Christine Whelan, FEO March 3, 2022, VOL. 3 ISSUE 14
From the beginning of the Fort Erie Observer (FEO) under Publisher, Jen Wilkinson, August 2019, the focus of the content as a whole has been, about the entire Greater Fort Erie Area.
Truly community.
It seems to have become somewhat of a grounding mantra for the Observer team to remind each other, FEO is not a newspaper, but a community paper.
What’s the difference?
Both are needed and one is just as important as the other; both create a balance. Newspapers cover local to global events, which meets several needs. Community papers keep it local
In appearance, The Observer is closer to magazine-style than newspaper style in that there are accommodating photos of all sizes to provide as much of a visual, personal experience as possible.
The content is more storytelling, more personal. We seek out information about people and events in our community that you may not always find online.
According to a tutorial by MakeMyNewspaper.com:
- By keeping it local, this gives the opportunity to cover news and stories no one else is covering. In doing this, the community newspaper gets to the heart of the community, getting to the stories behind the headlines.
- A community newspaper is designed to help meet the needs of the community.
It’s All About The Connection
Several credible sources online state that connection is a core human need. It’s something we naturally gravitate towards and seek out. It makes sense that we will find different ways to meet this need.
Community newspapers connect community parts, including local government, schools, businesses and community resources with residents.
In these days, with the lingering pandemic issues and challenging winter weather, this bi-weekly, written word connection that comes to the Greater Fort Erie residents’ homes, delivered by Canada Post with their mail, has helped fight against the experience of isolation and disconnection that has touched us all at some level during these last couple years.
The Community Paper
To further the connection factor, the Observer, as also listed in the tutorial, is a collection of contributions from all the parts and corners of the community, giving these parts a voice.
From the beginning, I was asked to write human interest stories. I’ve come to realize, as I’ve now interviewed over two hundred Fort Erie residents, that everyone has a story. My favourite part of my role as a writer for this community paper is receiving feedback from those who I’ve just written about. They are happy. This makes me happy. More connection.
Adjusting To A Changing World
From August 2019 to March 2020, the Observer reflected what a typical community paper is expected to be. Once the pandemic hit, we found there was a whole new level of community need.
With the reality of challenging and uncertain times, any positive connection creates a sense of experiencing these times together. As a community paper, the Observer makes sure information, insight, and resource-sharing to help us all get through each day is regularly included.
We’ve covered a wide range of currently-needed topics — from understanding the unique, thrilling and sometimes precarious weather systems of Fort Erie to written tributes of beloved local residents, both passed and alive. From suicide prevention and human trafficking awareness and injustices affecting some of our residents through renovictions– a sign of the times. And we as a community, we’ve got this.
It’s become my own therapy, as well, I must admit. How often I have cried through writing someone else’s story! The release can be cathartic.
A favourite saying and concept of mine has always been, “It takes a village to raise a child.” To apply this approach and belief to the Fort Erie Observer, it also takes a village to create its community paper — to connect all of its parts and meet a range of needs.
I’m leaving you with the words of the late musician, Prince, “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called Life…” And again, I must say, we’ve got this.
We welcome your stories, ideas and thoughts. We want to know what you would like to see!
To connect with the Fort Erie Observer team, you can email: jenw@forterieobserver.ca
FEO online: forterieobserver.ca
