Beachcombing

Running a newspaper is much like having a sand box with the publisher being a sand box monitor. We have 15 writers involved with the Beachcomber, specializing in different areas of expertise like news, features, arts, entertainment, food, heath care, politics, finance and more.

The sandbox analogy is used because the players on both sides (readers and writers) come from a variety of backgrounds, experience and beliefs – just like those little people who like to play in the sand. When they start getting too vocal or throwing sand on one another it’s time for the monitor to intervene.

Such was the case a few years ago when one of our writers with left-leaning opinions started attacking letter writers having a different perspective. The last thing that the Beachcomber wants is to stifle freedom of speech and that writer is no longer with us. We do not seek to be labeled left- or right-wing or muzzle those who disagree with something we wrote.

Many of our writers are volunteers. They contribute their thoughts and ideas without compensation because they want to share their business expertise or are in retirement, drawing upon many years of experience. We sincerely appreciate their contributions toward a publication that offers content variety.

Following 30 years of working in corporate public relations and advertising, we took on this challenge 23 years ago with the intent of helping small businesses and non-profit organizations succeed in competition with larger organizations with large advertising budgets.

The difference between corporate communications and the newspaper business is dramatic. The former is rarely controversial, and the latter is. Residents come out of the woodwork to express their opinions in the media via letters to the editor or story submissions.

Our main business is news. If it is local, timely, odd or involves celebrities or large quantities or magnitude it is generally newsworthy. News is drama, according to some definitions. My test for Beachcomber content is to ask the question “Who cares”?

It is not our purpose to be a government agency mouthpiece or some political party’s house organ. We reserve the right to advocate for any political candidate who has not been bought and paid for by one of the public safety unions.

Some observers believe that print journalism is dying in consideration of competition from the internet and the corporate takeover of community newspapers. From my perspective, a large percentage of the population still seeks the local news that independent, community newspapers deliver. The internet has become a new source of revenue, so it is a welcome addition.

So, you can expect to see the Beachcomber every other week outside your home, if we have a middle-school carrier in your area wanting the job. Outside of our primary East Long Beach distribution area, bulk copies are available in high-traffic spots or by subscription in digital or print format.

Thank you for your continuing support of the Beachcomber through the sands of time.

Words of wisdom:

• If kids knew what they wanted to be at age eight, the world would be filled with cowboys and princesses. I wanted to be a pirate. Thank goodness nobody took me seriously and scheduled me for eye removal and peg leg surgery. (Bill Maher)
• If an 18-year-old isn’t mature enough to own a firearm, then maybe five-year-olds aren’t mature enough to change their gender.
• Mice die in mouse traps because they do not understand why the cheese is free. Just like socialism.
• If socialism is so good and capitalism is so bad … then why aren’t the caravans heading to Venezuela?

publisher@beachcomber.news