Pros
Fellow reporters and designers, along with a couple of photographers are always kind and helpful Lots of interesting residents to write about Safe, beautiful community
Cons
No one in that newsroom can make independent decisions... no one. Everything goes through the micromanaging executive editor. This set-up squelches any excitement about creativity and project ownership. Unlike any other newsroom I've ever worked in... there are bunches of managers. Sadly, it seems the only prerequisite to be a manager is a willingness to speak to reporters like they are dirt. A lot of reporters dread interacting with the photo editor and most of the management staff. They are often passive aggressive and belittling. Reporters are frequently moved to different beats like they are in a constant game of musical chairs. In the community, this looks very unprofessional. But also, it heaps unnecessary stress on reporters. Executive editor has NO professional experience as a writer. And obviously, NO experience leading a newsroom. She apparently decided that as long as she rides herd, she is safe from losing her job. That does not work. Young people starting out don't know any better. But seasoned writers leave, in order to work with other professionals in true newsrooms where all adults make decisions. Upper management has no insight into how the community is changing. Younger retires are interested in reading more than happy fluff, which explains the decline in subscriptions. The extremely obvious slant for Republican politics in this product also loses readers. There IS an expectation among growing numbers of villagers, to read an unbiased newspaper.... that is also a reason for subscription decline. Executive editor changes her mind on a whim and schedules meetings on a whim, which constantly reminds her underlings that her schedule is the only one that matters. Executive editor makes promises then breaks them. Some of the young, full-of-themselves "managers" will have a rude awakening should they ever leave there. In a real newsroom, the games wont be tolerated