Jim Cummings
If there has been one innovation every newspaper person notes as the biggest change in the industry recently, the answer would unanimously be the Internet.
If a newspaper hopes to grow or even remain viable, there has to be a strong Website companion linked to the paper product. Many of us fought this revolution in the beginning. We swore it would end the days of sitting on the porch with a glass of lemonade and reading the paper. Not to mention, the old standby where the paper often gets toted when business needs to get done.
However, and despite the reluctance to embrace the technology, the Internet is truly a great tool for us as journalists and our readers. Never before has a newspaper been able to offer such real-time information.
Earlier this month the county held a primary election. The results came in shortly after 8 p.m. on a Tuesday and by 8:30 p.m., yes still Tuesday, we had the results up on our Website. Amazing, newspapers are finding a way to compete with the 24-hour news networks. No, I don’t think I’ll ever see the day when there will be dozens of hot stories breaking in the county on one day - at least enough to fill 24 hours - but I do see this as a tool which has become invaluable.
In addition, the Internet is making writers, columnists and opinion writers out of many people who only sat on the sidelines before. When we post out stories on the Web it literally takes a few minutes before someone posts an opinion, a condolence, some advice or outrage about a story. The give and take is unbelievable. No longer do you have to pen a letter to the editor, mail it in, hope it is appreciated by the Op/Ed editor and wait impatiently to see if you get printed. Now, an idea pops into your head and shortly thereafter its on the Website for all the world to see - whether that be good or bad.
Another opportunity the Website provides is the chance to give the reader more information. This weekend we have three county graduations taking place on the same day, Saturday. Each has deserving young men and women who would love to have their special day memorialized in print. That, however, cannot be the case because three graduations means limited space for each in the paper. Where we have essentially unlimited space is the Internet.
We plan on putting dozens of pictures on our Website in the days following graduation. The tears of joy, the good-bye to teachers who meant so much and the elation of tossing the cap can all find a place on the Internet.
Be sure to check those pages out as they make their way around the world wide web. And keep checking out greensburgdailynews.com because it’s your up-to-the-minute daily news.
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