Writer's Block

Blogs Away!

A few months ago, I agreed to start blogging for The Maui News. I knew it would mean a little extra work, but I was excited to do it. Rather than giving my opinions about the issues I was covering, what I really wanted to do was pull back the curtain a little bit about how I work on my stories, share some thoughts about the reporting and writing process, and talk about how my stories affect me.

I knew there were some really basic misconceptions out there about how a newspaper works. A lot of people believe that the position taken by an editorial on an issue means that the reporters covering that issue share the opinion and will be biased (it doesn't). There are still some people out there who don't understand how the Associated Press works, and thinks The Maui News actually has a staff writer covering the war in Iraq (we don't).

As I continue using this space to write about my work, I'd like to be a little better organized. In that spirit, I'll be trying to post more regularly, every Monday and Wednesday, as much as my daily reporting duties allow. I'd also like to know what you, the readers, want to know about the paper and how we work. If there are questions or issues you'd like me to address, let me know in the comment section below, or e-mail me directly. If you've got a specific criticism or complaint, you can share that too, and I'll try to respond without being too defensive.

Finally, a quick note about one of the stories that has affected me. Rev. Rosendo Alcantara died this month at the beautiful age of 106. I interviewed Rev. Alcantara way back when he turned a sprightly 100. He was still preaching, and went on to minister for several more years. That interview made a big impression on me. After watching my grandmother struggle and decline with Alzheimer's disease, speaking with a man who continued to be inspired and engaged so long into his life touched me and even gave me hope. I may not be a churchgoer myself, but I feel blessed that my job led me to meet Rev. Alcantara.