Phillies fans, campaign volunteers and newspaper editors shared a week to be remembered last week -- a seven-day adrenaline rush through sleep deprivation (late games on TV), endorsement editorials (down to the wire), and planning/revising/finalizing celebration front pages.

The antics of the weather and the dramatic play on the field made headline writers out of all of us.
"The Chase is On,"
"Reign Delay,"
"Lumber Party,"
"Swat Team,"
"Loud and Proud,"
"Parade of Champions,"
and "Phinally --
World expletive-deleted Champs."
Creativity was at full tilt throughout the week, as we pulled all the stops on full-color poster front pages, wrapping World Series coverage around the regular newspaper, and juggling deadlines and ad copy at midnight more than once to get the most out in front of readers in timely fashion.
For the first time that I can remember in 30-plus years at The Mercury, we cranked up the press a second time in the same cycle to print more copies. An extra 2,500 copies came off the press Thursday morning to be snatched off store shelves and out of honor boxes as quickly as the first run.
I overheard conversations among 20-somethings at Coventry Mall lamenting that they couldn't find a paper to buy anywhere on Thursday morning.
When the Phillies took the field to celebrate Wednesday night, fans were holding up bulldog copies of Philadelphia newspapers to banner the news "WE WIN!" in all its glory. Newspapers were selling out at train stations, local newsstands, and convenience stores as fast as the World Series locker room shirts at sporting good stores.

Everyone wanted a souvenir, a collectible, something to hold in their hand, save in the attic and show the next generation. The Internet just doesn't cut it at times like this.
But the Phillies were not the only news story in town. With less than a week remaining before the Presidential Election, we were also faced with getting candidate endorsements written and published during the week for the Congressional and state legislative races in the area.
Many newspapers have shunned political endorsements as an unnecessary exercise in opinions, but we believe that they are even more important, not less, in this age of negative televised campaigning and roadside sign clutter. We believe that print newspapers offer a seasoned perspective that can not be replaced by electronic media. We believe that we own a trust in our local community that holds sway over the strident voices on the air waves.
So, even while mapping out our World Series' specials, we were discussing and crafting our picks in area congressional and legislative races. I also wrote an endorsement last week of Sen. Barack Obama for President, a choice met with some dissension among both employeees and readers of this newspaper. But, it is an opinion, nothing more or less, and we believe strongly that we owe you, our readers, the honesty of our choices while we urge you to make yours.
Last week got a little crazy, but in sports and elections is where print media excels. Baseball and politics are played and celebrated in words and pictures, and that's what we do best. Last week presented a challenge to keep things straight and avoid confusing headlines and slogans. (The Champs We Need?)
The staff of this newspaper did an outstanding job in capturing for our readers the thrill of the Phillies' win. And, now we have an election to cover for you.
Some may say newspapers are a dying breed, but during weeks like last, I see the importance we hold in daily life.
Today is Election Day. Last week the Phillies won the World Series.
Be informed. Celebrate.
Buy a newspaper.

"You know what I don't like about the paper? It's all bad. It would just be nice to see some good news in the paper for a change."



Of all the opinions people feel compelled to share with me, that is the most often repeated.

It is also the most inaccurate.

The mix of "good news" and "bad news" and "neutral but interesting" news in The Mercury on any given day is about equal. Some days, the good seriously outweighs the bad.

Today's top story: "Lively, emotional service honors the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr."

Yesterday: "Gateway to Growth. Planners eye master plan for Route 100 in Norco" shared top billing with "Heating oil price spike drives call for help."

Saturday: "Pair convicted of second-degree murder" -- okay, I admit a murder story is dismal -- but the top photos on the front page were young-at-heart seniors at Frederick Mennonite Community staging a Winter Olympics event. And even the murder story included a positive profile of the victim, "Her life was not in vain."

We suffer the identity crisis of being the bearer of bad news at the same time we want people to like us. We want to be the messenger invited into your home, as well as the resource you use for information. And, we like to inspire and make you smile while we're informing.

Sometimes, the information is bad news. People die in car crashes; children perish in fires; politicians make false promises; thieves embezzle from the elderly.

But there is good news to be told, too, and we especially relish the chance to help make the news even better.

Lindsay Spengler is a young Boyertown area woman who got a second lease on life after the community raised more than $200,000 for experimental medical treatments. The son of a Pottstown police dispatcher was given a Wii in a story that brought together the police department and a community donor. Operation Holiday this year raised $50,000 which we distribute annually in gifts and food to needy children.

These good-news stories came about because of our relationship as a community newspaper with the people of the community. When people say newspapers are a dying breed, these are the stories I remember. Any TV station or Web site could bring you film of a house fire. But then your community newspaper takes it a step further and invites you to donate to a fund to help those left homeless.

You know what I like most about the paper? It makes a difference in people's lives, for better or for worse.