“Where there is unity, there are blessings” ­–––– paraphrase of Psalm 133

0
139

Dear Readers,
As I step back from full-time duties here, the Journal is pleased to welcome Allyson Beauregard, who will fill this editorial space with her opinions and reflections beginning with the next issue. Since August 28 when her by-line first appeared, the Journal team has been mentoring this vibrant, hard-working, intelligent young woman.

Dear Readers,
As I step back from full-time duties here, the Journal is pleased to welcome Allyson Beauregard, who will fill this editorial space with her opinions and reflections beginning with the next issue. Since August 28 when her by-line first appeared, the Journal team has been mentoring this vibrant, hard-working, intelligent young woman.
While it’s up to Mrs. Beauregard as to how much she wants to divulge of her identity to answer your most-pressing questions: “Where is she from? Who are her family? Where does she live?” …. Usually followed by “What does she drive?”…. Suffice it to say, I’m impressed with her credentials, which align with those desirable qualities that the Journal looks for in all of its employees.
Regardless if we were born and raised in the Pontiac or chose to live here, the Journal employs people who are Pontiac-focused, multi-talented and who have Pontiac interests on the brain “24/7”; people who are curious, have a sense of humour, make the time to listen to others, yet who are not above emptying the wastebaskets and sweeping the floor of the office!
We’re always thinking about creating meaningful content for the newspaper, and not simply sending a mass-produced product to press and into your mailbox. Through our own unique channels, we each have a finger on the pulse of the community, whether it’s in politics, the arts, fundraisers, school events, the fire department, the economy, or the environment – if the news happens in the Pontiac, we do our best to get it in to the paper. As a co-worker said, “It’s the community who have made the Journal into their own image, rather than us making a newspaper for them.” 
During Mrs. Beauregard’s training, we’ve been imparting valuable newspaper principles to her, such as, for prioritizing stories ask, “How many [people] were there and how many [readers] will care?”; for questionable information in an article, “When in doubt, leave it out!”; for the typos as well as the scoops, “You cannot let praise or criticism get to you; it’s a weakness to get caught up in either one.”; and for all along life’s journey, from the book The Four Agreements, “I will: always tell the truth; never make any assumptions; never take anything personally; always do my best.”
Several years ago a tag line was added to the Journal’s masthead: “Uniting all the Pontiac”. The underlying message is that “where there is unity, there are blessings”. Everyone at the Journal has made a conscious decision to work together for the common good of the Pontiac.
We look forward to “walking together in agreement” with our newest employee. Each of us has shared, and will share, blessings that last beyond the moment…. and through the next issue!
Nancy Hunt, Editor