Who am I? Why am I here?

Originally published in Countryside Post, Issue 1.7.

I used that quote from Admiral James Stockdale (you might remember the 1992 vice-presidential debate) to describe this column. I never really explained what it is. I assumed the title “Letter from the Editor” would tell you that it was a letter from the editor—not an editorial, nor an opinion piece. Basically, it’s meant to tell you some of Countryside Post’s behind-the-scenes stuff; stuff that doesn’t ordinarily work its way into articles but are kinda informative anyway.

I know, it’s something you’ve not seen in other newspapers before. That’s how we do things around here. Since the only thing editors seem to write anymore are editorials, some of you assumed this was an editorial. It’s an honest mistake. For someone who’s supposed to be responsible for some good balanced reporting, editors are awfully opinionated fellas, aren’t they? Wouldn’t newspapers improve dramatically if the person on top was the least opinionated?

Some cheese with your whine?

Originally published in Countryside Post, Issue 1.6.

Last week I was on the verge of gushing as I wrote about the people who just love their little paper. This week, the other side of the story. Some have complained that the Post covers too much school stuff and they want to see some articles about south county property development. Some have complained that the Post is, by publicizing Lake of the Pines events, encouraging undesirables to enter their gated community. (Tell the people who send us press releases, okay?) Some have complained that all the news is too “soft,” or “fluffy,” or “happy,” and that they want crime news, or government corruption news, or investigative pieces.

Those are the problems. Here's the solution. Unlike other newspapers, the Post publishes contributions from its public. If you contribute articles about the things you're interested in, you'll see them in the Post. Complaining won't get you anywhere; action will. But in my experience, most complainers are just whiners, and whiners are all talk. God forbid you should actually do something—there'd be nothing to whine about!

Anyway, keep sending those articles to the Post. We still publish everything you'd like to contribute—even whining.

Your little paper.

Originally published in Countryside Post, Issue 1.5.

Lots of people have said they love “your little paper,” and I haven’t been quick enough to remind them it’s their little paper, so I apologize. Response has been very positive. One wasn’t; some fellow wasn’t getting his Foothill Trader and called the Post, of all things, to complain. He said he liked the Trader better, which I’m sure the Trader would be just thrilled about if only he had called them. Guess the Post doesn’t have enough ads. We’re working on it.

Some discussions have dealt with my editorial philosophy; seems people have noticed the Post isn’t like other papers, and not just ’cause it’s small, comes in the mail and doesn’t carry canned news. A lot of that has to do with my religious convictions about what’s right to print and what isn’t. I didn’t get a B.A. in theology for the heck of it, you see. (Okay, I did. But if you seriously believe something, it ought to change the way you do things. Otherwise you’re a hypocrite.) Some of it has to do with what I did before I went back to college; when I worked for other papers and said to myself, “If I ran a paper, I’d do it this way.” Well, now I do.

My philosophy is complex, but I’ll tell you this much: there are a lot of people who confuse freedom of the press with freedom from responsibility for what they say and who it affects. I don’t. I hope you readers keep me accountable to that. Heavy part over.

Speed bump.

Originally published in Countryside Post, Issue 1.4.

Every once in a while you hit a “slow news week,” where there’s nothing to report on but Presidential scandals, and the Post won’t write about that, which makes the week slower. Isn’t this an election year? Isn’t the public supposed to be busily sending their local paper letters about how wonderful this or that candidate is? The Post may not endorse anyone, but you certainly can. There are, after all, only four weeks until the election for you to say something. So say something! Mail, e-mail or fax it to the Post.

Change is 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥.

Originally published in Countryside Post, Issue 1.3.

Okay, so change isn’t always good. I’m reminded of the example of “New Coke” a decade ago. The idea made me wonder what Coca-Cola’s executives were really doing with the cocaine they were supposedly extracting from the coca leaves they put in their soda.

Well, the Post didn’t change anything but the day it circulates. Hopefully that won’t traumatize you too much. Especially after a snafu at the phone company caused our number to be disconnected for two days. Half of you probably thought the Post went out of business or something.

I do apologize for not giving you more advance warning. That was a business decision, and as editor, I don’t handle the business; I handle the news. But as far as the news is concerned, I suspect you’ll find the Post’s new schedule more convenient.

Misteaks were made.

Originally published in Countryside Post, Issue 1.2.

About four years ago, at the next-to-last newspaper I edited, we had a horrible number of mistakes one issue. To me, “horrible” is more than two errors, but this was really bad. Dang near spelled my own name wrong.

The next issue, I explained, “Our paper has something for everyone. If you’re the type who isn’t happy unless you have something to nitpick, we have kindly provided you with lots and lots of typos.”

Well, same thing seems to have happened in the last issue of the Post. No surprise; there are always a thousand little annoyances that crop up when it’s a first issue. Jill and I were up until 2 a.m. the night before our deadline, and woke up bright and early at 6 a.m. the next morning to proofread. Even Jill, who sometimes can be the most obnoxious morning person (okay, so I’m a night person) was a zombie that day. You try proofreading on four hours’ sleep. That’s no excuse. That’s an explanation.

The community is invited to join in.

Originally published in Countryside Post, Issue 1.1.

If you’re impressed with this first issue, thank you! If you’re not impressed, well, neither am I. First issues don’t really mean a lot anyway. It’s how they look after about a year or so. There are a lot of things I would have loved to see in this first issue, but the reason they aren’t here is because you all still have to produce them.

Yes, you. Countryside Post will be attempting to live up to the title “community paper” by letting, for once, a community contribute to its local paper. If you think about it, it’s not something you see very often. Many of the people who work at a newspaper often don’t live in the area they cover. Many of them were hired from other towns, and hired not because they know the area, but because they graduated from journalism school. If you’ve ever wondered why a paper gets so out of touch with its readership, that’s why.

I personally am no different, I suppose, but that’s just me. The publisher’s a local. And hopefully, all the Post’s writers—that’s you—will be local. And hopefully you’ll be encouraged to contribute after you see what we’re attempting to start up.