Paper is missing “the beef”

“Where’s the beef?” Many of us remember the commercial with three elderly ladies, looking for the beef patty amid the giant bun. It has become a catch phrase questioning the substance of something. The phrase came to mind as I sat to write this letter. I have noticed during the past year there is less in the way of news articles in our local newspaper, but more sports pictures and well, just general fluff. Don’t get me wrong, these have their place in our community newspaper, but gone are the articles on Ritzville and Lind City Council, Adams County Commissioners, EARH and the school board meetings.

I know hard copies of the meeting minutes are available upon request at each of these places, as well as at their individual websites. But why do we need to search it out on our own, when we are fortunate enough to have a local newspaper that could provide us with well-written articles and current information? And, what of the elderly in our community who are unable to access that information, and rely upon the local news source to provide it for them? How will they know what is going on in our community?

Joining social media as the Journal has done by creating a Facebook page is keeping with the times. And some information, as well as more photos, can be seen there. But not everyone knows how to access or navigate the Internet, let alone a Facebook timeline. It seems to me to be a disservice to subscribers; I allowed mine to lapse for this very reason, not to provide the community with all news that affects them. So how about it Journal Times, put the “beef” back in the paper.

Briana Larse, Ritzville