Everyday Ethics by Jim Pumarlo

Jim Pumarlo writes, speaks and provides training on community newsroom success strategies. He is author of “Journalism Primer: A Guide to Community News Coverage,” “Votes and Quotes: A Guide to Outstanding Election Coverage” and “Bad News and Good Judgment: A Guide to Reporting on Sensitive Issues in Small-Town Newspapers.” He can be reached at www.pumarlo.com and welcomes comments and questions at jim@pumarlo.com.

Don’t underestimate the value of communicating with readers

It's great advice for editors and publishers to explain changing policies to readers, especially in today’s fractured media landscape. The guidance to regularly communicate should always be top of ...

Explore ways to bring everyday statistics to life

Reporters are tasked with analyzing local impacts. It’s important to present numbers in an easy-to-understand fashion. Simple graphics can highlight the data at a glance. The final step is to put ...

Vibrant news product is key to generating revenue

Editors and reporters must be well grounded in the basics of journalism if newspapers are to remain relevant and make their case to sell subscriptions and advertising.

Producing relevant content requires knowing your community

Editors are regularly challenged: What mix of stories and photos will collectively make this edition a “must see” for readers and advertisers? There is no universal formula.

Fuel the offense in pursuit of advertising revenue

Publishers typically enter a new year with a lengthy to-do list. Among the greatest challenges is growing revenue in the fractured media landscape.

Press politicians on election promises

Your pages have been filled with campaign promises detailed in stories, letters to the editor and ads. The next logical step: Are the winners keeping their promises?

Nameless, faceless reports will drive away readers

What’s the most important piece of information for readers in these police reports?

One checklist for election countdown

Newspapers should seize the opportunity to reaffirm the principles that have guided their coverage for all these months and resolve to not get hoodwinked on election eve. Here's one do and don't check ...

Start now to craft fresh, unorthodox election questions

Plus, some sample questions

One checklist for evaluating, advocating coverage of sensitive issues

To be certain, there is no universal right or wrong call on whether to publish a story and in how much detail. Several factors could be in play, including community norms and longstanding newspaper policy.

Omissions as damaging as glaring errors to credibility

First, give the opposing voices equal prominence. Court proceedings are a great example.

Deliver more than votes and quotes from government meetings

Newspapers, as representatives of readers in the public sphere, play a vital role in educating and engaging citizens to spur vibrant discussion on important public policy.

Step away from your desk and enrich community coverage

Are you producing quality content to keep reader and advertiser interest? What other community news are you missing by not regularly connecting with a broad array of individuals in formal and informal ...

Be responsible in exercising rights to public information

These instances, and many more, occurred during my tenure as editor of the Red Wing (Minnesota) Republican Eagle. Other editors can likely relate.

Editorials can serve variety of roles

Editors often feel the burden of publishing editorials that attempt to solve the problems of their worlds — their communities. In truth, editorials serve a variety of roles.

Take the offense when advocating for FOI

Why not be proactive in educating public officials on the dos and don’ts of public information?

Take steps now to report on 2024 budgets

We’re halfway into 2023, and many local governments are well involved in exploring 2024 budgets. Are your newsrooms aware of the process? Are you keeping readers abreast of the dynamics?

Letters invigorate editorial pages but demand scrutiny

The extra time and attention devoted to screening letters was underscored in a recent exchange on the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors hotline.