News-Record.com

OK, I know this sounds mean, because normally I desire success for everyone, but...So, can the News and Record not let these communities have their own papers without moving in and trying (I don't believe otherwise) to knock them out of the market? I like the News and Record fine - the GREENSBORO News and Record, but I hope you get your butt kicked in the Northwest. Go Northwest Observer!

Completely OT except that it deals with the Sunday paper, how come the "Ideas" section isn't packaged with the main part of the paper and is almost hidden at the back, after the ads? One of those little things that always hampers my pre-coffee Sunday morning search & read activities....

Does it make a difference to you, Joel, to point out that we were there before the NWO? Seriously, we're not going to war with the NWO. People & Places has been circulating as a Guilford County community paper for more than 25 years. We're subdividing it to make it even more local. It will be different from the NWO.

Sue, we print the Sunday paper at different times. The A-section, local section and Sports section are all put on the press Saturday night. The Ideas section and the Life section are printed Saturday morning. The advertising inserts come in another package. They are all combined later. The Ideas section shouldn't follow the ads, though.

John,

Don't mean to come off like such a grump, and, for the "record" I am a daily subscriber of and reader of the N&R, and enjoy People and Places, but for real, People and Places is NOT centered on a particular community, so really, I don't think you can say you were there first. And you may not see it as war, but what do you think all the small community papers around see it as. I know, "it's not personal it's business," (says Joe Fox) but I tend to pull for the small business against the big one, and these community papers have a flavor and character you will never have because you're the News and Record. Period. Its like Borders will never be Atticus Books. I just naturally pull for "Shop Girl."

I understand your position, Joel. I think, though, once you see the Guilford Record, you'll appreciate the differences in the two tabs and will see there's room for us both.

I like the idea.

The People and Places tabloid never quite got me interested.

John:

You are correct in saying that the News and Record may have been producing the People and Places tabloid section for 25 years.

However, I distinctly remember being at town meetings for Stokesdale, Summerfield, and other outlying Guilford County towns and not seeing any News & Record reporters there. The reason I know is that there were often few other people there at all, except for the town councils.

It was only after the former Guilford Sun, the Northwest Observer, the Kernersville News, and the Madison Messenger newspapers started covering some of these outlying towns that the News and Record took any interest by actually sending a reporter to town meetings.

To say that you covered these towns in the People and Places edition is not exactly true is it?

The News and Record was hardly the first to cover these towns by any stretch of the imagination and most certainly will not be the last. These other newspapers have popped up over the years and continue to thrive because they practice what you preach -- providing truly local news.

Pilot, I didn't say we covered those towns in People & Places. I said we will in the new publications.

Dear John,

Last Friday I was a grump. I am sorry. I let another matter spill over into my writing that day and I spoke out of turn. I ask that you will forgive me. I have a passion for local news (and local schools and local lots of things). The local papers, some of them around the county anyway, have done a great job of building a sense of working in and with their community. The live there. They know the people. Truth be known, when I was younger I used to take off on my bike, or in my car, and just ride or drive. I'd be gone all day, masybe ride fifty or more miles or drive even more. I would say I'm going to go get lost. Oh the days before cell phones. I would go to little towns and communities and talk to people and take pictures. I always wanted to write a book on County Court Houses! So, when I first read the post my heart sank. But now I want to say that I am a pretty decent resource and would be willing to help, especially if it does not negatively impact the proven publications out there - like ther Northwest Observer. They do what your staff may stuggle to do. Anyway, I responded poorly and I am sorry, but you see the excitement the drives me - the very real STORIES behind the little out of the way places, the smaller communities, the old churches. Ever been to Kimesville? I went there a couple of months ago. Not much there but so many STORIES. I love the stories ot towns and familiy histories, and why people came to here and why they stayed, and what drew peiople to communities, and what makes those communities each different and special in its own way. If I fear the N&R being like Wal-Mart that is the anxiety behind that fear. But I don't ever wish anyone to fail, and I don't want any one's butt to be kicked. Of course I sort of said that in jest, in the spirit of competition, as you know I am sure. I come from a family of sdmall business owners and am proud of thatvand we can be competetive and feisty - that Irish blood! So, anyway, last Friday I must have taken some bad juice. I was a grump. I get that way sometimes. I wish you well, I really do, and please forgive me.

Joel

I know grumps, Joel, and you are no grump. At least on these comments. I know where you're coming from, and I appreciate it.