It's hard to believe, but it's true. Take a look at the date on top of this page.
December is here already - the final month of the year. Only 31 days remain in 2007.
For the newsroom, that means it's time to start reflecting on the past year and the news we've covered. Once again, we'll be choosing our top 10 stories of the year. Once that's done, we'll publish an overview of the choices in an edition near the end of the month.
It's something plenty of newspapers do - and for good reason. People like to read these pieces, and then debate the choices. It's also just a natural thing to do as a new year approaches - thinking about the highlights of the previous year.
Creating the top 10 story list is, admittedly, a highly subjective process. I fully expect to hear from disagreeing readers once our picks are published, and that's part of the fun. No one is right or wrong on these matters.
Having said that, I should state that we do use some general guidelines to make our decisions.
The list is meant to reflect the stories with the biggest impact on the community. They are the stories that had people talking for days or weeks, not just for one news cycle. They can be positive or negative stories. They can come from the news, sports or Lake Life pages.
Last year's list was a good example of how the selections can be varied. Our top story of 2006 was the Auburn High School football team's improbable state championship. The second biggest story was the shutdown of the Bombardier manufacturing plant in Auburn.
Both clearly had a major effect on the community, but in completely different ways.
As we start thinking about our 2007 list, I invite you - the readers - to send me your thoughts. Go ahead and put together a top 10 list and throw in an explanation for each of the choices. We might even publish some reader submissions as part of the package.
While you're at it, give me your thoughts on the biggest national and international stories of the year.
Our primary wire service, the Associated Press, does a similar look back at news events from around the globe. Their list is generated from a survey of member newspaper editors, and I have an obligation to cast a ballot. So if you have some thoughts on how I should vote, by all means share them.
We'll be publishing the AP choices most likely a few days before Christmas.
Executive editor Jeremy Boyer's column runs Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net
For the newsroom, that means it's time to start reflecting on the past year and the news we've covered. Once again, we'll be choosing our top 10 stories of the year. Once that's done, we'll publish an overview of the choices in an edition near the end of the month.
It's something plenty of newspapers do - and for good reason. People like to read these pieces, and then debate the choices. It's also just a natural thing to do as a new year approaches - thinking about the highlights of the previous year.
Creating the top 10 story list is, admittedly, a highly subjective process. I fully expect to hear from disagreeing readers once our picks are published, and that's part of the fun. No one is right or wrong on these matters.
Having said that, I should state that we do use some general guidelines to make our decisions.
The list is meant to reflect the stories with the biggest impact on the community. They are the stories that had people talking for days or weeks, not just for one news cycle. They can be positive or negative stories. They can come from the news, sports or Lake Life pages.
Last year's list was a good example of how the selections can be varied. Our top story of 2006 was the Auburn High School football team's improbable state championship. The second biggest story was the shutdown of the Bombardier manufacturing plant in Auburn.
Both clearly had a major effect on the community, but in completely different ways.
As we start thinking about our 2007 list, I invite you - the readers - to send me your thoughts. Go ahead and put together a top 10 list and throw in an explanation for each of the choices. We might even publish some reader submissions as part of the package.
While you're at it, give me your thoughts on the biggest national and international stories of the year.
Our primary wire service, the Associated Press, does a similar look back at news events from around the globe. Their list is generated from a survey of member newspaper editors, and I have an obligation to cast a ballot. So if you have some thoughts on how I should vote, by all means share them.
We'll be publishing the AP choices most likely a few days before Christmas.
Executive editor Jeremy Boyer's column runs Saturdays in The Citizen and he can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 231 or jeremy.boyer@lee.net
The Citizens' Say
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