Six Months Later ...

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