TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Changing With The Times

ADVERTISEMENT

BY MICHAEL TERRY

Published: September 27, 2008

With the ever changing dynamics of our community the staff at The Suncoast News is always searching for new ways to better connect with our readers. It's an evolving process but we strive to give our readers more of what they want in their community newspaper.

The biggest challenge we face is finding the space needed in the newspaper to get everything in.

For example, those of you who regularly turn to our newspaper to get information on tides, you will be happy to know that we are now making a concerted effort to get that information into every edition. Believe me when I say it's no fun receiving calls asking where our tides chart was when we decided to leave it out of certain editions.

With its old design taking up so much precious space, we decided to remake the tides chart into a smaller version that can easily fit into the tightest news hole. I haven't heard any complaints yet, so I'm guessing the new tides chart is serving its purpose.

We have also started printing Goldmine coupons within the pages of The Suncoast News. Goldmine had been around for years as an insert but we thought there must be a better way to get the coupons to our faithful readers.

So rather than printing the separate Goldmine insert we decided to fold those pages into the newspaper. That move has also allowed us to print Goldmine pages twice a month rather than once in the previous format.

It seems the advertisers like the change. I'm hoping the same holds true for the readers at whom the Goldmine coupons are targeted.

Another change that takes place starting with this issue is the addition of an Athlete of the Week feature.

With a growing number of young families making up our community what better way to show the paper's support of local high school athletics than by starting a feature designed to bring recognition to area athletes.

You can find this week's Athlete of the Week featured on page 21. Each week Sports Editor Eric Horchy will select a top performer for the honor. He will make that selection using suggestions from coaches who nominate a particular athlete.

We're hoping to spread the honor around. Any high school athlete in Pasco County is eligible for the honor.

Maybe it will even turn into a competition between schools for which school can capture the most Athlete of the Week honors during the current school year. Who knows?

These are just a few of the changes we've made in recent weeks with more sure to come. Any one with a suggestion is invited to contact the staff and pitch an idea. You don't know if something can be added to the newspaper until you ask.

Michael Terry is editor of The Suncoast News. He can be reached at 727-815-1066 or mterry@suncoastnews.com.

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT