M&M TIPsters Get a Taste of the Newspaper Life

By Sarah Eutsler, M&M TA

Contributers: Olivia Baker, Lan’Tiqua Burks, Lexi Lutsky, David Garcia, Alaina Boyden, Paxton Swisher

The Athens-Banner Herald, like other modern newspapers, is learning to change with the times.

“Social media has changed our jobs a lot!” said Executive Editor Melissa Hanna to the Media and Message TIPsters during a Monday tour of the publication.

Hanna went on to explain that the Athens Banner-Herald uses their website, Twitter, and Facebook accounts to promote and break news.

The online version is a significant part of the publication due to ease of accessibility and potentially higher readership than the print edition.

“The online product is just as important, if not more important than the actual paper, “ Hanna said.

M&M TIPsters get an up-close look at the Banner-Herald's printing press.

But while the online sites serve as tools, there is a little bit of hesitancy.

“It’s a scary time to be in this business,” Hanna said, explaining that even though most in newspapers utilize the online tools, many do not know how it will work out for them in the end.

Digital age fears aside, there’s still a print paper to produce. Students met with Hanna in the conference room where reporters gather to budget—or plan out—the stories to be included in each issue. The staff strives to fill the niche of the local Athens area when it comes to their reporting. They also try to put a local twist on national and international stories to show how stories are relevant to the community and its residents.

Plans, however, do not always stick. Stories can easily be bumped minutes from deadline due to a breaking news story that has greater significance.

Hanna ended the talk by going into the life of the journalist more in depth. Most of the staff, she explained, works about 40-50 hours a week, and schedules are sometimes flexible by what they cover. Those who report on sports, Hanna explained, might take time off in the morning and afternoon and work at night, when most sporting events occur.

Hanna also reflected on her own job. “The hardest part of the process is editing—looking at a story with an objective eye and finding holes,” she explained.

But despite the challenges of the job, Hanna was quick to say that through the long hours and uncertainty, there is still a love of the profession.

Visit the Banner-Herald online at: www.onlineathens.com