The one thing I've learned in my 20-plus years of being in the newspaper business is that it seems everyone has an opinion on how to run a newspaper, and believe me when I say that most have no problem sharing it with you.
The fact that so many are willing to share their opinions and the corresponding interaction is really one of the best things about being in the business.
The best description I have ever heard of what a local daily newspaper should be was told to me by a customer service representative 15 years ago when I was circulation manager at The Plainsman in Huron, S.D. She told me when you sit down with your local newspaper you should read and see pictures about people you know. The reason for the pictures and stories of folks you know in the newspaper can be a good or a bad thing.
Good, like a story about scoring the winning run for the local ball team, or bad, like being arrested. Worse yet, the only time you show up is when your mug graces the obituary page. Though a number of people have told me that the only reason they take the newspaper is to make sure their picture isn't on the obits page.
One of things that I've seen done at other newspapers to make sure you don't have to wait for the obits page is to submit your own photo when you go on vacation or a trip. Take The Press along with you and have someone snap a picture of you or your group with the paper and e-mail it on to The Press. Tell us who was in the picture, when it was taken and where it was taken and a contact phone number where we can verify that the picture is yours.
ADVERTISEMENT
We'll publish it in the newspaper under the heading Press On, and at www.thedickinsonpress.com in a special photo gallery with other reader-submitted photos.
Photos will be published in the order we receive them, as long they are in good taste.
I have taken executive liberty of posting an example of my wife and I with our two granddaughters on a recent trip to Arizona on Page A3 of today's Press. Now you don't have to be a photographer or go to Arizona, it could be your church group on a picnic in Medora, the more the better.
The instructions are listed below the picture, but call The Press if you have any questions? I know folks have a lot of fun with it at other newspapers and maybe just maybe you won't have to wait to get your picture in the newspaper when you can no longer enjoy it.
-- Brock is The Dickinson Press publisher.
