So basically you are changing the paper BACK to the way it use to be? LOL
About three months ago, we made some changes to The Augusta Chronicle designed to make the paper easier to use. Most of the dozen or so changes worked pretty well, but a few things upset a portion of our readers.
We listened, evaluated and went back to the drawing board. Starting Monday, here's what you can look for in your Chronicle :
- We will bring back the name Metro to the local news section, usually the second section of the paper. Naming the section Community seemed to confuse people, so we'll go back to the old name.
- Page 2A. Many people said they didn't use the story index, so we're dropping it. We're also moving Rants & Raves to page 2 of the Metro section.
- That will give us room on 2A to list the top events going on in town each day, so you can decide whether there is something you want to do. We will tip you off about stories coming up in The Chronicle and on our Web site. We also will add a story or two about some of the unusual things going on around the world. Lottery results, today in history and contact information will remain on the page.
- Though we are publishing more business news than ever, many of our readers say they have to work too hard to find those stories. So we will anchor the business page. Most days it will be the last news page in the A section, just before the editorial and op-ed pages.
- Stories will continue to be grouped by topic with a label at the top of the page, so you can quickly scan through the paper. The tidbits of information under the topic have been popular, but they were too difficult to read. We had small type spread out over too wide an area. They now will be formatted in a way that is easier to read. The new format will limit the width of the type and put it next to the topic label.
- We will continue to emphasize local news on 1A, though we know that where a story takes place is not as important as its impact on our readers. So there will be some national and international stories on 1A when those stories impact your lives.
- There continues to be interest in celebrity news, so we will continue to put that together back inside the paper. We'll try to run more photos with that news.
As I say, every time we make changes to The Chronicle , more changes are likely in the future. We'll continue to talk with our readers, find out what they want and try to deliver it. The newspaper is constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of our audience. But our fundamental purpose is to tell you what's going on in our community that affects your lives.
The important thing to remember is we have a large and diverse audience, the largest audience of any media outlet in our area by far. So what pleases one reader might anger another.
Try to think of the newspaper as a cafeteria. You don't like every food in a cafeteria, and you don't feel cheated if you don't eat every food in a buffet line. As long as there are enough goodies to sample from the buffet, you're happy. The newspaper operates under the same principle.
If we can deliver enough of the things you want every day, and enough of the things your neighbor wants, then the things you don't like about the paper won't matter. We cannot publish a paper in which 100 percent of our readers agree with 100 percent of our selections.
Let me know what you think about The Chronicle . We publish this newspaper for you.
Reach Dennis Sodomka at (706) 823-3487 or dennis.sodomka@augustachronicle.com.
Comments
So basically you are changing the paper BACK to the way it use to be? LOL
yadayadadaaaaaaaaaaaa
The way the paper is now it is like someone just put articles in.No organization at all.The old way was at least orginized and could be followed.I do hope the editorial is put back on page 2 or 3a.And the obituriaies back in there place.Sometimes there is a need for change.But this one was to the extreme.
Odd, the Chronicle "professes," to "listen," but my Rant, herein, submitted EVERY day for months, will NOT be accepted for publication. So, once again, here it is:
RANT for the Chronicle. As usual, the Chronicle will NOT print my Rant for them! YOU, Chronicle, own The North Augusta Today tabloid/rag. PLEASE induce them to STOP littering people's driveways and properties with that sad publication, EVERY WEEK!
You people at the Chronicle that read these submissions: Whats the matter, is this too sensitive a Rant to publish?
sliique, all you have to do is call them and ask them to stop and they will.
Thank you for listening and putting things back the way that they should be! I agree, there really was no need for a change. Yes, the changes that were made did make the lay-up look unorganized. Reading the paper was kind of like, "they hid it and now, I have to find" the news.
Shame that some folk complain about a free publiciation that the Chronicle provides. If they did not get it and the rest of thier neighbors did, they would probably complain that they were left out. Some things are just not worthy of complaining about...get over it or have a bad day.
THANKS for listening, Dennis!
I definitely am glad to see the title Metro come back. The change was very disorganized. We need more reporters going out and acquiring more local news. Looking at the paper makes you think that absolutely nothing is going on in Augusta. What are the children doing? What's going on in schools? What about crime and consequences to the crime? I have been reading more on juvenile court cases and it is interesting. What about school closings or rezoning? I think the reporters could boost up some of their energy to make this a better paper. It is almost the same with the news on tv. Same stuff at 5, 5:30 and 6! Thanks AC.
The A/C is in the classical position of "Damned if I do, damned if I don't". Perhaps if they had asked "What changes, if any, would you like to see in your daily newspaper?" the outcome might have been different.
If there were truth in reporting, this headline would read "Chronicle Experiences Loss Of Advertising Revenue And Spike In Subscription Cancellatons"
Well you need to make Bizarro editor-in-chief-he turned down the NYT in the hopes of success in Augusta, GA. Field of Dreams I know, but we all have to have dreams.
Where's the Across the Area section? I want to know what my old neighbors are up to this week. You know, the section with the recent crimes and misdemeanors.
Come on AC, at least give me a special contribution page-news from the strange-see I'm strange-get it. I am full of strange and useless information-and to think I paid for it. Anywho I can talk about the plight of the inner city or fish that have placentas and some with lungs and gills. Latest news on UFOs, Lizard man, the babes at Hooter's. Critique music-it sucks, it's gotta beat, you can dance to it. There are two kinds of music-good and bad. Politics in Augusta-Will call it Laugh-In. I'll do it for free-I'm a philanthropist. I can use proper English or the dialect of the locals which renders better. I tell you its a deal I wouldn't turn down-and I'm pretty dang picky. If Austin Rhodes can have a show-jeez!!!!I thought about marketing Nappy Headed Austin Rhodes and Don Imus Toilet Bowl Cleaners. Seemed a cute and appropriate use of their figures. I bet I could write a more interesting article than any of your staff that are trained journalist-talkin big now-time to put up or shut up. I am also willing to do hatchet jobs on those the owners see fit to harass and humiliate. Even though I don't drink or do drugs I am willing to take up these nasty habits like your staff so I fit in. I am also african-american just a white one.
Never thought I would ever see the Chronicle eat their words. Thanks for listening!!! I will have to say that when I want a complete and consise listing of events in Augusta, even at the last minute, I always trust The Metro Spirit to tell me everything I need to know. We need to have an event section in the Chronicle that is easy to read on a weekly and daily basis. It would also be nice to hear more positive things about the CSRA and its citizens. There is way too much bad stuff happening, and we need some good things published. Has the Chronicle ever thought about promoting a Pay It Forward for citizens in Augusta? What a nice thing to be part of and this may help counteract all of the bad news we have to hear each day. Not all of the citizens are part of the crimes- we have so many blessings in Augusta. It is a shame we can't show that off to others! Please think about this. You may be starting something wonderful for the people you serve. Thanks!
How about getting around to re-naming the "Spartans" section on the web version of the paper to the "Colts" section in time for at least one game before their season is over....
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