Publishing a weekly newspaper is a very rewarding endeavor. What is especially uplifting is hearing from our readers who, more often than not, have good things to say about us. Most of the time, those who call give us praise for keeping them informed about local news or filling them in when it comes to area festivities and events.
We also receive communication from our loyal advertisers who assure us that we are a big part of their businesses’ success stories.
Besides the weekly paper, we occasionally produce a special section or commemorative edition. Most recently, we put out a heck of an interesting special section for featuring information about the Winter Olympics. In a few weeks, we will once again favor our readers with a special pull-out section. This one will be chock-full of details about the City of Signal Hill. Celebrating the 90th anniversary of the City’s incorporation certainly deserves a special section.
Last year, in January, we created a full-color, 24-page special issue celebrating the opening of the City of Signal Hill’s new police station. Within the pages we included articles and pictures pertaining to the happenings before, during and after the new structure was completed. We also shared some of my collection of vintage photos depicting the police department and its officers over the past 90 years.
We knew we had something special when the section came back from the printer. Our entire office staff was beaming with pride as we collectively perused each page.
So, to toot our own horn, when the California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) recently put out a call for entries for their Best Newspaper Contest (BNC), our editor Cory Bilicko and I decided to enter our police station issue under the category of special section (circulation of 10,000—25,000). Waiting with bated breath (not baited breath) and crossed fingers, a few weeks ago we learned that our hard work had paid off, and that we had won either first or second place in our category. To say we were pleased is an understatement. Cory and I quickly made arrangements to attend the CNPA’s conference in San Jose and to be there for the awards banquet.Â
During the event we met newspaper folks from all over the state. Some were representing college publications, others were from mainstream weekly or daily papers. I thoroughly enjoyed spending time among others in my field of endeavor, and I know Cory, too, found a new enthusiasm for our craft.
Once it came time for the hundreds of awards to be announced, we were grateful that our category was scheduled among the first. Although we came in second place (a San Francisco publication beat us out), we remain proud of our achievement and are thrilled to be considered among such quality publications.
Thinking ahead for next year’s awards, Cory and I are determined to put out a fabulous special section next month featuring the history of the city of Signal Hill’s 90 years of incorporation. Stay tuned!
(To view the special issue on the Signal Hill Police Station, visit signaltribunenewspaper.com/?p=18252 .)
