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Saturday, Sep. 12, 2009

Tom Frazier: Readers, speak up, please

It's time to meet some readers. For several months now, since mid-April, we've explored the corridors of the Sun-Star together. For me, it hasn't always been a pleasant journey. I'm not usually -- or perhaps seldom -- on the "most favored list." But that's my job.

Recently, some readers have asked questions that indicate they don't know what the Sun Dog does. "How can you keep you job as a columnist when all you do is point out problems?" or "Gosh, Tom, why don't you write about something else -- like the trips you've taken or photography?"

That's not my job.

Sun Dog is short for "Merced Sun-Star Watch Dog." It's a nonpaid position, one that looks at the paper as an outsider and provides feedback from the point of view of the reader.

Most papers call the role "public editor" or "readers' advocate" or "ombudsman.'

A recent article says that the role is disappearing faster than a teenager who doesn't send text messages. Just last week, a story indicated that the New York Times' experiment with a public editor has officially failed.

I'm one of a handful left in the media universe.

Which brings me to the main point: Who are we, the readers?

I would love to talk with a few of you, interview you and report my findings.

If you think you may qualify to be one of the following, and would agree to a short telephone interview, please send me a message at sundog@promessage.com.

1. Long-time subscriber -- more than 25 years.

2. Ten-year subscriber.

3. Five-year subscriber.

4. Brand-new subscriber.

I'd like to know your experiences with the Sun-Star newsroom. How has the Sun-Star changed over the years? Why do you subscribe? What are your favorite tidbits?

I'll develop a future column based upon your input.

Speaking of reader input, the Sun-Star has agreed to change the weather and comics pages as well as the way we provide input for community events sponsored by social clubs.

Here's a recap of these three projects.

The last project started, social club events, is already in place. Social clubs can fill out an online form at: /www.mercedsunstar.com/socialclubs/

Then, well before a community event, send a press release with full details. The sooner the better; a press release a couple days before the event will accomplish nothing.

The weather map should be changing shortly. The Sun-Star's vendor for weather is now working on reader-suggested changes.

Comics. A Sun Dog survey and an online survey have been completed. Readers voted for their favorites and nixed comics they don't like. This project is now in its analysis stage.

If a syndicated package can be provided and it makes financial sense, we may be seeing a new group of funnies.

There's another method the Sun-Star uses to interact with us readers, at least in the printed edition. It's called "Street Talk" and is a feature of the Friday paper.

The premise is that a photographer asks a question -- then reports the answer as provided by a small group of readers. It's accompanied by a snapshot of each responder.

Do you have a question you'd like to see asked of your fellow Mercedians? If so, send me an e-mail. Your question may be used in a future Street Talk.

Tom Frazier writes Sun Dog and can be reached at sundog@promessage.com.