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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law Bracing for Common Core Lithia Park featured on Oregon Blue Book cover Police Reports Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland Education Bracing for Common Core Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Chautauqua series brings author Jane Hamilton to Ashland Ashland Runs on Volunteers: OLLI classes pay dividends in joy of teaching, learning New Southern Oregon University board votes to bump tuition nearly 5 percent in the fall Environment Lots to celebrate at SOU Arbor Day rites Mt. Ashland Ski Area to host party March 28 Mt. Ashland hopes coming storm will reopen ski area Wild Side: Selfish and other reasons for saving endangered species Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram Laramie Longhorn 1500 Ashland's Standing Stone Brewery owners to open Medford brew pub and restaurant Cars We Remember: ‘Topper’ movie car most memorable Ride & Drive: 2015 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque Snow hopes dashed, Mt. Ashland Ski Area hosts season-ending party Saturday Politics and elections Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Jackson County Commissioners plan no tax on marijuana for first year Grassroots group campaigns for Plaza paver do-over Arthur I. Cyr: Iran – a crisis without end Short-term rental restrictions kept in some areas, loosened in others State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Nation - World Obituaries Death Notices Alicia Applegate Hardy Death Notices Rosalind Dee Death Notices Shareable Sports Latest Stories Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Four-year letterman Fredrickson leads sizzling Grizzlies Trip of a lifetime Paul nets 41 as Clippers rally past Trail Blazers High school Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia AHS softball team routs Churchill Four-year letterman Fredrickson leads sizzling Grizzlies Grizzlies ace first MWL test Ashland's Knecht provides bright spot in Grizz nonleague loss to South Medford Southern Oregon University Upset-minded Raiders swept by No. 17 Concordia Grizz baseball team caps Arizona trip with another win Grizzlies rally past Colorado school for Greenway Festival victory Ashland softball team splits pair in second day of Bend tournament Ducks enjoy the challenge Voices Latest Stories Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Jeffrey Gillespie: Dancing the Pyongyang Polka Editor's Notes: Not falling, flying Matthew T. Mangino: Prison deaths on the rise Arthur I. Cyr: Afghanistan progress is uneven but undeniable Editorial Our View: Ashland climate plan: Small steps add up Our View: More of the same at SOU? Our View: Restoration remorse over Ashland's Plaza Our View: One for the books Our View: Build it; they will play Letters Letters to the Editor, April 1 Letters to the Editor, March 30 Letters to the Editor, March 27 Letters to the Editor, March 25 Letters to the Editor, March 23 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: Ashland council vote on travelers accommodations was less than transparent Guest Opinion: Hannah Thomas-Garner's father thanks the Ashland community Guest Opinion: Ashland is asking for trouble with new room rental rules Guest Opinion: More reasons to oppose Jordan Cove Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Columns Jeffrey Gillespie: Dancing the Pyongyang Polka Editor's Notes: Not falling, flying Matthew T. Mangino: Prison deaths on the rise Council Corner: Ashland’s climate plan Chris Honoré: Some political and social observations Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Community blog: Poets, put on your party shoes Spring exhibitions open at Schneider Museum of Art Community blog: Ashland High grad performs at OSF's Hip Hop Open Mic Top 5 things to do this week Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Review: From past into present in OSF's 'Long Day's Journey' Music A Country Cajun Revival comes to the Unitarian Futureshock: Kendrick Lamar release points to road ahead Laurie Lewis and Kathy Kallick pay tribute to Arkansas bluegrass duo Vern Williams and Ray Park Album reviews: Recent and recommended for March The Farr Side: New format for ‘American Idol’ as show continues a strong run Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Movie review: Suspend all belief in reality — ‘Furious 7’ is just fun Movie review: The action is even more insane in ‘Furious 7’ Movie review: ‘While We’re Young’ is a thought-provoking comedy-drama Alan Alda knows the secrets to acting, marriage Movie Listings: April 3-9 Food and Drink Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories Health Watch: Work out like a pro athlete App Finder: Best baseball apps Ride & Drive: 2015 Ram Laramie Longhorn 1500 Ashland's First Friday Art Walk Ashland Kiwanis recognize Lillian Huang Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Rogues: Tales from the Valley Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law ... Ticket Availability ... Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland ... Ashlanders respond to controversy raised by Indiana law ... Ticket Availability ... Under-floor heater caused Union Street fire in Ashland ... EDITOR'S NOTES Editor's Notes: Not falling, flying Comment By Bert Etling DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Posted Apr. 2, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Apr 2, 2015 at 3:40 PM By Bert Etling Posted Apr. 2, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Apr 2, 2015 at 3:40 PM » Social News The following is a version of remarks prepared for Wednesday night's celebration of 100 years of The Rogue News, the Ashland High School newspaper. As a newspaper editor, some might expect me to be like the fellow who fell off 50-story building. Somebody leaned out a window at the 25 floor and yelled, “are you OK?” To which he would reply, “so far, so good.” There is reason, to put it mildly, for concern. The double-whammy of technological changes and the Great Recession has dealt a blow to newspaper revenues over the past decade. With less ad money coming in, staffs have been cut and papers have gotten thinner. But I remain not only optimistic, but enthusiastic about the business I’m in and its future. We’re living in a time I find more exciting than scary. We have more ways to reach more readers more often than ever before. And, while print circulation has declined, the number of people seeking news online continues to grow, and we’re delivering that news. We humans are built to want to know what’s going on. Whenever we bump into each other, we say, “What’s up? How you doing? What do you know?” That’s about as microlocal as you can get, and it’s close to where I’ve chosen to pursue my career in community journalism. A big part of the news equation is how close to home it hits. We’re more interested in the fistfight next door than a riot halfway around the world. There’s no decline in the need to know, and overall readership statistics confirm this. The newspaper business may not be so great, but the news business is great. Successful newspaper groups are taking their advantages — usually the largest, most capable staffs in any given local area — and morphing into organizations that gather and deliver not just words and pictures, but also sound and video, and not just once a day, but throughout the day. Getting to do that job is not only fun but satisfying. We’re the hunter-gatherers of information. Imagine if everyone foraged for themselves. Imagine dozens or hundreds of people calling the police or fire department to find out what all those sirens were about. That would be a pain for all those people wanting to know, not to mention for the department receptionist. So we in the news business have the opportunity to represent those we serve by getting the story and getting it right. It’s a great business to be in. You get to talk to people you never would otherwise. I hadn’t lived in Ashland for three months and I'd met the governor and one of our U.S. senators, not to mention the mayor and others who make and implement public policy. They didn’t want to talk to me so much as they wanted to talk to Tidings readers. By speaking to me, these people have the opportunity to speak to all those people. It’s a privilege, but it’s also a responsibility. And it’s all worthwhile. Back to that news business that fell off the 50-story building. I’m convinced we’re not falling, we’re flying. We’ve jumped off the print platform and need to spread our digital wings. It is scary, but it is exciting. I hope some of you are able to join us in a profession I love and am excited to be part of. Reach Daily Tidings editor Bert Etling at [email protected] or 541-631-1313. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/betling .   By Bert Etling DailyTidings.com By Bert Etling Posted Apr. 2, 2015 at 12:01 AM Updated Apr 2, 2015 at 3:40 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. 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