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Bonne anniversaire

While these words were being made ink (that would be yesterday), our editor celebrated his first anniversary with the Lillooet News (perhaps observed would be a better word).

As is to be expected, things have changed quite a lot since the heady days of June 2008. Those changes are universal (economic downturns and black presidents), unique to the News (new layout since July 2008 and new website since last week), and sometimes specific to the editor himself (no need to concern yourself there).

Perhaps more interesting is the way locals’ treatment of the editor and the newspaper has evolved. In the beginning, feedback about the new layout and changes in coverage and writing style was overwhelmingly and almost exclusively positive.

Of course, that was merely the calm before the storm (and in retrospect, it should have been enjoyed freely rather than in dreaded wait for peacetime’s certain end).

At one point, the editorial board foolishly expressed a longing for some negative feedback, like a misguided peasant who thought a solar eclipse meant the sun was gone forever.

Nowadays, we “enjoy” spirited criticism early and often! The digs are punctuated much more occasionally with a compliment. Mind you, no one at the office is keeping hard numbers, but that is certainly the overall impression.

While praise was effusive and easy to come by, it was also, admittedly, somewhat vague. In the earliest days, perhaps, readers may have been satisfied simply by the novelty of our contents and appearance in contrast to the News’ previous profile.

The editorial board imagines also that the public was more willing to give passes on trespasses then because the board was still an unproven entity.

(A good party host, who will ensure a guest gets home safely or sleeps it off after that guest vomits down the stairs, shows the same restraint. Only then does the host decide never to extend an invitation again.)

Admittedly, although the compliments provide a terrific ego boost, the criticism is likely more valuable in the long run. And to put a positive spin on it, freely given criticism is indicative of a relationship more familiar than that of guest and host.

After a year, the editor has the feeling of belonging.

P.S.- Something else has clearly changed since last year.

When the editor wrote his first editorial, he lamented the lack of any Canada Day celebration in Lillooet.

The argument went that the town should have given the occasion some respect, if not because “Canada” (as concept) had such an impact on us, than certainly because of this area’s impact on Canada.

Next Wednesday, there will be not one, but two separate events in honour of that illustrious occasion.

It might well be delusional to believe that we caused that shift or inspired the responsible parties to act, but we will imagine that is how it happened all the same.

In any case, it is heartening to see something turn out the way we hoped it would.

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