A booster shot of optimism

Yesterday I sat down and thoroughly read through more than a dozen daily newspapers I’ve never read before. What’s more, they were all published far away in Illinois. Months ago. I read for (too many) hours.

I did this after previously scouring 16 weekly newspaper editions to review page designs and another 28 editions to compare photography prowess. And, I’m not done. Next I’m going to tackle reading more than two dozen columns, written by wordsmiths much better than me. All printed in newspapers from Illinois during the past year, published under flags I hardly knew …before now.

This is not exactly reading by choice but to return a favor. And, selfishly, this mental labor actually benefits me.

Each year newspapers organize contests, embracing the premise that a little healthy competition between newspapers for nothing more than bragging rights will induce better journalism. The contests are organized within each state’s press association by various class criteria to assure some semblance of fairness, pitting newspapers of approximate size and resources against each other.

All this, of course, is voluntary. Newspaper owners use the awards to motivate staff members and accept positive criticism from their peers.  This is all well and good, except for those who actually donate their time and effort to perform the judging chores.

This year I am among Missouri publishers doing the judging chores for Illinois newspaper contest entries.

Remember those Sunday nights when you were a kid, after procrastinating all weekend long on your homework assignment until you absolutely positively couldn’t put it off any longer … the overhanging dread, the evolving realization of how it’s going to take much longer than anticipated, and then that inner battle between doing your best and just getting it done?

Bingo. I’m in that zone again — I’ve still got lots more to do before next Monday.

Years ago, fresh out of the classroom, Liz and I eagerly submitted contests entries to find our measure against seasoned professionals. Contests are a means of continuing education. So, it only seems right to reciprocate by helping judge others. We joined with other volunteers, sequestered in some hotel at Columbia for an all-day reading marathon. Oh, contest organizers allowed you to get up and stretch your legs and a sandwich served as lunch. But leaving early was frowned upon until you had done right by whatever stack of newsprint copies you were assigned.

Some judged faster than others. The soft-hearted who were lucky enough to draw a small category of entries sometimes would help complete a category for someone still buried with their burdens as dusk approached. Everyone was tired by the end of the day. Judging newspaper contests is really about as exciting as it sounds, and the eye strain can deliver real headaches.

Still, you want to do it right because well, frankly, it matters so much to so many.

But the bad ol’ days are now better. Today the judging chores can be done at your convenience whenever and wherever you have internet access. Websites are designed to help you rank entries and upload comments as you work through those categories assigned to you. There’s no ink smear to clean up and no postage due in returning the papers. And, with the click of a button, you get the security that you truly will remain anonymous.

This is better than likes on Facebook, where any dribble can be counted. These annual contests serve up a bit of accountability coming from your peers. If you enter, the trick, of course, is to not take yourself too seriously if you win … and not be very discouraged if you don’t. Once you realize you’re giving every edition your best effort, you don’t really need to enter any more contests.

Despite contest rules, some newspapers only measure money. I was appalled by one large newspaper which hardly produced any local content but, instead, presented various wire service stories in contemporary design and dazzling graphics. I read that as “cheap” news hole and an over-emphasis on the dollar. But the newspapers I call winners are more traditional — where creative staff effort is evident, handling the sensational or mundane news in ways that inform. Winners provide me an insight about communities I’ve yet to visit.

I found some opinion pages so strong I wished for more. There are daily newspapers with flourishing advertising and — I was surprised by this — still strong classified sections. Feature writing about people and places is still in currency and the photography … well, digital photography and new production techniques put past newspapers to shame.

So, really, I don’t mind doing the chores. If I get my homework done judging these contest entries assigned to me on time, I might even volunteer for another round next year. Focusing on what the best entries offer is like a shot of optimism for this ol’ editor. And at my age, I need a booster shot more regularly than just an annual dose.

It’s a big world out there, filled with lots of talented journalists who care and want to make a difference. Their resolve is published on newsprint for all to see, in ways you can dissect, choose to trust and review by archive.

Newspapers, as a measure of the lifeblood in any community large or small, matter. Informed readers are leaders. The pursuit of happiness has its foundation in truth. And the best newspapers strive for excellence, despite their station in life or the economic realities that limit what might be.

If you disagree, then maybe you should come sit by me, and I’ll watch how you score these last contest entries I’ve yet to do. I’ll be quiet. I just want to read.