HOT PURSUIT

Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?

Or, at least in this case, teaching newspaper dinosaurs some new techniques.

I hope you know that I’m being a bit facetious in the reference about newspapers being dinosaurs. Some people like to think newspapers have been around that long, but not quite.

One of the criticisms directed at newspapers in particular in recent years is that they haven’t adapted to the digital era the way they should. Our newspaper as well as the rest of Minnesota has been trying to shed that assessment this year.

Let’s start first with what Minnesota newspapers are doing collectively to help readers digest news and information in a digital format.

In 2022, Minnesota lawmakers passed legislation incorporating greater recognition of digital communications into the state’s public notice law, which governs the publication of public notices. Government agencies have been required by law to publish certain types of notices in an effort to keep the public informed.

One of the highlights in the law change that took effect Aug. 1 requires newspapers to post public notices on the web. The notices will be posted on the individual newspaper wherever jurisdiction they fall under as well as a new statewide public notice website offered through the Minnesota Newspaper Association.

Basically readers will now be able to access public notices either on the individual newspaper’s website or on the statewide website. And, of course, they’ll always be available in the print edition like they have been for decades. I may point out that this additional service comes at no extra expense to the government agency posting the notice.

I think this is a good move in an effort to get broader reach for public notices. We are in the business to keep the public informed and what better way to accomplish that than by making notices accessible in as many ways as possible.

The other big change I want readers to know about is one that’s specific to our newspaper. Within the past month, we have launched a news app, which can be downloaded to Apple users. We’re also working on an app that can be used by Android users.

Just one click of the app on your screen and you’ll be taken to select stories, columns and photos that are loaded onto our website at www.steelecountytimes.com. You can also set up notifications with the app for breaking news alerts that we send out when warranted.

Another feature I would like our readers to know about is how we post obituaries on our website as soon as we receive them from area funeral homes. Readers don’t have to wait until the print edition comes out in order to see who died and when the funeral will be. The obituaries are posted online as well as in the printed newspaper.

We continue to try to meet readers where they’re at in today’s changing environment. We are proud to embrace digital communications in addition to maintaining the print edition like this newspaper has done so effectively for the past 129 years.

In our case you can teach an old dog (ie: the newspaper) new tricks. I hope you’ll go in hot pursuit of embracing technology right along with us.