Slow News and my interview with OPB

I recently participated in the invigorating Slow News and More Slow conference at the University of Oregon, an effort to discuss journalism alternatives to the never-endeding onslaught of 24-7 media.

I like to equate our 21st century news diets to being caught in a meteor storm. Our brains, for the first time in history, are unable to effectively absorb and process the countless streams of content pace enabled by a pace of technological change that is growing exponentially faster. More than ever, we need thoughtful journalism that offers perspective and relevance so that we can truly analyze what's important in our lives. 

"Slow news" is a term Laufer and others have coined to address the problem. Whether that is the right term is up for debate -- as it was at this conference -- but the quest to deliver more slower, more impactful journalism remains the goal. 

As part of the conference, I was interviewed from Portland live on Oregon Public Broadcasting's "Think Out Loud" program, and discussed "slow news," newspaper trends and my time leading the Register-Guard. You can listen to my segment here: 

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My new gig in Steamboat Springs

On June 11, I became the new publisher of the Steamboat Pilot & Today.

The photo that accompanies that story on my hiring was taken at the Yampa River, which runs through downtown Steamboat Springs.The Pilot & Today is a media company in Steamboat Springs, Colo. with a portfolio that includes a daily newspaper, a half-dozen magazines, a website and mobile app, events and a TV channel.

The company serves a vibrant resort community whose downtown is at 6,700 feet in the Rocky Mountains. The Pilot & Today is owned by Swift Communications, a regional family-owned media company that specializes in mountain resort markets with operations in Steamboat, Vail, Aspen, Park City, Lake Tahoe among others. 

I've been in the job about one month, and am having a blast. The market is

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10 Newspapers That Do It Right

Updated on Friday, July 27, 2018 at 7:42 PM by Logan Molen

I'm proud to have been a part of the yearlong "Focus on Homeless" initiative that prompted Editor & Publisher magazine to name The Register-Guard one of its "10 Newspapers That Do It Right" for 2018. 

I'm not big on awards, but I do appreciate the intent of E&P's annual list, which promotes creative work pursuing lasting change, not simply celebrations of great individual work that may lack long-term impact. 

The Focus on Homelessness was borne out of discussions I had with community leaders, businesspeople and readers upon my arrival as publisher of the R-G in July 2016. Each of those groups were overwhelmed by the problem and expressed feelings of "mission fatigue" in trying and failing -- and trying and failing -- to cure to a widespread problem entrenched in a giving community. 

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