Working Hard, Too

So, I thought I would devote a little space to the gig that made the move seem a bit more sane, or perhaps stable. 

The Jackson Hole News and Guide might be one of the few remaining successful dailies. 

For the last three years, while teaching and taking courses at the journalism school, I heard how newspapers would have to redefine themselves online. I listened to how reporters would all have to learn multi-media. I discussed all the theories behind plummeting circulations and busted my tail to learn podcasting and blogging. 

But the News and Guide's strategy is to strip off the bells and whistles and provide community journalism in the raw. Not all stories are posted online. Reporters write for daily when needed. And the kicker: offer a subscription to a weekly that digs deeper into issues, holds public officials accountable and provides space for compelling photos and storytelling. 

Last night, on deadline, an editor rearranged two pages to fit in a longer feature I wrote about the town's first bank. It would have been chopped in half somewhere else. Or thrown online only. I'm still kind of in shock. 

It probably comes down to the unique culture. Everyone is well-educated and engaged in town affairs. There's a lot of money for advertising. Plus, the town's location, and constant struggles of human inhabitants living in agreement with wildlife, allow for a thriving local newspaper.

-tma