Home FROM OUR PAPER EDITORIAL: The Real Scoop

EDITORIAL: The Real Scoop

by MyParisTexas
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Whenever you put yourself or your work out to the public, you’ve got to be prepared for some criticism. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you do, someone will always criticize or question you. That’s just a fact. But how you handle that criticism and your response is up to you.

While getting the news to our readers is our job, whether it be a wreck or feature story, it is also our art and each journalist has their own style of writing and creates pieces they are proud of. 

With this job, we open ourselves to criticism – positive and negative. 

Sometimes I wonder if I’m too sensitive for this job. I’m not going to sugar coat it, there have been stories I’ve covered that have stuck with me way beyond my office door. There have been many times I’ve written a story or shared breaking news that I, quite frankly, didn’t want to because, to me, it broke my heart too but I had to. 

It’s just part of the job and there is important information the public needs to know. Good information, bad information and sometimes, just downright, ugly information. 

Personally, I rarely watch the news or read stories online. Yes, I know, I work in the industry but in all reality, it gets depressing seeing all the negativity these days. 

Some media outlets thrive on the negative, it’s where they get their “hits” from, while others like to stir-the-pot. Sometimes I even question…what happened to the media as being a true source for real news? These days it seems all about who gets it out first and has the most views. 

But it doesn’t have to be all about that and we don’t have to focus on the negative all the time. When I was approached to help build myparistexas.com, that was the goal from the start and that goal has never changed. 

In my opinion, people are tired of incorrect, negative, and one-sided news. It’s time for something new. Yes, we do have a job to do, but we can do it without any hidden agenda and taking the time to make sure our information is correct. 

Speaking of a job to do, keeping the public informed on wrecks and traffic delays is one of them. Which brings me to my next point and a question that seems to have been brought up more often than not lately…posting personal information. 

There are certain “legal rules” we must follow when it comes to reporting the news and then there are our own guidelines within our company. Being a small community word spreads fast and when tragedy strikes those affected normally find out quicker via social media than through the proper channels (law enforcement)

At myparistexas.com, we would rather be last and correct in our information than first and incorrect. We would rather wait to release certain information, out of respect for the families and the job our local law enforcement agencies have to do than to post it just to say we were first. 

Our team is made up of people who are a part of this community, who get involved, who volunteer and who genuinely care about our “small town” and those in it. 

I’m proud of the team we have built and the foundation it has been built upon. We will always strive to be courteous and correct in our reporting. We care about you, Lamar County, and want nothing more than to bring you REAL news!

Managing Editor

Katie Dixon

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