The newspaper is all about covering the events of the community -- and helping people get to know each other.
Oftentimes, the best stories in the paper are about people. Part of the fun of being in the news business is being able to talk to people about their stories, and helping them to open up and share with the community.
We're always looking for good story suggestions from local readers. That's why we'd like to thank the Alexandria Echo Press for this editorial idea, which speaks for all local newspapers:
The most popular stories are often the ones about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.
They don't even have to be that extraordinary, just interesting. Stories that tug at your heartstrings, make you brush back a tear, laugh, smile, nod your head in agreement or shake your head at the injustice.
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Everyone has a story to tell. A unique hobby. A weird experience. A brush with danger. A celebrity encounter. A triumph over the odds. An amazing coincidence. A personal experience with a hot topic that's in the news. A comeback. A dream accomplished. A dream shattered.
Here are some basic guidelines:
- It has to be true. That's the golden rule of every story we do. We're not a tabloid. Besides, truth can be stranger than fiction and it's a lot more powerful.
- It has to be local. It should involve someone from the newspaper's coverage area, Becker County or the areas just outside of it (Vergas, Waubun, etc.). And that connection should be direct. A story about the brother-in-law of a once local person's aunt who now lives in Timbuktu just doesn't have the impact.
- It should be current. It should have happened within the past few days or weeks, or, like a hobby, is still taking place. It could also tie in to a milestone date. A story, for instance, could begin with, "It was 20 years ago today that John Doe found himself fighting for his life..."
- It should have some universal appeal. People should be able to relate to it, to imagine themselves or a loved one in the same situation. Think of your idea as a movie or book plot. Would most people be able to follow it and be interested in it?
- It should have some detail. Whoever is telling the story should know the basic background in answering those all-important five "w" words - who, what, where, when and why.
If you give the newspaper a story idea and nothing seems to come from it, don't be discouraged. It's possible that the source didn't want to be interviewed, couldn't be contacted or some other glitch popped up. Keep sending those ideas our way.
Send your ideas to
nbowe@dlnewspapers.com
, call 218-847-3151 and ask for the editor, or drop us a line at DL Newspapers, Attn: Editor, 511 Washington Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN, 56502.
