Wednesday, February 07, 2007

Info. Ctr. Seeks Bosox Blogger

Norwich Bulletin
Transforms Newsroom



Article published Feb 6, 2007
www.norwichbulletin.com

Column: Information Center takes shape at Bulletin
By JIM KONRAD


The Norwich Bulletin, Eastern Connecticut's source for local news in print and online, is continuing its bold and aggressive plans to give local residents the information they want and need when they want and need it.

The Bulletin is far along in creating its Information Center.

What's that?

Well, it used to be called a newsroom, back when all most newspapers did was print a morning edition, then got ready for the next day's ink-and-paper product.

Now, we are moving closer and closer to a 24-hour news operation, with many print and online offerings to address the diversity of interests and needs.

Among the steps in the process to create the Information Center is updating the Opinion page for the 21st century.

It's now called Community Conversations. More than just a name change, it's a way of changing how we do things to better serve and satisfy you.

Community Conversations means we are making more attempts to reach out to the public, to hear what you have to say. We want your feedback, whether it's via letters to the editor, op-ed columns, posts to our online forums (some of which will be printed in the Bulletin) or even possibly a blog.

In short, we want to start and maintain conversations in the community on topics that matter most to you.

Community Conversations has been coming for some time.

You may have noticed we are running more local columns; that will continue and expand. We will also have more editorials about local subjects, and encourage you to call or write and suggest topics.

Community Conversations also encompasses the Web. The editor will oversee our blogs -- short for weblogs, or places for quick hits of news, information and opinion -- and determine which new blogs should be added. For example, we are looking for a Red Sox blogger. Let us know if you are interested.

The editor will also oversee the popular StoryChat feature on our Web site, which allows readers to comment on local stories and respond to each other's responses.

With this change comes new leadership. Francesca J. Kefalas, who has guided our City Desk for more than three years and has been with the Bulletin for 11 years, is the new Community Conversations editor.

She will research and write the majority of the editorials, and be the front-line person for feedback for the section.

Fran's editorials appear starting today.

Ed Dunn, who has done a wonderful job the past 20 years as our award-winning Editorial Page editor, is moving on to a new and vital challenge in our Information Center -- the mojo, or mobile journalist. We'll talk more about his role in a future column.

For now, we want to thank Ed for his insight, creativity, professionalism and class throughout the course of the thousands of editorials he has written.

There are more exciting things happening with the Bulletin's Information Center, and we'll talk about them in the coming weeks.

The idea is to continue making the Bulletin and NorwichBulletin.com more accessible and valuable to you.

Let Fran and I know how we're doing with the Community Conversations section. We value your thoughts.

Jim Konrad is the Bulletin's managing editor. Reach him at 425-4202 or e-mail him at jkonrad@norwichbulletin.com

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