One month in: Herald-Leader’s editor asks how can we improve our content, reader experience
A month ago this week, I returned to Kentucky after more than 30 months leading a very talented newsroom in the heart of Northern California’s Wine Country.
Let me anticipate your question: Yes, I miss the pinot noir, redwoods and the rugged Pacific Ocean coast. Sonoma County is one of the most beautiful places on the planet.
But there’s also something incredibly special about Keeneland’s fall meet, the commonwealth’s autumnal countryside and a classic, well-balanced Old Fashioned cocktail in hand. As I said in my initial column, it’s great to be home.
But home is more than a place.
Coming to the Herald-Leader as executive editor has a purpose, too. It’s an opportunity to lead a passionate, Pulitzer-winning staff and shape the local news report that we deliver daily on kentucky.com or in our print editions.
Doing it in a place that I know so well and care so much about with family and friends nearby brings even deeper responsibility.
And after four weeks of immersing myself in our operation, holding individual meetings with nearly all of our staffers and spending time with dozens of news makers and sources in the community, I have just one question for you.
“How can the Herald-Leader be more relevant in your life?”
It’s not a secret change and challenge have defined the American media landscape these past 15 years. Seismic changes have unfolded; crippling financial challenges have hobbled many newsrooms.
But the best editors and leaders I know concentrate on what’s possible, not the past.
To that end, I’d love to hear your thoughts on ways our local coverage can be improved. What topics are we missing? What stories are slipping past us? What are we doing well? But more important: What can we do better?
In the weeks ahead, I’ll be creating a Reader Advisory Panel. It’s a body of readers that will hear directly from me on stories, ideas and future plans in our newsroom. In turn, I’d love to hear your thoughts about Lexington’s future, the Herald-Leader’s overall coverage and significant issues that we should be tackling.
It’s part of my commitment to strengthen our newsroom’s ties to the community and for you to have a direct pipeline to me. I know in any community -- but especially in a place as close-knit as Lexington and Central Kentucky -- relationships matter.
If you’re interested in being part of our Reader Advisory Panel or you just want to offer suggestions on how we can improve our local coverage, please, feel free to email me at rgreen@herald-leader.com.
Thanks, as always, for reading the Herald-Leader and kentucky.com.
Richard Green is our executive editor. Email him at rgreen@herald-leader.com or reach him at (859) 346-8234. Follow him on X: @EditorRAG
This story was originally published October 23, 2023 at 9:17 PM.
