From the editor’s desk: Staying nimble as a newsroom
Published 9:00 am Saturday, January 27, 2024
- Interstate 84 East reopens Jan. 10, 2024, after inclement weather for much of the morning, off of exit 216 near Pendleton.
The ability to be nimble and tackle breaking stories is a key component to any newsroom and I think over the past few weeks our news crews across the region have been able to keep readers informed regarding the inclement weather and the impact on area roads.
Just in the past few weeks we’ve written stories regarding winter storms shutting down area schools or losing the two major passes on Interstate 84 in our coverage area.
Those types of stories are important for a couple of reasons. For one, those quick, breaking news stories allow us to inform the public, one of our main functions. Secondly, those kinds of stories also give fair warning to our readers regarding the state of the roads and to countless parents who, obviously, have an interest in whether school is in session.
Certainly, the main news stories we cover — such as reports on the poor or repairs at a local hospital — are crucial. But our ability to be able to respond to breaking news — such as a sudden winter storm that rolls in — is key for us.
That’s because, in the end, our readers are the single crucial component for our operation. Our readers deserve up-to-date information they can use to gauge their own response to a breaking news story.
The weather is a subject we all talk about because it impacts all of us in one way or another.
We do a lot of things based on the news cycle but when a crisis or an emergency occurs we need to be — and are — ready to respond to get as much accurate information to our readers as possible.
That means we need to be flexible and ready to tackle a series of complicated events seemingly occurring all at once.
Our flexibility is one of the attributes I am most proud of with our newsrooms but I’m also pleased that we can provide you, the reader, with good information on a regular basis.
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The East Oregonian has taken up residence at its new location. We are now at 1100 Southgate, Suite 6, Pendleton.
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If you haven’t already, take a moment to register your subscription for digital access of the East Oregonian. Call 800-781-3214 to talk to one of our customer service staff who will be happy to walk you through the process. It’s easy, takes just a few moments to get set up and allows you to take advantage of our e-edition, app and website delivery along with your print subscription.
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As always, if you have comments or questions about the East Oregonian, or want to pass along a story idea, send me an email at this address: acutler@eastoregonian.com.
Finally, let me take this opportunity to once again thank the East Oregonian’s subscribers: We simply would be unable to do this vital work without your support.
Andrew Cutler is the publisher and editor of the East Oregonian.
