From the Editor’s Desk: Sharing the knowledge

This column has offered me a voice for The Daily Journal.
It’s a voice I still feel a bit awkward using; I am trained and experienced as a straight news reporter. Few times, if ever, have I used the words I, me or we in news reports.
But this column has offered an opportunity to demystify for our readers the sometimes mysterious workings of a newspaper. It also offers a chance to discuss with our readers issues that we deal with, sometimes on a daily basis, for which there is no other appropriate forum.
Some readers have offered feedback about this column, saying they appreciate being informed about why we publish and don’t publish some information. I have had calls from people apologizing for previous contacts because they did not understand how to best bring something to our attention for publication. For the record, feedback is appreciated and constructive in deciding about material to offer our readers.
And while there is still much to discuss about The Daily Journal’s operations, and that will provide good material for future columns, there are other facets of our lives that remain a mystery to the average person.
Take, for example, the information we provide about district court. The language we use to list the sentences ordered by the court is taken from documents provided by court administration. And, despite covering the courts for more years than I care to admit, there are times that the real meaning of the information is puzzling even to me.
In discussing this idea for a column, a reader suggested I get a real expert for the task, someone who works in the court system and can explain what some of the lingo means and why it is used. They also noted that with an expert writing a column, I could take the day off. And anytime it’s suggested that I get someone else to do my work, I’m going to pay special attention.
But this makes good sense. And I probably wouldn’t get to take the day off because these columns would be published on Thursdays, instead of Tuesdays when this column is scheduled.
Nevertheless, instead of me trying to explain what terminology like “stayed imposition of sentence,” and “stay of adjudication” means, it’s better to have an expert or specialist in that field set the record straight.
Another idea for an expert column is about Koochiching County’s proposed zoning ordinance, for which public hearings are expected to be scheduled this spring.
We have been told that there is a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about the draft ordinance. Certainly we will continue to provide coverage about the proposal as hearings are scheduled and more discussion about it is heard at the county board, but we plan to invite county officials and/or staff to provide their expert insight about the draft plan: how it was developed, what it is intended to do and who it will impact. Again, news coverage will continue, but this column can go a long way in taking the mystery out of a proposal.
As I write this column, all sorts of ideas for columns by experts and specialists in their field come to mind. So, if you are one of these specialists, don’t be surprised if you get a call from me asking you to share your expertise on a particular subject with our readers.
And for both readers and experts, feel free to call me or drop an email if you’ve got a suggestion for one of these educational columns.