We’re Under Construction

Dear Readers,

By now you may have noticed a few things different on the front page and inside the newspaper too. It’s somewhat of a construction zone.

While Whatcom Watch has been printing without interruption since 1992, we have a new editorial team on board working together for the first time. We’re enjoying juggling all of the tasks of publishing a monthly publication: calling on writers, editing articles, working with advertisers, talking to subscribers. Additionally, based on reader feedback over the past several years, we are exploring the overall look of the paper with the goal of dedicating more space to meaningful content.

Don’t get us wrong; we love the advertising too. In fact, I prefer to call the advertisers “community partners” as it’s with their teamwork, or “partnership,” that we publish the paper every month. The community partners (i.e., advertisers) are essential to the newspaper. Without their support, we wouldn’t be able to publish the printed version and get it to newsstands, so be sure to shop with them and always consider staying local for the many products and services they offer.

Back to the layout, we thank journalism students at Western Washington University for the new streamlined look, which allows us to design the pages more efficiently while accommodating more content. The following students who were enrolled in Assistant Professor Sheila Webb’s Visual Journalism course in spring 2010 worked with Whatcom Watch’s then-editor Emily Linroth to create the new design: Reiko Endo, Brett Flora, Brooke Loisel and Jordan Stead. Experiential learning at its best – putting their classroom theory to practical use.

Regarding content, Joe Meche’s Beaks and Bills column still appears on page 3 (or thereabouts) and David Camp will resume with “Portknocker” next month. As always, we provide the “Watch on Government” voting reports with thanks to Marcia Guderian who compiles the City of Bellingham report and thanks to Arlene Beacom and JoAnne Feringer of the League of Women Voters who compile the Whatcom County council votes. Currently, there is a vacancy for compiling the Port of Bellingham voting reports so please contact us at editor@whatcomwatch.org if you would like to volunteer to provide this valuable service. As you know, we consider the voting reports precious in that no other publication has consistently printed this information like Whatcom Watch.

As you reach page 16, you’ll see our back page remains testament to community effort with a list of the names of individuals and businesses that support Whatcom Watch and who have kept it going since 1992. Thank you to each and every one of you who has supported Whatcom Watch financially or otherwise! We’d love this list grow. Please contact us if you would like to join these folks and see your name in print on the back page as a supporter. Even a small donation is a big investment – you are helping strengthen community voices and democracy.

Of course we didn’t overlook Ron K. Sorensen’s heron artwork that has adorned the front page banner for years (you will find it intact on the back page). In fact, in keeping with the environmental theme of the newspaper, the redesign presented by WWU students included a new “digital” heron. After much discussion, we decided to “hold the heron” and now invite you, the reader, to contribute to the community dialogue by submitting original artwork to add to the Whatcom Watch banner on the front page. We hope this preserves some of the truly local and artistic feel of the newspaper.

We already have one submission from Bob Markey, a local artist and long-time supporter who volunteers a few hours a month to distribute the paper to downtown locations. We want to consider your ideas too over the next few months so go ahead and send an email to layout director Bill McCallum at bill@whatcomwatch.org and he can provide specifications on how to submit your artwork. Remember, Whatcom Watch celebrates its 20th birthday in May 2012! §