As we move into a future of faster-paced info requiring quick action, our newspaper has been a very slow vehicle to deliver a message of action. It comes out every other month – with good local articles and lots of other content available elsewhere on the web. We fill an educational need, but are afraid that newsprint may not be the way to quickly inform on fast moving stories. Longer term, finding new editorial talent might be easier if we were more digital, with more current information provided in an attractive way to more people.
This website is our answer to the situation We will be increasing our editorial staff to include many contributing editors with expertise in areas of the environment, human rights (gender, racial, class – local, national and international), health care, campaign finance, gun control, and more.
Using WordPress, we will update a digital Connections weekly, especially when contributing editors update their pages when issues arise. Local content will be encouraged – with links to organizations’ websites and social media sites. In all of this, we have a great start:
- the website is ready,
- we understand what Connections currently does, and
- there is a strong local active group of smart leaders who can write well.
We think this is an exciting and important way to express the mission of the Peace and Justice Network – to re-make us into the go-to place when peace and justice action is needed and expected. We would hope that this re-birth of Connections would be met with excitement and energy from people who now are stuck at home with little to do – but could use this time to re-establish an action-oriented local news source ahead of only the most important election of our lives. And beyond – keep an eye on this page as we develop.
Bruce Giudici, Connections editor