Making Their Own Record, With Their Own Words

and unwieldy agendas. And so, it is obvious these community journalists are affirming how their papers will serve in a locally unique fashion, and as encouraging models for other towns.

“I am excited about the possibility of this paper for the smaller communities that make up the J. F. Shields High School and our community,” said Mary Howard, a member of both the Beatrice PACERS chapter and the PACERS Incorporated board. “I look forward to showcasing locally owned businesses and events that would not otherwise be recorded. There are many things going on in our community that are not known, even to our own residents.”

The network’s primary consultants, Garrett Lane and Fred Fluker, have prior experience with PACERS student-published community newspaper projects in Packer’s Bend, Beatrice and Camp Hill.

As a result, they hold important personal connections to those places. They also have national credentials, teaching skills, high standards and a heart for the communities.

“Alumni” and board members are providing additional assistance and encouragement, including Brenda Boman, who previously served as sponsor for the highly regarded, student-produced PACERS paper at Notasulga High School. And PACERS alumna Laura Anderson, now with the Alabama Humanities Foundation, recently headed up a rural journalism workshop, which was most helpful to the community newspaper staffs.

Nan Fairley, a PACERS Incorporated board member and journalism professor at Auburn University, provides consistent support, as do Pam Horn and Paul Isom, both of whom have prior PACERS experience and currently teach journalism and communication at Southern Union Community College and North Carolina State University, respectively.

“I’m grateful to still be connected to PACERS so many years after my graduate assistantship,” said Isom.

“The newspaper network provides a forum for news and opinion which in turn strengthens communities and democracy whether urban or rural, large or small, national or local. The network is especially critical where no other media exist.”

In addition to ongoing training and consultation, PACERS has provided start-up publishing equipment and software. More importantly, it has organized and is continually building the PRCNN to provide an essential context of support for its publications and members.

Additional help is welcomed – to put your name in the PRCNN volunteer pot, please contact Dr. Jack Shelton (jackshelton@prodigy.net).

As the project progresses, the PRCNN will focus on garnering partners and needed financial backing. It will assist in linking and growing dialogue among communities who seek to publish local papers.

In times of woe and weal, the network will be a means for sharing and celebrating, and for raising standards and expectations.

Thanks to all of the PACERS volunteers and network staff – and the amazing community members – who are embarking on this bold, beautiful and collaborative journey.