Why "The News Connection" is now the local paper of record
For years, the primary source of credible reporting in this area has been the Leader. They cover a wide range of stories (news, business, sports and features) and those stories are usually well-written. The paper is polished in design. It has a broad base of advertising support. It's a smart local paper, and a must-read. You do have to subscribe to it, however, at the nominal cost of about $35 a year.
But compare the April 8 Leader (a semi-weekly) to the April 7 weekly edition of The News Connection. Scorecard time. How many letters to the editor did you see in the Leader? I didn't see any. How many did you see in The News Connection? Quite a few, all about Tuesday's runoff races. Plus, in its editorial on the church/poverty story, the paper makes reference of getting lots of reader feedback on that story too (though I am curious why they didn't publish any of those letters verbatim).
Bottom line for this post: reader feedback is a key to the lifeblood of any publication, and the fact that The News Connection seems to be the favored spot for spouting off makes it the new paper of record in our town.
Before you leave this blog today, would you please post a comment here? I do this blog only because I like to write, and because I love this Town. But feedback is important to me too, even if you disagree with what I write.
posted by Chip Mahaney @ 7:04 AM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Tip of the feathered fedora to you, Mr. Mahaney. Not only do we at The News Connection appreciate your compliment(s), but we feel quite gratified in knowing that our hard work is paying off. Greasing the cogs of local Democracy is not the easiest job in the world, but we do it with pleasure.
It should be noted that we are a tightly-knit bunch who all live in the communities we write about. We aren't a chain paper, with "resources" or "tallent" based all over the metroplex, with writers going far out of their way to just GET TO a story.
This allows us to focus intently on our neighborhoods, our schools, our city councils, our issues. I would say that we believe the most comprehensive local coverage comes naturally from everyday involvement in the affairs of our little corner of Texas that we have come to know and love.
This county as a whole has given so much to this paper and the dedicated individuals who produce it. As a writer and new resident of Denton County, I could not be more pleased to serve these communities and this fine publication. And I am honored to be part of the team that you speak so highly of on this, the Flower Mound Road.
By the way -- your blog is becoming the "FrontBurner" (see D Magazine's website) of Denton County. Ahead of the game as usual, I see. I'm looking forward to your future posts. Keep up the good work, and thanks for the support!
Doesn't begging for comments beg the question a bit?
Still...Kudos to Shane Allen at the News Connection for putting out an excellent newspaper.
I'm okay with the Newspaper, but they seem to try to sensationalize stories from time to time...
Chip,
What about the design? You mentions the Leaders .... but I didn't here you mention TNC's redesign!
Sincerely,
Sad Graphic Artist who needs validation
SGA,
Here's your validation -- good job!
Chip
WELL CHIP, I WILL SAY ONE THING FOR SURE, I'M SOME WHAT DISAPPOINTED WITH OUR LARGER MEDIA OUTLETS SUCH AS, THE DALLAS MORNING NEW AND THE DENTON RECORD CHRONICLE THESES NEWS OUTLETS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO PRINT THE NEWS WHETHER ITS POPULAR OR NOT. MYSELF BEING INVOLVED IN SEVERAL OF THE ARTICLES PRINTED IN THE NEWS CONNECTION I'M SOMEWHAT DIAPPOINTED THAT A LARGER PAPER WILL NOT PICK UP ON THESES ARTICLE ON THE DENTON CENTRAL APPRAISEL DISTRICT, THE NEWS CONNECTION HAS A LIMITED CIRCULATION AREA AT THIS TIME AND I'M SURE THERE ARE HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OTHER DISGRUNTED TAX PAYERS THAT HAVE BEEN TREATED UNFAIRLY BY THE DENTON CENTRAL APPRAISAL DISTRICT, IT SEEMS MOST POLITICIANS IN THE AREA WANT TO TAKE A HANDS OFF APPROACH IN HOPES OF NOT GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THE MUDD SLINGING. I JUST HOPE THAT SOME OF THE BIGGER TV STATIONS PICK UP ON THE STORIES DONE BY THE NEWS CONNECTION AND DO A STORY ON THE 6 PM AN 10 PM NEWS ONE NIGHT, THIS MIGHT BE THE NEEDED PRESSURE ON THE LOCAL POLITICIANS TO GET THEM INVOLVED IN PUSHING THE ELECTED BOARD TO FORCE THE NEEDED CHANGE FOR FAIR AND EQUITABE APPRAISALS IN DENTON COUNTY,
THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT
JEFF LOW
dentonrollback2005@yahoo.com
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