If you are reading this, you should know that miracles do happen and you can teach an old dog new tricks. Why do I say this? Let me explain.
After last week’s paper went to press, some big changes went into place for those of us who work at the Eagle Observer. We are now using new online software to write stories and upload photos; and everything we do in the way of writing, editing, working with photos, and building pages is not quite the same as it has been.
We now write our stories,upload our photos and even begin the page building process through our web browser and in the cloud.
While that may sound like a breeze for the younger generation, it is a bit of a challenge for those who would prefer to avoid smart phones, use old computers, film cameras and even manual typewriters. Since all of us in the Gravette office can claim a place in the over 50 crowd, we often think simple is better and fail to see the advantages in making what was pretty straightforward more complicated.
But, hey, miracle of miracles, you are reading another issue of the Eagle Observer. While there may be a few changes in type fonts and layout, for the most part the newspaper is unchanged (we hope) - still packed full of news, information and photos from the west side of Benton County.
No, we haven’t learned all the features of the new system. I am guessing that will be an ongoing endeavor. But we haven’t gone back to setting type the old fashioned way and starting up the old presses - that’s really not even an option for us anymore since the old equipment is either dismantled or gone entirely. It was more of a sink-or-swim method of learning. We’ve learned to tread water so we haven’t drowned. The more advanced strokes are coming - maybe.
Was it a miracle? It just might be when you consider that this paper was prepared and sent to press by a team that knows how to set actual type, write stories on a manual typewriter (though ribbons are hard to find), shoot film with manual cameras and process it, and even from an editor who trashed his smart phone and went back to his old flip phone because it is more simple to operate and works better for what phones were originally made to do - make phone calls.
Yep, I think it just might qualify as a miracle!
Randy Moll is the managing editor of the Westside Eagle Observer and may be reached by email at [email protected].
Opinion, Pages 4 on 06/26/2013