Public forum by Valdosta Daily Times 2019-05-06

This is new: the newspaper is holding a public forum.

When: 5:30 PM, Monday, May 6, 2019

Where: Holiday Inn and Conference Center, 1805 W. Hill Ave., Valdosta, GA

Event: facebook: well, the VDT didn’t schedule a facebook event.

Terry Richards, VDT, 2 May 2019, VDT holding open public forum,

VDT facebook profile picture

VALDOSTA — The Valdosta Daily Times wants to meet and mingle with the public Monday.

Coffee, Tea and the VDT — an open public forum — is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, May 6, at the Holiday Inn and Conference Center, 1805 W. Hill Ave.

The town hall-type meeting is open to all to come and talk about community newsgathering.

“We are working hard every day to be open and accessible,” said Jim Zachary, editor of The Valdosta Daily Times. “In fact, the newspaper needs to be just as transparent as we expect local government to be. Coffee, Tea and the VDT is the public’s opportunity to ask questions, tell us what they think or even just to get to know us a little better.

“We love this community and are committed to building and maintaining strong relationships. The media has not always been open and accessible and we are committed to changing that culture. It is all a part of what we are calling Lifting the Veil, bringing the community inside the newsroom.”

Lifting the Veil includes BudgetLive, a weekly live-streamed news planning meeting where the public can participate real time as Times staffers plan coverage and newsroom strategies. Editorial board meetings are also live-streamed once a month where the public can sit in on meetings with staff and community members to discuss issues facing our community.

A new podcast series, “The Story Behind the Story,” gives the public a chance to hear reporters and editors talk about the reporting and news-gathering process, the reasons behind a particular story and the challenges faced by the journalists.

The Video Editorial Series is where the editors sit down and talk about the genesis and thoughts behind a particular editorial, often times tackling controversial issues important to the community.

Terry Richards is senior reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times.

-jsq

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