When I worked for The Record of Hackensack, N.J., its slogan was
Friend of the People It Serves. [Now it's "North Jersey's Trusted Source."] One day an imp in the composing room changed the slogan to
Friend of the Police It Serves. That came to mind when I read
this story in
E&P about how a Pennsylvania paper fulfills its First Amendment function of being a mimeo machine for the cops.
The Mercury Uses Pinterest for Public GoodQuote:
posted: 3/19/2013
by: Nu Yang
Pinterest is a content sharing service that allows members to pin images and videos to virtual pinboards. Launched in 2010, Pinterest’s pages are typically filled with hairstyles, fashion tips, and cooking recipes, but The Mercury in Pottstown, Pa., is using the social media site for the public good.
The daily newspaper currently has 38 active boards on its Pinterest page (pinterest.com/themercury), including one called Wanted by Police, which features a gallery of mugshots provided by local police.
According to community engagement editor Diane Hoffman, the board was created by a former police reporter in July 2012 as a way to “get the word out about who the police wanted.”