Sports columns aren’t my forte as the lede explains. But as I covered a football game the weekend prior to writing this, I observed some blatantly unsportsmanlike conduct by the home team’s coach. Though I didn’t intend the outcome, this column sparked interest from the school’s superintendent and disciplinary action against the coach.
By Les Bowen for Genesee Country Express | Sept. 8, 2011 | Original source
I am not one to generally comment on sports. I admit, I am not the biggest of a sports fan. I don’t religiously watch college or professional sports and if you asked me whether the Bills have a shot against the Chiefs this weekend, I couldn’t tell you. In fact, I had to look up the schedule just to write that sentence and I had no idea until looking that this is the first week of regular season.
However, I do enjoy the part of my job that gives me a sideline pass to high school sports and I’m actually disappointed that none of the three teams we cover at the Express have a home game of football Friday night. Continue reading Sports opinion: Sportsmanship is not just for players→
Just a few weeks after my arrival as editor of the Genesee Country Express, we determined the newspaper needed a redesign and I worked collaboratively with a team from our office, assisted by a corporate task force. We accomplished the goal of transforming an outdated, cluttered design to a modern, clean look. I showcased the transition and what follows is my weekly column, introducing the new look to our readers.
Before and after: Our redesign efforts in a week transformed an outdated look into a modern one.
The 7 forbidden words
By Les Bowen for Genesee Country Express | Dec. 9, 2010 | Original source
A sign posted above my office desk reads as follows: “‘Because we’ve always done it that way’ are the seven last words of any organization.”
Given the state of traditional media as a whole and newspapers in particular, newspapers must be willing to adapt if we intend to survive in the 21st century. So in the three months since I took over as editor of the Genesee Country Express, we’ve made a lot of changes. This week’s edition marks the most dramatic. Continue reading Newspaper redesign→
This is another one of my weekly musings. Here, I share with my readers how I started in newspapers as an 11-year-old carrier.
By Les Bowen for Genesee Country Express | Oct. 7, 2010 | Original source
It’s only been six years since I took my first job as a news reporter, but my career in the newspaper industry goes back much further.
I grew up in an average middle class family in suburbia. My dad was employed at a Salt Lake City hotel and when after my siblings were all in school, my mom took a job as a school lunch cook. Continue reading Starting at age 11 in the newspaper industry→
This is one of several columns I wrote as editor of the Genesee Country Express. Here, I share a personal reflection about being a newcomer to the community and an outsider.
By Les Bowen for Genesee Country Express | Sept. 30, 2010 | Original source
I read once that when we first meet people, our opinions are set within the first 30 seconds – that is, when meeting new people, we have less than half a minute to make the best first impression we can.
Yet these impressions are so often wrong. I remember one day at my first job out of college when a tall, unshaven, tattooed, leather-clad man walked into our office and asked to speak with a reporter. He had a story. Continue reading Less than a minute to decide→
I wrote this opinion in response to the decision by the Utah Republican Party to close their election to unaffiliated voters.
By Les Bowen for Vernal Express | June 18, 2008
I’m a firm believer that anyone who is going to criticize government should be part of the process.
That means showing up to public hearings and participating in public comment processes. And most importantly, it includes voting.
However, like many other voters in this state, I’m going to sit home next Tuesday. Like one third of this country’s voters, I’m officially unaffiliated. And while I admit that I swing left on most issues, I have voted for members of the Green, Libertarian, People’s Choice and Constitution parties, in addition to several votes for both Democrats and Republicans. Continue reading Get out and vote … if you can→
