, I've seen this issue from both perspectives and I'm appalled at the way immigrants are treated by some. Having dated an illegal immigrant, I was exposed to the other side of the story, a viewpoint that many people don't take into consideration or just choose to blatantly ignore. On a tourist visa for much of the time he spent in the country, he wasn't ready to leave when it expired. With all the friends he had made, he grew attached to life here in the States. Being as such, he scrambled to find a way to stay, eventually acquiring papers from a legal relative to attain employment and, in effect, remain on this side of the border.
However, because he wanted so badly to stay, he was forced to make a lot of sacrifices, namely his identity ... much the same way our forefathers did in order to provide a better life for their families. Though staying meant that he would have to pay rent, bills and contribute to the economy, just like everyone else, he did it anyway. Contrary to popular belief, the sole intent of immigrants being in the United States is not to STEAL American jobs. It's to survive. Thus, I believe this country is in dire need of immigration reform. Building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border and beefing up border security is not reform. Neither is the targeted arrest and deportation of thousands of immigrants who have made lives for themselves here in the United States. In essence, our approach to this issue is dead wrong. Instead of merely kicking them out of the country time and time again, why not assist these immigrants in finding the proper channels through which to become legal Americans?
I realize that Hispanics have gained a bad reputation, what with all of the drug wars as of late, but we shouldn't let a few bad apples tarnish our views of them as an integral part of our society. That's one of the reasons why I'm ecstatic about the renovations that will be made at Schank Walk-In Park. Turning the property into a maintained soccer field will not only be a wonderful way to help beautify the community, but it will also serve as a way to lead by example. We shouldn't be making Hispanic immigrants feel like they're unwanted in this community; we should be welcoming them into our melting pot of cultures with open arms. After all, the color of your skin, the language you speak and your place of birth shouldn't determine whether or not you're an American.
Jennie Oemig
Editor
Arcadia News-Leader
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