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| Photo courtesy of The Forum newspaper (click to enlarge) (Peace Garden Mama, fourth from end on right side) |
A while back I posted a hint on Facebook about something exciting in the air. A few more hints have followed, and now it’s finally time to be more explicit. (Finally!)
It all started this summer when I received an email from Mary Jo Hotzler, deputy editor of The Forum newspaper, and the gal who got the ball rolling more than three years ago on the “Parenting Perspectives” column for which I’m a monthly contributor. Since Mary Jo and I usually check in with one another from time to time, I didn’t except our coffee date would be anything other than the usual. But when she revealed to me a new plan for the newspaper, explained the vision for it and asked if I’d be willing to take part, there wasn’t a moment of hesitation. “I’m in!”
So after a summer of plotting and scheduling, it’s finally come to pass. Our local newspaper — North Dakota’s largest daily — is going to go all out and hedge its bets on women. The recognition that the influence of women in our communities has been largely overlooked and underestimated has spawned a brand-new section. But it won’t be just an occasional women’s page. “SheSays” will offer articles, columns and profiles about and for the female sector of our community each day of the week.
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| The contributor page of the first edition of SheSays (Photo by Heidi Schaffer) |
If you haven’t guessed yet, I’m thrilled to be part of this venture! And I’m honored to be among the crew of local women communicators the paper has assembled to kick off the endeavor. You can imagine the spark in the air when we all gathered a few weeks ago to take the first promotional photo (see above) for SheSays in Downtown Fargo. More than a few onlookers stopped and scratched their heads, wondering what we could possibly be doing as we overtook a large part of a street with our charged-up female energy.
At some point today, I’ll be strolling the town again with another SheSays contributor, handing out fresh copies of our first edition. You might just see me somewhere if you’re in the F-M area. Look for the black SheSays T-shirt and big smiles. And tomorrow, my “Parenting Perspectives” column will be the first to be published on the SheSays pages.
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| Mary Jo Hotzler, SheSays editor of The Forum, gets her first look at the new section
(Photo by Heidi Schaffer)
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I’ll share more about this very cool undertaking in the coming days, as well as some of the neat things that have happened surrounding it. In the meantime, we’re collecting story ideas, so if you have any thoughts on what might make an intriguing article topic, please share here! I’ve got my reporter’s notebook opened and read to fill.
Q4U: What do you think about the SheSays idea? If you could see an article on its pages, what would the topic be?
Write on, Roxane! Remember the frustrations you felt a few years ago when all your ideas to write for The Forum were shot down? How you longed to share your parenting stories and women stories, and be writing again. Now, look what perseverence and patience has brought you. Sweet Success!
Yay!!!!!!!!!! Oh Roxane, it was such a delight to open the paper today and see all of you there, but especially to see YOU there! So well deserved and I loved every inch of it!
Will email you later about this week! Will think and see if I have any ideas for you 🙂
Congrats again!
I’m extremely excited for this feature. I’ve been waiting impatiently!
Very exciting! Much success to you and SheSays!
Mary, indeed I do recall the days when a vision began forming but the follow-through wasn’t quite there. I’m thrilled that The Forum has been so willing to take risks, and that I’ve been able to be part of it. It’s really the best of both worlds and I’m honored to be on board. I look forward to what will unfold from here. (*Rolling up sleeves to get to work on her first SheSays article…)
And thanks to the rest of you who have been so encouraging. You can send ideas any time!