Innovations: A cadre of community columnists

Michael Landauer, editorial writer, The Dallas Morning News

[EMAIL: mlandauer@dallasnews.com; WEB: http://www.DallasNews.com]

In April, we increased the frequency of our zoned Collin County Opinions from 1 day a week to 5 days. We wanted community columnists who would work for free, and we wanted a question-of-the-week feature. So we combined the two ideas and asked for people to Ã’join the chorus" and become "Voices of Collin County." In return, they get a regular soapbox, some free stuff from the marketing department, a free writing workshop, and (in the works) a tour of the printing plant and a chance to sit in on an editorial board meeting.

We solicited volunteers on our pages and then chose six people from a pool of more than 50. After teasing for a week with a box on the page -- "Do you hear voices? On Sunday you will . . ." -- we introduced our Voices in a special package that included brief profiles and photos. Ever since, we have had people asking how they can become a Voice of Collin County. The answer is that at the end of six months, we will solicit a whole new group.

Currently, our six Voices write one column each month, and we run a Voices column every Friday. (Two people are "floaters" who can write quick columns in response to breaking news.) We also ask them, through e-mail, a question of the week, and their responses appear every Saturday in a feature we call Sounding Off. The same logo runs with Sounding Off and with their columns.

The Voices program has provided inroads into the community, brought new voices onto the page and engaged readers (some of whom report that they can't wait for Friday and Saturday to hear what the Voices have to say). And, most of all, it's been fun.

9/22/03