I love small town newspapers. The reporting is colorful, they include things about your neighbors (that sometimes they’d rather you didn’t know…yes, I’m such a gossip!), and often the typos are entertaining. But sometimes they leave you scratching your head.

A few weeks ago, Bo and I picked up a local newspaper while traveling around the state. The headline read XXX Festival Features Cook Off! The front page article took three-quarters of the page and about half of another.

Oh, look.  A local “fest”!  Darn, we missed it!  We started reading, wondering what kind of events were held and who won the cook off.

Instead, the reporter chose to tell how she and her husband covered the festival. She talked about her husband’s business and how the roof of his building was the perfect spot to watch all the goings-on. She raved about the technique used in the photography (which was pretty cool), and of his other hobbies, whose projects dominated the office space. She did manage to work a few comments into the article about some of the people who were in town for the event. But there were NO details of the fest or winners.

Colorful, yes. We know everything we ever needed to know about the townspeople, the location of and the people who own this business – even down to how they spend their spare time. If I ever am in need of those services, I know who to call. Or not.

Now, that reporter may have intended to take a fresh approach – but the article contained four different stories. 1) The business, 2) the photographer and his process, 3) the hobby, and 4) the townspeople who were photographed. It did not contain the information promised in the headline.

Here’s the thing. When reporting, remember it’s not about YOU. It’s about the people, places, or events you are covering. The old ‘Who, What, Why, When, and How’ still applies. Stick to the topic. If there are other things to tell about, let them have their own article. Local color is great – fit it in when you can, but it still should be pertinent. When you think you are done, re-read it and after every anecdote or sidebar ask yourself…but what does that have to do with this?

It’s wonderful when your family points proudly to your byline, and your neighbors are calling each other, saying “Did you see Gayle’s article this morning?” We need the support of friends and family. But even better is when a total stranger can read your article, and say, “That sounds like it was fun. I’m going to come to this thing next year!” – all because of the way you related it.

BTW. There was a photo on page three. Pearl and Jim won the cook-off. It said so in the caption.