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Our small newsroom
The Middletown Press newsroom consists of 10 staff members who do everything from taking photos and writing stories to laying out pages and writing headlines (and yes, that includes our sports department).
In newsroom comparisons, we would probably be considered one of the smallest around. But we do get the job done, and we try to get better at what we do every day.
Sometimes, the mail we get helps us see what the world was like when newsrooms had a larger staff. Mail is often addressed to the “Business Editor,” “Religion Editor” or “Assignment Editor” – titles that are long gone and may have never existed at our publication. We frequently get comments online or phone calls asking, “Where was your proofreader?” The truth is, there is no such person, and there hasn’t been a proofreader for many years. It is now called “the person sitting next to you.”
Most newsrooms are shrinking – the need for staff members who can do any and all jobs is greater than ever. And we are lucky. We have many multi-taskers on our staff. But we cannot do everything on our own.
This is why it is more important than ever for the community to participate in our message board discussions, for online readers to report abuse on comments that are inappropriate and for those with knowledge of area events to send us a note to let us know what’s going on.
We always welcome submissions at editor@middletownpress.com, and you are welcome to send us photos. We want The Middletown Press to remain a community newspaper, but we need your help in keeping it that way.
In newsroom comparisons, we would probably be considered one of the smallest around. But we do get the job done, and we try to get better at what we do every day.
Sometimes, the mail we get helps us see what the world was like when newsrooms had a larger staff. Mail is often addressed to the “Business Editor,” “Religion Editor” or “Assignment Editor” – titles that are long gone and may have never existed at our publication. We frequently get comments online or phone calls asking, “Where was your proofreader?” The truth is, there is no such person, and there hasn’t been a proofreader for many years. It is now called “the person sitting next to you.”
Most newsrooms are shrinking – the need for staff members who can do any and all jobs is greater than ever. And we are lucky. We have many multi-taskers on our staff. But we cannot do everything on our own.
This is why it is more important than ever for the community to participate in our message board discussions, for online readers to report abuse on comments that are inappropriate and for those with knowledge of area events to send us a note to let us know what’s going on.
We always welcome submissions at editor@middletownpress.com, and you are welcome to send us photos. We want The Middletown Press to remain a community newspaper, but we need your help in keeping it that way.
posted by The Middletown Press at
11:56 PM
3 Comments:
MP staffers, never take the bad remarks from the locals to heart, I work at a small publications shop that has a monthly magazine, you do more with less and I am pleased to see what you are doing.. keep up the good work and keep those video cams rolling
I grew up in a place with four proofreaders and an AP style book on every desk. I feel bad that I've been so critical of some of the writing but have noticed improvements and byline changes. I've gained respect for you... although I don't have much to say in the comment section anymore since the writing is better and the content usually has little interest for me.
... plus I'm dating snarko marx's mom so, you know, it's kind of a conflict of interest. That ole lady can hit harder than my boss from the Brockton Enterprise.
I was working for daily newspapers long before most of your staff was born. I've held "titles" from general assignment reporter to investigative reporter(before that term existed) to sports, religion (cause no one else would do it, but boy the experience paid off later), entertainment, education, and police. The thing I sense from your articles and photos is that you really love what you're doing. And that's a basic requirement of good journalism, in my book. You're doing a fine job. Maybe you won't win a Pulitzer (but, then again, smaller publications have). Don't let the critics get too you. They've never walked a mile in your shoes, nor are they capable of that. Do what you love. Love what you do. And have fun doing it. Donn, from California.
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