SPEAKING OF NEWSPAPERS: Newspaper looks at the bigger picture

Covering daily news is a tough grind, and it doesn’t always give a complete picture of the geography that journalists cover. That’s not because reporters are missing something, but spot news — crime, government, accidents and similar topics — tends to reflect just one part of a larger picture.

So once a year, The Daily Telegram seeks to look deeper at some aspect of life in Superior and Douglas County. During the month of March, we run our special edition on four Saturdays. For 2008, we’ll examine the changing picture of our metro and rural neighborhoods.

It has been 10 years since we last addressed this topic. Looking at the 1998 annual edition, it’s clear that Superior and Douglas County are evolving in many ways. Some areas that once accommodate homes have transformed into commercial or industrial sites. Homes, meanwhile, are displacing trees and encircling more and more lakes. Condos and townhomes are cropping up. Along with those changes come population shifts, some counter to traditional neighborhood history.

Similar shifts are happening within business areas. Superior’s primary trade area has shifted south and east. Barker’s Island is becoming a red hot development zone, and various uses are being considered for Clough Island.

We’ll do much of the reporting, but your input is key to fully telling this story. We’d like to include your reflections on the past and your feelings about ongoing changes and how they affect the quality of life throughout the city and county. Comments don’t have to be lengthy or fancy. We’ll help you brush up on spelling, grammar and fill in the gaps.

If you’re interested, give us a call at 395-5021 so we know what to expect. Then, stories or photos can be brought or mailed to our office at 1226 Ogden Ave. or e-mailed to editorial@superiortelegram.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Tags: speaking, newspapers, brochu, blogs