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Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009
Tom Frazier: Sun-Dog's twelve days of Christmas
Christmas is coming. A few years ago, I'd be unhappy when Christmas decorations, kids' toys and the like popped up in stores before Thanksgiving.
Last week, I walked into Costco to find loads of Christmas items and it didn't even faze me. I must be mellowing.
Like a bride registry, I'm now putting Sun Dog's wish list in writing. There's one for each of the 12 days of Christmas -- in no particular order.
Tom Frazier
Present No. 1: An e-mail from Executive Editor Mike Tharp saying he found no errors -- spelling, grammar or AP Style, none at all -- in my column.
Present No. 2: An editorial in the Sun-Star complimenting Merced County for implementing a new media policy. The archaic military-like bureaucracy was retired.
There was a policy-burning party on the ramp of the County admin building. County reporter Corinne Reilly used a small torch to start the fire.
Reporters and the general public can now talk to anyone on the Merced County staff without restriction.
Present No. 3: The Sun-Star announces that comments on stories are no longer closed after three days. Readers have been following the rules so well that there is no longer a need to close them.
Tharp and online editor Brandon Bowers posed together as photographer Marci Stenberg photographed them disabling a fictitious "on-off" switch.
Present No. 4: A letter from a reader saying that she has been unable to find a typo in the Sun-Star for at least a month.
Present No. 5: A note from another reader saying that he really enjoys the fact that the Sun-Star online is becoming very interactive. He really enjoys the fact that all reporters are now adding comments to their online stories.
Present No. 6: Two announcements by McClatchy that the Sun-Star has been selected for awards. One is for excellence in quality and quantity of locally written editorials; the other is for outstanding photojournalism.
Present No. 7: An e-mail, any e-mail, from reporter Jonah Owen Lamb.
Present No. 8: Sun Dog writes a letter to each of the Sun-Star photographers. The note to Lisa James compliments her for great editing and captions on her latest photo galleries.
The notes to Marci Stenberg and Bea Ahbeck compliment them for submitting more photo galleries and photo blog snapshots.
Present No. 9: Silence from complaining readers; there have been no reader complaints for 30 days. It's becoming difficult to find things to improve in the newsroom.
Present No. 10: An announcement by McClatchy Interactive that better search engine routines have been implemented along with a new mobile interface for the iPhone.
Present No. 11: An announcement in the Sun-Star that reporter Victor Patton is being reassigned from the crime beat to a local lifestyles beat. Crime is so low in Merced that the crime beat is not needed.
Present No. 12: A note from Tharp announcing the Sun Dog will become a monthly feature. He says he's doing this because his goal for Sun Dog is approaching completion. On intervening weeks, he's considering other assignments for me.
There you have it, the 12 days of Christmas. But maybe I should save the column for another day. Perhaps it would work better on April Fool's Day.
In the meantime, I can hardly wait for this year's "clap-on, clap-off" commercials.
Ch-ch-ch-chia.
Tom Frazier writes Sun Dog and can be reached at sundog@promessage.com.
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