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Ok, for those of you that don't know me, or haven't figured it out through my ramblings on here, my dream is to write. I would love to write for a newspaper. Lately it seems that I have been inching closer to my dream. It started with a gig last September writing for the local college paper which led to me helping edit the paper. Now I'm writing for a monthly paper here in town. You have to start somewhere right? Perhaps one day I will write for a daily. Until then, I will torture my readers here with my shattered dreams.

Here's an article about a newspaper that is doing it right:

Chicago, IL
HISPANIC PR WIRE
July 27, 2004
Editor & Publisher, considered the Bible of the publishing industry, has recently proclaimed La Raza Newspaper, Chicago’s leading Hispanic publication, as one of the “Ten Publications that Do it Right.”

This prestigious award was presented to 10 U.S. newspapers that serve as a model for others in one (or several) important areas such as: editorial, community awareness, effective marketing ideas, attractive design, online innovations, diversity in coverage and in hiring.

“In the face of all the bad press confronting our industry, we are honored to receive this recognition for doing certain things right,” stated Robert J. Armband, Publisher of La Raza Newspaper. “Editor & Publisher has been presenting this award for five years and we are pleased and proud to be the first Spanish language weekly to receive a nod,” added Mr. Armband.

Editor & Publisher (E&P), is the authoritative journal covering all aspects of the North American newspaper industry, including business, newsroom, advertising, circulation, marketing, technology, online and syndicates. The monthly publication is based out of New York City and offers its readers a website with breaking news and content on a daily basis.

In the article about the reasons La Raza Newspaper deserves this recognition, E&P describes how Chicago’s leading Hispanic publication, is in the process of launching several new initiatives to continue to bolster the publication’s readership and advertising revenue. E&P touches on everything from La Raza’s new design and improved editorial sections to its new circulation program currently being implemented. E&P also mentions how Mr. Armband, in particular preached the value of audited distribution when he was director of the National Association of Hispanic Publications. The article states, “he (Armband) even insisted that unaudited newspapers be denied voting membership.”

The article also mentions, “La Raza’s success helped attract mainstream chains such as Tribune and Belo Corp. to Spanish-language publishing. At a time when many Hispanic papers were still disorganized mom-and-pop operations, La Raza was pioneering audited and efficient free distribution to Hispanic households, aggressively courting big retailers and insisting other Latino papers do the same.”

Perhaps the Governor of the State of Illinois, Rod Blagojevich, summed it up best in a letter to La Raza, wherein he stated, “Since 1970, La Raza has served as a vital resource to Chicago’s Hispanic community, providing fair and accurate news reporting to citizens throughout the city. Being recognized by such a distinguished publication (E&P) is truly an honor. It is a testament to your hardworking staff, and their dedication to maintaining La Raza’s status as Illinois’ preeminent Hispanic newspaper.”

Source: HISPANIC PR WIRE

CJ at 8/02/2004

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