Talk about irony …
The day before The Leader won best in state for the ninth time in 10 years, a design consultant brought in by the Arkansas Press Association said our paper had too many ribbons on the front page.
And now we have one more.
Telling us we have too many ribbons displayed is like telling the New York Yankees they have too many banners hanging up in their stadium. What would you want them to do? Throw games? Play only minor-league players? Change their names to the hapless Philadelphia Phillies and take on the worst record in baseball this year?
Of course not!
It’s the same with this newspaper.
Do we stop giving readers intriguing features, strong salutes to the military, great photographs and in-depth reporting? Should we fill the space between the ads with fluff and just stuff? Perhaps fill the paper with the latest on the Kardashians. No way.
Readers expect the best and that’s what we try to deliver in every issue.
Leader staff writers and photographers have close to 100 years experience and about the same number of writing, reporting and investigating awards.
They help make the paper a fabulous mix of hard-hitting news, homegrown features, and to-the-point editorials on local and national issues.
And let’s not forget those photographs from sports to news that tell the story. Our photographers will climb rickety ladders, slink down in the mud and bear rain, snow, heat and cold to snap the best possible shot.
Many think newspapers are a dying art, but here at The Leader it’s an art form that continues to grow and blossom.
And consultant be darned, we are going to figure out a way to put another ribbon on the front page. We are proud of what we do and we want the readers to know they are getting a quality product.
Now, can we win again next year?