Independent to launch ‘Connections’
By Tyler Lamb
Editor
In my humble opinion, communities such as Elkhorn need newspapers more than ever before.
Newspapers create and encourage conversation, touch on issues that may otherwise go unshared, as well as serve their perspective communities.
Part of serving the community also means helping build a stronger community. As such, the staff of the Elkhorn Independent have devised a new civic engagement initiative that will feature first-person columns penned by community members and profiles that focus on under-represented segments of our community.
It will be titled “Connections.”
Now, in order for Connections to be a success we’re asking the citizens of Elkhorn to lend a hand.
These first-person columns will be submitted by a select group of locals who write on topics they are passionate about: economic development, local history, education, technology, solutions to prevalent societal issues, et cetera.
The second component of this initiative will be profiles. These profiles will be done in a question-and-answer format by local non-profit organizations from their own perspectives.
Connections will launch in the early part of August, and run each week. My ardent wish is for this section to replace stories that are less relevant to many of our local readers.
Each week I spend countless hours thinking on what areas we are not covering that are interesting while at the same time relevant to the community.
Yes, this enterprise may be more than most people who read the Independent are willing to assist with, but in the end, I believe we need to facilitate more meaningful ideas and perspectives.
My intention is for the Independent to lead the way in creative civic engagement, to be a more purpose driven entity and meaningfully connect with the community.
Ultimately, I hope to build a network of individuals who can engage readers in building a greater sense of community. Maybe even become more of a community assist and less of a commodity.
This is not, however, an initiative for advocating of personal interest or heavy political perspective – that belongs on the editorial page.
Reaching other demographics is key.
If you, or someone you know, are passionate and knowledgeable about a topic of local significance, contact me at tlamb@southernlakesnewspapers.com, or at (262) 723-2250. For Twitter users, message me at Elkhorn_Editor.
It’s time for 21st-century newspapers to embrace the privilege and obligation to lead and serve.
“A story has no beginning or end: arbitrarily one chooses that moment of experience from which to look back or from which to look ahead.” – Graham Greene
