|
A long time ago at a journalism conference, far, far away, an investigative reporter offered some wisdom I’ve never forgotten.
As he told it, he worked for his readers, “the people who plunk a few quarters into the slot of a newspaper box to get their hands on what was inside.”
I liked the way he reoriented the organizational chart of your typical newsroom to put readers at the top, with everything flowing in the service of providing them with the information they need.
I’ve echoed his words of wisdom time and time again in our newsroom, reminding everyone from interns to senior editors about who we serve with our journalism.
And on Tuesday night, a group of readers reminded me why I continue to follow his advice so many years later.
To be fair, these weren’t just any readers, but Free Press patrons who are all prepared to dig a little deeper to support our journalism by gifting $150 or more beyond what they already pay as subscribers.
As part of our patron program, I was giving them an exclusive tour of our newsroom, where they got a sneak peek at Wednesday’s front page, met some of my senior staff, saw our giant presses and gained a better understanding of the “daily miracle” which results in all of our daily reportage getting delivered to doorsteps across this province by 7 a.m.
They were impressed. They were engaged. They were as enthusiastic about our mission as I am. They wanted to offer thanks for all that we do. They wanted to know how we are connecting with younger readers. They wanted the Free Press to be read even further and wider.
It can be easy to forget what really matters amid the onslaught that is artificial intelligence, the ongoing attacks on freedom of the press and the troubling trend of news avoidance.
But our readers know what really matters. And I’m grateful for the way they let me know how happy they are that we are working for them.
|
