Seeks feedback, suggestions on content
The Cornwall Local wants to hear from its readers. Rather than request letters or e-mails, the paper invites everyone to join us for coffee at 2 Alices, on Hudson Street, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Jan. 10.
When Vice President/General Manager Matthew Lawney came on board in the spring, he suggested hosting an event so the paper could reintroduce itself to the community and strengthen its rapport with its readers.
The informal sit-down also comes on the heels of the paper’s successful participation in the Shop Hop. About 50 individuals visited our Elm Street office and some of them offered their thoughts and suggestions.
According to Jay LeRoy, graphics dept supervisor, readers love the new history page the paper features once a month. One suggestion was the inclusion of tidbits on what happened in Cornwall 100 years ago, much like the weekly feature offering news from 10, 25, and 50 years ago.
Others, especially those who live in New Windsor and Salisbury Mills, said they wanted to see expanded coverage of Cornwall beyond Main Street. They want to know what’s going on in neighboring towns, in particular, anything to do with culture and other events.
As guests arrive and sit down with staff members, they’ll be asked what’s on their mind and if there are any issues they’d like to address with the paper. This is the opportunity to provide input on your reaction to the paper, as well as offering suggestions for the future. Staff members may have follow-up questions depending on where the discussion leads.
Although the newspaper is responsible for satisfying its readers, the primary role is to disseminate news and other information.
“In this day and age, especially with social media, it’s easy for rumors to snowball,” LeRoy said. “There has to be a source in town that will have the objective facts. That’s what we strive to do. We’re dedicated to the community and making sure it’s accurately informed. We don’t have an agenda in favor of certain politicians, despite what people think. We’re doing our best to be independent and report the facts as they are.”
The tentative idea is to hold similar events every month, just to take the pulse of the community, but staff will take a wait-and-see approach based on the reaction to the Jan. 10 event.
