Russ Kent column: Seeking reader submissions, full-time reporter

0

I enjoy writing. It’s the part of my job I enjoy most.

It’s something I’ve not done much in the past 10 years as in was not a priority of my job with a former company..

Also, the Mansfield News Journal was home to Ron Simon, one of my favorite people and a wonderful, well-loved columnist in the Mansfield area.

I try to write something for each print edition of the Galion Inquirer.

I’ve missed a few since I started working here a little less than a year ago, but not many.

I hope readers enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing.

What’s not to like … on my part anyway? I get to write about things that are important to me.

I also have an opportunity to be a spokesperson for our community, which is something I strongly believe in.

Galion is a wonderful place to live.

There are a lot of great people here, who want to make this a better place to live. They are trying like crazy to make this a better community.

Galion’s future looks more bright each and every week.

One of the individuals who has played a role in Galion being a more forward-looking community had a health setback this week.

Mayor Tom O’Leary is in a Columbus hospital after emergency surgery to repair an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

I hope the best for Tom and I know the community is praying for Tom’s family and a fast return to good health.

Hopefully soon, he will be back in his office — and in front of the community — as Galion continues to work toward a better tomorrow.

Anyway, back to my point.

The Galion Inquirer — in my vision anyway — is a reflection of the community it serves.

But more than that, I want the Inquirer to be a part of the community it serves.

I want this to be a place for other segments of the community to chat and argue and discuss and plan and formulate and figure out ways to make this an even better place to work, to live, to raise a family.

To than end, I encourage reader submissions on relevant topics. We accept letters to the editor. We sometimes get a few during an election, but few at other times of the year.

Columns written by community members with valid points of view — which are well-written and do not include personal attacks or libelous comments — are encouraged.

I won’t promise to publish every item I receive via email. But I am not afraid to publish a point of view that is differs from myself, of the school district, or local government leaders.

Disagreements — well, civil disagreements — often lead to discussion, to meetings, to compromise, to opinion shifts … to good things.

Community newspapers are great places to express opinion. Just be polite and factual with the letters and columns you submit.

As everyone knows, community newspapers have changed a lot in the past 20 years ago. I worked at the Galion Inquirer some 30 years ago. At that time we had six or full-time reporters, two editors, a sports editor, two full-time sports reporters, a staff photographer, and many stringers. There was a full sales staff, a circulation department, a printing press and two people who ran that part of the operating.

It was rare that something was going on in the community that the Inquirer knew nothing about.

That is no longer the case.

Every person here works more than 40 hours a week. But we miss more events than we attend.

The Galion Inquirer staff could cover and promote and report for 100 hours each week, and we still would miss some things.

Which is why we need help from the community.

If you have a reunion, take a photo and send it to us. If your group is having a special event, take a photo and send it to us. If you see an accident or a house on fire or a cute dog sleeping under an umbrella in the middle of a sandbox, take a picture with your smartphone and send it to us.

Send photos, or comments, or story ideas, or meeting information, or suggestions, or reunion stories … anything you think is import to rkent@civitasmedia or galnews@civitasmedia or [email protected].

Eventually, they’ll end up in my mailbox.

I guess that’s the point of this column.

This is a community newspaper, and I encourage member of the Galion community to become a larger part of it.

One last thing, the Galion Inquirer is seeking a full-time news reporter.

This reporter’s top priorities will include Galion City Council, Galion schools and local police and fire. But there also will be some county-wide coverage, including court news. This reporter will help generate lifestyle and human interest stories. This reporter will learn to fill in and cover for the editor, allowing him to work more frequently with the other newspapers in our group … and a vacation now and then.

Advancement within this company is possible and encouraged.

This job requires some evening and weekend work. Camera and computer skills are beneficial, as is a willingness to promote the Galion Inquirer, and yourself, on social media. Reporting experience is preferred, writing experience is a must, but enthusiasm, creativity, a positive attitude and a willingness to be part of a team is paramount.

Please email resumes and a cover letter to Russ Kent at [email protected].

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/38/2017/05/web1_Russ-Kent-colsig-1.jpg

 

Russ Kent

Galion Inquirer

 

 

Russ Kent is editor of the Galion Inquirer, Bellville Star and Morrow County Sentinel. Email [email protected] with comments or story ideas.

 

No posts to display