Help! I mean we need help from journalists & others

In my 34 years at this newspaper I have never been confronted with the problem we are facing now, that is, lack of reporters and delivery personnel. We are not alone with this dilemma. Businesses everywhere are looking for employees.

Don Estep is publisher of the News Journal.

If you or if you know of a person who would like a little extra income delivering our newspaper to outlets on Wednesday call our office and let us know. Also, if you are a journalist, we need a reporter.

For the most part our staff has been with us for many years, but all of a sudden we face the loss of two important people and we have those openings. Those that have been with us for over 25 years will tell you that this is a good place to work.

This is what must never happen in our community. Right now three million people live in cities, towns and rural counties across the US with no local news coverage. These 1,300 communities have no local reporters telling their stories and keeping an eye on the issues most critical to their local democracy and quality of life.

The problem is, that number is growing. You will not find good news coverage of your local community on the Internet or at a big city television station. Your community newspaper is the only place that will provide quality coverage of local happenings.

Don’t be alarmed, we are not in danger of closing. But we do need the extra help to provide the quality newspaper we have brought you for these many years.

The News Journal has won more awards from the Kentucky Press Association than any other large weekly in the state. Our newspaper has won the “General Excellence Award” five of the six last years.

Have we been hit with the negative talk about newspapers in our modern society? The answer is yes but this newspaper is still strong and we have as much readership as any two combined newspapers in the tri-county area.

Here is what has happened. With the talk of newspapers in decline and large dailies laying off reporters many journalists have moved to other professions. This is why it is more difficult than ever to find journalists.

As for a part-time delivery person, well I don’t know why in today’s world there aren’t many who would like a little extra income. Years ago when we would advertise for a delivery position we would have people lining up to take the job.

To further illustrate the difficulty the newspaper profession is having, the Kentucky Press Association makes possible a summer intern program for college students throughout the state. This year 15 newspapers were given the opportunity to select a student who had applied for the internship program. Only 21 students filled out an application.

I have contacted several on the list but none of them have shown an interest in working here. The ten week program pays the student $4,000.

In the past we have had several student interns through this program. Never did we have a problem in finding a student. As a matter of fact the last student intern we had, Jennifer Perkins, elected to come back here after graduation and work for the News Journal.

Jennifer was a good reporter, so good in fact that several other larger media reached out to her for her services. I should add that she won five first place awards from the KPA and ten overall in the last newspaper contest. So that’s our story and if you can write or drive we need you.