聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 We鈥檝e been putting in a lot of work recently to revamp The Observer. Over the last month we鈥檝e asked ourselves what can we do to shake things up a little, but remain the same local paper people enjoy reading?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 We have a new publisher, Rick Major, who was as excited as we were to bring you something fresh and had some great suggestions, while everyone in the office discussed ideas to pursue.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 When we started thinking about a redesign our priority became clear: we want to keep our focus on local news. Where else are you going to find out there鈥檚 two young ladies in the southeast who have taken up trick riding? Where else are you going to find photos of your kids鈥� or grandkids鈥� Christmas concert? If we know about an event, we do everything we can to be there, and if we can鈥檛, then we鈥檇 love you to send in photos of the event. A little write-up or a few bulleted points and a phone number for Lynne or I to get back to you and we can share that story with everyone.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 To me, newspapers are an important medium, it鈥檚 the voice of the communities it serves.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 So, as you leaf through the paper, you鈥檒l notice we鈥檝e decided to change up our look in general. One of our big changes is our Comments page. We had been running two general columnists, but we decided we wanted to offer the readership something different. We appreciate the work they went to for us and enjoyed running them as we were able to, but in their place we decided to provide informational services.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 We will be running a rotating health column 鈥� health information one week, animal health the next. Also on the page we have lined up financial columns. Personally, I grew up being told by my parents to start an RRSP, get a credit card: only buy gas on it and then pay it off immediately, etc鈥�; but, why? How do you build credit? Is there such a thing as good debt? When is the right time to start saving for an RRSP? Not everyone is educated in the finance sector and having a financial advice column seemed like a service we could find and be the medium to relay that information through.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Additionally, you鈥檒l find an 鈥淓vents Listing鈥� on page 2. This will be a quick reference for events in the area, but we are only running minimal information here 鈥� day of event, name of event, where it鈥檚 being held. So, let us know what鈥檚 coming up! If you鈥檇 like to include more information, however, you鈥檒l be referred to our sales team to place an 鈥淯pcoming Event鈥� or a display ad. Our page 2 is just a quick reference list, but if people are checking that, there鈥檚 a good chance they鈥檒l be looking for more info in the paper, so it might be a good idea to consider placing an ad with us too which would include times, the different activities available at the event, etc...
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Finally, we are hoping to bring a games page to the paper. I enjoy a Sudoku or crossword puzzle, and I know I鈥檓 not the only one. Whether you have a coffee break at work, are enjoying a morning coffee on your deck, or want to do them as a family in the car or in the evening together 鈥� my Granny loved crosswords, we鈥檇 do them together, and even when she was at her worst with dementia, she was quick with the answers. To bring this to you though, we do need a sponsor for it, so if anyone out there has a business and would like a prime advertising spot, I guarantee that page will have a lot of views, because who doesn鈥檛 like games?
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I hope you enjoy what we鈥檝e been hard at work with! The same great local stories with a fresh new look.
