Seven Valley Scoop: Cortland Area News

Cortland Standard’s Traditional Approach to News Does Us All a Disservice

(Photo courtesy epodunk.com)

The old-fashioned presses that are still in action down at the Cortland Standard building are a city landmark, and it’s fantastic that the paper stays true to it’s roots.

There’s nothing wrong with preserving the past for the sake of history, but living in the past at the expense of the community is just not acceptable.

I am glad Cortland has it’s own daily newspaper.  Indeed there is little coverage of the Seven Valleys in Syracuse, Ithaca or Binghamton media.  However, the Standard must update it’s approach to journalism.  They have the opportunity to be Cortland’s ambassadors to the rest of the region and even the world, but Cortland Standard leadership seems more interested in serving tradition than in serving the community.

First, the Standard publishes in the afternoon.  No coffee and the paper for Standard readers.  Our local media outlet would do itself a big favor by being a morning paper rather than a “when we get around to it” paper.  By the time the Standard hits the newsstands hundreds of residents have bought the Post-Standard or the Ithaca Journal.

Not only does this take away from the amount of Standards in circulation, but it hurts the community.  Businesses are less likely to advertise in a paper people don’t read because it’s not available when their potential customers stop at Byrne Dairy on their way to work.  And residents lose out on local news and the opportunity to stay informed and get involved in their community when the only city daily comes out after their lunch break.

Secondly, the Cortland Standard does not have an online edition.  We can read other Central New York papers online, but people who live in Syracuse, Ithaca or Binghamton can’t read ours.

The paper’s lack of a web presence may hurt our economy and even keep people from relocating to our city.  Individuals considering a move to Cortland can’t search for jobs or homes without making a potentially expensive trip to do so in person.  Additionally, folks placing classifieds miss out on the online audience who might be interested in buying their products and services.

Third, former residents and students away at school can’t keep up with what’s going on in their home town.  Sure, they could subscribe by mail, but by the time the paper arrives the news will be old, and it will be easier to read the paper in their new town, set down new roots, and lose touch with their old life.  It might sound like a stretch, but an online edition of the Cortland Standard has the potential to keep people connected, and keep them from moving away for good.

Lastly, publishing in the afternoon and only publishing in print is just plain behind the times.  The competition is speeding ahead and our local paper here in Cortland has been left in the dust.  Worst of all, it’s by their own choosing.  In a time when print media is constantly on guard against becoming obsolete, the Cortland Standard already is.

By choosing tradition over progress the Cortland Standard loses readers, loses revenue and loses credibility.  It is the job of the media not only to report the truth to as wide a readership as possible, but to serve the community.  The Cortland Standard does neither.

-CJC

Note: This is not meant as an attack on the writers and staff of the Cortland Standard.  I do not question your intentions or integrity.  This is a call to action, a call to fulfill your duties as journalists and members of the media industry.  We need you and you need us.  Please open your eyes to the future of news.

Last night I sprained my ankle.  I slipped on a flashlight at the bottom of the stairs.

This event, while unfortunate, would not usually be newsworthy.

At most, I could complain about the difficulty of getting around on crutches in the winter.  Or I could talk about how being injured helped me realize what life is like for people with reduced mobility.

But this column is about neither of those things.  This column is about the kindness of the people of Cortland.

When I traveled to Convenient Care to have my ankle looked at this afternoon I was expecting a long wait, disinterested staff and a rushed, assembly-line-type appointment.  I did wait a while (The entire trip took about 90 minutes), but the staff made every effort to make me comfortable during that time.  They offered ice, a wheelchair, even Ibuprofen to ease the pain.  I recieved a thorough checkup, x-rays, advice from both the doctor and nurse and my ankle was wrapped and braced.

The front desk staff even let my husband (Dave) take the wheelchair out of the building to bring me to the car.

At Sugar and Spice Restaurant, were we ate after the appointment, my Dave and I were met with concern over how far we parked from the door.  “You could have parked right up here,” a customer said.  “That would have been a lot easier for you.”  On the way out, Dave picked me up to carry me to the car.  As I rode across the parking lot in his arms, a scene played out that I was not expecting.

In most cities we would have been stared at or ignored.  But here, we were helped.  There was so much demand to open my car door that the volunteers had to race to get there first.  The friendly man who held my door smiled as he waited patiently for me to get inside.  Then he closed the door gently, making sure not to jar my leg.

Even at Walmart, not known for individual attention, I was met with an unusual amount of concern and helpfulness.  As I stood in the entryway waiting for Dave to park the car, a greeter approached me and asked if he could assist me in borrowing an electric wheelchair.  While I declined, preferring to have Dave push me in a regular wheelchair, I deeply appreciated the thoughfulness of his offer.

In the aisles we were not met with looks that said “I bet you’re faking” or “How dare you take up so much space.”  We weren’t met with odd looks at all.  Those who did not notice our presence quickly apologized and stepped out of the way.

When Dave and I decided to move to Central New York we were often asked our motivation.  Many friends and family members were confused at our reason.  We didn’t move for good jobs or a fabulous house (although we have both those things).  We moved to Cortland because it is friendly.

We may not live in an industry or entertainment mecca, but we do live in a place where people care.  They care about eachother and they care about the community.  If I didn’t know that before, I learned it today.

I’m glad I live in Cortland, and I’m proud to call this friendly place home.

-CJC