Those who follow the News Bulletin probably have noticed my byline creeping in more than usual. (Especially since they pretty much never saw it in my first two years here!)
It's no accident.
This editor, always wanting to be closer to the community, is filing one or two stories a week now. (Whatever time permits, really; but I'm making the time to get out there more.)
When you work the desk, it's easy to get "trapped in the box," aka the computer's monitor. Scanning copy all day and reading social media and website comments can present a skewed interpretation of the county and our local areas.
But North Okaloosa County and its issues extend far beyond the downtown Crestview area and "usual suspects," as I like to call them. (That is, sources we regularly cover or fall back on for more information.) And readers want us to cover more diverse stories.
So, yes, you might have heard about Common Ground Community Garden's mission, but you may not have heard about its increasing influence (like a home-school group's decision to have class there each Saturday or people who know nothing about gardens joining the effort after merely seeing the group planting things across the street.)
You might have noticed Okaloosa County roads still damaged from April's historic floods and wondered why, or glimpsed Baker's ubiquitous "No substance abuse center on Buck Ward Rd." signs and thought, "What's that all about?"
Of course, there are gut reactions to those things: "the county's dragging its heels" or "not in my backyard," and everyone has a right to his or her opinion; but in each instance, there's always more to the story beyond the surface.
Those kinds of stories give each side as much space as possible.
Those kinds of stories require plenty of planning and take time to report.
Those kinds of stories you won't see anywhere else: they're appointment reading and have related media (like video and photo galleries) that bring greater understanding to the issue.
And those are the kinds of stories I love to tell.
Shifting focus toward those kinds of stories has been on my mind for months, and day-to-day reporting reminds me of this type of reporting's importance.
This week, as the News Bulletin reported information on the Little Caesar's armed robbery that allegedly occurred Saturday night on North Ferdon Boulevard, few details were immediately available.
Initially, Crestview police said in a news release that a black male held employees at gunpoint and fled in an unknown direction.
That's it. That's all.
The News Bulletin can only report what police and witnesses say, so we published that.
But Facebook fan Cassi Psota said something that struck me.
"I sure do feel sorry for all of the black men in the area being looked at like suspects. How about… height, age, build, marks or scars?"
It's a fair point, but unfortunately, that's the case with breaking or crime news. The information comes in, it's all the information you have, and you have to give the public what you have because, ethically, you can't hold back.
But in this case, I question whether we should have initially stated, instead, that a man committed an armed robbery at the pizza place. After all, the purpose of giving a description is to bring clarity to the news report, but simply giving someone's race doesn't do that, as Psota noted.
Our editorial assistant, Renee Bell, asked for more information and Crestview police elaborated: The suspect was masked and stood between 5 feet 7 and 6 feet tall.
That helps, but it's likely not enough information to jog a potential witness' memory about that night, and I think that's the purpose of the news report.
To be clear: This is no criticism of the CPD; I'm sure that the department must release a description of the suspect, whatever police know, no matter how vague.
But in the media, it's a little different. Some readers see that same information, and question whether, despite its factual basis, it could lead to racial profiling.
And they have a point.
Of course, some readers would criticize the news side for not even giving the suspect's race. You're damned if you do and damned if you don't.
Which, again, is why I love long-form journalism! You know the people you have to talk to, you know where to get complete answers, and feedback later shows that, in most cases, our readers love it.
Please send me your news tips if you have an important issue that needs examination. I'd love to hear about it.
Have a story idea? Write a letter to the editor or tweet News Bulletin Editor Thomas Boni.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: EDITOR'S DESK: These are the stories I love to tell