A few years ago, I had the opportunity to attend a community journalism seminar in Washington, D.C. It was really a great time and I learned a lot. The seminar gave us small-town newspapers a chance to mingle with the major metros. It also allowed me the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the industry's top people.
One of the workshops I attended involved column writing, which I've always felt is one of my weakest attributes as a writer. Let's face it, it's not like I don't have an opinion, but I do find I have a problem expressing it sometimes.
That said, the one thing I did take away from that column writing workshop was a mantra repeated by several of the nation's top columnists. To a person, they all agreed on the fact that one simple word should be used sparingly in columns: I.
Their point was simple. Columns should always strive to be about something that interests the readers...and, barring the fact that you truly are "the most interesting man in the world," it won't take long for them to tire of reading about what's happening in your life.
In total agreement with what they had to say, I've always tended to leave "me" out of my columns. Apparently, though, not everyone agrees with this philosophy.
As you read in our Sunday edition, the Tribune staff earned a number of awards in the recent North and East Texas Press Association "Better Newspaper Contest." While I had no true aspirations of walking away from that contest with a blue ribbon for my column writing, I was somewhat surprised to see that this year's crop of award winners shared a common theme: Plenty of use of the word I.
Guess I better rethink my column writing I-deas.
• While the dismay for my lack of earning an award for my column-writing skills is definitely tongue-and-cheek, I am truly disappointed that Don J. didn't win more ribbons for his photography. He got robbed, plain and simple.
• Most folks have hopefully read that starting next week early voting will get under way for an election in the City of Terrell concerning its rental integrity ordinance. What some people may not know, though, is that there is also an election going on over in Precinct 2 that would allow a Charitable Bingo operation be established....possibly in Terrell. I'm working on a story about it for this week.
• Our loss their gain.
• A few years ago we unfortunately had to cover the story of Scurry music minister David Ray Gray, A new chapter was added recently.
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