A journalist from our newsroom earlier this year visited a local high school's career day, and she came back disturbed by something she discovered. During her presentation, she asked students if they read newspapers. Not one person put a hand up.
For those of us in this industry, it was another reminder of a major problem we're facing. Dwindling numbers of young people are paying attention to newspapers. Many of them don't even pay attention any form of news.
As an industry, there is not a single solution to this issue. We must address content to be sure it has impact on young readers' lives. We must develop our other media platforms, starting with our Web sites, to make our products more appealing.
But most importantly in my mind, we also must reach out directly to those potential readers.
For years The Citizen and hundreds of other newspapers have been doing some of that outreach through the Newspapers In Education program. In this program, the newspaper provides newspapers to teachers that request them for their classrooms at no charge. The costs are covered from community donations.
We've been blessed to have some outstanding sponsors of this program, but we can always use more help. The talented people in our circulation and marketing departments have come up with a fun way to get additional support for NIE.
The Citizen's Pet Idol contest is a fundraiser for both NIE and the Finger Lakes SPCA.
Look for entry forms online at www.auburnpub.com or in the paper itself. An advertisement for the contest is running each day.
The good news for all you pet owners out there is that I'm not allowed to participate because I'm an employee; otherwise our little mutt, Morgan, would certainly sail to victory.
But for the general public, all it takes is a small fee to enter your pet into the contest with a photo of him or her. The entry deadline is approaching #- June 8. We'll be publishing a special section with all the entrants on June 24, and then the voting begins.
The lucky winner will walk away with a $500 gift certificate to the Pet Depot in Auburn, as well as the satisfaction that they helped out a local animal shelter and got a newspaper into the hands of an area student.
Executive editor Jeremy Boyer's column appears Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net
As an industry, there is not a single solution to this issue. We must address content to be sure it has impact on young readers' lives. We must develop our other media platforms, starting with our Web sites, to make our products more appealing.
But most importantly in my mind, we also must reach out directly to those potential readers.
For years The Citizen and hundreds of other newspapers have been doing some of that outreach through the Newspapers In Education program. In this program, the newspaper provides newspapers to teachers that request them for their classrooms at no charge. The costs are covered from community donations.
We've been blessed to have some outstanding sponsors of this program, but we can always use more help. The talented people in our circulation and marketing departments have come up with a fun way to get additional support for NIE.
The Citizen's Pet Idol contest is a fundraiser for both NIE and the Finger Lakes SPCA.
Look for entry forms online at www.auburnpub.com or in the paper itself. An advertisement for the contest is running each day.
The good news for all you pet owners out there is that I'm not allowed to participate because I'm an employee; otherwise our little mutt, Morgan, would certainly sail to victory.
But for the general public, all it takes is a small fee to enter your pet into the contest with a photo of him or her. The entry deadline is approaching #- June 8. We'll be publishing a special section with all the entrants on June 24, and then the voting begins.
The lucky winner will walk away with a $500 gift certificate to the Pet Depot in Auburn, as well as the satisfaction that they helped out a local animal shelter and got a newspaper into the hands of an area student.
Executive editor Jeremy Boyer's column appears Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
There are 2 comment(s)
Chris - Throop wrote on Jun 6, 2007 3:18 PM:
We know wrote on Jun 3, 2007 10:17 PM: