Everybody needs to hear ‘What you do matters’

There’s nothing like a reunion to charge the batteries.
Having grown up around friends, family members and colleagues involved in the Nebraska Press Association, NPA gatherings have been a source of energy and fun for me as far back as I can remember. Community journalism, my life’s calling, has changed dramatically in recent years so my “extended family” of newspaper kin had a lot to talk about during a two-day convention in Lincoln.
Embracing change seemed to be a common theme, which come to think about it is a story I’ve heard and/or written about on the ANR front quite often. Learning how to utilize technology to do what you do faster, better and more profitably is the name of the game in 2023, and in fact any business that doesn’t play that game could find itself in trouble quickly. I came home with a quiver full of ideas I’m excited to review and implement with staff, some linked to amazing behind-the-scenes computer short-cuts and software, as well as others involving news stories or print and digital marketing ideas you may soon see in your hometown newspaper.
Stay tuned and, as always, don’t be shy about sharing your feedback. Some of that feedback, truth be told, was very much needed and appreciated this last week. A few loyal readers told me they missed my column in this space the last two weeks, which got my attention. We’re a bit short-handed in the news staff now with a pending news editor transition, thus my personal column simply didn’t make the time-crunch cut. It’s nice to know readers are tuning in for a local spin on issues of the day, so I’ll try to make that a higher priority.
A respected publisher from Georgia got my attention as well this week, reminding a convention hall full of journalists that what we do, say and write matters, perhaps as much or more today than ever. I’ve heard Robert Williams speak many times before, but this time he gave me chills with a heart-felt message of inspiration.
“Nobody else does what you do, attending city council and school board meetings, asking public officials the questions that need to be asked,” Williams said. “Nobody else is making three calls to verify if Catie spells her name with a k or a c, and if it ends with a y or an ie. You do because you care, and you know it matters to Catie and her family. Nobody else raised the bar of a fundraiser to benefit that family in need, simply by sharing their story with the community. What you do matters.”
Some might say Williams was preaching to the choir, speaking to a room full of folks who make their living in various roles on a newspaper staff. But in fact, the words struck a universal chord, and not just with me, but even with others in the room who have nothing whatsoever to do with this business.
“Journalists are criticized more now than ever before,” Williams continued. “It’s easy to write something critical on a social media post or in a big city newspaper, but it takes courage to point something out when you sit behind that person in church. Yet it needs to be done sometimes. Your community appreciates that. What you do matters.”
I couldn’t agree more, but quite frankly I needed to hear it again, and so too did a whole new generation of journalists.
You’ll read about two of those young journalists elsewhere in this edition. Cheyenne Rowe, the ANR’s former news editor, was named Outstanding Young Nebraska Journalist, while ANR intern Emma Bullerman was honored as an NPA Foundation scholarship recipient. Congrats to both of these young women, who have bright futures ahead of them.
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And finally, a thought from a marketing guru/comedian who made me laugh out loud. “There are two kinds of people in the world — young and old,” he said. “If you don’t know which one you are, you’re old.”
Make it a great day.

KURT JOHNSON can be reached at kjohnson@ hamilton.net