Getting ready for Progress
By Staff
Kim West
Earlier this week I traveled to Clanton with my boss, Jonathan, and our advertising reps, Peggy and Angie, to attend a workshop about next year's Progress edition.
We produce special inserts throughout the year but Progress is our largest edition each year.
I'm not sure how long Progress has appeared in this newspaper, but it's a great way to get more stories and pictures about local people, places and events into the paper and also promote area businesses with special ads and promotions.
I think you can look at a daunting project in one of two ways.
You can dread it and do enough to get by, which is unfortunately how I looked at my college term papers.
Or you can embrace the challenge and think of ways to make it fun – sort of like trying to roll a house that is guarded by a well-hidden high school basketball coach armed with a garden hose.
We have already come up with a exciting game plan for the stories and photos, and we will start the four-month project with a kickoff party next Wednesday to get everyone in the newsroom revved up and listen to feedback about our content ideas.
Last year I was a Progress rookie, and I learned a lot about the people, businesses and history of Franklin County.
This time around I'm looking forward to writing stories about everything from our new city officials and famous citizens from years past to rookie teachers and accomplished families in Franklin County.
We are also going to add a section for photos submitted by our readers.
These photos can range from class reunions and sporting events to candid shots of your children or family vacation trips.
If you have a photo you would like to share, please email it to news@fct.wpengine.com or drop it by our office in the coming months.
The workshop on Wednesday was my first Progress meeting, and I enjoyed shaking hands with other BNI employees and listening to their ideas and how they met or exceeded their goals. Hopefully next year we will also have a few good tips and success stories to share as well.