Barry

Take steps now to report on 2024 budgets

By Jim Pumarlo We’re more than halfway into 2023, and many local governments are well involved in exploring 2024 budgets. Are your newsrooms aware of the process? Are you keeping readers abreast of the dynamics? It’s not too early to brainstorm ideas for timely and meaningful coverage. Shaping and adopting …

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Take inventory of your newsmakers

By Jim Pumarlo Here’s a periodic action item for every newspaper: The exercise can be quite revealing in evaluating how you are connecting with various audiences. It is even more important in today’s fractured media landscape and as everyday interaction can still be challenging in the aftermath of the pandemic. …

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Resolve to be accessible, stay relevant

By Jim Pumarlo Surviving in today’s fractured media landscape depends on your ability to identify, collect and deliver the relevant community news. That job becomes more challenging if readers become frustrated in their attempts to connect with reporters. The normal channels of communication took a serious hit during COVID-19 as …

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Robust public affairs coverage requires more than recording meetings

By Jim Pumarlo My formula for shaping newspaper content is straightforward: Present a blend of stories that people like to read and stories they should read. Under the “should read” category, consider me an advocate of vibrant coverage of local government. Another basic element to writing any story, whether hard …

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Go beyond ‘votes and quotes’ when delivering election results

By Jim Pumarlo Newsrooms have toiled the past many weeks churning out stories to help voters make informed choices on Election Day. Now you’re ready to put the exclamation point on coverage. “Votes and quotes” are the typical charge for delivering results by producing voting charts and soliciting quotes from …

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Plan now to recognize first responders

By Jim Pumarlo Are you looking for a project that can energize your news staffs, generate new advertising revenue and underscore the value of a local newspaper to potential new subscribers? Mark Oct. 28: National First Responders Day. Full disclosure on two fronts. First, highlighting the accomplishments of first responders …

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