Making decisions about tomorrow's paper
I worried about Thursday's paper when I left tonight. It's a great news day with a heavy load of local and national news. We are writing about the bonds, why they took a dive and what's in store next. We have a piece about a good bit of change that went missing from VF. Eastern Guilford opening at GTCC. A follow-up story about Diane Bellamy-Small. A lawsuit.
And then we have the little thing about the power shift in Washington and then this: Am I out? You betcha. Do I like it? Nope. Will Bobby be good? Oh, sure.
News everywhere. Gotta love it. But there's not enough space on A1. In our new world, local trumps. Yet, we still have readers who rely on us to help them understand the proportionality of the news. The Democrats taking over the House isn't on the front page? After all this, Rummy is gone and he's not on the front page? What's wrong with you people?
We went with a heavy local emphasis in keeping with our belief that local is our niche. Yet, I can hear the boomers -- and I'm in that generation -- complaining already.
Then I got home, flicked on the TV and a special NBC news report came on, cutting into my usual viewing of Entertainment Tonight. In 10 minutes, Brian Williams pretty much wrapped up all the big national events of the day, and of the election yesterday for that matter.
We'll won't be like everyone else. We'll tell readers something they didn't know at 7 p.m. the night before. If they want the national report, it's inside. But the front page will give readers a reason to pick us up.
I stopped worrying.