I know the name of the paper is now the “Morning News”, but I still think of it as the “Florence Morning News.” I get a little irritated at the media outlets that want to stick it to Florence and lump us in with the beach. Hello– one hour and ten minutes away! Of course, I will say I prefer being lumped in with the beach than with Columbia. I do prefer WMBF to WIS, very much. WMBF has an active and engaging online presence. THEY TWITTER! I even twittered news to them and got a message back. Score! WIS used to have the calendar of events screen of death that made me crazy. “Hey Florence! We don’t care to give you actual news so we will post this random event you could care less about for the next 93 seconds!”
Wait, what was I talking about? Oh… news! Print media. Another blogger that blogs about her hometown of Winston-Salem has stirred up quite a discussion on the Winston-Salem Journal, and its lack of local stories.
I actually think that this is an area the Morning News excels in. I have never read the Morning News for national and international news– I read it for the local news that I can’t get anywhere else. Lately, even their local coverage has approved. They talk about businesses that are opening, interesting local attractions, spotlight stories. I have actually been enjoying the paper more lately than ever before. Their website still gives me panic attacks, but I can pretty much find what I need. I was sad to hear that Libby Wiersema is no longer with the Morning News. While I hope she is out having a lot of fun, she was one of my first readers and I will miss her writing in the paper and on her blog.
I think the commenters on her site are right– stay local to survive. I also think you have to stay active in the online community. Newsflash to all newspapers: You have WRITERS on staff! The online community is pretty much 100% about writing. The Morning News got this newsflash a while back and the writers have their own blogs, which is nice. (Note to Morning News: Hyperlink the heading “Blogs” so that I can click it and see all the blogs at once.) Not only that, but they read local blogs, stay in check with facebook, and keep their eyes on the local “scene.”
What do you think? I think we are fortunate to have such a successful 7 day a week paper,and I hope that it continues on for many years to come. Kudos to all of the hard working Morning News employees!
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow! Thank you so much for this shout-out!
Thanks also for your suggestions. They’ll be shared with the group.
Even though the economy is hitting us (like most everyone else, it seems) hard, I assure you and all other readers we are doing our best to stay on top of local news. The reporters from WBTW News13 who work from our office have been a big help to us in this regard, as well.
Thanks again! We are striving to keep up the good work.
Jackie Torok, Metro Editor
Thank you, too. I’m working on us getting involved in twitter, too. We have started a Facebook page in the meantime.
Kim Ginfrida, news editor at the Morning News